What's New, Nelke?

I don't like updating my patterns: once they're released, they take on a life of their own and I'm ready to move onto the next project. Maybe you know the feeling? I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from packing away my design folio each time I release a pattern. But with Nelke, I couldn't stop myself fiddling! For one thing, every time I looked at my little bird, he seemed lonely. I couldn't stand it!

So I made him a friend for company...

Nearly...

Auditioning..

Yes, that's better :) 

And then there's the newly added corner bows. My heart's still all a flutter over Love Entwined, so any opportunity to introduce those gorgeous LE double bows on new quilt projects is welcome. And on Nelke, they slotted in like they should have always been there - which they should have! I love them!

And then there's the border blocks which were confusing the first time around - I've sorted that out too.

Phew, that's Nelke updated! 

Now I can focus on my wedding dress mission.

WOW: Updating Nelke

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Talk about overdue WIPs, my goodness, Nelke has been waiting in the wings far too long for her pattern update, so today, that's my focus. I have lots to do, but feel I can't move on until all these little projects are sorted out. I'm on a real mission this month as my wedding dress duties are becoming pressing, so after today's WOW it will all be about 'The Dress'.

Now, time for me to get stuck in..

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

How I Quilted Peony Pride

Peony Pride has lots of lovely room, allowing you plenty of scope to showcase your quilting. I quilted my own on a 1950's Elna domestic machine and loved the overall effect - gentle and textured it enhanced the vibrant blocks. Here are some pics of how I chose to fill my areas between the blocks.

 

The heart shaped handles space called out for little circles, I thought it was just so cute

 

'Peony Pride' Pattern Is Launched!

Tidying up the sewing studio has it's advantages - take for example my Peony Pride quilt pattern. After years of vaguely wondering which design stash it was in, I came across it unexpectedly last week and I'm very happy to finally be able to add this gorgeous quilt to my pattern shop!

Peony Pride is 71 x 71 inches (180 x 180 cms). It's a classic looking quilt which manages to be both thoroughly modern as well as decidedly traditional at the same time. This quilt is one of my all time favourites precisely because it somehow feels so timeless. In fact, I'm already planning my second Peony Pride quilt and this time around it will be turn edge applique. My first Peony Pride, pictured above, was stencilled with fabric paint and the pattern really lends itself beautifully for stencillers.

So the only question is, applique or stenciled? How will you make yours? Each Peony Pride pattern comes with my Guide to Stenciling, allowing you to branch out and try something new - if that idea takes your fancy. If not, you can simply stick with the pattern and make this applique beauty in your favourite fabrics.

There's plenty of room for your beautiful quilting to shine through in this striking quilt and I quilted it myself on a domestic sewing machine. I'll be showing off my quilting details pics over in my Facebook BOM Group today and on a post here tomorrow, so be sure to stop by if you'd like to see some close ups.

WOW: WIP Busting

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I've been in a mad dash to get my studio in order and have been labeling and sorting through the total chaos of my design folios so I can move on to new projects. I've found so many 'lost' patterns that I knew I'd stashed somewhere safe and I'm so glad to have recovered them along with lots of other WIPs I'd almost forgotten...but am completely in love with again. This is a good thing because it means I can plan my next year ahead, quilting wise.

I'm relieved to have found my original Nelke notes during this bog clean up and that means I can finally update the pattern as soon as I get a chance. I've received queries about Nelke and also have applique changes that I added afterwards as well as some border confusion which I couldn't deal with because I didn't know where I'd filed it! I did have it, but then I put it somewhere after I'd made some notes. And then I forgot about it. Oh well I'm getting there.

Luckily I found my other patterns at the same time too. You see, I have a new filing system where I catalog all my work to store it. This allows me to move on. The problem is, when I moved house 4 years ago now, I mixed up all my files and then just stashed new files wherever. I knew it would somehow sort itself all out one day and that day has finally arrived. Phew! I also found my completed Peony Pride pattern files and print outs (why did I ever stash that away??) along with my entire Vase series of wall hangings. It's been quite a treasure trove!

I'm looking forward to a week of organizing myself and that means getting almost finished patterns finished and clearing the decks for a month of wedding dress focus.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up