Newly updated shop

I've been wanting to update the quilt pattern shop for some time now.

Boasting a new banner, I've also loaded some new patterns. 

The First 12 days of December 2012

These 12 days are going to be hectic. Full guesthouse (thank goodness!) and a lot to do: The first Doll's Blanket is done, except for the labels.

Another couple to go.

Almost Christmas

Today I took out the Christmas quilt. Christmas: a time to love, a time to appreciate nature, a time to sit at the quiet light of a candle and a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Pandora

Creative hands challenge "I opened the box" got my creative juices going.

Pandora opening the box and exposing the world to the 7 cardinal sins.

Popular Alhonse Mucha painting, "Joan of Arc" was used as a foundation for Pandora's astounded expression.

The rough edge of the quilt was burnt and left ragged.

Dealing with depression

According to the Medical Dictionary, depression is "a mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative states such as loss of appetite and insomnia."

Dealing with this said state of depression is a daily chore. While designing this quilt for the Jacaranda Quilters Guild 2012 Challenge, I was once again reminded of that fact. Choosing the design in a traditional patchwork pattern, I had to also incorporate my interpretation of the colour wheel. The closer I came to the centre, the bigger the challenge. The project was abandoned at at least 5 stages and it was only with great support, abuse and manipulation that between my sister and fellow group members at Creative Hands, it was finished.

Except for a major "blaps" on the backing, the quilt came out very satisfactory and was crowned with a "Highly Commended" white ribbon at the friendship meeting.

 

I certainly learned a lot. The seemingly simple pattern required precise patchwork. This was a challenge on it's own for a free spirit like mine with virtually no patience. I now own an array of seam rippers in all shapes and sizes. 

The second breakthrough on this quilt was the detailed quilting in the negative spaces. I used templates for the first time. The quilt offered ample negative space where I could practice the technique. The design of the quilting is in lots of hearts, depicting the love needed by us all.

All together a very positive experience that dealt beautifully with possible depression. Does the design make you think of depression, or does it deal a blow to it?

 

Texture Challenge

As part of the Creative Hands Art Quilt group, I took part in a 9 box texture challenge. This was exhibited at  the Centurion Art Gallery earlier this year. My theme, as always: Cats.

From the top left:
Sprokie van 'n Katkind - Textured burnt and painted,
Cats' eyes - Cutouts,
5 Cats - Pieced, painted and quilted,
3 Ladies crossing the river - Silk ribbon, woven,
It's All About You - Confetti,
Amadeus in front of the fireplace - Needle felted,
I love Cats - Metalwork, beaded on hand dyed flour resist background
Oscar in the garden - Glue and paint
Jozephina on the kitchen sill - Hand paper pieced and appliqued.

Believe it or not, this took a year to do. Each square is 9 x 9 ins.

The picture used for the Confetti Quilt is one taken by Karen Pepler of her "Karnaki Its All About You" - Sealpoint Birman kitten.

Workshop with Perla Tabora

I attended a wonderful workshop on positioning of colour in a quilt on Saturday with dearest friend Perla Tabora.

 It also involved a lot of crawling on the floor. I did it om my seat and Perla crawled. We had a great time!

 

Charity Event 2012 - Jacaranda Quilters Guild

As part of Jacaranda Quilters Guild, we packed around 600 blankets and quilts on the runway at Rhino Park. The packed quilt measured 150m x 10m wide. Each blanket was carefully pinned to the adjoining ones (which led to some amusing pictures). I, for one, had difficulty walking the next day from the leopard crawling and stretching. The blankets and quilts were distributed to old age homes and other needy people. It was a fun filled (although tiring) day.

Breeders of Rex and Sphynx

This quilt was raffled at the SACC Championship show Breeders of Rex and Sphynx. I had great fun doing the quilting. I hand dyed this fabric in a workshop by Karen Scheepers. Great fun! Stunning pattern to use bits and pieces!

Jelly Roll Fun

A Jelly Roll in Batik fabric was used to create this stunning colour combination. Beige, brown black and grey. I used a paper template for the first time to quilt the flowers.Please note the quilt police under my table...

Nots an Krosses

The NYMQ 2012 turned out to be Nots and Krosses. High temperatures, high stress, lots of not's - not cool, not straight, not the right colours, not the right size, more krosses. And then, I mananged to finish the top. A bit busy, not over neat (LOL) with criss crosses and some naughts jumping out of the design. There is always the satisfaction of finishing a top - perfect or not. The resolution that my forté probably doesn't lie in perfect patches but rather in art. 

 

Note to self:  A gold embossed, red patterned  fabric will NEVER be neutral. 

How DID that happen? 

Second New Years Quilt.

OK. Lets try again. I have all the instructions, I have cut the fabric and made the OHS so, I can just as well make the quilt. Luckily I can always bribe Nkosinathi to do the B&B shift. So here I go,
1.  Make the OHS that were wrong on the first set of instructions.
2.  Do the lay out of the 9 blocks
3   Attach the side bars
4   Attach the top bars
5. Devise a border
6. Sandwich and quilt.

12:20  OHS done. Layout done and it is 16 blocks.  On my way to get the rows stitched. 40 deg Celsius in the sewing room. I wanted a sauna any way!

OK, This did not happen. Some rows done for the blocks but I'll have to learn how to do those nice red marker rings that is used on the forums to show other peoples mistakes by the cruel people.Piecing has lost its appeal completely. Pity. Expensive fabic, expensive bribes and waste of precious time.

Take a big breath. January has started in full swing!