52 Quilters - Week 27 - Fiona Forsyth - My Influences

Inspire - to have an animating effect upon one's mind or emotions; to stimulate to some creative or effective effort; to elicit or create.

Who inspires me?  My tastes have changed as my skills have developed and I have found myself headed in different directions from when I first started quilting 3-years ago.  However when I sat and thought about it, I noticed that the majority of my work is centered around some of our fabulous local Australian designers, so I thought that I would introduce you to some of them.

Emma Jean Jansen

I have been a huge fan of Emma's for a number of years.  She's a Ballarat Girl (so is "just down the road a bit") & a fellow cat lover.  I have made "The Daisy Quilt" from her "The Linen Cupboard" fabric range; I still have "Harlequin Stars" and "Peace Quilt" waiting to be made and "Outback Blossoms" is currently on layby together with her new fabric range "Matilda". 

 http://www.emmajeanjansen.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/emmajeanjansen/

Jodie Carleton - Ric Rac

Jodie is a gem!  She is guaranteed to make me laugh until the tears stream down my face every time I see her or talk to her!  She is also a Ballarat girl (& so lives "just down the road a bit") and I have had the pleasure of meeting Jodes quite a few times now.  She is a school librarian turned toy maker & now fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics. I have made a number of her toy patterns for myself & for gifts.  Her "Cats Pyjamas" fabric range is my absolute favourite and I have made PJ pants from this range together with some other items.  Her newest fabric range "Bunny Trail" is totes adorbs!! 

http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com.au/ 

https://www.instagram.com/jodiericrac/

Leanne Beasley - Leanne's House

I am yet to meet Leanne in person, but she is based near the Dandenong Ranges where I used to live in Melbourne.  Leanne is famed for her embroidery patterns (distributed through Creative Abundance) and she is now a fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics.  I have made up quite a few of her patterns including the BOM "Journey of a Quilter" and am 3/4 of the way through "Mrs Beasley's Sampler Quilt". I have also made her "Hearts and Happy Flowers Bag".   I still have her original "Leanne's House BOM" waiting to be made. I also have all 12 editions of her "Vignette Magazine"

http://www.leanneshouse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/leanneshouse/

Rosalie Dekker - Rosalie Dekker Designs 

(formerly Rosalie Quinlan Designs)

Rosie is one of the loveliest people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet!  I first met Rosie at Bendigo's Craft Alive in 2004 & I attended an Embroidery Masterclass with her.  I look forward to catching up with her each year when she travels up to Bendigo for Craft Alive.  I have sewn a number of Rosie's embroidery patterns & I have quite a lot of her fabric hoarded away in my stash. Rosalie has designed 7 fabric ranges and is now a fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics.

http://www.rosaliedekkerdesigns.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rosaliedekkerdesigns/

Four of my Faves courtesy of @EllaBlueFabrics
Jodie, Emma, Leanne & Rosalie

Jen Kingwell

I am a mad Jen Kingwell convert!  Last year I attended one of her classes which was hosted by Cotton Factory in Ballarat.  It was here that I learnt many of the techniques used to make her "Circle Game Quilt".  I am currently making "Georgetown on my Mind" and have more of her patterns in my sewing queue. Jen owns "Amitie Textiles" shop in Melbourne and she is now a fabric designer for Moda Fabrics.

http://www.amitie.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/jenkingwell/

Claire Turpin

I have to admit I have only recently found out about Claire Turpin Design but have fallen in love with her patterns.  Her "Kitty Cats" pillows are on my lust list; as is her newly released "Catface" applique quilt.

http://www.claireturpindesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/claireturpindesign/

52 Quilters - Week 27 - Fiona Forsyth - My Gallery of Quilts

Today I thought that I would share some of my quilts with you.  I only have a few larger sized quilts which are finished, so I have selected a sample to share with you.  I enjoy machine sewing; foundation paper piecing; hand sewing; needle turn applique; English Paper Piecing (EPP); and embroidery.  I am still not confident in Free Motion Quilting so most of my quilts have been hand quilted. A few I have had professionally quilted by Linda at Ladybug Quilting in Bendigo. 

Please click on the links to see more information about each.  Quilts appear in no particular date order...

Millefiori Mystery Quilt - pattern & fabrics by Sarah Fielke.  Machine sewn and appliqued by hand.  Hand quilted in Perle 8.  Photo taken in Maldon

The back of my Millefiori Mystery Quilt is a Drunkard Path Quilt using the same fabrics by Sarah Fielke.  Hand quilted in Perle 8.  Photo taken in Maldon.

The Daisy Quilt - pattern by Emma Jean Jansen.  Made from "The Linen Cupboard" fabric by Emma Jean Jansen for Ella Blue Fabrics.  Yet to be quilted.  Appliqued by hand.

Savanna Safari - made using Cotton & Steel fabrics.  Foundation Paper Pieced using patterns by Tartan Kiwi and Quilt Art Designs.  Photo taken in Kyneton.  Quilted by Linda at Ladybug Quilting.

The back of my Savanna Safari quilt features a leopard running through the grass.  Quilted by Linda at Ladybug Quilting.

Here's a close up photo of Mr Lion - a foundation paper pieced pattern by Tartan Kiwi.  Quilted by Linda at Ladybug Quilting.

The Circle Game Quilt - pattern  by Jen Kingwell.  Made from Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  Mostly hand sewn using a combination of techniques & hand quilted in Aurifil.

The Circle Game Quilt - photo taken in Echuca

Norma's Kaffetastic Kaffetivating Circle Game Quilt - a lap sized version of the Circle Game Quilt by Jen Kingwell made from Kaffe Fassett fabrics which I made for my friend Norma.  Hand quilted in Perle 8.  Photo taken in Port Melbourne

Four Squared Cats - pattern by Jodie Carleton.  Made using "The Cat's Pyjamas" fabric also by Jodie Carleton for Ella Blue Fabrics.  Yet to be quilted.

My completed Zesty Hexies quilt top (yet to be quilted).  Made up from way too many 1” hexies for me to count!

a close up of my Zesty Hexies top

a close up of  my Zesty Hexies quilt back 

Although not a quilt, I couldn't resist sharing my one and only bag with you.  The pattern is "Hearts & Happy Flowers Bag" by Leanne's House.  The front panels are hand embroidered and it is made from various Lecien fabrics and the "Hearts & Happy Flowers" fabric range by Leanne Beasley for Ella Blue Fabrics.

Georgetown On My Mind Sew Along

#GeorgetownOnMyMindSewAlong

For some time now this quilt has been on my wish list.  I promised myself that I would make it after I had finished my "Circle Game Quilt", so I bought the pattern, mulled over fabric choices and as time and money permitted started purchasing what I needed.

I have decided to use the "Bright Blueberry Park" bundle by Karen Lewis Textiles for Robert Kaufman Fabrics with a charcoal homespun background. I have also decided to add a touch of Kaffe Fassett fabrics to give it a bit of zing.

When I posted this photo on Instagram a few months ago, a few friends asked if they could sew along with me so we have decided to make this an informal sew along and invite everyone else to join us.  Karen @VintageStrings and I will be ready to kick off in July and you are welcome to join us.

There are no set deadlines - you are free to sew along at your own pace, knowing that you are with good company who will keep you motivated and encourage you along the way.  

This pattern can be made using various techniques.  I plan to hand sew mine using my own templates and will be typing up a tutorial showing just how easy this can be.  

If you would like to join in you will need the following to make the quilt top:

• to purchase a copy of the pattern "Georgetown On My Mind" by Jen Kingwell
• 6m (6.5 yards) of background fabric
• 3m (3.5 yards) approximately of coloured fabrics (fat 16th & fat 8ths work well)
• Template plastic, 
• Fine marker - I use a Sewline Trio Colors fabric pencil with ceramic leads 
• Fabric scissors
• 1/4' Seaming Wheel/Quilters Wonder Wheel
• Fabric Scissors
• A sheet of fine grade sandpaper or a sandpaper board
• general sewing items - needle, thread etc etc

Sewline Trio Colors comes with 3 coloured lead pencil points – white, pink and black. Just turn the barrel to select your colour. The ceramic leads glide smoothly over fabric, leaving a nice clean line with no chalky residue. The special grip means it’s comfortable to use with good control. When you wish to remove the marks, simply use a polymer eraser ( there is a small one under the lid) or the Sewline Aqua eraser.  The tip is fine enough to use with a 1/4" Seaming Wheel/Quilters Wonder Wheel

This little tool called the Quilter’s Wonder Wheel or 1/4" Seaming Wheel is a great way to easily and accurately add a ¼″ seam allowance to any template. The wheel has a hole in the middle which is countersunk on the top side. The bottom side is smooth and flat allowing it to move freely over the fabric or paper.  A nice sharp pointed pencil (or Sewline Trio Colors Fabric Pencil) fits nicely into the indented hole so that the seam allowance lines can be drawn using the wonder wheel. This cool little tool allows for a simple and easy way to add an accurate ¼″ seam allowance to templates that do not have them or to shapes that you want to use for appliqué or hand sewing.

DISCLAIMER: This sew along is in no way affiliated with Jen Kingwell or Amitie Textiles. "Georgetown on my Mind" is a licenced pattern by Jen Kingwell and can be purchased from most good quilt shops or from Amitie Textiles (Jen's shop).

The Circle Game Quilt

My completed Circle Game Quilt

Further to my post the other day, I realised that I hadn't provided any specs about my Circle Game Quilt.

The pattern booklet.  Available through all good quilt shops.

Pattern: "The Circle Game" by Jen Kingwell

Fabrics Used: 

• I have used a mixture of fabrics by the Kaffe Fassett Collective which includes Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs.
• The black & white spot is "Spot On" design #14868 by Studio RK for Robert Kaufman
• The grey is "Architextures" by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman.  I think it was the "Shale" colour. 
• The charcoal is "Quilter's Linen" screen rint D#9864 by Robert Kaufman
• The Sashing - is a Kaffe Fassett print called "Freckles".  It looks yellow in some photos but it is actually a very pale lime green with flecks of red, pink, brown and green through it.

Techniques: Jen's quilts can be made using a variety of techniques and I am sure that everyone does theirs differently.  I estimate that at least 85% of this quilt was sewn by hand.  There were a few simple blocks which I machine pieced but mostly I hand sewed them.  I did machine piece the borders and the sashing.  It has taken me approximately 12-months to complete this quilt.  

Quilting: I have hand quilted this quilt using Aurifil threads in a combination of 40wt, 50wt and 28wt that I ordered through Ms Midge.

The individual blocks:

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Block 7

Block 8

Block 9 - this is one of my favourites

Block 10

Block 11

Block 12

Block 13

Block 14

Block 15

Block 16 - another one of my favourites

The finished quilt top:

Here is the flimsy hanging up above my bed prior to being quilted.

Miss Amity's "schexy pose" - it's a shame I had the window open when I took this photo as the wind blew the right hand side, but Amity's pose is just too cute!

Basting & Quilting:

My mother helped me baste the quilt in the craft room at her retirement village.

About to pin baste

Ironing and basting

These are all the Aurifil threads that I used to hand quilt this quilt.

Hand quilting

Hand quilting

Hand quilting with Aurifil

Hand quilting with beautiful Aurifil threads

When I was too tired to hand quilt, Miss Amity took over for me ;0)