Sunday, April 27, 2014

Another year, another birthday for Ann

Tree Peony versus Ann's Bag??

I think you will agree the Tree Peony steals the show...easily damaged by rain and wind, but a joy to behold for the special moments they are in bloom.


Until it's demise last December I was a member of Daisy Chain's Quarterly Craft Club and have a stack of padded envelopes containing various projects. 

The rose patterned and green fabrics are "Simplicity" by 3 Sisters for Moda and the striped one "Seaside Rose".  The bag measures 17" x 13" and has a 3 1/2" gusset, which makes a change from the usual "box" style corners. 


Ann, my pink friend (remember the silk hearts last year?), has 3 summer holidays to look forward to and I hope her bag will be useful.



Open wide Zippered Pouch

Feel sure you'll remember this fabric by French General for Moda "La Petite Odile" which I used for my Sewing Basket and Sewing Accessories Kit.   I sometimes take these with me to Group Meetings, but felt I needed something larger for storage of cutters, scissors, pins, pens and pencils etc and another for my current project's  threads.


The large pouch measures 14" x 8" and the smaller one 10" x 6"and are taken from an online tutorial by Noodlehead.  Vilene H630 was used to stabilise the smaller pouch and H640 for the larger one, which gives slightly more body


Certainly a bag full!!
























Saturday, April 5, 2014

Chateau Hexagon Mystery Button of the Month

In the middle of 2013 I enrolled for Lynette Anderson's new Mystery Button Block of the Month Club.  Lynette chose a French feel for this project, which featured garden scenes each having a hand-painted button from Australia.


The wallhanging measures 26" x 37"
Cosmo threads have been used throughout.
Quilted using a very thin wadding and invisible thread


Month 9 - Chateau Hexagon
Who lives in this grand home somewhere in France?













Month 1 - Birdhouse Corner
"Such a pretty part of the garden, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and Mrs Cat is prowling"


Month 2 - Sampler Block
A little alphabet sampler style had to be included on this quilt.



Month 3 - Flower Barrow
This old wooden style wheelbarrow reminds Lynette of the one her Grandad used to use in his garden. "Grandad was always outside, he used to grow lots of vegetables and flowers.  His garden fork often had a bird sitting on it watching and waiting for a worm"

Month 4 - Cranky Geese
When Lynette was 9 she says the school she attended had geese to guard the lawns, they were very cranky geese and no-one put a toe on the grass for fear of being hissed at.

Month 5 - Hollyhocks & Roses
Lynette's grandmother used to grow hollyhocks in her cottage garden.  They grew tall and pretty against her flint and brick walls. 
Month 6 - The Flower Patch
Lynette says she loved watering the flower patch, running out to see if the seeds had sprouted and then as the little plants grew strong and tall waiting and hoping that they would have flowers"

Month 7 - Lilypads
"Little pond with its lily pads and flowers in the middle of the driveway that leads to "Chateau Hexagon"
Month 8 - Welcome
"The entrance to Chateau Hexagon has a grand but neglected feel to it, which is why there are wild flowers growing by the entrance gate.  The French poodle button looks so proud with her pink collar and sweet French haircut". 

Can you see the date and my initials added to the wrought iron-gate?  I have so very much enjoyed making and stitching this gorgeous quilt - thank you Lynette.  It is now being offered as a kit with patterns, fabric and buttons at Little Quilt Store.