Flourish Class...

A couple of weeks ago I played at this year's workshop put on by Stawell Craft Shop...love these workshops. I missed out last year as I was so sick with flu I couldn't get out of bed (literally) and I was determined not to miss out again.

This year the technique was English Paper Piecing with Sharon from Lilabelle Lane Creations, who took a block from her Flourish quilt to give us a cushion version for the day...on the day I got this far...

which for me is achievement in a class...I love how it looks like a starfish...all the centres were looking fabulous on the day. I've seen my friend M's finished block - in French Generals - and it looked so good, a bit of a kick along to keep the block from getting lost in the sewing room.  I've almost finished covering all the papers and really enjoyed fussing cutting the pieces.  It is a big block (something like 18") and I don't yet know whether it will become the cushion or something else but I'm sure it will tell me when the time comes.

It was such a great class, Sharon is so lovely and her quilts are gorgeous...in fact we all loved having class with her so much Mandy is having her back for next year - yay! looking forward to it already.

Edit since I wrote this post yesterday - progress!

 This is a fun block!

Happy Stitching...

Secret Sewing...

There hasn't been much stitching going on since the Great Eye Drama except for secret stuff - swap quilt for on-line group and secret quilt friendship blocks for local quilting group.  Both the swap and the more complicated time-consuming friendship block were due when I couldn't see properly to sew for more than about 10 minutes a day.  Then a couple of weeks ago a second friendship block with a three week deadline! Fortunately the blocks were simple, machined and the co-ordinator had done all the preparation work giving us cut-to-size patches to just construct the blocks (for which I was mightily grateful).  As of last night all deadline sewing is done...even if the deadlines weren't all met before due dates.

First Friendship Block combined two of my least favourite techniques - machine foundation piecing and crazy patchwork...we were given a bag with material scraps (my bag was blue fabrics) and a piece of paper cut to size for the foundation with notations as to which way was up and how the colour was to flow...mine was blue/aqua down to blue/mauve...the instructions also suggested picking a theme...

My block being blue suggested water and then rain/weather...I did enjoy the decorating once I got into it but I'm still not a fan of the crazy patchwork technique.
 
The second friendship blocks...easy but pretty...I think all the blocks have different centre squares although I've only seen mine and one other set...

I hope the recipients like their quilts when they are presented.

Happy Stitching...