Well, hello 2012!

Birds flying high, Sun in the sky
Breeze driftin' on by
It's a new dawn, It's a new day,  It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Happy new year everyone and yes, I'll be sewing along with the online forum at about.com on the Annual New Years Mystery Quilt 2012.

9:24 - Fabrics are cut and I'm waiting in anticipation for the first sewing instructions... 

10:20 - Check my new pinkish purply cutting board! No instructions yet. 

11:35 - Nothing. I'm going to play with fabric paint. Will see if I still do the quilt. Pity the fabric is all cut up.

And happy Christmas too you - 2011

Going through my pictures I realise that I seldom take photo's of completed quilts. I'll have to take a picture of this one again some day!

Special remembrance

A special quilt for a special friend that shares the passion for music. This fabric captured a moment in time for her.

Pennant for the London 2012 Olympics

At P's and Q's we decided to get involved in the quest to make a hand made pennant for each athlete competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in England.

This is my humble contribution

Strip quilt for a teacher friend

This is a picture of a strip quilt I made for a teacher friend of mine. Lovely fabric!

More cats

And yes, yet another cat quilt!

This quilt finished at 30 x 30 ins and was made using a bought pattern from Sundrop Designs and a "Very Berry" Amafu roll. Adapted paper pieced logpattern. It was done rather quickly - as always.

Launching of Lenad Quilting Patterns

If you are interested in some of my quilting patterns, they can be downloaded from here.

Enjoy!

The second quilt finished for the 3rd of June

This is the cat quilt I finished for my DS for the 3rd of June. There are lots of cats on that quilt.

She was really happy with it and told me that she is going to take this with her to Ireland. This and other patterns available for download here

The first of the quilts finished for the 3rd of June 2011

In our family, all our birthdays are crammed into 2 days in June and 2 weeks in September/October. This year my DSIL (Darling Sister in Law) Petro, had her 60th birthday and my DS (Darling Sister) her 50th Birthday both on the 3rd of June.

Logistically we had to make decisions around Pretoria, Portarlington and Cape Town. We landed up in Cape Town for the weekend to spend some time with Petro (DSIL)

Petro was thrilled with her quilt. For me, it was a bit of a challenge to work with the browns and muted greens, but I learned a lot about the importance of contrast to keep a quilt from being boring without using psychedelic colours.

And yes, if you wondered: it is Petro that is holding the quilt. The one that turned 60. Amazing woman that looks 40.

We had a splendid time in Cape Town. Spent some time with Kenneth and Kirsten as well and ate too much, as always. Johan and I went to Kirstenbosch on Sunday morning, photographing the beautiful winter gardens. (Confetti quilt or two from that photo session) I also took some very beautiful pictures of birds for a realistic appliqué quilt of common South African birds... Some of the patterns are now available for download from here

The painting (cont)

I'm finally standing with the finished painting at the opening of the exhibition at the Alette Wessels Kunskamer in Pretoria.

Landscapes: a Colourful Palette

At last! We had he opening of the exhibition on the 8th of May. What an experience. With a record breaking 160 guests in attendance, Lynette ten Krooden opened the exhibition.

 

My thanks to Pieter, for allowing me the chance to prove myself, my DH Johan for allowing me the space to create, Ethelda, for all the teaching, fabric and support, Elize van Biljon for her honest opinion, good common sense and emotional support and all the other quilting friends I met along the way, giving tips, tricks and encouragement. Quilting does not have to stand back one inch in the world of art! 

 

My dear friend Pieter at the opening of the exhibition

Quilting companions

Trying to bind Kenny's strip quilt amidst a "cat"-astrophic political situation. Many a piece of cat hair sewn into most of my quilts!  Oscar (Wilde) the Siamese on the left hand is now 16 years old. Fleur, the white Devon on the right is in dire need of a bath. Under my left arm is Amadeus, the black devon. The three of them is permanently bickering about the best position on mommy's lap. A wider shot would have shown the two black poodles laying on my legs and Wanda the German Shepherd at the door.  Such a happy family!

Heibie's hexagons

I hand stitched this quilt for my DH. I used a brilliant technique found at the Sew many Ways Blog . Thanks to Karen and her clear instructions.  This quilt was machine quilted.

Rooi Malvas

This quilt is made in the Confetti Technique taught by Noriko Endo. Fabric confetti pieces covered with silk netting and then embroidered and quilted in free style. This is still in progress...

Cat quilt for Mariette Burger

I made this cat quilt for the cat lady, Mariette for her birthday. It was paper pieced on temp foundation in tafeta. I have since almost given up on piecing with tafeta. (the song with lyrics, Slip sliding away, comes to mind). the quilt is hanging in the kitten room of LaMaska Cattery.

New years day mystery quilt 2011

I joined the quilting forum at about.com for Janet Wickell's Mystery quilt on new years day.

This quilt is going to my youngest son, Danie. In his words: I like the squares, it fits my personality. Danie is doing his second year of articles as accountant this year. 

Imigqa Yomlingo

My very first quilt as you go project. String pieced directly onto batting and backing. Sashed by machine and hand. Primary and secondary colours with black.

This quilt has a very strong african feel to it, hence the name in Zulu.

 The label reads: Hierdie kwilt is met baie liefde gemaak vir Kenny, my primêre kind, deur jou Ma, Danél vir Kersfees 2010.  (Translated: This quilt was made with a lot of love, for Kenny, my primary child, by your mother Danel, for Xmas 2010)  Kenny is my oldest son, but also a great artist in his own right. He loves working in primary colours.

Thanks to Jadi-leigh Wessels for the picture of the completed quilt! 

Master, mentor, friend and sister

I can't blog a story about quilting without including a piccie of my sister Ethelda. She has been such an inspiration through all my crazy ideas. Cautioning me to neatness, inspiring me with new ideas and revolutionary techniques. My only sibling, I can be so greatful for her influence in my life.

This picture was taken just before she left for Ireland last November. She is working there for a year. I miss her dearly.

I spy, pieced in satin ribbon

I had an idea. I had the ribbon (Thanks Mariette!) I sat down and I pieced and pieced and pieced!!! This was pieced on 100% percale permanent foundation.

And pieced

Kaylen's baby quilt

At the Alberton quilt show in 2008, I attended a workshop given by Marianne Niemand. We did this beautiful little pattern and I completed the quilt in time for Christmas to give to Kaylen.

It was the first time my DH was confronted with fabric cut into pieces and then sewed together again, differently. He questioned my sanity then and ever since.

The Painting

In October 2010, my dear friend and international artist, Pieter Janse van Rensburg, asked me to do an interpretation of one of his paintings in fabric for an exhibition April 2011.

Although huge, this project is still a lot of fun and working with the design of a Master, brings you back to the basics. Light and shadow, circle of movement, Colour and contrast. He joined me for a visit with my sister and mentor Ethelda Ellis, for a quick educational tour in painting with fabric. I grabbed the camera to capture the two masters jabbing away, both of them in awe about each other's work. I was speechless.  This is a rare opportunity that I value and treasure!

The painting I'm interpreting is also featured on Pieter's Website at http://www.pieterjansevanrensburg.co.za

I'm doing this in Pam Holland's technique of realistic applique.

Watch this space for the completed quilt!

Stork tea for Alexis

My dearest friend Mariette Burger, helped me create this "nappy cake" for Alexis' Stork Tea. This is a novel idea, and it was wonderful to see Mariette's skilled hands create this masterpeice from a bag full of nappies, blankies, toys and dummies! Clever people surround themselves with skillfull friends!!

Mariette owns and manages Ribbons and Rosettes creating breathtakingly beautiful rosettes for cat,dog, horse and commercial shows and breeds Siamese, Oriental and Peterbald cats in her LaMaska cattery.

Baa Baa Blacksheep

Quilt for Alexis, my grand daughter.
Aplique with hand embroydered faces. I included a little black sheep on the quilt on my husband's insistence. Fun little project.

I don't seem to have a picture of the completed quilt though! What a pity! This was completed in September 2010.

Alexis Muller

Little bag blue

I made this little shoulder bag for my son's girlfriend for Xmas 2010. 

Strip pieced ribbon on percale. Embellished with satin rose rosette and beads, 

Quick and easy project! 

The enchanted forest

I made this quilt as an exaple while doing a workshop with Ethelda Ellis in Noriko Endo's confetti quilt technique. I'm mostly thrilled with the end result. It pics up the impressionest light beautifully.

Where it all started,

This is the first major  quilt I ever did. It took me around 3 years to complete.

It was my objective to use this huge world map as an icebreaker with new guests. It works like a charm.

This quilt was done, using realistic applique on handpainted background.  My sister and mentor was instructing me every step of the way.


The quilt was finished at the end of July 2010