Merry Christmas

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. 

Thank you for all your support throughout 2011.

Stay Safe and Loved. See you all next year.

Jane xo

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Week 26 Christmas Lights

Welcome to week 26 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about simple piecing and embroidery to create a sparkling block. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

This weeks guest blogger is Belinda Shreeve from BelleBooks blog. Belinda has made this wonderful block named 'Flights of Domestic Fancy'. I do love the feature fabric Belinda has used in this block.

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Christmas Lights
Every Christmas pulled out of the box, a tangled heap of bulbs and wires. Illuminating the houses in the street causing each neighbour to out do the other ...... 


Materials

• FQ of charcoal fabric for back ground.
• scraps of patterned fabric
• Perle Cotton
• Fusible web

Assembly

• Download the foundations templates from here and here.
• Foundation piece the block
• Cut the circle template out (found on page 2 of the foundation templates)
• Trace onto fusible web and cut out leaving 1/8" away from pencil line.
• Press onto back of fabric and cut out on pencil line.
• Peel backing off and press onto block. Machine appliqué.
• Using the Perle cotton and backstitch, embroider a string to link the lights.

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks block. The  DHWQ  will continue in a fortnights time. Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year to you all.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

My wonderful blogging friend

Melody from The House on the Side of the Hill is one of the most kindest and thoughtful person I know. In the mail yesterday arrived one of Melody's felt backed hexie flowers with embroidery in the centre.

Thank you, Mel. I love it so much. It will take pride of place in my office where I can admire it everyday.

Christmas Sale

To celebrate the joy of giving I am reducing all my pre-cuts and notions by 15%.

Just enter the following code at checkout 15CHRISTMAS to receive the discount.

http://www.wantitneeditquilt.com.au

A perfect excuse to fill up those stockings with beautiful fabrics.

Offer ends 24 December 2011 midnight AEST

Name Game Swap

Anorina over at Samelias Mum is hosting a fabulous swap for 2012. Visit Anorina's site for details and sign up. I have already signed up and can hardly wait until January 15th 2012 when I receive my partner details.

P.S Don't forget to tell Anorina how nice the button looks, Hee Hee!

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Week 25 The Sad, little Elf Decoration

Welcome to week 25 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about using your artwork, some thread and backstitch to make a simple block. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

This weeks guest blogger is Paloma from Three Kitchen Fairies. Paloma is from Argentina and will presenting a block called Broken Dishes. Pop over and see Paloma's wonderful blog. It will be in both Spanish and English.

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The Sad, little Elf Decoration

This is the tale of the sad, little elf decoration. 

It was the start of the Christmas season and a flurry of people were buying presents and decorating their houses for the festive season. Obtaining a Decoration from Mr Klaus's Super Christmas Shoppe was always on Mrs D's 'things to do' list every year and this year was no exception. Mrs D was a prolific quilter, of the modern persuasion and sort quirky, handmade and progressively coloured decorations.


On Tuesday morning, Mrs D grabbed her extensive shopping list and shoved it into her handmade tote bag, jumped on the Highgate bus and headed for Mr Klaus's Super Christmas Shoppe. The bus took a long and convoluted route so Mrs D managed to sew some hexagons on the way to pass the time. Finally after forty-five minutes the bus stopped outside the shop. Mrs D hopped off and stood silently in reverent awe of the shop window before her. Her eyes dancing from one decoration to another, searching for the ultimate one that would grace the house this season.


Mrs D opened the old wooden door to the shop, stepping back quickly to let some excited children scamper out, and entered the magical kingdom. Her hands reach on many occasions for the one decoration that appealed to her senses but quickly withdraw because of a strange feeling that persisted. Mrs D continued to walk up and down the aisles, pacing furiously and frustrated at her failure to find the perfect decoration. Suddenly, her iPhone buzzed (a festive tune) and a text message arrived with the news that the Pantone colour for 2012 was 17-1463TPX - Tangerine Tango. Was this a sign? Her eyes slowly lifted to the top shelf above where she was standing. 


On a dusty shelf, way up near the ceiling sat a lonely decoration. It sat there year after year after year but the shopkeeper did not have the heart to remove it. It was an odd little decoration, not like the others that were adorned in silver and gold and clothed in rich reds and opulent greens. This little decoration was a tiny legless elf, with a round belly filled with sand and a garment of orange and turquoise. A rather odd little creation that carried no tag of identification.


Mrs D and the elf's eyes met and it was ordained by the magical powers of quilting, textiles and colour design that these two should meet and live happily ever after.


The elf now sits on the mantle between the lime green reindeer and the citrus snowman. He is sad no more.


Materials

• 10" square of solid for the background
• 4 - 10" 1" wide strips of dotty fabric for border
• 10" square of iron on stabiliser for embroidery
• Variety of Perle Cottons
• Light box or window
• Fine fabric pen
• Hoop (optional)

The pattern for the Elf can be found here. (Remember not to 'Fit to Page' or scale when printing)

Cutting

For borders cut:

• 1 - 7 1/2" strip blue dot
• 2 - 8" strip orange dot
• 1 - 8 1/2" strip blue dot.

Assembly

• Iron the stabiliser onto the back of the solid square.
• Trace the pattern onto the centre of the solid square
• Using Perle cotton and backstitch, stitch pattern, leaving colonial knots for the buttons.
• Trim the block back to 7 1/2" (remember to leave at least 1/2" around pattern)
• Add the 7 1/2" blue dot border to top. Then moving clockwise add the remaining borders in this sequence: 8" orange dot, 8" orange dot, 8 1/2" blue dot.

I hope you enjoyed the Tale of the sad, little elf decoration and block. Next week it will be last of the festive blocks for the DHWQ series.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

Charmed Hexies

Wow, look at these! Joanne from Possum Blossom Patchwork has die cut charm packs into hexagons. Definitely a thumbs up from this Hexaculturalist.

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Week 24 Wreath

Welcome to week 24 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is foundation pieced. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

This week we are lucky to have two guest bloggers. Charlie Scott from Qubee Quilts / P2Squared and Sue Belleli from Quilted Hugs (same may know Sue from the Quilting Blocks Swap Australia) 

Charlie has made this gorgeous Snowflake and Sue has made a delightful Scrappy Tree. Be sure to visit their blogs and have a look around. 

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Wreath

The circle of love and hope that eternally reminds us of all that is good, all that is human and all that is given by God.

Materials

• Scraps of bright solids / textured solids for blades. Minimum size approx. 2.5" x 3.5"
• 5" square for centre
• Scraps of background fabrics. Minimum size approx. 2.5" x 3.5"
• Template plastic

Find the  Foundation Template here and centre circle template here. Remember not to 'Fit to Page' or scale when printing.

Assembly

• Piece the blades and background using the foundation templates.
• Cut a circle and stitch it 1/8" from edge to centre of block.

The Block

Horizontal Layout 

On Point Layout

I hope you enjoyed this weeks block. Next week I will present another festive block.


*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

December Giveaway - California Girl

This month I will be giving one lucky blogger the opportunity to win a California Girl Layer Cake by Fig Tree Quilts.

To enter please leave a comment answering this simple question:

"What is my favourite food, foreign country and colour?"

Food:

a) Chocolate

b) Tomatoes

c) Camembert Cheese

Foreign Country:

a) Turkey

b) France

c) Greenland

Colour:

a) Orange

b) Turquoise

c) Red

The person with the correct answers will win.

Don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you.

Competition Closes 31st December 2011. Good Luck.

A Quilt in almost a day

My lovely friend Anne asked the assistance of Glennis and I to help make her SIL Phil a quilt for Christmas. So, today Anne brought the material to my place and we cut, pieced, pressed and quilted this little beauty.

Anne and Glennis

The Quilt

Tiger Stripes in Pale Orange thread

Done and Done

Done - The Fractured Christmas Star is finally quilted and bound.

40" x 40" Wall Hanging or Table Piece 

12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain, Bella Solids and Aurifil threads.

Done - The Christmas tree is up and decorated.

Aussie Nativity 

Now for the lights

May the Force be with you

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Block 23 Light the Candle

Welcome to week 23 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is free form piecing. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

My guest blogger this week is the talented Pat Sloan. Many of you listen to Pat on the radio and enjoy her blog. Today Pat is presenting a very cute block - Candy Cane Rock and it festively rocks too!

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Light the Candle

The warm glow of the Candle beckons the Advent of a new beginning. 

Materials

• 8" x WOF Charcoal or black textured solid for background and flames
• scraps of yellow patterned fabrics for candles
• scraps of orange fabrics for flames

Assembly

• Cut the pattern pieces

Charcoal background:

•  2 - 8 1/2" x 1 1/2" rectangles
• 1 - 2" x 4 1/2" rectangle
• 1 - 2" x 3" rectangle
• 1 - 2" x 5 1/2" rectangle

Yellow candle:

• 1 - 2" x 2 1/2" rectangle
• 1 - 2" x 6" rectangle
• 1 - 2" x 4" rectangle
• 1 - 2" x 1 1/2" rectangle

Orange Flame:

• 3 - 2" x 2 1/2" rectangles
• 1 - 2" x 3" rectangle

Make the Flames

• Cut from charcoal background fabric 16 - 2" x 3" rectangles
• Take an orange rectangle
• Sew a piece across one corner. Flip back and press.

    

• Add a second piece intersecting the first piece.

• Continue until all four corners are added. Press.

• Turn piece over and trim back to correct size for orange rectangle.

• Repeat for remaining three flames

Block Assembly

• Layout the pieces and sew.

• Block will be 8 1/2" square unfinished.

For those that like to foundation piece,  Foundation Templates can be found here -  Page 1 and Page 2

The Block

I hope you have enjoyed this illuminating block technique. Next week I will present another Festive block.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

More Moda Loveliness in Stock

Look what will be arriving Monday ......

Morris and Company by Barbara Brackman

Sandhill Plums by Kansas Trouble Quilters

Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket 

Collection for a Cause -  Friendship by Howard Marcus

Papillon by 3 Sisters 

Hello Luscious by Basic Grey 

Ten Little Things by Jenn Ski 

California Girl by Fig Tree and Co

I have also introduced into my little e-shop four beautiful collections from Lecien - St Ives by Sarah Fielke,
Folk Heart by Rosalie Quinlan,  Woodland by Natalie Lymer and the new Flower Sugar collection. These collections are sold in FQ bundles.