Willowing away

The swirly quilting is pretty intensive and is taking seemingly forever. On the upside though, I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out and so pleased that I have worked out a good technique for filling in small spaces and making it look as though the swirls are continuing underneath the applique. Of course I still have a long way to go before my swirls look anything like these ones, but maybe in about 50 years I will have at least come half way.

(Photo from Don't Look Now on Flickr)

My creative space...

Half square triangles
Originally uploaded by Petitselefants

...today involves a bunch of half square triangles (64 squares, to be exact) and a scribbly kind of 'maybe' diagram. Still not sure on whether to go with something like this, or something very simple like a zigzag. It's for a baby girl quilt.

I love the HST and have been putting together a bit of a collection of my favourite layouts. The possibilities are endless!! I'm sure someone mathematically inclined could work out exactly how endless. I'll post some of my favourites in the near future.

Not much time today as it's a work day (which means no time for sewing - acckk!!)

But if you have time, check out some more creative spaces at Kirsty's.

Willow - not weeping, smiling

Applique finished, quilting started - so much fun!

Ice cream social

Ice cream social
Originally uploaded by Petitselefants

I've been admiring the Oliver + S range of patterns for ages, wondering whether I had the courage to tackle one. So when I saw that Kate and Amy were hosting the Ice Cream Social - a sewalong of Oliver + S's ice cream dress, I cheered!

I've been poring over the pattern, and it actually does look not that hard, and to have a go-to group where everyone is trying out the same pattern will be very handy indeed! The possibilities are endless with this dress (there are three versions, a top and two styles of dress - look at these pretties that have already been posted to the group pool).

1. Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress, 2. Oliver+S Ice Cream Dress, 3. Ice Cream Social Dress, 4. ice cream top, 5. birthday ice cream dress, 6. ice cream dress

I'm hoping to do one in a Little Folks voile by Anna Maria Horner, but first I'll try it out with a cheapo fabric picked up from Lincraft some time ago (for the purposes of little girl dress-making). Just to make sure I can do it! Can't wait to get started - the pattern is traced now I just need to get cutting!

My creative space

More free motion embroidery today - I can't get enough of this! Despite the fact that I have a cough and cold and a grumpy toddler, sewing is my little respite today.

This one is Willow - from the clever Kellie of Don't Look Now. There are around 100 of these little green leaves! Surprisingly it actually didn't take that long. Nearly done with the flowers and then it's on with the quilting (aka the scary part!) This is designed to be made up into a European-sized pillow, or a wall-hanging. Yet to decide what to do with mine.


As always, more creative spaces at Kirsty's.

A quick progress report

After yesterday's post, I whizzed away on the machine and the red tree quilt was 'finished' in almost no time at all! Well, the applique/embroidery part of it anyway. So much fun! I love doing this! This is a really forgiving technique - it's nice to give it a "sketchy" kind of look as you do two or three rows of stitching around each shape or along each line.

I actually have another couple of projects on the go too (using the same raw edge technique, so I'm economising by doing all three at once).

For those who have tried this before, you'll know that changing the thread and bobbin for each colour change can get rather tedious, so I'm trying to be clever by doing all the shapes in a colour across the three projects, then changing colours and doing it again. No doubt a huge time saver!!

My creative space

Under my sewing machine today.... love love love this!

More creative spaces at Kirsty's.