Sunday 25 October 2015

Lots of stuff going on just now...

I'm still here quilting up a storm on customer quilts, I did a run of edge to edge designs before moving on to some custom work, here are a couple of photos....

Shop sample with Jessica's Swirls

Shop sample Zipper quilt with freemotion handguided feathers in the sashings and digitised designs up through the blocks
Back of the Zipper quilt

Shop sample Christmas panel freemotion quilted

Dresden blades quilted with 'crystal maze' in gold thread
I don't usually take photos of quilts with the sun on them but on this particular day it was such a pleasure to see the sun shining that I couldn't resist. The above selection of quilts had a personal delivery by me back to Kevin at Fabric Focus in Edinburgh .

I had a visit recently from the Jane Rae, the 'Features Editor' of the new magazine Today's Quilter. I'm excited to say I will appear in a future edition, probably number four or five, so look out for it in a couple of months on your newstand or sign up for a subscription here or take a look at their website Today's Quilter

I wear many hats, among them I'm a Rep for APQS (American Longarm Quilting Systems). At Quilt Market in Houston, Texas just last Saturday, APQS launched their new machine, it a true Entry Level 18"machine....

Meet Larry isn't he cute?



Find out more about  Larry here




I pulled out this UFO recently, it needs to be finished, I did make up a couple more blocks but feel I need to work on something a little more serious, I have a few ideas but I'm needing some motivation, maybe when I get that article written, finished and uploaded for MQU magazine I'll be able to concentrate on designing a quilt for next years competitions, or is that just avoidance tactics?

Sunday 11 October 2015

On the Edge...

I am very happy to quilt edge to edge or pantograph type designs on my customer quilts, not every quilt requires custom or heirloon type work. Utility quilts and especially childrens quilts are perfect for pantograph and digital designs.


I forgot to take a photo of the above quilt once quilted but couldn't resist showing the inside, the piecing was absolutely perfect and the seams so well pressed that I had to record this for posterity.  Of course it will never been seen this way again, it's not often we get to see the inside of a quilt is it?


Surf by Anne Bright suits so many different types of quilts, I didn't have a sample to show customers so quilted this one up just for that very reason, have to say it's still awaiting the binding to be added but it's nearly finished isn't it?



Another sample showing Dazzle but this one does have the binding on and even hand finished to the back.




Annette at Borderland Fabrics, in Jedburgh made this lovely Irish Chain quilt in such subtle colours that I knew imediately that I would quilt it with Sherryberry by Anne Bright, it's a delicate design just perfect for this nostalgic looking quilt, I'm sure this quilt is going home with Annette and not to the shop....

Thursday 1 October 2015

Subtle Differences wins Best of Show!

I certainly never expected to get the phone call from Grosvenor Shows last week saying I had won 'Best in Show' at the Scottish Quilt Championships at Ingliston, Edinburgh. I have seen so many beautiful quilts out there this year that I really thought I was only supporting my local show, I never expected to win but still wanted my work to be seen.  I only had time to make this one small quilt in the past year, you can read about it here in this post, 'Subtle Differences'!
Winning at this show meant that I kept my title of Scottish Quilt Champion for another year.  Thank you to Grosvenor Shows for your great organisational skills and also to David Drummond, Sewing Machines  and Kaleidoscope Books and Quilting Fabrics for sponsoring my award at the show again this year, it's all greatly appreciated by many.
It is all great but I also feel a little guilty for winning again, there was a time when I would have said I wasn't at all competitive.






There were lots of other worthy winners in the show....in no particular order here are some of the quilts that caught my eye, if you see one of your quilts with out your name attached drop me a line and I'll add your name to it.....

Frieda Oxnam's fabulous enbellishment

Rhianon Taylor Runner Up

Birgit Schueller
This one is for sale....


Rhianon with her fabulous Dresden Quilt

Andrea Strache
Love this quilt by Sheena Norquay, exquisite details


Andrea Stracke
Andrea Stracke







Jelly Roll theme quilt

Jelly Roll theme quilt
One of my all time favorites by Rhianon Taylor


Exhibition by Lippetal Quilters in Germany and Gone to Pieces Quilt Group in the UK





My home is feeling a little bit bare just now. I had thirteen quilts away from home last week, this one in Edinburgh, two at the Textile Towerhouse in Hawick and ten of my earlier quilts have gone away on tour with Grosvenor Shows for six months, starting with Malvern Autumn Quilt Show and then all of the Spring Quilt Shows next year. Subtle Differences looks very well here in my hall for a while!