Gee its been a long time .....

 As my heading says ... Gee Its been a long time... 

Happy New Year.... 2025 

May it be a peaceful , creative year for us all.

 Funny , it as we get older the less drama in our lives the better.... nothing I like more than have a busy morning and then the afternoon to sit in my small but beautiful studio and sew. I always have either a podcast to listen to or a movie to watch while stitching.

It is summer here in Australia and the summer holidays are just about finished for our school children and also for me. Back to classes. I have a full year booked out. If you are interested in a class with me please look at my teaching schedule tab on the web site for a class hopefully near you.

2025 will be my last really full time teaching year. 2026 I will be having my classes online, and a light teaching schedule. Retreats, weekend gigs that sort of thing. No more once a month skill building classes.  I have been teaching for 26 years travelling all over teaching and time to spend at home a little more now. I have 2 beautiful granddaughters to cuddle and lots of new work for me to explore. My creative soul needs feeding and time to do more contemporary quilt making. Explore fabric painting. fabric manipulation , just see where it all goes..... You never know I may be a student in a class sitting next to you one day. Learn new things ....Wonderful.....

Well its been a while  since I wrote here in my blog. I thought they ( blog postings) were not in fashion any more, not the done thing. I hear they are back and you know Ill give this a go. Please let me know what you think, do you like to read blogs anymore??? 

2024 was a big year for me teaching all over the place. If you were in one of my classes I thank you.

I am working on a big applique quilt. Actually a book and pattern sheets hopefully by the second half of this year. Its big...... A new version of my Floral Garden Applique ( black based quilt below) made over 12+ years ago. It is very popular with my once a month skill building classes but I didn't write a book. I was not writing pattern books back then.

I am photographing each step of the process working out how many of each individual flower is needed etc. All stitching is done with 12 wt Wonderfil Spagetti thread. This gives a beautiful texture to the applique. Stitching  is on my BERNINA machine with a blanket stitch and a few decorative stitches in key flowers. The book will have stitching details for other brands of machines. All techniques step by step explained and photographed so easy to follow along.

These are the border corner blocks 16 inch sqaure, yep very large applique borders. 

The 16 blocks with sashings 

Multiple flowers made at the same time. 

Many of the flowers I have designed are from Miss Molly flower garden quilt. The book and project has been so popular and I loved making it .So I drew from that sweet , fresh quilt and made it more elaborate . 

The next step is the applique 16 inch wide border. Yep lots of time  just of drawing, cutting out the shapes even before stitching.

I get asked do you use a scan and cut machine?  No I don't. I actually adore this process. I find it mindful and very relaxing. Choosing the different colour combinations and hand cutting each shape.

Do you know about these fantastic applique pressing mats from Matildas Own. I love mine. Ask  patchwork shop to get some in.

All of the applique shapes are cut out and pressed to this mat with the pattern underneath. Once the pattern is completed you take a pin and slide it under the outer edges of the applique and lift it off the mat and placed onto your background fabric .   The mat is a little heavier than others and the line markings go up to 18 inches square, circle, and diagonal lines to keep your design balanced.  Perfect for me .... 

If your new to machine applique and would like the learn how to get a professional look, may I suggest you purchase my Machine Applique 4 Ways book. This is a techniques book. A machine applique reference and some call it their bible of sorts. There are no projects just techniques for blankets stitch , decorative stitch, free motion stitch, and blind hem applique. 

Link to this book here Machine Applique 4 Ways book

Anyway back to my machine , stitching flowers lots to go....

Happy stitching 

X Deb and Miss Molly