Scrappy Stars Wall Hanging

Hello everyone
Well it's been quite a testing week for me.  Sometimes free motion quilting goes smoothly and according to plan and sometimes it doesn't!
I've been working on this wall hanging  - a gift for my twin's birthday.

I saw these scrappy star blocks on Bonnie Hunter's website and had to have a crack at them.  The green scrappy border were leftover strings from Orca Bay -  thought I'd put them to good use.

I had terrible tension troubles quilting this and I didn't know why until I decided to give my machine a clean and an oil.  The lint inside the bobbin case was quite unbelievable but not really - afterall I'd just completed a Bonnie Hunter mystery.  Extreme piecing !!!
After a good vacuum out, some oil and a fresh needle, my machine is now back to it's normal self.  I don't know why I didn't do that in the first place.  Lesson learned!!!

Not good huh?

However it all turned out ok.

I quilted feathers with a pebbled spine and a meandering in the white diamonds.

Here's a great tip I got from Irene (at my quilt group).  Use soap to mark your quiilt top.  You need to leave it until the bar is nearly done then the edges are nice and sharp.  It's quick and easy and smells nice.

After my last post on the Lantern quilt, lots of people have asked if I have a long arm, but I don't.  Just a little domestic.

This weeks TGIFF part is over at What a Hoot .  LynCC is hosting this week and I promise you there are some fantastic finishes , no less from the hostess herself.  Go and check them out - you will be inspired !

I'm off to sew the borders on my Orca Bay now.
Have a great weekend.
Rhianon.

Oriental Lantern Quilt

Hi everyone.   Today I am pleased to say I have my first major finish of the year.

I made this quilt as a gift for my brother and sister in law.  My brother is an ex-Navy man who has a large collection of tattoos.  He has a lot of Japanese designs - large geisha on his back surrounded by cherry blossom, Koi carps etc.   My sister in law loves to cross stitch and has worked a couple of beautiful geisha designs.  So when it came to designing a quilt for them it was quite easy.

I used the lantern block and went with quite an autumnal colour scheme.

I actually worked the center of the quilt a year ago and it has hung in my workroom ever since.

I found this lovely Geisha themed fabric online for an incredible £2 a metre.  Gotta love a bargain and it was absolutely perfect for this quilt.

I machine quilted it all over.  A simple meandering in the centre with feathers in the border and some pebbling.  Although my machine quilting is far from perfect, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Close up

Back of the quilt.

Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to dry it after washing.

I took it outside to get a final picture of it but this winter weather is no good at all for taking good shots.
Roll on the spring/summer!
Anyway I hope my brother and sister in law love their quilt - good things come to those who wait!!! 

Today I'm linking this post to Kirsty Lou's Creations, who is very kindly hosting this weeks TGIFF party.  Why not take a minute and head on over there for a wee peak at what everyone else has been up to.

http://kristylouscreations.blogspot.com/2012/01/tgiff-is-here.html

Thanks for visiting,  hope you all have a great weekend!!
See you next time.
Rhianon.

Lil' Twister Cushion

I'm still playing with my Lil Twister  - I made this cushion as a gift for my nephew and his girlfriend who are expecting their first baby in February.

I chose the colours of Daddy-to-be's favourite football team.  They already know it is a little boy.

I kept the machine quilting simple - just echoing the shapes.

I was going to make this a pram cover or a car seat cover but I am crocheting a blanket so decided to make it a cushion instead.  It is stuffed fairly lightly so it is nice and soft.

For the edging I didn't think a frill was appropriate for a little boy so I simply stitched about an inch in from the edge to create a false piping.  first time I've done that and I'm pretty pleased with the result.

It's back to the day job now.
Hope to get some quilting done later.
See you all again soon.
Rhianon

Cushions - with a little inspiration from Jennie Rayment !

Hello there

It's only been a week since I last posted but it feels longer than that.  It is so good to get back to a normal routine after the Christmas holidays and this week that included our first meeting of the Glenrothes Quilters!

As usual, Irene had something exciting for us to do - a new block by British quilter Jennie Rayment.
I love Jennie Rayment's work - she is so clever to come up with all these designs.  Some of you may have heard of her as she does a lot of teaching at home and abroad.  If not here is the link to her website:
 
http://www.jennierayment.com/

This is the block ......

After adding a couple of borders, I machine quilted it.  Don't forget to click on the photos for a bigger view.

Close up of quilting.  For the first time I used a sparkly thread ( Guetterman Sulky )  and I loved how it looks on the black.

I thought this would be awful to work with but it was no problem !

After adding a black ruffle....  here is the finished cushion.  I'm giving this to my DH becasue he made lots of favourable noises when I showed him it!

If you are new to my blog, here are a couple of cushions I made last year using another Jennie Rayment block.

I have ordered Jennie's new book and can't wait for it to arrive.  I really want to make a quilt using her methods.

Today I'm linking up with M R from Quilt Matters becasue she is hosting this weeks TGIFF, so if you have a few minutes pop over and check out this weeks finishes.

http://quiltmatters.blogspot.com/2012/01/tgiff-turning-back-clockwork-orange.html

Have a great weekend and I'll be back soon with a BIG finish !!!!
Rhianon.

Orca Bay Mystery Quilt - parts 7 & 8

We are at the end of the mystery quilt - Bonnie revealed the big finale on New Years Day!

                                                  
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/orca-bay-mystery.html     You will find everything you need to know about Bonnie's mystery at the above link. - just in case you would like to make one!

Well my progress has been steady but I still have a lot of work to do.

This is part 7 in progress and I have not even started the border units yet.

I couldn't resist laying it out on the floor........ just to see how it would look.

   I've decided to sew little sub-blocks together rather than sewing it all together in long strips - I find it a bit easier to handle.   I absolutley love how this is turning out - it's a Bonnie masterpiece!

I thought I had solved the mystery but I was so wrong...........

....I really like this lay out so I may just have to make another one.  Any old excuse to play with more strings!!!

Head on over to Bonnie's blog now to check out all the other Orca Bays.  There is some fabulous work going on.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-7-8.html

Hopefully next time I post, I will have a completed quilt top to show you.
Have a good day everyone.
Rhianon.

Update : Here's how it's looking so far :

Happy New Year - 2011 Review

Happy New Year everyone!!!  I hope 2012 brings everything you wish for.

For myself, on a personal level, 2011 was not a good year, however on a quilting level it has been fantastic!

In January I started blogging and I have met so many lovely people.  It has been a joy to log on everyday to so many wonderful blogs.  To give and receive encouragement and just enthuse about all things quilty has been the best.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you who has come and visited my blog and a special thank you to everyone who has ever left a comment.

I have lots planned for 2012 but for now I'd like to share some of my favourite pieces worked in 2011.

                                             Mariner's Compass Wall Hanging

                                                    Batik Wall Hanging

                                                   Dresden Lap Quilt

                                            Trapunto Butterfly Wall Hanging

                                                  Dresden Cushion

                                         Disappearing 9 patch Lap Quilt with rounded corners (hand quilted)

                                               Dragonfly Wall Hanging

                                                     Colourful Cushion

                                                Hand Dyed Quilted Cushion

                                                  Bird of Paradise -  my favourite!

                                                Trapunto Butterfly

                                                 Tallships Quilt

                                                   Dresden Cushion

                                                 Pinwheels Baby Quilt

                                                         Anniversary Wall Hanging

                                                       Froggy Baby Quilt

                                                 Lil' Twister Baby Quilt

... and finally, 2011 was the year of the mug rug !

I hope you enjoyed my little end of year show.

I will remember 2011 as the year I took the plunge and learned how to do free motion quilting.
It has opened up a whole new world to me and I am loving every minute.

I hope you will come back and be a regular visitor ( or even a follower) to my blog this year.  I have a lot of projects lined up and probably a few unexpected ones too.
Let the fun begin!
Til the next time
Happy Stitchng
Rhianon.