Bali Stars - part 2

Another finish!  I seem to be on quite a roll with finishes this year, which is making me very happy.  Part of my New Year's Resolution was to get 12 (already started) quilts quilted and bound, irrespective of size.  So far, so good.  This is number 3 of my planned 12.

Back in October last year I put up a post about a quilt that I had been teaching.  This is this quilt, completely finished, including a label and hanging sleeve.  

It took me a very long time to find a quilting thread which would complement both the white background and the multi-coloured setting triangles and, wouldn't overtake one or the other of the fabric colours used.  Finally, I found that yellow worked very well.  I used King Tut thread in both the top of the machine and in the bobbin.  Very smooth sewing.  

My hubby loves this quilt because of the bright colours!  I love this quilt because of the stars.

I will be teaching Bali Stars again as a two part class during May and I'm looking forward to the classes very much.  It will be better this year, because I will be properly prepared and there are many happy vibes coming off the quilt.

Bali Stars

Star quilt blocks, Bali Batik fabrics, ideas needed for a new class to teach that should not be too large, a baby/lap quilt needed, teach some small piecing, oh you can guess what happened here....

Bali Stars was born, not yet quilted, but the binding is made, the backing sorted and the pattern has been written. 

Where I've had the fun of going to play (oops, I mean work) on a very casual basis, there was a delivery of new batik fabrics.  Oh me, oh my, they were gorgeous!

I have chosen some that were a bit brighter than what I would normally choose, but oh, they are so nice....

This was by far one of my most disorganized quilt classes and preparation ever.  I'm sure the two ladies from the class would agree - in my own words, I was atrocious!  It just reminds me that Quilters are wonderful women who are understanding when family and life events get in the way.  I am eternally grateful for their patience and understanding.

When I have decided upon a quilting design, I'll post a bit more about Bali Stars.  Now, the decision of choosing quilting threads begins!

Floral Trellis... part 2

Take one “Layer Cake”, the ideas from ‘string quilts’ and put them together.  A gorgeous floral range of fabrics, a nice bright white fabric and the question, “What if I did this?”  Here’s the result of my playing; a bright happy quilt with the allure of warm Summer days.  Shame it was so cold today when I took the photo in between rain showers.

Back about a year ago I said that this quilt would be quilted over the holiday season.... hmmm... just this week I completed the binding, hanging sleeve and label.  The end result has been well worth the wait.

Border Detail

I feel that my crafting mojo has returned after a very long hiatus.  Too many things became quite over-whelming until I made a list of a few things that I think I can work through to completion without them being too daunting (at what I have started) and clear some space in my sewing room and my mind.   Focus is my new key word! :)

Baubles...

... are such pretty things! And on Wednesday this week, my friend Jane and I ran a class to teach other people how to make them. We had a ball. I would have to say the day was a resounding success.

I had pre-made kits for the ladies to purchase (because cutting the squares of fabric takes quite a while), made lots of coffee and tea and served cake as they folded and pinned the fabric squares to polystyrene balls to make the baubles while talking up a storm. The next 2 photos shows a few of the baubles completed in the class, with each persons choice of colours.

They are simply 2 colours of 2in cut squares pinned into polystyrene balls. A bit of braid covers the edges around the middle, add a ribbon with a bit of glue and a pin, then you can hang it on the tree. The next 2 photos show the ones I had made earlier.

Now I need to go and make a few more of my own, as the ones I had made earlier became gifts.