ArtChix quiltie

This is a little quilt I made for a swap being held by Lenna. It uses supplies from Artchix and the theme is summer. The butterflies and one pear are from the garden collage collection. Paper sewn on to the quilt. Obviously not washable!! There is also a little brass tag on the basket that says 'grow'. It is not really in the Artchix style so I hope who ever receives it likes it.

Marquee Quilt #2

My first series!!
I have another marquee quilt in various stages to use as demo pieces for the guild. We will spend a whole Saturday in September making these tops.
For any guild members who bought fabric at Joyce's recently this is for you.
After washing and before storing those lovely new fabrics consider cutting a few strips for the charity quilts. Cut them selvage to selvage and a variety of widths from 1" to 2 & 1/2". Remember yours don't have to go together we will be sorting the colours at the meeting. The more variety the better!
I like to sort them on a hanger with a cardboard roll it has just enough tack to keep the strips from sliding.
These strips are sewn together to make a strata about 12" wide.

I have 2 rows of the top together. The background blocks are quite a stretch from the solid type I used last time but I like the texture. I have just been careful making sure the pattern runs the same way. My inspiration for the colour scheme was a small photo of a pillow in a magazine that I have misplaced. But it will surface eventually!

I will post additional pictures of putting the block together using chain piecing soon.

Joyce's tent sale

I bought a few fabrics at Joyce's this week. I don't usually go for cutsey stuff but I like the rooster prints. I think I will use them for a wandering-style book for a round robin in Sept. I have 2 cross-stitched roosters that will never be the pillows they were intended to be!!



The other 2 fabrics are pots of flowers that have a very French feel to them. No idea what to do with them!!

Great Mail Day

I received the prize for my rooster piece I did for the Fabric-olic group. How exciting to get such a great parcel. The owner of our group is very generous. She send me all these wonderful yarns & beads and goodies. I was very suprised to also see 2 copies of ARTitude zine because I have always wanted them.
Thanks Sammy

another challenge piece

I made another piece from the 12 swap challenge from the Fabric-olics group. Fancy, shiny sequined fabrics are not something I usually use so it was fun playing with these types of fabric. There was a nice little collection of organzas & chiffons from the packages which were perfect to try a new technique. I bought this book last summer when I was on holiday with Lisa. Lots of techniques to fuel the imagination.
Irregular shapes of sheers & metallics are sewn onto a background - i used felt here but any fabric would do - straight stitch first to tack everything down then cover with fancy stitches. I alternated sewing on the blue then the pink background to minimize thread changes. These are the new fabrics created before cutting into diamonds.
I wanted to create an argyle pattern with the diamonds but they didn't fit within the fancy lines I stitched on the background.

These diamonds can be rearranged endlessly. I know I played for what seemed like hours and finally settled on this pattern which I like better than the original plan.