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.

Colourful Cushion

Hi there

This week I finished this cushion, which is a commission for a friend.  The brief was ' bright colours ' and I think this fits the bill.

The block in the center is a design by Jennie Rayment.  It's a great block to make and uses the same principal as Cathedrial Windows.  Click on photo for close up.

I machine quilted it and hand embroidered the name for that personal touch.

I really hope the birthday girl likes it.

Also this week my iron broke - a disaster for any quilter. It happened in the week my girls went back to school and my youngest daughter had a birthday, so there was not much spare cash going.
So I bought the cheapest iron I could find.  £3.99 from Argos!!
What a fantastic buy !!!  It is so light to handle and does the job perfectly.

Little new iron on the left, big broken one on the right.

I will get a bigger, better one eventually but I think I will continue to use this one for pressing my seams.

I've also been busy putting together a baby/toddler quilt and hope to get it quilted this weekend.  Pictures in the next post.

Finally, I've entered my Bird of Paradise into the Quilting bloggers competition this week.   Yes i know its the second week in a row, but it will be the last this year.  It just so happened that it fitted into the theme of this weeks comp.  I am not allowed to win any prizes because I came 3rd last week, so it's just a bit of fun.
  If you would like to vote for my birdy then here is the link
http://quiltinggallery.com/2011/08/26/embroidery-stitchery-quilts/

Again , there are some beautiful quilts to vote for - there are so many talented, creative people out there.
Of course I would appreciate your vote.
Have a great weekend, whatever you are up to and to all my American friends - stay safe and out of the way of hurricane Irene.
Til next time
happy sewing
Rhianon.