Stop Press - News Day!

Wow I have managed to post again with some news, just as I planned, which, for me, is a big achievement!

So what's news this week? Well this is a little late in coming but is no less exciting for me, or other longarm owners who have a computerised system.  Back in January Handi Quilter launched Pro-Stitcher Designer which I have to say really does make me excited and I am not someone who even really like computers!!

Pro-Stitcher has, until now, used Art and Stitch as the digitising software if you wanted to design your own quilting patterns.  I upgraded my machine in August to an Amara with Pro-Stitcher and I had Art and Stitch included.  However, I made a conscious decision not to try to learn that aswell as learning everything about Pro-Stitcher and I had earmarked this New Year to start my digitising design journey.  But then Pro-Stitcher Designer was launched and, once I received my Educator version, I  had to give it a go, didn't I?!

I found the package to be very user friendly and intuitive and not more than 10 minutes later I had a design and a stitch out!!  In my haste to stitch out I just threw a scrap of fabric on top of my other practice piece!

This is a design I could do using rulers but I just love the precision that Pro-Stitcher can achieve and have lots of line quilting running around my head now.

Then for some wavy lines ....

I am going to really enjoy playing with thread build up in some of these patterns.  Handi Quilter recently released a new update to Pro-Stitcher which includes the ability to be able to have Designer installed on the PS tablet and so go between the two packages whilst at your machine - it's going to be so great to use it this way if just a little tweak is required.  Update can be found here - PS Software Update - Beta.

Just to note that this has not yet been released in the UK but when it is it will be available from Pinhole Quilting, date TBC!

*** STOP PRESS ***

Dates have just been released for 2 days of Pro-Stitcher Training, which I am delighted to be teaching, at Pinhole Quilting 

in June 2020.

For further details head on over to the listing ....

My Best of 2016

Having read other people's posts for My Best of 2016 hosted by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs, I thought I would take a few minutes and look back at my year (I also took the opportunity of getting some pages up to date at the same time).  One thing I started this year was a monthly review and I have really enjoyed looking back at the months. Sadly I stopped this from August but having just browsed through my posts this is something I would like reinstate for 2017.

However, now we are looking back .... in no particular order and with no particular scientific way of picking them I give you My Best of 2016 ....

PICK A LETTER, ANY LETTER!

I love this little quilt that I made for my Mum's 80th birthday.

I tried lots of new things on it and they all worked.

Best of all she loves it and has it hanging in her lounge!

ANZAC HEARTS

This gets on the list because it was my oldest WIP - over 6 years to finish but it has stood the test of time because I still love it.

Also it won a rosette at a show in May which made me rather happy!!

NEW QUILT BLOGGERS

This was such a wonderful group to be part of and I learnt so much about so many things!

I am hoping I fit the criteria to be able to join again in 2017 because I still have so much to learn.

CLOUD 9 NEW BLOCK BLOG HOP

My first ever block design for this Blog Hop.

I really enjoyed the process and would love to design more in 2017.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

This is definitely my favourite make of 2016, in fact it might be my favourite make to date!

I love that the design in my head came out into the real world just as I imagined it.

I was also really excited to find that I won a Best Piecing rosette at a show in November.

Today we are starting to take down the decorations and I will then be able to look to next year.  I would love to join Yvonne's #2017PlanningParty but I need some quiet time to get my head into gear and really think about what I want to do in 2017.  We have big changes coming up on our family front which I have still to get my head around!!

Bloggers' Quilt Festival - Should I Stay or Should I Go - Autumn 2016

I have only just become aware that Amy from Amy's Creative Side runs a Bloggers' Quilt Festival, which is currently in its 8th year.  I have decided to enter into it this year and look forward to checking out all the other entries over the next couple of weeks.

My first entry is in the Original Designs Category and is Should I Stay or Should I Go, which was made in May this year as an entry into the Quilts UK theme category, Where The Heart Is.  I designed the Union Jack flag and the New Zealand flag as a representation that my heart lies in two countries.  If you want to know more about the process and final outcome then pop over to my post here.

The Union Jack was designed as a faithful rendition of the 3:5 ratio flag that is flown on land.  It was made using a variety of red and blues from my stash, with the white stripes being Kona Cotton White.

The New Zealand flag incorporates the Union Jack at a 1/4 scale along with 4 paper pieced outlined stars.  This was the first time I had made a paper piecing template and paper pieced something so small.  Luckily back in March New Zealand voted to keep this flag in their referendum so it is still current!

This currently hangs in my studio and I still love seeing it every day.  Let me know if you are going to enter so that I can pop over and visit. x

My second entry is in the Mini Quilt Category and you can see it here.

Let's Bee Social ....

It seems like ages since I have linked up to Lorna's lovely little (or rather big really!) gathering, aka Let's Bee Social, on a Wednesday.  Today I have made a concerted effort to take some photos and get a post up!

It's a new project and it's got to be fully finished by Friday 13 May - just counted the days and that is just over 5 weeks.  I should get it done, although there's the added issue of my husband disappearing for 3 1/2 of those weeks back to New Zealand!  I made my first entry for a show in 3 1/2 weeks last summer and was fully encouraged by all the support I got here each Wednesday.  I think I may use this link up as a push to show my progress.

It's based on flags - the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag ...

When I wasn't so well before Easter I started planning and practicing the little paper pieced stars ....

Then onto the design of the Union Jack.  I know that there are some patterns out there but, as is my way, I wanted to design it myself.  That way I know it will fit my required measurements and also be as true to the flag's dimensions as I can make it.

It's going to be made up of 2 1/2 squares - a lot of them ....

I have finally put chalk to blackboard in my studio and have written up a rather long list of things to be done!

Finally got to the stage of playing around with some of the squares ....

So there's some serious sewing to do in this house, but we're off ice skating now!!! x