Tea Roses - AQ Brown Challenge art quilt entry

Have been updating my 'maker's journal' with craft projects and cross-referencing with photos and blog posts - and have found a few projects from the past year that haven't been shared, so will get them here on record! 

In 2022 I entered the 'Brown Challenge' (12" block) held by the Aotearoa Quilters, for display at the NZ Quilt Symposium (and also travelling around the country).

I got my inspiration at the start of 2022 from one of my rose bushes, which has soft, mushroom-coloured petals, and decided to tea-dye some pale pink fat quarters and use them in a quilt-as-you-go kind of method to make roses.

My inspiration photo.

The dyed fabrics.

Here are some photos of the making process...

I made one large rose block, approx 8", then added smaller roses on the side and bottom, before then squaring it up into a 12" block.

Here it is on display at the Symposium in October 2022, plus some shots of the other quilts on display - I am always amazed by the wonderful ideas and interpretations people come up with and the talented way they sew them up!

Sing in the Sun

'Sing in the Sun' is a 41" square lap quilt that I made in November/December of 2019 

as a good luck gift for one of my work-mates who is leaving us as (an awesome) Teacher Aide and heading off to teacher training in 2020.

(Yes, I am wearing a xmas-present headband - this photo was taken in the last week of school)

Belinda Knapp (on the left, me on the right) has such a beautiful, bubbly personality and has been teacher aiding for our school for the past few years. I first met Belinda through playgroup and netball club (our eldest children are the same age) and she has a heart of gold; I am sure she will be a brilliant teacher.

Because of her sunny personality, I thought a charm pack of 'Sing Your Song' by Annie Rowan, that had been in my stash for a few years, would be an ideal match as it has a range of pretty colours and floral or insect-themed prints.

I wanted to make a small lap quilt that Belinda can put over her legs when sitting up late at night doing her assignments, ha ha! The pattern is the same one that I used for the Hi There cot quilt (and when I find out what pattern it is, I will update the post!)

I used a rich blue marbled fabric for the border and a soft blue flannel on the backing, with a lemon yellow pinstripe for the binding... #smashthatstash 

I kept the quilting nice and simple through the centre blocks, just using in the ditch, but for the border I free-motioned some large flowers and echoed around them to fill the space.

The weather down here has been terrible for getting out for photos...it is supposed to be summer but I think since the start of November we've only had a handful of sunny, hot days (good excuse to be inside sewing though!)

Great to be sharing with my quilting friends via Wendy's Peacock Party , Kelly's Needle and Thread Thursday and Michelle's Beauties Pageant - make sure you check out the great work everyone 

has been doing by visiting those links too!

Wonky in Blue

A couple of months ago I was 'between projects' and wanted something quick to do; I am trying to make a dent in my scraps and stash, so grabbed these blue florals and made strips of the squares, adding in the white and the darker blue.

I quilted in the ditch and then did the lines of free-motion flowers.

The backing is also from my stash, and I folded it over to make a self-binding.

It measures 20" x 22.5".

Time Flies! Caity is 21!

Wow! I cannot believe twenty years has gone by since we first met Caity Kenny as a cute little one year old when she and her parents returned to NZ and her mum Kath began teaching at my school; she has grown into a lovely young lady with her whole future ahead of her!

Halfmoon Bay (Oban township) - Rakiura National Park/Stewart Island, NZ

Last weekend we travelled over to Stewart Island to help Caity celebrate her 21st; of course, I had to make a quilt for the occasion - luckily, she LOVED it.

I made it in under two weeks (thankfully had school holidays to give me time). The pattern is Moda Love (layer cake size) - it finished at 72" square. The pattern is super easy to sew together (I think working out the colour layout took longer than sewing it LOL!)

I had the perfect layer cake in my stash of Riley Blake Designs 'Flora and Fauna' by Amanda Herring, just waiting to be used for the right person and the right quilt. It has such pretty colours and a nice mix of florals and prints - aren't the deer cute?

For the batting I used a white flannel as the backing is a lovely grey minky - super soft and snuggly! And the binding is a cute dotty print.

The quilting is just simple stitch-in-the-ditch, with half inch echo lines, along all the seam lines; holds it all together nicely without being too dense and stiff.

We all had a wonderful time on the island - it is a unique and special part of New Zealand. 

Bri and I stayed the night in Horseshoe Bay:

Sharing my latest finish with my fellow-crafters 

via Kelly's Needle and Thread Thursday linky party  

and also with Cheryl's Favourite Finish linky at Meadow Mist Designs

- kai ora tatou!

Slices of Spring

This is a double-bed or queen-sized quilt that I have made from part of a layer cake of Sundrops by Corey Yoder for Moda, such a pretty range of colours and prints.

The quilt measures 72"square - at 180cm wide it was just a bit of a stretch for Kieran to hold the corners out flat (even though he is now six foot tall himself! Needed another adult but Brian is away today playing bowls for Southland...)

I used a pattern called 'Cake Slices' by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs - I had won two free patterns from joining in with an online linky party (I think that's what it was?) and have managed to make two quilts from the one layer cake (will share the second quilt when it is finished.)

The backing is made from two coral-based prints ( I especially love the glasses print) 

and the binding is a gorgeous lime green.

I had made the top in the school holidays in Sept-Oct but wasn't sure how to quilt it.

Then I saw this video by Christa Watson showing how to FMQ her 'cursive Ls' 

and knew they would be great for the sashing.

For the blocks I created a six/seven petalled flower that echoes out to the edge of each block.

This quilt is destined for the auction at the Southland Bowls Charity Tournament next weekend that Brian has been invited to take part in. This quilt was also one of my 2018 Finish Along fourth quarter goals.

Linking up with Myra's Finish or Not Friday linky party - and Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday linky party - kia ora to everyone!

Here are some southern spring shots to finish with...