Henny Penny lap quilt

I started this one a couple of years ago, I can't remember exactly when. The lovely chicken fabrics are incorporated between the chicken wire. This quilt has been made for my Mum who, whilst on the farm, had poultry of all kinds; turkeys, ducks, chickens and laying hens. Naturally chickens were a huge part of her farming life. The hens ran around free eating scraps and enjoying dust baths. Egg collecting was always fun.

After completing the chicken and wire fencing I wanted to add something additional to it, give it some zing. I decided some applique chickens scratching around the borders. I think they really bring the quilt to life. I added the last two brown ones last week.

Top completed

My grey chickens

Sweet lil brown ones

I don't know why I added the white trim now...

On the run

I think this one might have a sore leg

More brown chicks

The majority of these chicken fabrics came from Evelyn in Dunedin

Free motion quilting

I've been patchworking and quilting (I use the word loosely) for just on four years now and I'm ashamed to admit that I had my first go at free motion quilting at my Wednesday classes only two weeks ago....

I had to borrow a friend's free motion foot as I realised my Janome did not come with the required footer. Next stop: Art of Sewing, Riccarton, to put in an order for one! I had no idea what the term "dogs" were until now, duh!

So, for my appliqued chickens on my lap quilt I have ironed on a few, but they will have to wait for my purchased footer. I took up sizing up my scraps at last week's session. You know, that really boring task you know you need to do, but for the life of you, you can't be bothered until it's too late.... and you really need 152 strips of blue or whatever!

Little black hen

Little brown hens, legs yet to be stitched

 My latest fabric purchases

Purchased at Away with the Fairys, Cust

 

Purchased at Cottonfields, Christchurch

The beautiful Hurunui - my home

State Highway 1 leaving Amberley

 

Back of Culverden, Kaiwara Road

Follows a long, winding metal road

Past the Greta Valley

 

Homeward bound through the Waipara vineyards

Chicken run

Finally I began my chicken quilt. The first sewing group of the year was Wednesday 22 January and thus I began to sew again after the lovely Christmas/New Year break. Sometimes it is nice to have a break away from patching just to come back with a fresh mind and sewing fingers!

Chicken wire sewed on ready for rows

I chose a dark brown chicken wire fabric for my sashing inbetween the blocks, very simple, but that is what I wanted. Basically my plan is in my head and I am stitching as I go along. I firstly made a plan in my book to see how the general layout would be like and away I went.

I have sewed all the blocks together and the sashings. Thus the next step is to sew the rows together.

Placement for sewing

Back in the saddle

I actually haven't been out of the saddle, but haven't been blogging for a very long time... Shame on me. How am I supposed to keep a record of my patchwork quilting if I don't actually enter my creations.

Its been such a long time I can hardly remember what I have finished.

LOG CABIN: I finally got it quilted by a professional. There was no way on earth I could do my 85" bedspread in my machine.

Corner detail

Love that professional quilting look

The complete package

Rolled log cabin quilt with some visitors

PILLOWCASES: One of the ladies in my Wednesday session went to a class on making pillowcases. Now the whole group are making them in their sleep! It consists of three fabrics, 65cm, 25cm and 10cm.

My first pillows

MY NEW CUTTING TABLE: My bestie's bestie made me a cutting table to order!!! Gotta love ya mates! It stands approximately 90cm and at present has one shelf (which roll out), but have requested a second. It comes complete with an expandable extra length for when I need to pin a large quilt. I am so impressed and get so motivated when standing before it, it's almost like a shrine!!

TEAPOT SET: My first attempt at making small objects. The photo below shows my excitement at beginning it and the wading for the teapot to the left. I have nearly finished the set, but the cup and saucer do not resemble the photo, ha! Once finished I will upload the finished project.

The set includes teapot, 2 x cups, 2 x saucers

CHICKEN QUILT: My best intentions are there! I thought after finishing the log cabin I would tackle something easier, so I cut some 10" squares for readiness. I will link the blocks with some interesting chicken wire fabric, which I have yet to choose, thus the reason the blocks are still on the design wall (i.e., hallway!).

Chicken blocks on the wall and toy mouse in the hallway...

BARGELLO: I finally located the extra batch of fabric required to finish off my bargello, but as yet have not cut and attached it to the finished top. It came all the way from the United States, so thank you very much America!! Will load piccie as and when I complete the top.

That's all for now, happy stitching!