Golden Rabbit

This is Golden Rabbit, he's my Easter Afternoon Project.

This pattern is so simple, it's a pleasure to make and really, it only takes an afternoon.

I don’t usually associate bunnies with Easter, however, I sketched this rabbit (he’s more of a hare, isn’t he?) a few years ago, and I’ve been wanting to make him up. So here he is: bright, vibrant and dancing through a meadow. The meadow side of spring.

If you’ve been thinking about an easy Easter project to brighten up your table, there’s still time to get this one done.

The pattern is a line drawing and is suitable for a small wall hanging. I’m going to hang mine up on the kitchen entry door. My DDs like the idea of turning it into a spring cushion and whilst that would work, I think a wall hanging wins. Of course, if you added sides you could also make a table runner, whatever suits you. It’s so versatile. My only recommendation is brights. I haven’t stitched in my sleeve hanging yet as I wanted to post this project right now, but I will be adding a hanging sleeve to finish it off.  Of course, you could just print it out and colour it in too!

Here I am, looking over my table, I stash busted this pattern,

and it feels so good to have used up some fabric and created / finished a WIP.

 Here are the fabrics I selected to use and also, the front page of the pattern.

I coloured it in to play around with colours and you can too.

I also added an extra flower when making up as three is always better than two!

He's so bright! I really like how the leaves have turned out

Now, although my head is in Spring, in my part of the world, we are actually getting cooler. It's funny, but I still relate to European weather! I think many of my blog followers are in Spring, so it's  OK, I can get away with it! 

Like it? Make it!

When this pattern was first released in 2011, I made it free to all members of my online quilting group at that time. Today, it is no longer available for free, however you can purchase the pattern for $2.95 USD as an instant digital download. 

Potica for Easter

They say it takes a village of woman to make Potica and if you ever make this Slovenian walnut roll, you’ll find out why.

It’s time consuming. It seems incredible that such a simple cake could warrant so much work, but worth it? Oh yes, definitely. Special occasions don’t seem really special without Potica on the cake plate. That said, you don’t really need a reason to bake it– any day’s a good day for Potica.

I don’t have a village of women, but I do have 2 daughters and excellent delegation skills. No matter how many times I have made it in the past, or make it with them now, they always ask those little details that you forget (or, that they don’t write down). So this is one of those recipes I know they’ll be looking up tomorrow, next week and in years to come. There are quite a few Potica variations out there, all as good as the next one, I’m sure. This is an authentic recipe. It’s an old one and it works for me.

Potica is best the second day, if it lasts that long, and improves with age for up to 4 weeks in an airtight container.

I took step by step photos of our Potica baking for my DDs and have slotted it together in the video below. The added Polka music is traditional Slovene music for anyone who wants to get into an Alpine Baking Theme... enjoy!

Click read more for detailed recipe...

Inside My Studio

Update 19th April 2011

Thank you everyone for commenting on this post. It's nice to know that someone understands my chaos and creative mess. For years I felt guilty about not having a 'Showroom Studio'...you know the kind...and I always wished I'd had the inclination to create that kind of photogenic space.

I'm really fortunate to have such a great DH and a supportive family, and as for the mess - I've decided that that's just the debris creativity comes from.

Time for my yearly studio pics update.

I had grand ideas about sorting this mess out before Easter, but have now accepted that this won’t be happening.

I have actually reached the point where I have had to pause WIPs because there’s just no room to carry on with them.

A good Spring Clean for me is when I can see my table top surface again.

It’s a great design table and I have a lot of things going on there. I think this is actually my biggest dilemma, at any time I have at least 3 or 4 projects out, demanding attention. I long for the day when I whittle my UFOs and WIPs to 1 single project and breeze around my studio without walking into, over or on something.

 This is my Hearts Desire Chair, before that it was my Red Delicious Chair.

Really, it's the Current BOM Chair. It Seats the Box that holds all the fabrics I will be using.

That shelf behind me was actually custom made for the Design Table.

It is so crammed full of work that I have been considering some kind of File System

You can’t tell that this is actually a large room (it’s a full size living room) with windows along one side. Great for daylight, but something of a storage loss (that’s what I tell my family anyway.)

Those are my shelves on the wall, full of journals, notebooks and sketchings.

Sometimes you don’t know how much you have, and it takes a photo to realize that you don’t really need a new 3 tiered box of Derwent’s,  anyway, where would I fit them in order to make best use of them?

That's my chair by the window, I crochet there whilst looking over the birds or the Camellia bush. Mostly I read in this spot. It looks cozy but it doesn't get used much. Well, not that much, it is a working room afterall!

To be completely honest, even I am a little shocked with how much stuff I have and how out of control it looks! Is it any wonder both my DDs are keen on minimalism??

Luckily this room's completely at the back of my house so we don’t have to walk through it, or even acknowledge it.

My grown up DDs have dreams of building me a shed to move all the stuff into there…whilst I have dreams of them both moving out so I can take over their rooms….just kidding!

Beneath the Design Table is where I store a lot of my fabric stash.

 There's a machine under there! I think it's an overlocker!

Sometimes I like to listen / watch out of the corner of my eye/  to The Quilt Show when I'm working. When I'm seriously working, I don't like the distraction, but when I am tidying up or sorting out it's a welcome relief.

Yes, this room’s a mess, but it’s my mess and I know where everything is…and also, it saves the house. Imagine all this (important!) stuff being dispersed throughout a house?? I'm so lucky that my family are tolerant and in fact, supportive of this chaos.

Come along to Vic Quilters at AQC Today!

Coming along to AQC today?

Julie Adamson and Vic. Quilters have organised a free Demo Table where you can stop by and see techniques in motion...just come by the Vic Quilter's area...Well known tutors have offered their time and it's a great idea!

I will be working on applique at the Demo Table today between 2pm - 4pm.

Do stop by and say hello!

I will have 10 x Hearts Desire (Block 1) to give away to anyone who asks, so don't be shy! Blocks 2 & 3 are still available for free so it's the perfect time to join in!


It's not too late to join in the mystery....

Love on Borrowed Time

Wow it’s only Tuesday and I have several days’ worth of work to get done today. I am preparing for my binding Workshop on Sunday at AQC however I am attempting (attempting?? will have to!) finalize everything today as I will be at AQC from tomorrow.

Isn’t it funny how just when you get stuck into your work, an exciting package arrives and distracts you?

 Windham Baltimore Album by Mary Koval

 Windham New Town Farm-

I will use this one as backing on my Civil War Bride Quilt (yes, I am still making it...slowly)



Yesterday I received some fabric which I had purchased for the back of my Hearts Desire BOM Quilt. I really love this quilt at the moment, and as I am making it, I can already see how splendid it’s going to be and am becoming very particular about every last detail! Obviously I am biased, but sometimes you just know when things are turning out great, so why not share it?

They are both suitable and both are Windham – I can’t believe how much Windham fabric I am using in this quilt, the color’s just ‘work’ for me.

I really like the scrappy look of New Town Farm…as I imagine that this is what quilts probably actually looked like many years ago, but my DDs have given it a very vocal thumbs down. This is OK, as I also fell for these lovely flowers above which will work beautifully on the back. I can’t wait until this quilt is finished…



Lovely stitch work and tension



But back to work for me now…I have fallen in love with my Borrowed Bernina, it’s so easy to get used to.

I have not allowed myself to peel off the protective plastic bits because then it would feel too much like I was keeping it.

It’s a really great machine and I don’t say that lightly because I am so fussy when it comes to sewing machines.

Pushed my other machine out of the way to make room for Bernina

Speaking of fussy, whenever I show my quilts people always ask me about my quilting and are often disappointed to learn that I domestic machine quilt. They want to know where they can get their own quilt quilted like that!

I DMQ partly because I love the process so much and am so involved in my designs that I want to finish them off myself ….naturally….but also partly because when you hand over your quilt to be long arm quilted, you are really investing a lot of trust in the person quilting it for you. And when you have invested as much time in your quilts as I do, imperfect quilting can ruin the whole quilt, and is difficult or impossible to fix. So I just do it myself. However, sometimes you see long arm quilting which is very beautiful and you realize that the right long arm quilting done well can actually improve your quilt top.

I was so happy to learn that Desley has finally joined us in blog land and set up her own blog Addicted To Quilts where she showcases her work. I have known Desley since I started quilting, about 8 years now, and we belong to the same quilting groups. I have always admired her beautiful long arm quilting and her dedication to detail. You know how I love details! I have always said that Desley is one long arm quilter I would trust with my quilts. Do drop by her blog and have a look over her work for yourself. It's stunning.

Basically, I spend so much on my hobby that I often don’t have a long arm quilting budget to work with at the end of it-  but who knows, if I ever got to the bottom of my WIPs, there’s no way I’d be able to quilt them all myself....so that's an incentive! But before tackling WIPs, there's today to get through...

Ok, back to work for me!

Going to AQC?

It’s just one week until my Binding Workshop at AQC! I’m really looking forward to it. Are you coming to AQC?

I will be there for the entire show and look forward to catching up with some of you. I’ll let you know what I’ll be getting up to later in the week.

Last week Debbie from Bernina came to visit me and delivered a Bernina Aurora 440 Quilters Edition, along with all the feet I need for me to get a feel for the machine prior to the workshop.

This is so important because on the day I don’t want to be fiddling around with an unfamiliar machine. There’s too much to get through!

I am really impressed with how helpful Debbie and Bernina have been. I am so used to the temperament of my own machines that having a brand spanking new one in the house has been a bit exciting. Sadly, it’s not for keeps and I will be returning it next week.

I posted my quilts Red Delicious and Dream Fountain off to Paducah last week by Express Courier and am really excited to be part of the show again this year. I was a bit taken aback at how expensive shipping quilts around the world is getting…is it just me, or are the increases getting unreasonable??

On Friday my computer start button, the bit you push in to fire up the machine dropped into the machine and I was out of action. I struggle with computer software on a daily basis, so when the hardware plays up as well….it’s too much. Luckily my suffering DH knows what’s what and went out and purchased a new motor with hundreds of wires attached ( I had a hot flush just looking at this ‘piece’) and then stayed up late fixing the new motor start thing into position. Mr Fix It ! Needless to say I was super impressed. I am very lucky because if it was left to me, I would still be offline.

Today I have enrolled in Quilt University and I hope this will being me closer to understanding EQ7. After all the messes I have made with it, sighs, this is my last attempt to try and make my designs and EQ7’s software compatible.

Has anyone done this online course? Did it help you?

Cold Snap!

It's getting cooler and our cat has fallen in love

with the iron all over again.

And with the cold evenings, it also means that it's time to buy some yarn for those wintery night knits...

Wondering whether to work a blanket or a scarf ??

I'm a Featured Quilter

Every reader of this blog has likely heard of Amy - she’s the generous woman who organizes The Quilt Festivals that we love so much. A great idea generously shared.

Well, this morning I am honored to be a featured quilter on her website. What a thrill.

Thanks Amy!

Super Strip Workshop



Already 10 days have passed since my Workshop with Susan Briscoe. Time is really flying past for me at the moment as I have so much on...it doesn't always feel this hectic, thank goodness!
Now, I haven't done as much piecing work as I would like, usually applique always takes preference. So when the opportunity to do a Workshop with Susan who was visiting from the UK arose, well I jumped at the chance.



I have NO IDEA why Blogger is insisting to tilt this picture sideways. Oh well...



I wasn't convinced about a super strip quilt....but when you have as much fabric as I do, you have nothing to lose. Except maybe a bit of stash. I went for blues, because my range is quite good in the blues and the fabrics I had were 'old' and I knew I wouldn't be using them in any newish applique designs.

I cut strips as per the workshop requirements and managed, in the class, to complete the centre. We could have used a Jelly Roll, but I felt 2.5inch strips were too wide for me, so I made double work for myself and cut up my own strips at 1.5inch, which means that my centre is smaller but I like it.It also means it will take me longer to finisher, but oh well, what's another WIP?

I was really pleased with the results. I'm going to love this quilt. It's going to be an 'about the house' useful quilt. Which is just what we need. I am even thinking of making another in pinks as it is a great way to use fabrics that you love...but know deep down that you will probably never use. I'd rather see that kind of stash being put to use.

As for the piecing, it was nice to dust off this technique as I don't do enough in my quilting repertoire.

Thanks Susan for a wonderful workshop!



Just the centre

adding a few rows at home

23 x Red Delicious Quilts Exhibit in SA

Imagine sitting down for your daily coffee break and reading this in your in-box:

Dear Esther ,
I am sending a photo of some of the Red Delicious quilts that were displayed at the Pt Elliot Quilt Show on the 26 and 27th of February .There were 23 Reds on display, I was amazed to see that so many finished their quilts . We had so many compliments about our lovely display of Red Delicious and there was a few who didn't believe that they all started out from the same pattern as the range of colours was very diverse . We had a photo in the local paper ( Victor Harbor Times) with our President and Vice President standing in front of a Big Red…-snip-

I don’t know what you would do, but I’m still swooning….

Sometimes people ask me why I offer free BOMs.

This is why! What a honour that so many quilters
have chosen to make my pattern.

Look at them...all the same, all so different...

23 x Red Delicious Quilts in one show.

Is this a record?

My heart is beating fast and I am beside myself!

I have never seen 23 of one quilt in any show. As this show was in a different state, I had no idea it was happening and I am completely proud and delighted that quilters I have never met, have made my Red Delicious. Thank you !

Were you there?

Did you go?

Want to send me some pics?

Don’t be shy - I always want to know what my patterns are getting up to!

Thank you so much Mardi, for sending me these images…

Japan: Every Quilter Can Do This

UPDATE: 28 March, 2011
Australia Post has decided not to assist quilters posting out donated quilts to Japan. This is a shame, but I guess there isn't enough publicity in it for them.

Looking through my quilt cupboard...

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.    
C. S. Lewis







This is something practical every quilter can respond to, knowing that it will make a real difference. Let's look through our cupboards and finish those WIPs.

Remember: the need is great and any size quilt means that, whatever our quilt pile, we all have something we can contribute.

Naomi Ichikawa, editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin Magazine is asking for comfort quilts to be sent to Japan. She says:

It is still bad situation now in Japan. We are still nervous about shaking and radiation, but no way to escape. I start to announce to the quilters to send us comfort quilts for the people who are suffered. I would like to do it to the world quilters. We will deliver the comfort quilts to the people who are very difficult situation. Could you please help to announce it to the quilters in your country?
We accept any size of quilts (baby to adult). New or unused. The deadline would be the end of May or later.

★Send the quilts to:
(after the begining of May）

Naomi Ichikawa
Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
2-21-2,Yushima,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,Japan zip:113-0034
I will appreciate if you help me.
Naomi

(Thanks to Glenda for passing these details on to me. Please pass these details on and list it on your own blog / website / group / forum / noticeboard / meeting hall / etc)

?

Wouldn't it be great if a postal provider offered to ship all our donated quilts to Japan for free?

I've sent an email to Australia Post in the hope that they might step in and assist us in donating our quilts to Japan for this Humanitarian Appeal. As there is only 1 drop off point in Japan, free shipping could easily be facilitated by providing quilters with a 'code' which we could apply to our parcels.

If you are an Australian quilter, please contact Australia Post and ask them to help us help others.

Floriani Applique Technique

Stitch and Wash Applique Technique: a great technique when you are working a lot of applique. I find it quick and easy. It's especially good if you have a lot of small pieces or like creating a 'production line' of shapes. I am using the Stitch and Wash Applique Technique with Floriani brand Stitch & Wash.

Basically, I refer to it as Floriani Applique.Which product do I use from the range? Floriani: Stitch & Wash Fusible - it's on a roll. The label says this:

"Floriani Embroidery
Sewing & quilting Products
Stitch N Wash
Fusible Water Soluble
Tearaway Stabilizer "

There are several brands of fusible water soluble tear away stabilizer. I have never had any trouble with Floriani so this is the brand I recommend. Of course, use any brand you prefer.

This technique is almost the same as the Applique by Freezer Paper Tutorial I demonstrated on a previous post. The only difference is that, instead of removing the freezer paper, you leave the stabilizer in place. This way, the process is a little quicker and you can work rather quickly.

My Freezer paper Applique Technique Tutorial is Here:

The process is the same - simply leave the floriani Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer in place instead of removing it after the shape is created (as you do with the freezer paper).

Trace the shape:

iron it onto the wrong side of your fabric

Starch the seam allowance around the shape, then iron edges over:

the Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer will help you create a neat edge all around. As you can see, I am using Best Press by Mary Ellen which a lot of quilters swear by. I also like Crisp spray starch. Use whichever starch you prefer.

Some quilters like to glue the seam allowance and stick it down .They find this works for them. You can see I do this at times with the freezer paper method. However, I don't do this when using Floriani because I don't like the feel of it. It's personal choice. Experiment and see what suits you.

Simply brush the seam allowance with starch, iron over the fusible webbing and once the shape is set, that's it. Leave the Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer  in place.

Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer softens when washed and doesn't bulk out your shape. If you haven't tried this technqiue because you are worried about leaving the Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer  in place - there isnt any need to be worried. It shouldn't disintegrate or crumble.

Use whichever applique technique suits you best. If the freezer paper and / or Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer applique technique doesn’t suit you, you may prefer raw edge applique. In that case, Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer can help you achieve clean cutting lines, and you simply cut out your shapes without a seam allowance. The shape is then ready for decorative / finishing stitching such as blanket stitch or buttonhole stitch - if you so choose.

Just remember, the attention you pay to details as you go along with reward you twofold when you are putting the quilt top together at the end – so do whichever method you love. When you love the technique, getting it right becomes a pleasure.

My personal love is always the painstaking pleasure of needle turn applique, but that said – I am always looking for new ways to accomplish ideas as well, and I find that Stitch N Wash  Fusible Water Soluble Tearaway Stabilizer applique is a good compromise.

Hearts Desire Block 3: Love Entwined

This is a multiple block, make 3. Each Love Entwined block will be rotated around the center.

If you have directional background fabric, be sure to take this into account.

Hearts Desire Block 2: Sing Me A Song

I suggest you colour in your pattern sheet to get a feel for colour. I did...and I still could't decide. Luckily, when I think about alternatives, I only have to look through my Yahoo Group to see what fab ideas everyone else has had...and just enjoy it.

I really love this fabic, I decided to fussy cut it for the 1st Border

Please don't ask me details about this 'border'

I have no intention of telling you - it's a Mystery

Of course, the fussy cutting is completely optional!

This bird changed his feather's a few times...my DD demanded a pink one...then a blue one...then she wasn't keen on him!

I just made him the way I wanted in the first place!

Hearts Desire Blocks 2 & 3 are launched

So, here we are. It’s the 15th again. And my, doesn’t time fly when you’re part of a Mystery BOM? This month I am releasing 2 blocks and this will cover 2 months.

Why? So the Mystery doesn’t disadvantage your fabric options. I’ve seen how hectic you’ve all been, busily making the most beautiful and varied blocks, I have really enjoyed seeing this mystery through your eyes via your created blocks. Thank you to everyone who has posted images up on the Yahoo Group – it’s such a treat to look through and see how you’re all doing.

And now it’s time for Block 2… and Block 3

Block 2: Sing Me a Song

& the 1st Border

Block 3: Love Entwined

This month caused a little dilemma for me. Ideally, I would have liked to release block 2 and then block 3 next month on April 15th, as would be expected. But I also had to take into consideration that you are making this quilt blindfolded, and it would be so unfair to unleash block 3 next month after you had made and finished Block 2.

For one thing, it would be impossible for you to select your fabrics and potentially run out of them and then have to select an alternative for Block 3. You will see what I mean from the photos. Although these are 2 independent blocks, they do join together to create one ‘set’. And this set fits around the center block. I'm not going to say anymore about it as it's a Mystery. But do remember- don't assemble your quilt top until all the blocks are completed...and that wont be until July 2011.

Please remember: you have 2 months to complete these 2 blocks.


Remember:
Block 2 will be free until April 15th
Block 3 will be free until May 15th

This is boring but it comes up every BOM:
The pattern is a PDF document, and is set to print at 100% A4 for easy home printing
All printers are different and some printers like to re-set PDF pages to 95%

Please note:
Ensure that your printer is set to print to 100%
If your print preview shows you set to print at 95%, ensure that the default to “shrink to printable area” box is not checked. If it is, uncheck it.
Select: Page Scaling: none

Block 1 is now finished

Hearts Desire: Block 1: Be Still My Heart is now finished.

Missed it? Want to make it?

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