Wednesday 27 March 2013

Work on Wed 27th March

Haven't posted for a couple of weeks as every spare minute has been spent working on my Forget me Not quilts. Have posted so many photo's to the group that only one I am showing  here is my blue quilt top finished.


I love the layout Esther designed and it did make putting the top together so easy
But today I am not sewing!!!!
I was, but 4 lots of unpicking of the same part of my next sashing across bottom of my Retro quilt  has seen me say give it away for the day.
Has been my sunflower block frame, fabric is cotton polyester and it moves so easily. doesn't show in this photo but the stripe  is quite pronounced and it kept moving and was in my face every time, but finally I am happy. 
However I went and bought batting  ready to quilt and have now discovered I could have bought it cheaper elsewhere, plus I missed the courier delivering my new (second hand) mobile phone while I was out. so it's not my day.

Decided to clean  out the spare room wardrobe as still have lots of quilting bits in there.
I found this.

My first ever attempt at machine applique -a table runner - never finished - and no wonder, here is the closeup. I thought at the time I will never master this technique!!!


It just proves that you have to start somewhere, and practice is all it takes, but a good machine does help
This was an old borrowed machine in 2006 - and I broke it !!!
Next up was this unfinished piece.

Fantail on Pohutokawa
About 2009/10 when I started stitching then padding my applique before putting it on my background.
This might now get finished as I still have pattern for a Tui to match.

And delving deeper in the wardrobe, this I think is where my talent, if that is what it is, comes from.


A 36 x 36 luncheon cloth hand embroidered by my Aunt, Tatted edge by my grandmother.
They tried to teach me both skills - I was a D-  grade student LOL


My Aunt's unused dress fabric's are my sashings and borders  for Forget me Not so guess this is a tribute to her and her talent. My Mum still has the work which my Aunt won first prize for New Zealand  Hand Embroidery with c1960. Mine one day!!!



This is the reverse of her work, and I think awesome describes it best.


My Grandmother also embroidered, but she also painted. Some originals but loved mainly coloring the black and white photo's of the day. I found this treasure in the wardrobe as well. A Damask linen tablecloth which she has hand painted the border of..
Well I can't hold a needle to handstitch  but I hope they both are happy with how I am finally able to follow their footsteps, They must have laughed secretly at my embroidery attempts.
Cheers everyone, Jenny



4 comments:

  1. Oh Jenny what wonderful wonderful treasures you found today. Incrediable satin stitch made my eyes google!!!!!!!! Your mums tatting is beautiful so even!! Then the lovely painting on the cloth, orchild's are one of the most difficult flowers to draw let a lone paint, just exsquisit. Thank you so much for sharing those treasures and also thank you for sharing your first machine stitching it will encorage so many others out there to have a go or to keep trying. Cheers Glenda

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  2. Thanks for sharing!
    Wunderful quilts, great, beautiful applications.

    Greetings from Germany, Marita

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  3. Oh wow and more wow. Love the work you found I think it is gorgeous and your Aunt's work and your grandmother tatting just are treasures for you to have. I have a few items that were embroidered by my aunt too. I must look for them and take them out and enjoy. My grandmother did a lot of knitting and sewing and I learned on her treadle machine when I was very very young. When I got married at 19.. I took my mother's treadle machine and I used it for years and made a lot of clothes. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
    Hugs

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  4. Jenny - Thank you so much for showing your treasures. And the embroidery! WOW, your Aunt was an Artisan - the reverse of the piece confirms it! - Cheers.

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