John's Quilts

It was an interesting quilt. Made from fabric swatches from a display wallet of fabrics, sashed in dark green home spun and bound in the same material I think. If you look closely you find the love for this lady sewn into every block! ( This is a nine square block that was sashed and bordered. It was ditch quilted and bound with the same green homespun that was used in the sashing.)

This wonderful quilt is made from Sheridan Sheeting remnants and bound with a burgundy chintz. I love the tonings in this quilt. It was very simply made and poorly quilted. Day 1 I cut all the material and sewed all the blocks.... not a hard effort. Assembled..... bordered and rebordered the quilt. Backed and pinned the quilt and slept under it that night as is. I used 3" wadding... something I will never do again...... it was bloody difficult to quilt through.

The next day I quilted in the ditch and diagonally crossed the quarter square triangles. My friend Jenny Dusting showed me how to machine the binding on and that was it. The afternoon was completed with a glass of red at her place and then the finished quilt was given pride of place on my bed on top of a doona and 2 blankets! I can tell you that this quilt certainly helped me through that very cold winter!

This quilt celebrates

my new freedom,
the beginning of my search for my source of creativity,
and the realization that I desperately needed to get a better sewing machine (and possibly take some lessons!).

I gave it to my father for his birthday 6 years ago. It now lives in his special room in Toowoomba and has been exhibited once! While I was making this quilt, I began using each block that I learnt in class in a quilt of its own... you will see some of the following quilts will have blocks contained in this.

Well, this quilt was quite interesting... I forgot to check block dimensions through out.. and some how it just managed to work out. I ended up giving this to my little sister Bronwyn.... she lives in Melbourne and I believe that this is a throw rug for the Lounge down there. This was the second time that I attempted interesting borders before binding and was quite pleased with the effects. It was ditch quilted around each of the "star blocks" and around the ditch in the borders and sashing. Very uninspiring in that department.

I created this quilt for Mark's mother. Mark was instrumental in the piecing of the quilt and also in the quilting design. We called it "Pac man" because it looked like the character from the video game chasing the moving dot around the screen. Each White or blue Pac man was quilted from the centre point to the outer edge in straight lines and then ditch quilted around border. I really like this quilt and was so pleased that it went to some one that appreciated it.

I like this quilt a great deal..... it was the first attempt I had with hand quilting... even though I was told that my hand work was "child like and immature" by some ladies in a quilting group...... well F**K THEM I say!..... I like this and will one day give it to a person having a baby that really deserves it!

Around this point of time I think I was entertaining a house house guest that was in the middle of some serious manic depressive episodes. I had thought that she might benefit from some therapy work in the way of some hand work. Well .... she started the project. It was good therapy for both her and I. I found the panel at a quilt shop and backed with wadding in between. The figures and blocks were hand stitched with blanket stitch and then beaded. Little extra bits were added like buttons in the shape of hearts. Some of the students that I teach helped out with the sewing. I bound the quilt with mitred corners and it now hangs in the guest bedroom with some of the other "Christmas Flavoured Quilts".

While I think about it... I used metallic thread to blanket stitch the stars.... well never again.... that was a pain I can tell you and I think not very effective at all.

The first was a commission for a friend of mine at work. She requested that I make a Baby Quilt for her friends unborn child. Around this time I had discovered Debbie Mumms fabrics and really enjoyed the richness and diversity of the materials that she was designing. I think from this time I was hooked! This quilt was a bit of a rush job... so I grabbed a bag of 50 x 5" squares and a few pieces of remnants and home spun and before you could say "Bob's your Auntie"...... it was made! It took a weekend all up I think. I learnt to mitre corners on the binding with this quilt and was very impressed with the result. Since that time I have continued to bind all of my quilts with mitred bindings.

I put this quilt together with old remnants that I had lying around the quilting table. I tend to bag up old scraps and keep them. I am a bower bird in that regard! I thought that one day I would use them all up. Well I went out and bought several more fat quarters to give it some variety, some more home spun and a large beautiful piece of fabric that I included in the quilt that I gave to my father. I had already decided to make a crazy patch quilt as I had not attempted that design before. I found it rather enjoyable as I experimented with different techniques and came up with some interesting designs. I quilted the piece by taking the natural lines that were present in each block and continuing that line thought the sashing. It gave a really interesting effect and no fixed pattern in the design. I liked that a lot.

Version#1. Both were made from identical packs of Christmas fabric 5" squares. I called both of these quilts "Christmas Mail" because I thought that each block looked like an envelope. Each block was ditch quilted and the sashing around the blocks were quilted as an extension of the blocks that were next to them. I sewed a piece of ribbon onto the top left hand corner and beaded the ribbon on. I then managed to find the cutest little wooden pegs and used those to attach all my Christmas Cards to. The first year I made this I had too many Christmas cards for one quilt which is why I made Quilt #2.

Quilt #2. Now I know you are going to say that this one looks 'puffier' than the other one, but there is a reason for that. I had a piece of thicker wadding at home and I did not want to waste it, so I put that into the quilt. I also added extra quilting around the envelope blocks to make the envelopes stand out a bit more. This quilt also has the ribbons sewed on to them as well.... this will go up this Christmas for the first time. The only problem I have with these is that they can only be up on the walls for a small period of time. I have decided that all the quilts that I have made will go up on the guest bedroom walls so they can at least be seen. (This quilt has now found a new home with two lovely gentlemen who live in Los Angeles)

Well I think it is about time that I expanded the last couple of entries that I made. Quilting has become more than 2 pieces of fabric being joined together.

The following images are quilts that I have created for myself, friends or relatives. I will try to explain each quilt..... the reasons that they were created for and also the feelings that I had whilst making them. I suppose that every quilt has a story and I think mine do as well. I will be putting links into this page to other quilting friends and buddies as well. I really hope that you will look at them as well. These people are significant to me for many reasons. I suppose then that this is my first 'cyber' exhibition of my works. I hope that you appreciate the progression of my skills as much as I have enjoyed learning about them. I would like to thank all family, friends and quilting 'buddies' for their advice and guidance along my journey! Well here goes........ I hope that you enjoy the exhibition!

Quilting began several years ago..... sort of by accident... but we all know that nothing happens by accident! I was up at my parent's place when I noticed the results of Mum's latest interest... Quilting.

I borrowed some of her magazines and looked through them.... thinking that this does not look too difficult!

I borrowed a sewing machine off her... it was pretty old and very very basic! I started to practice putting two pieces of fabric together..... "and what do they mean when they write about a 1/4" seam allowance?????" Well all I can say is that I have the results of the first effort that took days to produce.... 1' x 1' piece of checkered fabric that was basically hideous!

I faltered through poor seam allowances.... thread breaking.... incorrect threading of the machine... difficulties with the bobbin.....problems with my lack of abilities... poor choices of fabric.... human error.... poor equipment.... the list goes on! It was during this time I was having a turbulent time with my partner of 7 years. I suppose quilting became something positive to pour my energies into.

Well I remember making two very similar quilts at the same time. One I gave to Ingrid ( my best lady friend) as a Wedding gift and the other I gave to Michael (a man that I was very attracted to). I am still waiting for a photo of the one that I sent to Michael... but the one I made for Ingrid is photographed. This quilt has been the play rug for her first born child and I suspect that it's duties will be the same for the second child. (I must say that I saw this quilt recently and it is standing up well to the test of time)

Well after that I put together a quick quilt that was incredibly cheap to make and now resides on the lounge as a throw over rug..... bright and gaudy... but Kobe loves it a lot! I would love to have a picture here but I never got around to photographing it.

Around about this time I left my partner of way too many years... and suddenly found myself living in a house by myself and feeling very cold..... The drives were there... I was freezing...... it was cold and I did not have a lot of stuff... so Necessity being the mother of invention... saw me putting in an all weekend performance at the sewing machine to produce what I proudly call:

Machine #1: I started with Mum's old machine that she lent to my sister to learn how to sew..... It did not have a reverse stitch but it did have straight line stitch and that was it. I had to sticky tape the power plug onto the machine to hold it in.. the light did not work and the bobbin jammed a lot!

Machine #2: Well it is an old embroidery machine... an Empisal Expandomatic... cost $10 from Lifeline and has been serviced once or twice. Onto its second motor in life and second foot pedal... I bought several attachments like a 1/4"foot and a walking foot and darning foot. Recently I found the cams that you insert into the top of the machine to give you the various embroidery stitches.... but I have not used them yet. Oh... the light does not work on this machine... but that is ok.

Machine #3: I happened to be at Jan Watts Sewing Machine Shop and saw a Bernina 830 complete with all the feet, a knee lift (blissful!) and a walking foot for $399. I bought it and have not been happier since.

Let the saga continue: Quilt #3... well I have to digress and give some history here.... Around this time I met Mark....( Mark and John ) I went to meet him (before our first official picnic date at Mt French) when I stopped in at Ruth Stonely's shop called "Patch Work Supplies" and was just in awe of all the 'stuff' that was there. I decided there and then that I needed to do a course in Patchwork so I enrolled in a sampler course with them. At this point of time... Jenny Dusting went on holidays and lent her Bernina Sewing Machine with the knee lift on it to me! WOW! Now that was a neat machine! A far cry from what I had done. So the story begins.... about 12 hours of Quilting classes on a Tuesday night over 4 weeks began.... it was also a wonderful chance to spend time with Mark before the class. Here is the quilt. I called it:

Well..... after this quilt, it is a bit of a blur...... I remember putting three quilts together in short succession... the first was "Post and Rail" quilt that never got finished and ended up going to an auction for some quilting group. It was very plain... done in Sheridan sheet fabric remnants with a burgundy border and then some more... I really forgot about it......not that interesting. The next two were put together at the same time... both from the same material, both constructed with "Log Cabin" blocks but assembled differently. The first I constructed for my sister.... I called it

The day that Mark's mum received this quilt, she was told about Mark being gay and that we were together as a couple. The interesting part was that they already knew this and that there was no problem with this. They just wanted to know that he was happy and cared for...... I can vouch for both of those conditions! I think I could honestly say that of many of the quilts that I have given away.... I would like this one to come back to our family in the future ..... when it is the right time!

Ok! The next quilt that I made was an experience in exploring some new fabric that I liked. I combined the vibrancies of some blue fabrics that had a "Thai Silk Wash" effect in them with a piece of fabric from Debbie Mumms Range of the "Noah" series with tiny sperm whales in them. I called this quilt:

As you can see I really like this chequered effect of the border. Next time I will learn to add extra dimensions to the outer border before I add the binding! NEWSFLASH As of January 2000, I have just found the perfect person to give this quilt to. My ex teaching partner's daughter will be having a baby in March of this year and I have decided that it should go to her. I knew the right person would come along for it!

Ok..... around about this time I think I seemed to have encouraged two of the ladies from work to have a go at quilting and we spent a day together. I showed them a few simple techniques... you know... 1/2 square triangles, 1/4 square triangles, post and rail and 1/4"seam allowance. They made a few blocks in the day and BAMMM! Janine Hannant was hooked! Janine and I went to quilting camp for four days and learnt how to make a Country style quilt with Ann Munro. Had a ball for the four days... learnt how to appliqué... and I must confess.... I still have not quilted that sucker up yet(1998). That will be the project for when I take the kids to camp. Janine and I will sit and quilt at night with a medicinal scotch. (oops... there go the equal stitch lengths!)

So have I done any commission works? Well... yes I have done a few and I wished that I did not give them away as I really liked them.

The next commission quilt that I made was a gift for a ladies 50th Birthday I think. Her daughter asked me to make it for her...... it took about 4 weeks to complete ..... I called it:

Will explore that concept a lot more in the future when I get the opportunity. The next two quilts were made two years apart... the first took three weeks of thinking and procrastinating... the second took 2 days.

Well..................................................... About this time I think that I should come clean. My mother has made a few quilts for me..... the first of these was quite special... given to me for a birthday present and I call it "My Amish quilt that you're having when you can't have an Amish Quilt!" "Well, here it is......this is it! What do you think?" I just love it. At the moment I am sleeping underneath it on the master bed. It is made up of purple chintz (did I spell that correctly?) with the 'devil's eyes being made up of solid colours ala Amish style. It is ditch quilted around the strip pieced squares and then quilted around the sashing. I love the binding of this quilt. It is made of the material that is used in the devil's eyes.... very effective I think! Another confession... I have to say this..... I am morally obliged to say this.... I want this quilt! My mother made it and as far as I am concerned it is "PERFECT"... it is the epitome of beautiful things......It contains a lot of my mothers essence.... it is ....I truly believe that this quilt would live very happily in my house and I could promise it a lovely long and happy life. I have this nagging feeling that it has been promised to a friend of my mother... but I am working on that. It is a cream on cream quilt with French knots where ever you look, Irish Lace and hand quilting that would make any person envious! Well enough said... already I am feeling absolute shame... I am coveting my mother's quilt and I know that it is a sin! But I want it!!!!!!!!!! This leads me to a quilt that I purchased recently at an auction one beautifully sunny Saturday morning. Have a look ... I know that it is probably not the most elegant quilt... but it is wonderful and I love it and I paid only $5 for it! This is the back of it.... it is made of old woollen blankets that have been stitched together by machine and then attached at the sides to the front of the quilt. I personally think it is gross but still it is beautiful in many ways. The front is equally interesting... This is the front... what a beauty... so many pieces of material and so much colour. It is interesting to look at the quilt as there are waves of fabric that can be detected in the over all design. One corner has older more pale colours. One piece has a name written on it that may have been an old library bag and a few stains still exist on the quilt. I am contemplating having it cleaned at the dry cleaners as gently as possible as I am concerned about having it washed for fear of the woollen components of it shrinking. My plans for this at the moment.... well I would like to unpick the quilt and rejoin it. After that... maybe I think I would like to tie quilt it and set it up in the guest bedroom. Well this I think finishes the tour of my quilts to this point of time. I will soon try and get my next two projects on to the page as well..... one is a country quilt that I started a year or two ago and the other is a log cabin that I am putting together for the main bedroom.... made of creams and greens. The last quilt that is still unphotographed is the Flying Geese Quilt called "Perpetual Motion". It is made of calico and navy blue sashiko print material and hand quilted.... basically it is spectacular. I have just completed the appliqué quilt that I started a few years ago in Toowoomba. I will have it photographed in the near future and upload it here. It currently resides in the guest bedroom facing the bed and looks so special. I spent Christmas holidays 1999 - 2000 completing it. Only took about 80 - 100 hours to finish the quilting. Where do I go from here..... well I would like to take a few classes in fabric art construction and machine quilting...... hopefully move away from patch working to free form work. Not sure .... but that is where the thoughts are going at this point of time. December 1999..... and I have done very little quilting all year except for the bits during the holidays when I have not been that busy!..... I am currently working on a quilt that I am making for Mark..... the photo will be up on this site in a few weeks when I finish it... but to wet your taste buds... it has 144 log cabin blocks with about 60 different fabrics in it. The central theme of it is Two hearts that are part of the log cabin design. I hope to give it to him after Christmas this year. I am making a small wall plaque out of the scrap fabrics as his Christmas present. I hate bought presents, so this is my compromise to that. For those of you that are curious as to what I look like..... here I am: This quilt will be included in the update..... it is currently behind the bed in the master bedroom. It is a simple Half Square triangle design with lots of Debbie Mumm fabrics. Well, that's it for the moment. Please come back in a month or two and look at the updates. I should have a few new quilts and an extra page attached as I think this page is getting a little big now!

Ok....It is now December 26,2001 and I know that I have not made any entries and in that regard I apologise for my tardiness.

So what has been happening here. well....not too much! I have begun to get the quilting bug back and I am in full swing at the moment. You know that quilt that I was making for Mark in 1999??? Well I finished it this year and gave it to him for his Birthday. I had the good fortune to meet up with a lady called Suzy Atkins who machine quilted it for me and I am so pleased with the way that it has turned out. I wanted it to be an heirloom quilt...... not that I am going to pass it down to any one that I have reproduced ....... but I wanted it to unify our two families some way in a gift of love..... the answer was interesting. Suzy suggested that we do a large loose stiple quilting with the occasional heart in it and then she would quilt in the names of all of our Grand-parents, parents and siblings. The result was breath-taking for me. I finished the binding of the quilt on the eve of his birthday (around 11:30PM) and then wrapped it and gave it to him to keep! Well not for long as I promised to exhibit at a Show in Toowoomba. So off it went along with the flying Geese Quilt and was missing for a week. The loveliest part of this quilt was bringing it home and putting to work in the bedroom. It has been on the bed ever since. I cover it with a sheet when we are not in there as I do not want the direct sun fading the greens. I showed it to my mother. She adored the work and was so pleased to see all the family members in it. I felt like I had made it as a patchworker and quilter when my mother showed her approval of the piece.

I became more comfortable with my weaknesses and limitations and accepted them. I learnt that I could slow down and not try to build the world in a day. I accepted that I can only please myself and that was all I needed to please.

This year I decided to get back into the quilting again and joined two internet quilting groups: Quilters Down Under and Southern Cross Quilters. These groups have a been a great source of information for me and proven to provide lots of fun. Through one of these groups I met a lady that I have been meeting with regularly. Her name is Wendy McLeary and I have really enjoyed quilting with her. We have been learning from each other and challenging each others colour concepts and styles of quilting.

One event that sticks in my memory was the closing of a shop owned by Ruth Stonely. She owned a neat little shop in Highgate Hill where I took my first quilting lessons. I was surprised by the move to close the shop so I decided to make a scrap quilt out of all the bits and pieces that I had accumulated from her. This must have been in the middle of the year as I think I entered it into the Mt Gravatt Quilt Show. This quilt had lots of significant memories for me. (It was not the most interesting of quilts but I learnt lots and challenged the ideas I had about what a quilt should be.) During that time I was selling some puppies for a friend of mine (Julie) and the one puppy that stayed here for quite a while (I called him Ralph) liked to play on the quilt alot. When I found out that my friend was going into hospital for a laminectomy and may not be home for Xmas, I decided to give it to her to help remind her of home and her dogs. I think she really liked it and the best part for her was that she arrived home the Thursday before and had a quiet break with her friends and family! The quilt is very bright.....I used cotton fabric samples and then used chitz fabric around it and bound it in cotton again. I love using chintz. It is so durable and strong.

Each year, Mark and I make gifts for each other. My trademark is hearts. This year I made him a small framed heart quilt. It is composed in cream and blue using straight cotton fabrics and is quite interesting I think. Mark likes strong Navy Blue so that was the colour of choice for the project. The other little quilt I made was a foundation pieced quilt in Dark Navy and Japanese prints. We have made a hanger for it and it will live in at Mark's Office. I enjoyed making this quilt. I completed it as a part of a class I took In "Quilt as you go" with Karen Emmerson. I must say that the technique took me a while to get a grip on but I liked it and appreciated the concepts involved in it.

The other project that hangs in my head from this year was the "Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge". We bought a bag of fabric from this Shop (Jan Watts Sewing Machine Shop) and had one month to turn it into something interesting. I used the fabric and combined it with four tones of maroon fabrics that I had and made spirals. Wendy helped me to put them together and then I quilted it.... and quilted it..... and quilted it. Looked at it and then decided it looked better on point, so Mark made a frame that allowed it to be hung that way. I quite like this quilt and it showed me I can look beyond the square so to speak! I am keeping this quilt and have it hung in the dining room at this point of time.