Feathered Swirls

A customer quilt that really wanted some feathers allover it.  So I quilted my Feathered Swirls.  Went down really well with the floral fabrics.

Queensland Quilt Show

The Queensland Quilt Show opened today in Brisbane.  After hanging the quilts yesterday I returned today as I had been emailed that I was receiving an award.  They don't let on what the winning quilts are even to the hanger uppers!

My "Serenstar" came second in the Professional Small Quilts category.  All pieced and quilted on the Trusty Janome 6600. So now I have another ribbon for my collection, plus a fabric collection from Moda.

It feels great to have a quilt that you have made yourself hanging for everyone else to see.

Out with the Old

I worked as a Census collector this year and decided I would reward myself with a new domestic machine.  I have had my Janome 6600 for almost six years, and it had always performed wonderfully.  BUT when I attended the Janome Dealers day last year on the 7700 Horizon I knew that I would have to get one soon.

I waited 12 months so I think that was good.  Now I have a Janome 6600P for sale if anyone would like a great machine, it is in having a service ready for a new owner.

So the new machine sits on top of my sewing table awaiting a larger hole to be cut so it can sit a table level.  I have plugged it in , but I haven't sewed with it yet.

I have the perfect project ready for me to Free Motion Quilt.  The top was made just after we moved to Queensland to remind me of the Blue Wrens I had living in my garden.  We have been in our Queensland home now for just over 3 years and the gardens must be established enough, that I am now seeing Blue Wrens coming into my garden, so it is time to complete it.

No Quilting Today

Well I have tried to put two quilts on the frame this morning.

The first one I only had to quilt the borders for a customer but the steam and starch haven't shrunk it back to flat.  That extra 1" or so on the outside does not want to get any smaller.  So back to the csutomer it goes.

I can't quilt out everything!!!!

The second quilt, I rolled the backing on pulled out the wadding and it has been used for a lap quilt previously.  There is not enough for me to even join it to make enough for this large single quilt.

I give up.  Today I will finish off some class projects and notes!

New M'nM APQS wheels

I decided to shout my longarm machine some new wheels.  I have had Edgeriders on it for 18months, and thought it was time I bought the new wheels that APQS now have for their machines.

I was sceptical and did not think they would make much of a difference.

I was wrong.  They make a huge difference to how easily the machine moves on the table.  I had no trouble before stitching feathers, they are now just so much easier to do.

The first quilt I loaded after my husband put the new wheels on was for a customer who wanted flurry of feathers on a hand pieced hexagon quilt.

I really like this quilt top.  Green and beige hexagons stitched together randomly.  There was only one paper left in the back.  Usually there are more.

The feathers quilted easily and smoothly and I enjoyed myself quilting for a longer time than I would normally quilt, as my machine seemed to be working with me.

2011 EKKA Quilts Across Queensland

I entered three of my Quilts in the EKKA this year.  I enter the quilts so everyone else can look at them.  They are not made specifically for a show, just made for me and I share!

Over the River, which was the Champion at Toowoomba show came second in the Representative Quilts Class.

Spring Diamond and Serenstar both came third in their classes.  Now I will have some more pretty rosettes for my wall.
This quilt top is looking really great with all these ribbons.

Quilting Makes a Difference

Another customer quilt that will be given to a granddaughter.  I thought I would show a before and after picture so you could see the difference that custom quilting makes to a block.

This is the before shot.  I need to pin any unquilted areas as I roll the quilt so that they don't form puckers.

This is the after photo with a background fill behind the kimono girls.  There was also some stitching across the applique as thes girls were quite large.  Without it they puffed up.

I also put a cherry blossom and leaf background fill  behind the butterflies.

The early morning sun through my bedroom window is a good light to photograph with but I get the shadows of the window frames.