Fleur's place

On my design wall..

2012-05-16T07:14:00.001-03:00

This is what I have been working on. My first table runner.

I found the pattern in one of my Australian country craft magazines. I love piecing and applique together in a quilt. I used 5" charms from my stash.

So now I have to add the leaves and vines - the vines are embroidered chain stitch. I used my GO! Baby and Rose of Sharon die for the flowers and leaves. I used 24 flowers instead of 36 as in the pattern - they are much smaller. I have two finishes. I hand quilted my two mini quilts

Lately it has been kind of hectic here. My son and daughter flew home for my husbands 60th birthday. Lots of entertaining family and friends, a huge family reunion, three funerals and lots of shopping with my daughter.
Now I'm happy to get back to my sewing. I hope all mom's had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Happy Easter!

2012-04-08T07:30:00.000-03:00

FREE Quilting Videos

2012-03-24T07:00:00.000-03:00

Just to let you know - there are hundreds of quilting videos for you to enjoy now through Sunday 25 march at www.QNNtv.com. Enjoy!

Mini Quilts

2012-03-20T16:40:00.000-03:00

Lovely rain and a few cooler days, I managed to get some sewing done. I enjoyed sewing these paper pieced blocks, a bit fiddly to start and I messed up on the first two but finally got it right, ready for quilting and binding.

2-1/2 " blocks

also finished these fun blocks. Pattern, 12 days of Christmas from Temecula Quilt Co -
have to decide on sashing and borders.

3-1/2 " blocks

I have wanted these rulers for ages. Next on my list is the dresdan ruler.

My wrist pincushion that I have used for years was looking drab - so I used my Go! cutter and felt.

from this

to this

I love The Quilt Show. They allowed free access to their shows on the weekend and I really enjoyed the ones I saw- lots of good tips. I especially enjoyed Sue Nickels and Sue Garman's work - gorgeous quilts and wonderful inspiration.
I've just seen the weather report for tomorrow - 32C hot and humid. Luckily its a public holiday so its off to the beach I go!

I can't believe its Autumn

2012-02-29T12:16:00.004-04:00

Despite the unbearable heat and humidity that has sapped my energy, I have been busy removing the ~~applique paper~~ tearaway stabilizer from this quilt top that has been sitting on the shelf far too long. This was a BOM by Cotton Tale Fabrics in Hillcrest. It's going to be a challenge quilting all that cream background.

88" x 88"

I have started a miniature snail trail, paper foundation piecing. I am using charm squares from my stash. Each block is 2 1/2 inches. I have completed 6 blocks - 8 more to go.

and I have completed the last Red Brolly stitchery.

reading this book

Some lovely free BOM's in blog land - click on the buttons in my sidebar. So many that I would love to do.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-18T06:08:00.000-04:00

Christmas and New Year with my family in the Western Cape was wonderful. Now I am trying to get back into the swing of things but this heat wave is not helping. I started stitching the final Red Brolly Christmas stitchery and I have several tops that I want to baste and quilt but that will have to wait for cooler weather. So today I have my stash of ice lollies, lots of blog reading to catch up on and I am looking forward to all the new happenings in blog land.

May you all enjoy good health, peace and happiness in 2012….and quilting!

Hi and welcome to new followers :))

Funky Flowers

2011-12-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

77" square

A quick post to show my quilt. I have been so busy there is hardly any time to blog as I have been trying to finish this quilt - at last it is done and ready to give to someone special ( not mentioning names) ;)).
I'm off on holiday until the 9th of Jan.
Warm wishes for a peaceful and blessed Christmas!

Durban Hosts COP17

2011-12-01T14:10:00.000-04:00

What a violent storm we had on Sunday night with heavy rain that caused flooding and extreme damage to hundreds of homes, several people where killed when their houses collapsed. Not normal weather for this time of year. More than 20,000 delegates from 190 countries have arrived in Durban for COP 17, the 17th session of climate talks. Everyone is trying to catch a glimpse of famous people like Angelina Jolie, Leonardo di Caprio, U2's Bono, Al Gore, Richard Branson and Prince Albert. I'm staying home and avoiding the crowds.
My sewing machine died in the middle of quilting my funky flowers quilt - will have to take it in for a service tomorrow.

Finished these two stitcheries from Red Brolly and Bronwyn has posted the final stitchery on her blog - button on my sidebar.

October/November is fete season. I found this lovely bright bag at our local fete. Its fully lined and perfect for my take along projects like my stitching and knitting.

I couldn't make this for R4.00 = spacious 15x19"

I was given a new knitting pattern- jumpers for aids babies.

Very easy pattern, its knitted all in one and I have 7 ready to go.Families are so poor their babies are sent home wrapped in newspaper.

Books I have read lately..
Bruno Chief of Police - Martin Walker
Fault Lines - Nancy Huston
The French Gardener - Sante Montfiore
The Soul Connection - Anne Jones
La Cucina - Lily Prior
Angels in my Hair - Lorna Byrne

Late Season - Christobel Kent - read by Karen Cass
A Handful of Honey - Annie Hawes - read by Rula Lenska

Stitching...

2011-11-15T05:39:00.000-04:00

Weekend rain and cool weather, perfect for sewing. I have finished my shweshwe top.

I've been stitching a lovely design by Bronwyn from Red Brolly Designs - click on the button in my sidebar for this free pattern

And I made the cutest little thread catcher, just what I needed for those thread tails.

Lisa from Primitive Gatherings shared this lovely project on the Moda Country Fair blog hop.

That time of year again.

2011-10-27T04:45:00.000-03:00

Fireworks, heatwave, snakes, afternoon storms. Diwali, and the fireworks sound louder this year - my poor dogs ears. My neighbour sent over delicious sweetmeats. While talking to my gardener on Monday I felt a light movement on my foot, it was an adder. I just flicked it off, it disappeared among the plants - that's the third snake Ive seen already and its only spring but very hot. Recently, at midday it went completely dark, then lightening, thunder and heavy rain. Suzi, Sasha and I dived under my quilt, sweating and praying. What a terrible storm. I don't like lightening.
I've taken a break from blanket stitching my funky flowers. I wanted to do a bit of piecing and to use the pack of shweshwe squares that I bought more than a year ago. I cut 3 1/2 inch strips and sewed them to the 5" squares in a log cabin style.

each square has a different design

All done - 49 blocks

A loud hoot at the gate. It was the post office van delivering this wonderful package.

Thank you so much Anne!

A gorgeous jelly roll from Anne at Bunny Hill Designs

Puttin On The Ritz

I had such fun on the Moda Country Fair blog hop, I won this gorgeous jelly roll on Anne's giveaway day. My very first jelly roll, so beautiful I love the colours. I love her fabric and designs and I love reading her blog.
Go and take a look at Anne's new fabric line"Ooh La La", its fabulous and her new baby quilt designs are adorable and I just love her new block of the month Merry Merry Snowmen-love red.

Congratulations Elzaan! you have won the My Memories Suite digital software. You are going to love this package. Look out for my email :-))

GIVEAWAY - MY MEMORIES SUITE

2011-10-17T15:55:00.002-03:00

My Memories Suite is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer. Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece. Downloading the software was super easy.

I have had such fun creating albums of my projects. Here a two pages that I have made using one of the many design templates

Now I am reminded where to find the pattern.

I loved adding the embellishments, such fun.

What a great way to reference my quilts and projects

My Memories suite is so easy to use, the whole family will love it. A fun way to create scrapbook layouts, photobooks, cards, calendars, gifts, and so much more. The software's design tools will help you to build entire albums effortlessly using one of the many installed templates or design your own pages from scratch. A full suite of sharing options turns your scrapbook album into a movie to watch on DVD or view on an IPod. What a wonderful way to keep and share memories! No wonder it is rated the # 1 scrapbooking software.by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews. I absolutely love this software!

Watch this video for everything you need to know about My Memories Suite

Wasn't that wonderful and inspiring! I'd like to create a book of the quilts I have made and I love the idea of a recipe book of favourite family recipes with photos of family get togethers. My family would love that. It will make a lovely gift.

Follow their blog for wonderful tutorials and inspiration.

Like their facebook page for their fabulous friday freebies.

GIVEAWAY

My Memories is giving away the My Memories Suite to a lucky reader plus $10.00 to spend in their store. All you have to do to win, is visit their site, check out their cool stuff, choose your favourite digital kit, come back here and leave a comment telling me your favourite - that simple!

Everyone is welcome to enter - any where in the world.

A winner will be announced on October 26. Good luck!!

My Memories is also offering all readers of my blog a $10.00 off discount coupon when you purchase the My Memories Suite software. Copy and paste this code STMMMS96869 at checkout PLUS they are giving you a further $10.00 off to spend in their store. Enjoy!!

A Little Peek

2011-09-20T04:33:00.006-03:00

Love my GO! Baby.!! The pattern that came with my funky flowers die is 38" square, I wanted to make it bigger so I cut 169 black and white 6.5" squares and sewed them together. Then I backed my fabric pieces for the flowers with fusible web and cut 4 layers at a time, so fast and accurate - love it - 35 flowers with centers in a flash. Incredible!

backed with fusible web

No waste - I used the left over pieces and cut leaves and smaller flowers using my Rose of Sharon die and because they are already fused, they are on hand and ready to use at anytime.
Isn't that wonderful! I wish everyone had a Go! cutter.

Next step is to blanket stitch around all those flowers and then decide on the quilting.

fused into position

79" square (201cm)

Enjoyed some stitching - just have to make up the pillow/cushion

a sewing room sampler

A Jolly Halloween stitchery pillow

measures 7 3/4" square design by Shirley Hudson

These two lovely patterns are free at We Love French Knots - click on the button in my sidebar.

And finally finished the stitching on Noah's Ark.

Noah's Ark design by Lynette Anderson Designs

I'm off to have fun on the Moda Country Fair blog hop.

Trip Around The World

2011-09-08T19:24:00.000-03:00

I love this pattern, so easy, it can be made in a weekend. I made this quilt a few years ago using lovely spring colours, its one of my favourites.

85" square (216cm)

I used Shweshwe fabric here.

Quiltville has a wonderful tutorial.

ARE YOU MAD ABOUT BUTTONS?

2011-08-30T05:15:00.000-03:00

Incomparable Buttons are the most adorable, fabulous and fun ceramic buttons ever! They are all individually handmade and hand painted by an amazing group of South African crafters " The Sunshine Team " -ladies from the local community who have been trained in the art of button making. Their skills have provided them with economic empowerment and has uplifted their families.

The Sunshine Team

Incomparable buttons are fully washable and dry cleanable. This is a first for ceramic buttons. With embellishments becoming more popular, the buttons are fun and inspiring for quilters, knitters, crafters and cross stitchers who are looking to add a unique finishing touch to their project.

To see more of their gorgeous buttons visit their website Incomparable Buttons and follow their blog ButtonMad.

ITS BEEN A WHILE....

2011-08-08T18:16:00.000-03:00

At last this quilt is finished. I started this in 2007, I just had to make the 3D flowers and then quilt it, I can't remember why I hadn't finished it sooner. I'm happy that its done and on my bed. I love the colours, they make my bedroom feel so cosy and warm. The past two weeks have been very cold with snow on the Drakensberg mountains and it rained for a whole week.Too cold to sew, my fingers were frozen so I spent my days snuggled under quilts listening to Rural Bliss by Lou Wakefield and Noah's Ark by Barbara Trapido, did some reading and slept a lot.

88" x 88" ( 224 cm)

Fun playing with my GO! Baby; so excited, no time to iron scraps.

added to my stash

and this

We were at the Pavilion shopping centre on Sunday afternoon, my husband wanted to get something from the music shop. We saw a huge crowd at the book store, well I had to have a nosey. It was Dr Rey - Dr 90210, promoting his skin care products and latest book. I managed to get a photo on my cell phone.

Books I have enjoyed reading;
The Spirit Messenger - Gordon Smith
The Almond Picker - Simonetta Angello Hornby
Divine Guidance - Doreen Virtue
An Angel To Guide Me - Glennyce Eckersley
Cage Of Stars - Jacquelyn Mitchard

I WON.....I WON....

2011-07-23T11:52:00.000-03:00

Logging into my blog on Saturday night to catch up on some reading, Barbara’s post was the first post on my reading list. She was giving away a GO! Baby Cutter. Mine was the 85^thcomment and she picked the winner based on her dog Dottie’s tag. I’m over the moon!!!

Big thanks to Barbara and,Accuquilt for this awesome giveaway.
Barbara Brackman's Material Culture and Civil War Quilts are her two blogs that I absolutely love.
Now, trying to choose 3 dies was the hardest thing. I love so many. So to start my collection I decided on applique dies, that’s because I love applique. Hearts - Funky Flowers – and Rose of Sharon.

With all the excitement I completely forgot to take a photo of the two blocks that I made for Kaaren. Just click on the button at the top of my blog, Allie has a wonderful tutorial for an easy block. It’s not too late, Allie has extended the time/date.

2011-06-30T09:03:00.000-03:00

I love having my son home; we miss him so much when he is away at varsity. He is home on a 6 week break 10 June – 25 July.

I have been cooking and baking – all his favourites, trying to fatten him up. Needless to say not a bit of sewing is being done, enjoying him while I can.

My Raggedy quilt top is done

And I tried the Saral tracing paper – so much easier! Love it!

Its winter here, cold in the evenings and this afghan that I crocheted years ago is my favourite to use while watching TV.

With so much going on while my son is home I have a huge backlog of blog reading to catch up on -so off to do some reading:)

Monkey business...... in my garden

2011-06-02T17:44:00.000-03:00

A troop of vervet monkeys regularly visits my garden. I love watching the cute babies and their playful antics. They're inquisitive and love exploring. The adults constantly groom one another, a sign of affection and respect. They're friendly and intelligent, only spending time where they feel safe and where they can expect to find food.

Our property borders a nature reserve and I’ve gotten used to the noise of monkeys running across the roof, it’s the route they have taken for years, they cross the road to other properties roaming the area searching for food.

Monkeys are actually very good for the garden eating insects that can become pests such as termites, moths, worms, grubs under the bark of trees and many others that the birds can't get to. They also eat fruit from indigenous trees ensuring seed dispersal and many seeds rely on the monkeys digestive system to break down the hard outer cover allowing for easy germination, they brush against flowers assisting with pollination and are natural pruners playing in the trees breaking dead branches.

They are wonderful creatures; I consider them my garden helpers!

Two quilts for Japan

2011-05-16T14:40:00.000-03:00

This is my contribution for Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. My guild sent members an email saying that they had received a plea for assistance for comfort quilts for those who had lost everything. It's my first time trying the triple rail fence pattern and I love how quick and easy it is. So easy that a top can be made in a day!

This photo taken in the sun - shows the quilting. I did meandering hearts on the yellow fabric and meandering leaves on the green fabric.

On this quilt, I did a simple straight line quilting on the diagonal, it feels so soft.

They have been washed, just have to wrap them and drop them off at Yamaha who have generously offered to deliver them to Naomi Ichikawa ( the editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin magazine ) in Tokyo, Japan.

Autumn

2011-05-10T07:46:00.000-03:00

My favourite time of the year, wonderful balmy weather, lazy days, clear blue skies. With Easter and public holidays bunched together we have had a lovely 11 day break. Visiting family and friends, relaxing on the beach, entertaining, lots of braai's and its perfect weather for sewing ( no humidity) so I have been cutting 2.5" strips

and cross cutting

added to my stash

Michele had a giveaway and I received this parcel of Saral transfer paper,

it's an amazing product and I can't wait to try it on my next project. Thanks Michele!

Read all about it here

Monika sent me these wonderful goodies that I won on her giveaway, in celebration of her 8th Wedding Anniversary. Lovely stitching patterns and thread. Thank you Monika!

And these are the books I've enjoyed reading during March and April,

The house at Riverton - Kate Morton

The bright forever - Lee Martin

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

The unbelievable Truth - Gordon Smith

Playing in the Light - Zoe Wicomb

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-04T11:19:00.000-03:00

Been busy....

2011-04-19T03:59:00.000-03:00

Finished my Raggedy blocks - just have to decide on the colour for the sashing and I also have to do a little bit of redwork stitching around some of the blocks.

Still working on this quilt - added the 3D flowers -

Buttonhole stitched around those circles using Isacord (old gold) the background is RJR fabrics Base Essentials back to basics.

I'm off to meet my sister, today is our shopping day;) love Tuesdays!!

TAKE TIME TO.......

2011-03-28T15:36:00.000-03:00

I have been trying for over a week to download photos from my computer to my posts but blogger wouldn't let me and after reading Sew Many Ways post this morning and reading everyones complaints about blogger I realised I'm not the only one with issues. I'm sure blogger was eavesdropping because I tried again this afternoon and hallelujah its working!!

So I have completed all my blocks. I've really enjoyed stitching them and I love the wording, a lovely reminder to make/take time for ourselves.

Long Hot Summer

2011-03-11T03:05:00.000-04:00

Not much happening around here, too hot, mostly reading and eating lots of iced lollies. I love the real fruity ones. I was looking for something quick and easy to make. This cute pattern I had done ages ago was sitting in my UFO pile, I didn't know what to do with it at the time so yesterday I made a pincushion.

Now I have two!

I have a knitting bag permanently next to my chair and while watching TV every night I knit very simple baby blankets using big needles so the blankets are soft. These are for aids babies in our rural hospitals and so I have 5 ready to go.

I'm also working on the quilt in the background, using some of the circles that I posted about here

Books I've read during jan/feb.

Secrets of the people whisperer -Perry Wood
The Gathering - Anne Enright
The clothes on their backs - Linda Grant
The matchmaker of perigord - Julia Stuart
The book of destiny 2012 - Carlos Barrios
The rice mother - Rani Manicka

FEBRUARY CHRISTMAS CLUB

2011-02-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

Allie is encouraging us to make one gift a month. She has great links to gift ideas and tutorials and you might even win a prize :)

I didn't finish January's project on time so this month I have two finishes. I made little wall hangings and instead of french knots I used red seed beads and on the green one I used bright multi coloured seed beads.
These lovely stitchery designs are free from Gail Pan Designs

There is still time to join Allie's " Christmas through the year", just click on the button in my sidebar!

double click on pic for closer view

I used this fabric