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