Craftsy/LeahDay FMQ BOM quilt ...three more blocks!

This week's efforts... (and linking up with Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts' Finish It Up Friday)...

One block with a wreath of feathers and pebbles, plus heart motif...I am quite pleased with this wreath!

...another block with a feather pattern in the chevron (hard to see in the pattern of the fabric), a feather shell in the triangles and lines in between...

...and a third block with a spiral chain in the sashing and snake paisley in the triangles... 

Now, on to blocks 13 - 20 - only a week left until school starts again and this quilt shall be complete if I have anything to do with it (and if the Aussie Open tennis finals don't keep me up too late over the next three nights, hmm, do I want Nadal or Federrer to win? I don't mind, I just love a good game!)

(Next day...well done Rafa!! Gosh the final with Wawrinka is going to be a doozy!!)

Craftsy/Leah Day FMQ class Block Nine PLUS GIVEAWAY!

Wow!  I see by my blog overview that this is my 100th post! I think that deserves a suitable celebration! I have had a look through my stash and I have this little set of six fat quarters, not labelled but they seem to have a Japanese floral theme - I bought it as I love the colour combo of pinks and oranges, purples and reds. 

Everyone who leaves a comment before the 1st February will go in the draw (including international visitors). Become a new follower and leave a second comment to confirm that and it'll give you a second chance to win! Good luck and thanks for visiting!

I have quilted these blocks from my 2012 Amy Gibson Craftsy class BOM modern quilt sampler, following Leah Day's advice in her FMQ Craftsy class that followed up the BOM.

(Block #1 here)       

(Blocks #2 #3 here) 

(Blocks #4 - #8 here)

Have used Leah's travel back feather design on this one...

I was better with my shape on the longer feathers on the right than I was with the ones on the left, c'est la vie!! Will see how I go with the feather wreath on block ten! Watch this space. 

Thrilled to be linking up with Lee's WIP Wednesday and Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday!

Craftsy/Leah Day FMQ Class: Blocks Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight!!

More work on my 'improve my skills sampler quilt'...making the most of rainy days!

(Cont.)    (Block #1 here)   
(Blocks #2 #3 here)

Have quilted these blocks from my 2012 Amy Gibson Craftsy class BOM modern quilt sampler, following Leah Day's advice in her FMQ Craftsy class that followed up the BOM.

Here is block four, with a shell echo in the white spaces and a square spiral in the centre. Still working on my steadiness and spacing...

Very excited yesterday to have my machinery gloves and Queen Supreme Slider arrive in the mail. Recommended by Leah and I can immediately see why! The gloves are so light and comfortable and give great grip while the quilt is moving so nicely across the slider...

Block five with an in-out spiral in the centre, pine needles around the wheel and echo shells in the corner. Not perfect but I am improving I think...

Block six is a sew and slash block in which I have done an echo pattern and a wandering clover, with string of pearls as well...

Block seven has got pebbles and basic stippling as per the class advice...when I look at it I think I should have pebbled the cream area and left the cross and corners blank for better effect...

Block 8 is where we were taught to do the escargot (snail) variation of the spiral...

Craftsy/Leah Day FMQ class: Blocks Two & Three

(Cont.)    (Block #1 here)

Have today quilted these two blocks from my 2012 Amy Gibson Craftsy class BOM modern quilt sampler, following Leah Day's advice in her FMQ Craftsy class that followed up the BOM class.  
 
A radiating spiral over top of the strings block...

...and a flower design, with an in-out spiral in the centre and wandering clover in the corners of this block.

I practised the radiating spiral on this sandwich...

Gosh I love summer school holidays!!
I made myself a promise (or rather a command) that I couldn't attack the quilt today until I had cut back all the peony rose bushes this morning - this turned into a full on gardening session as, after working my way along the peony rose bush plot, I then decided I might as well work my way back the other way by trimming up the ten standard rose bushes and pulling out the rest of the weeds along the way. Have now got quite a few gaps to fill in...thinking/plotting/planning is underway!!

Kieran is back from his ten days at National Scout Jamboree tomorrow - am looking forward to hearing about all his activities!!

Craftsy/Leah Day FMQ Class - Block One

Have quilted this block from my 2012 Amy Gibson Craftsy class BOM modern quilt sampler, following Leah Day's advice in her FMQ Craftsy class that followed up the BOM class. There is stippling in the cross, paisley in the white and curves in the corners (a bit wonky but all good practice!) 

Just like Amy is a great tutor in her video lessons, so is Leah - lots of expert advice and great tips on how to do FMQ, very easy to follow instructions. I look forward to working my way through each of the blocks and techniques as I tackle the quilting on this single-bed-sized quilt. 

 

First I stitched in the ditch around each of the blocks. 

I had started by practising on a sandwich made from some leftover charm squares. Might become a cushion eventually!

In looking for leftovers/scraps (to create the practise sandwich from) I ended up having a sort out of my scraps (had thought about making a slab to practise on as per Amanda Jean Nyberg's book, and she has instructions on how to make storage boxes out of scraps).

I ended up with these piles of larger scraps as well as a shoebox of strings and an old small suitcase of small pieces. The charm squares were fast to put together and I think I need to collect more scraps before I can make the boxes!