Finishing School 2012...and Darling Harbour Quilt Show!!!

Earlier this year I signed up for Finishing School at Steph's Patchwork Moruya...

This entails going once a month with any project and getting advice/help from Jan who can answer anything sewing wise and doesn't think any question is stupid!

Good On You Jan!!!

One of the first things I learnt was how to make a twisted cord on my sewing machine...

I've taken pics of Jan doing this so I can come back to them...

Jan

I fell in love with this table runner by Bareroots

here is my one under Steph's one...and I can proudly say I will show it off in this month's OPAM (One Project a Month)

I was able to use Steph's table at another time and Deb assisted me in pinning my Bars Of Gold Quilt altogether......Thanks so much Deb!!!

Jan showed me how to 'tuck' one end of binding into another when finishing off the binding on the quilt...and yes, another for OPAM...

Here one end is pinned down...

and then up again......the last bit of the binding tucks into this one...

What a neat finish this is!!!

How to mitre a corner...

Thanks so much Jan...you have been so helpful!!!

A show-and-tell here...

And check this out...I call it a Fat Quarter Quilt...

great for (spare) fat 1/4's......leftover ones......favourite ones......quick quilts......the list would be endless I think!!!

And here is Karan proudly displaying her quilt......I did take a pic without her boots but this was too cute to let go!!!

I'm loving Finishing School and hope to make more progress on my Quilt of Stitches......

And it's nearly time for a Blogger's Meet at The Craft and Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour where I'll finally get to meet other Kindred Spirits!!!

See you there gals!!!

OPAM...One Project A Month....September!!!

Oops, I nearly didn't have an OPAM ready for this month...until yesterday!!!

I went to a workshop to learn how to use the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) on my nearly new sewing machine...We were going to make a small evening bag...

Here is our little pack...some black and maroon fabric...piping chord...shrinking fabric (never heard of that before!!!)...

 Black thread on the top spool...

I set out to make flowers but just couldn't do it...

never mind, it was just petals and swirls!!!

this is the first time I have tried the BSR...

and silver thread in the bobbin case....this is the underside...

after BSR'ing you iron the stitched fabric and it shrinks...

Magic!!!

Bag all assembled...

The lining...

A bit of bling on top and I'm all ready!!!

A plain black headband purchased this week...

And me being a 'more is more' type I put a rose and feathers on one side of it...

And here they are together...and I love them...

Now just need to go somewhere!!!

Thanks to Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM...

I get at least one thing a month finished that I probably wouldn't have!!!

Respite for a day...a trip to Jukejema and Berry, SSCS and a new workshop!!!

Last week I had a day of respite care so I took the opportunity to travel up to Jukejema Quilting Barn run by the delightful Kim...

On entering there were lovely samples around the room...

Karen was putting the finishing touches to this lovely piece by the very talented Anni Downs...

Lynette Anderson's 'A Scandanavian Christmas' fabric...

of which I had to have some...a fat quarter and a fat eighth pack...

corner display...

Anni's fabric...Some Kind of Wonderful...

gorgeous felt in soft warm colours...

Then on to Berry Patchwork where I bought a Jelly Roll and Charm Squares...all in plain colours...

Then lunch at The Emporium at Berry just up the road...

But first a coffee and a sit down after all that shopping!!!

A tasty salad...

Dessert Bar...

Goods on offer...

I have started my Secret Santa Christmas Swap run by Chookyblue...

it's all in the bag!!!

And on Friday I'm off to a workshop at Steph's to learn how to use the BSR (Basic Stitch Regulator) on my Bernina Sewing Machine...this will enable me to quilt with an even stitch...

I'm only just learning to quilt so this will be soooo cool!!!

Happy Stitching...Dzintra

Quilt in Stitches continued...and it's Christmas In July!!!

I have been to another workshop hosted by Steph's doing the Bernina Quilt in Stitches...

A variety of stitches are done along with ribbons, braids added...whatever you fancy...

In this workshop we actually cut up 2 of our stitched blocks and added the to our main fabric and this is what my one looked like...

More stitches...

and look at these ones by some of the other ladies...at first look they appear to be braids but they are indeed stitches that look like braids...pretty clever!!!

Some of the braids...chords and ribbon I bought...

haven't had any chance to do any of this in the last week due to having Ryan here...

he is keeping us busy...

and here he is with his little sister and cousins...

Big cooking day tomorrow...

It's Christmas in July so these little decorations that I made from Homespun magazine last year might just have to come out...the pattern is by Lenna Green...

These little cuties actually made it into Homespun magazine...go over here for the article...how exciting is that!!!

Happy Stitching...Happy Christmas in July...and Bon Appetit...Dzintra