Author Archives: mlwilkie

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About mlwilkie

Software Developer, Mother, Wife with keen interest in art, design and crafts of all kinds.

New Projects for 2016 – In Progress

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Isn’t it amazing how traveling makes you so tired?? I have traveled for about 30 hours this past weekend to come from North Carolina (USA) to Napier (New Zealand).

I wish, I could say I was traveling back home to have fun visiting family, friends and vacation, but unfortunately that is not the full story. My mum (who is in her early 60’s) has been put through some rigorous and long periods of testing over the last year. She has finally been diagnosed with a large benign, inoperable brain tumor. She is in her last 3 weeks of radiation, in attempts to try to shrink it.

ColorPlacement
Playing with color placement of the expanded design

As she travels and stays in a different city for her treatment each week, I decided that I wanted to be there to support her. I also want to leave her with something that brings her comfort when I am not around.

QDAD_29JUL2015
Original design

A quilt would be perfect. I have been playing around with her favorite colors, purple and orange and one of my Quilt Design a Day patterns. I have added a few other colors to add depth….coral/peach, yellow and magenta. The background fabrics are a mix of 20 white on neutrals prints.

Mum_QuiltCloseupWiP
Close-up of the blocks in-progress

I had to expand the design and play with the color placement but I am really pleased with how it is looking all up on my design wall. I bought all the rows with me to try to finish it before I leave.

Mum_QuiltWiP
All the pieces up on my design wall

The other project I am working on is a “secret”. It took a lot of procrastination trying to work out how to make this design into reality. The color palette is also way outside of my comfort zone but I am loving how it is coming together.
SecretSewing_Palette

And you can’t complain, when you get joins like these on your first go.
SecretSewingJoin

Anyway, that is what I am up to this week. I am getting plenty of design and sewing time which I am very happy about.

Linking up with Lee over @ Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday.

 

 

Sewing Studio: Final make-over

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Every so often, I have posted here about my sewing room and how it has been transitioning over time into more of a studio. Except for the wood floors (that may never come), I think finally have the ultimate space for me.

Over the holiday, my husband moved his office out, to the third floor….woohoo. This opened up my room. I realized that I could use the same storage we have in our walk in closet (Ikea), along the stair case railings. A space that was not really usable, became usable.
SewingStudioStorage
I love having my Kona’s in one spot and have a hanging area for my backs. This space is also used for all my scraps and my WiPs.

I have also added a new chair from Ikea, which is the new home for a great cushion/pillow that I got for Christmas (from wonderful Nicole @ mamalovequilts).  I now have this amazing 8×7 foot design wall which has already been put to good use.

NewChair_Footstool

Of course, you can’t have a comfy chair without a footstool. I managed to finally finish one of my WiPs using Cloud9’s barkcloth. It was a total fluke that the columns lined up in the panels.
Footstool

These are additions to my sitting area, where I can sit and blog or have coffee with friends.
SittingArea

This is an older picture of my sitting area, as I replaced that little design wall with an inspiration design board. Its made of cork tiles.
InspirationDesignBoard

One final photo of my new-ish table, that I teach, host friends and quilt large projects on. It seats 4 people with machines ok. At the back is my project table and fabric storage which has been uncluttered of late with the new storage.
SewingTable

If I can work out periscope sometime, I will actually give you all a walk through. Anyway, I love this space and I hope you enjoyed my photo journal of my space :-).

 

 

 

Last official finish 2015: Negative Crosswalk

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Love Patchwork & Quilting issue 29 NEGATIVE CROSSWALKS
[Photo provided by Love Patchwork & Quilting]

I feel so appreciative for the chances I have had this past year. The last of the year, my “Negative Crosswalk” quilt and pillow were published in Love Patchwork & Quilting, Issue 29 (arriving in stores this week in the US). I love this photo, they did an amazing job with staging my quilt.

The quilt came from one of my quilt design a day’s design.
NegativeCrosswalk_03March(1)

The quilt has come home now. It’s one of my favorites. I love the graduation of the back to light greys. I continued the lines through the edge, in the binding.

NegativeCrosswalks_Front

The quilting was all straight line quilting with my walking foot. I used 1/2″ lines for negative space and then matchstick quilting for the crosswalk pieces. I used matching Aurifil thread which worked out great.

NegativeCrosswalks_Closeup_label

I wanted to continue the striped theme on the back. I used a variety of striped fabric (black, grey and white stripes) to comprise the back with a couple of pops of color (from Tula Pink Elizabeth prints).

NegativeCrosswalk_back_closeup

Details

Name: Negative Crosswalk
Design: Designed by me, Pattern in Issue 29 – Love Patchwork Quilting.
Fabric: Kona Cottons + Various striped prints (Lotta Jansdotter, Cotton + Steel, Tula Pink)
Dimensions: 60″ x 60″
Quilted: Straight Line quilting, Aurifil 50wt various grey’s, white 2024.

I am looking forward to entering it into Quiltcon 2017. It will be the first time, I will finish a quilt with plenty of time to spare :-).