The Last Piece

Pincushion Mania!!

Hey everyone just a quickie to say - Have you seen that you can get the digital issue of Down Under Quilts early this month? The print issue isn't even out yet and you can go get a sneaky at the magazine before anyone has had their hot little hands on it yet.

There's a delicious yellow and pink quilt by my lovely friend Erica on the cover which is PRETTY. Lots of great articles as per usual and other delicious patterns. And the BEST part is that there is a fantastic pincushion competition in there for all of you to play in!

Deb at DUQ and I are running the competition, where you can have a look at some of my pincushion collection, make a pincushion yourself and enter it into the competition, and then win some great prizes!! Go have a look at Deb's new blog, Once Aponce a Time for some sneaky piccies, and link through her site or through SEWN to see the mag. 

Now! Go now!! Have fun..... :)

This Quilt is a Dentist

so I can't show you it's face on television. Mornin' quilt.

Does anyone else remember that ad, or just me?

This is the Dresden Plate quilt.... the back of. Sorry, but I can't show you it's face until the mag comes out, but I thought you might like to see the pretty backing. I still have meterage of this print from the Wonderland kits if anyone is interested. Also of the stripey pre-cut bias that I bound it with. 

Email me for prices if you want some!

It's sunny here today... chilly in the shade, but lovely and warm in the sun. A good day to stand in the brightness and soak up the rays through your fur.

Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession book

Farewell Old Friend

A good fabric never dies. Today I finally used the last bit of my favourite fabric.

This fabric has been there for me since before Material Obsession. Before I wrote books, or patterns, or even had a pattern published in a magazine. I had this fabric when I used to sit at home with my little old Janome, piecing quilts for my babies and my friend's babies, reading Down Under Quilts and Quilter's Companion and admiring those clever ladies and lovely projects!

When I first found this fabric, I loved it so much I bought HEAPS. Well, heaps for me, then. (How times have changed... I think I bought a metre and a half, where as now if I love something I think nothing of five metres of extravagance, excusing it by saying it will be a border and I can use the rest on the back....)

I used it in this.

Coming Up Roses, Material Obsession Two

And some in this too.

 

Maple Leaf Rag, Material Obsession Two

I used some in this, and the one after.

Dotty for Dresden, Material Obsession One

 

Jazz Hands, Material Obsession 2

It's in this, my carry along hand piecing project that's been going for four years now.

It's in this that I made for my nephew, and a lot of older things besides that I couldn't find pics of in my relatively new Mac.

Are you impressed by how I eke my fabrics out??

What is it? you ask. A beautiful floral, a spot? An amazing stripe that goes with everything? No, in true Sarah style, it's a fabric with a little animal on it.

I know, it's not what you would expect. But there's something about the combination of the great, clear blue, the little green seaweeds, the bubbles and those little fishes that just gets me every time. Just look at their little eyes.

So that's it. The end of an era. I cut the last pieces up into flying geese this afternoon, along with some other favourites. 

I think it's time for a new favourite. I have searched among the candidates in the stash and come up with this:

 

I'm thinking watch out - this fabric is coming soon to Sarah Fielke quilts near you.

PS. Don't forget to hop over to Sewn and enter the competition to win a Shannon Lamden apron pattern! So cute! Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession books

All photography in Material Obsession books is by John Doughty.

Birthday Boots in Berry

It was my birthday last Wednesday and I got gumboots. 

Not just gumboots, beautiful gumboots. I feel like a 6 year old, and I want to wear them with everything. Luckily we went away to Berry again this weekend and it was muddy, so I was able to give them a really good test run.

See, mine are pretty and everyone else's are black :) 

As it's school holidays, we've had friends staying and the boys have had a great time charging through the bush and coming home wet and covered with ticks. All such good fun having your friends to stay though.

Seriously, how blue are those eyes???

In between all of this holiday lovliness, I've been madly hand quilting and playing with Flying Geese again. 

Rows...

Bow ties...

Back and forth....

Broken Dishes...

And other zig zags, which I think I like the best. What do you think? Anyone have any amazing Goose layouts I need to know about? Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession 2

PS. Here is a pic of one of my students hand piecing at Uluru in the centre of Australia. She is on a 4 month camping trip with her family around Australia. Glad to see you're getting some homework done Sue!

A Quilt at Last!

OK, I know my blog has been a little light on quilt pics lately, but I've been working on stuff I'm not allowed to show you. Lots of activity, just no reveal. Frustrating I know. Finally though, this is finished and I am very excited to have a reveal.

This is something I haven been designing with my friend, Sue Spargo. We have been working on it for what seems like AGES, but now mine is done (I have to make a whole extra set of borders yet, so that Sue has a quilt too) and is off to Down Under Quilts for the October edition. 

Sue and I have had such fun designing together. What a buzz to work with someone you find so groovy! Bring on the next one!

Oh, and I finished this too.

PS. did you know my quilt is on the cover of this month's DUQ? If you go to SEWN and sign up for your digital edition, you can get the pattern right now! Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession 2

French General

....not French in general, like yesterday! I've been lucky enough to get an early release of the first range of French General fabric for Moda, Rounneires, delivered to me by my devine and very helpful fabric fairy! (make sure and click on this link for a pic of her really beautiful, and much more complicated than mine, Rounneires quilt) This fabric is not at all in my usual colour preference, but when I saw it at Market in Pittsburg I just fell in love. The prints are delicious, so soft and old looking, and the linen mix backgrounds and stripes are to die for. 

 

 

I have been asked to do a French General quilt for the October Down Under Quilts, and I thought I would give you all a chance to sneak preview the quilt and get an order in for the kit before they all sell out. (Make sure you get a copy of October DUQ - there's something else exciting in there too, from me and Sue Spargo!!) 

This fabric was the hit of the Spring Market and I do not expect these kits to hang around once the fabric comes out! This pic is just of the top. It is a very simple quilt, very easy to make and made easier by the fact it is made from pre-cuts. 

Apologies for hastily taken shot at the front of the house, while the quilter was waiting to take it away!!

The fabrics will be available in October, the kits will be $135 AUS and will contain the fabric for the top and binding exactly as shown, and a copy of the magazine for the pattern. This quilt is a throw, but could easily be made into a bed size quilt simply by ordering two kits and enlarging the size, if anyone is wanting to do that I am happy to do the measurements and maths for you free of charge. 

There are only 15 kits available, so if you want to take the chance to get some French General as soon as it hits the ground, sign up now! To order you can email me ([email protected]) or click here to order directly from PayPal. Postage will be $11 within Australia and between $22 and $32AUS internationally, depending on where I am posting to. Please send me more details of where you are for more accurate shipping.

And now for a gratuitous quilt shot... have you seen this over at Red Pepper Quilts? Go over there now and check how how she did it!

Clever girl Rita, that's delicious. Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession 2

A Winter Beach

I love winter beaches. I love that they are deserted and wild, that the wind is blowing and the sea is choppy. I love being on the beach in a thick sweater and a cap with wet sandy dogs barking at the waves and a hot cup of tea in my hand while I wander. So being here for another five days is my idea of heaven.

Even though I still don't feel marvellous - yes, I had the full blown flu, fever, aches etc (and thank you so much to everyone who sent their well wishes!) walking on the beach in the wind is high on my list of things to do every day while we are here. This is my Dad's house. We have had a house on this beach since before I was born, and I fell as though even though we didn't live here as our primary residence, that this house is my family home. This is where Charlie and I have been staying while he's been at camp, and now that school has broken up for the Winter holidays, Damian and Oscar are here too, with two of the boys friends. 

When Damian arrived, he brought goodies that the postie had delivered while I was away! I must go away more often if this is what happens when I do.

My first mailing of the Amitie BOM, Sweet Tea and Green Beans arrived. I know, I know, I do NOT need to be doing a BOM as well as everything else, but my lovely friend Sue made me go and see the quilt at the Sydney Show, and as she and her sister Wendy are doing it, (and as I just discovered, that naughty Amy is doing it), I just couldn't be left out of such a delicious play-along. Now to keep up with the mailings. 

Next was a delicious little package of ribbons from Ribbons Galore. (Thanks Erica for that tip!) Some to play with, and some green ones to wrap up your packages with when you order books, kits and fabrics from The Last Piece shop! 

This little guy, by that clever Fliss Dodd at Udder. I really have a soft spot for stuffed things. My sewing room is full of them. I have no interest in making them, just in loving them. Maybe it's because I can't have another baby, or maybe because my kids are getting so big, or maybe... no, I'm just a little sick. Happy, childlike sick though, that can't be all bad.

And this! Material Obsession 2 - in French! Just the same as the other Material Obsession 2, only much more classy because our quilts are called things like La Vie en Roses instead of Coming Up Roses, and Dimanches instead of Sunday. Available soon from Quiltmania if you speak French, or just want a little more class in your life :)

Off now to finish off a project I need to send to someone elsewhere..... and then keep on quilting. Here's sneaky of what I'm sending to someone, somewhere. Have a quilty day everyone.

Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession 2

Art Camp

I've been at my Dad's house at the beach for a few days, sewing while Charlie attends an art camp around the corner at Avalon Beach. It seemed silly to drive 45 mins each way to take him when I could stay down the road! Plus I got the house all to myself for three days to sew. Pity I caught the most revolting cold yesterday and spent the afternoon in bed! Oh well, we can't have everything.

Last night the camp finished and then they had an art show. I thought I would show you some of the artworks the children made, I thought they were just spectacular!

Charlie took print making the first day, where they did etchings and screen printing, as well as made prints of fish and octopus'. The theme for this class was the beach.

The boy himself. Day 2 he did sculpture. They were supposed to make their interpretation of the Eiffel Tower, like this:

But Charlie's group's tower had a bit of a blow out.

At least they've got a sense of humour! Charlie had an amazing time, what a great experience for 11 and 12 year olds to spend two days making art with artists as teachers. 

Off to wallow in my sickness. Make sure and check out the Hooter Hider tutorial on Sewn, it's great.

Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession, Material Obsession Two

Design Journals

I've been spending a lot of time drawing the last couple of days. I have a few quilts due to a few different places. Some of them are to a specific brief, and some of them are not.I've also had quite a few people ask me recently how I design my quilts, so I thought I'd share some of the process with you.  

Usually when I'm designing a quilt I have a place where I start, but it's not particularly specific. And sometimes I just cut and see where the fabric takes me. I have several journals and sketch books that I scribble in, and when I'm starting something new I page through and see if there's anything that catches my eye for the moment I'm in, or the fabrics I have, or the colours I'm picturing. I also cut things out of magazines, but generally I sketch as I don't want to take my inspiration from someone else's.

Sometimes the pics are relatively detailed and the quilts turn out somewhat like the drawings. This on is in production at the moment, and I plan for it to turn out pretty much like the drawing.

Sometimes the drawings are pretty simple, but I know what they're about and the colours I have imagined.

Sometimes I draw just for the pleasure of it, or for applique shapes.

And as I said, sometimes I just cut stuff up and put it up on the design wall, and move it around until I'm happy with the results.

I get a lot of inspiration from antique quilts, from tiles, from ethnic and tribal patterns and textiles. And also from nowhere! Sometimes something comes into my head, and I don't know where it came from... nothing is new under the sun, so who knows where the infuence came from. It just turned up.

So there you go, a little insight into my Journals. Winners of the Sue Daley competition are up on Sewn, there are new Favourites to look at and look out for a Dresden Plate tutorial tomorrow! Happy sewing everyone :) Sarah Fielke, Material Obsession

Mr Sniffles

OK, the winner is in.... and although I love some of the other names (like Debon-hare for example, and Sir Frederick Fielke), I think my bunny's name is Mr Sniffles... apparently because he feels the cold, a little like his owner, and the scarf is not enough. Thank you to Valentina from Cyprus for her terriffic naming of Mr Sniffles, please send me your address Valentina and I will send your Lover's Knot templates off to you!

"Thank you Valentina...sniff, sniff"

Also you have one more week to go over and enter the Sue Daley competition and win one of her lovely hand paper piecing packs. 

As promised, a further reveal of the Dresden plate project is below....

I'm just waiting for permission from the publication it's going in, and then I will show you the whole thing. It's all done and waiting to be beasted so I can quilt it. Yay! During this we also discovered something else you can do with a Dresden Plate.

He's going to hate me when he's older. :) Sarah Fielke Material Obsession Material Obsession 2