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crazy!!!

29/12/2012

Detail,bottom right section from "Wheelflower Medallion"

I promised to write about the craziest applique I have ever seen...honestly this woman is a champion at this technique.

Detail , bottom left corner of "Wildflowers of Margaret"

Personally ,I would never contemplate such a project. It is fascinating just how much detail she likes to include in one quilt

These quilts are all made by Merelyn Pearce from the state of New South Wales.Merelyn started quilting in 1989.

center of "Wheelflower Medallion"

"To Margaret Preston V" "Wildflowers of Margaret"

Having seen this work live I can vouch that this lady is a crazy crazy perfectionist....just amazing prescision.

Each small circle is an individual applique that has been quilted.
As you may imagine ( if you could even imagine doing something this detailed) this all needs a LOT of time.
She has completed 13 quilts in 24 years!!!

Merelyn Pearce's quilts are an ode to the art of Australia's Margaret Preston which, was inspired by nature and aboriginal art

Merelyn Pearce herself..!

"Bird of Paridise" center detail

"Bird of Paradise"

"Preston Dreaming" is Merelyn's latest piece and the sixth in her series (in 12 years), celebrating the work of Margaret Preston.This quilt understandably won Best of Show in Sydney in 2011 and Best of Australia.

part of "Bush Sultana" border

This border fabric "Bush Sultana" was designed by contemporary Aboriginal artist, Audrey Napanangka....every dot is quilted !!! This quilt is embroidered , hand appliqued and machine quilted. It took two and a half years to complete. If anyone tries to search for a website or blog of Margarets you won't find one as she's busy quilting and designing....ok....tomorrow i'm having a quilting/crafting day too :).....haven't forgotten the simpler but, just as impressive quilts
I saw at the show... more on those another time...Maro

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Temari...

24/12/2012

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A while ago ,actually it must be at least 4 years now I took a series of classes taught by Linda Watts, on Temari ,a chinese folk art form that was introduced in Japan 5 or 6 hundred years ago. These were originally made as children's toys but later transcended into an art form.It is said that they are supposed to bring good fortune to those who keep them.
Having cats I decided that it may be dangerous displaying year round and so chose traditional xmas colours for all my Temaris. Each year I bring them out I think about making another.....

Thanks Linda for teaching me the beginnings of this technique...Te Mari Christmas to all and happy holidays !
...Maro

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Christmas trees...

23/12/2012

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Why is it that quilters can't throw away any size or shape of scrap?...
These little tree brooches are all made from the scraps I accumulated when making this years "Xmas Rain" quilt. Instead of stashing even more scraps I got stuck into making my little forest of trees. No tree is alike ...Maro

brooches gallery

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Brooches....

7/12/2012

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Oops !....added the 2012 brooches to our website gallery and forgot about this one !! Seems this little fella always comes last. It was the last brooch I made before the xmas bazaar. The wooden button is from Australia. The other materials include felted wool and hand dyed cotton batting ...all done by me !... A really messy job but always a surprise. I am also conscious this year about using nickel free clasps on everything, as a friend gets the itches from anything with nickel ...of course no glues are used what so ever...maro

brooches gallery

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Pencil Rolls

2/12/2012

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This is a great way to use up some scrap strips . I chose a variety of strips making sure that the basic colours were represented . I carefully matched the fabrics choosing the ones that I liked and sewed them together to make the coloured interior . The first three were done but I was left with 40 rejected strips cut to size and ready to go. After some thought the decision was made. I would use the rejects and make another two pencil rolls.

Needless to say they are now my favourite ones!

Pattern from "LAST MINUTE PATCHWORK + QUILTED GIFTS" Joelle Hoverson

Honestly I can hardly tell the difference between the carefully chosen ones and the rest can you ?

Nonie

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christmas strip...

1/12/2012

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Using the 1600 inches technique I had tried out on a jelly roll,I decided to make my own strips from my stash of xmas fabrics and see what evolved...

I cut all my 2 inch strips and started sewing....
ending up with a pile of strips on the floor, then sewing them all together again and again and again...when completed i decided the strips should be vertical and hence was inspired to make rain...XMAS RAIN...maro