crossed rosebuds and a wreath

A little web surfing a while back turned up a lovely crossed rosebud block at JulieKQuilts made using wool with blanket stitch...gorgeous.  I thought it would be a nice addition to my pseudo-BTCT.

Julie has gone on to add a central flower and little daisy-like flowers in the corners to finish hers, but at the moment I don't mind my version looking a little spare...the negative space in the centre is rather appealing.  I'll wait and see if some cherries are in order later on when the remaining blocks are completed.

The wreath block above, still under construction, is from The Eggleston Bedcover (1847) detailed in  For Purpose and Pleasure by Sandi Fox - my copy is very well thumbed, having received it  in 2001 as a gift from my old quilt guild - it is a constant source of inspiration and delight.

My only complaint is Ms Fox did not photograph the entire bedcover, but only teased her readers with detailed shots of 12 of the blocks....many of which are on my list to reproduce ( as is much of the book's contents!)

The charming thing about many quilts featured in the book are the inscriptions. Many of the Eggleston blocks have delightful poems and sentiments inked or cross-stitched...My mind is pondering how to incorporate this notion somehow into my blocks.

The original Egglestone wreath block.

 

The main bias strip is made quickly by hand, simply finger folding a 1" strip 1/3 and 1/3 and basting together (no ironing!) but I couldn't make that width bend sufficiently for the innermost winding stems.

A perfect opportunity to test drive this nifty little gizmo... a 1/4" bias maker.

What a great little tool! 1/2" bias strip goes in one end and 1/4" bias stems come out the other...a little pressing and it stays as bendy as can be.  By accident I purchased the version where you can add fusible tape but I doubt I'll ever use that. I love it so much I've ordered the next 2 sizes (9mm-3/8" and 12mm-1/2").

With these two blocks complete there are only 4 more to make to complete the main quilt top. Then it's on to designing the border!

It's Friday here in Sydney - a most glorious late winter morning, Spring is in the sir with Jasmine flowering madly on my boundary fence and a few early cherry blossoms starting to open. I have a day off today and am quilting with friends tomorrow so must away to do some preparation.


Hope your weekend includes some stitching!
K

cherries, hearts and eagles

Over at the Beyond the Cherry Tree Blog, Sharon suggested participants show off their completed blocks all laid out together.

Go check out Mimi's blocks - they look fabbo.

I did start off following the pattern, but have now deviated so far from the original that it's barely recognisable.  Nevertheless,I thought it might be time I saw them laid out together....there's 4 from the original quilt so far...

Most recently completed is the block above:-  another lovely block from a quilt in Bill Volckening's collection. 

Six blocks done, six to go.  The aim is to surround the centre eagle with 12 blocks then perhaps an applique border of some kind. Perhaps the pots could go in each corner?

Not sure about setting these together - what do you think? I've been considering a something separating the centre eagle perhaps a border of some kind? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Hope you're having a productive week.

K

day 2 quilts in the vines

Following on from my last post about the Quilts in the Vines quilt retreat....
Day two dawned foggy, frosty and VERY cold. Only two intrepid walkers ventured out but we did get to enjoy some very pretty views.

Crunchy ground underfoot, a little different to the morning before.

 Watch out for pesky 'roos

 

 Frost on the racecar letterbox. 'Roo in the background below

 

After defrosting ears we went back to Algona for another day of sewing

Arrgh.

Clearly someone was focussed on sewing on not photography, this is all I have. (You might notice Jean's delightful little cut glass dish of hexagons, it travelled around with her).   I think Jean was much  more diligent in capturing everyone's work....we'll have to wait for her next post.

All in all a fun, productive and enjoyable weekend. My MJH has barely been unpacked since, but hopefully soon there'll be a little stitching time.

Thanks for visiting!
K