Hexagon Log Cabin Stars and other doings

 When I was here last time I shared a log cabin star technique described HERE and was delighted to see Kathy was making her own version using lovely fabric inspired by CFA Voysey designs.

Kathy's log cabin stars, beautifully sewn

1

2

3

Chris's quilt was lovely and bright and Carrie's soft and gentle.

Carrie's

Chris's

We all contributed blocks for a farewell present for a very kind and helpful member of staff. 

Blocks put together by Mandy for Peter

Playing with fabric

"Map" fabric starting point

Since a workshop with Judy Johnson in Sisters I have made a lot of stack and whack type four patch quilts. I chose a fabric with an interesting design and large repeat such as this Westminster map fabric by Brandon Mably. I cut four 24"  length of fabric by 25"  wide repeats and layered them exactly on top of each other and rotary cut 5.75" lengthwise strips and then subcut them into stacks of four identical 5.75" squares.

4 identical squares

These can be left as they are mirror imaged or for this quilt rotated to form a new pattern.

Variation 1

Variation 2

Variation 4 and the one I chose

Variation 3

Blocks laid out

Retreating 02

I am taking truly awful lurid pictures. When I get back I'll take my camera in as I feel the settings have been changed somehow but I have no idea what to do about it.

Three BOM blocks: the lattice is a setting block

Windmill block missing its centre

Siblings Together block for Jo

Anyway on Day 2 I completed my three current BOM blocks apart from an appliqued circle on the windmill type block and made the March Siblings Together block. In the evening I layered and cut Brandon Mably map fabric and started to chain piece stacked four patches. Results tomorrow.
Meanwhile completed tops started to materialise. So sorry my pictures do not them justice.

Julie's completed quilt

Isabel's; she added a border but my photo was
unusable. 

Chris's quilt is full deep reds but none of my
pictures  worked.

Carrie's wonderful penguins though my photo muddies them.

Retreating 01

This BOM block was very tricky by machine. I'm glad it's done.

Family visit

It's always nice when visiting my daughter to see my quilts being used:

This fits in so well.

This is one of my favorites.

Enjoying each others company.

First Quarter

I took the chance to have hanger uppers at our last sewing day so I could take pictures of the year's output so far. I still haven't managed a good picture of Westminster Chimes so I'll have another go at the QQ Show..

Little Black Dress

Westminster Chimes

Six Wagon Wheels

Crosspatch: will pursue
this technique.

First U3A Cherrywood quilt

Siblings together quilt,
already posted.

Having been very good about my resolution to finish quilts this year (I've nearly finished quilting the other U3A quilt) I am going to treat myself to starting a new but long planned project at the upcoming quilt retreat and also work on a hardly started one. Watch this space!

And a coda: patchwork pavement in Madeira

Weeks roundup

Cherrywood fabrics & 58x74"

It's been a very busy and delightful week since I got back with two quilty visits. The very next day after touch down it was a Usual Suspects meet up at Judi's where we ate fish and chips and I completed the binding on a two year old top made by U3A students at an introduction to patchwork day. I also took charge of Judi's lovely Hever Stars quilt which will be the June Oast workshop. I'll take it along to the meeting to inspire attendees.

Judi Kirk's Hever Stars

Wednesday was given over to "jobs" and making a start on measuring and pricing the surplus fabric I'm selling at the Guild Stash Sale on Saturday. It's quite painful parting with it all but there will be some treasures for others to enjoy. I don't have space or years to accommodate it all.

Just one small batch of my fabrics for sale

Thursday I went to Whitstable to buy very reasonably priced zips from the Harbour Street fabric shop to be ready for bionic bag making in the afternoon with Trish and Sue. I was very apprehensive of this project but all went well thanks to their expertise. We'll go on with it next week.

Inside Trish's bag withall its pockets

Hard at work on portable Janomes bought
at Sandown and a great success.

Meanwhile in the evening I'm working on Month 8 of last year's Sew and Quilt's quilt-of the-crosses BOM (I'm not doing the months in order so some way to go yet). I always do the rather tedious joining sections first and leave the pretty blocks till last.

Quilt of the crosses units with Art Gallery white and Liberty Tana Lawn prints.

And lastly it was good to see our Quay Quilters' raffle quilt and show publicised in Issue 61 of Quilt Now magazine.

Madeira Days

In Madeira as usual at this time of year and enjoying lovely weather whereas it is usually much more changeable. I made the most of being able to sit on the balcony and sew my EPP quilt-of-the-crosses while sipping a small tot of port, a one week of the year only habit.
Every year I take pictures of flowers here with a view to printing some out onto fabric and using in a quilt. Yesterday we visited the Palheiro Gardens where there were some remarkable specimens culled from all over the world.

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Looking down towards the sea and Funchal.

Six Wagon Wheels

56x80"

Facing detail

I 've finished the six wagon wheels top. The blocks were left over from a previous project and this is not a very successful piece but at least I made something from them. It might suit a teenage boy. I faced it instead of binding. Now I'm completing a 2 year old U3A group project and have sewn two sides of binding. Its companion charity quilt is sandwiched and awaiting quilting. Still more to go, though.

Still being bound

Bonnie's

I'm on the right of the picture.

While one of our number enjoys winter sun the remaining four met to work on zipper pouches, a practice session for me before my U3A session. Trish and Sue were far more knowledgeable about the processes than me.

Quay Quilters

We had our AGM last week and show and tell.

Melinda's - just love this!

Pauline's - so effective!

Little Black Dress

LBD is one of several Fabric Fusion stack and whackery quilts I have made.

Little Black Dress (that was the name of the fabric line) is installed on my sofa. It languished as a top for a long time while I wondered how to quilt it. In the end I used Hobbs Tuscany wool wadding (quite puffy) and hand quilted with no.12 Perle cotton. In retrospect I would have done a fishnet type of allover design but the point is it is finished according to this year's resolution.

Siblings Together March Block

18" finished size.
The centre square is 10". the oblongs 2x5" and 
the corner squares 4".

And Mags asked for sashing on two sides - I may have made mine too big but I don't think so.