Quilt-spiration!

Hi All

I hope all of you that are in Queensland are safe and well - and drying out following the devastation. I am fine, a couple of days without power was a slight inconvenience....but times like that just makes me realise how lucky we are to basically live in luxury compared to some countries.

A reminder also that the new Pinwheels Mystery kicks off in only two days...jump on board for some quilting  fun and end up with a beautiful quilt. You also get a FREE Bonus Pattern...which is this one. It is called Geometric Stack and Slash and is a great quilt for using up those bundles of Fat 1/4's I know you all have!

Click here to visit my Etsy store to enrol in the Mystery

Inspiration for designing quilts comes in many varied locations....floors, tiles, nature and woodwork are a few good places to keep an eye on. Over the holidays Wilfred and I spent a day at Southbank here in Brisbane with our cousins. I knew there was the APT7 exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art  featuring artworks from Papua New Guinea. Wilfred is from PNG so we headed in to have a look before meeting up with the others.

Wilfred LOVED it..he was so cute and so excited, walking around saying "I can't believe these are from my ancestors'. He is growing so fast and is so proud of his heritage and loves anytime we see or visit anything 'PNG'.

A great suprise for me, was part of this exhibit featuring some drawings from Tonga and Samoa...lots and lots of drawings. What do you think of when you see them?

Need a close up?

I don't know about you...but I see QUILT-spiration! Lots and lots of ideas and inspiration for future quilts. These drawings are of patterns that all link back to the sharing of knowleda about genealogies and ancestors, here is the description.

So much inspiration and I am pretty sure I will use at least one of these as inspiration for the JUQ Mystery Quilt due out about July! Love love love these drawings and there is so many of them!

There was also some items woven in wool which were really beautiful...again I could see quilt designs in them...

There was also this piece with the attached description which I found interesting...

Here is some of my favourites..and definitely to become a quilt, can't you just imagine them turned into quilts? Very simple but oh so effective! Perhaps even one quilt featuring a selection of the drawings in blocks about 12 x 15"...unusual but effective and big wide sashings would offset them perfectly.

A couple more for you...

Have a great day or night..depending on where you are!

Kylie xo

Mystery Quilt is starting soon!

Just a quick post this morning to remind you all 

my next mystery quilt is starting on 1 February! 

This quilt is fun and quite easy to put together, 

the instructions will come out each month over 6 months 

making it easy to keep up!

Cost is only $25 for entire 6 months

 -  that is about $1 a week. 

Jump on board and play along with the fun! 

The requirements list is being released TODAY and 

you get a FREE bonus pattern with this class.

To enrol click here to go to my Etsy Store 

- you can pay with a paypal account or your credit card.

You can see the results of my last mystery quilt by clicking here.

This is the BONUS FREE pattern you will receive....it is made from Fat Quarters by stacking and cutting them...lots of fun and a nice easy quilt to put together! Perfect if you have to make 'gift' or 'charity' quilts!

To go to my facebook page...click here
To go to my Etsy store....click here
To go to the Facebook mystery quilt group...click here



Have a great day!

Kylie

Boxes Mystery Quilts

This morning I would like to share with you all the wonderful quilts my 'students' made in the recent 'Boxes Mystery Quilt' weekend and the days since then. So many different fabrics, so many beautiful quilts all individual in their own right. Love them all!

Everyone was given a requirements list prior to the weekend and instructions were posted periodically over the weekend from Friday night until Sunday - by then some had a finished top, however those with other commitments have finished them over a longer period and there will be more to come in the future I am sure.

This quilt ran through a fabulous quilting group on facebook called Just Us Quilters (click on the name to go there) AND also through Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags. Those sewing for AHQ used the same pattern and amount of blocks, however made two quilts which are the perfect size for the soldiers serving overseas (you will notice in the pics their quilts are long and narrow).

If I have missed posting a picture of your quilt - please let me know.

I had to scroll through hundreds of posts on JUQ to find the pics!

First up - the original sample quilt I made

 I sewed along over the weekend (till I got behind) and made two of these for AHQ

I also want to share with you this version of the quilt made by one of my students about 5 years ago - shows how versatile this pattern is. She used lots of different feature fabric squares and scrappy blacks - only keeping red the same all the way through.

Naomi from AHQ was my quilt tester. You can also read her blog here Nome's Brag-Along. Thank you Naomi!

Karen from AHQ - will brighten up a soldiers room.

Kaye from AHQ - love that space fabric.

Michelle from AHQ - love the embroideries Michelle. These have already been allocated to soldiers serving overseas - job well done!

Peggy from AHQ used two different feature fabrics.

Now onto those from JUQ that made one big quilt...

Amey - beautiful!

Ann - was the first to get her top together and enjoyed some quality time with her sisters making their quilts.

Deb - love the dragons.

This one from Camille - any child would LOVE this quilt.

Elizabeth - used Owl fabric.

 Jeanne - perfect use for that African fabric that is often tricky to use.

Jamie - so pretty, I love pink and green.

 Jennifer, so can't wait to see this one come together - that floral is YUMMO.

Karen - who tells me she is going to make lots more and one in Kaffe Fasset florals, can't wait to see it!

This carnival of colour is by Marina. 

 

Mary made this one - doesn't the white make this quilt pop!

Nonie made this one and I think it looks very luxurious and regal. Beautiful quilt Nonie. 

Sharon from South Africa made this one - it made me want to go and find my cat fabric like that and start cutting. Love it!

Robby - I think a lot of people were anxiously waiting to see this one and it is beautiful.

Susie - beautiful and bright.

And this one by Suzanne - great use of the asian fabric.

Thank you to all who participated, I am glad you liked it and I can't wait for the next one!

If you missed this mystery and would like the instructions - please email me at afairyspaintbrush@gmail.com and I will send them out to you!

With the launch of my Etsy shop - I will continue to run FREE mystery quilts twice a year - one spread over a couple months toward the middle of the year and another over a couple of days between Christmas and New Year.

There is also another one running from 1st February which you can purchase from my Etsy Store by clicking here. It is great value at only $25 (less than $5 per month) and is a double bed quilt - however it can easily become a queen size! 

I would love to run free mystery quilts all year, however I do have to eat and pay rent too...party spoilers that they are.

Just a couple of reminders to keep updated and what is happening:

• You can subscribe to my blog so you don't miss anything - either by email or google and both can be found on the right hand side of this page.
• Visit my Etsy store - lots of new patterns and things being loaded every day - A Fairys Paintbrush
• Like my facebook page - 'A Fairys Paintbrush' (click on the name) - once I reach 50 likes I will be drawing a winner for a personlised pillowcase, youc an even have your childs name on it!
• I also have a social facebook group for the mystery quilts called 'Mystery Quilts by KK'

Hope you all have a great day - I am off to see if I still have any horizontal surfaces under the piles in my sewing room!

Bye for Now

Kylie xo

Etsy is up and running...

Very exciting news today, I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks revamping my quilt patterns. These are quilts I have designed and written patterns for over the last ten years or so. Excuse the modesty, but I am very good at writing very detailed step-by-step instructions with lots of detailed pictures. Everyone can follow them - even total beginners.

I also taught an 'online' mystery quilt over the weekend which has made me realise how much I LOVE teaching patchwork and quilting - watching everyone chose different fabrics and seeing quilts come together that are from the same pattern but the quilts are all very individual.

HINT: To make sure you don't miss anything, why not subscribe to my BLOG - you can join either with google connect or subscribe via email - both are on write hand side.  ------>>>>>>>>

So, this is where my future lies - designing patterns, teaching classes and eventually writing a book and hopefully more.

Benefits of using my patterns:

• Very detailed step-by-step instructions with lots of color diagrams and photos and using a font you can see clearly
• Patterns are written by me and I have over 15 years experience writing patterns
• You can get help direct from the designer (me) when you need it
• Patterns include suggestions for chosing colours and what not to chose, some samples of other quilts made with that pattern (when available) and small details such as which way to press seams.
• You can participate in Row-by-Row and Beginners classes from anywhere in the world as the directions will be emailed to you.
• Join the facebook group and share your pictures and progress with others doing the same class.

***Pretend there is Drumroll music here***

Today, now at this point, two things are officially launched:

1. My first online classes - Flutterby Sue, Beginners Patchwork and a Mystery Quilt

2. Launching my Etsy shop where you can find the classes, all my patterns and quilts.

First classes will commence on 1st February 2013 (giving me time to post the big diagrams to you) however you can join at any time after that.

Flutterby Sue Row-by-Row: 
One of my favourite quilts ever and most popular classes. We will make one row of this quilt each month from February to November 2013. This quilt is easy to choose colours for and you will learn heaps of new techniques. For each technique there is a 'How to' reference sheet included, these will become a handy ready reference tool for you.

Class is $35 total (that is $3.50 per month)

Click here to enrol in this class

enter the code Welcome15 to get 15% off your order 

(valid for January 2013 only) 

Beginners Patchwork: 

For those of you just starting out we will make this sampler quilt, both hand and machine techniques are included and I also cover topics such as products you need, where to buy, quilting your tops and lots more. Even if you have made a few quilts, this is a great class for you to perfect your skills and learn some new hints and tips.

Class is $35 total 

Click here to enrol in this class

enter the code Welcome15 to get 15% off your order 

(valid for January 2013 only) 

Mystery Quilt: 

This is a MYSTERY QUILT class in which you will make a double bed size quilt. This class is tons of fun as you will be given a requirements list, but don't know what you will be making until the end. This is a stunning quilt that is easy for beginners (that have made at least one quilt) to advanced. If you want a bigger quilt, it is easy at the end to just make some more blocks.

 

Class is $25 total 

Click here to enrol in this class

enter the code Welcome15 to get 15% off your order 

(valid for January 2013 only) 

There are lots more patterns and quilts being loaded 

into my Etsy Store today and tomorrow. 

Click here to visit my store and browse.

OPENING SPECIAL

To kick start my store, anyone that orders in the next 14 days (ends midnight 20 January) will also receive a FREE pattern called Geometric Stack and Slash - this quilt is very easy and a great one for 'themed' quilts or gifts. Layer a pile of fat quarters, rotate some piles and sew them back together. How easy is that? I have made it for a soccer fan, wedding present and just for fun! Hurry - only available while stocks last.

You will have noticed above, for the month of January only there will be 15% off all items in my Etsy Store.

Bye for Now - hope you are all as excited as I am!

Kylie xo

Tops finished...

Quick one today, have been sewing but not finishing much....

Did manage to finish two of these tops yesterday, they are AHQ quilts so I don't have to quilt them! YAY. This was the Boxes Mystery Quilt I taught recently in a couple of different places. I really LOVE the colours in these...perfect for their purpose.

To read all about AHQ click here!

I also caught up with a friend for a sewing day, and got some more of these done - I have nearly sewn all the ones I have cut, time to stop and count. 

Total needed is close to 400 from memory!

Eventually they will become this quilt.....

I have also decided to launch all my quilting patterns and online classes again, and will be spending tomorrow loading them all into my Etsy store - stay tuned for that.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Kylie  xo