Quilting Oma's Blues

I can hardly believe I'm up to this point of progress. Today I'm selecting which thread colour to quilt with and then it's just a matter of getting Oma quilted.

My favourite thread is Aurifil but my Bernina 820 doesn't like it, so I'm not yet sure which machine I'll actually quilt on or what thread I'll finally settle on. 

This is my quilting sampler below, it's just a quilt sandwich that I 'scribble' on, I always warm up my machine and try out ideas from my 'quilt map' before getting started on the actual quilt, free hand.

Here I go...

WOW: Magnolia in Bloom

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

Down my way the magnolia's are in bloom. Whenever I see them, I am just so delighted with how wonderful they are to look at. It reminds me that I have an important WIP to finish - my quilt Forget Me Not. I still haven't got that quilt top together, which is such a shame as I can't enjoy all the floral blocks if they aren't hanging on my wall! Here's my almost finished magnolia block, sitting around waiting to be quilted. 

I suppose this is what WOW is all about - WIP reminders. Now this quilt is on my mind whenever I look out the window. It doesn't look like I'll have a chance to get it done before this year is out, but at least it's not completely forgotten. 

I'd love to know, what triggers your own WIP reminders?

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: Part 9 is Launched

This month we are assembling all the blocks so far 

and adding the two mitred borders 5 & 6

The year is just flying by and Oma's Blues is looking like a quilt about to be finished!

I've been making this quilt and following the pattern out of turn due to my busy schedule and this means I finally caught up in August for Part 8 which was great, and now I am ahead and already working on what will be released as Part 10 next month.

I mention this because I know some of you might be confused after having seen my Border Corner Plates as I shared the progress of my making it right here on my blog. I apolagise to anyone who might not want to see future blocks out of turn, but for everyone else, you are edging ever closer to the beautiful corner plates and near completion of your quilt!

This BOM is being released for free on a monthly basis. However, quilters are able to buy the complete pattern any time they want (from the first day of release) over in my shop. So there may be other 'advanced' Oma's Blues out there. If there are, I hope you'll be confident to share your work, whatever stage you are up to. There are no 'rules' that you can only show what the current BOM month releases. All quilt images from and at any stage of progress are most welcome!

I have sold some Oma's earlier in the BOM...and I do wonder where they are?!

Happy quilting everyone, I'm really delighted to be sharing this quilt with you and to be able to share in and enjoy your progress- whatever stage you're up to. Here's where I am up to below. My quilt is currently basted and ready for quilting, can't wait to show you more as I progress.

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Di Ford's New Beauties!

I was on the way home from the hairdresser with my DD on Saturday when I decided to pop into Somerset Patchwork & Quilting store. It was on our way home anyway, and although I hadn't been planning on any more fabric shopping this year, I was hoping that some of Di Ford's beautiful new range would be available. Strictly just so I could have a look for myself. Well, once I'd set eyes on it, it was mine.

I went for this minty colour, it just spoke to me. I thought I would swoon for the red (and it's just as beautiful) but I feel that I have too many red projects on at the moment, and none in mint, so I opted for a whole new scheme to freshen up my ideas.

I have no idea what to do with this selection. At the moment I have it spread across a table and just lovingly look at it each time I pass. I know I didn't need more fabric, but sometimes I feel that a range comes out that must be had. I feel that way about this range.

And another thing, is it just me or are 'second prints' just not the same? I know I've purchased ranges on the second print and I've never thought they were as good as the first. What is that about?! This time around, I wasn't taking any chances.

Some stash busting rules are made to be broken, that's all I can say.

WOW: Oma's Blues Quilting Ideas

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I'm drawing up a design plan for quilting my Oma's Blues quilt. I don't actually mark my quilts when I quilt them, I prefer freestyle quilting my own work. But with Oma, things feel more complicated. I need a plan mapped out on the styles I want to use.I wasn't sure I wanted to 'finish' Oma with quilting. I had an idea to make my quilts and leave them at the 'top' stage so I could easily cart them around to workshops and show and tells. But every time I need to set them aside, I feel I 'must' carry on and quilt them, so it looks like my quilting load will just keep increasing at this point.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

I Forgot Father's Day

With one thing and another I've been in a bit of a spin. On Saturday, my DH and I took one of those long meandering drives in the country. I really needed some fresh air and country 'switch off' time. In our house I have been trying to aim towards 3 screen free days a week. It's going really well except for the emails that back up. And another thing - I keep losing track of what day it is. So on Saturday I was blissfully unaware that it was in fact Saturday. And that the following day was in fact Sunday and not just any Sunday, but Father's Day as well. Of course I was unprepared. And when my DDs showed up, I was still in my dressing gown and hadn't even ironed the table cloth yet.

at over 3 metres length, it's a real chore to have to get it done last minute

I mean really. You know you're getting old when your own children tutt tutt at you. Luckily my DDs had gone ahead and organised Father's Day all on their own. All we had to do was be there, fully dressed. But sometimes, even that feels like too much work. I should probably be embarrassed that all 'events' now involve photographs of me, not yet dressed, running around doing something I should have done days before. Perhaps the advantage of age is that I no longer care as much as I once did about this? Is it just me? What about you? I'd love to know that I'm not alone...

WOW: Basting Oma's Blues

WOW = WIPs On Wednesday

I told you I was serious! Here I am, getting Oma ready for basting, and I don't have much more to say than that, as I have plenty to be getting on with. Can't wait to update you all after WOW...

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

WOW: Oma's Blues WOW

 WOW=WIPs On Wednesdays

Oma's Blues is coming together, I'll have my entire top done this week. Talk about a WOW! I'm really keen to get this quilt finished as I knew that if I didn't get it done now... I wouldn't find any time later this year or in 2016. It's so satisfying to be going back and forth to my ironing board as I stitch down my borders...

I'm really looking forward to showing you my entire top and of course, to having another quilt DONE! Well, almost done. I'm still deciding whether I will quilt this quilt or keep it as a quilt top only (easier to transport and show at workshops). I had thought very seriously about making tops only, but I think that with Oma, it needs to go up on my walls and give my other quilts a rest. 

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Oma's Blues: My Centre Plate

I suddenly realized as I photographed my centre, that I inversed my diamond plate edge. 

The white area should be dark and vice versa! How did I get that the wrong way around?!

I do think a dark plate edge would be more effective, but I've already decided that I'm not going to re-do it, so I will think about outlining it with a dark blue stitch - possibly. When I get the borders on, I'll look at it for a while and decide on the overall feel. Right now, I can't get over it, and my eyes are glued to the ring of white which should be blue. What a strange oversight. I just don't know what to say...

Even so, I am so in love with Oma's Blues that this error doesn't bother me as much as it possibly should! My Delft inspired quilt is really taking shape now and I can't wait to finish and show you my quilt top!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Making the Decorative Flourishes

Although these plate flourishes were in Part 1 of the pattern, I took much longer to finally get mine done! Here is the finished flourish, I opted for fussy cutting and contrasting blues. Later I'll hand embroider the swirls that you can see peeking through the background fabric. 

 You can see my fusible method here, with my pieces ready and prepped 

often I use a light box to layer my applique shapes, but this pattern is simple so I just layered it visually by referring to the pattern sheet

 I use basting glue to keep my completed applique shape in position on the background fabric until I'm ready to sew it down

  I use 'just enough' glue to firmly keep my applique in position

even so, I sometimes find that 'lumps' can occur, so I have a trusty little quilting hammer which I use to bash unruly fabric soft again. My banging has sent my poor DH to answer to door quite a few times whilst hammering tough applique so I think I must get quite carried away at the end of a hard days applique-ing!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: My Corner Plates

I am in love with this block!

Here are 4 of the blocks, I've put them together here to show my fussy cutting pattern as a visual, however in the quilt they are not put together in this way. Even so, I'm very keen on this layout idea on its own - so much so that if I had enough left over fabric, I would make 4x extra blocks to create an Oma's Blues cushion. I think cushions are currently out of trend at the moment, but I always have space for them, especially when they match my quilts (which I hang up at home). I hadn't thought of that when I created Oma, but now I wish I had, it would go so well!

Here's what each block looks like

you will make 12 x in Part 10 (which is released October 15th)

And here I am, toiling away at my fussy cut corner block production line. It's funny to look back at my working images like this one and think that at some stage, all my quilts live in pieces, in envelopes! I am just so happy with the fusible method at the moment, it's really allowing me to work as quickly as possible and it's allowed me to really speed up my process. I don't think I could be without it now!

 Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Fussy Cutting the Corner Plates

I've been savoring this moment: it's time for some serious fussy cutting!

I love these corner plates. When I first designed Oma's Blues, I wanted to introduce ornate plates somewhere but after the charm plates, nothing felt right until I drew up these corner pieces. Then it all just fell into place for me and I knew right then at the design stage that these plates were the ideal spot for some fussy cutting!

 I like to cut out 'audition templates' and just 'browse' my way through the fabric options...

charming

so much potential

I just knew this range of fabic was 'it' when I set my eyes on it, the 'Dutch Cottage' range couldn't have come at a better time for me, it's custom made for Oma's Blues!

 There's really so many options and stylistic elements to draw from

I'm spoilt for choice

I'm really excited to show you what I created from these fabrics, but first I'll show you what I left behind! Pop back to see my completed block tomorrow..

I'm working on the corner plates which join in to create Border 7, which according to the Free BOM Release schedule, is Part 10 (and will be released Oct 15th). As I started this quilt late, I'm making my own Oma's Blues out of 'schedule'. This BOM is still available for Free over in my Yahoo BOM Group, so if you've been thinking of joining in - do!

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

Oma's Blues: Preparing Blocks for Border 4

This post relates to Part 9 of Oma's Blues

Released Sept 15th 

Before joining up your blocks to create Border 4, you will need to accurately trim them down to size. This is doubly important for Oma's Blues because connecting 72x blocks means accuracy must be key. Even just a few mms will make a problematic difference that will have to be corrected. It all adds up and with blocks like this, you need to know and have your eye on the measure.

 Each border 4 block must measure 6.5 x 6.5 inches precisely (6 inches is the finished block size)

 I've stacked my ironed blocks, ready for trimming

I'm using a turning cutting matt - it's like a lazy susan, it simply turns as I cut. In fact, it's so easy to use I have to take care that I don't cut myself with the rotary cutter! It takes pressure off my wrists and it speeds up the process, I love it.

Oma's Blues is my current FREE BOM. 

You can still join this free BOM right now - all parts are available over in my Group.

WOW: Trimming Oma

WOW=WIPs On Wednesday

I'm trimming my blocks to connect them to create my border for Oma's Blues. I'm finally a bit ahead of the BOM Schedule ( I need a drum roll I think), so this will be happening in Part 9 which is released Sept 15th.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up