tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65086562743541156162024-02-19T18:45:07.897-08:00A Quilter doing Machine EmbroideryMachine embroidery in quilts, machine and hand quilting and life on a farmUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-17174794077280583482021-01-12T19:53:00.002-08:002021-01-12T19:53:11.891-08:00Was 2020 so terrible?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0">
I see on Facebook and other places that people were relieved to see 2020 come to an end. Some described it as the most terrible year ever. For quilters, I am sure the year was a gift in many ways. Although we love socializing with our quilting friends it does take us away from our projects. Being forced to stay home one had the possibility get more done than other years.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0">Due to the accident I had at the beginning of the year, I could not use this "gift" fully. A lot of my time was spent going for physiotherapy, Aqua Physio, and acupuncture with my Doctor in Chinese medicine. In the end, the time paid off with a pain-free month in December. I can also sleep- and sleep quite well without the aid of a sleeping pill, hitting three and more hours of deep sleep per night. I started swimming when the Gym open and although this is still painfully and without full mobility, I am swimming up to 1,2 km per session.<br />
<br /> Before the accident, I attend the first class of the Cosmati quilt from the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bella-Quilts-Stunning-Designs-Italian/dp/1571203044/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Bella+BElla+QUilts&qid=1589438801&s=books&sr=1-1">Bella Bella Quilts</a> book by Norah McMeeking. Alta from <a href="https://fabriccontessa.co.za/shop/">The Fabric Contessa </a>was hosting the class. I completed the compass ring and the outer border before the accident.<br />
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During my recovery, I sewed the ring of Flying Geese together. I used the paper piecing method I learned from <a href="http://www.judymathieson.com/Judy_Mathieson/About_Judy.html">Judy Mathieson</a> where you sew next to the freezer paper. I made the individual units on freezer paper and then pieced it together fitting and pressing it to a quarter ring of Freezer paper with the paper marked with the Flying geese units. I knew I had to work very precisely otherwise the sharp points will not be sharp once fitted into the next ring. I thought if I keep it in quarters and only sew it into a complete ring once the pieces on either side were sewn, that I will have less difficulty for this to lay flat.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4cVjm0J4uOo-08JEzsBLsFiLXfu-7pYlkBJzS5HPGkYat_53uutHqbESSWjzwvRhHVrzqAwo2Q49E4f5stRLdE4fiimmACGXygB8sKE8pj7gf0meAL0edUeCuFSQkpBvmmNqSby7Gkg-/s2048/IMG_3240.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4cVjm0J4uOo-08JEzsBLsFiLXfu-7pYlkBJzS5HPGkYat_53uutHqbESSWjzwvRhHVrzqAwo2Q49E4f5stRLdE4fiimmACGXygB8sKE8pj7gf0meAL0edUeCuFSQkpBvmmNqSby7Gkg-/w480-h640/IMG_3240.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The centre still need to be hand appliqued</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0">Alas, this is the problem with circular designs. To get it flat and fitted is very, very difficult. Well, in the end, I got it fitted, and the little bulge that formed will be quilted out-or that is my belief! My colour choice was a big disappointment- the Flying Geese ring is too light and almost disappears. I was once again reminded how important it is to do sample pieces and view it on your design wall from a distance. A lesson I seem I never learn? Now I just need to complete the applique piece in the middle and add the outer border.<br />
<br />I believe I will get things done in 2021. I choose Love over Fear- Fear for projects that I haven't worked on and now need to figure out what is the next step, fear to start quilting because I do not know how I will quilt it, etc. I will stop procrastinating and tackle my projects.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0">A productive 2021 for you too.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on" wfd-id="0">MArié</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-9071692464084243272019-01-11T21:11:00.002-08:002019-01-11T21:11:20.784-08:00Long time gone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yes I know! It is also the name of the new quilt I start working on. This is a design from <a href="https://www.amitie.com.au/shop/Patterns/Jen-Kingwell-Designs.htm">Jen Kingwell.</a> I fell in love with irregular sampler quilts. Once one start to focus on things, Pinterest pick it up and give you more and more of those.<br />
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What attracted me to Jen Kingwells quilts was the jolly colours she use (in Afrikaans it is "Vrolik"). I have a collection of Tana Lawn fabrics (Liberty of London fabrics- with flaws) that I bought at a fabric shop in Somerset West. Intended for use in clothes- with the flaws it is more suitable for patchwork- one can cut around the problem areas- or even include it. This fabric is lightweight cottons with a silky feel. Many of them is busy prints and not fabric I would usually purchase or use.<br />
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The last couple of years I start to move away from the dramatic pallet that I used, influenced by Jinny Beyer, to a more "lighthearted" fabric choice. I saw how vibrant big dots can make a whole quilt sparkle. I have realized that careful combination of busy prints with more peaceful prints is the perfect combination to brighten your quilt without creating such a busy top that your eye have no place to rest.<br />
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Long Time Gone consist of blocks that are repeated to form "mini quilts" These are grouped with other blocks or mini quilts into 6 bigger units(with a variety of block patterns) and they are spaced with sashings. Jen built this up like a puzzle- as her website say- this is a signature of her designs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga23R3Oxi3KmWwbsb-kr6ivM4sB1IXGgcz7a-LXqBwEROd8AQHoh2SJSSkZsr8sTt-NHRaBmL7U3Bo3_6kw0cKu4iHpsrZzqsjO3X4wJlMX43JUieuLIfS4SmoU3S-uElBKVuBZvGVXiow/s1600/blok+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="904" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga23R3Oxi3KmWwbsb-kr6ivM4sB1IXGgcz7a-LXqBwEROd8AQHoh2SJSSkZsr8sTt-NHRaBmL7U3Bo3_6kw0cKu4iHpsrZzqsjO3X4wJlMX43JUieuLIfS4SmoU3S-uElBKVuBZvGVXiow/s640/blok+6.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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When this one is completed I have her Circle Game to play with as well. My Small Town and Gypsey Wife might also be on my list if it does not get overshadowed by other things that Pinterest dish up for me.<br />
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I think I went a bit overboard with some of the blocks not getting good contrast. In working with this fabric I developed a feel for it. I will definitely make a few more quilts with these but I will be more careful as to which fabrics I use next to each other. I do love the whimsical look of my blocks for this quilt and I think this is how Jen also approach the combination of fabrics. So I will have the best of both worlds- using this happy fabrics but a bit more reserved and closer to a style I feel more comfortable.<br />
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This was a most enjoyable quilt to make and I will post more as I combine the blocks in units.<br />
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Enjoy 2019 and may it be full of quilts<br />
Marié</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-34707967685870514932017-10-06T05:43:00.000-07:002017-10-06T05:43:13.206-07:00Some completed quilts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I and my sister, Carla, went to visit my brother, Andries and his wife Twiny, in Vancouver in September. I wanted to complete a quilt to give them, in the end I was able to complete two quilts. I had to sew the binding while I was there to completely finish it, but here is the photographs of the washed quilts while it was on the heated tile floor in my kitchen just before leaving for Canada.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4pDLm-JTjdGwABkAyn4h0-M7cbkG-QB5IuSgnucLWrjejYps7Orzek2_bjxO312_0ZhAvwgwtoug6d9ImXVIzd6SP00MAZLzbl50PBBbjddkesV3LLzbhoQ0PcUqh9s1AGdQUXZjApJg/s1600/IMG_2244%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4pDLm-JTjdGwABkAyn4h0-M7cbkG-QB5IuSgnucLWrjejYps7Orzek2_bjxO312_0ZhAvwgwtoug6d9ImXVIzd6SP00MAZLzbl50PBBbjddkesV3LLzbhoQ0PcUqh9s1AGdQUXZjApJg/s640/IMG_2244%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose Quilt<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_Uy3zqWfaA-tcDKPWKU_rlDxN6RlYuutCi2Eu417CTlcOaKH6L8ch6NsPiDa_bif-WKXx0bfSUMJTBbsx9FuyXb-8JIdEwj-hZyGjppRXwvjgN9ZiuQ0ff0AjhyphenhyphenenH4N6AE47jA8N8C5/s1600/IMG_2248%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_Uy3zqWfaA-tcDKPWKU_rlDxN6RlYuutCi2Eu417CTlcOaKH6L8ch6NsPiDa_bif-WKXx0bfSUMJTBbsx9FuyXb-8JIdEwj-hZyGjppRXwvjgN9ZiuQ0ff0AjhyphenhyphenenH4N6AE47jA8N8C5/s640/IMG_2248%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaffe's Triangles</td></tr>
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This quilt was from an idea in Kaffe Fasset's book. I made the triangles a bit larger (17,5 cm squares). I just ditch quilt the larger blocks. Then I quilted the blocks on the embroidery module. It came out lovely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc5qtoQTKAqshsP4y5gIiiI-BvEKH3unQ4ssQ2TnbHDNlA71IFoTv-p_UH26wb3fE-5r7uYP8sqJbLLrp1l1CgBBoCfhCGizIqmazkqELee_e8fskVG5zyo-6PFqnrUr25r8CdLLjOMOe/s1600/IMG_2253%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc5qtoQTKAqshsP4y5gIiiI-BvEKH3unQ4ssQ2TnbHDNlA71IFoTv-p_UH26wb3fE-5r7uYP8sqJbLLrp1l1CgBBoCfhCGizIqmazkqELee_e8fskVG5zyo-6PFqnrUr25r8CdLLjOMOe/s640/IMG_2253%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digitized quilting on the embroidery module<br /></td></tr>
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I had the opportunity to visit several Quilting shops. My brother stopped at 4 shops on Vancouver island when we went there to visit friends. I had 10 minutes in each to shop and I made fully use of the oppportunity.<br />
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We went to the Rockies and I could shop in Canmore at Sugarpine Co. I was also fortunate to meet Katja Marek in her quilt shop in Kamloops on our way back to Vancouver.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzxA8voGwvRXY2s6rV9h-F8KT-QWi9wYhtlJ56IdGuIp6ybUFXMEzTrwqKQcpuICqaIsPOdQG-vv_-x4pTshxHOS5ybb6S4jDHR9GZIJeY-TzKPLx7fyGACbNUIT2JSn25YZpkBUwdOzX/s1600/IMG_2729%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzxA8voGwvRXY2s6rV9h-F8KT-QWi9wYhtlJ56IdGuIp6ybUFXMEzTrwqKQcpuICqaIsPOdQG-vv_-x4pTshxHOS5ybb6S4jDHR9GZIJeY-TzKPLx7fyGACbNUIT2JSn25YZpkBUwdOzX/s400/IMG_2729%255B1%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Katja</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I am back home and busy with my projects. The wonderful holiday will stay with me though and the beautiful mountains and waterfalls we saw and the lovely swims in Lake Pyramid and the 5 lakes will be memories I will always treasure.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Marié</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-32380160403126431392017-06-28T22:52:00.000-07:002017-06-28T22:52:01.091-07:00Cinco de Mayo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I bought the Karen Stone book and program from the Electric Quilt Company many years ago. (It is an EQ5 program and I am currently working for several years on EQ7. Luckily I could import the blocks into EQ7 and did not have to figure out how EQ5 works.<br />
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I always thought one day I will tackle her version of the New York Beauty pattern; Cinco de Mayo, When our Boland Gilde announce that our year project will be a variety of New York Beauty blocks, I knew the time has come. I first make two of the suggested blocks. That just wet my appetite for this project and I was getting enthusiastic.<br />
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So I analyzed the 36 blocks that Karen designed. As she explained herself, she designed 6 different blocks and then use them and design variations of each one. I grouped them to determine how many repeats of certain design elements need to be made. I print the different blocks and the paper piecing patterns.<br />
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My brother brought me a huge role of freezer paper years ago from Canada. So I made stacks of 6 layers of freezer paper and stapled the printed pattern to it. I then sew on the lines without thread, to punch small holes in the paper where the sewing lines would be. Then I cut the paper stacks apart so that I have every arc separate without seam allowances.<br />
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Then the fun part starts. For every arc you just focus on the two or three fabrics that you need for this specific arc. I start by just making one or two different arcs. Once I have that completed I start building my blocks. The first arc do influence my fabric and colour choice of the other arcs, In the end I can still swap it out with the arcs in the other blocks if I am not completely happy.<br />
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What amazed me from this project is how much I am enjoying the whole process. I first thought that the project is to big, to many fabrics are involved and the sewing is complicated. I love choosing fabrics for a project but usually this fun part is right at the beginning of a new project and then one just work with the chosen fabrics (In a sampler quilt one do have the decision making process of which fabric to use where- that is why I love samplers) In this project one get to choose and combine fabric all the time. If one choice does not proof so successful, you learn from your decision and try to make a better choice. In the big variety a poor choice just disappear and there is no need to resew anything.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first 6 blocks</td></tr>
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I also love the whole piecing process. I chain piece the paper based pieces, then cut the chain apart, press the fabric to the freezer paper and fold the freezer paper out of the way to serve as guide for the next seam. This is a method described by <a href="http://piraterodgers.com/tutorials/freezer%20paper%20piecing/FPP%20instructions.pdf">Judy Mathieson</a> in her Mariners Compass book and DVD, If one make sure that you sew right next to the paper fold you can achieve very precise results. This is very important to achieve nice sharp points on the arcs. One do not sew through the paper so there is no difficulty in removing the paper and you can re- use the freezer paper.<br />
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To combine the arcs I first start with appliqueing by hand. I realized that this would take to long and also use some valuable time that I need for my other hand sewn projects. I changed to appliqueing by machine using a small zig zag stitch. I want to use invisible thread but after several attempts with my Bernina not cooperating I decided to use a thin grey thread that will blend in with most fabrics. When it was showing up on lighter colour fabrics I look for a more matching thread.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx9cW34z1rv_wgK9xUZUaSx2tBSW6GRtYatQZYb4m07FLD3lG6hoHR24DCUIXv49KTC-5ihawFI6MCXhqWklqBa721EUwEv5uM7d_4SHa8axgGMqPxpxMos3XOmqzpFmEjgPTpG458RaB/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx9cW34z1rv_wgK9xUZUaSx2tBSW6GRtYatQZYb4m07FLD3lG6hoHR24DCUIXv49KTC-5ihawFI6MCXhqWklqBa721EUwEv5uM7d_4SHa8axgGMqPxpxMos3XOmqzpFmEjgPTpG458RaB/s320/IMG_1911.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocks of another variation</td></tr>
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This is really a wonderful challneging but satisfying project. I look forward to start working on the next six blocks.<br />
Enjoy your quilt challenges<br />
Marié</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-51964224779936733592017-05-01T06:56:00.002-07:002017-05-01T06:56:07.904-07:00My Wedding Sampler<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I started to look at a lot of Sampler Quilts in Pinterest, I knew I had to do something fast, before I start another quilt again- I need to complete 60 quilts by June next year and has to focus on my half completed or just started projects, not start another time consuming project.<br />
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A Sampler quilt is a project with lots of tasks. Every block has a lot of decisions to take, templates to make, a cutting plan to devise and planning the sewing of each block. That is why I love it so- it stay a challenge throughout the process!<br />
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I have fallen in love once again! But I shouldn't!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f4/43/aa/f443aaf00cc76c07a98b61ea6a464e32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Timeless Tradition--good layout: " border="0" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f4/43/aa/f443aaf00cc76c07a98b61ea6a464e32.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timeless Tradition - <a href="http://www.bitsnpieces.net/bits-n-pieces-patterns/bed-size-quilts/timeless-tradition#.WQc8LfmGMnR">A Pattern featured in</a> Bitsnpieces, website </td></tr>
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So I quickly dig out my <a href="http://machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.co.za/2016/10/distracted-by-antique-wedding-sampler.html">Wedding Sampler</a>. I started it in October last year and was quite well on track. This is a project where I work on my embroidery machine (digitizing some of the stitching and modifying some), I sew by machine and I do some handstitching. This complicate matters and once I put it away temporarily it leads to procrastination. Again I started to fear my own project.<br />
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But I have learned to be brave. (My <a href="http://aankwilters.blogspot.co.za/2017/02/my-60-projek.html">60 project</a> is a real character builder). So I unpacked my project. I am still in the process to determine what needs to be done, but I have already made some templates and mark and cut some fabric for handpiecing.<br />
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I have 8 blocks in different stages of completion, 2 completed and did the last bit of stitching on a third block last night to complete that as well.<br />
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A problem I discovered was that my small templates was not well marked. I use a plastic (that are sold by Pep Stores for place mats) and one cannot write on it. So I got some small circle stickers and cut it to make it small enough so that I could write the measurements on it. This will make it easy to reuse the templates if it is the correct size needed in another block.<br />
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When I want to start a project again (after a long absence) a reason to procrastinate is that I know I will have to figure a lot of things out again. Well this time it wasn't a problem. When I started the project I took a 20 page flip file and have a lot of the info in it. I am so proud of myself when I do not repeat the same mistakes over and over again but indeed learn from past mistakes. (I give myself a pat on the shoulder!)<br />
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Some more blocks got completed since I started writing this post.<br />
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I also completed a block with machine embroidery<br />
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My project is well under way now, I just must not stop. There is so many reasons to stop because I am working on other hand projects as well. So I hope scheduling and not putting the project away will help to keep it moving to completion.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-30746512302595775472017-04-02T09:36:00.001-07:002017-04-02T09:36:22.317-07:00Be Brave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If it was my aim yesterday to work on this quilt today, I would not have entered my sewing room today. People think I am brave to swim from Robben Island (my second crossing will be on Saturday 8 April) but it is working on old forgotten projects that really needs bravery. As a master procrastinator the fear can become so big that it is easier to just not go there at all.<br />
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The problem with this project is that I do not have the templates anymore. I have made the decision to fill in the triangular spaces on the sides but how to create the template was the thing that was halting any progress.<br />
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Yesterday I tried to look in old EQ5 and EQ6 projects to see if I can find it. As far as I can remember it was a Judy Martin project on the internet, but I usually redraw things like this in EQ. I found the project this morning but after printing out the templates, I saw it was not quite right. I made adjustments and when that worked and I had the correct templates I immediately proceed to cut the fabrics before I could have second thoughts. Luckily I already selected and made the decision of what fabrics to use.<br />
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It is my <a href="http://aankwilters.blogspot.co.za/2017/02/my-60-projek.html">60 Quilt project</a> that inspired me to really work on my UFO's and not just take it out to look at it and then put it away again as I have done before. Every time I do something that is so difficult to start, I am always amazed at how easy it actually was. The fear for the project escalate out of proportion the longer I delay tackling it. Then like with this quilt it was actually so easy that the fear dissolve instantly and it become quite unreal that I was actually scared of my own project?<br />
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So now I must just carry on with the knowledge that no project can be to difficult to handle.... till the next long standing UFO scares me again!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-71528089783231732272016-10-04T04:17:00.000-07:002016-10-04T04:17:10.959-07:00Distracted by An Antique wedding Sampler Quilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know how easily I can get distracted? Well once again when temptation knocks, I stepped right in. When my book order from Quilt Mania arrived, I knew I had to make a quilt in one of the books and my choice was Di Ford's Antique Wedding sampler.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOMmvMBlRu2fwxuBSwOwR8_o4DFsmIw8RpF5P_z7XYHoYkwBWwp8FmruRx0YpzaX_0l3w8hD6m2MgiS1ds-OP9qDk3XkUvQ-45AxUgUZLSDT_AyLkLzrdsT03bgE_xztcs7rDhZVXhZrk/s1600/primarily-quilts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOMmvMBlRu2fwxuBSwOwR8_o4DFsmIw8RpF5P_z7XYHoYkwBWwp8FmruRx0YpzaX_0l3w8hD6m2MgiS1ds-OP9qDk3XkUvQ-45AxUgUZLSDT_AyLkLzrdsT03bgE_xztcs7rDhZVXhZrk/s400/primarily-quilts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This Quilt was originally made by Charlotte Gillingham in the early 1840's. It was a wedding gift to her fiancé and they were married in 1844 by which time the quilt was completed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiCqRntBCU7mSYUPt9vRXA2wSNzdJWTmww4DMp1oEOsIrF3oV0WhrjlxXfUlIf3oH9uZtxown69fFVNFChqUpi70w2hksgXsGViiQfwH5rDRrcKjh_nItAA71Y0MMCOXv-vjODEIQDOJg/s1600/1945-35-1-CX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiCqRntBCU7mSYUPt9vRXA2wSNzdJWTmww4DMp1oEOsIrF3oV0WhrjlxXfUlIf3oH9uZtxown69fFVNFChqUpi70w2hksgXsGViiQfwH5rDRrcKjh_nItAA71Y0MMCOXv-vjODEIQDOJg/s640/1945-35-1-CX.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Wedding Sampler made by Charlotte Gillingham</td></tr>
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There is some more examples of the original blocks in this quilt close up on the <a href="http://www.quakerquilthistory.com/2012/09/quaker-aesthetics-and-album-quilt-made.html">Quaker Quilts bog</a>. <a href="https://za.pinterest.com/tiemetjepost5/antique-wedding-sampler-di-ford/">Di Ford's quil</a>t consist of 25 blocks only. Because Broderie Perse was used as applique technique the applique blocks and triangles on the edge of the quilt look different than the original.<br />
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I selected several large print fabrics to use in my version of the quilt. I auditioned them on my design wall. Applique is not my strong point and none of the fabrics is really suited or interesting enough to use as Broderie Perse. I decide to use the large print at the back of the other pieces as the triangles. I will fussy cut some of the other fabrics to use in the blocks where Broderie Perse was used.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdrdmeSY29reynpgDd8yFvEc-i3v3B-jl9xWFkfN7hPZzDYhgKiSdFTz3FDLsB38aRjc3AhZOCyf1We3o6oDAg4PM0_Q4r9B9EPt65mSEuQXLnMfUljucBk1ZXgzRnup2_exvnziu_N6x/s1600/materiaal+keuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdrdmeSY29reynpgDd8yFvEc-i3v3B-jl9xWFkfN7hPZzDYhgKiSdFTz3FDLsB38aRjc3AhZOCyf1We3o6oDAg4PM0_Q4r9B9EPt65mSEuQXLnMfUljucBk1ZXgzRnup2_exvnziu_N6x/s640/materiaal+keuse.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Prints selection</td></tr>
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One of my favorite parts of starting a new project is to decide and make my fabric selection. As a quilt proceed some more fabrics are added and I do not necessarily use all the fabrics selected. Here is some more of the accompanying fabrics, I selected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzw6vR6H-yaojr4eDC3n1UetWBMyzHv3ePAZ1slvZ8fEs-FWSvtSUfpmW6gYz19MLNuQbEDNAPug-GPd-mRD4TXRVXyQUqrOKGbz-HR3RMzweQyBYJ-GKxDfVq0IfKLBVzrUeflnIq3vF/s1600/green+selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzw6vR6H-yaojr4eDC3n1UetWBMyzHv3ePAZ1slvZ8fEs-FWSvtSUfpmW6gYz19MLNuQbEDNAPug-GPd-mRD4TXRVXyQUqrOKGbz-HR3RMzweQyBYJ-GKxDfVq0IfKLBVzrUeflnIq3vF/s320/green+selection.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uxL14gC8QpB6h8dhuKD13LQD6hiAYWT_Fvcie2L8BK75xbeD_uKOjDL7mr2dPIMgHFJHQbCoz2M5kYJ6_tp01uX8J-6OY8DqKr_F4XoEEN9X_hGPLM34vAVY7NUh0KpYLv6nZHNCnIZp/s1600/red+selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8uxL14gC8QpB6h8dhuKD13LQD6hiAYWT_Fvcie2L8BK75xbeD_uKOjDL7mr2dPIMgHFJHQbCoz2M5kYJ6_tp01uX8J-6OY8DqKr_F4XoEEN9X_hGPLM34vAVY7NUh0KpYLv6nZHNCnIZp/s320/red+selection.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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I made photocopies of the completed quilt. I decided to re- arrange some of the blocks so I cut the photocopy apart and stick the blocks in their new positions. My plan of action is to work on 4 blocks at a time, blocks equal distances from the middle.<br />
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The first four blocks that I cut and marked for hand piecing is the blocks with the little triangle pieces. These blocks will stay in the original positions that they were in Di's quilt but I will change the colour and fabric choice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohCDDpCCJmbBFjh2i4-4GbtzCUFEneb2JUo6Tv_U5PjYGLfuEjxJeIK0yhLPxhPX_2d4YAsDX354UJVKZJjzqzo1Jicu-6Y24Ay-tx0e-gHIfsJrb8NYH09CMvwU5YVnLbQrTEzoZdTWa/s1600/triangle+blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohCDDpCCJmbBFjh2i4-4GbtzCUFEneb2JUo6Tv_U5PjYGLfuEjxJeIK0yhLPxhPX_2d4YAsDX354UJVKZJjzqzo1Jicu-6Y24Ay-tx0e-gHIfsJrb8NYH09CMvwU5YVnLbQrTEzoZdTWa/s320/triangle+blocks.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did not draw the smaller blocks inside the two upper blocks. There will be four Ribbon Star blocks in the four corners of the left block and a eight point star in the center of the other block</td></tr>
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Seeing that I am not so good at applique and do not have fabrics really suitable for Broderie Perse I decided to incorporate some machine embroidery (who could have guessed that!) in my blocks. In the Ribbon Star blocks there are many places where I can replace the applique with embroidery. These 4 blocks will be around the centre as in this EQ developed middle of the quilt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprao3k9IrbjWjpNwMLUQWNDJR4n2TAzQPVyUrZYVOG748BYawTHe_JcHXXauT5ScHjTZoXq3ditwE1oPgaEAksdwibYx21BlxKwYoV9FSZdOeH1nQx7o98OPAd1XiqtuK-dJOn5-PMfRt/s1600/ribbon+star+blokke.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprao3k9IrbjWjpNwMLUQWNDJR4n2TAzQPVyUrZYVOG748BYawTHe_JcHXXauT5ScHjTZoXq3ditwE1oPgaEAksdwibYx21BlxKwYoV9FSZdOeH1nQx7o98OPAd1XiqtuK-dJOn5-PMfRt/s320/ribbon+star+blokke.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I embroidered the background patches<br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">When one work on four blocks at a time it is easier to make sure that the blocks relate well to each other or at least then those diagonally opposite to each other in colour and value selection.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtd5C7e_FQXUFMh1Atc7lIFLfWWZqHC82YA_K1UsQCGx6hwcQmIjp9BRcRdwQmaWX5W-VEs07hYX8OiWSyrLd3bNOlMVBhJu5-3qD1YAJSHX31M781aZOf4pw_iL2cMzxMHGdOblZX7DY/s1600/IMG_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtd5C7e_FQXUFMh1Atc7lIFLfWWZqHC82YA_K1UsQCGx6hwcQmIjp9BRcRdwQmaWX5W-VEs07hYX8OiWSyrLd3bNOlMVBhJu5-3qD1YAJSHX31M781aZOf4pw_iL2cMzxMHGdOblZX7DY/s320/IMG_0932.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used designs from the Floral Brocade set from Graceful Embroidery.<br />I stabilised the designs with a piece of flannel for best results.<br />I turned some of the designs to get the correct placement and then loose the original effect the designer planned for the embroideries and realise that only to late- I should have changed my fabric placement, not rotate the embroidery</td></tr>
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I have completed all the embroidery of this four blocks. Some of the sub parts of the blocks is very small stars and those will be hand pieced once the first four blocks are completed. The first of these four blocks are completed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2B4AZpH0SQigGubx-DMWXa_SPl_eM2vA5QwpEP5-B2bwfEQdfzwxv8FYETWi2EM6qkoN2jQbPJniBfr0DzbfGPIRWRyStA40pExwgd4YsXPbK6putjqjNWBzNIWtCaSkMZFHCbMaX0FQ/s1600/first+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2B4AZpH0SQigGubx-DMWXa_SPl_eM2vA5QwpEP5-B2bwfEQdfzwxv8FYETWi2EM6qkoN2jQbPJniBfr0DzbfGPIRWRyStA40pExwgd4YsXPbK6putjqjNWBzNIWtCaSkMZFHCbMaX0FQ/s400/first+block.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first completed block surrounded by some chosen large prints</td></tr>
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This block is partially assembled, small stars need to be completed for the corners. I used my Scan n cut to cut the fabric for the middle part. I am still quite scared to use it, but decided to just try it out and if I cannot get it right I will just cut by hand. After a bit of effort and "reading the instructions" I succeeded.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCBhA5CAHLSG7-dEnLdNYkkxzZLOTVUGgm_F2ddtqABh8X1VLTZBH60jjDa1lKJVZ7xU-velz-OLJUTLekG2eV6uJl9gj_QeaoEHaGdZhSqPd88LHKyFkuj1QdNdKNF0kTZ6tUSeuq50O/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCBhA5CAHLSG7-dEnLdNYkkxzZLOTVUGgm_F2ddtqABh8X1VLTZBH60jjDa1lKJVZ7xU-velz-OLJUTLekG2eV6uJl9gj_QeaoEHaGdZhSqPd88LHKyFkuj1QdNdKNF0kTZ6tUSeuq50O/s320/IMG_0933.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I plan as I go. So I will now look for other embroidery designs that will go wll with the Brocade set to use in the next four blocks. I do plan to do a little Broderie Perse though- I think the rose print to the left of the first block might be suitable.<br />
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I am a regular reader of Lori Kennedy's blog, <a href="http://theinboxjaunt.com/2016/10/03/overwhelmed-try-the-quilters-notebook-cure/">The Inbox Juant</a>. In her latest blog she talk about her Quilters Notebook. She introduced it in <a href="http://theinboxjaunt.com/2014/05/02/the-quilt-notebook-series/">2014</a> before I start reading her blog. I started such a book for my Crochet because I got confused with all my projects and CAL's. Over the years I use different systems to keep myself on track with my projects. I will definitely apply her suggestions in this blog post and the previous ones, as I am sure it will work for me. Hopefully when I see how many unfinished quilts I have I will be more cautious before starting a new project. To my credit I can say that I have already completed 4 old quilts this year, as well as made and completed 2 new children quilts. I have also started and completed two quilt tops. Once the old quilt now on my Simply Sixteen frame is quilted, I hope to complete these two new quilts in this year as well.<br />
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Hope you have new and old projects to delight you and keep you quilting!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-84131561280281436212016-05-15T12:59:00.004-07:002016-05-15T12:59:53.566-07:00The start of the Flower Basket Quilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I regularly purchase embroidery design sets when they are on sale. I have not started my planned "In the hoop" project yet, although I selected the fabric for it. I still need to do some digitizing. I purchased a longarm machine, Simply Sixteen. So my Bernina machine that was on the Bernina frame is now set up so that I can embroider on it. (Dedicated for this task)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_0K_mcvFYhV9bwhncgTyd2hfunVDDcWPjXSYACeKE7wvcHBDS5dAp8bXlIy5zmpHjrgv104peh99naS92oX7cZFCwQ-qHPG0AQf9vTmct6yV0MGoRkJE2zRpr_0wWiAjrPII7TIGzd-/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY_0K_mcvFYhV9bwhncgTyd2hfunVDDcWPjXSYACeKE7wvcHBDS5dAp8bXlIy5zmpHjrgv104peh99naS92oX7cZFCwQ-qHPG0AQf9vTmct6yV0MGoRkJE2zRpr_0wWiAjrPII7TIGzd-/s640/IMG_0532.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I embroidered some Redwork for a red and white quilt and that really got me going. So when I complete that project I searched for <a href="https://www.secretsof.com/machine-embroidery/designs/Cuddle-Me-Crazy">something to embroider</a> and plan how to use it in a quilt, I decided on the Flower Basket set from Cuddle me Crazy. I have this set in three sizes but decide to make the largest variety, I do have a jumbo hoop. The design is about 25 cm big.<br />
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Although one can get secondary designs when you arrange 4 identical designs in a circle, I prefer not to stitch four of the same designs out- specially not when it take 50 minutes and 20 colour changes for one design. In this set is 4 different baskets but I can keep the colour of the flowers the same, That will unify the designs. I plan to have a slender star design between this four designs.<br />
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Once I have completed the central star and baskets, I will plan further. I love to let a quilt design evolve as I go on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ2y2x7r7aNwkUYWkLCPa96hMTHg2LpOVg7jpKgakbk8K8ipxqW31gbeYZuoAwL5EzrFWOglvtf9S4Ao_rvyLP5D_JO01xnOjPeBUsW07Fz3AHeD0aohuvnftIVzzgdtWKa4AO-T-Ja4N/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZ2y2x7r7aNwkUYWkLCPa96hMTHg2LpOVg7jpKgakbk8K8ipxqW31gbeYZuoAwL5EzrFWOglvtf9S4Ao_rvyLP5D_JO01xnOjPeBUsW07Fz3AHeD0aohuvnftIVzzgdtWKa4AO-T-Ja4N/s640/IMG_0534.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I had to search for a suitable background fabric and is very satisfied with this one. I do however realize that I should shop specifically for this.</span><br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju80IRFyUKAXf29Twf7Wsp_LHKbAoA0VwriWN19dgVcfCVDyf3URCUJ0YkEVURbfQEqdeOHNPOWMFIPFrHVoJA_cupkSSSkPTq-RCRHSA12t_qJ4vdfswiCRZyJpwzZd4DRIyxEiQpy3xy/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju80IRFyUKAXf29Twf7Wsp_LHKbAoA0VwriWN19dgVcfCVDyf3URCUJ0YkEVURbfQEqdeOHNPOWMFIPFrHVoJA_cupkSSSkPTq-RCRHSA12t_qJ4vdfswiCRZyJpwzZd4DRIyxEiQpy3xy/s640/IMG_0535.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second basket design is slightly different as you can see here.</td></tr>
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I just wanted to share my excitement. Hope you will enjoy this journey with me.<br />
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Marié</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-16837933202976107322016-03-21T11:34:00.000-07:002016-03-21T11:34:49.624-07:00Sundial QuiltI love old quilts. I have reproduce some old Amish quilts and is busy with a Dear Jane quilt. (The Dear Jane is a modern version not a reproduction.) Two Quilts in the Victoria and Albert museum is on my list to make. I started with one; The George III coverlet. I only made three blocks. I still plan to make that quilt but got involved with other projects.<br />
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The Sundial quilt is a lovely medallion quilt consisting of an inner part with a Sundial as centre piece with smaller blocks around it. A border strip divide it from the wide border consisting of larger blocks. The distinctive element in this quilt is that every block is repeated four times. So each quarter are repeated in a mirror image on the other side. This change this quilt from the sampler appearance where one sometimes have difficulty to balance the quilt in a pleasing overall design. This produce a very elegant quilt with a more formal and less haphazard appearance.<br />
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Until I have permission from the Victoria and Albert museum in which care this quilt is to display one of their images on my blog I must refer you to this site for some<br />
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/meswaterman/1797-sundial-quilt/">https://www.pinterest.com/meswaterman/1797-sundial-quilt/</a><br />
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I decided to make the inner blocks 9 cm and the "border" blocks 15 cm. I think in the original quilt it might be slightly smaller but I does not want to work that small. The quilt itself will be 285 X 315 cm once I have finished it.<br />
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I draw the blocks in EQ7 and could construct this image of a quarter of the centre of the quilt:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXCDEAHMQDpUY1zkpy76mcGsVl8uMCnkSLS-R39QO0TaS2a6glkwtASd8s_-MO-VhWMyBeqGr6iRjFryqmJl9HmgZHwO-CBEI9naK0MKPncxs8DfbxQ3lAE0WhdJYm4DkPm7P_BuUArFi/s1600/Middel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXCDEAHMQDpUY1zkpy76mcGsVl8uMCnkSLS-R39QO0TaS2a6glkwtASd8s_-MO-VhWMyBeqGr6iRjFryqmJl9HmgZHwO-CBEI9naK0MKPncxs8DfbxQ3lAE0WhdJYm4DkPm7P_BuUArFi/s320/Middel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I tried to colour the blocks as close as possible to the original block (as I can determine from the photographs that I am using).<br />
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I have started to make some of the blocks, I am not working very sistematically, the following blocks is the bigger blocks in the outer area.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlWD2OWLy_App44f9NMLGt7irVBhFtPUG8M9XSj1l5H6wyomT5Ruf2Aew__RiyZRWxb9WnlJBml1SRpth6iTVxczq49AQvLiVnIvZj1ktwiqoXNDOeZqJyuRJEGcGwXdfIMMB0bIa95Pv/s1600/Nine+patch+in+a+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlWD2OWLy_App44f9NMLGt7irVBhFtPUG8M9XSj1l5H6wyomT5Ruf2Aew__RiyZRWxb9WnlJBml1SRpth6iTVxczq49AQvLiVnIvZj1ktwiqoXNDOeZqJyuRJEGcGwXdfIMMB0bIa95Pv/s400/Nine+patch+in+a+square.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Nine patch in a square</td></tr>
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I also completed 4 of the circles blocks, There is two sets of blocks that are repeated in a slightly differnt colourway. The circle blocks is one of those. This is the one version of this blocks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLpmuT2wI_16LnVwMx2AxbOSL6O0Ocx-TluwLENkOjQxxX14u-zEseSe01voKzvXoLd5nVw1zsV9cHIu7I6hUuo-NUygRpUt2ynXjEGkeUWRQLi9M_lOSVLNCE6-KXCCdTou0g-FnW02U/s1600/Sirkels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLpmuT2wI_16LnVwMx2AxbOSL6O0Ocx-TluwLENkOjQxxX14u-zEseSe01voKzvXoLd5nVw1zsV9cHIu7I6hUuo-NUygRpUt2ynXjEGkeUWRQLi9M_lOSVLNCE6-KXCCdTou0g-FnW02U/s320/Sirkels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The quilter of the original quilt made mirror images of the block. I realised that to late, my blocks are all identical in the arrangement of the coloured circles. I am not very good at applique, as you can see in the positioning of my circles, now that I have the photo in front of me I can see how skew my placement was. I am not going to unpick this- there is four more like this, I will try and do a better job with them.<br />
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I was amazed at how many fabrics I had that I could use to give a reproduced look to my quilt. Over the years I bought many bolt ends or packets of fabric. This older reproduction type fabric was in many such bundles and I have more than enough fabric to produce this quilt. In fact I am cutting fabric for my friend Rita so that she can also work with me and make a quilt with this pattern as well.<br />
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Hope to have the center ready in a short while. I am not sure what I will do in the place of the Sundial centre. I will not attempt the lettering in the original quilt but have not decide yet with what to replace it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.carolynkonigdesigns.com/home/shop/product/view/4/1">Carolyn Konig</a> do have this pattern as a block of the month project available. I like to draw my patterns in EQ so I am doing it myself. If you would like to make this quilt her pattern may be what you need.<br />
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Marié<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-20002605310233213922016-01-16T00:48:00.002-08:002016-01-16T00:48:53.193-08:00In the Hoop Quilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is time to design another quilt to be completed in the hoop. With my quilt "Russiese Inspirasie" I digitized all the piecing, embroidery and Quilting myself. That was a daunting task. I am not skilled in digitizing embroidery and it isn't really my interest. Over the years I have bought a lot of beautiful embroidery designs that I would like to use in my quilting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLmnFLXk-xfsztupM2HLmO-Urgf9TJkhVCM-pdb2RtBtJo0kDUy4YGOFmv_N818wFeSb53OoMV40_iDFRKDsz4DQiYMxhmCoR4jbQFKU9JYJeI6bNkUoFbQM2PhX-o5tIvyi-bc1xODxx/s1600/IMG_1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLmnFLXk-xfsztupM2HLmO-Urgf9TJkhVCM-pdb2RtBtJo0kDUy4YGOFmv_N818wFeSb53OoMV40_iDFRKDsz4DQiYMxhmCoR4jbQFKU9JYJeI6bNkUoFbQM2PhX-o5tIvyi-bc1xODxx/s200/IMG_1159.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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For my new project I first had to decide what designs to use. I selected a beautiful set <a href="http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/items.php?did=55784&pid=157274">"Vintage Chic"</a> that I bought from OPW and it is designed by Riani a South African woman. The designs are relatively big so I first had to plan how I will be able to use it. That would determine the choice of patchwork blocks.<br />
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There was not really a design that was suitable on its own as a central design. So I select and combine two of the designs to use in the central square of the middle block.<br />
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Then the next step was to design a quilt that I could piece in the hoop, then do the embroidery, add the batting and backing and proceed with the quilting. With my previous quilt I struggled with the thick seam allowances and realized that I will have to design with sashing strips dividing the blocks.<br />
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I like to work with colour and very seldom make monochromatic quilts. I decided that working in a monochromatic colour scheme will be a real challenge for me. So I will try and do this in blue greens.<br />
Now I have a framework and I can start digitizing the individual blocks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg694R3o_OLRan8E_mmhxHbwA6pCivhCrOWuuLZMLzdB6wkUuPIJFaG_KrYK2izSHZ7yuzqmffgk0K9wY2Y81vlRvwfZliS8jU6kqzv6__-cUE3VWA63b0k5Z8jB5_1PEojVDEultkpJR-V/s1600/BERNINA+Embroidery+Software+DesignerPlus+-+%255Bmiddelhoeke+met8+gekwilt+%255BRecovered%255D%255D+20160116+100119+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg694R3o_OLRan8E_mmhxHbwA6pCivhCrOWuuLZMLzdB6wkUuPIJFaG_KrYK2izSHZ7yuzqmffgk0K9wY2Y81vlRvwfZliS8jU6kqzv6__-cUE3VWA63b0k5Z8jB5_1PEojVDEultkpJR-V/s400/BERNINA+Embroidery+Software+DesignerPlus+-+%255Bmiddelhoeke+met8+gekwilt+%255BRecovered%255D%255D+20160116+100119+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is how the block look in my Bernina Software. I will work in my Large hoop that will give me a work area of 24 cm. I will load a soft vilene as a stabilizer in the hoop. I have digitized a 24 cm Square that will sew first to give me an indication of my batting placement. I will cut a square of 25,5 cm and will place it on the sewn square so that it overlap evenly on all sides. (I could not digitized and sew this line as a placement indication because it is outside the stitching area.) I will then sew the square again to anchor the batting. I can print templates of the fabric pieces from my EQ7 design program and will use that to cut the fabric. I will then add the middle fabric and the digitized seams of the two triangles will then sew. I have imported the embroidery design that will fit in the area and contribute to the overall design of the quilt. The design will now sew colour by colour.<br />
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When I add the backing fabric (I will secure it with pins outside the work area and pinned from the top) I will be able to start the quilting that is already digitized for the open areas. Once this is complete I will have a completed block.<br />
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I have already digitized three blocks and can start this project. What I like most about piecing in the hoop is that I can place the embroidery exactly where I want it without any difficulty. I still struggle with design placements and really is a novice embroiderer. I like techniques that disguise my lack of abilities and piecing in the hoop is one of my tricks to do that.<br />
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Hope to show you soon what I have achieved.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-73120874713986949642013-07-30T07:27:00.000-07:002013-07-30T07:27:56.739-07:00Inspiration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Attending a Quilt Festival like the wonderful National Quilting Festival in Bloemfontein is so inspirational.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NwBZBSY59TZj6cTizWrm2WogfIAzPp6Os-MQZpV4dxauZTdWDTPDB8UmMNqhKIQcAyWCH3HDZgwRvr4q20PwhLR22fWmqJuoZYoafUbdY__lVN5onzikWiu2i8-zDFiuBWQOp2Wn-fYq/s1600/Iessie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NwBZBSY59TZj6cTizWrm2WogfIAzPp6Os-MQZpV4dxauZTdWDTPDB8UmMNqhKIQcAyWCH3HDZgwRvr4q20PwhLR22fWmqJuoZYoafUbdY__lVN5onzikWiu2i8-zDFiuBWQOp2Wn-fYq/s400/Iessie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iessie (Festival Chairlady) Rita and me</td></tr>
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Since I came home I tried to spent as long a time possible in my studio every day. When I look at other peoples' blogs I realize I am a slow quilter. I have many projects in the making at a time but I slowly finish anything. I do not have a completed quilt to show for this year!<br />
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On Saturday the Boland Quilters are the group of the month at Good Hope Quilters Guild quarterly meeting<br />
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I plan to have this scrap quilt I started about 10 years ago, ready for Show and Tell. At Bloemfontein I taught a class, Fearless Feathers. My students inspire me so, I definitely had to quilt lots of feathers. This will be a "blanket" and has a wool batting. So apart from the feathers that will pull the design areas together, I will not do back ground quilting because I want the quilt soft and warm. Compression with too many quilting lines will prevent the wool of doing its job to create warmth by trapping air.<br />
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The Scrap blocks for this quilt was started in a class with Karen Combs at Quilt University. I made a lot of blocks and still have enough to make another quilt.<br />
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Now back to quilting to make sure I have something to show Saturday. (This is the nice thing- if you want to Show and Tell you have a great motivation to complete something. Luckily I can show my DIC (Delayed In Construction) projects here on my blog and there is so many!)<br />
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Hope to see some of you on Saturday.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Marié</b></h4>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-44815043206272871602013-04-15T00:45:00.001-07:002013-04-15T00:45:38.480-07:00This is why I am a Quilter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I pinned my completed block on my design wall and stood back, I once again know why I am a quilter. I get so much joy from my work, not only while I am doing it but for this moments when my own work surprise and impress me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k60gXrAj5aUs4BGQWSZBMO8Hg5nRIYw-_Z4KoVdYvICZa68M_KXOZT2JxdPsamkUFP8hoLb5aGqz0o2HCcM3t1RSsu78nAeCbxYjP4yojk6_H8NSwc7nnURtY2DUFDLIYvrwEl1KVa0Z/s1600/vagabondcomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k60gXrAj5aUs4BGQWSZBMO8Hg5nRIYw-_Z4KoVdYvICZa68M_KXOZT2JxdPsamkUFP8hoLb5aGqz0o2HCcM3t1RSsu78nAeCbxYjP4yojk6_H8NSwc7nnURtY2DUFDLIYvrwEl1KVa0Z/s640/vagabondcomp.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
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As I said in a <a href="http://machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/2011/05/instant-satisfaction.html">previous post</a>, making blocks is instant gratification. One has this vision of how it will look and how the colours will work together. Sometimes the results is not really what you thought and sometimes the results is just a jaw dropper. These moments put me on a high that no drugs can ever give!<br />
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I am celebrating my thirtieth year as a quilter this year. I am so thankful that I have found my purpose in life so early in my life. I am in the privileged position that I can spent a lot of time living out my passion. I am really in my element when working on my quilts or when I am surrounded with quilts and quilters.<br />
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Another project that has a lot of surprises is my BOM quilt I do with Jinny Beyer. If you subscribed to her <a href="http://www.jinnybeyer.com/news-events/newsletter.cfm">newsletters</a> you get access to monthly installments of her Quilt Solstice. It is not to late to join- all the previous months instructions is accessible till the end of the year.<br />
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I have completed my connector blocks.<br />
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The instructions for the other blocks is available every month.<br />
In the first block you make use of a border print. I am using a border print that I have available, not a Jinny Beyer print.<br />
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In the second and third block one use soft edge applique. I use fabrics from the same range as the border print. I really have to search in this fabric to find areas with interesting edges.<br />
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I was very pleased and nicely surprised when the simple circular edge still produced lovely result.<br />
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Quilting is my life and my<a href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4081228800/tt0118799?slideshow=1"> life is beautiful</a>!<br />
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Enjoy your Quilting.<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Marié</span></h2>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-6492319338154846532013-03-10T11:25:00.000-07:002013-03-11T09:20:54.606-07:00Procrastination<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dear Readers<br />
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I hope I still have some readers of my blog even though I were absent for a long time. I am still here, alive and well and living on the farm. I do have a lot to tell and show you and I am going to try to get in the good habit of writing regular posts again.<br />
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I have decided last year to make a quilt for each of my 3 children. We sleep under down duvets and the children have preferred fluffy blankets above quilts. When I am inspired to make a quilt I am driven by the design. I also like to plan a quilt around a specific fabric. The size of the quilt is determined by the design. I do not make the quilt for a purpose. The process of making the quilt is what captivates me and not the product.<br />
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So although I have made more than 200 quilts till now my children only have a baby quilt that was made specifically for them. I made a horse quilt for my eldest daughter as well. Anyway it is time to make them each a quilt. They do not have a say in the design or colour- although my second daughter has a very specific taste so with her quilt I will take that into account.<br />
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When working on their quilt I will think about them and stitch my love for each one in their quilt. So this quilt is for me to think about them and for them to remember their mother when I will not be here anymore. I have started with this labour of love.<br />
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The piecing on Van der Byl's quilt is halfway. This quilt is made by hand using my <a href="http://machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/2011/08/hand-piecing-and-barbara-johannah.html">quick hand piecing</a> method.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ftTZmyyU1rqQfFks2LhtMRDIN2lFepiACP0xH5LJ7LoBj1KU7QrYP5862g-dsl57kfUKZ1cB5ljrdoycs0-GR1GrHAL21TJ5mszii3mibIrJtnE36KsOBE2-a4V4ttvwkM1nitDdrjeN/s1600/Van+der+byl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ftTZmyyU1rqQfFks2LhtMRDIN2lFepiACP0xH5LJ7LoBj1KU7QrYP5862g-dsl57kfUKZ1cB5ljrdoycs0-GR1GrHAL21TJ5mszii3mibIrJtnE36KsOBE2-a4V4ttvwkM1nitDdrjeN/s640/Van+der+byl.jpg" width="634" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small part of it</td></tr>
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I have changed the Delectable Mountain pattern to create subtle "windmills" where the blocks come together. The design change on the outside with a sawtooth border. I have pieced the triangles for the middle part and have sewn them in blocks. The blocks are also partially sewn together. For this I have used 72 different Taupe fabrics. After making 2 Taupe quilts I think I have a good feel for this "colour scheme" When I show the completed piece to people I get a lot of compliments for the choice of fabrics.<br />
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Here is my plan for the quilt as I designed it in EQ7<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKahSjuObBJgXfmGiwojYrybIZ0XiDl8cRh2drpXwHPKdWfEFRRJ3y5AqZMjYpK6An3KX2GgYBMRdFuTk3ILdtqGK6nEDnSD5GhWcRG2ecdp6EnJLDhMHM817lBEM1ARc1S2WYcJsgowoD/s1600/Byl+kwilt.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKahSjuObBJgXfmGiwojYrybIZ0XiDl8cRh2drpXwHPKdWfEFRRJ3y5AqZMjYpK6An3KX2GgYBMRdFuTk3ILdtqGK6nEDnSD5GhWcRG2ecdp6EnJLDhMHM817lBEM1ARc1S2WYcJsgowoD/s640/Byl+kwilt.BMP" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The design</td></tr>
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I plan to bring in some Blueish triangles in the outer part of the quilt as shown in the upper right hand corner. I am now busy sewing more traingles together. Another 100 strips of fabric is used for this. Some of the fabrics I repeat and some "new" fabrics is included. In the end I will use almost 100 different fabrics in this quilt. It will consist of 3528 triangles.<br />
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I have started with Hedwig's quilt as well- but this is another story.<br />
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Enjoy your projects- I have a lot of joy with mine!<br />
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Marié</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-8634985337239087462012-10-19T06:54:00.001-07:002012-10-19T06:54:09.278-07:00A challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Quilters do love a challenge and I am no exception. For our Fynbos retreat the challenge was to make a 50 X 50 cm quilt, utilizing a fat quarter of Calico in the process. The theme was: Go Crazy with Calico.<br />
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Although I was in charge of organizing the challenge (deciding on the rules, the size, getting sponsors,printing brochures, selling the challenge, organizing the judging etc) I decided to also take part in this.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.folkartmuseum.org/infinitevariety">Red and White</a> quilt exhibit that was held in the beginning of the year in New York was the inspiration for the quilt I made for this challenge. Now I have my own red and white quilt and although only 50 X 50 cm (about 20 inch square) it can easily be scaled. The quilting do however indicate that it is a small quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkiNZmc55amTn_dos2k5EQtMQffXhmednqQTll7zBQ7YDhRxIvfI7ad8j98Si0up2CbQVDNO7eAAxxMbK7BCfAo59b7h6hTzgXdOep4uMvx_vMSS8-9UimNIvtTW2plHcQXfMbO2YgmCo/s1600/Volle+kwilt+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkiNZmc55amTn_dos2k5EQtMQffXhmednqQTll7zBQ7YDhRxIvfI7ad8j98Si0up2CbQVDNO7eAAxxMbK7BCfAo59b7h6hTzgXdOep4uMvx_vMSS8-9UimNIvtTW2plHcQXfMbO2YgmCo/s400/Volle+kwilt+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Like every quilt this quilt also has a story. While sewing and pressing, some of the red fabric bleed. I immediately realize that I did not washed the red fabric till the water runs clear but that it was to late to do anything. I would just had to be careful and no more starch spraying seeing that I would not be able to wash the starch away- at least not before handing it in for the competition.<br />
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Once my stars was completed I measured them to determine the average size. At the <a href="http://iqcafrica.ning.com/">IQCAfrica</a> in Johannesburg at the end of July I took a class from <a href="http://www.englanddesign.com/">Cynthia England</a>. I adapted a method learned from her. I cut 4 squares from freezer paper of the size of the stars. I ironed it to the front of every square, trying to include all the star points. Now I could sew the blocks together without chopping the points off but also keeping "straight lines straight" one of the South African judges' pet peeves. I could also add my borders using the paper as guidelines. (If you cannot comprehend how to do this you need a class from Cynthia England- one of the best teachers I took a class from till date.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj7hzXEspAa59hkRqOeFugqzX29y1t6Z5a2lRmW0kcpoBHGi1kyUUfcGDdXkTdzFyBG10dyg3tNbsL2-d4sWyG0lfLEPmMKkNvsQIOYK5JKsXaO5zd1Ssw2_88naaXBwxYWMqtbhhiBGy/s1600/edge+detail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj7hzXEspAa59hkRqOeFugqzX29y1t6Z5a2lRmW0kcpoBHGi1kyUUfcGDdXkTdzFyBG10dyg3tNbsL2-d4sWyG0lfLEPmMKkNvsQIOYK5JKsXaO5zd1Ssw2_88naaXBwxYWMqtbhhiBGy/s320/edge+detail.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I decide this was the ideal opportunity to quilt on a double batting. The combination of cotton (for stability and drapability) and wool (for loft and texture) was just not affordable in South Africa to try on a full scale quilt. When I started quilting I thought this was a mistake. The quilt was quite stiff- but this was only noticeable because it is so small. It quilt beautiful and I was quite glad that I did use this combination.<br />
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I decided to use a cream colour silk thread on the calico- my Bernina love to sew with it. It did sew beautiful but after a while the thread started braking. I replaced the needle but it still regularly broke. I quilted about 2 hours and decided to quit for the day. Everyday I remove the blue indication marks carefully with a wet cloth. I took care not to draw any lines on the red fabric and to only wet the calico- to prevent any bleeding of the red fabric. The next day I decided to use another thread- I could not handle any more thread braking.<br />
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When I was sewing the binding on I saw some loops of thread on the back. When I pulled on it the thread come out and all the quilting on the calico in the middle section came out!. My silk thread was solvable thread all the time.(I immediately stored it away with the other soluble thread.) One advantage was that I had the needle marks to see my quilting pattern and I could improve on it where necessary.<br />
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In spite of taking care that my straight seams stay straight, that was the one negative comment I got from the judging panel. After close inspection I saw that one of my partial seams (A seam that radiate from the middle of the star) was not perfectly straight. I know I have struggled with that- one have less than a inch to partially seam- so to pick up that seam and get it sewn was a struggle- no wonder one of them was not perfect.<br />
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Every quilt share as a teaching tool for it's maker. It also share a time period in one's life. The quilt story and the quilters life story become entwined while working on the quilt. It is with fond memories that I will look at this quilt that was part of my life for a month.<br />
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To make a miniature quilt may take just a little bit shorter as making a full scale quilt. The accuracy needed for a quilt like this make for careful sewing, cutting trimming and pinning. It is only the length of the seams that make it quicker to complete.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-42936382944241387222012-07-30T22:06:00.002-07:002012-07-30T22:09:07.822-07:00Deliberate Practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The advice often offered to quilters regarding free motion work is : Practice, practice, practice. Although good advise it will not necessarily help to improve your skills. What is essential is deliberate practise. It is necessary to evaluate your results and constantly and deliberately try to improve it. To learn more about the difference deliberate practice can make, read this guest blog post at <a href="http://expertenough.com/2327/deliberate-practice-steps">Expert Enough</a> by <em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">Lukas Kyska of The <a href="http://theaspiringguitarist.net/">Aspiring Guitarist</a>.</em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">When I wanted to become a great canoeist 35 years ago I did not realize that it was not good enough to paddle up and down the lake for an hour every day. The day of the great event I was still last. I have never pushed myself to exhaustion. I was tired every night but all that practice did not give me an competitive edge.</em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpE6QfFeutJaE8FMQShYiPI-LP_EoVyfxawBp-Xwq2PUAPcIRnOW_wj7SBpPQu4kt59bi1KkS4Orl92zxlFqb83G1WBf_2z9UFeC5SoyskFyr8LskfhnKs2ssFoRDrV7PT7CuWQnSzWdC/s1600/snowflakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpE6QfFeutJaE8FMQShYiPI-LP_EoVyfxawBp-Xwq2PUAPcIRnOW_wj7SBpPQu4kt59bi1KkS4Orl92zxlFqb83G1WBf_2z9UFeC5SoyskFyr8LskfhnKs2ssFoRDrV7PT7CuWQnSzWdC/s640/snowflakes.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The snowflakes were enhanced with a bit of sparkling paint. Still in complete.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">At the International Quilt Convention this week end in Johannesburg (South Africa) I took a class with </span><a href="http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-3-4-and-5-international-quilt.html" style="font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Susan Brubaker Knapp</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. We rarely have the opportunity to take classes from International teachers so I made use of this chance to learn from a master. The snowflake design we made in the class force one to carry out intricate small movements. It provided good practice in micro-stippling.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith5Oqg84RzRa8sX2YBMBJVNhRcDQlG6SYEbOVdhN7uOMO4kV8cUgK_I8JHVEv-euQ8BZTqpSaIAx9Vxaf04qI-FcdvVDfRT1I4RXMOfG7yKnzkjT1XT35aC1QRFKNRyYibqz4Lhr2mUZG/s1600/1+ste+poging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith5Oqg84RzRa8sX2YBMBJVNhRcDQlG6SYEbOVdhN7uOMO4kV8cUgK_I8JHVEv-euQ8BZTqpSaIAx9Vxaf04qI-FcdvVDfRT1I4RXMOfG7yKnzkjT1XT35aC1QRFKNRyYibqz4Lhr2mUZG/s640/1+ste+poging.jpg" width="524" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"> I decided to use a small zig-zag stitch working this on the diagonal. It was quite tricky to find the right diagonal line but I was very happy with the way it contribute to the lacy effect we wanted to achieve.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9MLnzZyxwit5IPd4i4yMzKLQom2aVom67MPc1PtrSJeHLwWYlrZxzu2wGYpO3-GbfP0GrIFIRGM2ZvZCZs4ms68t_7c99Asnn6LL36-SdPKjLcJcSbk-boFGmnhLto4lVP68tQigMG9o/s1600/2+nd+try.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9MLnzZyxwit5IPd4i4yMzKLQom2aVom67MPc1PtrSJeHLwWYlrZxzu2wGYpO3-GbfP0GrIFIRGM2ZvZCZs4ms68t_7c99Asnn6LL36-SdPKjLcJcSbk-boFGmnhLto4lVP68tQigMG9o/s640/2+nd+try.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deliberate practice make the difference</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">To improve results one need to evaluate the results you achieve. Then you need to make a decision on the changes that is necessary to improve the results. In your practice session your aim must be to achieve those improved results. <a href="http://www.machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/2012/02/struggeling-with-quilting.html">Constant re evaluation and adjustments</a> is necessary to make your practice session worth while in improving your skills.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">Susan is an excellent teacher and as always in any class I learned quite a few skills and got some really worth while tips. We had a marvelous and inspiring time at the quilt convention.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;">Please share your tips on deliberate practice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: 'PT Serif', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-84332247740319417802012-07-23T22:43:00.000-07:002012-07-23T22:43:59.493-07:00Civil War block<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I work on a piecing project I like to start it and complete the top before moving on to a next project. A Block of the Month or Week project do not work so well for me except if I do it by hand. When I tackled the <a href="http://www.machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/2011/07/where-to-start.html">Civil war</a> project of <a href="http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/">Barbara Brackman</a> last year, I made the 28 blocks in two sessions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw0kW-EgrHvv6PGt6e8qWnIBuS7Y8N1PkTkDlienIgYlpgR6b__dl9cm048YLEb3XCgbxPtP0uUnXz2dCu5Hw1K5A0EIJpQQ_uA1pF5YLNiCznWJjDzrNl8v7MKpNEAJtSHMYy8dTUTxl/s1600/Audition.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvw0kW-EgrHvv6PGt6e8qWnIBuS7Y8N1PkTkDlienIgYlpgR6b__dl9cm048YLEb3XCgbxPtP0uUnXz2dCu5Hw1K5A0EIJpQQ_uA1pF5YLNiCznWJjDzrNl8v7MKpNEAJtSHMYy8dTUTxl/s320/Audition.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auditioning the blocks and sashing</td></tr>
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I was looking for fabric for a new project and needed some that was used in this blocks. When I opened the box I realized I was not going to make the other 24 blocks. I had an interesting border print that I thought would unify these blocks. I combined 4 miniature blocks I made from these patterns to make another block and use another miniature block on point in a Square in a square setting.<br />
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The top is nearly completed. The border fabric was just not enough for the top row of sashing. I got hold of more fabric and will complete the top now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nAS6BRb80a0eLT_EKXp4rwxYoMcWptWhGyieomaVYfhyphenhyphenePpSflMGezPvArn4ZlfnP30xJ1m_SCp8VYXyunqzVRoJ96ErafksQDNulEaePOC94cealiEzfmzUpZPT77-nel3jMaG-aYKD/s1600/Completed+bottom+half.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nAS6BRb80a0eLT_EKXp4rwxYoMcWptWhGyieomaVYfhyphenhyphenePpSflMGezPvArn4ZlfnP30xJ1m_SCp8VYXyunqzVRoJ96ErafksQDNulEaePOC94cealiEzfmzUpZPT77-nel3jMaG-aYKD/s640/Completed+bottom+half.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed Bottom half<br /></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-17885908729737057072012-07-18T21:24:00.003-07:002012-07-18T21:24:42.467-07:00It is to big!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I completed my handbag. I want to take it with me to the International Quilt Conference in Johannesburg. I am also taking my sewing machine and the Airline only allowed two pieces of hand luggage. This bag is just to big. If I put it in my suitcase it will just take up to much space.<br />
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Oh well it can hold about 3 quilts- so it is a nice bag to carry my Show and Tell quilts to meetings. I do not know what I was thinking- or perhaps I did not think? The pattern's name is The 6 Fat Quarter bag. It is a free pattern and available from Martingale. I use the two pieces of "Stupendous Stitching" to bring two of the fat quarters to the correct size.<br />
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I have added some charms on this piece.<br />
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I think I did not carry out the instructions for the handles correctly- but a big bag like this need wider handles. It is just not long enough- but I will remove the knot and just sew it together and decorate it with a button. The pattern can be found on Martingale's website- <a href="https://www.shopmartingale.com/freebies-main.html">here</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-31037937169671910942012-07-03T22:47:00.000-07:002012-07-03T22:47:31.260-07:00Making Plans or not?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am most productive if I plan my days. I have read on some blogs that goal setting and detailed planning contribute to stress. So in the beginning of the year I thought I will just "go with the flow" and do what my hand find to do.<br />
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This might work for some people but it definitely did not work for me. I need to know what I want to achieve and do some planning around it on a daily basis. I decided to make myself a back pack long ago- last year some time. I have sewn some lovely Jacobean embroidery designs to use as pockets on the back pack and that was as far as it went.<br />
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We have an International Quilting Conference at the end of July. This was a good motivation for me to have the bag ready to take with me when I attend this Quilting Event. I used an old back pack that I find ideally as a template/pattern to make mine. I added a lining with a inner zip pocket and added a third outside pocket. The Back pack turned out very well and I am super happy with it. I am also very glad that I have another project finished.<br />
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I also want to make a handbag using an interesting pattern that I got from <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/">Interweave</a>.<br />
I have changed some of the panels to include some panels with stitching on. This I have learned from taking a class with <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/Stupendous-Stitching-Adventures-in-Surface-Design/44">Carol Ann Waugh at Craftsy</a><br />
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I have made this wall hanging after taken her class and is constantly looking for ways to apply this in my other work.<br />
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This bag will be a good opportunity to apply this knowledge and personalize my bag. What I like about this is that I can play with my embroidery floss, trying out the stitches I learned from <a href="http://pintangle.com/2012/04/24/take-a-stitch-tuesday-week-17/">Sharon Boggon</a> in her Take a Stitch Tuesday series. I also use the knowledge obtained from my class with <a href="http://machineembroiderybyaquilter.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-will-you-do-with-it.html">Margaret le Roux</a> (last year) to incorporate the beads and charms I have added to my collection.<br />
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I do like to work in my studio concentrating on my projects. My embroidery machine is operating under my supervision working on another new project, while I completed the back pack and then start with the panels for the handbag. This sometimes create a conflict when the embroidery project needs decision making and cause a brake in concentration on the bag project. Then I just switch the embroidery machine off so as not to loose the Zen quality of my time in my studio.<br />
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Do you plan your days- or just go with the flow? What works for you?<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-10132511604308668512012-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:002012-06-27T11:12:01.483-07:00Redwork to digitize<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is thrilling to digitize a project and stitch it out. Redwork is very easy to digitize and a very good place for any one who want to learn digitizing, to start. I did a class with Hanlie Snyman of Bernina, Paarl and San Tyger. We recieved the 7 pictures and with Hanlie's clear instruction select our stitch (Backstitch), the colour (red) and our tool- mainly the Open Object tool. When all the lines were drawn the magic was created by the Blackwork Run tool.<br />
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I made some cloth paper towels (saw it on a blog) with a nappy and some flannel squares I had. This was a good way to sew the designs out to see if adjustments was needed in the stitch length and number of strokes. Now I am ready to sew it on some dish cloths- to have some gifts ready for friends.<br />
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Vivian at the Rose Cottage has an <a href="http://rosecottageembroidery.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36&products_id=355">Enhanced Line Drawing</a> lesson as this June's challenge. You can purchase the lesson from her website without having to take part in the challenge.<br />
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Redwork and the ability to digitize it also helps you to digitize continuous quilting designs. When you use the double run tool the program work out the optimal route to complete the pattern without starts and stops. Very good classes, specifically for digitizing quilting designs is available at Quilt University from <a href="http://www.quiltuniversity.com/catalog.htm">Joanne Winn</a>. They will be available in September and October.<br />
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If you own an embroidery module and haven't used it yet- it might be the time to get going!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-82899024375840743542012-05-29T02:24:00.003-07:002012-05-29T02:24:46.569-07:00Power of Ten<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I first read about the Power of Ten and the way to implement it in a Newsletter of <a href="http://www.texasquiltworks.com/">Texas Quiltworks</a>. It is also described on<a href="http://littlebitofeverythingmama.blogspot.com/2011/04/power-of-ten.html"> this blog</a>. I do it a bit differently though.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floral Kaleidoscope- DIC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I like to concentrate on a project for as long as possible or till my attention slip- or fear for in case I will not manage to pull it off, get the better of me.<br />
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For me a list of ten Delayed In Construction projects to work on simultaneously is to much. I do like to list all the projects I want to work on and it might be more than 10. Then I choose 3-4 where one might be a hand project, the other a quilting project and then a project that is still in the piecing stage. I might also add an embroidery project.<br />
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If one formalize the projects by listing them it serves as a reminder. One can also plan better and when you have a specific goal you are working towards you work more intentionally and do not while away time playing on the computer, checking email and blogs or just wasting time.<br />
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In the next couple of weeks I will discuss the projects that I have not featured up to now on my blog, one by one to show the progress I have made. I will also list it on my Quilts 2012 list and move it to the complete section as I manage to finish it.<br />
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What do you do to keep you motivated to work on old projects?<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-55746631521726973532012-05-20T08:24:00.003-07:002012-05-20T08:24:39.166-07:00Doing my book...without it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As a regular reader of organizational blogs and student of several books on the topic- it might surprise you that I am still looking for things I have misplaced. I wanted to "do" the book of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Karen+Linduska">Karen Linduska</a>. Your Machine's Decorative Stitches.<br />
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I could not find the book here at home in one of my several bookcases with quilting books. So I start with a small project working from memory. I have done a bit of crazy patchwork with my Bernina Artista 170 but I have forget about all the lovely stitches it had. So instead of working whimsical I use stitches that look like grass and small plants etc. It did not really showed up well but I had a lot of fun. I needle felted some wool roving to use as flowers and that was fun too.<br />
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When I finally got hold of my book I add some more whimsical stitches. I completed my project with wool couched to the edge with a zig-zag stitch. (I also know why some people put a loop in the corner- although I was careful the corners pulled to tight and it does not lie flat in the corners.)<br />
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-47265963504105321652012-05-02T11:50:00.001-07:002012-05-02T11:52:59.998-07:00Lost and Found<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I thought my camera had disappeared. I could not find it anywhere and without it I could not blog. Luckily I retrieved it this week end- it was at Melkbos.<br />
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I am still working on some of the Zanki designs- to test the files I have converted to ART designs. Everytime that I work with these designs I just get new respect for the real artist Susan Wessels is.<br />
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Just look at the Degas Dancer. I try to select colours as closely to these she suggested. With every colour that I added the design came to life and start to resemble that of the original Artist more. I am sure Degas would applauded Susan.<br />
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Here it is- nearly completed<br />
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The completed dancer- a true work of Art.<br />
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You can find her designs on her website at <a href="http://www.zankidesigns.com/">http://www.zankidesigns.com</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-71534915883722327242012-03-18T23:04:00.001-07:002012-03-19T21:40:29.774-07:00Good Habits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am an avid reader of Self-help books. I must say it did not really help or improve myself a lot. Even though I read the <a href="https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php">7 Habits</a> almost 20 years ago when it first came out and found it most inspiring, it did not bear fruits. Perhaps one become more yourself?<br />
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The biggest struggle in my life is to become <a href="https://secure.davidco.com/store/catalog/GETTING-THINGS-DONE-HARDCOVER--p-16182.php">more organized</a> and create less cluttered and stress free surroundings. Here I fail completely- I think mainly because I just have to much stuff and hoarding more and more. The UFO's I create, do nothing to reduce this and contribute to stress.<br />
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Lately I have been influenced by<a href="http://zenhabits.net/"> Leo Babauta</a> and his blog Zen habits. He has changed his lifestyle with small daily habits. I needed to loose weight but know from past experience that it is almost impossible. I also have sleeping problems and are lacking energy. So I started quitting coffee and alcohol as well as refined sugar. Then I started walking daily- my husband join me in this and it has become a good daily habit. I eat healthy foods in very small portions. I have lost 6 kg over the last 2 months and has still a lot more to loose. I take it one day at a time, making sure I drink water whenever I think I am hungry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you use your fabric.</td></tr>
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Since the beginning of the year I tried to get my studio cleaned up. This lead to very little quilting- not because this job kept me so busy but because I was resisting going into my studio. Over the last year a bad habit of spending to much time at the computer was created and I need to change this. I read a lot of blogs in my most productive times. I also just whiled away the time.<br />
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I have stacked my fabric in a different way- hoping to be able to get to more of my fabric (I just have to much of it- never thought I would admit or say it!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelves to the left still need to be straightened.</td></tr>
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This weekend I tackled my shelves. Although it might not look like a big improvement- I have removed things that was taking up space and do not belong or are used in this room. I have filled two big garbage bags. I have created space on my shelves for WIP so that my tabletops are nearly clean. I just need to move my ironing board and industrial machine and will then have a "new" room layout.<br />
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I spent the last 3 months dividing my time between the farm and Melkbosstrand where we have another building project. I am also busy with 3 internet courses and an applique project with Hanlie from our Paarl/Durbanville Bernina. I am teaching at Swartland guild and preparing for a workshop next month. This will also be the topic of a retreat that will run at Porterville hotel in June.<br />
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The current self help book that I read is: The Compound Effect. Here the practice of daily habits to get to your goal are also emphasized. <a href="http://darrenhardy.success.com/">Darren Hardy</a> described how he decided to make a note everyday of things he appreciate in his wife. He presented her with this journal the next year at Thanksgiving. She was in tears- but the effect on him was that he fall in love with his wife all over again. This is quite inspiring. I have already started to note my husbands very good qualities. I will now make it a practice to communicate my appreciation of him everyday. (He does a lot of annoying things as well- but I will concentrate on the good things!)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-49568179251682677972012-02-08T08:47:00.000-08:002012-02-08T08:47:05.336-08:00Struggeling with quilting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am quilting my third quilt on the frame and I am struggling. I was really wishing that I had a long arm teacher and did not have to figure everything out on my own. My Bernina do not like invisible monofilament thread when I quilt on the frame. So I was so glad when my order of <a href="http://www.wonderfil.net/Invisafil.htm">Invisafil</a> arrived. This is a lovely fine, fine thread and on my white quilt would have the invisible look I want for ditch quilting.<br />
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My thread indicator continuously show thread breakage and the machine stopped. There was none, so after several "unnecessary" stops I switched the indicator off. Then my thread started to brake as soon as I speed up a bit. Frustrated and feeling helpless I googled Invisafil and longarm quilting. I read that a longarm quilter said she has to go super slow when using Invisafil and think she will charge clients more if they insist on her using it for their quilts.<br />
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I started to work more slowly, I switched the thread breakage indicator on and the machine stop before the thread brake. I then see that there is a spin on the thread as soon as I speed up. Using the thread stand on top of the machine did not eliminate the problem. Decreasing the tension even more (to 0.5) made it a bit better. This is really a lovely thread and it produce stunning results- it is nearly invisible without the tension problems that the monofilament create.<br />
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As soon as I started to do free motion patterns in the border no cure wanted to work. So I have decided I will use this thread as a bobbin thread and on a low low tension for ditch work.<br />
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I am a follower of the blog: <a href="http://expertenough.com/1423/deliberate-practice">Expert Enough</a> and this article relates so well to machine quilting. We so often hear that to become good at machine quilting there is just one thing and that is practise, practise, practise. Corbett Barr say in this article that without quality added to make it <b>deliberate practise</b>, all this practising will not bear real fruit.<br />
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When I teach machine quilting I try to be very encouraging just to get students going- fear of stitching can turn a machine quilting class into a non sewing class. Yet, I realise I should also teach students to really look at what they stitched, what the ideal look is and urge them to narrow that gab with deliberate practise.<br />
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<a href="http://dianegaudynski.net/">Diane Gaudynski</a> is the Free motion teacher of the month at <a href="http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-2012-fmq-challenge-tutorial.html">Sewcalgal</a>. I have learnt machine quilting with the help of Harriet Hargrave and Debra Wagner's books but it was with Diane's input (through her books) that I really strived to do better. In this article she emphasis working slowly and precisely. I am once again inspired to do deliberate practise on the frame (I was ready to quit yesterday). Video's of longarm quilters create the impression that it is so easy. I can tell you it is hard!<br />
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For me the difficult thing is to have the same control I was used to when I was free motion quilting. Now I must 'drive' the machine and to get straight lines and smooth curves where you want it, is not so easy. I do have the advantage that what I want to quilt is already part of my DNA so I only have to concentrate on moving the machine to carry these patterns out.<br />
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Are there any other mid arm or frame quilters that can encourage me? Have you become an <a href="http://expertenough.com/538/the-expert-enough-manifesto">Expert Enough</a> and what was the secrets of your deliberate practise? Please share these with me.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6508656274354115616.post-73806887346795709702012-01-09T09:19:00.000-08:002012-01-11T11:01:12.257-08:00All holidays come to an end<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My holiday ended in a weekend working in the dairy. I cannot complain- I have worked two months ago. The holiday was very enjoyable. We moved into a new house (for us) in Melkbosstrand. Only a street is between us and the beach. We can see the sea and beach from our bed on the second floor. My husband push the sliding door wide open at night so it feel like a beach slumber party!<br />
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After we bought the house a lot of work still needed to be done and the painting was only completed on 23 December. My parents and two sisters and their families (20 people) shared Christmast day in our new house. A good plan- every one brought a few dishes so no one worked to hard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the beauty in the middle-she had some matching sandals and earrings.(My daughter on the left.)</td></tr>
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My children help me to create the miracle of getting the rooms cleaned the furniture moved into the rooms and the last painting touches on an old cupboard and bed. I made fitted sheets till late on Christmast eve but at 9 o clock we ate some braaivleis and admired the fact that order was created and we were ready to recieved the family.<br />
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I have created a sewing room and a sewing area in the lounge in this house. I mainly concentrated on handwork to spent time in the company of my family. My delectable Mountain quilt was worked in rows and except for the last row the top is completed. I worked an another block for my tweets- sitting at a desk in the big lounge where I could look at the sea.<br />
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This year I will follow the advice of <a href="http://zenhabits.net/best-year/">Zenhabits</a> and not make new year resolutions or plans. Instead I will try to form new habits that will help me to get my house and sewing room organized and kept in order. I have also decided to really try and threw all old clothes, linens and shoes out. I will try to remove clutter and keep it at bay on a daily basis.<br />
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I do have a few thinks for my quilting life planned though. I am taking part in <a href="http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2012/1/9/tast-week-1-highlights.html">TAST 2012</a> of Sharon B and if I do not do the fly stitch tonight- I am a week behind! In February I will do an online class on <a href="http://www.pintangle.com/journal/2012/1/9/this-is-the-last-call-for-the-studio-journal-class.html">studio journals</a> also with Sharon. I have the wonderful <a href="http://artistsjournalworkshop.blogspot.com/">Art journal book</a> of Cathy Johnson and will also try and create an Artist Journal this year.<br />
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I plan to study and "do" my textile Art, collage and Mixed media books one by one. I started with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Quilt-Workbook-Techniques-Creativity/dp/157120377X">Jane Davilla and Elin Waterton's</a> Art Quilt Workbook.<br />
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I will blog about my progress on this undertakings. I will also participate in the Free motion Quilt Challenge hosted by <a href="http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html">Sew Calgal</a> just for fun and the sew a long. I am sure that I will do a lot of free motion quilting on my "Art quilts" this year. To develop free hand embroidery abilities one first need to know and learn the formal stitches. This I will learn in TAST 2012 and apply in the<a href="http://www.cqjp2012.blogspot.com/"> Crazy Quilt challenge</a>.<br />
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Please follow my undertakings and remind me if you see that I slack down! If you thought you arrived at the wrong blog- I am sorry. I thought a new year should have a change for the better. While reading blogs I found it is easiest for my eyes to read a blog written on a white background. I search and found this template in Blogger- hope it help you to read more easily.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5