What To Do With Orphan Blocks

I've decided that if there are blocks left over from making quilts (as there are going to be, when I don't follow a pattern), before putting away the fabric used, I will make up some more blocks. Viola! Here we have more flying geese and borders big enough for a neonate quilt (18 inches):

Backing and batting are pieces joined together after trimming the main quilt.

This Quilt Grew ...

This was supposed to be a cot quilt but has ended up a single bed size, 73.5" x 57" (186cm x 145cm), so at least it will be used for longer.
Straight lines in the center panel, feathers on the chequerboard border, stippling around the flying geese and straight lines on the smaller borders - 8 hours worth of quilting - whew!!

Quilting detail:

A Peek at Another Challenge Quilt

I've always wanted to make a poppy quilt, have even gathered beautiful fabric towards making one, but not really found a pattern that inspired me. So, I designed one for myself. Now this is not your everyday kind of quilt - it's 3-D for a start, then I've 'painted' cotton batting to make the poppies, and they have a range of different centres.
This is all you are going to see. It's for Queenstown Quilt Symposium 2011, so I had better not show you anymore - but of course, if it doesn't get accepted, you'll see all of it!

Playing with Fabric and Paint

We have had beautiful warm autumnal weather the last 2 mornings, so while the paints and glue are not yet packed away, I did some more playing with paint and fabric.
This one has been done as per the Judy Coates Perez workshop on Sunday:
and this is just paint on fabric with liquid amber leaves as a resist.
Looking forward to getting some batting and quilting them!

My Visitor Is Going Home

I have been very lucky to have Judy Coates Perez from Chicago, Il. staying with me. She left today to start the journey home. While she was here she was introduced to Chloe, the chooks, the sheep, (Casper wanted to go home with her), an hedgehog and a friend's alpacas.
I also partook in her Mixed Media Fabric Painting workshop yesterday with 24 other women - we had a blast!
Here is my work (not yet finished until the quilting is done!):
Firstly we glued pictures on to white cotton:

then we got really happy with paint (Pebeo Setacolor):

and after that had all dried and been heat treated we painted the background - mine doesn't have enough contrast so I will have to play with more paint or threads:

Thanks for a fun class Judy!