Latest Finish!

I have been very slack with blog world for a few months... we went travelling to the other side of Australia, demonstrating the Accuquilt products to groups everywhere! Also selling them of course, so the productivity levels of quilt makers have shot up over on the West side of Australia!

I finished a quilt I made all from donated fabrics. A kind lady gave me a bag of Batik offcuts to use for my demonstrations of the Accuquilt GO! fabric cutter, and within a few demonstrations I had cut up enough for a large lap quilt, or a handy quilt to take to an outdoor show.

The 3 1/2" tumbler die meant that I could cut 18 pieces in one go, and of course, as they are all cut accurately, it was easy to sew up and join the corners. I used the Rick Rack die to make it different. That was fun, I used waste fabric to work out where it would fit on the border first, before I cut the green. I even made the four little circles from the Rose of Sharon die. I think I'd call the quilt something Jewels of Dehli.

It was also my first go at Free Motion Quilting other than just a circular design. I made a flower, a bit like a hibicus on each tumbler, linking them as I went, then between the tumber and the rick rack I made little leaves. The outside edge is the same little leave shape. It was much more fun than I thought it would be, and I'll be doing more of it!

I have mentioned to a few ladies that I have been so busy in the last month, with my website, getting ready to go interstate next month where we are having a trade stall at a motorhome rally, and trying to get up to date with my swaps and the lovely BOM In Pops Garden. I received the last parcel from the BOM the other day, (thanks Pauline), and now in a few weeks hope to find the time to finish off the last few blocks and put it all together.
The most pressing thing is though, the quilt I have been putting together for my Step-daughter and her husband. High-school sweethearts, they married last week after 6 years. I have shown them the quilt., and they love it!
I made it using the Accuquilt GO!'s Wedding Ring dies (its a 2 die set) and it only took me a few hours to cut out most of the fabric, but not having a pattern I made up the last few blocks as I got closer to sewing them all. The colours are black and white, their favourite, with a slash of the bright pink that was in their bridesmaid dresses, flowers and invitations. I made a pattern to evenb out the edge and corners as my partner, the bride's Dad, didn't like the circle shapes! Anyway, it allowed me a bit of freedom to add more borders until it was the size needed.
I will hand quilt it, so showed it to the couple a few days before the wedding. They got something else from us as a gift, this is a keepsake.
The back was done like this as I ddn't have a big enough peice of fabric, yet had enough scraps to something a bit different. I hand embroidered a label a few days before. Now to finish it and get on with other things.

Last night I finished off my first ever pieced quilt. I have about 4 that I have started, but have gotten to the borders and just ran of inspiration. One is for our own bed, and it needs about 300 2' sqaures cut to make up a diamond like border, now I've got the Accuquilt cutter I will do it as soon as I get time!
This one is made with the Tumbler Die on the Accuquilt GO! Baby, with the 2" strip cutter...but really I didn't need to use that, just a few cuts. Cut in 15 minutes, sewing time about 2 hours, quilting time (free motion) 2 hours total...(had a few breaks to top up the "relaxing" glass of wine) 4 hours later, completely finished. Even I am surprised. I watched a U-Tube video on free motion quilting in the morning, and the lady there said to remember to relax the shoulders, even have a glass of wine! So I waited for a reasonable hour to have a tipple...after 4pm... and boy, did that help!

My new venture was born today, I published my first website. It has taken me about 3 weeks, part-time, as I have to make most of the stuff on there! What a learning experience! I haven't even looked at my sewing machines in a week! I even have a new Janome sitting on the table, that needs to be tried out.... I have three BOM's waiting!
there are still lots of things to go on the website, and when more stock arrives, like all the Accuquilt GO! cutters and dies, (ordered 6 weeks ago, still needs to be filled, and posted), patterns from the ladies at Creative Abundance and others, I will have a giveaway. So watch this space, I mean blog!
So at the moment there are only my handmade decorated boxes, like those above. Actually, the tigers aren't there yet, I am doing it alphabetically, and about to continue with the Koalas!