Lots of fabric fun times.
In amongst all the excitement of the Sydney Quilt Show we had a Whizz Bang! Friday class at Material Obsession. It was an extra fun day that started with a delicious homemade cake to celebrate class member's Marissa's first place win in the Combined Applique and Pieced Category at the Sydney Quilt Show.
Here is Marissa's wondrous I Spy quilt. It was made last year in classes at Material Obsession using Chuck Nohara designs taught by Lorena Uriate.
It was the first time Marissa has entered the show so it was extra special to win a blue ribbon. I'm sure there are many more to come.
After cake it was onto making the block of the day. Fiona decided to hand sew her star.
It became this perfect glowing star. The colours are so fire and ice!
Here's another of Fiona's blocks from the previous class. It's hard to see in this photo but she has done lots of embroidery stitches in the center fabric. I love the retro look this block has.
Bernice brought in some special printed African fabrics to create wild blocks with.
I know I say this all the time, but I love that we get to see everyones different tastes and colour sense. It's one of the reasons it's great to do classes. We learn so much from seeing what others use.
Jane's star has such a pretty Liberty look.
Here's another one of Jane's blocks. I love that she incorporated so many layers, points in and points out, trims, circles within circles. It's a block with the lot!
Heather is usually in the Tuesday class but joined in with the Friday party. It works well at Material Obsession that if you can't make your usual class you can make up a class on another day.
Talking of other days. In response to requests for a weekend class for those who are busy during the week I'm having a 1 day workshop on Saturday 29th July. Come along and learn the traditional Pine Burr block. It might be a traditional method but you've seen how you make it modern with fun brights or soften it with pretty fabrics, make it square or round, big or small, make it as a cushion or let it be the beginning of your own Whizz Bang journey.
If mid week suits you better, we can always fit more people in on the classes held on the second Tuesday and 4th Friday too.
Join in the fun by emailing Material Obsession:
classes@materialobsession.com.au
Or phone 02 9819 6455
I realised I only ever showed a glimpse of a Pine Burr Quilt I finished earlier this year.
Why is it that when you pick a day to take photos of a new quilt the wind decides to join in and play games? I couldn't hold it straight for even one photo.
The rocks came to the rescue as the perfect backdrop.
The wind still joined in by flipping up the corner to show off the wood block printed fabric from India that I used for the backing.
I went through my whole stash to find the right setting fabric. There were lot of acceptable options but this vintage curtain fabric just sang when I put it on the design wall. I like the large scale of the flowers paired with the small scale prints in the Pine Burr blocks. The fabric reminds me of the Outback Wife range by Gertrude Makes that is popping up every where now.
I know I usually come up fancy names but the name that has stuck with this quilt is simply Five Pines because of the 5 pine burr/pine cone blocks.
Isn't the beach wonderful for quilt photos!!
Onto another folded fabric creation - but not made by me this time!
My friend Michelle from Buttontree Lane ( @michellethequilter) recently went to Fiji and while she was there she spotted these colourful mats. She found a stall selling them in a market and kindly brought one back for me.
It's made with wonderful Fijian fabrics, with all the folds radiating outwards so that it looks like a giant tropical flower.
I realised it was hard to tell it's size from my photos on the grass so I jumped into the photo.
When Michelle saw the photos I'd taken she said she was surprised how bright it looked, she said that when it was in the setting of a colourful market it just blended into the scene of many bright things. So lovely to think of it's exotic origins.
For the final photo of the day - my lovely Slipper Orchid has started to flower. These are one of those plants I can ignore all year round because I'm too busy sewing, but it still rewards me every year with an abundance of these special freckled blooms.
Wishing you wonderful times until the next colourful blogpost.
24 Comments
what a big burst of beautiful color.
ReplyDeleteYour students' work looks great.
Your beachy photos are just wonderful and you can really appreciate all the fabrics and textures.
that cake looks rich and delicious.
More glorious colour. Love all of your students' blocks. I remember seeing Marissa's beautiful quilt at the show. Definitely worth a blue ribbon.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachael,wow this is an amazing post,so much happening and so much eye candy,these classes look like so much fun,thankyou for sharing my friend xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for these colourful and happy pictures ! I'm now almost ready to start my housework ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo much inspiration in this post. I love the folded fabric blocks and quilts. I need to try this technique!
ReplyDeleteLooks like your students had a ball. What great blocks. I love your Pine Burr quilt, but I must say the "Five Pines" name just doesn't do it justice. It is much too spectacular for such a calm name. How about "Burr it's Hot"? Wink! I actually love the stories behind why people name their quilts what they do. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo ! A little bit of "fuel", a little bit of fabrics and lots of wonderful blocks and quilts !
ReplyDeleteI loooove the flower fabrics you used all around your blocks !
Another great post Rachael. Love all these colourful photos showing your students' super blocks. The colours are absolutely stunning in every case. Your Five Pines quilt is lovely: super fabrics and colours and I love the photos on the beach. Those big flat rocks make a wonderful backdrop. I don't think you play fair though, tempting me with your fabulous classes when I just can't hop over from the UK to join you!!
ReplyDeleteOh..my how big that block is...stunning...so exciting. When I inherit tons of money...I will first spend it on bringing the famous Rachel to Charlotte to give workshops here.. When reality sets in, I see that I am the top of the food chain now...the matriarch...there will be no more money sigh..
ReplyDeleteAt least you are posting now..such a gift to us. xo
classes are looking good........
ReplyDeletealways love taking a quilt out for a photo shoot........
You would be a fabulous teacher! I enjoy seeing the variety of blocks made by your class participants (did I spy some sock monkey extremities in Bernice's photo? LOVE sock monkeys!). Your Five Pines quilt is beautiful; it becomes even more beautiful knowing that you used wood block printed fabric from India and retro curtain fabric.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to be able to celebrate a blue ribbon together. And all the blocks continue to look wonderful. The talent goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Pine Burr/Five Pines quilt. Great setting with the rocks and the water. It is amazing where fabric inspiration can take you.
And the colourful mat is great fun. I can see why your friend thought of you.
I love your new quilt, especially the change in scale you got with the big yellow flowers, very striking and clever. I always like to see what happens in your classes too, such variety; it's fun to see how people go in completely different directions from a common starting point.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Rachael! What an absolutely stunning post! Just love, love, love it.....the fire and ice block....all the vibrancy here......your beautiful photo shoot....your gorgeous gift! So, so much to,look at! And yes the ocean makes a fantastic back drop!
ReplyDeleteLots of sarkling Eye candy ! Fun to see how your inspiration is stretching your students. It takes a good teacher to inspire and facilitate others. Thanks for sharing the journey .
ReplyDeleteLove your Fiji flower, and the border of your 5 pine nlocks looks great.
ReplyDeleteA real fotoshoot at the beach, love it.
Cheers Tilly
Oh I'm so behind with reading blog posts!! More of the stunning shots of the workshop, the range of fabrics used are just a feast for the eyes. Pleased you've shown us Pine Burr, I like the five block setting very much indeed, the weather never co-operates does it!
ReplyDeleteOh my word . . . your quilting skills put mine to shame . . . but then I'm a late bloomer, LOL. I'm so delighted that I have found your lovely blog.
ReplyDeleteConnie :)
You're having so much fun with the Pine Burr blocks and sharing the joy with others! I think you are the Pine Burr Ambassador. I love the way you've taken them many steps farther with your own creativity. I'm glad you're still showing up here in blogland. I'm taking a break from IG, and long ago quit Facebook. Blogland is just the right speed for me these days.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely colourful post, brighten my day! We're 1/3 into winter & it's been wet, windy and cold over here! Love that large floral vintage-y fabric you have used with your 'pine burr' blocks. And love all the great workshop pics, nice to see all the variety!
ReplyDeletenice post
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a really fun class! As as today is the 29th (here at least LOL) I hope you've had another fun one!!!
ReplyDeletelove your quilt on the rocks! Your post is full of energy!
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind on my emails: I just found this one of yours!! I love your latest Pine Burr quilt! It is just so lovely!!! I'd love to take one of your classes, but the commute would be killer! :-) So glad to see what you've been up to!! Hugs, H
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.