Gerberas in my garden

Out and about the garden this morning taking some images of new sewing projects (available in March), I stopped to marvel at this wonderful gerbera flower. I was given this plant by a friend who worked at plant research centre. Unfortunately the plant must be sterile as it has never reproduced but just take a look at the single bloom......

It is an enormous 17cm across the face!

So here is my version of the Lucy Boston quilt.......the quick version that is......."Lucy in a Hurry"!

The pattern will be available mid March......

 

Happy stitching

Carol

"Lucy in a Hurry"

I thought I would give you a little sneek peak at what I am up to at the moment.

Lucy Boston...Patchwork of the crosses has been so popular. I started mine about 3 years ago. I made all of the lovely pretty centres and then came the boring plain colour joining shapes.....oh and then would have come the fussy cut squares......STOP!....

 

I just can't do this anymore. I know, I will put it away in a box until I can get my head around it!!!!!.......Well as we all know that is the first mistake.

 

So in the box poor old Lucy stayed until recently.....Out she came and so did the quick unpick.

Away went the the boring plain colour joining shapes.....the fussy cut squares just never happened......and all of the pretty blocks were then appliqued onto new background squares.......Why didn't I do this in the first place?

 

 

  

So "Lucy in a Hurry" is all back together in her new look and currently being quilted, ready for her debut in 2013.

 

I guess the moral(s) of the story could be.....don't forget those projects that have been put away....give them a new lease on life......or how long will that long term quilt really take to finish!

Oh and she has a really zingy border!

 

Carol

A helping hand

We can all do with a helping hand sometimes and that doesnt just mean with making the dinner or washing up (boring)! I am lucky to have a husband that does these things as well as other boring jobs for me when I am really busy with sewing projects that just need to get finished.
Husbands who are not sewers but have skills that we patchworkers need also come to the rescue.


Take Sue's beautiful quilt. Not only does her husband draft the quilting pattern but he removes the glass sliding doors from within their home, takes them outside and and elevates them, places here quilt top over them and then traces the quilting design on for her. WOW! how's that?

Sue has quilted the darker setting triangles with shashiko quilting and the result is just spectacular.

You can see in this image those wonderful even stitches.




Maxine is always busy sewing and bought along her very big elongated hexagon quilt to show everyone.This design was originally made by Lucy Boston of England. Every inch is hand pieced and thats maxine on the left.

My own quilt is still in the "box" unfinished....oh well one day perhaps!

Until next time

Carol