CQJP 2012 progress report

Now that all the blocks are done, and the base is in some sort of design, it was time to get the skirt ready for the blocks.

Thank heavens for friends who know what their doing.  We made our sandwich, pinned it and tacked it.  Here is my wonderful Fibres Friend who helped me 'sandwiched' the skirt, and helped also to pin it and tack it. There was four of us on Wednesday tacking it together.

This first photo show's Barbara after we'd taped the bottom of the skirt to the table, laid the batting (complements from Carol) and the skirt on top with the edges half stitched in place.  To save our fingers, Barbara had this wonderful idea of using teaspoon for the basting part.

 This next photograph show's it all based, and the excess wadding trimmed back.

 This photograph show's it now with the blocks on and the trim, with the wadding and back skirt folded under. It's looking good, now all that's left is the hand stitching down the blocks and the trim, the outer hem and put on our 'Merry Christmas buttons' and sign it on the back. The Block in the front with 'Noel' buttons, is now being changed, it just looked so out of place. I have taken off the bow and the buttons and made it similar to the other blocks.

Here is the skirt now with the changed block.

Arlene's little helper: This is Ally, my son's Labrador, she is with us for the short term.

Arlene

Poinsettia class closing shortly

Just a reminder that this class is fast approaching - 25th October. If you'd like to dabble a little into goldwork, then this is the perfect course for you. A lovely simple design and very basic stitching needed.

 To book in, just jump to the class 'here'

 

Wanting to make that special gift for that special person? An enchanting colour arrangement speaks to us for a ‘different’ colour choice for Christmas; not the traditional green and red colours.

From beginner to intermediate embroiderer, add lace, threads, beads, silk ribbon and many other lovely little embellishments to create a stunningly unique Crazy Quilted Christmas cracker. The magic is also on the inside with a useful gift, a Hussif. 

Arlene

Christmas Tree skirt - construction part 1

I took my 10 blocks and the black skirt fabric to Fibers today.  I don't own a table big enough for me to spread it out on, and I'm not going to crawl on the floor (I'd never get up again).

So after an hour of trimming the fans, pinning them into place, reposioning, re pinning, pinning the gold braid into place, we then stood back to admire the hard work.  (It's hot here now, got up to 30C today).
So here are the results.
The four photo's show it from different angles.  Now remember this is just pinned in place and may not be my final layout.  I do want to add a 1/2 inch border on the base of the fans, this will be done in a deep red colour and finish the hem of with a single gold row of stitching.  I also bought some red fabric as the backing fabric for under the skirt.  My friend Carol has the batting for the sandwich of the black and the red.

 The bundle of gold braid is left over, I actually have 12 meters there, and only about 3/4 of one left.

 Each alternate fan will have a large loop and the other alternates will have a small loop.

 At the base each will have a small loop to link them all together.

The gold braid is continuous with not joins anywhere. OK, so now what do you think of it so far, I still don't know what I'm going to do for the border yet, but I still have time for that, maybe a 1 inch strip of deep red material?  Does anyone have any suggestions for it?
Arlene

CQJP - October block

The final block has finally been finished, and now the next step will be it's construction.  First here is block 10.

 And of course the close ups, the first one is the gold work Christmas ornament.

 The second close up is of our toy soldiers that I got at the Townsville Craft fair on the weekend from Cherabella buttons.

I also finished my ornament for the swap that I do each year.

Arlene