Done!

 
Finishes are good, aren’t they? Especially when things go well. Tropical Lilies II is complete.   I bound the edge of the quilt with a narrow bright red binding in the same fabric as was used for the little red flowers.

I have freemotion outlined the applique and then added three shades of blue thread for my uneven pebbles, and my spontaneous “lets stitch and see what develops” fill pattern.  I love letting rip with freemotion quilting and find it very relaxing to add texture to pieces with this style of machine quilting.  I have blended the thread into the background as the star of the show is the Lilies, and whilst I love quilting, this workshop is all about applique and thread painting.

  I loved shading the stamen and leaves..and with the quilting, for this sort of work I like some background texture going on, but not screaming loudly to compete with the applique.

Anyone reading my blog who is trying to keep the mystery part of Bonnie’s Orca Bay mystery quilt happening- here is your SPOILER alert!  Skip the next paragraph and photos if so inclined!

In my own time I've been working on Bonnie's mystery quilt, dabbling with some string piecing.  Think these blues are very yummy!   My hourglass units are finished and bagged up waiting to see what happens to those later on.   Wonder what they will become?  This is the fun of mystery quilts.
I have sewn about half of the  string pieced units of the 75 required for that particular step of Bonnie’s Mystery-not all photographed.   Its fun to fondle fabric and see how the colours play together and develop in each block.  This is my personal time fabric therapy….although I didn’t get far yesterday afternoon with a nice thunderstorm rumbling around.  

Instead, I sewed some buttons onto a shirt that needed replacing, after losing a few to the rigours of hotel washing machines, and finished the binding of Tropical Lillies.

I caved in to the call of the dressmaking fabric at Addicted to Fabric.  I am glad, as they have a high turnover of wonderful fabrics.  It really is a case for me of deliriously happy near overload, after years of starvation in the desolate landscape that is dressmaking fabric in southern Tas.  I am told they don’t consider their range large, but it is larger than any Tas dressmaking outlet I have seen, and the quality is superb.  With warm weather beginning I feel very much like DRESS making. 

With this beautiful cotton sateen weave in abstract print.  It appears taupe but is I think, more a subtle cool gold colour but without any hint of metallic shimmer or shine.  Its handle is smooth and it is  lusterous but not shiny to the point of being unflattering over any errr…. Bumps or lumps!  Bought some white cotton batiste to line it with. Planning to make a slightly longer version of view C,  Simplicity 2262

.  The longer cardi ViewA of the same pattern I also have plans for later when my container of stuff is delivered.

Succumbed also to some poly spandex knit fabric destined to be a cardi or top. Although it too may become a dress for between seasons or if the evenings are cool.  I love the print and the photo doesn’t show its true colours.  The blues are much more intense and deep.  The pattern is easy to sew for both items and I discovered to my surprise there was no zipper listed on the notions requirement.  The dress is a pull over version, no zipper.  This appeals to my somewhat lazy dressmaking attitude.  I will go to all lengths for a quilt quit happily, but not often for garments.  Maybe I would if I were not a quilter.

Oooh, I had some forwarded mail eventually turn up at my hotel.  A quilt!  This Scrappy Sunset was a project in Issue 149 of Down Under Quilts magazine  It was begun a couple of summers ago now to use up a bunch of tiny scraps that were hanging around and to make a beginner friendly project.  Finally I got around to machine quilting it earlier in the year.  Great to put on our hotel bed such a fun and bright quilt to make the place feel more like home.  And on stuffy  nights the cotton/ wool batting and thinner weight of the quilt is much nicer than being wrapped in the polyester doona furnished by the apartment. 

What's going on right now?  Writing and editing before submission to my Editors a handful of articles. And working on the next sample in my production line.  Planning also to move into our rental place on the 19th - we have key access from the 16th but no furniture before the 19th - earliest date the removalist co could deliver our stored stuff.  Before that I plan on finishing one more sample as well as squeezing in some Christmas shopping.  Kids last day of school is next Wednesday so it feels like I am racing the clock to do everything before then!  Why is it things cannot be nicely spaced apart but rather congregate together over just a few days of each month?  LOL.   I hope the rest of you are having a more relaxed approach to this Christmas and can fill your time with delicious baking, Christmas sewing and seeing your friends and family.
Since I cannot sew for Christmas this year, I would love to know what you  are all making?

Happy Quilting,

Stephanie