Michelle Yeo's Quilts at Houston.

Michelle Yeo was also a featured quilter at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this year. Michelle reproduces antique quilts  and drafts her own patterns. The quilts usually have intricate piecing and her use of colour is unusual and very striking.

Michelle often combines intricate piecing and applique in her designs and I have a few of her patterns to make up.
I hope you enjoy the eye candy for today.
Hugs, Jan Mac

I'm On a Back Basting Roll.

 I have been making rapid progress since I've learned how to back baste to prepare for my applique blocks. I was behind with my Chester Criswell County blocks and decided to take some to back baste on the flights to the US. In the past 3 weeks I have basted and appliqued 4 blocks for this quilt as well as basting two thirds of the centre block which is equivalent to 4 blocks in the centre of the quilt.

 You can see the first blocks for the top two rows which I stitched in the US. The bottom two blocks on the right hand side of the photo are the other two I've finished and the rose stem was finished today. I took Carole's (Wheels on the Warrandyte Bus blog) idea and added rose buds to the stems to add more interest. I have another two blocks ready to be back basted so I'm quickly catching up on these blocks and I'm soon going to start stitching my Noah and Matilda blocks which I've already basted.

.I'm loving how portable this technique is for applique and I don't need to make an overlay or take a light box, just the fabric and large needle and some quilting thread.
 Stay tuned as I hope to have some more finishes very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Di Ford Hall Featured in Houston.

One of the reasons i wanted to visit the International Quilt Festival at Houston this year was because three Australian quilt designers were being featured in a special display. Di Ford hall has been well-known in Australia for her clever use of fussy cutting fabric to add an extra dimension to her quilts. It was lovely to see her talent recognized internationally too.
 Here are some of her lovely quilts which were featured in Houston.

Hugs, Jan Mac

The Chester County Criswell Quilt.

 Things have been very busy here since I returned from the US a week ago. One of our children has returned home and we are very busy moving her furniture etc back home as well as cleaning etc for the vacant house. Along with working nights again there hasn't been much time for anything other than cleaning and sleeping. I did manage a to complete 3 more blocks while I was in the US as well as finishing almost half the central block. These blocks are all for the Chester County Criswell quilt BOM by Sharon Barnes of Two Bits Patches. My palm fronds are facing in instead of out as I have made my blocks 10 which are smaller than the BOM pattern which uses 12 inch blocks. I shrunk them a bit but the palm fronds fit better this way. I'll take another photo of my completed blocks soon. I'm happy with my progress and that I'm finally getting caught up. Thanks to back basting on the plane flights I was able to finish these blocks fairly quickly. I'm looking forward to having more time to stitch very soon but have more chores waiting for attention first.
I'll share some more quilt photos from the International Quilt Festival, held in Houston, very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilt Inspiration From Houston

 Since returning home I've been straight back into working nights so here are a few more quilts to inspire you while I catch up on my sleep.
Hugs, Jan Mac

While I'm Traveling...

 I'm on my way home after a wonderful time in Houston and DC. I saw so many fabulous quilts and will have more photos to share when I get home. I also met old and new friends and just loved being involved with all things quilts. I'm not sorry to be going home to work though as it means I'll be back here again before too long.
Hugs, Jan Mac