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I've called my Lollie Wheels quilt "Houdini" because it's magic.  There's an optical illusion that make you think that there's a square in the middle of each pinwheel block.  But it's all due to fussy cutting! The fabric has printed lines of stitching on it, and if you cut it right way you can make this effect. 

I made my quilt from some pieces of Lollies, Looking Forward and Remix that I had in my stash - along with contributions from 4 other sources.  Jen Kingwell has a whole new range of Lollies fabrics coming out ...

As an octogenarian, I feel so blessed to have arrived into 'The Golden Years".  I'm  fortunate to still be able to do what brings me joy each day.  Among those blessings include being able to create quilts.  Due to age and health restraints; my methods have changed some what, but I hope my aesthetic has not.  I now only make smaller quilts, which I consider just 'idea quilts' -- quilts that I would make in larger scale if I didn't have physical limitations.  The quilts are basically simple; nothing too complicated and based on traditional frugality.  I've never ...

I know, I know – I’ve been gone for ages. All sorts of things have been happening.

Including lots of stitching. I’ve identified a few projects that I want to try to focus on. Try being the operative word. And this is one of them – Nocturne from Millefiori Quilts 3. I had started it ages ago but then it sat. So when that project box came out, I figured out what I needed to finish it and got all the shapes printed that I’ll need. A little fussy cutting/printing was done – of course. And now I’ll ...

I belong to the most wonderful Modern Quilting Guild, BrisbaneMQG and on sew days I get to marvel at all the talented quilters projects. Justine, a new member, had a pile of colourful 25 patch blocks with 1″ finished black and white sashing. I was immediately taken by their beauty and started making my own for my modern Bee quilt. Digging through my extensive and embarrassing fabric stash I started to gather 2.5″ squares and make blocks. I have caught the bug and it’s great sewing therapy in between other projects. Fussy cutting the black on white fabrics ...

So, I pulled these four-patch posies out of the stash closet the other day, they'd aged well. These are all fussy cut and reassembled from the same large scale print. Turning to the laptop and EQ8 I was able to draw up a setting for them that, hopefully will show off each block's individual beauty. It's about time. I seriously couldn't remember how long they'd been languishing until I searched

So, I pulled these four-patch posies out of the stash closet the other day, they'd aged well. These are all fussy cut and reassembled from the same large scale print. Turning to the laptop and EQ8 I was able to draw up a setting for them that, hopefully will show off each block's individual beauty. It's about time. I seriously couldn't remember how long they'd been languishing until I searched

Occasionally, I like working on a quilt that focuses on the features of the fabric --- stripes, motifs that can be isolated, and the saturation of color.  This usually requires more time in the cutting process (fussy-cutting); but, in my case, larger and fewer blocks.  This is a challenge that I find fascinating.

This quilt is the result of focusing on the features of the fabric rather than a geometric  design.

There is always a choice to be made when I think about a new quilt -- Do ...

I know, I know – it has been a very long time since I blogged. I don’t even want to think about how long it has been. Lots has been going on, but I just haven’t blogged. I’m going to try, once again, to get back to blogging on a somewhat regular basis.

At Christmas a friend gave me a huge set of markers and an adult colouring book. I was hooked immediately! Since then I’ve progressed to coloured pencils and have found that I’m drawn mostly to colouring books that involve floral designs. Big surprise ...

I know I should have blogged last week but I have an excuse – I got my booster shot and it packed a bit of a punch! I’m glad it did as that means my immune system was busily making antibodies to help fight COVID but still – I wasn’t expecting to feel like I’d been hit by a bus!

However, two more Christmas Fireworks blocks are done, both the off kilter or not centred stars. First this one, which I think may be one of my favourites – so far, that is.

And then this one:

Today I’ll ...

I actually thought that by the middle of January I’d be finished making these blocks? Ha! Not a hope. It took me most of the week to make two blocks.

This one with the star straight up and down.

And this one, also with the straight star. Now I have 16 of the 35 blocks done. If I continue at this rate of two blocks a week, it will be at least another 10 weeks, if not more, before the blocks are done which puts this into mid-February at the earliest. I think. If I don’t get distracted ...

Christmas Fireworks, that is – my take on Willyne Hammerstein’s Midnight Fireworks quilt in Millefiori Quilts. Which, of course, I’m making with the Inklingo Midnight Fireworks collection.

First up an off-centre fireworks.

Then a centred one.

And finally another off-centre one.

Now I’ve used all the red diamond pairs I had pieced so it’s time to chain piece more of them. I’ve decided to do these blocks in groups of 8 or 10 so this time I’m going to chain piece (by hand) eight pairs of red diamonds for each of 10 blocks.

I had ...

So far I’m still sticking with the Christmas Fireworks and two more blocks are done.

First one with the star pointing straight.

Then an off-centre one.

The back of the straight star after grading of the seams and pressing it. When I was taking the photos, I happened to scroll through my camera roll really quickly and it was fun to see how much movement the block that seems off-centre adds. Now I’m really glad I decided to do the blocks both ways!

I’m also very grateful that I caught on to the effect of the two ...

My Christmas Fireworks, that is, which is what I decided to call my version of Willyne Hammerstein’s Midnight Fireworks in Millefiori Quilts.

Notice anything? I realized after I had put together a few more of these blocks that I have been adding the black framing pieces two ways – one has the centre star’s central point pointing right up while the other doesn’t.

And while this picture isn’t very good at all – I laid the blocks out on top of the duvet so there were lots of hills and valleys – it shows an example of what the ...

Other projects were found as the sewing area was moved. One is these very colourful 9-patch blocks on point. I love the look of these so don’t have any idea why I’ve let the project just sit for so long. However, now that I’ve got it out I’m hoping I finish at least one or two of the blocks every week. The 9-patch blocks are all done. All that’s left to do is add the triangles.

Then the various Silent Garden projects were unearthed, starting with the blue and brown Silent Garden project. I’m ...

Yes, it's winter here, and the raindrops certainly are falling on my head.  

Strangely enough though, my quilt is full of hot colours, so I might have to think of a new name for it before I finish it.  

I'm hand piecing this quilt.  I used to do a lot of English Paper Piecing, but I found it ...

My hand pieced Raindrops quilt is coming along nicely. I've been experimenting with other fabric combinations because I don't want all of the blocks to be the feature fabric.  

I'm not sure if all of these rosettes will make it into the final quilt, but I need to see all the options before I start joining the blocks.  

The plainer blocks are good because they give our eyes a resting place.  However, I can see that the dark green in the centre rosette might be too dark. 

Last week someone asked me how I calculate how much ...

There’s another project box that got opened. Upon opening it, I found this – everything for Christmas Fireworks (Midnight Fireworks from Millefiori Quilts 1) with all the centre stars done.

Beneath the stars? All the pieces to finish each of the 35 blocks.

The stars began with this fabric. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it as I knew it was perfect for some fussy cutting/printing. I’ve used it in this Christmas Fireworks project and plan to use it in another project that’s not yet started.

When I began this way back in ...

Welcome to my post on fussy cutting for the Old School BOM. What is fussy cutting? Fussy cutting can be both – 1. Taking a single design element such as a motif from a piece of fabric and placing it in a block. For example, an eye-spy quilt where you cut a cute element and […]

One of the projects I started over the past year is Nocturne from Millefiori Quilts 3. I had fun going through fabrics looking for just the right one because, of course, I was going to be using the Inklingo Nocturne collection to do some fussy-cutting/printing.

This was the fabric I eventually chose.

Two project boxes are being used for this – one with just the pieces of the black background fabric.

And one with everything else plus the various threads I’m using for the project.

The blocks are quick to stitch. I surrounded four of them with the black ...