A day with Michelle Yeo!

My Homespun magazine submissions are done and dusted!!! I can't tell you what a relief it is, but also what an enormous privilege it is to be appearing in the August and September issues of one of Australia's leading craft magazines.  Now onto getting the online shop up and running by then!

At our last guild meeting we were truly blessed to meet the ever inspiring Michelle Yeo.  Michelle brought with her about three suitcases of her beautiful quilts so it was a day of ohhhhs and ahhhs as each one was so beautifully pieced and quilted.  These photos are just a few, as some of the time I was a quilt holder lol.

Michelle's passion is to design and create quilts using antique quilts as her inspiration and she certainly sets the bar high.  Many of her quilts involve quite complex piecing.  The results are stunning as you can see from these photos.

Michelle also kindly shared with us her family life, juggling her passion with her part time job, her design process along with tips and techniques she uses.  We were simply amazed at how many quilts she has made over the years!  But every ounce of spare time is focused into these quilts... many of which are hand pieced!  Our guild is looking to book a workshop with Michelle in the near future.

I purchased her new book 'Of Needle, Thimble and Thread' which she signed for me and a pattern called Chester County.  The book is great value containing 18 of Michelle's patterns.

I've always admired reproduction fabrics but felt a little daunted by them.  I thought Chester County, with its foundation piecing (which I love) would make a great first quilt and introduction to the world of reproduction fabrics.  We never stop learning and from Michelle's book I have also learned a new method of foundation piecing using freezer paper.

So last weekend, whilst DH was off playing his sport, I took a little trip to Somerset Patchwork in Vermont.   Ohhhh my, it was like stepping back in time.  The quilts on display were absolutely beautiful.  Its such a light, airy and uncluttered shop and the staff are very helpful.

Border fabric

This was my resulting purchase.... mmmm yep, I went a little overboard but this will set up a little collection for me.  I will no doubt have enough to make Chester County but also play with a new design I'm working on for Crystalbrook Cottage.  Many of these fabrics are from Karen Styles' new range called 'Victoria Park'.  As many of you know, Karen Styles is actually the owner of Somerset Patchwork.  Also the pinks in this collection I might use in my Dear Jane quilt that I will start one of these days (you know, in my SPARE time lol) in pink/brown/cream.

In other quilty news, I managed to finish my son's pirate quilt a few weeks ago... the finished top had only been sitting in the cupboard for the last.. oh... 5 years.

Pirate quilt

Every now and then he would ask about it but the truth is, its only recently, actually since our Pauline Rogers quilting workshop, that I have been happy enough with my quilting to quilt it myself.  I FMQ it with rolling waves which turned out more like flames - either way it looks great!

I'm proud to say its done now, off the UFO list and onto his bed.  He loves it and uses it all the time which warms my heart.  He's 16 now, much older than when we first put it together... he even sewed some of the blocks... but he still loves it.

Also, Vintage Happy has been put together into a quilt top now. 

I've purchased the backing, wadding and binding and am looking forward to seeing it complete.  These fabrics, called 'Vintage Happy' by Lori Holt (Riley Blake Designs) were purchased in a fat quarter bundle and I added a few extra fat quarters to get the size I wanted.  The pattern design is by Cluck Cluck Sew and I absolutely love it.  Its busy, but it really does make me happy!  I have some bits and pieces leftover (love those bonus scraps!) so I have a few ideas in the works ;)


Well thats all from me for now, next post I will show you my Harry Potter quilt that I am slowly working on and a little quilt show that was held at our local botanical gardens last month.

Until next time,

Yours in Stitches

Leanne x

Antique sewing love!

Hello all, about time I touched base and told you what I've been up to!  Firstly I am studying like crazy trying to finish my course.  With only a few units to go, this has been my main priority.  I am really REALLY (I can't emphasise that word enough lol) looking forward to graduating this year with a nice little Certificate IV in Bookkeeping in my hand!

On the sewing front... ohhhh I've been having fun.  Three words.... Vintage. Sewing. Machines.  Yep, after a lovely weekend day trip to Yarragon I found this little beauty in an antique shop.

Instantly I fell in love and my collection began.  Of course, this also started a research quest for information on these machines.  She's a Singer 15-90 or 15-91 made in 1938.  She's a little worn in places, and I must say I was a little scared to use her as the wiring didn't look too safe, but after my handy DH replaced the wiring I'm pleased to say she sews like a dream.  This machine operates with a knee lever instead of a foot pedal.  The case is in bad shape but if nothing else she is fun to play with.  Perhaps down the track we will find another in better condition and then this one can be used for parts.

In a weird twist of fate, as we were looking at this machine in the antique shop, one of its other customers approached me and told me she had a vintage treadle she was interested in selling privately.  Ohhhh my!  So the very next day we drove for about 30 mins and picked up this lovely.

She's a Singer treadle Class 31K made in 1921 in Scotland.  Unfortunately she's not in the best condition but with a new veneer top and a new leather belt she will be in working order.

Then... yes there is more... whilst picking up the treadle we discovered the Tyabb Packing House.... ohhhhh if you are into antiques and things of the past, you simply must visit this place!  It is enormous.  Now there are some beautiful things here and they aren't cheap, so don't expect a bargain, but its well worth taking a look.  The key is to know what you are looking for and how much its worth.  The dealers are often willing to negotiate on price.  There is also a beautiful cafe on site if you need to take a break (trust me, you'll need it!).  A few weeks later we came home with this little lady from the 1950's.

Sadly she didn't come with a foot so we will be on the lookout for another of these for parts.  However, she was pretty inexpensive so we decided to snap her up and home with us she came :)

I love the thought of these machines coming to live with me.  I wonder about their history, the many clothes and quilts that have been made on them, the stories their original owners had to tell.  They even smell old!  You just can't buy sewing machines like these anymore.  All metal, heavy, sturdy and hard working, passed down through the generations... real work horses.  Many just need a replacement part or two, some oil and a bit of a clean.  Some of them only do a straight stitch but thats fine with me!  They are great for piecing.   I'm looking forward to learning more about them, and hopefully restoring them to working order.  And there is a great deal of info available on the internet, you can even download the old manuals.  In the US, there is a growing number of quilters acquiring these beautiful machines.  I hope it takes off in Australia too.

Another wonderful thing happened recently.... I finally, after a couple of years, found my CD for EQ7!  Hooray!  I have been hunting high and low for it, and after two house moves in the past few years I really had no idea where it was.  But I came across it accidentally whist looking for something else (always the way).   If you don't know what EQ7 is, its quilt design software.  You can literally spend hours just playing with, and designing your own quilt blocks.  And, as I recently discovered, downloading actual fabric collections to add to your palette! So much fun!!!

I have so much more to share with you, but don't want to make the post too long.  But next time I will share with you our last guild meeting with guest speaker Michelle Yeo, progress on my Vintage Happy quilt, and my new project with reproduction fabrics.

Until next time,

Yours in stitches

Leanne x

Keep calm and sew on!

Hello lovelies, we've had some frustrating weeks of late.

To start, our internet was slowed during the week... argh!  This is mostly due to two of my dear children who have become obsessed with compact technical devices called laptops.

We bought these so called 'educational' devices the year before last because they were essential to their classroom learning.  Added to this was the cry from schools across the state that our government hadn't come good on promises of providing enough resources for the schools to provide these items in-house.  So being the good parents we are, we jumped on board and purchased a specifically built, educational laptop for each of our children.

However, in this house, slowly these instruments are being used more and more for entertainment rather than learning.  This month is the second time our 200GB of data has been pushed to the limit.  Now 200GB is an enormous amount of data but it gets chewed up very quickly when people are watching an endless stream of You-Tube clips and playing online games.

Gradually, I noticed they started to withdraw from the family, into their bedrooms more and more.  Even when friends or relatives came over, they had to be asked to come out and say hello and within the hour they would crawl back to the lure of the screen.  Finally, this little black duck said enough is enough and banned lap top use for entertainment purposes (yes, there were tears and protests lol).

I came to the realisation that the kids were becoming addicted to the computer screen and could not regulate their usage.  Despite rules being put in place, the rules were bent to accommodate what they wanted to do.  The reading of books stopped, communication reduced and they seemed to no longer be able to entertain themselves without a laptop.  What happened to reading a good book, indulging in a craft or hobby, writing, playing outside, creating in the kitchen, playing a board game or just chatting about your day?

The good news is that now the option of spending endless hours surfing online has been removed, the board games and puzzles have remerged, they are back sharing the central parts of the house, and general discussion has recommenced.  In my opinion, its a healthier way to live.

Its seems I'm not alone in these concerns.  When I've shared these thoughts with other parents, they too have experienced their kids abusing their internet (sometimes with costly repercussions) and have concerns with the amount of time their kids are spending on gaming consoles, smart phones, tablets, laptops and computers.

I have to be honest, I really regret buying these laptops and even more, I regret not putting tougher regulations of their use in place.  Because these devices are fairly affordable, and commonplace, we think nothing of equipping our kids with the latest resources in the name of 'education'.  And of course, there is the unstated implication that we are investing in our kids future, that our kids will have a lower level of education unless we comply, and their generation is different to ours - it needs to keep up with technology, "learning is different these days".  And whilst some of this might be true, let us not forget to instill our kids with simple values and the skills to enjoy life without the latest and greatest.  I guess every action has its consequences good and bad.  I'm sure people were feeling the same after the TV became common in family homes.

I'm not saying having this technology is a bad thing, you only have to look on the job descriptions on employment sites to know that knowing how to use a computer competently is, in most cases, essential these days.  But we do need to take it more seriously.  This technology is a tool for acquiring information, and needs to be treated as such.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Anyway, enough ranting from me.  Also during the last two weeks, my car had a flat battery (I turned this into a positive by cutting out pieces for a new quilt while I waited for the RACV), kids took turns at having tummy bugs, my course has been slow to start (more sewing time for me) and our search for a new house has come to a standstill.

This is my response to it all:

And thats just what I did.  In my quest to reduce my scrap stash, I came up with this little number.  The pattern is Bonnie Hunter's Dancing Nines and worked up a treat.  That narrow dark purple border really pulls the design together.

Lots of chain piecing which is just what you need when your frustrated.  I cut most of the pieces whilst I was waiting for the car repair guy to come so definitely time well spent.  I can't wait to get started on the quilting!

Once this one is finished I'm going to spend some time making quilts for my kids.  Quilts which are used, cuddled and loved give me the greatest joy.  The ones I made previously, whilst being much loved, need to be updated with themes they are currently interested in. My oldest son has been patiently waiting years for this pirate quilt to be finished.

He took a big role in choosing the fabrics and the layout.  Somewhere I even have a picture of him sewing some of the blocks.  It's only been in the last couple of years of my quilt making that I have become a reasonably good at free motion quilting.  It has sat in the cupboard for far too long (hence the creases!).  It's time to get it finished.  My son, despite being 16 now, still can't wait for it to be done.

Hope you are getting some sewing done at your place...

Until next time,

Leanne x

It's a finish!

Hello lovelies, well here I am again, delighted to tell you I have finished another little quilt.  My boy themed scrap quilt is definitely one of my favourites.

It was inspired by my overflowing scrap bin and my longing to make another kids quilt.

I began by finding all the boy or gender neutral novelty and brightly coloured strips that were at least 1" wide and more than 6" long (I'm sorry to say this didn't even make a small dint in my scrap bin lol).  I cut each piece into 6" long rectangles of varying widths.  I then started chain piecing them into long rows.  I used the blue dotty fabric to give the quilt some uniformity and a place for the eye to rest.  This way the varied strips became a real feature.  I then quilted it with a loop de loop pattern.

 I then finished it off with some grass green check binding,

and a printed label.

Its such a fun and easy quilt to make as there are no rules, you just sew and sew and sew!  I enjoyed it so much I am making a second one in girly colours :)

I am linking up with My Quilt Infactuation, Sew Fresh Quilts and Free Motion Mavericks at Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing, Pink Doxies Pet Project Show and Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Would you like me to do a tutorial on this?  Let me know in the comments.

Until next time

Yours in stitches

Leanne x

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Yes, I know what you're thinking... "Cauliflower... don't mind it but in a soup? hmmm think I'll pass"... am I right?  Well then you would be missing out because this soup is devine!  To me it tastes a bit like cauliflower but a lot like potato and leek soup.  It's a rather elegant soup but made from the simplest ingredients and easy on the purse too.  Anyway, here goes:

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Serves 4 - 6

750g cauliflower
1 tbsp oil
3 cups of chicken stock
1 cup of milk or cream
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the cauliflower into small pieces.  Heat oil in large pan, add cauliflower and stir fry until starting to soften.

Add stock and simmer, covered for 10 - 15 minutes until the cauliflower is tender.

Blend the soup with a stick blender until smooth.

Add milk or cream.  Season with salt and pepper.

Delicious served with warm crusty bread.

Until next time

Yours in stitches

Leanne x

Crikey! It's February already!!!

Well hello there... yes I'm afraid I've done it again *sigh*... time has slipped away yet again, without barely a word from me *hangs head*.... I just realised its been three months since I last posted!  Sorry about that....

But anyway, welcome to the new year!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year and spent your time with family and friends.  We had a lovely Christmas, catching up with friends and relatives.

I really love Christmas and I have to say, despite all the hectic-ness (yes I think I just made that word up!) it's still a really magical time of year.  These days, its not so much about the presents for me, but spending time with those we love, decorating the tree, seeing all the festive displays in stores... its the whole atmosphere!  In recent years I've been more organised to avoid over stressing myself - I buy presents during the year and put them away, have a collection of wrapping paper and ribbons in the cupboard ready to be used, and plan meals for family gatherings in advance. This way I don't feel overwhelmed by it all and can just enjoy it.

It's been so nice having a break from studying my course.  I managed to get my assignments in on time and was very pleased with my results.  The course has now reopened for this year, and once I get my magazine submissions out of the way, hopefully by the end of the week, I will reenrol in the next units.

Prior to Christmas, we had a few special guests at our quilters guild... Rose Lewis, a local award winning quilt maker, was a guest speaker and brought along her two amazing quilts for us to look at.

This quilt is called "A Caterpillar's Dream"...

The back of the quilt

 Another enormous quilt called "Through the garden gate"...

Each of these beauties has taken a couple of years to create and Rose has documented the journey of each one.  She is such a vibrant person and it is truly amazing the energy she has - we were just mesmerised by her.  Just look at these inspiring works of art, the appliqué is exquisite and the quilting... oh my.... just incredible and using a domestic machine!

Please visit Rose's website for more information on her stunning work.

We also had a day workshop with Pauline Rodgers of Pauline's Quilters World called 'Quilting with L-plates".  The workshop was focused on learning to free motion quilt.  Whilst I can already FMQ, I am self taught and was very keen to improve and learn how to do it better.  Pauline taught us so much about our sewing machines (things we never knew!) and how to FMQ with ease.  By the end of the day we were feeling a lot more confident.  I highly recommend Pauline's workshops, she is such a lovely lady, and I'm hoping to do her next workshop 'Quilting with P-plates' in the near future.  She also sells some pretty nifty gadgets (which you can try out in the workshops) which make sewing much easier.  Sorry, I didn't take any pics of our day but hopefully you will see my quilting improving in future posts!

Speaking of quilting, over the holidays I really focused on spending quality time with my family so not a lot got done.  I must admit I got pretty lazy in the sewing department but have recently got back in my sewing chair and am now creating with gusto!  Before the end of the year I started on my 'Vintage Happy' quilt using a fabric collection of the same name.  I'm really happy with how its turning out and just have to sew the rows together and figure out a border.  I love the colours and can't wait to see it finished.

Also, I decided that I really, really needed to do some scrap busting and I really, really needed to make a charity quilt, so I gathered all my boy I-spy scraps and came up with this...

I really love it and have already started on a girl version.  I'm going to try a loopy quilting design and see how it turns out.  Charity quilts are great for experimentation!

Finally, my Chunky Churndash quilt returned from the long arm quilter and I have just now got around to sewing on the binding... I love it so much.  But of course it wasn't entirely complete until I slept under it :)

Quilted with a feather and fan pattern

Anyway, I'm hoping this year to make more of an effort to blog, not just about quilting but about life in general.

Until next time,

Yours in stitches


Leanne x

It's been a while... what I've been up to!

Hello all, I'm sorry its been so long since my last post... Oh my, time got away from me!  I'm afraid I've been quite busy, mostly just with life in general and a few little challenges that have come our way, but I've also been working on a few craft related things.  Presently study has become my top priority as I try to finish up assignments before the end of year cut off.

The weather is a bit up and down at the moment in Melbourne, we've had a few really beautiful, sunny days and then we've had a few absolutely horrid days where we wondered if winter had made a return.  Overall though the weather is on the improve which I find helps my mood lift and I seem to have more motivation to get things done.

School went back from holidays on the 6th October and every week I have been teaching the Grade 5's and 6's some basic sewing and crafting skills.  We are all really enjoying it, and to my surprise, we even have a few boys in our class which is brilliant.  We started off with some kids sewing kits, my little bucket o pins pincushions, hanging hearts and last week, a cute little snowman ornament.

Snowman ornament with LED candle nose

I usually prep the items into little kits before I go, which means there is less scrambling for items, no arguing over colours and we can get started quickly.  Some of them found the sewing a little tedious so I have included a few gluing based crafts to keep everyone enjoying the creativity.  They usually follow my instructions and then individualise their project at the end.  I love seeing what they come up with.

Some time back I was asked to make a lap quilt for a friend of mine who was in remission from breast cancer.  She was going to a Breast Cancer Breakfast where each attendee was asked to donate something to be auctioned on the day with the money raised going to breast cancer research.  Well, I ummmed and arrred over this for weeks, trying to think of a design that represented breast cancer but would appeal to a wide audience.  We didn't have a great deal of time, and with study, work and family commitments, neither did I, so I chose a pattern that was fairly easy and repetitive to sew.

I ended up choosing a pinwheel design, using some of the pinks I had in my stash.  I purchased a couple more to complement what I had and off I went!

Considering that the pinks were quite different, because of the white, it came together really well.

Once the middle was done, I found this Baby Pinwheel blanket pattern on Moda Bake Shop and thought the prairie points would complement it perfectly (my first time doing prairie points so I'm very proud !).

I thought a pieced backing would save on costs and I also love how much more interesting they are than a plain backing.

I finished it off with stipple quilting on my domestic machine and machine bound it.  It finished up at 130cm square.

And here is the finished product... ta dahhhh !!!

I'm so happy with the result and so was my friend.  It sold for $220 on the day.

I've also made some progress on my Grandma's Flower Garden WIP.

Rather than cutting the hexagons to add the borders, I've appliquéd the last row of hexagons onto the border strip.  I love the decorative edge it's made.  Of course now I'm left with tackling the corners but thats the way these unplanned quilts go.  I've had some helpful, much needed, advice from the quilters guild group I attend.  I tell you, joining that group has been wonderful for me.  Loads of wonderful advice and inspiration.

Well thats it from me for today

Yours in Stitches

Leanne x