Blue Gentleman

Whilst posting about the raffle quilt I saw I had not actually shown you my main piece of work from 2012.
This quilt is made for my husband and will be his after it has been in the Royal Canberra Show next weekend.
The pattern for this quilt is from Sindy Rodenmayer of www.fatcatpatterns.com and is called Southern Gentleman.  Sindy created hers in browns but I decided to make it in blues.

I spent many hours tracing shapes onto Vliesofix and then cutting them out.  I skipped a step and the appliqueing was done as part of the quilting process.  It did mean being very gentle with the quilt top. I was pleased with the result.

Thomas in front of the yet to be bound quilt.

Hanging at the 2012 Canberra Quilters Exhibition

I was thrilled to win 3rd place in the Bed Quilt Professional category.

 

One of the 16 blocks. Each block was 16", a good sized quilt you could say.

Lots of interesting shapes to quilt around.

Each shape was appliqued raw edge style in matching thread, this meant rolling the quilt numerous times as I stitched each colour, then started again with the next.

The background quilting is white Rasant thread and I used an extremely pale blue Bottom Line in the bobbin. This is my version of McTavishing, all the background quilting is freehand.

The sashing and setting squares, I like the secondary effect created from the diamonds.

The navy border, you can see the chalk marking I did to keep my shapes even in size.

 

Lastly I've added a few extra close ups of the blocks. I love the texture created by the quilting.

If anyone is wondering why I chose blue for this quilt, Thomas has blue eyes and he looks great wearing these colours.
I know this was a long post but I hope you enjoyed seeing my special quilt for Thomas.

Raylee 

Canberra Quilters Raffle Quilt 2013

You know how I said I was going to be better at posting regularly, well it didn't happen did it.  Partly because I was thinking of anyone who reads my blog.  I read that I should lower the resolution of the photos going on the blog to make it quicker to load the page etc.  Since then I've discovered that this blog can handle the pictures and though I will keep them to a smaller image size, you can click on any picture to see it full size with all the lovely detail.

I've not been idle as you will see. The main thing I have been working on with a lot of help from my lovely Mum is the 2013 Raffle Quilt for Canberra Quilters.  Thanks Mum, without your help, I'd still be piecing.

yes, it's hanging from just below my guttering, it's not a small quilt.  Note the nosy dog, Sam.

Sam is a Tenterfield terrier, fully grown.  You can see the lower part of the quilt, I really like the quilting on the green blocks.

This picture shows the block pattern and the quilting quite well. Green blocks quilted with clear monofilament, creating a lovely texture without the added colour.

Still on the machine at this point, did I mention I liked the quilting on the green?

The repeating lines give a cool effect...

offset by the leaf design on the white blocks, all done freehand in white thread.

The border.

The back, sometimes this is just as good as the front.  I have to say I  really like both on this quilt.

 

 

 

 

Well the quilt is now in the hands of the valuer and then will be shown at various shops around Canberra in the lead up the the annual Canberra Quilters Exhibition in August.  Tickets will be on sale soon at many shops in and around Canberra or through Canberra Quilters, I will also have them available.

So having sorted my photo issue, here's to a better blog year.

Raylee