McKenna Ryan Fuchsias

I started this a while back - I am guessing at around 2008 - and I did the tracing and the vliesofixing.  Then I think I did the raw edge machine appliqueing at a retreat.  Then it sat...and got boxed up as a UFO.  Then it became a Project for 2013 - and then it got a turn this month. (Thanks to Aunt Marti's Challenge of 13 Projects in 2013)

The pattern is by McKenna Ryan from her In Full Bloom pattern.  I had thought I would do all the blocks - maybe I will - maybe one day...but I always intended to have the fuchsias as a wall hanging.

I decided to experiment with some machine embroidery for the quilting - the butterflies - and then decided to do a few lace butterflies as well.  And a few beads...

I used Susie's Magic Binding method for attaching the binding - its really very easy and I think it gives a nice finish.

My adventures with this quilt:

I have no confidence at all when it comes to free motion quilting - I am quite surprised when I look at the raw edge sewing on this and wonder if it was really me who did that part... but I have recently acquired a "Free Motion Quilting" foot for my Janome 6600.  I did have a plastic pogo foot - no idea what its proper name is - it came with the machine I think...I once saw a demo of someone trying this other foot and I thought "Oh yeah - they can FMQ anyway and are just trying to sell more gadgets" and promptly forgot about it...then someone else - who had no sales target to meet - encouraged me to give it a try - I did - it  made FMQ so much easier - the old foot jumps (duh-it IS a pogo foot!!!) but this foot stays at the same level and 'glides' over the quilt.
I am still no expert - but on this quilt I was brave enough to even try straight lines - I never would have with the old foot.  I will be trying more FMQ....

My other adventure on this quilt has been some machine embroidery...Because I don't like FMQ, I tried some quilting using redwork embroidery designs.  I found a few butterflies and flowers and even a free little "doodle" (that is shown in the picture of the binding - I think it was from Jenny Haskins).  Hooping it was a bit of a challenge as the applique layers make the quilt a bit thicker in some places, but I had fun doing it....And I will be doing more of it.

One of the butterflies:

 a free standing butterfly

 some beads:

  the crocheted basket hanger:

I've had a lot of fun - and more learning experiences - with this quilt.....

What project for June??????

August 2012 Retreat

Every year in August my group head off to the Scenic Rim to enjoy a few days of luxury and sewing.  This year was our 6th visit and there were 9 of us - most of us stayed from Friday through to Tuesday.  We start planning what  projects to work on weeks in advance.  We just work on our own projects and for whatever hours we feel like.
Generally we arrive sometime Friday morning and set up all the gear.  Then it's off to the Mt Alford pub - "It's not the prettiest pub" but the atmosphere is fun, the food is typical Aussie pub food and the licensee and staff all help make it a fun time.  (Even took the photos for us!)
I won't talk about the pin up boys in the Ladies toilet!!

Quite a few years back, we started our "Wishing and Hoping" board.  Each person has a little pad of Post its  and we each write one project on a 'page' and stick them up on the left hand side of the white board.  I keep the pages from each year and do a roll call each time to see what projects that were listed in previous years have since been finished.  There are a number that have been on that board for a few years. (Not mentioning any names here.)
So this year everyone wrote their initials and 2012 as well as the name of the project.  Some people bring lots of little things, others bring a few larger things.  Its not a competition - just fun.

Here is the board early on Friday afternoon.  One of the group brought some mending to do - so she was able to sneak in very early with a finish.


(Blogger is being naughty here - its upside down!  - all the tickets should be on the left!!!)

The lady who runs the place was celebrating one of "those" birthdays this year as well as another major milestone so we made her a small wall hanging to celebrate.

Then it was down to business. Sewing, talking, laughing, eating.  Too busy to take photos.  Most nights I finished up at about 12 midnight - and I wasn't alone.
I had one major project to concentrate on - a quilt for my eldest daughter's best friend who is getting married in December and would like a quilt just like the one I had made for my daughter.  This version is in teals and I got as far as I could as I hadn't finished all the larger embroideries.  But I was pleased with my progress.

I also worked on a leaders and enders project - I had finally organised a lot of 2.5" squares - this is what I got done over the whole weekend.  I plan on adding a bright blue strip in between each row and a blue border.

The second project was to finish a Project for Sew Its Finished for August.  It seems I started this in 2004 and put it away.  I only came across it accidentally a couple of weeks ago - I had totally forgotten about it.

Then I moved on to what I hope will be my September finish for Sew Its Finished.  I did the raw edge appliqué and have other plans for the background.

 Next was the "Red Houses" - a Marg Low pattern. My best sewing mate bought me the pattern and some red fabrics from the quilt show in Sydney, so I teamed them up and hope to finish that fairly soon.  Here is one house.

 
By Tuesday early afternoon - the Wishing & Hoping Board looked more like this - I think we were all pleased with what we achieved.

Another "on going" theme of our retreats is "The Girls - Belle & Pearl".  One year E. made these two dolls. But they had no hair the first year and went home in a shoe box!  The next year they grew their hair.  One year they were left behind and we missed them so much!!  Their owner got a good roasting for that.  Now they sit up high watching over us and this year they were given a special quilt to keep them warm.  And this year they were joined by a little angel.

Only 50 weeks and 6 days to go til the 2013 retreat!!!!!