Major May Finish

Last week I posted about February's False Starts and Flimsies  well, the quilt in question was going to be my second finish for the Roma Show.

I had 3 days until the deadline and all that I needed to do was quilt and bind.

WRONG... this quilt did not have a backing, so I needed to make one (it was also Sunday and the shops were closed).  Thankfully I had a bolt of white fabric that I picked up on an amazing sale so I could create the right look. (Finished photo at the bottom of the post)

O-me was having a big week and she didn't let me down.  The quilting went very smoothly, thank goodness.

As the quilt is a star, I quilted swirls & stars as an all over design.

 I love the feeling of the last stitches.

Then I created a red binding from assorted red fabrics in my stash and bound while watching more evening drama & crime shows.  

I present "Exploding Star"  60" x 60".  

(Photo is a little dark as it was almost midnight when I took the photo)

 and the back of "Exploding Star"

I am so very proud of this quilt.  I am so excited I was able to design something that worked.  A few tweaks along the way, but that is an important part of the design process.

My boys inform me this is my best quilt yet - but they are also fairly sure they will not be permitted to use it.

So this is OPAM # 2 for May and entry 2 for Roma Show.

See you again soon.

Debra ~ Outback Crafter

Quilt of the year - Part 2

The next step in this quilt was of course the quilting.  

I sent it to the wonderful Rosalie of Rose Quilting

The lovely fan style quilting in the 'circle' blocks and the 'square fans' in the outside of the circles

a feather in the border

cross hatching over the pretend embroidery blocks

a larger feather in the external border

The whole quilt on my bed

and hanging at the quilt show over Easter.  You can't really see it here but I bound it with a wavy edge to mimic the effect of the ricrac in the quilt.  The binding is the 3 colours in a random placement.

and from a distance while we were setting up.

To see some more of Rosalie's quilting on my other quilts look here and here.

So in case you can't tell, I love the quilt.  At a healthy 90 x 99" it is great on our bed & when hubby rolls over and takes the quilt with him, there is still some left for me.

Catch you again soon with some quilt show photos.

 

I'm so excited

I am so excited because I have finished more stock for the Craft Fair in November.

These are some of my favourite crafts "Teacher Gifts".  Our teachers work like Trojans all year to make sure our children get a good education.   I think too many people forget to say thank you.

  

Now that photo above is a sample of the items (I do actually have more than 5 of each)

Here are Teacher Ruler Magnets

 and Teacher Duster ornaments/hangers

I hope they are something the children feel 'is just right' for their teacher.

Why Outback Crafter??

Why Outback Crafter?? I can hear you thinking that is a strange post title, but bear with me.

Dawn over at "As Sweet as Cinnamon" posed this question on her blog and encouraged other bloggers to answer it to. "Why did you name your blog what you did?

So here goes, nothing too exciting.

Outback Crafter came about as we have moved 4 times in 11ish years.

I live in Queensland Australia & it is a BIG state.  Most of the towns we have lived in have been considered 'country' towns in the west or north-west of the state fondly called the "OUTBACK".

I have dabbled in almost every craft around (patchwork does have the majority of my time) and seem to just be a crafter.  So when I had to choose a blog name on that fateful day when I decided to blog, that is what came out.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit Dawn's blog to see the link up to the other blogs that have answered the question.

A mamacjt creation is living in my house

I am the fortunate owner of a creation by the very talented mamacjt.

Carol is a talented patchworker/ quilter/ artist and amazingly creative woman.

Carol has been designing a series of "Ladies"  this is #10 in the series.

Do you recognise her?

She has brown eyes, collects miniature sewing machines & birdhouses LOVES Christmas and patchwork.

Look at the detail Carol has stitched into her eyes. They  look so real.

 And the cute lips and little sewing machine earring

Still no idea?

Maybe this will help

 Yes, it is Carol's interpretation of ME.  I am the owner of a mamacjt "Lady" named "DEBRA".

This photo was taken as I opened the box.  I was so excited waiting for it to arrive.  It is so clever and really does represent me.  Now we just need to work out where to put it, my hubby was having enough issues with one of me to deal with.

Thanks Carol.  "Debra" is great. You are very talented.  Go on over to Carol's blog and check out her other ladies.

Scarf Complete

You may recall a few blog posts ago, I was knitting to keep my self occupied while worrying about my Grandmother.  Well, while I was in Brisbane for her funeral, I started knitting a scarf.  Why a scarf, because the one in the pattern book looked cool (and easy).

This is spiral scarf from Australian Better Homes & Gardens knitting supplement of a really recent issue (sorry have misplaced the magazine so have no idea what number.)

It was really easy to knit and quite a talking point when people saw me knitting.

It is nice, it is heavy and if I knitted another one, I would knit a 'flat' spot at the back to go around my neck.  It is a little bit bulky, but I like it.

Now please don't bag the pictures.  My family struggle to use my camera so I tried a self  portrait in the mirror.  It looks like a photo of my camera and it is blurry but just focus on the curly scarf.

 and this one might be a little bit better.

So another OPAM to add to the list.

Quilt Show Success

Well Showing of the quilts has come to an end and we have it is all packed up for another 2 years.

To add to my excitement the quilt I am standing in front of won 2nd Viewer's choice prize and I won a Jelly roll of fabric. YEAH.
This is the patchwork ladies just prior to packing up. We had a great show & everyone seemed really happy.

Gone to Injune to "get Drunk"

Before you panic, we didn't got to get drunk, we went to do "Drunkards path" quilting that is. I joined the Injune Creek Patchworkers again on the weekend for a workshop with Julie Latcham of Cow Paddocks Patchwork . It was 2 days of fun, frivolity & sewing (yes and a few drinkies).

This workshop used curved templates and was a design that could be laid out in a variety of ways. This blue/yellow fabrics in the next 3 photos is my quilt. Which layout do you think I should have made?

Apple Pies??

Gentle Vines or ropes??

Crop Circles??

I have made my choice & I am in the process of finishing the quilt, so you won't know until I am done, but I would be interested to hear some comments in the comments section.

This is what some of the other ladies came up with - (not everyone did the drunk path which is why some are not even slightly curvy)

Fiona's yummy floral flannel

Janice's quilt as you go stack & slash

Faye's ANZAC ideals quilt (you can't see it but all the fabrics are Australian or New Zealand designs)

Sue M's bold & striking crop circles

Pam's truly drunk path

Pat's opera house roof

Sue P's "I'm fixing the high school home economics disaster"

Wendy's curves

Aren't all the quilts just Divine. So many possibilities from one simple little block. Ahhh, I love patchwork.

A bag or two.

After completion of the Denim Scramble quilt I was seeking a "quick fix" to sew. Meaning something that I could make from beginning to end in less than an hour.

I was so very excited when I found this FANTASTIC and EASY pattern on All people quilt.com . It has the great external pockets for things like your keys, phone, etc.

I loved it so much but thought it was a bit small as I can't quite fit the kitchen sink in it (ha ha), so I increased the measurements & made a big brother for it. Now I can fit the kitchen sink and the laundry tub!!

Love it. Now I just need to make myself a matching overnight bag... mmmm

Baa, baaa black sheep

Yep you guessed it, another pom pom bag. This one in black. The greatest part about it, is that it uses the same handles as the motley bag. 2 for 1. Love it.

A Quick crafting Fix

What do you get when you take this cute & fluffy wool from Crazy Clarkes & a couple of needles and a desire to see just what it knits up like??

A very cute & fluffy pot holder of course (well that is what P called it)

NO - Actually you throw on a pair of bamboo handles from the local (AMAZINGLY SCARY & WELL STOCKED PROVIDER OF EVERYTHING) shop and create a very cute and highly sought after bag - I had 10 different offers to buy my bag today (Yes just in one day) - YEAH!! I wish I had offers like that for the things I want to sell. I love it. It is big enough to hold my wallet, phone, keys & glasses - just what I need.

So this bag is another finished project - I love blogging them, at least it keeps me on track & I know what I have made.

And - it only took me 2 days. I had to remember how to knit & cast off!!

A glimpse of what is to come

A Hint of what is to come. These yummy colours will soon be gracing our bed.I am so excited and can't wait to have it finished, but in true Crafter style, I have a few other projects on the go at the same time.