Time Passes

Has it really been that long since my last post. Time passes so quickly when you are busy. I guess my face book page has been getting all the attention lately. Since my last post I have started teaching beginners patchwork classes in cabin. One lady brings her son with her, so he has been making blocks as well. I will post his project when he has finished. I just loved this Northcott christmas panel so I had to make one for my shop and it will most likely finish up in my house at Christmas. 

Roscommon Lamb Festival

I took advantage of these lambs at the festival last weekend. I was sorry I didn't have a finished quilt to drape over them. But you get the picture. I heard since that one of them was spotted in bits all over the town on Monday night. I know there was a smaller one so maybe it was him. Vandals!!!

Fat Free Chocolates

Chocolate Box
I finally finished my chocolates for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland. 

I left an empty space and so far everyone who has looked at them states the obvious.
There's one missing!!!

The prize for this competition is a hamper full of real chocolate.  Yummy
Which would you rather have???

Seams Sew Simple

I am in my sick bed at the moment with a head cold. Not very pleasant so this is probably the reason I cannot seem to be able to get the link for my Seams Sew Simple page pasted to my blog site. Therefore I will just paste the direct link here for now.  https://www.facebook.com/Quilts.Patchwork

You can see more of the new range of Stonehenge fabrics on Seams Sew Simple face book page as I post them.

Janome Embroidery Machine

I painted this shamrock using a stencil cut from freezer paper and using an old tooth brush I applied the Markal paint sticks. I then used my new embroidery machine to write the Ireland underneath. This is the first time I have used an embroidery machine and I think I am going to enjoy it.
I will give more details about the machine in my next blog. If you would like to connect with Seams Sew Simple facebook page you can find it at    https://www.facebook.com/Quilts.Patchwork
In the mean time I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful weather. Tip of the Day!  Don't forget your sunscreen.

The Farmers Journal

The Farmers Journal have been running a patchwork project for the last few weeks. I have been buying the issues but have not started the project yet. With so much on the go at the moment it will have to wait for a while. Working on Seams Sew Simple web site at the moment, lots of hard work ahead.

Nature

I took these photo's in my garden a few weeks ago. I love the robin posing in the middle.

What a great place to find inspiration.

International Quilt Festival of Ireland.

My Panel for the International Quilt Festival of Ireland.
Here is a close up of the torc I have stitched and then painted with gold fabric paint. I have started to free motion around it in a blue variegated thread. I will highlight the torc further using some gold foil. The picture below is of the whole panel. I have free motion quilted most of it, using different threads and pattern. It has been photographed on the floor and I think it needs to be hanging to get a better view.

You will be able to see more of these panels hanging together at the festival in June.

New York Beauty

Great way to spend a Sunday doing an amazing workshop with Tracy Watson.  Just look at those points, her technic was extremely accurate. This was an all day workshop from 10 until 4 pm, blocks take some time to make but the results are well worth it. This workshop with Tracy is highly recommended. You can contact Tracy at

tracy@pixelbrush.ie

Patchwork in Roscommon

Humble beginnings. Here are the after photos of my cabin. I have three sewing stations, set up with Janome JP760 computerized quilting machines. A selection of fabrics form Fabric Freedom. Quilters starter sets comprising of Creative Grids self healing cutting mat, ruler and a rotary cutter. A nice selection of Aurifil machine threads. Please ring me on 0879185054 if you would like to visit or arrange beginners lessons.

My web site www.seamsewsimple.ie is currently under construction and hope to have it up and running soon.

Creative Grids

Using the 120 degree ruler from Creative Grids I made this table center piece. It took me about 8 hours to complete. Below you can see a close up of the triangle shapes, I have free motion quilted the outer triangle shapes and am still deciding on weather to change thread colour for the inner triangles.

I used the smaller curved quilting pins to hold this and found them to be better than the larger one. They seem to hold everything together tighter.

Here is the ruler, I like the clear markings and non slip grips on the bottom. This ruler also creates other designs and can be used for larger quilts. Below you can see how using different colours can give a three dimensional effect.

Roscommon Patchwork and Quilting Classes

I am starting Patchwork and Quilting classes next week for beginners. The cabin is fitted out and all ready to go. I am really looking forward to getting started. The six blocks in the first picture are made from a new ruler by Creative Grids. On Tuesday I will give a demo of this ruler to some members of the Castle Quilters.












This is a before picture taken of the interior of my cabin, well not quite before as the fittings are in place and all that is needed is the clean up.

Céad Mile Fáilte

Well here is the finished piece, I used some shell beads for the finger nails. These I found in my stash of must have purchases. They are for making bracelets, but as you all know that was never going to happen. I also found some lamb buttons,  so I used one for a ring.   

I also discovered that if I slow my machine down a little that I gain more control over the free motion quilting. I really need more practice at this, so there is one for the New Year.

Céad Mile Fáilte

Ok so I know I have left this one to the last minute. But here it is so far. I have used a commercial fabric and once again used my toilet bleach to remove the shape of my hand. As you can see it has left some of the pattern behind. My youngest thinks it freaky so maybe I need to paint over it. I have had a little fun using my horizon to embroider my name and town name along each side. I also tried some free motion on the background. Its not very accurate and needs a little ripping to fix the mess at the bottom right corner. I do like the bubble design of the quilting but I need more practice to master it.

This is for The International Quilt Festival of Ireland  

Seams Sew Simple

............The Chocolate Box..............

  Here is the result of all my hard work over the last two weeks. Cutting, folding and labeling fat quarters. Four lovely boxes of yummy colours. The top one is my favourite as it contains chocolate, coffee and creams. I would love to make something with these but alas other unfinished projects are calling me.

I did manage to make some small blocks using  the wovens. The photo's do not show how the navy also has pink in it, they go together really well. I also like this very simple design, and the quilting will also add to the piece.                                      

--------------The Square Dance Block-----------------

Thanks to Kathy for this lovely idea of folding some fat quarters into stars.

We tied the stars together using some ribbon. Its about a meter long so could be used on another project.

Bring it on 2012

Happy New Year and a big thank you to everyone who has dropped by my blog. I love reading your comments and look forward to making more friends in 2012. The Galway branch of the Irish Patchwork Society has their first meeting on Saturday 14th January and as  chairperson for the next 5 months I am looking  forward to working with the other committee members to organise our meetings and workshops. I have been busy over the last few weeks getting my new shop ready for the first IPS meeting. Cutting fat quarters, folding and labeling them has taken up a lot of my time, but I am enjoying it. 2012 promises to be really challenging year, with good friends and our sewing, bring it on we're ready.