Time To Quilt

I forgot to show you this quilt.
It was published a few months back in Patchwork and Stitching. Didn't they do an amzing job of staging it for the photo?

It was features on the cover of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine Vol 15 No. 8.
I had a few dramas while making this. The most dramatic was when I had finished the middle applique and then cut it wrong (the sides sloped into a parralelogram) and I had to re do it.

I love the way it turned out though and it was an excellent way to use up the pieces of floral I had hanging around.

Newsletter

I've started writing a Newsletter for my quilting customers. I'll repeat it here (apart from the giraffe photo which I shared in the last blog update) with colour photos.

After Piece Newsletter

September 2014

Hello there, dear quilting friends.

I thought it might be a nice idea for me to send you a letter with news about what I have been doing and what is coming up. You are receiving this letter because you have expressed interest in my quilting service or you have already had a quilt sewn together by me.

Firstly, thank you to all my lovely customers who have placed their quilts in my hands to work with. I enjoy seeing all the different quilt tops that pass through my little studio.

Most of you know by now that I have upgraded my smaller Husqvanna Viking set up for a larger and computer driven set up. This change over took a few months to sort out, but has been well worth the wait. Those customers that have already had a top quilted using the QBOT system have all agreed that the new patterns are lovely. The QBOT works so well as an edge to edge, over all quilting system. However I have also been experimenting with my own quilts to do custom finishes.

I submitted one of these custom finishes, which had QBOT block patterns combined with my own free motion quilting into the Penrith show. The quilt received a second place ribbon in the commercially quilted class, which I was very pleased about as I had no idea of the standard of entries before I took the plunge. Now that I’ve seen the first place quilt, I’m sure I can top it for next year. J

Just after I upgraded to the larger, more advanced set up I had some professional Development sessions with Master Quilter Michele Turner of Pinetree Cottage Quilting. Michele has won many awards and been quilting for 10 years, though she is now winding down her quilting operations while she studies. I learned a lot from Michele. She built upon my knowledge with lots of small detail type hints which have helped to polish the way I work.

Below is a photo of the work I did for Caroline Wilkinson on her baby quilt. The filling stitching around the applique is highly influenced by Michele’s teachings. Carolyn was very pleased with the work I did for her and said I could quote her as saying the quilting had taken her patchwork to a new level. That feels like very high praise indeed, and exactly what I aim to do for you and your quilts.

Here is my newest pattern to be published. It's in this month’s edition of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine. These placemats are foundation pieced and the coasters were made with scraps.

September Quilty tip.

I can’t claim to have thought of this little gem. I saw it on the back of a quilt at the Springwood quilting show (sorry I can’t remember which one).

Use vintage doilies as labels for the back of your quilt. I picked up an assortment for a good price on Gumtree. Then I used an iron erasable pen to write my message and back stitched onto the doily. It’s easy then to slip stitch it to the back of the quilt.

And yes … it took me 14 years to complete this particular quilt (it’s the one I entered into the Penrith show). I made the quilt top in 2000 with help from a quilting show on Foxtel. It was one of my first quilts and I was so proud of what I had made I was hesitant to quilt it for fear of wrecking it. For the show I custom quilted it using QBOT block patterns in the middle blocks, in the ditch and scallops for the house and free motion feathers in the border. 

Thanks for reading

Jennidee

July's Magazine Project

I'I ran out of m well into my next project for Patchwork and Stitching magazine.
Here is a sneak peek.

Of course it has to involve applique ... my favourite thing to do.
The materials I picked up on special from Fortunes and Fairies, in Richmond NSW and I've been itching to use them. It was only a few months ago that I bought them so I was grateful when Louise, the new editor gave me the go ahead to do the quilt.

I ran out of the nice firm stabiliser I use behind my applique and the two patchwork shops I've been to so far don't stock it, so I guess that means a trip to spotlight tomorrow. Although one shop did sell me a different stabiliser that looks promising. It has perferations on it so you can just tear it off when you are finished. But it can't go anywhere near an iron or it melts. I might give it a try tomorrow morning before driving the half an hour to spotlight.

I hope your projects are all going well!
Jennidee

Elephant WIP and Issue 15.2

I've had a productive day with everyone out of the house.
The Indian Elephant I'm working on is coming along nicely. Here's a WIP photo and I'll show the full thing once it has been published.

Meanwhile, my project is in the latest issue of Patchwork and Stitching (Vol 15 No.2)

That's my hearts cushion on the cover (on the white chair).

I gave it to my daughter when she was feeling a bit low and said it carried my love with it. So she took it with her when she walked to a friend's house recently. It's nice to know she's taking my love with her!

Keep Stitching
Jennidee

Hats

I'm working on a quilt for the Springwood Community Quilt Show. It will have at least 5 different hat blocks.
Here is the first as a WIP

Well, it was going to be the first ... but then it was snapped up by the editor of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine to be made into a wall hanging. It hasn't been slotted into an issue yet ... will have to keep you posted on that.

Meanwhile I'm working on an Elephant for P and S magazine which will go in a hoop.

Thanks for reading
Jennidee

Here's to a New Year

I've started with a new design.
This may look like a pillow ...

Well, it kind of is. It's a quillow. It's a quilt which has a pocket at the back. you can then fold the whole quilt inside itself to make a pillow.

The snow flake design is for the Winter edition of Patchwork and Stitching (on sale later in 2014).
The quilt has 3 applique snow flakes and 3 pieced blocks all set in a checkerboard style with this wonderful snowflake fabric I found at Penrith Patchwork.

Once I've finished writing the instructions for this quilt it's off to the magazine for photography.

Next week I plan to work on a very large fairy applique quilt to show at the Springwood Quilt show which is coming up.

I also need to work on my '10' entry for the Australasian quilt show.

Guess I'm starting the year off as busy as ever!
Jennidee

Christmas is just around the corner! And it's challenge time!

And the next Patchwork and stitching issue with my angel doll in it is all Christmas themes;

You can just see my little angel next to the Christmas tree on the left.

I also have a small quilt project in the issue.

 

It has Suffolk puffs (or Yo-yos) as the berries.

And this seems like a perfect time to announce my upcoming challenge!

The Suffolk Puff Challenge.

You will have to make something with Suffolk puff (yo-yos) in it and send in a photo.
There will be a prize for the best entry, the best use of puffs, and a viewers choice. I'll announce the prizes.
The item can be any size.
To enter you do need to be a follower. There is also a small entry fee ... I'd like you to send me 5 Suffolk puffs in different sizes, because I saw this amazing quilt with loads and loads of puffs all over it like flowers and I'd love you to help me make it. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of it. It's in one of my LARGE collection of magazines.

The challenge will end on the 31st of January 2014. That gives you loads of time to make something.
More info soon - but get your thinking caps on, and please spread the work!
Jennidee

Little Fox

Hi everyone
I have a little fox pattern in the next issue of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine

He was made with really Funky prints material. My daughter wanted him as soon as he was finished and when he came back form photography she grabbed him for her room. My husband thinks he's really funny (which for him is a compliment).

 

This looks like an awesome issue actually and I can't wait to get my contributors copy. The hedgehogs look too cute and the pillow is pretty too.

 

Anyway, it's due out a the newsagent's soon.

 

Thanks

Jennidee

My Quilt in the Next Patchwork and Stitches

That's my Crinoline Lady Quilt on the front cover. She is one of the nicest quilts I've made I think.

Here is a shot of the full quilt I took this afternoon.

The crinoline lady is applique and so are the flower borders (apart from the button sewn in the middle). The hearts are also applique and the lattice is a pieced border. She is quite heavily quilted with a spiral design around the applique.

I can't wait to get her hung on my wall, though she's big enough to sit on the bed really.

The issue with pattern and instructions will be out soon.

 

And don't forget the fabric giveaway (see previous blog entry). There have only been a few entries so far, I'd love you to spread the word about it.

Thanks

Jennidee

On the Cover Again

I'm delighted to for my project to be featured on the cover of Patchwork and Stitching Vol 14 No. 2

And here is the wonderful styling they produced to photograph the quilt.

I love the way the projects are presented in magazines. You could use these as inspirations for decorating your home. It's not that obvious in the photo, but I quilted this one using an all over meander (or stipple) design. I haven't used that design in a while now ... interesting how we change!

 Once again, thankyou for following this blog. And with a few new followers on board, I'm curious to know how you found me. Would you please leave a comment below so I can find out?

Thanks,
Happy creating
 Jennidee

OOps 22nd Feb already?

I've been a bad little blogger haven't I?

Well I received a magazine in the post today which features two of my patchwork designs and my profile. Talk about a lovely slap on the wrist. With my blog details published, I decided I'd better get my finger out. The magazine isn't out until the 1st of March, so I'd better not show you any of the articles until then, but I can show you the pattern I had in World of Cross Stitching last month.

Here's the Front cover with a picture of my design (so proud ... squeal).

And here is the article inside (with my ugly mug in the corner).

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to scan. I've just been so busy with the project deadlines looming fast and furious at the moment.

I'll scan in the profile and the two project pictures when the magazine hits the news agents.

Until then, I'm making lots of hexagons for a Peacock in Grandmother's garden ... but you won't get to see that until later in the year!

Jennidee

Works In Progress

I've had a very busy weekend with my son's 16th birthday party, but I did a get a chance to work on some designs for up coming magazines.

The rose design will be applique and done in the fabrics you can see behind the blackline designs. They are teh colours requested by Patchwork and Stitching magazine, but it won't be published until 2013. It's not dues until mid October, but I like to get ahead on these things.

The butterfly is for a cross stitch ... finally!!! Of course I still have to colour it, but I'm thinking the magical swirl behind the butterfly will be a rainbow.

There are four more weeks until the school holidays, and after that my work load at the child care center should slow down with the return of one of their regular staff members. I'll be able to get more design work done. But the money has been so welcome. It's almost as if the universe knew our finances would be stretched the past few months and sent us a boon. So thankyou very much divine workings of the powers that be!

Today I need to finish the green quilt for my son. I would have had it done yesterday, but I ran out of the black mateial I'm using for the binding. Today is his actual birthday, so I'll get it done and give it to him tonight. I"ll post a picture of course!

Thanks again for reading
Jennidee

On the cover

Forgive me for not sharing this with you before ... I've been so busy.
The above image shows my quilt "Nouveau Crazy" (the quilt hanging at the back with purple and blue checks around the border) on teh cover of Patchwork and Stitching Magazine. This magazine is the sister mag to Australian Patchwork and Quilting.

I'm hoping that I can contribute to both magazines more in the future.

The center of this quilt uses needle turn applique, which is pretty slow. So I've started using the quicker technique of iron on (fusable) backing applique. I'm currently desinging another quilt with this techniaue (in between getting some work done on items with dealines, including a piece for a wedding whgich is nearly finished and my father in law's 70th birthday quilt which we are presenting tomorrow ... I'll post photos).

Thanks to the new followers who came across from the Crafty Princess Blog. I'll be designing the give away chart in the next day or two.

Busy, busyt, busy.