Birthday quilt from Becca

Got this quilt from an internet pen pal whom I've never met for my birthday in July 2007. She completed the top until the first dark border and sent along extra border fabric. I then just added 2 more borders to make it the size of a double bed and did the quilting by trying my hand at using avalon - worked rather well.

Thanks so much Becca (Cummings from the USA). This was a HUGE and very welcome gift.

Completed: 24 February 2008

Butterflies for charity

Second quilt completed in the second month of the year. Ah well.......... sounds too good because it is too good (to be true). This year our quilting group, The Quiltmakers, decided to make a group quilt for charity. We all started out with a 3 inch butterfly block, brought along 2 matching fat quarters to class and started sewing on the 'cheaters block' method, swapping fabrics as our blocks grew in size until we all ended up with 11 inch blocks.

The blocks were then taken home to quilt and during the next class we added sashings and completed the quilt in the 'quilt-as-you-go' method.

It was my job to add the border and decorative butterflies to complete the quilt. Turned out to be a lovely group project.

Completed: 18 February 2008

Around the Block

Almost feels good to be able to say that I completed my first quilt for this year on 6 January BUT closer to the truth would be that I've been working on this quilt for almost 2 years!!

Found the pattern at HGTV on the internet and along with 2 quilt friends decided to work on this as a BOM.I think the biggest mistake we made was to not set a definate date for every monthly gathering and it just didn't work. I would phone Corrie and set a date between the 2 of us and when I would phone Elsie afterwards, this date did not suit her. So apart from 1 gathering with the 3 of us, it just did not happen.Elsie decided to opt out first and between Corrie and myself we managed another 3 get-togethers and then I was on my own, not knowing whether I should continue or wait until their schedules were less hectic.

Somewhere along the line I finished the blocks but then had these up against the wall for almost a year until it felt as if the blocks were losing their charm.Making December 2007 my month for UFO's I tackled these blocks and the moment I added the sashing even my daughter said that this one turned out rather nice. Tried my hand at feathers with the quilting on the sashing but would not regard myself a pro at this yet!

Completed: 6 January 2008

Calender Blocks

Another BOM by teacher/designer Iessie for this year and I am very proud to actually have finished this in the year I started it. I however must admit that a trip to fellow quilter, Riette de Wet, in Aliwal North along with teacher, Iessie, who explained to me just how organized she was and how much she gets done, helped me to get over my 'quilters block' that I've been suffering from during the festive season.

The reason for the trip was that the 3 of us have very bravely decided to each start working on our very own Baby Jane quilts and we just needed a decent brainstorming session before beginning.

So before making this entry I was so excited to "delete" one project from my list of UFO's but just now realized that I now have to add yet another. Will I ever get to less than 16 UFO's on my list???

Completed: 29 December 2007

Litema quilt

Fellow quilter, Frances van Schalkwyk, approached me to help (being one of 5 quilters) make a quilt based on the mural art by the Basuto (a South African tribe) women to decorate the outside walls of their homes. After looking at photos of different mirror image patterns used by these women, we used EQ6 to design the block pattern (appliqued). A photo of this quilt would be used in a coffee table book showing this dying art called Litema but pronounced Ditema.

After findind the exact orange fabric, Frances and 2 other quilters cut and glued the motifs on the blocks. My first job was then to do the blanket stitching around all the motifs where-after teacher, Iessie Steenberg, had to join the blocks, cut the batting and backing and then the quilt came back to me.

I meandered on all the background blocks avoiding the applique itself and once again back to Iessie for the binding and label.

Queen sized quilt completed in only 3 weeks.

Completed: 7 December 2007