I'm Bored so I'm Blogging

 Hi Everyone,

My Part 4 of LE is complete,and I am very happy with it.

I think the elements I used from Esther's pattern have combined well with the broderie perse from my inspiration fabrics. I had been planning  vibrant shades of pink and yellow,  my end result amazes me as it is nothing like I thought it would be. Thank you Glenda for the wonderful fabrics you sent me, the two flowers I used in this have such a glow to them.
Thinking ahead I am wondering how much difference I can get in my flowers or are the corners all going to look the same. I hope not,  at least I have plenty of time to experiment with fussy cutting my fabrics before part 5.

Searching through Mum's fabric's as I always do when I go back I have found my border fabric.
Left behind on the last two trips because "I will never use that" Not my style of fabric at all, but once again LE has spoken. Esther what have you and LE done to me!!!!!

This is done with photo editing.

When I found the fabric I took it in to Mum, she says it is another of my late Aunt's fabric's.
Laid out on her bed with the center over it, it looked very stark against my background and it nearly didn't come home but at the last minute I packed it.
I've tried all sorts of colors, this is the only one that doesn't seem to make a wall  around the center with my zigzags, and I have fallen in love with the pattern on it so I am using it. Itching to stitch but I haven't - Yet!!!

Oop's!!!

 It's raining this morning and we lost another America's cup race so I had to do something positive, Lol

Just in case, I still have left  my extra center fabric underneath.

I pencil marked a line quarter inch from my points and positioned my border edge to the line, 

then stitched a quarter inch seam, has worked pretty well.

Have zigzag stitched outer edges of border and have 3/4 inch to trim off later.

Well know for something different.
I know a huge number of people making LE are also embroiderers. If not you couldn't possibly hand stitch so beautifully. These next photo's are for you as Mum asked me to bring home and look after two of my Aunt's afternoon tea cloths from the Mid 1900's. I hope you enjoy.

Just teasing, this is the reverse of her work

A very simple afternoon tea cloth

But wait, there's more

My Aunt was 25 when she made this in 1948

I am blown away by the perfection of her stitching.

1st Prize  for all of New Zealand.

I think in 1948 the prize money would have bought a lot more embroidery thread.

And Embroidery number 2

A very simple stem stitch Embroidery made in 1952

Maybe not so simple after all

I think these very correct letters from the time just add so much.
Both of these were made before I was born so I know why by the time I was about 10
I stopped trying to do embroidery !!!

Oh help, I just about forget to thank all of you who voted for my Table runner at Quilting Gallery last week. Final result Red December was 6th overall. Thanks Esther for a wonderful pattern.

Cheer's everyone, enjoy stitching your incredible LE journey.

Linking this to Esther's WOW Tomorrow.

Jenny

Thursday in NZ

Hi Everyone, Back from Christchurch, had a wonderful time with Mum and it was so good to see her looking so well. Have to admit I felt a bit like a Yo Yo  with the end of the string tied to the rest home by the end of the week as I was visiting Mum everyday and most days twice, but spent nights with girlfriends and the catching up with them was fantastic.

Came home to find I have finally been Neoed. Thanks to it being later rather than early on I have found I can navigate around it, but have tried twice this morning to upload photo's and like Jane and others have found they do not appear even though they say they have posted, hence this quick blog as I want to get back to LE. and I also want to show the start of my corner.

I found a new inspiration fabric in ChCh.

Kashmir a Hoffman fabric

As soon as I saw it I had to have it, unfortunately they only had a meter left but it was reduced!!!

There are so many  shapes in this fabric I think it will work really well and have made a start.

I have decided to let my Heart  and imagination rule and I am loving every second of bringing this corner together. Broderie perse is the main element but I am also using some of Esther's wonderful design elements like the Lilies, in combination with my fussy cut fabric. There will be some unusual leaves to come and I think it will take on more of a Persian feel, but this is where broderie perse originated and I like the idea of that.

This is now my 4th vase in this corner, I started playing in ChCh and was using an unfamiliar iron so once again I melted my vase. I only have enough fabric for 1 more Lol

I stabilised the back and used a machine embroidery stitch for my stems, cutting away the stabiliser afterward's. The last stems I will stitch after my berries are sewn  as far less stopping and starting as I can use the stem line to travel between them, then cover my stitching with my stem thread.

back to my sewing room and hopefully soon we can post photo's again.

Cheer's Everyone, Jenny

LE progress and quilting gallery

Hi everyone, one of the few blogs which I won't be linking to Esther's WOW as I fly out tomorrow to visit Mum for 10 days. I am so looking forward to seeing her and also catching up with old friends.
I am bed hopping so to speak, spending days with Mum and nights with different friends.
Have a dated  list so I don't get my days wrong.

Have been working away on LE,  I didn't know until Bunny's wonderful photo on her blog which corner was going to Part 4 so  I guess I may have also started on part 5 or 6 Lol
Here is where I am up to, just about ready to pack away to take with me to Christchurch as so many people want to see it.

I have made my own version of the vases, think they are very close to what the pattern will be, will be living with them as they are stitched down, apart from the top edges so I can add the stems as per the pattern.
I think the introduction of yellow has worked well and I now have my color palette, apart from a green, which I think is in my curtain samples.

This is my 3rd vase for this corner. have used one of the fabric's from the curtain samples I was given.
First one when I fused it on my iron was too hot and it melted !!! Second one was good - until I studied Bunny's Photo and realised it was a little small, 3rd one I think is just right, sounds a bit like Goldilocks and the 3 bears Lol.
Found a medallion center that I love for the circle on the vase.

Not the fabric I was planning on but I didn't have to drive 150 km's round trip to buy it, it was the only gold overlay fabric at my local fabric shop so bought a fat quarter to try out.
Definitely wanted to carry through the gold overlay in my fabrics and think this oriental pattern works well especially with it's shadings. My second vase, again my first pattern was not quite right. Guess it would have been far easier just to wait for Esther and use the proper pattern, but with going away!!!
The purple circle is my 3rd, there are 2 others underneath that didn't work, but metallic thread and bobbin fill is very difficult to unpick and I don't want to risk putting  holes in my background fabric.
First was a leaf shape from my inspiration fabric, 2nd was the deep teal of my other vase and it was too strong, This I think is easier on the eye. Again top edge is not stitched or fully fused yet.

And a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit this weeks show and tell at quiltinggallery.com and vote for my wall hanging.
Last time I looked I was in 3rd place and to me this is so thrilling. The whole thing is fun but to know people around the world like your work is an amazing feeling. Thank you again everyone who has voted.

Here is my Beyond the Black Stump and a couple of close ups  of the torn background as well.

The sky I made up before I started  from 4 different fabrics, cutting out the blues that were too bright and reverse appliqueing reds into those areas, they do show up, but it was the totally wrong blue for what I wanted. The mountain line was fussy cut to give it the definition as I felt it needed it

I worked over a base of iron on Pellon Batting so I could secure each layer working from the sky downwards.
The top edges of the fabrics are all torn from fabric strips. Try it, it distorts and allows movement and you get a soft edge and  can create gentle curves.

Once a layer was in place, fused and pinned as well, excess underneath fabric was cut away to allow the next layer to be held in place by both fusing and pinning.
Background complete and  top stitched as you can see in the photo's, I  placed and fused the tree and stitched into place.
I used a  black metallic thread and just did heaps of stitching  to create the effect of bark and knots on the tree.
It is on my sewing room wall and I love it but often think how did I do that !!!
See you all in a couple of weeks,
Cheer's Jenny

WOW 28st AUG

Hi Everyone,
Back at work last week, we have a new manager and it is all very different so have been enjoying my 3 days off and playing with Part 4 of LE.
No, I don't have an advance look,  I printed the color photo of the center as reference at the very beginning of LE  and many years ago my DH taught me how to use a scale rule for designing our house.
For the corner hearts and flowers I want to use my inspiration fabric, maybe for the last time as I am not sure how it will work in the borders to come.
So here is how I judged my sizes, size is all I need as this Broderie perse applique will not match Esther's pattern. but the size needs to be similar or slightly smaller.

Scale rule across a heart circle on printout of photo.

Scale rule across the pattern of hearts circle

Simple division to find a multiplication factor

Scale rule measurement of the small hearts, multiplied by my factor gives me my small heart size within a circle, one drawn for checking, one cut out for positioning. The 1.6 x 2 is my blanket stitch setting after stitching a practice heart

My Medallion of choice fused to steam a seam, have already used the center of this medallion as my flowers around the compass.

Hearts fussy cut and left with an 8 point flower which I thought would be perfect but it is too big!!

Fussy cut just the petals and they are slightly small but with 6 petals instead of the patterns 4

Yes I can use my inspiration fabric for the corners.

I again used the scale rule to ensure I have the same space for the vases as in the photo.
This photo is also showing how the pink in my background fabric is coming to life.

With everything fused in place I am very happy with the continuation of blue's around the outer edge.
So today I can start stitching.

One last photo, my inspiration fabric.

Hmmm don't seem to have as much damage as I thought.

Will be taking my LE to Christchurch next month to show my Mum and other quilting friends.

Back at work tomorrow for the rest of the week.

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone, whatever you are doing.

Cheers Jenny

Work on Wed 21st Aug

Hi Everyone, has been a relaxing week.
Went to Dargaville  last Thursday, helping out for the morning at our exhibition,  wish I lived closer but some things you can't change.
A quick visit to Countrydawn while I was there and got my gold overlaid "pinks" for part 3, shown below with my blues from the same range

Not quite Pink, and I had said No to them when I was first looking for Pinks with only my compass done.
They didn't seem to work at all but once I had done my border and bought my taffeta's my mind kept going back to them, and as you know the result is perfect  - or so I think, Lol.
The deeper one on the left I am hoping works  for deep color in the bouquets.
Next trip I will be looking for gold for the vase, think I have already seen it.

Went to Dargaville again yesterday for our monthly meeting.
We have had a fantastic exhibition, and wonderful comments from everyone who attended.
My Forget Me Not quilts did not win viewers choice, Boo Hoo, but I did not expect them to as there is so much talent in our small group.
They were very much admired, commented on, and did do very well in the voting.
Maybe if I had only shown one I would have done better as both my quilts received similar votes.
Thanks again Esther for a Fabulous BOM.  I love both my quilts to pieces.

Anyway you might like to see the Viewer's choice results.
3rd place went to Pam Taylor for her fabulous hand worked quilt Candlewick

Beautiful handwork.

2nd place to Tonia  for her Whirlygigs, only one piece to the pattern.

Again Beautiful  Handwork.

And finally winner of viewers choice is Ann Langman with this stunning Art Quilt

I struggle with  protocol so before I show the quilt this is Ann's acknowledgement to those who helped her create this quilt.

You cannot see the detail in this photo as
there are so many 3D elements in this quilt 

 That really is lumps of genuine Kauri Tree gum 

Those boots are laced and the laces and  his awl stand free.

The sacks are filled, not sure if it's with Kauri  though.

 Beard and pipe are 3D as is the sack needle.

I think Ann has used overlocker threads to create the darkest background fernery.
It is all 3D

The fabrics and detail is exquisite,

This quilt can only be folded one way.

 Every detail is perfect.

Fabulous work Ann I love it. Congratulations on being our viewers choice.

Two years until our next Exhibition, just maybe Love Entwined will be there.

Back to work tomorrow but this afternoon I am playing with my inspiration fabric, seeing if I can find something to use for those little dark corner flowers.

Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Jenny

Work on Wed 14th Aug

Hi Everyone,

Having a weeks holiday to help out at my quilting groups exhibition on a couple of days.
Monday was set up day so an early start to be in Dargaville by 9am. Some torrential rain showers and wonderful rainbows on the way.
My DH came with me to provide some much needed manpower as there was only one other male to help throughout the day. Hiis handyman skills became much appreciated as the day progressed as some stands needed altering for special quilts.
4 of  Esther's designs that I have made are on display, with acknowledgement on each to Esther for her beautiful design.

Peaceful Forget Me Not

Retro Forget Me Not

Cherry Thieves and Pomegranate

Following are a few other quilts from the exhibition. I have permission from each quilter to show these on my blog. There are others I would like to show you but don't have permission yet, hope to get that on Thursday. I don't have the quilt names so am acknowledging the quilter.

Tonia Nyboer

Hand Pieced and Hand Quilted

June Horobin

Using Vietnamese silks on the left ,and wonderful 3D flowers at right

John Nielson

John is a highly talented professional long arm quilter who does so much for our group

John was the other male helping with set up.

Tina Jensen

Val Woods

Jenny McDermott

Domestic Bliss
Set up just about complete. Our theme is domestic bliss and these aprons were made by the group and the pockets will take entries into various raffles. All proceeds donated to charities within Northland.
Only award to quilters is the viewers choice.
My personal favorite I hope to have permission to show you next week, it is a stunner!!!

That's it for this week,  I am back in Dargaville tomorrow so won't be able to view part 3 of LE until I get home, sure got my volunteer day wrong Lol
Lastly a huge thank you and hugs to Anne Marieke for helping me get Esther's LE button onto my blog.

Enjoy whatever you are doing today.

Cheers everyone Jenny