About Me

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Lower Hutt, New Zealand
I have been stitching forever it seems and now do this just for pleasure,My DH and I are retired so I have lots of time for my hobbies--sewing Gardening and walking my dog. Have 4 grand-kids aged from 18 to 11 One lives in Australia and the others are very close to where we live. Hope to contribute more thru this blog. Kiwi Jan New Zealand

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Applique Bag



Kia-ora --as I mentioned in my last post here is my Applique Bag---now dont get this wrong--the bag is not Appliqued --it has been stitched by Fudge mostly and then finished with some handstitching --
The Janome 6500  Challenge group had a challenge --Glitz-- we could either make something glitzy or add Glitz to a project already finished --I chose to make a bag to keep my Applique blocks nice and safe-- The bag needed to hold blocks as large as 18'' x 18'' so its pretty big --  The bag has been stitched using a wonderful thread --silk with a sparkly thread wrapped around i.t The thread has no label was sent to me by a friend from the States -- Fudge loves this thread -but Fudge did not want to stitch fancy stitches thru the heavy batting --thats why I hand stitched the embroidery
The bag has zips from the center top right down each side to the side  bottom so it will open out flat and has no linning -- the blocks hold fast to the batting inside.

There is one block laying inside the open bag--- more about this Applique  later as it  will be a ongoing project as there are 12 blocks and one big center block to keep me busy.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Turning Twenty Quilt

Kia-ora --as promised my turning twenty quilt made at our club day--[Pinestream Quilters]  --all pined ready to quilt--Thanks to Karen for helping me hold it up and to June for taking the photo--Both June and Karen are from our Tuesday stitching day . I am going to hand quilt this and right now have a idea about using number 8 pearl cotton in  bright colours  will try it out on one block to see how it looks This will be a ongoing project as I am working on a needle turn Applique quilt-- also a long term project.
I also mmm lots of also  like to make bits and bobs so my next blog will be my Applique bag made to hold finished blocks safe !!! ---

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wee scrap quilt and Fudge my Janome 6500.

Saturday the 13th my club Pinestream Quilters  is running 4 classes one of them being the   Turning 20 quilt. I have wanted to make one for some time so have my name down for this class.I did have fun shopping for fabrics and cant wait to see how it turns out.
The worst part of taking classes is taking Fudge --my machine along. She is a heavy machine weighs in at 18 kilos--!! Not easy to pick up and carry and one is always scared  one may drop it!!!or worse !!
 I would hate to  arrive at a class and have Fudge  my machine play up so it was clean and polish and wind bobbins  before packing Fudge away.
 To check out the stitching I decided to make a wee quilt using scraps already cut from my scrap basket.It finishes at 6/1/4 by 5/1/4 inches just slightly larger then postcard size.
Fudge sewed like a dream--I knew she would she never lets me down.
 Watch out for more on this class.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Bag for keeping all my packets of needles in.

Hi all  I stitched this little bag all by hand --even the zip in 2010 and have made it the home for all my numerous packets of needles. Its rather like a Crazy block --made from pieces of the same fabric but all different shapes --I fused then onto a piece of batting and there it sat for some time-- Inspiration came after I browsed a book called--the magic of Crazy Quilting. A page caught my eye showing what one could do using just one stitch--Blanket stitch--a favourite of mine.I also uses French knots.So using a variety threads and Blanket stitch I had some fun.


There is no special front or back now  for the inside where I have added some pockets to keep the packets of needles in- and must admit that Fudge did stitch the hems!!
Must admit that I do have to keep my eye on this bag as my stitching friends have admired it and suggested I should  be careful where I leave it when they are around!!