Two nights ago I pulled out my Gingerbread Retreat Cottage. I'd really like to get this one finished before Christmas, and then it can join the others on the shelf. I'd already started the brown roof months ago, but this week I started the front panel.
I have an embroidered Gingerbread Village that I bring out each Christmas. The patterns are designed by Thea Dueck of the Victoria Sampler. You can find plenty more photos and information on the Gingerbread Village tab at the top of my blog.
I took my Kim McLean Giraffe cushion into Nancy's Stitch Studio to get it turned into a cushion. They do such a great job of stretching the canvas and turning it into a beautiful cushion. I'm going to use that gorgeous piece of Kaffe Fassett fabric on the back.
Speaking of Kaffe Fassett, look what my mum made for me! Some hand knitted woolen socks, and matching fingerless gloves, all from Kaffe Fassett wool. It's till winter here, so both gifts will be well used over the next few weeks.
My socks even match the rug (blanket) that I crocheted a few years ago.
I posted a photo of the pincushion online, and lots of people wanted to know where to get the pattern from. If you're interested, it's an English Paper Pieced pattern from a small New Zealand company called Tis the Season. Here is the link to the Vera pattern.
I've also spent a fair bit of time stuggling with velcro this week. If you're a Kiwi, you'll know what that means. Yes, I've had a quilt accepted into our national show at Quilt Symposium Auckland. Some of our exhibitions use velcro to hang the quilts, rather than hanging sleeves. Don't ask why, because I don't know why. I hate putting velcro onto my quilts, but it has to be done if you want your quilt to be hung. I am delighted to have a quilt in the exhibition. This is the only show open to everyone in New Zealand.
I've also just finished my silver hexagon mini quilt for the Aotearoa Quilters' 25th anniversary challenge. These quilts will also be on display at Symposium, and they also need velcro. I'm not going to post any photos of my silver quilt until they are all on display. I was determined to enter this challenge after seeing all the pink ones at Palmerston North. Making a hexagon shaped quilt wasn't easy!
So, I'll have two quilts in the exhibitions at Symposium. If you live in Auckland I hope you can come and view the exhibitions, even if you're not taking any classes.
Now for the Peacock Party. What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up a recent blog post.
10 comments:
so many lovely colourful projects! I especially love your Giraffe needlepoint :)
I have completed the embroidery on my Gingerbread Needlework Shop. Could I ask what did you use for the support in the walls and roof? I haven't started the construction part yet and was wondering if anything other than the matboard the pattern suggests could be used. Thank you
All beautiful! Love those socks, gloves, and the comforter! Great work and the pin cushions are very very pretty! Hugs
Velcro is a pain to work with. Congrats on having your quilt accepted, good luck.
What a beautiful colourful post, Wendy. Just love the woolies from your clever MOm and your cross stitch and needlepoint. Congratulations on having a quilt accepted too! Good Luck.
love all the knitting - I have recently started to crochet again and those finger-less mitts give me ideas . Now I wonder about the Velcro on your quilt back - I assume you put it on in such a way that it doesn't stay there when you bring it back home - how do you go about doing that I have never heard that done before.
Oh those socks and gloves and pincushion are all so lovely!
Oh! I know exactly what you mean about that "dabbling" feeling! Me too! Haven't really accomplished anything, but make some progress on several things. You and I need to hang in there! Gosh, thanks for sharing that you're dealing with Velcro. I never would have guessed that ANY quilt show would require Velcro for displaying quilts. I've never heard of such a thing! Personally, I'd sure think long and hard about entering such a show. Like you said, the hassle of putting Velcro on a quilt... and then how that Velcro behaves when the quilt is folding. No way. I'd sure like to know why someone thought that was a good idea. Perhaps once the reasoning was explained, I'd be more understanding of the idea. Hope you get to a FINISH this coming week! I'm saying that because I want one too!
Some seasons are perfect for dabbling.:) Those socks and gloves!! Love them!
Wendy, as an Auckland Guild member for about 30 years I know the system, and have done this every year for Festival of Quilts show.. You sew the fluffy side of a Velcro strip onto a 4" hanging sleeve, then hand sew the hanging sleeve to your quilt.
I have had 3 large quilts accepted, so have had alot of hand sewing to do. I think if you read the conditions of entry you will find it written there.
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