A Feathered Cushion!

One of the requirements for my recent workshop with Anna Maria Horner was a quilt block, layered up reading for handquilting.

So I was delighted to re-discover my sample Feather block, made from AMH's pattern, from my first bee with Mid Century Modern Bee back in 2013.

I've spent the last few weeks hand quilting it and 

now it is a cushion!

I found the perfect backing in my stash- a C&S linen 

printed with arrows!

I chose a envelope closure and no trim, 

keeping things simple....

letting the hand quilting shine!

I love the texture created!

Susan

Where does the time go?

Can it really be a fortnight since my last 

blogpost?

Needless to say, I don't have much to show...

some purchases from a weekend market...

the beginnings of a new quilt...

all my Chuck Nohara blocks together...

time to choose those for March making.

and my addition (mainly along the bottom) to the 

the travelling bee block!

Now, if anyone can tell me how to find more hours in the day....

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Three for Three!

I have been a part of MCM Bee for the last three 

years,

but it's time to move on.

But I thought it was important to acknowledge the wonderful friendships, albeit long distance ones, that were created along the way!

My first quilt in 2013 was "Birds of A Feather"

The lesson learned was that everyone's printer 

works 

differently, giving a variety of paper pieced feathers.

This one certainly made me think about, and play 

with the layout!

 My 2014 quilt, only finished earlier this year because 

I hand quilted it...

was my "Rainbow Connection".

I hope one day to have a wall big enough to hang 

this on, and so remember all my bee buddies,

 everyday!

And the last finish was my "Stepping into Christmas"

table runner!

So, three quilts in three years!

Thanks ladies, I have had a ball!

Happy Christmas everyone!

SUZ 

It's finished!

I am very proud to share my "Birds of a Feather" 

quilt with you today!

With fewer diagonal lines....

Most of the blocks came from my delightful friends 

in the Mid-Century Modern Bee!

I hope I have done justice to their beautiful feathers?

I find the quilting part the most stressful....

(Not knowing whether my quilting is good enough or if I have done enough?)

I quilted with 40 weight Aurifil in 

a lovely silvery grey colour (#2615)

with lots of randomly spaced straight(ish) 

diagonal lines...

with some 'arrows' echoing the feather points 

at one end...

In this photo you might be able to see the variation in background fabrics I used...

and the other...

I chose a scrappy orange and turquoise binding....

It finishes at about 60" square.

Here's the back with it's siggy blocks...

I do have a few more photos to share....

the obligatory 'rolled up' quilt!

hanging on a fence...

and lounging on a seat!

And, by the way, I love it!

 (This is my second finish for this quarter 
of the F-A-L!)

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Birds of a Feather...

flock together.

Yes, I have my AMH "Feathers" quilt top complete!

I'll be honest,

I struggled for a time...

with rectangles of various sizes,

in both width and length, 

I couldn't get my head around their placement- 

the angles

and where the edges of quilt should be...

I decided I needed something as 

 a reference point.

You can see the quilt underneath the Feather blocks...

So I picked a quilt off the pile 

to use as my design wall.

I then set about 

placing, cutting and re-stitching 

sections and setting triangles,

until it was together! 

Nothing too mathematical, just trial and error really!

The top now measures roughly 60" square.

Do you think it needs borders?

There are a lot of bias edges to contend with!

But I have no more background solid left-

neither Kona Ash nor the original background fabric!

( I thought I might even run 

out of fabric altogether at one stage!)

 I could always order more, 

including the backing I now need!

In the meantime I am waiting for 

quilting inspiration to strike!

Thank you ladies of the Mid-Century Modern Bee...

I love my quilt!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

F-A-L List...

It really has been a year of 'slow sewing' in my little corner of blogland.

I've decided I needed a push to have some more 

finishes before the year really gets away from me!

So I am joining in with the FAL, 

ably run by Leanne over @ She Can Quilt;

 And putting my list out there for all to see...

1.   "Feathers" Bee quilt:

I have decided on the 'angled' layout and 

begun piecing it together.  

I would love to have this complete- 

machine quilted and bound by the end of this quarter!

2.   Reindeer Games embroideries:

I have picked these up intermittently over the last couple of months and would really to have them made into Christmas bunting, with time to spare!

I have four more to complete and then come up with a plan on how to finish them!

3. Knitted jumper (sweater to my Northern Hemisphere friends):

I only have the collar to knit (but it is a BIG one!) and sew it together. To be wearing it this winter would be great! 

That's it! Three in three months!

As Mum used to say, "We'll see!"

At least the variety of my projects might keep me motivated!

Happy days!

SUZ

Design Decisions....

Having spent over a week away from my sewing 

machine and fabric,

I was itching to jump back in!

And my Mid-Century Modern Bee 

feathers were calling me!

I have them all now, except one which seems to be 

flying around the world, somewhere!

I don't have a design wall, 

so often ideas take time to develop in my imagination.

I toyed with this idea for a while....

You may be able to tell from this photo (above),

but my feathers are not all the same size!

(I was warned!)

So I did some measuring..... 

Their widths ranged from 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 inches!

With some creative 'trimming'

(I hope my bee ladies don't mind!)

I now have five 'strips', 

of varying widths and lengths....

The middle 'column' will probably have another feather added to it?

Mmm, I don't think so...

ready for some more design decisions.....

I think I'll just sleep on it!

(Maybe my bee ladies, or other commenters will share their ideas with me?)

Happy days!

SUZ

All work and no play....

Well, I don't know about Jack 

but my life has been decidedly dull,

while my worklife threatened to take over!

So I took the opportunity last night to treat 

myself...

and do a little stitching!

I am getting closer to a finish of Ginger Kisses...

(I have spent over thirty hours quilting this so far!)

Then today I made another feather....

to go with the first...

And to finish off the weekend a family celebration for 

 Daniel's birthday!

Dan and Jenny                  MrPnP and I 

Can't imagine where those years went?

That's probably enough excitement for one weekend,

cos its back to work for me tomorrow!

Happy days!

SUZ