I'm delighted that my "Shibori Kimono" and "Kalos" quilts have been accepted to hang in the Aotearoa Quilters Exhibition 2012 during the Craft & Quilt fair 6 - 9th September at Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.



Shibori Kimono





Kalos




Happy quilting

kaleidoscope tips

Last weekend I attended a quilting retreat with my girlfriends - the Kwilting Katz.  Eleven of us set up our sewing machines on Friday night and sew through to Sunday afternoon before packing up to go home.  We book Standford Retreat (Levin) three times a year.  We are served stunning meals, eat lots of nibbles, sip our glasses of wine, laugh a lot and of course work on our quilts (some more productive than others - overachievers LOL).
One of my friends, Lee, has caught my addiction for Kaleidoscopes - this is her third kaleidoscope quilt (underconstruction).   I just love the fabric she has used - makes you want to say Yeah Baby!!.  Its pretty wild and after spending quite a bit of time testing out various layouts, this is her final result.  I did sew a couple of her rows, but wasn't sure if I was suffering from a hard night or motion sickness from the spinning blocks!
Sometimes to prevent your kaleidoscope quilt from becoming overwhelming you need to add another fabric(s) to get the "wow" factor.  Lee has divided her blocks into to colourways and accented them with bold fabrics. I'm looking forward to seeing this quilt completed.





Japanese Meshwork - Student Sample from Krazy Cow Class

Couple of class samples made by Robyn who attended my class at Krazy Cow last weekend.  These have the wow factor and the weaving stands out because of her fabric selection.  When choosing fabrics to weave make sure they are really contrasting.  Notice how the Batik (sample on the right) variegation in colour gives more visual texture.  Don't forget to check out your "uglys" from within your stash.  A reminder - to stitch arround the edges once the block is complete to keep it secure until you use it.

Japanese Meshwork - Krazy Cow

A beautiful sunny day in Levin - Japanese meshwork class held at Krazy Cow today.  So exciting to see the blocks taking shape.

Kaleidoscope Class at Sawmillers

Another exciting kaleidoscope class held at Sawmillers today - laying out completed blocks.
Pictures of students work.

 

Rainey Sunday Doodle

One great thing about horrible weather is that one doesn't feel guilty spending the day in their sewing room.
This Kaleidoscope quilt top will be a shop sample - it's almost Dr Zues like. Its only small, made up of 36 blocks.

Original Fabric

Shirls

Japanese Meshwork - quilt as you go

This is a note for my Meshwork students who have completed the basics in meshwork and are now proceeding onto more intricate weaves from the Meshwork Books.  The best way to join your meshwork blocks together or into a quilt is to use the "quilt as you go" method.

Cut front strip 1 1/8" and back strip 1 3/4".  Iron the back strip in half.




Place the front strip onto the right side edge of your block with the back strip at the back.

Sew a 1/4" seam. 

Then sew the other side of the front strip onto the right side of your next block.






Once the two blocks are joined by the front strip, turn your blocks over, pin the back folded edge onto the second block butting the two edges together. Hand stitch down.