Middlebrook Retreat

We had a great time last weekend and met some lovely new friends. 

Here are some photos from the retreat held at Middlebrook...

Googy Girl made this lovely table runner...

Susan brought along a cute litter of puppies...

Kylie worked on her first ever hand piecing project...

Karleen joined us for the first time...

Julie started her 'Gravity' quilt...

Jenny worked on her Christmas embroidery...

And Fiona was very busy on a mission to finish lots of projects. She definitely won the prize for the most finishes. I thought that Susan could graciously donate this gorgeous mini she finished quilting while she was there.

Strangely enough she was not keen to part with it.

 So, Fiona will have to go with the alternate prize...

the pleasure of our company :) 

I worked on my FMQ project from the Jan Foster workshop I attended recently. Also a little bit on my felt cushion from the Wendy Williams workshop I went to during the holidays.

We missed seeing some good friends from last year, hopefully they will be able to join in the fun again next year. 

I'm on a roll!

I'm so excited that for two months in a row I have actually finished more than one item in a month. Peg and Chris who organise OPAM will be shocked and amazed!!

My first finish is this block holder. A gift for my good friend Caron who recently celebrated her birthday. I couldn't show you earlier because I know she checks out my blog from time to time.

It is made with Tilda fabrics that I thought she might like.

My other finish is a quilt for a special person celebrating her 21st birthday this month. Just needs a label so I can wrap it up for her. The design is a giant log cabin.

I'm really happy with the clam shell quilting Meredith did for me at The Quilting House.

It is backed with a brushed cotton as the recipient feels the cold and I thought it might be snugglier (is that a real word?). Anyway, you know what I mean.

So I am also linking up to Finish It Up Friday with Amanda Jean as well.

Last night I joined in with Friday Night With Friends. I started with a little more free motion quilting.

And some hand quilting on my 'A Legacy from Violet' quilt. I can finally see the finish line!!

This quilt it 98" x 94" and is English Paper Pieced. I have an area 98" x 13.5" to left to quilt!! This has been a VERY long term project.

As I rolled the quilt on this week, I finally got to see the far edge of the quilt in my frame. This is pretty exciting as I started hand quilting this on the 7th June. I'm hoping it might be my finish for Finish It Up Friday next week!!

I worked on this during Friday Night With Friends.

Finally a few photos from the Wendy Williams workshop I attended at Material Obsession last Monday. Lea worked on her camel.

I started a new project called 'Wee Village Town Pillow'. This project is in Wendy's book.

 I finished one house...

 ...made a good start on a tree and attached the contrasting fabric to the cushion backing. As well as picking up a few tips as other people worked on their projects.

This is where I am up to now.

The houses and tree  are not attached yet. This is fun and fast. Love playing with felt. Could it be that I will have two finishes for OPAM this month?

I guess my progress will slow down as  the school holidays finish up on Monday. But it's been fun and full of lots of stitching get togethers with friends.

Quilting Weekend

Last weekend the Cassilis Quilters had a lovely time at Fairy Floss Stitches house for a weekend of stitching. 

Julie worked on 'Smitten'...

...and 'Preppy the Whale'.

Susan showed us her magnificent quarter inch mini completed...

 ...and worked on hand quilting 'Irish Circles'.

 

Lea showed us her gorgeous fox quilt in Liberty prints.

Cardygirl joined us on Saturday and worked on her 'Whirlygig Quilt'.

Kylie at  Red Raspberry Quilts finished hand quilting her 'Gardener's Journal'.

There were birthdays to celebrate!

What did I work on? 

Well I free motion quilted the weekend away...

Can't wait to wash away the blue lines.

Note: No that is not a stain in the bottom left hand of the quilt. Strange camera malfunction(?).

I also completed the binding on my Tilda Quilt. Will show you next post along with my project from the Wendy Williams workshop I attended.

Enjoy the long weekend.

Free Motion Quilting Workshop

Last Saturday I travelled to Finders Keepers to join in on a free motion quilting workshop conducted by the lovely Jan Foster from Red Shed Quilting. The project is called 'Wibble Wobble Baby Whole Cloth Quilt'.

I learnt so much about batting, needles and thread. 

That was before we turned our machines on.

So I have been practicing everyday to try and improve. It's lots of fun but takes a whole lot of hand, foot and eye coordination. Problem is, I never was very good at sport.

This is what my quilt should look like when I'm finished.

This is what it looks like at the moment.

Hmmm...looks like I have more practicing to do.