Fayes Place

Fayes Place

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Pictures at last.

This is one of the sample bowls at the Chocolate Factory that we visited a couple of weekends ago. You can go back as many times as you like - milk, white and dark chocolate buds. Oooooh, so nice. But I was good and only had two spoons full, one of white and one of dark.


And, this is the fabric I bought yesterday. Naughty, but nice. I've been adding it up. There are 8 x 1 metre pieces, 2 x half metre, and ..... 26 fat quarters. What is that I hear you say? How many? I really didnt want to get that many. But they all look so nice I really dont know which ones I'd put back, ..... so, I'll just have to keep them all :-)

Tomorrow I'll try and remember to take some photo's of the veggie patch. It's a bit over-run at the moment, but still producing and growing. We've finished the raddish and rocket, and at the moment are enjoying the little lebanese cucumbers, silver beet, capsicum, the tomatoes are just starting (Black Russian and Roma) and we still have beetroot, carrots and pumpkin to come. Then the fig tree is loaded (that will be about Feb/Mar), as are the grape vines, and we have a few apples on the 3 trees we have. And of course we have herbs and parsley and mint. Sounds quite a lot really, but it doesnt seem that way. But I do love picking fresh from the garden.
C U tomorrow then,
Cheers,
Faye.

Monday 13 December 2010

Still no camera!

Life keeps getting in the way and we still havent met up with DS1 to get our camera bag and the cable to transfer photo's to the computer. Maybe tomorrow - I'm hoping.

But, in the meantime, I went shopping today - supposedly to get Xmas prezzies, but one has to pace one's self. I had to deliver a parcel to someone quite near to the patchwork shops, so one cant go past, can one??? I've been talking to a friend who loves purple (hi Bev) and decided that I didnt have enough and my stash needed re-fueling. Hmmmmm. Several $'s later, and I have a quite reasonable stash now, ... some from Textile Traders, some from the Quilt shop and some from Spotlight. And I bought a few other colours too .... just couldnt help myself. I've been so good for the last year, but have just blown it all on one shopping expedition. But ..... it feels good and I love the colours. Maybe I'll take a picture and then when I get the cord I can do another post. Oooh. Dont want DH to see, so will have to just keep the fabric aside until I can get the camera, transfer the photo and delete it off the camera. Sneaky, eh? It's my present to myself, cos I'm sure he wont get me anything. Boy, it feels good. I'm going to go and have a fondle. See you when I get the camera working again. ..... :-)

Cheers,
Faye.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

No Photo's

We went to my niece's wedding on the weekend - at Dunsboro - and I had some photo's to show ..... but, DS1 has a camera and bag the same as ours and our bags got swapped. I actually have my camera, but his bag, so the cable doesnt fit and I can download any photo's - so sad.

The wedding went really well, BTW. I'll be getting my bag back this coming weekend. Will post next week and put up some pickies.

Till then,
Cheers,
Faye.

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Memory loss

I've had a few giggly moments lately with my memory - or rather loss of it.

We recently went to a wedding and the whole bridal entourage reminded me of Franjipane's, but I could never remember the flower's name. So, word association, I thought I'd remember "Japan" is in the name .... OK.. :-) Next day, do you think I could remember the country!!!!!

Then (O-oh. Memory loss - cant remember what was next. I know there were 3 things I wanted to write about ....... thinking, thinking ......) Oh yes, dates. One of my nieces is getting married in December and one of the Xmas do's that I'd like to go to was organised for that particular date. I remember thinking how good it was that I could probably go, but the date seemed vaguely familiar. Wonder why. I'd been asked about 10 months ago to keep it free!!!

The 3rd thing was - I was surfing the net - blogsites - as you do, and one in NZ had 2 beautiful fat quarters up for grabs. I remember thinking gee, I'd like to win those - as I sent off a comment to enter. Then we went away for the weekend and when we came back I couldnt for the life of me remember whose blog it was that I'd entered - couldnt even remember what it was on offer. Shame on me!!! Luckily, the lady saw my name somewhere else and got in touch with me - and the fabrics are on the way.

Moral of the story - always write it down - preferably somewhere where you can find it again - like maybe a post-it note on the PC screen. LOL

No photo's. I have been madly sewing Xmas gifts but will try and get out with the camera soon. You should see our veggie canoe now VBG, and the wheelbarrow isnt too shabby either. But, cant show the sewing yet - someone might see :-)

Cheers,
Faye.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Scraps for the Van

Well, that's what I've called it. If you are a quilter you will automatically know what I mean. If it's food that you are "in to", then I shudder to think what you might conjure up from my title ... :-)

A couple of weekends ago a group of us had a UFO weekend (from Thursday 2pm till Sunday 4pm) and this is one of the tops I was working on. I actually made all the squares blocks (2.5") and have since made the half square triangle blocks
and put it all together. The colours just happen to sort of go with our van, so this will go on the bed. Neat!!!

This is our workroom - there were 8 of us. That's my Bernina in front and you can see the 3 bowls of essentials on the left. Closest to camera is Maureen, pouring over a pattern for a bag - again .....she did this several times inbetween other projects - she finally stopped procrastinating on Saturday arvo and got going on it. Wonder if she has finished it yet? Hi Maureen :-)

We had a fab weekend and will do it all again this time next year. Lotsa fun.

Cheers,
Faye.

Sunday 31 October 2010

Weekend happenings.

I've had quite a productive weekend really, although all of this was done Saturday. I'll try and do some more tonight. Today we've been making an annex for a friend - but that's another story. And I still havent taken shots of the veggie patch again yet.
I have been getting things ready to do when I go away on a UFO weekend next w/e. This Scrappy Bargello I made quite a while ago - like 12 months - and have added the dark and the red borders to make it bigger. Still have to decide on the backing for this yet.
This is a backing I have made for my Eye of the Tiger quilt (below) using 10.5 inch blocks - idea courtesy of Bonnie Hunter of quiltville.com fame. I have been cutting my scraps into usable pieces of 10.5 inch, 6.5 inch, 4.5 inch and 2.5 inch squares, and then strips of 2 inch, 2.5 inch, 4.5 inch and 6.5 inch. I had enough of the 10.5 squares so put them together (actually, there is a 3" strip of black on the bottom cos I dont think it's quite long enough, but not enough for another row of squares.
This is the detail of my Eye of the Tiger quilt (pin basted), trying to show how each post in the black sashing I have tried to fussy-cut a tigers eye, hence the name.
And here is the full sized quilt. I havent quite worked out how to crop a photo yet. Have to ask my son when he comes to visit tomorrow.

Right now it's time to get some dinner going.
CU next time,
Faye.

Friday 29 October 2010

My New Cushion.

This is a cushion I made from the miniRR block that I got back recently. I added a Prairie Point edging that I think looks good. Julie was good enough to give me some extra fabric so that it all ties in. I love it, and say a big THANK YOU to all who worked on it for me.

The photo taken outside is probably more the true colours. The inside one is taken with a flash and the greens are too brilliant.

I'll be back with an update on the veggie patch in a day or two.

Cheers,
Faye.

Sunday 17 October 2010

The Veggie garden

Well, here we are in the veggie patch. We have to put everything into containers, cos the trees have very invasive roots. Love the trees, but love our veggies too, so, .... containers it is :-)

The canoe was one our boys used to have
when they were kids and it was just rotting out, so it now makes a very nice veggie plot.

The wheelbarrow was rusted out and hubby was going to take it to the tip. I convinced him it would make a good garden. He says he'll paint it for me later.

In the canoe we have 3 cucumber plants, 4 rocket, 4 English spinnach, some sp.onions and 1 strawberry plant, then radish, carrot and beetroot seeds. The carrots aren't up yet - another week or so. There are also some self seeded rockmelon, and a celery head that is sprouting.

The wheelbarrow has 4 silverbeet and some sp.onions.

We also have some pots of snow peas, 4 more strawberry plants and tomatoes - 4 roma's and one black Russian. So far the containers are working well. I also have several parsley plants, rosemary, thyme, mint and garlic chives. I still want to get some lettuce plants going, but we need to make up some more shade for those, so they dont go to seed quite so quickly. Cant wait for summer when I can pick my salad meal of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, snow peas, rocket, carrot, radish and sp.onion, along with sliced beetroot from the garden. Yummmmm!

I love to garden, dont you?
Cheers,
Faye.

My new table runner


Just have to show these on my Blog. My on-line quilt group have been making mini round robin quilts, but the centre I made for this one was not quite square, so I used it as a "Nesting" robin. I was pleased with the result, but what to do with it now?


I decided it would look nice as a table runner, and
.....
ta-daaaar! :-) I love it!

I've decided that's what I might do with more of my orhpan blocks. This style of table runner is quite easy to do, and what a nice way to transform those leftover blocks. Might make a couple for Xmas presents - if I get round to it ..... Xmas has a habit of arriving too soon, and best laid plans are "out the window!"

I'm off to take some photo's of my veggie patch - the ones in the canoe and the wheel-barrow! I might even do 2 entries on my blog today. :-)

Cheers,
Faye.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Miniatures

These are the two blocks I made for a mini Round Robin that I'm in. They are each 4 1/2" square. They are marked A and B, and one goes clockwise round the group (of 6) and the other goes anti-clockwise and each participant will add a border. It will be interesting to see how different they are when they get home again. I must admit I'm rather pleased with how they look.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and get out in the garden and take photo's of my veggie patch. I've decided this blog should record not only quilting progress, but also the garden. We dont have a lot of veggies. We have a lot of trees on our 5 acres and their roots are very invasive, so we've decided to grow in pots this year. I'll show you what we are using when I take the photo's. It's what you'd call "recycling".

Till then, cheers,
Faye.

Monday 11 October 2010

Airing the Quilts




This weekend just gone we went to Geraldton,
and on Saturday went to Northampton to their
Airing of the Quilts.

The main street had quilts all along it, and there
were lots of stalls. I had a great time wandering around it all.
We took Adam's Mum with us and he looked after her while I went and looked at whatever I wanted - for as long as I wanted. It was wonderful.

Then, on Sunday we went to Dongara for their "Hanging of the Quilts". This was held in "The Priory Lodge" and was an excellent venue. I didnt take as many photo's as I should have, but I really enjoyed it. And I met up with lots of people I knew and hadnt seen for ages, so it was a really good day.

These are a couple of quilts that I really liked. Simple
but very effective. Actually, I think the black and white one was made by one of my friends, so I'll be able to pick her brain a little on how the mechanics work :-)

Yes! A wonderful weekend, and completely unexpected. My husband usually avoids quilt displays if he can. LOL.

Till next time,
Cheers,
Faye.

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Broome photo's

I promised a while ago that I would put up some pictures of Broome - well, here they are. I reckon the sunset one is as good as any postcard. The one of the 3 Camels on the lawn I thought they were statues at first, until I saw them move - eating the grass. No-one was tending them. They were just waiting, although they were tethered together.

And this one my Hubby took recently - in our garden. They almost look like they should be singing or whistling to you. We have 3 "clumps" of them and there must be about 40 flowers altogether. Keeping an eye on the place.


We are off the the Kulin "Bush Races" this weekend. We went about 5 years ago and had so much fun we decided we'd go again, but this is the first time since. I'll take some photo's again. Kulin is East of Perth, probably about 3 hours drive. If you are travelling to Wave Rock in Hyden, then take a detour to Kulin and travel the "Tin Highway". All the farms have put up statues and scenes using old cars, hay bales, old drums and the like. It goes for about 5 km - make sure you have lots of film space!

I'm working on another mini Round Robin at the moment. Will take a photo, but wont be able to post it until "Prue" gets it. I dont want to spoil it for her. And, never having one thing only on the go, I'm also working on my hexagons still, and also 2 more mini RR's. Then there's the Blue and Yellow - think that's about all at the moment, but I'm thinking about what to take out next. I want to finish off some more PHD's (Projects Half Done!).

In the garden, we have been planting out some veggie seedlings. We have a lot of trees on our property and the roots are very invasive, so we have decided to grow most of our plants in pots. Well, our veggie patch this year is an old canoe that the boys used to have when they were kids. Makes a beaut garden. Once again, I'll take a photo when the plants have grown a bit. I love it!

I'm off to work on the mini RR's.

Cheers,
Faye.








Tuesday 21 September 2010

"THE" feeling.

Yep. I feel another quilt coming on. I've been looking at scrap quilts and also QAYG (Quilt As You Go) patterns and I have an idea that I'm just about ready to have a go at. It will be made with some of my strips from my stash ... cos, (sigh) I'm trying not to buy any more fabric until I've made a bit of a dent in the "collection". I've made quite a few scrappy quilts, but I still cant see a dent. Mind you, I havent been completely "on the waggon". But I'm buying less at a time.

I'm still trying to get myself organised to move into a larger room, but things are getting in the way. Like, I really have to sort out some of my stuff before I move, and thats a 1 step forward, 2 steps back job. I keep finding things that side-track me :-)

And I will have to completely clean out all the stuff in the new room, so I can clean it properly and paint it. ... Next dilema - what colour?I'm not a yellow person, but I think it will be yellow. Its a bright clean colour. But, I could have a feature wall. Hmmm ... purple - no, pink - no, green is my favourite colour, but I think - no, brown - no (maybe a bit dark), - well, maybe NOT a feature wall. Besides, it would be hidden behind all the cupboards I plan to put along there.

I've had fun planning and designing the room. Now I just really have to get on and do something constructive about moving.

I'm off to try and sort out another cupboard, this one is general craft items. I hardly ever use them, but the moment I toss them, I'll need them. Gotta get tuff!!

Till next time,
Cheers,
Faye.

Friday 17 September 2010

Checking in.

Hello,
Just thought I'd better put a few words together and advise that I hope to get the camera working again tomorrow and update on things I'm working on. Actually havent done all that much - we've been away again. Last weekend we went to Broome for a wedding. It was a lovely wedding and I enjoyed seeing Broome ..... and the 35 degree heat! DH took a couple of ripper shots of the camels in the sunset on Cable Beach, so I'll put them up soon. I reckon they are better than the postcards you buy.


We are babysitting our sons dog this weekend. Zeus is a mini Doberman - and so cute. He follows me round all the time and can almost talk. This is him - doing the ironing!! Sorry about the mess at the bottom of the photo. Dont know how to crop yet.

Till later then.

Cheers,
Faye.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Marmalade

Hmmm This is my 3 fruit Marmalade and this time I got it "just right". Not too runny, not too thick and a beautiful flavour. The three fruits are 1 grapefruit, 2 small sweet oranges and 2 lemons (1 Eurika and 1 Meyer), all from the trees on our property. I only made half quantity, so hence only 6 small jars. We have already almost finished one of the small ones, I've given away 2 (or at least Hubby has!!!), so looks like I'll have to make some more before very long.

I've also made about 8 jars of a Cumquat Marmalade. That also turned out very well, but I havent taken any photo's. This makes a quite "tart" jam that I love, but some would not. Cumquats have so many seeds ..... this time I cut them in half and took out the pips, then threw them into the food processor for a few "zaps". Worked fine and I didnt have to slice up all the fruit.

Have to get out and start the veggie patch soon. We are starting from scratch again with it, as it's about 3 years since we really did any. Last year we put all our veg in pots - tomatoes, bush cucumber and capsicum mainly, and a few of the gourmet lettuce.

Gotta go. My dinner needs attention.

Cheers,
Faye

Friday 3 September 2010

What I'm working on

Hi,
These are some of the things I'm working on - I'm sure I'm not the only one who has more than 3 or 4 things on the go at once. They are not really UFO's, but they are WIP's and definitely PHD's (project half done).

This is actually my thread ends
that I kept on the dash
while I was sewing "Under
the Sea" BOM from Willowberry
Designs. I quite liked the
"Op Art" but Hubby said it
had to go :-(

This is what I've done so far.



I love the look of this centre, but it's a bit
heavy for the stitcheries that I want to
put around it.

See what I mean.
I am working on
another centre.

.
And this is my hexagon project. They are about 1" across and I'm loving doing it. I worked on it quite a lot this time when I was travelling. I have made 5 of the triangle points and still have one to finish. Can you make out the butterfly? Around the large hexagon there are 3 butterflies and 3 flower patches. I have and idea on what to fill in the next diamond. Dont know how large it will eventually be. I'm still having fun :-)

Hope you like my pickies. I'm still learning how to put them up. I actually keep losing them as I add new ones, so it's a wonder they aren'e all "blue" with the cussing that was going on LOL.

Cheers,
Faye.








Wednesday 1 September 2010

Home till next year.

Hello,
Well. I'm back in civilization again, this time until about April next year,2011. We had quite a successful 5 weeks (again) out in the outback of WA, gold prospecting. I didnt do any this time. My back always suffers, so decided it just wasnt worth it. I sit in the car and sew while DH prospects, and I do the cooking, washing, cleaning, etc - but its quite fun in our little van. We had lots of water nearby so were able to have a shower every other day. Usually its just a wash-down until we can get to town for a shower.

I spent lots of time working on my hexagons and they are looking good, even if I do say so myself! I also worked on a "blue on yellow" centre medallion for a quilt that will probably be a table cloth. But, it's too heavy. I have done appliqué tulips, and all the little blocks around the edge are stitcheries (a swap I was in), so the solid appliqué is too much. I have drawn out another pattern I found that I will embroider and see how that looks.

My Byzantine Star quilt top is finished and my friend finished quilting it while I was away. I am giving it to my (favourite) niece for her wedding in December - she loves it.

I'll try and get some photo's up in the next couple of days. And I'm hoping I will be able to post a bit more often now that we are not travelling.

Until next time.
Cheers,
Faye.

Saturday 19 June 2010

Back home for a little while.

Hi there,

We got back about 5.30 yesterday evening (Friday). We were away just over 5 weeks, so a bit less than we had anticipated. We decided we need to do a few more things to the annex and also DH was a bit "on edge" about there being so many prospectors there - just where HE wanted to go. So, we've come home to regroup, repair and redesign.

I didnt do much detecting. My back didnt hold up very well and I also had trouble with my shoulder. But, it didnt stop me sewing. I used to wait in the car while DH prospected - doing mostly stitcheries this trip. Whenever I had a scrap of thread, I used to put it on the dashboard, which has a "carpet" cover on it. I quite like my "art" work. I'll try and remember to take a photo - just to record my progress.

I spent most of the time working on a free BOM called "Under The Sea" from Cheryl at Willowberry Designs. I love it and have finished the 5 blocks I took out. Again, I'll take some photo's and post them later.

That's it for now. I need to "regroup" as well. I feel all at sea at the moment. Need to get into my sewing room and play LOL.

Cheers,
Faye.

Monday 10 May 2010

Inspiration & Perspiration - my weekend's worth!

Well. The weekend has come and gone and I didnt get as much finished as I'd hoped. I have put up another photo of the Byzantine Star quilt - a close up. Hopefully it's not so dark. I worked on this on Saturday night and got the last two rows put together, and one actually added to the quilt. So, now all (hmmm ... all?) I have to do is put on the last row, and then add the 1" black, finish making the 2.5" squares for the next border, and put on a 6" yellow border. Then it will be ready for my friend Terry to quilt it. It will be too big for my machine and I dont want to hand quilt it !!

My other moments of patchwork were - I sewed the border on Kelly's quilt, still have to handsew that on. And I have almost finished a bag that I cant show at the moment because "she" may be a scquilter and it's a secret! I'll try and remember to take photo's and post what I've done later.

And for the rest of the weekend, DH and I were preparing and packing for our Gold prospecting trip. We leave on Wednesday - for 6 to 8 weeks - so I've had to pack lots of patchwork... LOL.
I do a little prospecting, but I have a back problem, so cant do much at a time (so sad ... just have to spend my time patchworking!)

So, I'll be off air for a few weeks. Catch you when I get back.

Cheers,
Faye.

Saturday 8 May 2010

Inspiration & Perspiration (or I&P) #3



Well, I dont know why, but I couldnt
get these pictures to load last night.
And I notice they are all dark - sorry.

This first one is of the binding on the
folded quilt. It's been sitting waiting
for at least a week, so this weekend is
my "inspiration and perspiration" to get it done.
This is the quilt - minus the binding of
course. :-)

It's a quilt for my niece who is having
a baby in July - and as I'll be away from
next week until early July, I really should
get this finished before I go ... I will, I will!

The blocks are Stack and Slash, and the borders are a bright Monster print - I love it. The backing is a piece of Jungle print that I had that wasnt quite big enough (dammit!), so has black borders on 3 sides. My niece and her DH chose it because of the backing I think !! She came to visit and I told them they could choose 2 baby quilts cos she didnt want a quilt for her wedding. She is rapt with her choices.

Well. I'd better get on with the sewing, or I wont have any more to show you later !!

Cheers,
Faye.


Friday 7 May 2010

I&P No.2


OK. Tea is done & I've taken some photo's, so here goes.

This is the work so far. I have done 3 rows of 4 blocks and
need to add 2 more rows to finish the centre.






This is one block, 16" square finished.
It's called Byzantine Star, I think the spelling is right.
The original block was 12" but I wanted it bigger.





I have cut a 1" black border, and have started cutting 2.5" strips to have 2.5" squares as the next border, and then a 6" border of yellow. So ..... I still have quite a bit to do on this top. If I get it finished before I leave (for 6 to 8 weeks away Gold prospecting), then I'll leave it with my friend who is a long-arm quilter and she will quilt it while I'm away. She wants to hang it in a display at a craft fair in August.

I'm still learning how to "operate" my blog, and right now it wont let me enter another Image, so I guess I'll have to start another post.

C U soon,
Cheers,

Faye.









Inspiration & Perspiration (or I&P)

Hi Y'all,

Most of my on-line group are at a retreat this weekend and some of us are going to have a "quilt-in" over this weekend - posting photo's and chatting about what we've done. I have a couple of projects I'd like to finish before DH and I leave for our prospecting trip on Wednesday, so I've "committed" myself for weekend evening sew-in's. Just have to go and make the tea first, then I'll take some photo's of where I'm at and over the weekend I hope to update with progress ... that's the plan! LOL

So, next post, later tonight, will be of various stages of the 2 quilts I'd like to finish.

C U then,

Cheers,
Faye.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Getting ready.

Yep. It's almost that time of the year again - when we go Gold prospecting. I'm slowly buying a few extra's every shop so it's not such a rush just before we go. I have a list (and I check it twice LOL) and it's been my bible for a few years now. Sure helps to be able to just tick off what I need and not think about it.

I've also been sorting out what I'm going to be taking in the sewing line. I dont take a machine so it will all be hand-sewing. Of course I have the hexagons - they go everywhere with me. Then I have 2 or 3 stitcheries (hmmm... I didnt finish them last year, oops), and I'm just sorting out a set of Japanese design 8 placemats and a table centre. Wonder if that will be enough? I dont want to get bored. We'll be away for about 6 to 8 weeks. I also take some knitting - I have a cardigan to finish off and want to knit up some dish cloths in cotton. And, last but not least, I also take Mr Wisdom's Whoppers and some Sudoku. ....... Dont think I'll have time to prospect :-)

I'm off to the shops now. Gotta get something for dinner tonight and while I'm at it, I'll look at what biscuits and crackers are on special.

Cheers,
Faye.


Friday 16 April 2010

The next couple of rounds.


Hello,

Well, it's been a while, but here I am with the next two rounds of my little Round Robin (RR). I had to add curves and then rectangles. I'm quite pleased with how it is coming along.




I'm not sure about the "real" one that I have to do now. It is getting a little dark and I would like to bring it back lighter if I can, but am not sure how it will look. Guess I'll just have to have a little play with it LOL.

There is only one more round after this one - anything goes in "Free Choice". Sometimes I need more boundaries than that to get my creative juices going. On mine? Maybe just a couple of borders? I'll keep looking at it for a while and maybe something will come.

It's been fun and I'm looking forward to getting my original block back, all done!

Cheers,
Faye.

Saturday 10 April 2010

CONTINUOUS BAND PRAIRIE POINTS (or Picket Fence)

This is my first tutorial - someone on my on-line group wanted to know how I did my Continuous Prairie Points, so I decided to "have a go". I hope you can follow it.

This is a finished strip.
Using this method, the points are always evenly spaced and the same size. I like to work on lengths of about 20”, so you could use fat quarters but there would be more wastage.

My example is based on a 4” original square. You can make them any size, but I find on a quilt the 4” is quite large enough, and when I have made 5” it really doesn’t make much difference to the finished size of the Point but uses quite a lot more fabric. I use a 3” on cushions.


1. Cut an 8” wide strip the width of the fabric (selvege to selvege). The 8” is twice the basic square size. Trim off the selveges




2. With wrong sides together, fold the band in half lengthwise. Press well. You need to be able to see the centre fold line.





3. Open the fabric out and with the wrong side up, begin working from one end. On the top side of the pressed centre line, mark lines from the centre fold to the edge, starting 4” from the end.




4. On the bottom side of the centre line, your first mark will be half the square size (in this case 2”), and from then on every 4”, so that the lines either side of the centre fold are staggered.

5. Cut away the 2” marked piece (you cant make a point out of that!). Then cut all the marked lines, from outer edge to the centre fold line. Be careful not to cut past the fold. I like to do this with scissors, cos I cant judge properly where to stop with the rotary cutter. This is when I cut the length in half (along the centre fold, between 2 staggered cuts).

6. Working at the ironing board so that the folds can be pressed as you go, place the fabric wrong side up. Assuming you are right handed, you will be working from the right hand side to the left. Press the first square into a half square triangle, working away from the iron, so that the fold goes from the bottom right to the top left. Press all the squares along this side the same way.

7. Press the bottom squares, also away from the iron, so the fold goes from the top right (fold line) to the bottom outer edge.





8. Now for the Points! Take the top of the first triangle and fold it back down on itself (the top of the triangle comes back down to the beginning folded edge) to make another smaller triangle. It’s a Prairie Point, but it’s joined at the fold!




9. Flip this small triangle down, so that when you fold the bottom triangle up, this first one is enclosed in the second triangle.





Pin to hold in place. Make sure the pin heads are on the straight edge.





10. Flip these 2 Points up and fold down the next triangle and pin to keep in place.



11. Keep flipping and folding back, then pinning, until you reach the end of the strip.







12. Press well but carefully (especially if your pins are plastic heads).

You might end up with lots of 20” strips of triangles, but believe me, if you have to move a 40” strip of loose cut squares it takes ages to straighten it out! 20” is much more user friendly.


How much fabric, you ask? Well, you measure the length of the sides and work out how many cuts of 40” (width of the fabric ) you need and cut that many 8” strips.


To join to your quilt. Trim the edges of your quilt, then pin the batting and backing out of the way. Join the Prairie Points to your quilt top, right sides and raw edges together, with a ¼” seam. You will find that you can ease or stretch the lengths to fit quite easily. But, if you find that it just isn’t working, cut 3 or 4 points individually and space them to fit right to the corner. There will not be a point on the corners. It just doesn’t work that way, even if you cut them individually.

Trim the batting an extra ¼”; hand sew the backing in place along the seam line at the back of the Points.

* * * *
And there you have it. My very first online tutorial. I often do quick workshops on this at retreats or craft days. Once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy.

Cheers,
Faye.

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Mini quilts


Hello,
My online group have a Mini Round Robin swap (or 3 or 4) happening and some of us made a couple of centres (only 4.5") before we made one that we deemed good enough to send. This is mine at the moment - it's 10.5" (10" finished) and I now have to add a round of "curves". I think I know what I'll add and will post another photo when it's done ..... may take a while LOL. I cant post pictures of those that I'm working on for others, just in case they look at my blog. Dont want to spoil the surprise when the mini is returned to the owner.

This one, when I'd finished the centre it was a bit "rectangular" rather than square. I've fudged it and now it's square, but the centre still looks skewiff. But, I like it, and that's all that matters. The rounds were - compliment centre, -triangles, -squares, and now -curves, and next -rectangles, and lastly -your choice.

I was going to put some more photo's up of what I've been doing the last few weeks, but think I'll leave that for another day. Maybe I'll have time to write more on the weekend - and take some more photo's :-)

Cheers for now,

Faye.


Saturday 30 January 2010

Sewing day at Ellen's


G'day,
Yes, well .... not a lot of sewing was done - a lot of talking, laughing, a bit of eating, and lots of good company. A bit of show n tell as well. Was great catching up with folk again, and of course, I forgot the camera!

I was doing a bit on my hexagons, which, like most hexagon projects, is a long on-going project. I've been making rosettes from scraps ever since the kids were small and every now and then I make up a project using them. That's it on the right. The little pink strip is actually a 6" ruler to show the size of the haxagons. The design is based on one that I've seen on another blog and it's a bit like Topsy - just keeps on growing. Dont know what it will be eventually, but I'm having fun with it. It's my project when I dont have a project.

The image on the left I call "My Secret Garden" and I made it in 1998. It's about 18" x 24".

I feel a machine quilting day coming on - just have to get rid of this hot weather. I'd just like to finish off 2 or 3 tops and I'll feel like the PHD pile is diminishing. I havent counted, but there must be about 20 tops to be quilted. 2010 IS THE YEAR OF COMPLETION!! I'm still trying to work on the "finish 3 before I start another" - but do little crafty items count as "new"? I'll have to hold myself back, cos they do take time to make, even tho they are small.

So, that's it for another week.

CU
Cheers,
Faye.