Mariners Compass Workshop

Recently I took an online workshop (through the Miniatures Group of the Quilters Guild, UK).  Or at least, the first part and then some 'homework'.  Unfortunately I'm going to miss the second part of this class with Judi O'May, which is a shame, as I really enjoyed the first part, and would have enjoyed getting her tips on how to complete the compass!

Still, here are a couple of 'process' shots.

You can see that I had neat stacks of fabric pieces under card templates - all labelled up with what piece number it was (and how many I had to cut and which colour - there was a lot of info on some of those tiny peices!).

I meant that I could lift up the bits that I needed in order to apply them to the paper foundation pieces.

You can see the start of one of the segments here.

After about 8 hours work, I'd completed 8 segments of a mariners compass block.  

Are the perfect? Not quite.  But am I concerned? No, not at all! It still looks great to me.  Feels like years since I last made one, and I'm pretty sure that these 192 pieces of fabric show more points than I've attempted in the past!

I'll let you look at it again once I've made more progress!
 

Cherille's Scraptastic!

Not too long ago, I'd asked another member of Richmond and Kew Quilters for an old pair of jeans, ready for cutting up for a pin cushion workshop that I'm planning to run for the group next year.

Cherille is VERY kind - and gave me not only the requested denim, but also lots of other fabrics that might be suitable, and even a book about making pincushions!  Super generous, as so many people in the quilting world seem to be.  Perhaps the art of stitching makes us all nicer people?

Anyway, after I'd cut appropriate shapes and amounts of fabric, I still had a lot left.  I decided that even though they were different styles and shapes of fabrics, it would be fun to make a scrap quilt with them.

This is it!  I added just a few small squares from my own scrap drawers in order to make the shape that I wanted.  Isn't it fun?  

I shall let Cherille decide whether she wants to keep it or gift it, and hope to pass it over to her at our next meeting.

Thanks Cherille!
 

Autumn Colours

I decided that the Christmas coloured wreath I showed a fortnight ago was a bit premature!  I wanted something that would work as an ornament right now (impatient!) so make this one in autumn colours.  In the centre is a group of three mini bells.  

I'm pleased that I have a little seasonal decoration to hang!
 

Ocean Deep

My Quilt Group (Richmond and Kew Quilters - come on and see us if you are local!) hold regular challenges.  This month it's 'ocean or seaside inspired A3'.  Now, I might just be drummed out, as this is slightly larger than A3, but it's my attempt at a dolphin, using a cross stitch pattern to give me the 'pixel picture'.

Fun to do - I have a box of 1.5" squares just ready to go for this type of project.

The quilting shows up better on the back that the front.  I was going for sea whorls around the smoother dolphin shape.
 

Too Soon?

Too soon to be playing with an idea that I picked up from Pintrest (thank you, Pintrest!)?  Fun wreath shape with EPP and a little ribbon and a bell.  A simple project that I think looks good.  Perfect simple stitching.

Aside from that I've been helping Georgie with her Christmas stock.  She made most of it last January / February, but just wanted a few brighter fabrics included, so we went shopping, and then got cutting and sewing.

FabWraps is just about to hit it's pre-Christmas stride!  I should get these new fabrics added to the Etsy shop!

 One of the fabrics she bought is this one - which makes me laugh!  It's got everything - unicorns in santa hats, candy canes, snowflakes, rainbows......  I think that I need to go back to FabricLand and buy some more for my own Christmas wrapping.  

Hope that you are also finding things to laugh about amidst the chaos.