29 February 2016 - Last Day of Summer!

It's not often that this day comes around, so it's worthy of mention!  29th February!   Or at least, it's significant enough to prompt me to create a new blog post to commemorate the occasion.   At the start of 2016, I had the best intentions of updating this blog at least once a month - yet where has the time gone?  Are the days going by faster?  Or is life just accelerating?

This Australian summer, in Melbourne, has been unusually hot and humid. And uncomfortable.  Like most people, I do not sleep well in the heat, or function well the next day.  So it's with some relief that I welcome the start of Autumn tomorrow, on the 1st March - clear blue skies, balmy temperatures and a refreshing chill in the air - bring it on!

My newest  laser-cut Acrylic Template set is the "Double-Sized Window (Fanlight) Version of Ballet with Kaffe", with an added 1/4 inch seam.   See, the 10 x diamonds on the left create the middle of the first star.  Compare that to the "Double Size Window" of that same shape, on the right!   In the "Window Version", the Inside edge represents the Stitching Line, and the Outside edge is the 1/4 inch fabric cutting line.

See my Etsy store - Sunset Seams. for details of this 4-piece set, in a choice of 4 translucent colours.

Full details and instructions for this pattern are available from the stunning "Milliefiori Book 2" by Willyne Hammerstein.   I was lucky enough to view the original quilt, up close, at the Australian Quilt Convention in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre last year.  It's featured on the cover of the book - a stand-out of colour and contrast.   The original pattern pieces are very small - which creates the intricate, mosaic-like colourful tiles.  

Sadly.... these pattern pieces are a bit too small for me to use (I'm not very accomplished at English Paper Piecing).  So I decided to  re-sized them so that each finished edge is "Double" the size of the original.  (ie, the main measurement is 6cm, instead of 3cm).  For those of you who enjoy mathematics, you'll realise that this means if you followed the original pattern exactly, then the final quilt would be FOUR times the SIZE the original!   Pretty big, right?

Alternatively, you could use the larger templates to make a similar quilt FOUR TIMES as FAST!  For me, the bonus is being able to hand-piece the bigger fabric pieces (using running stitch) - without having to bother with wrapping or gluing fabric onto paper pieces.

Yes, that fabric is from my small stash of Tula Pink "Eden" range. I'm looking forward to adding more colours, as the motif grows.    Maybe it won't end up being a full quilt - (if only I had that much time!) - but it may soon reach my favourite lap quilt size (1.5 x 1.5 metres).  Here's hoping!

Now that I finally have a new mobile phone (after having remained stubbornly loyal to my old one for far more years than it deserved), it should be easier and quicker for me to upload photos to my blog, and so create more frequent posts. (Again, hopefully!)

Anyway... Thanks for stopping by!  Do check out my Instagram account @SunsetSeams, if you get the chance.

Cheers,
Lisa

Chevron Shore - Quick Quilt

This is a quilt-top I've been designing recently, based on a classic shape which has been around for hundreds of years - dating way back to 1775.  I decided to enlarge it, to make a super-quick machine-pieced quilt suitable for someone with limited time.  The rectangular block measures 10.5 inches by 24.5 inches (a finished size of 10x24) - so 4 blocks makes about a cot-quilt size.

  

This section shows 4 rectangular blocks.  The print is a piece of firm cotton fabric bought in Noumea, during our South Pacific Cruise last year.  It's in multi-colours of vibrant mid-blue, light-blue, cool aqua, navy and tracery of pale gold. The solid navy is a fine cotton corduroy from my stash, which works surprisingly well.

To simplify the cutting, I created these Acrylic Templates.  They have etched seam allowances & pencil holes at the seam intersections. The proportions are perfect for using with standard 43 inch wide fabric (110cm), with little or no wastage.  Fold the fabric lengthwise selvedge to selvedge, and then fold lengthwise again, folded edge to selvedge (4 layers). 

The templates fit neatly in the fabric space, and cutting it this way gives you the right number of "positives" and "negatives", without worrying about turning the templates over.  When the plain and print pieces are joined, and the blocks are sewn together, they make the hills and valleys of the chevron shape.   

Here is the navy corduroy laid out, with enough pieces for 4 blocks.  

And below, is one of the earlier finished blocks.  As I progressed, my pinning became more accurate (after I changed to glass-head fine pins), and consequently the side edges became neater.    In the end, the pieces are so large that there's enough "wriggle room" in case you want to trim the blocks, without it being noticeable.  No Quilt Police here!   :)

Although I love working on my current (on-going) multi-piece quilt projects (hexagons, octagons, 30's style four-patch & Autumn Quilt which is ready for hand-quilting),  I found it quite exciting to see this Chevron Shore quilt  grow so quickly!  I believe it will be a winner for quilters at all levels, as well as those who enjoy working with strong, multi-coloured prints.  Plus... you only need to choose two fabrics!  How easy is that?

To purchase a set of the templates, head on over to my on-line store at www.SunsetSeams.com  Only $25 (including Postage Australia-wide, and my Pattern with fabric requirements for all size quilts).  

(The name "Chevron Shore" came to me this weekend as I was contemplating this colour-scheme - though I'm not a huge fan of stripes in general, these reminded me of waves on the shore).  I'm hoping it will grow up to be a Queen-Sized Quilt..... and I'll post photos soon.

It's been a very productive Easter!  Hope you and your family & friends enjoyed your break.

Cheers, Lisa.

My First Magazine Ad!

"Handmade" magazine, by Express Publications, Vol 31 No 4, page 79.

This was booked about 3 months ago, so it's terrific to finally see it in print!

Merry Christmas - Earrings!

A great early Christmas day, yesterday, with all 4 of our respective children, chez "our place". Opening gifts, drinking champagne & cool drinks, munching on yummy "White Christmas" slice, cherry jam drops, ham off the bone, turkey, barbecued marinated chicken wings, crusty herb bread, home-made coleslaw & green salad, followed by Strawberry Pavlova with whipped cream...phew!

We even managed a swim at nearby Hampton beach. The water was refreshingly icy, and very welcome on a 39 degree (celsius) day.... A typical Australian Christmas!

Now, driving North with number one son to visit my two sisters, brother-in-law & nephew for ANOTHER Christmas Day celebration, tomorrow! Number one daughter is serving the community as one of those wonderful, caring nurses. (She said: the patients loved her trendy Christmas tree earrings - laser-cut by her clever Mum!)

Have a safe, relaxing Christmas, everyone!

Sewing Machine Heaven!

Tonight, we experimented with making a 6mm acrylic (perspex) insert for my Horn Sewing Cabinet.... and it worked!!!

So Excited!  It looks so good!

Even though my Brother Sewing Machine (which I love) is over 20 years old... and it would be impossible to find one to buy.... we've managed to create a close-fitting insert with relative ease. (Tried it out on cardboard, first).

Gotta love that Laser Cutter!  (And my husband, of course, who is a genius!)

Blue Floral "Quilting Bee"

As part of the current Melbourne Modern Quilt Group's Mystery Bee, I chose these pretty blue floral fabrics  - 6 x fat quarters, to be exact.

I seem to be drawn to the colour "blue", lately.  It's so fresh and clear, like a sun-filled spring sky.

From a range of suggested patterns, I chose the "Spinning Star" block  from www.quilterscache.com

Because of the asymmetrical shapes of the two pieces, I decided to create my own laser-cut acrylic templates.   It really did make a huge difference in the speed and accuracy of my cutting. Keeping to the "blue" theme, I chose the pale blue tinted Acrylic - still totally transparent, but a little easier to see against a white background.

I was slightly distracted while cutting... watching a favourite DVD episode of the old 1970's series of Rockford, with my husband - we just love watching James Garner in action!

There was just enough of the three light-blue prints to make 9 blocks - though I'll have to mix them up a little.  The darker blues will look terrific as the spinning blades.




At the MMQG's SASD (Sit and Sew Day) today at Ashburton, I received my first sewn blocks from another member, Sally.  Thanks, they look great!






Once I've received all the pieces, I was thinking of using the 6th fabric (a blue and white gingham), as the sashing fabric.  With 9 blocks in total, this quilt is destined to be about 1m x 1m in size.  Perhaps I'll add a wide border as well, to bring it up to "lap-quilt" size?

In my previous post, I showed a photo of Sally's Kalaidescope block which I made in June - she has already made it into a quilt!  Talk about fast work!  Sally's Quilt



Here is the block I made for Lorraine in July. I can't wait to see her quilt finally finished - she's pretty quick, too!




Given that this is my first attempt at being in a Sewing Bee, I must say that I'm quite enjoying the challenge and camaraderie!


Have a great week!

Winter Sunshine

A lovely, bright, sunshiny weekend - the first in months - has cheered me up no end!  This is the view from the beach, near the Middle Brighton Baths, where I lunched with friends on Saturday.  One of my favourite casual cafes, overlooking Port Phillip Bay.

Such a wide range of blues in the sky and sea: deep blue through azure to pale aqua.  There was hardly any breeze, so the surface was like glass.  Even the shades of blue-grey-lavender in the clouds add to an impressionistic vista that I just wanted to forever imprint on my mind... so peaceful!

These are the colours in my latest project - more of these delightful crocheted hexagons.  Easy to do, one at a time, or even stop half-way.  Of course, there was not  much sewing or quilting being done in the past few weeks - thanks to a bout of virus / flu / head cold that seemed to pass... and then I relapsed.  Not much energy for anything except sleeping, and sitting on the couch, staring at the box.  Pretty miserable, but apparently it's hit a lot of people.

Anyway, these pretty colours are cheering me up.   I started off without a set plan, but now I can see it's starting to form.  There are so many colours that it's easy to make new combinations. I haven't doubled up, yet!   As long as I keep the cream wool as the second round, then a design of sorts is maintained.

Before the end of June, I did this Mystery Bee block, for my friend Sally.  My first one, ever!  I had not tried the Kalaidescope pattern before... it was a bit tricky getting the points right... but not bad, if I say so myself!  It will be my turn to send out fabric to the Bee members in early August... another first. More on that, later.


A belated "thanks" to Kristy, for her "shout-out" about my templates recently, for her EPP Hexagons (English Paper Piecing).  She requested a customised 3/8 inch seam allowance - easy to do.  At the recent See & Sew Day at Ashburton, a few more Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild members expressed interest - remember, the first piece/set (up to 10 inches square), is free for members.  See my Acrylic Template Page for details and colours.

(To the lady asking about a thicker acrylic, to use for "long-arm" quilting templates, I've found out that we can source, and cut, a 6mm thick version, in clear acrylic. Please contact me....)

Applique Pillow Case

About 6 months ago in late Summer, my  artistic step-son (14), asked me to make him a patchwork pillow-case.

He drew a design, and coloured it in. Off we went on a shopping trip, to choose the fabrics. A cuddly flanellette in his favourite (Lime-green) formed the backing, then he chose  co-ordinating colours.

Don't you love the frogs and turtles? The green/blue spot fabric was ironed onto a square of Vliesofix. We used the Laser Cutter to cut out the letters evenly (see the left-overs, below), then ironed each letter onto the yellow fabric.

He even machine-stitched some of the border seams himself! Then, I hand-stitched the appliqued letters with blanket stitch (using DMC Perle 8) - that took longer than expected.  Next, I made an envelope backing, and sewed it to the front. He was so excited when it was finished!  (Well, in a really cool way, he tells me!)

Acrylic Perspex Templates

Laser-cut 3mm Acrylic Perspex Templates - Custom-made to Order - from your Pattern

The Laser-Cutter has been running hot lately, busily cutting lots of 3mm Acrylic (Perspex) templates for orders and samples.

We are getting lots of terrific feedback from customers, who have ordered acrylic templates for different uses:  Patchwork, Quilting, Applique, Scrapbooking, Paper Piecing (for tracing), and even sewing projects - like pocket shapes for machine embroidery. 

We use Auto-Cad to convert  the scanned or emailed shapes into the computer, then program this into the Laser-Cutter.  It's so fast! My friends at the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild had been trialling these templates for me earlier this year, with great results, and it's rewarding to receive repeat orders from satisfied customers.   

6 Translucent colours: Orange, Yellow, Fluro Pink, Fluro Green, Pale Blue & Clear

Would you like to make better use of your sewing and crafting time? 

• speed up the rotary-cutting process of multiple pieces?  
• avoid re-making cardboard or templastic templates as they wear out?   
• stop searching for impossible-to-find commercial templates to fit the exact measurements & shapes you need?
• design your own templates? 
• or re-scale a block pattern to a different size?
  

Hamburg Hexagon Quilt

In August 2010, when my husband attended a science conference in Hamburg,  I asked him to bring home some fabric. These lovely, clear, spring-like solids caught his eye (sunny yellow, mint green, candy pink, apple green, and cherry).  I drew up a basic design for an English-pieced hexagon quilt.

Some co-ordinating prints from Amitie Textiles, Bentleigh,  and a lovely floral tone-on-tone cream fabric from The Quilters Patch, Moorabbin, completed the picture.  My husband kindly used his laser-cutter to cut out hundreds of perfect hexagons from both paper (1.5in), and fabric (2in) - precision itself.