Something a bit smaller

Hi, I fell in love with these two designs from Embroidery Library With the ability to stop embroidering at any stage and resume when ever I came back, I placed two designs together and stitched these two panels using the 830 jumbo hoop and only one hooping for each panel.  I remember that one of the designs was over 190,000 stitches, the other a mere 182,000 stitches.  I starched my background fabric heavily, used iron-on fusible No Show Mesh (Floriani) and added a medium tearaway.  The designs stitched without any puckering or movement.  When I purchased the designs they were shown in one colour way with an alternate version.  I chose to use the alternate version but my way (again!).  Both embroideries were completed a while ago.  With my usual way of being side tracked, one cushion was completed at the time and the other sat there only needing the ruching to be made and the backing put on.  Finally this weekend saw both finished and out of my workroom.  I love these designs.

Floral Visions my way

It has been a while since I last posted.  I had not photographed the projects that were finished.  Still haven't for most of them but I decided this morning that it was time, especially with a new year just starting.  So here are the photos of my version of the floral visions quilt.  Stitched on my 830.  I also added some computerised quilting designs in the wide sashing between the blocks and around the centre medallion.  I finished these sashings with free motion echo quilting.  I decided to outline quilt the outer borders and finish these with stippling.  All of the blocks had the designs outline quilted and finally free motion quilted the background for the blocks.  I had a lot of fun designing different styles for these and again what a joy to quilt using my 830.  By the way for those who want, use the dual feed and reduce your foot pressure to 30.  Works like a dream.

With the New year, my daughter has finally set a date for her wedding so for the next months I will need to work on her dress.  Her phone call to tell me that she had changed her mind and that I would love the new dress style she wanted left me wondering what.  Here is a photo of the type of dress she wants.  I don't know how it will turn out, but here's hoping.  This will be quite a departure from the type of things I have made for a long time.  If I can pull it off she will look as gorgeous as the original in the photo.

Companion Star

I have been busy - this quilt was made after seeing a similar quilt in one of the Through the Needle magazines.  I had thought that I had made a mistake in the cutting and dragged my DH off to the quilt shop for more fabric in a mad panic.  Once I started piecing the second set of fabrics I realised that all was well with the original lot (too much of a hurry to get things completed)  So this quilt is the original set of fabrics - the second quilt was posted with the fairy quilt a little while back. This one has been sitting for quite some time just waiting for the piped binding to be added.
I used embroidery designs from the Jubilee Border collection (email otto@opsewing.com.au if you want these designs). I again quilted it in the hoop as well as using some #20 weight variegated cotton for the other work.

Drunkards Path variations

I have a group that are eager to earn how to really use the stitches on the their machines and designed a couple of quilts that whilst traditional are very non-traditional in their construction.  I encouraged them to really go outside their boundaries and experiment.

This quilt is the second of two quilts that I made demonstrating the technique.  It has been finished for a while and features free motion quilting as well as using the mock hand quilting stitch.  This one was decorative stitched on my 830 and free motion quilted on my 440 (My 830 was busy doing something else!).  The larger one was actually the first one I stitched but I have only just completed the quilting and need to get some photos - hopefully tomorrow.
Enjoy Chris.

Spirit Fantasy takes a prize

HI, just to share with you all, my Spirit Fantasy quilt has just taken second prize for the Innovative Professional quilt category at our State Quilt Exhibition this weekend.  A wonderful prize too - lots of new thread to play with as well as other goodies.
Otto has made a fantastic video showing some of the features of this quilt

http://www.opsewing.com.au/SpiritSong.html

Hearts

Hi, I haven't posted for a couple of days as I have been doing just what I should be - stitching!  As I said in an earlier post, I am trying to finish all of those unfinished projects.  Unfortunately they will not be finished in the same order that they were started.  I looked at that pile and it doesn't seem to have shrunk at all.
I have finished my hearts quilt with embroidery designs by Sarah Vedeler. http://www.sarahvedelerdesignsshop.com/Hearts-CD-for-Download-Hearts-02.htm
 The applique designs stitched out beautifully using my wonderful Bernina 830.  I used Madeira rayon for the embroidery designs and quilting. I had so much fun with the quilting.  thinking of new ways to embellish it.
It also looks as though my version of the floral visions quilt will be the next to complete - I have now finished the borders, the sashings and a couple of the blocks.  Now to get back to the workroom.
Chris

Another backward look

This quilt was one that I designed for a block of the month.  The centre was foundation pieced, the applique machine needle turned.  The actual BOM consisted of just the centre medallion, but I had all of these fabrics lefct over so the quilt grew.  It was raffled of at our State Quilters Guild last year.