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

An Accidental Quilt

I had these 4 fabrics in my home to make a quilt for a friend's 21st birthday.

The quilt was going to be a modern & funky 21 year old friendly design.  The fabrics were going to go together beautifully as they are from the same range. (Another Iota for Robert Kaufmann Fabrics)  It was going to be perfect.  

(Photo from Cow Paddocks and Craft)

 Wrong!!

Wrong!!!

Wrong!!!! 

When I cut the fabrics and started placing them they just SCREAMED at each other.  

I was disappointed.  

I was angry.  

I was frustrated.  

The quilt would not be perfect.  

The quilt would be lucky to be finished.  

I Took the stripe fabric and threw it across the room, it was rejected from the 21st Quilt.

 Later when passing the pile of 'striped rejects' I realised they had fallen onto each other on the diagonal (no photograph - just go with me). 

I was surprised.

I was intrigued.

  I looked closer

.  I consciously folded the fabrics into 1/4 square triangles.  

I could see a pattern emerging, so I cut.

 And I sewed like a woman possessed.  

The 'vertical stripes' joined themselves into Cross blocks and the 'horizontal' stripes joined themselves into boxes.    

I loved it and I couldn't stop.  

I cut and sewed until I ran out of material .

 I have made  "Optical Illusion".

  Oh the rejects have become the favourite quilt.

I love this so much, I purchased the remaining fabric off the bolt to make more squares and make a bigger quilt.   My 'appreciation' of stripes is increasing and maybe I might even consciously go shopping for stripes, 'cause this is an awesomely easy and effective quilt.

And yes, I did finish the 21st quilt but I can't show you as she may not have received it yet.  The birthday is today, it just depends if Australia Post were on my schedule or not.

Can't wait for my fabric to arrive.  Do you ever have one of those moments?  It is good to be excited about a quilt design.

A finished Quilt - yep, completely finished.

It's Finished..... it's finished.... it's finished.

Please meet "Christmas Memories".

Completely finished.  Quilted.  Bound.  Labelled.  Off being valued, FINISHED.

You would recall I blogged about this quilt back in May 2011.

I am so proud of the quilt.  As I feel a real sense of I created this myself, not following someone else's pattern.

It was quilted by the lovely Rosalie of Rose Quilting at Meringandan West.

Look at the quilting detail.  Gum nuts, gum blossoms and eucalyptus leaves.

It is lovely and and I can't wait till this Christmas to put it to use.

Quilt specifications:  Embroidery designs by Heart of Gold Creations, Aspley.  

Fabric: Frosted Memories by Holly Taylor for MODA

Design: Me.

Quilting: Rosalie Waters, Rose Quilting.

Size: 79" x 93"

Almost a finish...

I am so excited, this morning I finished the top of my "Christmas Wishes" quilt.  ( Well that is it's name today).

I first blogged about this quilt in December 2010 when I was stumped on borders. Well on the weekend I decided that enough was enough and I whacked some borders on.  And I love it.

It is an almost finish as I have called the quilter and it is booked in, I just have to collect my backing and send it on its way.

I love how the fabric (Frosted memories, by Holly Taylor for Moda) and the stitcheries from Heart of Gold Creations just work together.  I really love how Australian it is.. The colours are eucalyptus green, rather than pine tree green so it as a nice Aussie feel.  {Ironic really considering the fabric designer was designing for a "Frosted Christmas"}.      

I love how the blocks went together.  

I am proud of myself for designing this one.   Not an OPAM yet, as it is not a quilt until it is quilted, but by the end of June, she will be done.