Epping Quilters Sewmiriam Workshop

What a delightful day I had working with the very talented ladies from the Epping Quilters on Thursday.

Using one pattern - The Sewmiriam Handy Zip Top Bag - they set about to create their own one of a kind bag. That is what is so great about this pattern. You bring your own style to the pattern and each bag made is unique and personalised. The ladies brought in their own fabrics and away they went!

Techniques, tips and tricks were taught along the way, and the bags took shape as the day progressed. I am thrilled to be able to share with you now the fabulous bags made by  these very talented ladies.

 First up is Ros"s beautiful bag made with gorgeous oriental prints. Here is the front

And  here is the back ..

Ros used Kantha fabric for the base .. how clever is that! 

Edna is a fabulous quilter and made this delightful monochromatic bag.

Christina used an exquisite bird print as her focus fabric to create a beautiful bag 

Anne created this whimsical bag which I just fell in love with . 

Don't you love the play of green and blues!

You can tell that Bev loves colour and she created this lovely bag centred around the 

owl fabric .

For all you Tula fans out there -here is Mandie's fabulous Elizabeth bag!

I love the way you can mix and match old and new Tula ranges .

Here is the back ..

Lorraine has a wonderful colour sense and  made the front of what will be a beautiful bag. 

Here is a sneak peak!

Catherine had to rush off to do the school pick up , but here is the bag she 

is making for her daughter  so far - how lucky are daughters of quilting mothers!

While we are on an animal theme,  here is the front of  Coralie's bag. 

How clever are these fabric pairings! 

Lyn  made a beautiful butterfly her focus with a real wow

factor!

Told you it was an amazing day! Thank you ladies for welcoming me to your 

group and for being such a delight to teach. Your bags are awesome!

Happy sewing, love Miriamx 

Saturday Workshop

I love my Saturday Workshops. They are always busy, fun filled days and I am always inspired by the  talent of the participants. Here is just a small sample of the wonderful work done today.

First up is Sue's Sewmiriam Large Dresden Quilt. Her wonderful friends gave her today's workshop as a birthday present. How nice is that! What wonderful, thoughtful friends. Sue sewed up a storm and the results speak for themselves - spectacular!

Here is how it looks in its awesome entirety.

Caroline made her first Sewmiriam Handy Zip Top bag. Here is the front...

and here is the back. I love the fabric choices and the colours.Well done Caroline. Your bag is gorgeous.

Angela bought in a beautiful selection of floral fabrics to her first lesson. Mixing them with some clever stripes and spots she is well on the way to making both the front and back of her first Sewmiriam Handy Zip Top Bag. You can see some of Angela's beautiful work here...

And here....

Exquisite work Angela!

Sue B is busy building up her 6 inch blocks using Tilda fabrics. This isn't the final placement, but it is fun to start playing around with the blocks and to think about fabric framing. Here are Sue's soft and delicate blocks squared up and on point. 

Anne worked on the square borders of her beautiful star , based on the Barn Star from Victoria Findlay Wolfe's 15 Minutes of Play book. This photo montage does not do justice to the colours and beauty of this quilt which really glows. I can't wait to see it with the square borders stitched on.

So much talent in one room in one day! 

Next on my calendar is a Bag Making Workshop with the Epping Quilters on Thursday. I can't wait . 

Happy sewing, love Miriamx

Go Slow

It is time for some slow sewing. Some projects are patient. They  have their own pace. They aren't slaves to an alarm  clock or a timeline or a deadline. They meander about the house. They linger in the back of our minds and play gently. They come and go and are always happy to see us when we  finally pay them that little bit of extra attention - sounds a  bit like a puppy!

              

The project featured in my blogpost this week is just like that. I have been working in tiny little bits of stolen  time on this project for years.  I am currently working on the baskets border of my version of the Marg Sampson George Hexagons and Baskets Quilt.  I first posted a picture of the unfinished centre in 2015. You can see it here.  I also posted about the fussy cutting in another post - click here

Here are some photos of the baskets as they are progressing. I am adding the daisy petals one by one at the moment using needle turn applique.  I am really slow at this, but that doesn't matter. This isn't a race, and there are no prizes for fast finishers. It is all about the process, and I am enjoying the simple pleasure of working with tiny pieces of scraps and turning them into petals.

When all the daisies are done, then I have to add all the other flowers to the baskets. Each basket will have different flowers. 

To give you an idea of how it will all come together below is the WORST photo in the world of the quilt on a design board . It looks so wonky but thats because I was way too short to reach up to pin it straight!)  You can also see the diamond design I want to use for the next border when the baskets are completed , which will  be started somewhere in my octaganarian years!!!! 

The point is RELAX - enjoy your sewing. It is meant to be for pleasure and the process is as important as the final product. Just think of all the friendships you have made along the way - a journey well worth taking. I for one am all for the scenic route!

Happy sewing, love Miriamx