I've been working on my FMQ

My challenge quilt is coming together nicely. It is taking a while but I am very happy.

Large clam shells in a variegated blue thread. This is looking good.

I drew 1" grids and free motioned overlapping circles.

 I am working on the centre filling area... I think it's called mactavishing.

I have quilted the birds in and now deciding what to do in the top right corner and as a filler in the centre.

 I have cut all the left over borders together to make the binding. It was tricky.

I sewed the strips along the centre stipe on to the front of the quilt. I could see the little stripe and I was very careful to stitch straight. I then ironed the strip in half and over to the back ready for hand stitching down. 

 See the different quilting designs. Apple Core and mini Clam Shell.

 All the binding needs stitching down. It is getting there..

Can you see the fine coloured stripe in the binding fabric. That was a job keeping it straight.

FNSI on retreat

Wow ,, it's been a while since I have been on here... But I will catch up on  some posts...I joined in with Wendy for FNSI.. I spent it on retreat with about 20 of us happily sewing away with real time friends.

I made great progress on my blocks for March and April.. nearly all caught up..

I thought this block would give me trouble but it went together really well. They are finished 1 1/8th 

Strips... I'm happy with this one...

Here are my Dear Jane blocks I got prepared for the appliqué. I can sit n sew at home of an evening without having to use the machine...

I didn't want to curve piece the centre of this block. I decided to appliqué it instead...

I only have to stitch the centre square under. It is only a one inch square cut out in the centre.

This block has some little curves....

 This block has little melons sewn onto the centre square.

Have a look to see what others got up to.

http://www.sugarlane-designs.com/2017/05/fnsi-sanity-sign-ups-for-may.html

The last of Vicky quilts

Here are the last of the photos of Vicky's quilts. They are all amazing and so inspiring. 

It was a great trunk show.

Vicky loves adding in flanges or piping next to her Bindings. They look very effective. Some she even puts tiny cording in to give more definition...

 This was an old cross stitch supper cloth that had begun to fray. Vicky trimmed it, layered it on fabric and appliquedthe little contrast Tim before doing the beautiful quilting.

 This Dresden Plate quilt looks amazing with this border. It is so effective.

Just love the use of printed fabrics. 

 This was all stitched on one piece of silk fabric and very small.

More Show n Tell from Vicky

Here are some more wonderful quilts. Just look at the beautiful quilting designs...

FNWF. Free motion quilting

I have finally started quilting my entry into the SPRIING challenge. I had this top nearly completed from a workshop at the Phillip Island Quilters a few years back. So, out it came and I hope to get it finished in time. I have had it out on the table for a few weeks wondering how to quilt it. I found it a bit daunting and kept putting it off. A little bit scared to start I think. Thanks to the inspiration of Vicky Jenkins quilts I jumped right in....
The birds and the blossom flower are spring to me. So let's hope I can quilt it ok. This is a Gina Burgess pattern, Borders with Attitude.
You do basic split 4 patch blocks and add borders. Then you fuse and appliqué whatever patterns you would like. I chose these beautiful soft panels, cut all the birds, flowers and leaves out. Fused them on in different ways. Now the sewing is part of the quilting. Using different weight threads...

It measures less than 1 metre square (about 36")

 1" Grid lines ready for the curved quilting lines..

 There is a bird drawn in ready to quilt

 The drawn on bamboo.

So I am working on this for FNWF. and stitching with many others in cyberland.

https://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com.au