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Friday 20 February 2015

Underground Railroad Quilt Blocks - 10 to 16

As promised, here are the final few block for this quilt.

I have to leave this quilt as is for a while as I have to make a King sized quilt for my eldest son and his wife as a 25th Wedding Anniversary present.

I'll let you know when this one gets finished.

Anyway's here are the final few blocks. At this stage they still require squaring up and pressing.


Block  10 Bowtie


Block 11 - Flying Geese


Block 12 Birds in the Air


Block 13 Drunkards Path


Block 14 Sailboat


Block 15 North Star


Block 16 Story

Monday 16 February 2015

Underground Railroad Quilt Blocks 1 to 9

With a group of fellow residents here in Angle Vale Gardens Retirement Estate, I'm making the Underground Railroad quilt. This is using the Underground RAilroad Sampler Book by Eleanor Burns & Sue Bouchard. Published by Quilt in a Day ISBN: 1-89177613-4. I  bought my book via Ebay and paid a fortune for it. You can however get it from Quilt in a Day Quilt in a Day Underground Railroad Sampler book

The quilt tells the story of how Slaves were helped to escape slavery via the messages in the quilts.

So far I have made the first 9 of 16 blocks. I say 16 but the final block is actually the story which I've scanned onto printable fabric and will then make into a block, as opposed to using it as a label on the back of the finished quilt.

The book gives you all the instruction you need to complete each block, from the fabric qty needed in total to the individual block qty, piece cutting to step by step making of each block.

Anyway, here are my completed blocks 1 to 9.

 Block 1 - Underground Railroad

 Block 2 - Monkey Wrench

 Block 3 - Wagon Wheel

 Block 4 - Carpenter's Wheel

 Block 5 - Bear's Paw

 Block 6 - Basket

 Block 7 -  Crossroads

 Block 8 - Log Cabin
Block 9 - - Shoo-Fly

This is the story label, 

The quilt uses 4 Background fabrics, 3 Reds, 3 Brown, 3 Green, 3 Blue, and Black.

One thing which I didn't realise until I got to block 4 Carpenters Wheel, was that the book pretty much requires you to have  the Quilt in a Day flying geese ruler. Otherwise it's rather difficult to get your flying geese block trimmed to the correct size. You are able to purchase these from Quilt in a Day, or there are other stores online within Australia where you can easily purchase them without paying the exorbitant postage charges for freight from America.



I hope you enjoy the journey that this quilt takes you on. I'll post the remaining blocks once they are all completed.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

FINALLY! Some card making....

After having lost my mojo for card making, (not helped by my renewed passion for quilting) I've finally got around to actually making some cards.

I've enjoyed the pleasure of inky fingers, and colour selections once again. I must make sure to keep at it now.

Anyway, here's what I've been up to.
Hope you enjoy. Thank you for visiting my blog today.

The first card is using a technique i've not done in what seems like years, but probably only a couple of years. It's called Lacing. This particular circular design uses's a metal template so you can simply place the blade of your craft knife into the slots and cut them. then of course you fold and tuck to create the design. The centre is a medallion from the new Stampin Up Catalogue called "Petal Potpourri" Catalogue number 138586, which I inked in versamark and heat embossed in gold.


I simply love the simplicity of these band aid designs. I saw a card made similar to this on the internet and fell in love with the concept.  Here are my two versions.
For the faces, I used some Peachy Keen stamps i have, and then added little googly eyes for effect.  LOVE it.


 This card  uses some of the Stampin Up's chalkboard cardstock. and stamps with chalk inks. I added to the chalk effect by going over the design with the Stampin Up Chalk marker. The stamp set used is from the new catalogue and is called 'Big Day' Catalogue number 139112. Pm me if you wish to order any Stampin Up supplies.

 The final card for today is again using lacing. This one however is a plastic multi design template by Paper Pizazz HOTP 7306, called Diamond Folds. with this template you position it where you wish your design to be, then use a pencil to lightly mark the chevrons. Once all are marked, remove the template and cut the marked lines with a sharp craft knife of choice. Finally you fold and tuck to finish the design. I usually use a tiny spot of aquadhere to keep my points tucked firmly.
The flower is from a new Stampin up set called 'Butterfly Basics', catalogue No.137154