http://www.thequiltshow.com/myblog/fuzzball.xml Sanity in patches...or is it?! en-us http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12376 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12376"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6fbLXnzdiiA/ThT340cW20I/AAAAAAAAAYg/cDqmPab-iAA/s320/P1010633.JPG" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>07/06/2011: I am now back on track with the Civil War chronicles. If I still want to make this the "year of the finish" then I had to make a plan to get stuff done, and not fall behind. So I decided to swallow my pride, and use the machine to piece the remainder of the blocks instead of by hand. all of the blocks to date for the BOM I found that my biggest problem with the machine piecing was the points. By hand you can get those points perfect, but it is so time consuming. By machine, it slips and slides and you can very easily chop points off. I used loads of pins in the end (three around each point) and it worked. I did manage to break 2 needles tho :0(. At the last section when I start putting the blocks together, it took me about 15 min to pin the strip together. It was still worth it. The next set of fabric for month four is only coming at the end of the month, so now, I have a bit more time for the next ufo: Dragon Galaxy, (fondly named by my daughter) The plan I got all the... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12376">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Wed, 6 Jul 2011 18:43:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12376 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12358 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12358"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RFz7LNtqk3s/TgqXz-DBc8I/AAAAAAAAAYE/TLFePksHRzI/s320/DSC_0847.JPG" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>07/03/2011: Yup, the quilt show is finished and I got my quilt back, with a bit of something extra. :) Some fabric and a ribbon. I got a Judges Commendation this year, and it is my first. Better view of the back. I have fallen behind on the civil war quilt, but not without good reason. I have been very busy keeping my nose in my studies. I had my first assignment due a few weeks back. It is tricky to figure out what exactly is expected when doing correspondence study, so there was a couple of tense days while waiting for the results. With great relief I got a good pass, better then I expected, but it is not over yet. I have to complete a few more assignments, and all counts toward the end result. I have been stealing some time here and there to work on my whole cloth quilt. I have been using a new tool to protect my finger at the bottom. I kept on sticking the needle into my finger, then I had to stop, wait for it to stop bleeding, and when I started up again, I ended up sticking it w... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12358">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Sun, 3 Jul 2011 15:34:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/12358 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/11224 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/11224"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8ZJOdjaQdCo/TQaqVXMuQiI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/09M98g1y_io/s200/P1010317.JPG" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>12/15/2010: Like usual. I am trying to get my fairy whole cloth quilt off the machine. I need it done by the end of December. The plan was to do a bit of the whole cloth in the mornings, and then in the afternoon to give me a break, (as I start to go squint), do normal piecing on 'stars for a new day'. But....... Got side tracked, with a scrap bag (so my floor stays cleaner) I had a go at 'stained glass' quilting, but refuse to touch it any further until I get the whole cloth of.......... Just to be tickled in all rainbow colours. ( I blame the postal service. The expectant date of my book delivery was in January, but SURPRISE!! It arrived early, and I could not resist! So I got my first rainbow colours. Now I am planning to be like a mad scientist and do a lot of mixing and playing. And last but not least, some progress on the whole cloth quilt. I am now filling in the open spaces with half inch cross hatching (this is so time consuming!) And a picture of my quilted frog. It is hard t... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/11224">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:38:00 PSThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/11224 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10354 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10354"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/10354_p1010186_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>08/14/2010: Well, one week later and I think I made a bit of progress. I managed to sort most of my sewing stuff, and moved in back into my sewing room. Everything was shifted around a bit when my folks came to visit from South Africa. So now, we have a clean dining room table, and we have the lounge back to almost normal.... I still have some organising to do, but, Ill get there This is what it looks like at the moment.... Here is some snaps of the client quilt that kept me busy this week. It has taken me most of the week, but I can say it turned out OK. It was allot of fun to do. I have used both computer and freehand. She will have the final say tho. I am handing it over tomorrow, and i cant wait to see her face. Whoop! I managed to prepare the next block "base" for the purple ladies quilt. I also finished embroidering the flowers on the gown. Now I have the lining left to do of the gown, and then I also have to embroidery on the sleeves. The rest of the block should be a snap.... Unt... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10354">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:02:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10354 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10299 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10299"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/10299_p1010176a_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>08/07/2010: My friend has been finishing her UFOs. She has been quite an inspiration, powering through all of them but now I have caught the bug.... Last night I've been working on 'Purple ladies" I almost finished Sadie ladies, I only need to put faces on them. I ONLY have 5 more blocks to go then it can be finished off. This morning I managed to finish a client quilt, and Ill put another on probably this afternoon. Tonight I still want to work on the 'Purple Ladies" quilt, but the Stars for a new day, and some other (a double wedding ring - by hand [what was I thinking?] ) is also still waiting for some attention. (To mention a few) I managed to finish 8 more stars on the BOM on Friday, and I am starting to feel that the end is in sight. I have taken over the dining room table, and lounge and I am sure you will find bits of projects just about everywhere in this house.. I need to make space in the house for some more projects. It sometimes feel that there is just not enough days, years or ho... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10299">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Sat, 7 Aug 2010 22:05:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10299 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10267 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10267"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/10267_odd_patch_of_grass_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>08/03/2010: I decided to give my son a go on EQ6. I figured it would be better to get him going on that instead of starting on EQ7. He is a visual learner, and EQ6 has more videos (unless I missed a few in nr 7) Anyway, he is also very interested in colour, and art, so I put him on yesterday, and have not heard a peep from him for some time. I had to tell him that there is no EQ unless his homework is done, so I found him this morning pouring over his schoolwork so he could play on EQ..... This is what he came up with.. Some is very bright, but he did twig allot of the program already. If he likes them, it is good. I know I do, and I did not think it bad for a 11 year old boy's first go. This one was called 'a view from above' Tumbling Compass A odd patch of grass And one for his sister: 'Rasberry Delight" (She even asked him if he is going to make it for her..)</p><br clear="all"/> Tue, 3 Aug 2010 18:33:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10267 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10167 <p align="left">07/23/2010: "author unknown" "I just realized that while children are dogs -- loyal and affectionate -- teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, boss it around. It puts its head on your knees and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it. Then around age 13 your adorable little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your footsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen to turn up its nose up at whatever you're serving. When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so dista... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10167">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:17:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10167 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10163 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10163"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/10163_p1000663a_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>07/22/2010: Well, I am still around. Just not getting time to sit and write as much as I would like (don't we all...) I think life is too short. There is so many ideas, and plans, but not enough days. I would have to live for way over a hundred to even start to scratch the surface. We had a fantastic time with my folks visiting from South Africa. They are going back tomorrow, so feeling a bit glum today. The good news is that there is a few quilts waiting to be quilted, so that will keep my mind busy. It will also help for when my son goes on his excursion (for four days!!!). He's never been away from mom, but I am not so sure that he is the apprehensive one....... well luckily there is some quilts . Today the magazine will come out. Ive done a design a while back and sent it on to Embroidery and textile art magazine. Now we just wait and see. For now I have to run. (Hi ho, hi ho, its of to doc I go.....) Yup, the whole clan, including my parents got the sniffles...</p><br clear="all"/> Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:10:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/10163 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9169 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9169"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/9169_p1000605_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>03/31/2010: OK, so I had to give trapunto a go after watching that other show (about two back, I think..) I have this nutty idea to do a whole cloth with lots of fairies and flowers, but using some colour to highlight some parts. This is one of the fairies that will appear. I first wanted to do a test run, and play with the colour. The real think will be done on the long arm. I did this one on the domestic machine, and really struggled with it. Colouring has not been finished on this one, but the effect that I am looking for is in the flower. I want very light colours. I also think that using 1 layer for the trapunto instead of two, will work better? She kind of looks a bit 'poofy'. That's it for now... at least. Schools break up today, so I need to get as much as possible work done for my clients now...... Time is limited in holidays.. So with that in mind... Happy Easter All!!</p><br clear="all"/> Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:51:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9169 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9085 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9085"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/9085_p1000585_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>03/22/2010: Well, long time no see! (or write for that matter).... I have not touched the lion quilt yet, cause I'm still not happy with some stuff, not popping just yet. (Thanks for the feedback BTW. It helps allot) So, i have started another one, and doing it by hand, (inspired by Jinny Beyer). I usually sit with my family while doing it. It is almost the only time that we can sit together, and it gives me something different to do from the every day machine quilting. Mmm, quilting to relax from quilting.... that makes tons of sense........ I'm addicted! I really dread not having a quilt on the machine, (the quilting world seems to be a bit quiet at the moment.... did you guys notice that too?) Every quilt has its own personality. Well, getting off topic now. Here is a photo of what I am busy with at the moment, the hand work. The pattern is on the left. I have been using EQ for the design, then I print the templates, and laminate them. Tracing around them is much easier! Away from quilting a ... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9085">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:36:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/9085 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7728 <p align="left">11/09/2009: My best friend in fact........ Have you ever done this? I was ready to start putting the pinwheel blocks together (yup, I am far behind with the bom..) just to notice that things was not lining up... I turned some of the half square triangles the wrong way, at least, the opposite way of the others. I concentrated so hard to mix the colours up, that I missed the direction..... After a couple of hours of 'almost' sulking, I undid all of them and fixed it. I can tell you one thing for sure... I will never look at a pinwheel in the same way again..</p><br clear="all"/> Mon, 9 Nov 2009 00:33:00 PSThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7728 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7478 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7478"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/7478_p1000245_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>10/22/2009: This little (rather big) kitty is new in our family. We rescued her from the RSPSA. Today was a milestone for her in our household. For the first week, she did not budge from my closet. She only came out at night, after the kids went to bed. In the morning, she would go hide back in the closet. Slowly she dared a few steps further, in the presence of my husband and kids. Today, she made it to my sewing room, two weeks after we got her. She was fascinated with the machine's needle bit going up and down, and the fabric moving through. She almost never leaves me alone, and follows me where I go, except when there are strangers in the house. I only have to stick my hand out in thin air, and almost always, she will be there. She even started to tolerate the kids touching her. She is a beautiful fur ball... I love cats..</p><br clear="all"/> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:18:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7478 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7451 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7451"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/7451_p1000127_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>10/20/2009: It is done!, well except for the binding and hanging sleeve. This one took me much longer than I thought. I'm slowly but surely finishing off the UFOs........ soon I should see some part of the sewing room........ Here is a photo of it from front and back. Just cause I wanted to share with you guys. I did this panto for a customer the other day. I enjoyed this pattern. I got this from Lorien Quilting. She has some amazing stuff!</p><br clear="all"/> Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:23:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7451 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7165 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7165"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/7165_the_mighty_one_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>09/30/2009: I found this while sorting through files and stuff on my computer. I did this design in EQ6 and the lion with Pulse emb software. (More than a year ago..) The end size of the quilt will be 45 x 45 inc. The lion alone will work on 12 hoop sets... The borders are done with applique. I was aiming (at the time) for a 'African' feel to it. What you think of it? I am wondering if I should attempt to make it. On a lighter note, DH is back!! He came home 5 days early. That was so good! Now things are getting back in order.</p><br clear="all"/> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:18:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7165 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7000 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7000"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/7000_p1000121_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>09/16/2009: I went to pick my kids up from school yesterday just to be surprised by them giving gifts! It was totally unexpected! I got a bag with bath soaps and talc from my son, and a little storage box from my daughter...... wit a oreo biscuit in it... It just made my heart melt. Today it is my turn. I'm taking them for a nice big dollop of ice cream after school. YUM!!</p><br clear="all"/> Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:06:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/7000 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6990 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6990"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/6990_flower8a_pxf_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>09/15/2009: Firstly, thank you for all the comments and well wishes! We are half way there, then my DH (is this right?) will be home. Yeay!!!! I have been working on the heart quilt and it is coming along just right! I will put more photos of it as soon as it is done! I finally got some time to digitise a design that I would like to use on a quilt. I needed to think hard on this one, cause I needed it to be able to break up for when I blow it up really big. (Multi hooping) I also wanted the centre bit to look like it is twisted, .. if that makes sense. I have nine to go still in this collection... I think it is going to take a while..... he he Here is a little design for the embroidery guys out there. It is sitting on my homepage ready for download. Have fun with it! Completely forgot about this one, and found it while scratching around in my files looking for stuff. Until next time! Happy quilting!</p><br clear="all"/> Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:42:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6990 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6963 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6963"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/6963_p1000113_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>09/13/2009: Well, with a cuppa in hand, and kids at school, I can grab a little time for chatting. I have been doing some more sewing this weekend. There is little time for this at the moment. My husband is on a business trip for five weeks. He usually help me in the evenings when he comes home by taking the kids off my hands after dinner. This gives me a extra bit of time to sew or design stuff. But there is no such luxury now! The kids got me hopping form one end to the other, and when they are at school, I usually play catch up on housework, only after that, do I get to my quilting work. I started a little quilt that I would like to put on my web as a small and easy project to do. Here I have made part of the centre, and I used the monofilament thread from Jenny Haskins to stitch it down. Its going to be a on point quilt, with some embroidery in it. I will definitely keep you posted on this one. Being a new member, I only got to start the Bom in the last month. This is how far I have co... (<a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6963">read more</a>)</p><br clear="all"/> Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:41:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6963 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6442 <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6442"><img src="http://www.thequiltshow.com/9/69/1046369/blog/6442_img_1700_sm.jpg" align="left" title="Read More" border="0" width="150" /></a>08/02/2009: It is for comfort too...... I made this quilt (yup, the binding is not done yet) for my sister in law. Our family is scattered all over the world, so her quilt got a message from all the family members in their own handwriting that I then digitized and embroidered it. I finished it off with some freehand feather quilting in the border and also in the sashing. The squares has been filled with a overall whirly curly kind of design.</p><br clear="all"/> Sun, 2 Aug 2009 01:22:00 PDThttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/customers_blog_id/6442 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/images/custom/valid-rss.pnghttp://www.thequiltshow.com/myblog/fuzzball.xml