Fragrant Bouquet

Fragrant Bouquet: 2014  (Started: 1988)

FINISHED (2014) yay! & photographed at last!!

This was a rather nice set of applique blocks that I made up in classes at the QNH. This pink & blue set, I think, I began the year following Sue Longmore’s beginner applique class in 1987.  I loved the colours (and they are still popular today) but it took me some years before I could decide on a setting because I didn’t want to replicate the sampler quilts I had made before. 

In 1998, I had decided on having a medallion centre and used one of the blocks from a series of applique lessons for the Randwick girls run by Roslyn Taylor in 1997 (based on Mimi Dietrich designs I think?).  I then came up with the idea for a star and took some pains to make up my own setting, design suitable patterns and machine piece it all together, thankfully having leftover fabrics from all those years ago to select from. 

By 2001, I had chosen a rather thick cotton wadding and found myself stumped again when it came time to quilt – the nature of the quilt seemed to suggest hand quilting but the wadding was very difficult to needle.  So, back on the UFO shelf...

In 2013, the blue star points & the border were
machine quilted; and the rest was, ummmm, happening!
A UFO underway but at a snail's pace...

It took some time before I became confident enough to select machine quilting patterns for applique blocks.  Eventually, after gaining a little confidence, I started stippling the star points.  Too many questions and not enough satisfactory answers, so research continues.  And everything is being done back-to-front. This quilt will be finished....it is so close to it.  Well, eventually!

A detail shot showing both hand & machine quilting mix

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 171.5 x 171.5cm
Block Size: 12” Hand in 1988
Cut & Pieced in: 1998
Basted: Dec 2001
Quilted: Hand & Machine 2006;2013-14
Quilt Type: Applique Sampler
Quilt Finished: by 13 Apr 2014
Exhibited:  No
Collection: Gifted 3 Oct 2023
Pattern Name: Various
Pattern Source: QNH Applique Workshops
Fabrics Purchased: 1988
Fabric Design: Plains & prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Cotton Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
Come back to UFO’s and keep persevering.  Sometimes the only setbacks are failing to look at alternate solutions to problems.  Keep learning – new skills may provide the answers you are looking for.     

Stella's Legacy

Stella’s Quilt: 1988

My MIL had asked me to make her a machine cover in apricots and browns.  Her machine was set up on a desk in her bedroom at her unit in Bayswater.  I made the machine cover between Feb and March 88 using a very sweet “Swallows in the Window” pattern. (I have no idea what the source of this pattern was - no internet or googling then!) I gave this to her, along with two hand quilted cushions, for her birthday in 1988.  The blocks were handmade; the machine cover machined together to make it a little robust.  

Not the best of photos but it was a rather nice block
Collection: Home# 007 Sewing Machine Cover

This gave me the idea to make a matching sampler quilt for her bed.  I had been teaching beginner’s patchwork at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House and did a few blocks along with each class as demonstration pieces. I can see a few Jinny Beyer pieces in this quilt so my taste in fabrics (and colour palettes) was perhaps starting to become a little more sophisticated?   I set the blocks on point and then finished off the quilt with some basic hand quilting – just to get it done in time for Christmas 1988.  Hand pieced and hand quilted between March & December 88.

Stella's Quilt on the line at her unit

We are told she was found wrapped in this quilt when she passed away in 2010.  I am fortunate to have this quilt in my possession now.  It is a wonderful reminder of her.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 152 x 195cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1988
Pieced & Basted: Blocks by hand; borders machined 1988
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Gift
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Home# 008 Stella's Quilt
Pattern Name: Sampler set on point
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim & Ginny Beyer
Fabrics Purchased: 1987/88
Fabric Design: Ginny Beyer & Mixed Prints
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

The colours are much more appealing in this digital shot

Lessons Learned:
This was a serious amount of work to “give away” even if it was for my MIL.  I discovered that making quilts for money was never going to be for me; too much time and effort with insufficient recompense to make a “living” out of crafting.  I’m just not that motivated.  Knowing this has also allowed me over the years, to say a firm no to offers and suggestions that I might really like to finish someone’s family heirloom (sitting in bits in a box under their house). Life’s too short!  Find yourself a little bolt hole, set up the machine (or what-ever) and make a date in your diary (and keep it!) for some stitching. It’s very Zen….

Lessons in Patience

Karen’s Quilt: 1988  (Started: 1987)

The trouble with using solids is apparent now!

This is the original applique sampler from an early class with Sue Longmore in needle turn applique.  I had taken an advanced applique class at the Neighbourhood House in 1987 and learned how to applique: 

• Starflowers
• Double Hearts
• Wreath of Roses
• Great Grandmother’s Rose

Hanging on the clothes line 1987

This quilt was hand appliqued, hand pieced and hand quilted.  Colours I chose to work in were primarily greens and apricots. At this time fabric range was limited, although we had a few shops open up on the Bellarine Peninsular/Geelong area to service a growing and active group of quilters. I gave this quilt to Karen as a house warming gift.

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 45 x 45cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1987
Pieced & Basted: Hand 1987
Quilted: Hand 1988
Quilt Type: Sue Longmore Workshop
Quilt Finished: 1988
Exhibited: 
Collection: Gift
Pattern Name: See List
Pattern Source: Class provided
Fabrics Purchased: 1986/87
Fabric Design: Prints & plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Thin Poly Batt
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
I was taking every class I possibly could either at the Geelong Quilters Guild or at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House. Sue was a fantastic teacher and the class ladies always friendly. It was a supportive learning environment and I had the time to get “carried away” with my sewing. So I did!

Christmas Sampler

Back in the Day...And my very cute Assistant!

Christmas Sampler: 1986  (Started: 1986)

This was my first real quilt under guidance of Joc and Margaret (Canadian) who helped out teaching patchwork to the Queenscliff Quilters in 1986.  Learners in the group were doing a sampler and I chose Christmas colours, in part because I had some fabrics left over from previous crafty endeavours but also because I had seen quite a few antique red/green quilts and was enraptured.  I thought the colour combination worked really well and hoped to produce just such a masterpiece.  Ha!  We talked about quilt sizes and decided that a lap quilt was best – an achievable end result given time and our level of technical skill.  It also kept costs down too.  We started work in March and my 6 chosen blocks, sewn in order were:

1. Ohio Star
2. Monkey Wrench
3. Drunkards Path
4. Grandmothers Fan (completed two of this block – perhaps this was cathartic)
5. Bridal Wreath &
6. Flower Basket

They were completed; a block each month.  I found a stars in the sashing border to brighten it all up, used a really nice quality poly batt from the Quilt Shop Joc was working in at the time (I think) and got to work hand quilting. I remember thinking I had done enough quilting a couple of times, but my taskmasters sent me home to add still more.  Finished hand quilting at last in Nov 1986. Phew!  The whole thing took me more than 60 hours.  This quilt was exhibited at the Geelong Quilters Exhibition in Jan 1988.

Fan Cushion

I completed a cushion with the extra fan which I donated to St Aloysius School to raffle (1986).  I wasn’t (and still aren’t) big on patchwork cushions but one has to learn…. 

 Home# 023 Beginners Sampler 1991 (Apricots & Browns) 

I rather enjoyed making sampler quilts and this style became a mainstay for me to later teach with at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House when Sue was no longer able to teach.  I used patterns from Ruby McKim mostly as we were nearly always hand piecing then.  I amassed a few quilts in this sampler style, most given away as gifts.

Finally, a better quality photo of my first sampler/first ever quilt. (1986)

A more recent & digital photo - we've come a long way in lots of things

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 112 x 154cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1986
Pieced & Basted: 1986
Quilted: 1986
Quilt Type: Group
Quilt Finished: November 1986
Exhibited:  Geelong Quilters Guild 1988
Collection: Home# 002 Christmas Sampler
Pattern Name: Sampler – see list of block names above
Pattern Source: Supplied by Tutors
Fabrics Purchased: 1986
Fabric Design: Christmas Prints & Plains
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Poly Batt 50g
Backing: Cotton

Lessons Learned:
Hand pieced and quilted; estimated 60 hours of work.  There’s never enough (hand) quilting…