In Stitches of Williamstown

Hexagon Alley

I have had a long time fascination with hexagon quilts.  And the cover of quilters companion magazine featuring the "candied hexagons" quilt by Kerry Dear has never quite left my mind. 

The following link has the templates (click here) but be sure to print them at 100% of the original size so that it works!  But if you can, buy the templates, as it saves so much time.....and they have the added benefit of being very accurate.

At the AQM (wholesale) market back in november, Sue Daley was showing her "This Goes with That" paper piecing templates - and although she didn't have a finished quilt of her own to show at the time, the concept was easy to grasp.  Each month for eight months receiving a couple of packs of templates - hexagons, diamonds, triangles, trapeziums of different shapes and sizes that work together to make the same shaped hexagons.  I am selling this just as the complete set (without fabric) so please contact me if you are interested as they aren't up on my website yet (which I agree is totally slack).  I really do think it is best to use properly sized paper pieces.  As they have to be so precise to work well, and I love it when it comes together with ease rather than coercion!

I've also admired Leanne Beasleys Hexagon Quilt from vignette (2&3) for which copies are available here , where this is based on the grandma's flower garden design.  And I have a good number of friends in various stages working through this one.  I have almost been tempted to join them.  But I think I knew I had the candied hexagons in my mind which wouldn't disappear.  I even took many hundreds of paper pieces to France with me where we went for 3 months last year.  Quantity sewn?  Big fat zero.....

So, enough procrastinating, I've started something... not as big as a quilt.... but something more realistic for me....

It's such a small pile for the amount of time it's taken - about an hour per hexagon on average.  But I've loved putting every one of these together.  And one of the fun parts is that no two hexagons are based on the same pattern.  And many of the patterns just came from playing with the paper pieces before sewing.  Of course, some you will recognize but perhaps I've managed a couple of my own.... although that is highly doubtful as there are only so many ways that you can make hexagons out of these shapes - although I wouldn't be surprised if the number of variations edged their way into more than 100.

Will you join me on a journey down Hexagon Alley?

First up, bright and cheerful fabrics - big prints and solids... A modest pile of 10 fabrics and a view to making 20 hexagons...
This one was super easy to put together. 

• Cut the fabric - I hold the paper pieces up to the fabric and then cut roughly 1/4" around the outside edge
• Using a sewline glue pen I stick the fabric over teh paper templates - not too much glue, not too little.  Really as little glue as you can get away with without it unsticking. 
• Cover all the pieces for your hexagon in this way (in this case 6 trapeziums and 1 hexagon)
• Using a polyester thread and fine straw needle (10 or 11 is good) whipstitch two pieces right sides together
• continue until all are sewn and you have a completed hexagon to put in your pile (of one)

Then another classic was the 3D box shape which was a great use for some Kaffe Fasset fabric...

Will be back soon with more from Hexagon Alley

 

 

 

 

Meltdown

Curious how same phone different "camera" gives a completely different image!

It's been a while...

Lots to share but no time to blog!! Will be back soon! Enjoy your day wherever you are....

AQM 2011

Just a few quick glimpses from the trade show that caught my eye!!
Prints charming, Philip Jacobs and it's back- flea market fancy!!

Hedgalicious

Had some fun today, making Hedgie here...in both brooch and prickly pincushion sizes!  Kits and patterns available shortly.

I worked with the heather bailey felts, which were just a delight to work with.  Lovely and soft!  Very much unlike a hedgehog.

New in stock!

Just before christmas I received these beautiful organic fabrics designed by Jennifer Moore of Monaluna.  These are from the Taali range.

Monaluna fabric is made in India from 100% organic cotton and printed with AZO-free dyes. The fabric is made from medium-weight poplin weave, and is ideal for quilting, apparel and baby and kids’ items as well as home accessories.

The fabric is available by the metre for $18/m (plus postage) for each of the six designs shown above.  I have some 25cm bundles pre-cut for $27 (plus postage).

I also have in stock some of the Nighty Nites pattern which features the MonaLuna fabrics and shows how great they would look in kids clothing.  Aren't they gorgeous!  I love the dolls versions.  and I think the shortie nightie would make a perfect top for our hot Aussie climate!

These patterns are $16.50 (plus postage).

Of course, when making kids nightwear, please make sure you use fabric that meets the fire safety standards of your country! :D

Can't wait to start making something now - with some white linen which I have found my self quite addicted to using.....

perhaps something like this

 

Spider on a web

Here's the "spider on a web" we did together using the same technique as the girl on a swing.  My son did all the fabric choosing, cutting, placement and spider design - I just helped with ironing and sewing - he did a pretty good job I think!

Thanks to inspiration from the tutorial on Aneela's blog comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk - see post below for link thing.

If we did it again, I'd put the fusible web on some bits of fabric for the colourful collage - say 5" square of each fabric - and then cut into pieces for the mosaic/collage background.  Then I'd lay them out and stick them to the background fabric.  That way the collage pieces would adhere all the way to the edge.  I found that my son cut the pieces very large so there were large amounts of unstuck collage which were a bit difficult to sew around as they moved a bit.

We did this using vlisofix - really old - and if I did again I would use steam a seam lite 2 as I much prefer its adhesion.  I found that the combination of vlisofix and overlaping pieces led to a bit of fraying.  But hey, that's part of its charm.

For those that haven't done raw edge applique before - for those that enjoy  crafting with the kids with only a little sewing to do - this is a great project.

Laura x

sherbet pips and girl on a swing

Some time ago I bought a little bundle of sherbet pips by Moda and gave it to my daughter so she can make a quilt.  She is 11 now and more than capable!  So off I went a googling to look for simple designs perhaps in sherbet pips so that she could see the vision of the end product!  It didn't take me long to lose myself in Aneela Hoey's lovely blog www.comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk  and then following off on another tangent to her "girl on a tree swing" tutorial which is available here.

So it seemed a good idea for the kids to do some school holiday crafting - and they raided my more than considerable stash....

She seems very pleased with the end result

Design by Aneela Hoey

Fabric choice and placement and cutting out etc by my lovely daughter, I love all those kids playing that she chose for the background and all the fruit.  We both had a big laugh at the enormous cherry that seems to be growing out of the top of the tree! 

I did help by doing the sewing for her - she's not done any raw edge applique and it wasn't quite the time to start when it is 35 degrees in our living room.

I am a very proud mum!  And we will get on to the sherbet pips project some day - but I'm glad it led me to Aneela's blog (she is the designer of the Moda "sherbet pips" range) as it is full of lovely ideas!

We do need to give the poor girl on a swing a face though... why do I always avoid that bit!?  Think i'm scared of stuffing it up - but I should be brave - it's only a few stitches!

Will be back with posts of my son's project when we finish it - nearly there!

Laura x

Happy New Year!

I love Christmas - from the making of the pudding

(someone doesn't look too overjoyed at being made to make a christmas wish!)

to hanging the decorations on the tree with so many memories of christmasses past - how his hand has grown, but still those pudgy little fingers!

Miss moo found a "reindeer" piece of ginger - can you see it?

Getting the stockings ready for Santa and leaving a little treat!

Setting the table for a bountiful lunch with my wonderful family.  We had a lovely christmas day - despite the thundering storm in Melbourne - hope you did too.

Onwards to 2012 and a year with so much excitment to come.  I can't wait.

New pattern and fabric release from Dont look now

Kellie from Don't Look Now has done an amazing job with these new fabrics which should be available around March April 2012.  I simply cannot wait.  If you want to pre-order individual prints or fat quarter or fat 1/8 packs - click here!

Kellie has also produced this stunning pattern called "Robot Riot" which is just wonderful.

Patterns are $19.80 and available here

breast cancer awareness month

Rosalie Quinlan has designed this gorgeous pre-printed stitchery called hope, love and friendship which would surely support someone going through breast cancer.

It's available either on pre-printed pink linen with variagated cosmo thread provided - or on white linen with candy pink thread included.  Both versions are available here.

Needles!

I tried out the stitchery from Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches new book "Cotton Floss".

I stitched the stitchery on the plane from London to Melbourne, with only a little satin stitch to finish once I got home.  I had plenty of time to do it, but in the end the light just made it too hard!

So, yes, you can sew on a plane - just don't take scissors but use some other thread cutter (preferably not your teeth!!)

I took a few liberties on both the thread choices and the piecing of the inside of the needle case - because I could only use what I had available at the time.  But adapting a pattern is one of the joys of sewing your own!

The instructions for completing the needle case were clear and easy to follow. 

It ended up a lot bigger than I would have thought I needed for needles.  But then again, I do have an awful lot of needles....

It's a penguin party

My gorgeous girl turned 11 and invited four fabulous friends over for a sewing party.  Of course I planned far too much and was way to over ambitious about what we could achieve. 

We used the "Melly and Me" pattern "Penguin Parade" and the girls were delighted with the results.  The photo of the penguins on the "lawn" just goes to show that it's a while since it's been mowed!

Penguin Parade patterns are available from me at www.institches.com.au 

Monet's garden

I know many of you love flowers - so here is a feast for the eyes!  You may see this inspire a quilt of mine in the not to distant future....

 
I absolutely LOVE my camera!  :-)

The simple woman's daybook - No 1

Have you been wondering where I am and why so silent on the blog front over the last few months?  Perhaps this post will reveal...

I have seen this a few times on Natalie Lymer's blog (cinderberry stitches) and she in turn found it on this blog http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ Over time I've mulled over whether it's something I want to do - and life is so different for me right now I'd love to capture it.  Feel free to hop on over to the link above to see what it's all about!

 
I'll try and do this once a month - so hopefully I can live up to this commitment and we'll see how different life really is

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...the wind is rustling through the leaves on the trees on the side of the quarry.  I can see them bend and sway.

I am thinking...that I'm glad Martin cut down the trees on the steep slope down to the house - as they are bendy and supple whilst young but not sure that they would be so flexible when grown!

I am thankful...that we've had the time to take three months "out" and live one of our dreams.  Cottages in idyllic french countryside and the opportunities to live in them don't grow on trees.  I am thankful for Georgina - running house and business in my absence!  What would I do without you!!!  I am thankful for Mum and Dad for having the dream in the first place and allowing us the opportunity to share it!

From the learning rooms...I'm discovering that it is harder to be a teacher than a student!  Home schooling is not for me!

In the kitchen...I can hear Martin calling Chris is "chef" and Maddie is the "sous chef".  Chris asked "what are we having for dinner?" and I said "what do you want - you're "chef"!".  He said "chocolate".  I said "great, did you buy any?" ....

I am wearing...one of my many fabulous Boden skirts.  Big bold design!

I am creating...an almost daily blog of our holiday which is taking up all my spare time when we are not out and about, but is such a wonderful record already that I'm really pleased that I decided to do it.

I am going...to finish my glass of champagne before I finish this blog post!  When in France...

I am wondering...if there could be anywhere more beautifully tranquil than where I am right now.

I am reading...some totally out of whack book with the tranquility of the surroundings - it's one of the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Menkell - which usually means there's a killer on the loose - perhaps I should mellow my reading matter...

I am hoping...that I can honestly say my dinner tonight is delicious - Chris is trying so hard.

I am looking forward to...Paris next week!  Oh my, how wonderful.

I am hearing..."yes chef", laughter, the wind, the waterfall of the local spring.

Around the house... abandoned "school work" and scrabble pieces lie as testament to the fact that we are trying not to completely ignore our children's learning!

I am pondering... when we will next be able to find some "time out".  It feels a little greedy to be thinking this whilst we are still on time out.

One of my favorite things... macaroons

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Preparations for booking accomodation for trip to Paris

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
 
So now you know...  we are having the time of our lives! 

Extreme Embroidery

I went to see the Bayeux Tapestry.  It's actually not a tapestry at all, but embroidery on a linen background.  Imagine, an embroidery almost 1000 years old (give or take about 60 years).  Taking pride of place in a museum devoted to this one embroidery - 70m long by 50cm tall.

It's completed with a linen background and woolen thread.  In just 10 colours.  In just 4 stitches.  Chain stitch, stem stitch, split stitch.

Also Bayeux satin stitch.  i liked this link to the bayeux stitch and I must try it.

Ok - well back to the story - which is afterall the whole point of the tapestry embroidery!

I had thought that the purpose of the story was to tell of the Norman conquest of England.  Essentially this

• Edward the confessor - king of england - doesn't have an heir
• Edward has spent the last 20 or so years in France and his cousin is William, Duke of Normandy
• Edward decides that William will be the next king of England when he dies
•  
  Edward sends Harold to tell William
• but Harold gets captured on the way to tell william
• ?  William rescues/scores the return of Harold
• *** key point *** Harold swears on relics in the Bayeux cathedral that William will be the next heir to the thrown (see below)
• Edward dies
•  
  Harold seizes the crown of England
•  
  England gets attacked by some Vikings and Harold defeats them "up north" in the battle of Stamford Bridge
• William is mighty annoyed at Harold and sets sail for England to regain what is rightfully his
•  
  Harold hears that William's landed and marches the army the length of the country to the south of England
• Battle of Hastings, bloodshed and mighty war (for one day)
• Arrow in the eye for Harold, who dies
•  
  William becomes King of England, Duke of Normandy
• to this day Queen Elizabeth II is still duchess of Normandy!! 

The Bayeux tapestry tells the Norman part of this story.  And has a lot of detail about the early part of the story, but to my surprise stops immediately after Harold gets and arrow in his eye.  What about the crowning of William etc?

Apparently the tapestry was designed for display in the cathedral at Bayeux and was 7m too long - so they cut off the end...which is now missing.  mmm, seems unusual.

 

Another way of looking at it is that it is not the conquest of England that is at the key point of the story, but the swearing of Harold on the relics that is central to the story (see above).  So in the middle of the story he swears on the relics and the rest of the story goes to show that you shouldn't go back on your word otherwise bad things happen - which kind of makes more sense when you look at the way that it ends.

Regardless of all of this it is a remarkable embroidery achievement!

 

 

It's on its way...

... the hugely succesful Vignette magazine is about to release its fourth issue.  And the cover is delightful

 
This is available for pre-order from my website.  Delivery will be in 2nd week of September, so don't forget to place your order.

Click here to place an order in Australia or click here to place an order from overseas (prices include postage and are based on RRP of $17.95).

Redwork & Christmas

Redwork and Christmas often go hand in hand it seems.  I love this new KIT from Rosalie Quinlan which is pre-printed and includes all the threads ($33).  I have kits on order which will be available next week so I'll pop this on the shop site soon.

 

Christmas in July

Being an expat in Australia the Christmas in July is strong in our traditions.  There is nothing better than an excuse for cooking a turkey (in the cold!).  I love the smell of it that pervades the house for hours.  I love making stock with the turkey carcass and keeping it in the freezer for risottos and soups.  I love making mincepies and putting on the christmas music.  I love the excess of vegetables.  And the friends.  And the wine and merriment.  We rotate this pleasure with some of our English/Irish friends and do the "bring a course" method.  This year we actually managed to have the "do" in June (A first - it's usually in August, September and possibly even October - almost never in July).  I cooked desert and made "little mincemeat souffles" which is a recipe by Delia Smith.  Those Australian's amongst us need to remember that mincemeat has nothing to do with meat but is fruitmince.  Those UK people amongst the readership will know of Delia.

 
I learned to cook from Delia and her fail safe recipes have led to my absolute confidence that whatever I cook, it will work out fine - so have ended up very adventurous and never afraid to try a new recipe - even when I have friends coming for dinner and I've never cooked it before.  I also made Rhubarb mincemeat (fruitmince) mincepies which is a Nigella recipe if my memory services me right - this is absolutely delicious.  couldn't find this on Nigella's site but did find it on a blog called Chocolate Teapot which sounds pretty appealing in its own right.

Must admit that we do the whole turkey things at Christmas too, but that is much more hit and miss with the weather and there have been plenty of times that I have found sweat pouring down me, with the oven on full blast and it's hotter in the kitchen than it is outside (which can be 30 degrees plus).

Winter or summer - I do love it.  I wish we could have more excuses for a turkey!

There are a few Christmas patterns around that I thought I'd remind you of, some old, some new - to get you in the festive spirit too.

New pattern by Kellie Wulfsohn of Don't Look Now - 25 more sleeps

 
Another one by Kellie called White Christmas (and don't forget her Oh Christmas Tree and first day of christmas which I have blogged about before).

 
Rosalie Quinlan's new little Christmas book "Petit Noel" - love the mini bunting.  Lots of quick and simple projects in this booklet.  Quite achievable! 

There are some gorgeous projects in here.  A combination of stitchery, applique, patchwork etc.  I particularly love a hanging heart that has a bird wearing a christmas hat and scarf.  It's very cute and I will be stitching this.

There's also Natalie Bird's little booklet "tis the season" which has gorgeous stitcheries as well as lots of different ideas as to how to use them.  Here's the quilt that features all the stitcheries....

 

And the penguin bag which shows an alterantive use for a stitchery ... love it and the hexagons...

 
So a little to inspire you here!

Have a great July - with or without "christmas" - and don't forget to make some simple stitching plans to get on with for December's gifts...

From the heart

Another fantastic new pattern from Kellie of Don't Look Now - it's great when she comes back from an overseas trade show as she releases so many new patterns for us all to enjoy.

This is another one that features small projects which are a fantastic way to learn her techniques.

This time it is a delightful set of four cushions (which would also work well as wall hangings).

 
At $22 for the pattern which includes all four pillows this is a great buy and will provide a lot of versatile projects for a long time to come.

The pattern is available now from my website.