Pinwheels Baby Quilt

I have been commissioned to make 2 baby quilts so I got to work on them this week.
For the first one I decided to go with the traditional pinwheel block.

Sorry I forgot to take photos of it before quilting which I usually like to do. The quilt measures 32" x 36" and my pinwheel blocks finished at 6.5".   I used a thick 6oz polyester wadding.  It is light weight but gives a nice puffiness to the less densely quilted areas.

                                             This photo was taken under artificial light.

I decided to work little feathers in the plain cream parts and just an echo line on the feature fabric.  It gives a very textured look.

Luckily the sun came out one morning and I was able to get these shots.  Natural light is so much better.

This is the back of the quilt.

All I have to do is bind this now and its finished.  I've already started on quilt #2.  I am doing friendship star blocks for that one.  Got a good start on the top yesterday but I'll show you more in my next post.
Enjoy your weekend.
Rhianon.

Owl Baby Quilt

Last Friday I started this little baby quilt with owls as the theme.

It is the same owl design I did for my owl cushions.
Remember these?

 I simply put them on a tree with a few leaves and left lots of space for quilting.  I kept the borders simple so as not to detract from the owls. It took me a whole day of sewing ( at least 8 hours) to do all the cutting and machine applique.

Its ready for quilting now and I decided to take my big Janome off the frame and do this one on the table top. I thought my lack of working area on the frame would hinder my feathers in the center.

I used a thick 6 oz polyester wadding/batting.  It is about an inch thick but flattens out once quilted and it makes the feather plumes nice and puffy.

Bit close with the camera here but you can see how thick the wadding is.

Freehand feathers

Simple stippling in the background makes the leaves and feathers 'pop'.

I wasn't sure how to quilt the tree but I think I've managed to give it a bark like texture.

                               
                                                                    Quilting complete.

I rounded off the corners and finished with green binding.

Now, whats next?

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Rhianon.

Frame Quilting Practice

After I finished the lone star quilt, I loaded up a plain dark blue piece of fabric onto the frame and looked out all my variegated threads.
I wanted to see how I could work feathers in a larger area.  As my machine ( Janome 1600p) only has a 9" arm space,that only gives me around a 6" working area.  Not very big at all.   So I have to find a way of working with that.
I did this by rolling the fabric back and forth in the frame.
It was valuable practice.
I used one layer of black Hobbs heirloom 80/20.  Most of the threads are Gutermann but I also used some machine embroidery threads.  They have a very high sheen to them and sew very nicely.

I started adding some sequins and beads but I'm really not sure about them.  They may have to come off.
I've moved onto my next project and this is hanging as a UFO.  Could possibly make a pair of cushions - one day!
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
Rhainon.

My Quilt Display

I can't believe I forgot to post this but two weeks ago I had my very first display of quilts.  It was at the Spring Quilt Festival in Edinburgh.
Here are some photos :

Every quilt show in Edinburgh, I always meet up with Kay Bell for a wee blether.  Kay is a fantastically talented long arm quilter who lives in the Scottish Borders on a farm.  You can find her blog The Borderline Quilter by clicking on the link.  Go and check out her work - you won't be disappointed :)

I had a fantastic time at the show. As well as getting to see my work hanging I spent lots of money on quilting supplies to make even more quilts.  Happy days!!
Before I go, can I just say thank you to everyone who left comments on my last post.  I'm sorry I have not had time to reply individually.  Life is just so busy right now and there are not enough hours in my day.  I will try and do better in future.
Have a happy weekend!
Rhianon.
P'S If you are in the area, this weekend my display is at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford in Cambridgeshire,UK