Saturday Workshop All Stars!

This blogpost could also be called Celebration Saturday because the work that was brought in was outstanding! This workshop was the last one for the year for this group of very talented, creative ladies. I am very honoured to have been  their teacher and am thrilled that everyone in the class has  completed a range of  projects throughout the year.

Everyone has worked hard  to learn new skills, explore creative techniques and give generously of themselves, as quilters so often do.

Many of their projects have been lovingly made as special gifts for others. I have loved teaching each and every one of these workshops. Thank you ladies!

It is a privilege to be able to share with you now the work that came in yesterday.


Can you believe this is Ann's first machine pieced quilt? Outstanding by anyone's standards!

Ann now plans to hand quilt it using Aurofil 12 weight thread emphasising the star and incorporating  Kantha style quilting elements.  It will be stunning. 

Ann has also started her next machine quilting project - a Sewmiriam Quilt As You Go Quilt and here is the first block .Well - you can tell its going to be beautiful. Each block will feature an animal in its centre.

Dee brought in two projects yesterday. After watching me demonstrate my Easy Orange Peel technique, which you can read  about in previous Sewmiriam blogpost tutorials  by clicking here and here  , Dee has created these stunning blocks in a monochromatic palette with stunning results. 

Here are her blocks

Dee will now place the palest of grey 1 inch sashings between the blocks  with  a slightly wider outside border. Dee is such a clever quilter.

Below is her star  cushion cover which is now complete with a perfectly executed  hand quilting finish in deep red thread.

Marg has been very busy behind the scenes with her charity sewing work, and making Christmas table runners and bags for her family. Marg's family must be the luckiest family in the world! She has still found time to make all these beautiful blocks for her next Sewmiriam quilt. I think my favourite block is the centre one with the bird. 

Sue is building up her blocks before framing them in 'black on white' prints and here they are together, in no particular order just yet. The colours will sing when framed and I can't wait to seen them all together. I do love the way the reds, greens and blues are playing together .

Sue also brought along her mini Sandy's Kaleidoscope  quilt which I just had to include here because it is so pretty, but it is wasn't done in my workshop. It is one of Sandy Caller's patterns, a highly talented teacher and member of the Cottage Quiltworks team.  

Well, that is a wrap for the Sewmiriam Workshops for this year. It has been a busy and  amazing year of teaching. I have taught to a range of groups up and down the coast of New South Wales and in Sydney.  I have taught regularly to many people  at Cottage Quiltworks and it has been wonderful teaching each and every one of you. Thank you all so much for your support. I have loved sharing my passion for creativity with you this year.

The teaching year may be winding down, but I will still be blogging on, so keep following me here to find out what's new in my world . You are always welcome.

Happy sewing, love Miriamx

Cotton and Steel Star Gazing

In need of some cheer? Thought you might be. So this week I have decided  to share with you  some festive stars  that I have been working on . The quilt isn't finished yet, but these stars already bring a smile to my face, so I hope they bring some happiness your way as well. 

These star blocks will be be approximately 20 inch square when finished and are made using the Garland range of fabric from Cotton and Steel. You can view the range by clicking here.   I have made the blocks using the Star Gazing pattern by Lynne Wilson which I purchased from Cottage Quiltworks. 

I have decided to make 9 blocks and here they are, in no particular order. I have used a mixture of light and bright backgrounds . Each star has its own personality!

 

A short and sweet blogpost this week , and I will keep my final layout as a surprise for a later post. Thank you so much for stopping by. I am so glad you did. You are always welcome. 

Happy sewing, love Miriamx