Bella Garden (Almost finished)

My McKenna Ryan quilt - Bella Garden is a long term project and I am very happy to say, she is almost finished !!!

I am so excited now that she is back from the quilter that I couldn't wait to show you some photos. All I need to do is sew on the binding and label, and she is finished.

It has taken me almost 2 years to stay on track and keep going, but its worth it now.  I did change the original pattern by leaving off the birds that went along the bottom and top of the centre panel as it was going to be just too big to hang in the house.  I think she still came up terrific without them. 

Just love the centre panel with those gorgeous flowers and sweet butterflies.

Mandy did a wonderful job of filling in the background with Ricky Doodles (thats what I call them??)  and swirls all around the border... Lovely

I love feathers so I asked to have some put in and look what she came up with.  (I've just noticed  I need to  embroider a little eye on my mouse..oops).

Check out the water fill quilting that goes all around the gorgeous blue water and sky.

My favorite part is the Wisteria, very time consuming to do but it came up a treat. 







This one is going in the entry hall when its finished.  Its too nice to hide away in a cupboard so I have Mr H rearranging furniture so I can find a wall big enough to hang her.

I am on the hunt for another McKenna Ryan as I just loved doing this one.  They are soooo big I'm not sure if I have enough room in the house to display another one but who knows........

Come on girls,  lets see how you are all going with your projects, pull them out of the cupboard and just do a little bit each week, they will soon come together.  

Bella Garden - Block Three

Its been a while since I have done any work on my Bella Garden Quilt, there's been so much else to keep me busy, but its back on now.

I've almost completed the applique features, just a little stitching to do and it will be complete.  Those dreaded wisteria flowers took forever but they were worth it.

I've decided to change my quilt from the original a little, and omit the bird pictures on the top and bottom.  I feel it would just be too big to do anything with so I will add a couple of borders and then think about the quilting.  Not really sure how to quilt this, the material is so vibrant it wont need very much at all.  If anyone has any suggestions or examples, please let me know.

Lily Flower

Mr Frog

Here are two of the applique features in Block Three which is the lily pads and flowers on the bottom of the block.

Applique Block almost complete

Story Book Farm, 1

My blocks were fused long time ago and now they are finaly quilted !!!

 

Topstich needle 12 with Aurifil #50, batting Legacy Natural Blend

Stitches are uneven but I'm happy with the result.

I will prepare more blocks, now it's really started .

Bella Garden - Block Two

I have almost caught up with my Bella Garden's second block 'Wisteria'. I thought that by the amount of work and time it took me to do the first block, I would fall way behind with all the others, but the second block came together much quicker. I like to think it was because I knew what I was doing :)

Anyway here is the block so far......I can't do all the Wisteria flowers as some of them overhang onto the border pieces and I need to attach them before I can finish the applique. I will have to wait until Block 6 before I can start to assembly the whole quilt and there will be more applique to finish then.

Woops, I may have spoken to soon, these wisteria flowers are driving me crazy, the large part of the flower was fine, but the smaller round petals are very difficult to attach, I have had to resort to my free motion foot and do a circular motion around the edge about 3 times. It actually looks like fabric painting now. I'll keep at it and you can see the result soon.

Love,Faith,Hope

I think I am a glutton for punishment, but a community group I have just joined are doing Love Faith and Hope which as you can see is a McKenna Ryan.  Her version is using a specific batik range of fabrics but I will be using fabrics from my stash. So here is Block 6 prepared but not quilted yet. One can't rush these things.  I am actually picking up a new free motion quilting foot on Thursday so watch this space because once I get my new 'you beaut' foot there will be no stopping me. I should be able to work on my Sea Creatures blocks as well when the new foot arrives.  Mind you I haven't actually finalised the design for that one yet, but it will happen.  So there you have it, my latest project.

Bella's Garden

Hello everyone,

Very excited to be a part of this group.  Unlike a few of you, I have only been quilting for 12 months but am already addicted to the colours and patterns and spend most nights in Pinterest and Blogland surfing for designs and patterns.

I came across McKenna Ryans quilt "Bella's Garden" and just loved it, so here I am.  No experience with raw edge applique and very little with free motion quilting but I am learning every day.

As I purchased Bella's Garden as a BOM kit, I initially thought I'd be able to complete one block before the next one arrives, but after seeing how much work is involved, I'm not so sure now.

Here's my first block fused together, now all I have to do is stitch!!

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress and reading some helpful hints along the way.

xxx Dawn  

Message to Dawn

Hi Dawn
I saw your comment that you would like to join in, as but as you are a No-reply blogger, I have no way to contact you.
Can you please comment again and include your email address.
or send me an email at:
oh2sew at bigpond dot net dot au

We would love to have you tag along with us on our McKenna journey.
Hope to hear from you soon!

Susan

A Finish

Ok Girls I have done it...I have finished my first McKenna Ryan wall hanging....
Here she is...yep have a close look cause thats all your going to get...lol

 Oh Alright I will give you a closer look....but no more alright...

 Well maybe just a quick look, but then look away....

I have not seen - up close and personal - a McKenna Ryan finished project so I was not sure how much stitching I was suppose to do...so I put some veins on the leaves....and yes I did choose a better stitched section of the wall hanging to show you....
I need, in future, to learn to control my hands, they have a mind of their own...I want the stitching to go one way and they were taking it in a totally different direction...so annoying...
Anyhow this group has definitely given me the push I have needed to pull my patterns out and give it a go...now where is my other pattern....
Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress...catchya all next time...
Sandi
xx

A Start.

Hello everyone.

A late start but have been unwell and getting my home ready for friends coming,

the days have flown by.

I have a few of McKenna Ryan patterns so will start with 

`Wind in the Whiskers`.

This is a BOM FROM ` Grandmothers Garden Patchwork and Quilting`

Laundry Day.

I don`t know why it won`t turn! :(

I have made a start tracing pieces. More to trace before 

the next part of working out what fabrics have been given to use.

Once that is done I think I will be able to place 

on my applique pressing sheet over placement guide

and know what I am doing.

Laundry day pattern came with these fabrics,

the threads and clothes line kit.

I am loving the beautiful colours .

My patterns so far. I think there is only one more to come 

with borders and binding.

Thank you Susan for setting up this blog for us.

Happy Stitching,

Clare. 

I have a question...

I am trying to quilt my goat and have found out two things...
1.  I don't own enough different coloured threads...
2.  I totally suck at raw edge applique...
I have tried using my pogo stitch and that was a disaster and now I am trying my open toed foot which I have a lot more control (which I like) but I am not sure if this is the norm..
What do you use to quilt your blocks?
Does anyone have any tips besides plying oneself with alcohol so one does not care anymore...
thanks
Sandi