I designed the quilt and the course of lessons so that the knowledge of different quilting styles, and the ability to execute them effectively, would build upon each other.  The aim was that the ladies could go away and refer to their Sampler Quilt when quilting their own small quilts.

We improvised if someone forgot their sewing machine extension table.  A great use of old patchwork books.

Everyone worked really hard at learning the new skills and I was really proud of their progress.

Feedback from the class was awesome and the course is being offered again at Panton HIll Living and Learning next semester as an eight week course run fortnightly.  You will need some time for homework between sessions.

I was really touched when the class presented me with a beautiful bunch of flowers at the end of the last class today.

Thanks Ladies.  Can’t wait to see the quilts all bound and finished.

Anyhow now that it is there, check out some photos of past quilts.  I will be adding more! (Now that I know how).

This is why I am a quilter not an IT guru.

Well the time for booking classes is drawing near, three weeks in fact.  Head over to the AMQF website for more details of mine and other tutors classes.

As I have said before my classes are aimed at getting beginners up and going.  I know when I first started quilting I was bombarded with so much information that I couldn’t use at the time.  Now it is awesome to have that but at the beginning we all need facts in bite sized pieces that we can go home and put into practise.  The classes I have designed will meet that need and really get you going on the path to being a confident quilter.

Looking forward to catching up later in the year at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival.  Don’t forget it is for all quilters, domestic, short and long armed types, beginner to advanced.  There will be something for everyone.

The family designed the quilt themselves to depict many of the amazing animals found in Austrialia.

The challenge with this and other similar children’s quilts is to keep the quilting soft but still give the quilt enough structure and design.

I quilted gum leaves from each point to give a frame to each square and further enhanced the appliqué by stitching around each animal to make it pop. The border was quilted with simple
piano keys to provide a framed border.

The backing shows up the gold gum leaf pattern in a very subtle way.

We were all delighted with the final result as it goes on its travels to a new lucky baby.

They will follow.

I thought I might share a couple of quilts that didn’t make my blog last year.

This quilt was a beautiful appliqué quilt by Helen a real labour of love. The feathery quilting was delicate to complement her gentle design and colour choices.

We were both delighted with how the quilting finished the quilt.

It is that time again for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival.  2012 will prove to be bigger and better than the last providing great learning opportunities for both domestic quilters and those with arms of varying lengths, be they short, mid or extra long.

How honoured was I to be asked to teach at this years event.  Check out the classes at the website

There will be a great number of different classes for all ability levels.  I am aiming my classes at those starting there quilting journey and will be teaching heaps of different things that can be used now…well you might have to wait until you get home, those machines are a little big for the cargo hold and I wouldn’t want to be paying the excess baggage bill.

So check it out and look forward to seeing you at the festival.  I will keep you posted along the way.

Happy Quilting

Anita

xxx

I quilted each block in turn, working with the design of the block and the fabric.  The feathered sashing and piano key border holding it altogether.  My favorite block is the spiral.  Which is yours?

This photo from the back details the quilting.

My brief from Elisha was not too tizzy or too closely quilted.  She was delighted with her quilt so I assume I got it right!

Happy stitching

Anita

XXX

How lovely is this quilt made by Maria. Maria often uses Bali pops and jelly rolls to make her quilts. I am not sure which jelly roll book this came from. But I really like it.

It looks really modern and colourful, particularly when I was photographing it in my garden. I quilted it in a lovely pantograph pattern called Wonderland by Anne Bright. I used a lime green Aurifil cotton as the tread choice. I love my Aurifil threads.

Here is some more quilting detail and a shot of the background fabric.

Hey, there is that sign I made!

It was great to showcase some of my own work and show off some lovely quilts that belong to other patchworkers. Thank you to my ladies who allowed me to borrow them back for the show. I took good care of them.

Now back to quilting

xxx