Striped Pyjamas

Well I could lie and say I just whipped this little beauty up over the weekend but that isn't quite true.  While it is true to say that it is a quick quilt I actually whipped the centre up about three weekends ago, the pale light outer border two weekends ago and the final dark border this past weekend.

The whole quilt was made from a few Moda scrap bags which I ordered earlier this year and so it cost me the grand total of less than $20 which I think is fantastic.  The scrap bags weigh half a pound each and are filled with lots of selvedge strips each being about 32in long and with a usable width of 2 1/4in. For me this was perfect as I prefer to have my strips cut parallel to the selvedge as there is less stretch that way.  
This was actually my first attempt at the 1600 quilt although I didn't have 1600in worth of strips.  I might have had that much but I only wanted to use the stripes in the central panel.  I had been trying to work out a quick easy design since the fabric arrived about February and when all of this talk started about the 1600 quilt I thought it was perfect.  
I am really pleased with the finished product ...well it is a topper and that for me classes as finished ..until quilting motivation hits and that won't be anytime soon as I am working on my entry for the Sydney Quilt show next June:)

Ooops wrong day

I just found the correct schedule for the 100 Blocks blog tour and my day isn't Tuesday at all.  I am one of the last on the tour and my blog will be featured on the Friday.  I would tell you who else will be on with me but I don't know if I'm allowed to but it will definitely be worth checking out the others..there are some big names. 
If you like intricate paper pieced blocks then you may like mine...but I can't reveal it yet..so drop back in on Friday 11th November for a chance to win your own copy of 100 Blocks volume 4.  All of the blocks are brand new.

Frenzied Felix

Now you must agree Felix is the cutest cat you have ever seen?  
I found this lovely book in the local library on crotcheted cats and couldn't resist.... have since bought several other books with different crotchet projects and am having a ball.  I can see a new hobby starting here.  
Paul looks on in amazement at these things and wonders where it will stop and what will I do with them all... who cares it's fun:)

Frenzied Friday - Hilde's Camels

Well I have finished three quilts in my quest to knock down the number of UFOs and I now plan to make a start on Hilde's quilt.  Hilde is Richard's girlfriend and when they were recently in Dubai she saw a quilt she fell in love with.  Richard, being the loyal son that he is said that he didn't think it was as good as what I could make and so I am now in the process of designing a camel quilt.I had lots of ideas and sent these over to which he responded she wants identical camels in plain fabric on plain background with plain borders framing every block just like the attached photo.  
 Well thankfully for me, if not for Hilde, my supply of plain fabric is nonexistent and so I figured I would go with tone on tones instead.  

 Hopefully she will like that, as I am certain there is no way on earth that I would ever finish a quilt which only used plain fabrics combined with plain fabrics and which had applique as the main technique.   Although my sons know I love quilting I don't think Richard has registered that applique is not my favoured technique.  Oh well shall give the machine applique a go.
I have used the 1600 quilt technique and am very pleased with the spread of the colours.  Do you like my jelly roll... only took two hours at the local quilt shop to cut all of the strips:)

Khanam's Surprise

Well here is my quilt from the last blog tour.  I had lots of wonderful suggestions from blog surfers, and even tried a couple of them, but nothing seemed to work and so I finally opted for the easiest solution for finishing a quilt...plain border:(

Hopefully I will get it quilted sometime in the not too distant future.  Terri, my basting friend has returned from America and so one day we will get together and baste all of these tops I have been making.

100 Blocks Volume 4

Woohoo I have had a block selected for inclusion in the next volume of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks.  

There will be a blog tour running again in which surfers have a chance to win their own copy of the magazine simply by visiting various blogs and leaving their names ad a comment.  

The blog tour starts on 7th Nov and runs until 11th.  

Each day new designers will be featured on the Quiltmaker site and you can check out their different blogs, simply click on the join me button to go directly to the blog tour centre.

Besides the chance to win your own copy of the magazine you have the chance to win other amazing prizes from Quiltmaker and their sponsors.  Each day they have minor prizes with a major prize usually on the final day from all of the daily entrants.  I'm not sure about the details of this as nothing has been said yet but it happened with the previous tours so fingers crossed.

My blog will be featured on Tuesday 8th so make sure you check back then as you will have a chance to win a copy.... I  can't wait to see the magazine.  
Don't you just love the penguin on the cover?  I wonder who designed it?  So far I have chosen two designs which I will make if I ever have a granddaughter, the penguin will make it three... perhaps there will be more.

Name plz

Well I have finally bordered this quilt.  I had finished the middle ages ago but just getting that border on has taken me about five months.  I decided a couple of weeks ago that rain, hail or shine I am going to knock my UFO numbers down.  I was hoping to get to single digits but will be happy if I can get to under 20.  I have decided that I can't start any more new quilts until I either finish a quilt... that means quilting it as well and is highly unlikely ...or that I finish at least three toppers... so the challenge is up.  

Now for this quilt I need a name..nothing has hit me yet and so it will languish on that front also for a while I am certain.  Most quilts usually suggest a name by themselves but this one hasn't yet.

This small table runner is also another project from the UFO pile.  The little bits hanging off each corner are there because I haven't yet worked out how to mitre them.  I had initially tried to make false mitres on each corner but they looked horrid as the fabric is slightly thicker than regular patchwork fabric... so the brain kicked in and figured I could go with the old fashioned real mitred corners.... only one problem..small that it is .. I can't work out how to turn them.  another job for another day.  Btw the central bits that looked blood stained are actually beautiful roses.

Two toppers down and I only have the binding to join and then I will have another two toppers done... yes I consider the sewn binding to be part of the topper as well as the backing made.  That way when the enthusiasm hits me I only have to quilt them.

Dah dah - cheese making

Well am I good or am I good?  No don't be truthful!  Just go with one of those two options.  What you see just to the right are the results of a perfect afternoon.  

OK let's be totally truthful... an afternoon and the greater part of the evening.  

Funny isn't it ... I know that making feta cheese, that's the square block in the background, takes a minimum of three and a half hours for the first part and then it needs to be turned over every half an hour for the next two hours and then every two hours for the next six hours and then left to sit and further drain overnight on the sink.  

So let's add those figures together and what do we get? 11 and a half hours plus the overnight drain.... OK so that suggests that a good time to start making feta cheese would be sometime in the morning.  The theory sounds all well and good but what needs to be added into this equation is the use by date on the milk carton.

Although I have been pestering Paul for a cow ever since I completed the cheese making workshop last June, it has not eventuated.  He feels that if people object to battery hens there is certain to be greater protests over a battery cow, although I feel our backyard would not constitute a cage!

 Just look at the photos of our yard. The first is our backyard.  In the back is our vege patch to the left the 1m garden bed, which edges the back patio area.  It may appear to the trained or even the untrained eye that this is too small a space for a cow, but you are forgetting our front yard, which you can see clearly in the next photo has a large expanse the size of a foot path. 

Anyway as I don't have a cow I have to buy the milk.  Now the best milk to use is organic unhomogenised which usually costs an arm and a leg.  so when I spied seven litres of this last week in the reduced for quick sale section I just had to nab it.  Being RFQS means it has to be used quickly.

Now you can see why there was the need for making the milk during the week rather than making it on the weekend.

Anyway as can be seen I had success.  Not just with the feta but also with the ricotta, front right and back right, which for the first time in ages actually turned out really soft and light.... dah dah! This really amazed me as the previous two batches have been tough enough to resole your boots with... I really need to NOT make cheese when I am stressed:) 

The final piece de resistance (not sure how that is supposed to be spelt but you know what I mean) is the mascapone on the front left.  This isn't really an achievement as I have always had success with that but it is lovely and is always a by product from my cheese making as there is always left over cream.

The mascapone was made into tiramisu yesterday and made a delicious desert lunchtime today.

100 Blocks winner announced

Well last night I finished off block 40 in my next major quilt and it had 141 pieces and so I have decided that comment 141 will be the lucky winner for my magazine.  

RAW, who likes unicorns (email address gave away that piece of information) and lives in Geneva is our lucky winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered this competition and also thanks to Quiltmaker for organising the tour and providing all of the wonderful prizes.  I am positive that everyone will have picked up lots of fantastic ideas for new quilts.  Don't forget that Quiltmaker is running a further competition every month.  Simply send a photo of your quilt using any of the blocks which have appeared in any of their three magazines to be in the running for the monthly prizes.  Check out here for more details.

Quiltmaker Blog Tour - My Big Day

Well the blog tour is off and running.  There are lots of wonderful prizes to be won.  As a starting point check out Quilty Pleasures blog first and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize.  Every day there will be a selection of different prizes so don't forget to return daily.

Also on that blog you will find a link to the day's featured blogs which also have prizes up for grabs.  This is going to be a great week for anyone surfing.

Here, as promised is a photo of my quilt made using my block Khanam's Surprise. As I said previously my machine pedal has died and I am awaiting replacement so I haven't had a chance to add the borders to add the borders to finish it off.

My quilt also extends further than the photo but the shadow effect was so drastic I had to cut it out... I'm glad I don't make a living as a photographer.

Some of my other designs may be seen on my website Cinzia White Designs. There is even a photo of a qult I designed using a variation of my block, Isobel's Flight, from the last issue of QM 100 Blocks.  I can't wait to see the finished quilt which Isobel has made and will be hanging at the next NSW Qulit Show in Sydney in June.
 

The block design is a compilation of designs from some  mosques.  I was actually working on a third design which I preferred but it wouldn't work and this one suddenly fell out.  The name came from my son's girlfriend Khanam and the fact that when she sees it she will be surprised.  I am sending her a magazine as a gift and haven't told either of them about it.

Quiltmaker is providing one copy of the magazine to someone who enters my 'competition', which is simple enough.. you have the choice.... any one of the following three actions will give you an entry into the competition.  

1.  what do you think would be a good name for this quilt? 

2. what kind of border do you think would suit this quilt the best?

3. or simply leave your name.

Although the winner will be chosen by random number generator I would dearly love help with the naming and/or border design of this quilt.

btw if you don't happen to win a copy of the magazine you can always order one from here if your local newsagent doesn't get it in.  Don't leave it too long as the first issue is totally sold out.  Also if, like me, you prefer digital versions you can order that from the same place... I don't think they are available from the newsagents... well definitely not from my little old newsagent.

Frenzied Final Friday Flaunt - again!

Well this has been a fantastic month.  I have finished so many things but to top it all off I have also had a block selected for  Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 3.  

The block is called Khanam's Surprise and  I have almost finished a quilt using it. I will upload a photo of it on Tuesday, which is my day in the blog tour.  

Quiltmaker is organising a blog tour all week and by visiting the blogs of the designers you will have the chance to win a copy of the magazine. Each designer is giving away one or more copies so there are many up for grabs.  I think Quiltmaker itself is running some competitions so don't forget to check out their site either. 

Be sure to check back here on Tuesday for the blog tour as you will have an opportunity to win your own copy of the magazine and also to see how different this block looks when actually made into a quilt.... I only need to add two borders and quilt it by then.  OK let's be honest chances of getting it quilted is Buckley's as my machine pedal needs replacing and I only ordered the replacement yesterday.  

AQC 2011

Well the holidays are almost over and I will need to return to work :(  However I thought I would share a few photos from the recent AQC.  The work was amazing and the photos I have uploaded are just a few from the sixty plus which I took.

 

The first is the chandelier from the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.  I thought I had taken more photos of the centre but they didn't turn out too well but it is a truly impressive building.

The second photo is my quilt,Turkish Delight.  I am definitely over this quilt but it was still a buzz to see it hanging there. 

The next one is a miniature.  Gorgeous colour choice and oh so cute . Although the photo doesn't show it  the   precision in her piecing was impressive.. 

This one was made by one of the teachers, sorry I don't recall her name.  

I just loved both the subject and the colour choice of this quilt.  There were several in this series and all worth another look.  I think I took at least two photos of each and different details... perhaps one day I will try the technique.  No let's be honest applique is never going to feature in my list of enjoyable activities.

 

Now if ever I could have a quilt made by someone else this would be it.  The different techniques which Kay H? used are amazing.   And aren't those mice so lifelike?

If only I could improve my layout skills that would be impressive in itself.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Volume 3

Woo hoo!! Just received an email from the editors etc of Creative Craft Group.  These are the  people who, among other things, put together the Quiltmaker Special Issues and their next issue is the third in the 100 Blocks series.

This is a series of magazines in which they publish 100 original blocks from both established and up and coming designers.  I was very fortunate and had a block published in volume 2 and now I have discovered that not only will one of my blocks be included in the next issue but also it is included on the cover.

100 Blocks Vol. 3 is at the printer as of early Thursday (US time)! I can’t wait to see it! Designers who have a block included will receive their complimentary copy around the 4th week of April... so only another three weeks to go.  Yes I realise that they said around the fourth week but I am assuming that is for US designers not those of us in the colonies.

So which is my block?  Well if you look carefully at the included photo, my block is the brown and tan one which is the second block on the second row.  I will take a photo of my block when I recharge the batteries for my camera tomorrow to show it to you more clearly.  So why do I still have the block you may ask? Well because my first effort was only 11.75in square and the requirements were for 12in. 

I can't wait to see the magazine.  the last one had so many fun blocks and I am positive this one will be also be full of new exciting blocks.  Actually if I had a daughter or granddaughter I think the one on the top right corner of the shoes peeping out from the skirt is gorgeous.

Friday Flaunt

 Wow I just looked at the date of my last post....Dec 20th and that must have been posted early as I know I was overseas at the time.  

Isn't that terrible but life has just been so hectic that I totally forgot about posting. 
To make up I am not going to post lots of photos of projects I have been working on.... actually I haven't really been doing a lot of quilting and I haven't finished many things either.

However here are two things I have been working on.   

The first is another block from Raconteur - The Storyteller's Collection.  I have now finished about 350 of the blocks and they are looking very cute.  I hope to finish the last of these blocks by the end of April and then begins the major task of joining them together.  

Definitely won't make my original deadline of 2010 Sydney Quilt Show...yes I did mean 2010.

The second is from a class which I attended last year.  The Sydney Quilt guild organised for Jacqueline de Jonge to run workshops on paper piecing.  I wanted to do her Elements of Nature pattern but it wasn't offered and so I did Morning Glory.  My colours were nothing like her sample and that at the above stage everything fitted and looked good.  Unfortunately the next stage was not so successful so I am at present doing a lot of frog stitching.... or will when I retrieve this project from the ignore it and it might disappear pile!

Turkish Delight

Hey check out the cover of the next issue of Down Under Quilts.  Yes I realise this is a brag but I couldn't figure a tactful way of saying they like my quilt and have put it on the cover!! It will soon be on sale in shops and newsagents.  But if you want an early edition then sign up for a subscription either online or hard copy..... both land in the hands of subscribers, before they hit the newsagents.

This issue has the first part of the instructions to my Turkish Delight quilt. It is made of hand-dyed fabrics in a medallion style with a series of different borders making it up to quite a large quilt. But you can stop before completing all of the borders I did! 

Check it out and let me know what you think. Pick up a copy at your local newsagent or patchwork shop or go online for your free subscription - visit www.creativelivingmedia.com.au and sign up now. 

Plus, there are lots of other great projects, fantastic quilts and interesting stories too. 

PS Take a look at Down Under Quilts' facebook page too!... but I've lost the link... you should be able to pick it up at the creativelivingmedia website.

Isobel's Flight

Well I don't know what Isobel will actually call this quilt but Isobel's Flight is what I have named the block. Yes this is the actual quilt that the block was originally designed for. I love the continuous path.. you follow it hoping to find the error..but there is none:)

Didn't she do a top job? I think she is making it for one of her grandsons. I can't wait to see it in the flesh... hopefully she enters it into the Sydney show this year.

Blog Tour Winner

Well thank you to everyone who particiapted in the blog tour.  It was lots of fun although extremely hectic as my modem died on Monday night and it wasn't until today... and four modems later... that I have been a ble to reliably connect to the innternet from home.  Luckily I was able to keep up to date with what was happening in the blog tour from work, but most days time was limited.

Now for what everyone wants to know...my husband chose number 85 as the lucky number and the winner is Susie Rhodes from Fortville IN, don't know what IN stands for but that is no problem as the people fromQuiltmaker are sending her the magazine direct and they are US also:)  Thank you again to everyone who entered the tour and the competiton.  Looking forward to actually seeing the magazine.  It is due to   hit the newsagents November 16th in the US, but I don't know when for us in Oz.

Project - Braided Rag Rug

Well here is another project which I intend to make in the near future.  

I actually made a rag rug about ten years ago.  It was lots of fun and I have been meaning to make another one since. Found these instructions and they show an easier method than my previous attempt so I will hopefully get around to making one of these in the near future also.

For instructions click here.

100 Blocks Blog Tour - my day

Tuesday already!  I can't believe how quickly today has come around.  My blog and website are one of those being featured today on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour.

Now if you have arrived here through the main link, you already know about the blog tour and are here for your chance to win your own copy of this fantastic issue.  

The first issue was a total sell out but is now available as a digital download for anyone who has decided they would like to check it out.  There are another two issues in the planning. So if you buy all four  you will have 400 new original blocks from both established and new emerging designers.   


Ok so back to today's entry.  To be in the running for your own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 2 simply check out my website and  then come back here and tell me which pattern you like the best or which version of Isobel's Flight you prefer.  You will need to leave two comments.... the first is the pattern you like best and the second is your contact email so that I can contact you if you win. Please don't put them both in the same comment as I don't like to publish people's emails.

Isobel's Flight

Well here it is my block from the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks collector's Edition Volume 2.  Funny in the small image it looks very higgledly piggledy but in real life it flows really well.  I designed this block for a friend Isobel who wanted to make a quilt for her grandson.  She wanted a design that would flow across the entire quilt.

Several years ago I had made another quilt Trails which Isobel had loved and it was the first of my quilts that she decided to make.  Anyway Trails was also the first really complicated pattern that I had ever written and as I later discovered many people wanted extra directions for joining it together.  The circles were easy enough.  The paths were easy enough but several people found that they wanted more instructions for joining the paths to the circles.  After writing these for Isobel, and the people who contacted me, I learnt that what may be obvious to one person is not necessarily obvious to someone who is not inside my head..funny that:)

Last year when Isobel wanted to make Pathways she contacted me to find out if it was easily modified for a different size.  I replied that it was easily made in any size but if she wanted a different design I had one in my head and no time to make it.  Isobel's Flight came from that idea.  

Don't you agree the full quilt version looks a lot better than the single block version:)

I have worked out a few colour variations but am desperately looking for time to make what would be to me the best... a completely scrappy version... one day.

100 Blocks Blog Tour

WOW today is the start of the 100 Blocks blog tour, which will be running for the entire week.  Every day there will be new blogs featured at this link, so head on over and see which blocks and blogs are featured today. 

Also check them out to see what you need to do to win your own copy of the magazine.  Each and every blog is giving away one copy of the magazine.  On the main link there is also the opportunity to win other great prizes... Top way to spend a few hours.


My feature day is Tuesday.  Now I'm not sure if this is supposed to be Tuesday their time or my time but suspect it should be US time... which fortunately is behind Australia so I intend to post my entry Tuesday Sydney Australia time (+10 hours GMT), but if I am running a little late it should still be up  before Tuesday US time :)  So head back here on Tuesday for another chance to win a copy of the magazine.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

This quilt is called Bubble and Squeak and I made it a couple of years ago when I was into a clean up my scrap pile stage.

If you look closely at the individual blocks you will see that they appear to be crazy patchwork style but this is not correct.  In actual fact the blocks are made using an improvised four patch technique which I have been utilising quite a bit lately as it is perfect for when I feel like doing brainless sewing and when I want to use up scraps. 


If only I could throw out unwanted fabric it would make life so much easier.  

The leftover scraps were randomly sewn together  to form large pieces of fabric which was then cut into the squares and rectangles.  Unfortunately I was a bit brain dead at the time that I started to cut and didn't allow correctly for seam allowances which is why most blocks have a double border on two sides.. never throw out an error when you have a chance to experiment as they say.  It is one of my favourite quilts. 

If you want to try the technique I have used it in two projects which are being featured in Australian Patchwork and Quilting. The first was in last month and the project was called Dusting Crumbs and the other will be in a few months in a project called Starry Cabins. Dusting Crumbs uses a few different improvisational techniques whereas Starry Cabins only uses two.

If you would like to see more entries in the latest Blogger's Quilt Festival just click on this link and it will take you to the central blog with all of the links.. great way to spend a few hours surfing :)

Caring for your Quilt

Found a great site today with information on quilt care and storage.  Check it out.

Link for 100 Blocks Blog Tour

November 8 -12 is the Quiltmakers blog tour.  This is a great opportunity to check out many of the blogs of numerous international and new to the international stage designers.  While cruising on the tour... it's free by the way and can be completed totally from the comfort of your own home... you will have many opportunities to win your own copy of the latest Quiltmaker 100 Blocks magazine.


I am still waiting to find out which of my blocks made it into the magazine so am looking forward to this as much as everyone else.  If you click the link above each day during the tour it will take you to a list of all of the day's highlighted blogs.  when you go the blogs you will have the chance to win a copy of the magazine.... no idea how or anything else at this stage but hopefully things are clearer by then


If you click the link today you will see the marvellous cover of the magazine and a selection of some of the blocks from inside the cover... mine is not there but it is inside somewhere... I am excited!

Friday Flaunt - Lost?

Late last year Paul and I went on a trip to the US.  Great trip and saw lots of wonderful things but that isn't the point of this post.  

After returning home I went out in my car one day and when I looked in the back seat of my car I was quite surprised to find this large lap sized quilt... almost big enough for a single bed. 


So why was I surprised to find a quilt there you may ask?  Well the thing was I couldn't remember ever seeing the quilt before.  Now I know I am forgetful but I was positive I didn't make it so I took it with me to all of the various quilt groups which I meet with but no one owned up to having either seen it or made it. 

So there I was with this dilemma... new quilt and no  owner.  I was trying to clean up my place and organise which quilts would go to charity and which ones would go for gifts and which quilts would go elsewhere.  In the midst of this DUQ did a call for quilts for a few themes and I thought let's give it a try.  Sent off the picture and surprise, surprise... they liked it.  

 
So if you would like to make this starry quilt for someone the instructions will be in this month's edition of DUQ (number 144).  

If you don't get around to making it and you would like to buy a ticket in a raffle to win it let me know. Tickets will be $2 each and the funds will go to sponsoring hearing impaired primary aged children to attend camp.  For many of the children this is the only opportunity they have to meet other hearing impaired children and discover that they are not alone.  

We have a different quilt,  Summer Whispers, for this year's raffle, along with three other prizes for accommodation at various places around the Goulburn area. 

Spring Explosions will be next year's raffle quilt and I will remind anyone who comments that they would like a reminder.