January 26 is Australia Day, the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet way back in 1788, and a day to celebrate all things Australian. It is a family day of BBQs and roast lamb, the latter for me - roast lamb prepared by my MIL.
And just so you know that I will be in good sewing company today, this is what my MIL gets up to in her spare time. These star blocks are all beautifully hand pieced by my mother-in-law. Her hand stitching is perfection and I can only hope to one day have the patience and time to piece with such precision.
The diamonds are all traced onto fabric using a template, placing the template so as to fussy cut the desired image, cut using scissors, and a 1/4 inch seam allowance marked with pencil. My MIL can hand piece two star blocks in 45 minutes! 80 blocks completed, another 160 to go.
The fabrics may look familiar as my MIL raids my highly guarded scrap bin regularly! Naturally I supervise...
Those stars are absolutely stunning - wow!
ReplyDeletewow, those are just gorgeous. wish my MIL had such good taste in fabric!
ReplyDeleteWow! Those stars took my breath away. Amazing work. Happy Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteYou are a lucky girl to have a MIL who shares your same interest - even if it means raiding your scraps,LOL! Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteHugs - Lurline♥
Wow! I love those stars!
ReplyDeleteWow-love the stars, especially the Heather Ross mermaids.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm down under celebrating with you because I've been watching lots of Australian Open tennis! The crowds look like they are in full celebration mode (or maybe they are naturally rowdy)
Wow -- your MIL sounds fabulous! I'd love to see the quilt she makes from all of these!
ReplyDeletejoan
These are incredible. Saw them on Flickr and went nuts!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.....I'm so curious as to how she's going to set them. I didn't piece that many before I gave up.........the only project I've ever hand-pieced, and I cheated and used machine-pieced borders!
ReplyDelete(you can see mine here.....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dottycam/449740551/in/set-72157594397197755/ )
Those are amazing! Her piecing is immaculate. =)
ReplyDeleteIncredible! What patience!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Maybe she will share....
ReplyDeletePaulette
Happy Australia Day! Sounds like tons of fun happening at your home today. You are right your MIL's piecing is just gorgeous. I hope that when she is done with this quilt you will show us.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Maybe she will share....
ReplyDeletePaulette
Happy Australia Day! These stars are beautiful. I especially love the one with the little girls swimming. Thanks for sharing with us! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day. How great to have a MIL to share with!
ReplyDeleteWOW! These stars are gorgeous. I was thinking that your MIL has great taste in fabric, very funky for a MIL, but given that she's drawing from your scraps she has great choices to work with. When I saw these on flickr, I was also thinking, OMG, when did you find time to do these? Your MIL is a star!
ReplyDeleteHappy Aussie Day, enjoy your lamb roast!
Kelly :-)
WOW! Those stars are amazing!
ReplyDeleteoh my..word....that block is unbelievable. if I had that fabric stashed I would pull it out right now and make one.
ReplyDeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful! That is so fun to share that bond together isn't it? I would love to make some of those stars. They look like they would make a really cool quilt!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful stars! Especially the ones with the mermaids. That fabric line is scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteHer stars are divine! I am making a little pram quilt with six-pointed stars at the moment too (see kitbikquilts.blogspot.com current last three posts), but I use freezer paper templates ironed on to the back of fabric then tacked down because I find ruling a line on to fabric using a ruler leads to too much 'drag', causing me to cut 'wonky' looking diamonds....I'm obviously missing some essential technique! Hers are stunning!
ReplyDeleteshe is amazing...and those stars are gorgeous. i love the mermaid star. happy australia day!!
ReplyDeleteIf only I had a MIL like that! wonderful work!! Happy australia day Rita x
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful these blocks are!
ReplyDeleteI was taught to use a needle, thread and a good pair of sissors as my basic tools, and they still are my favorite to use. I never use a rotary cutter because to me the sissors are part of the 'fun' of cutting and creating.!
Her work is beautiful! You are lucky to have her as a MIL.
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day!!!
ReplyDeleteGood grief that's a whole lot of patience and skill! Beautiful blocks... it's mind-boggling to me how she manages two in 45 mins!
It IS a family thing! How fun!!! Those blocks are beautiful. Happy Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day! We had roast lamb last night, lamingtons for morning tea and a BBQ and pavlova planned for tonight - I love our "national" food! These are beautiful hand pieced stars, I am really looking forward to the end result, guess it will be ready by Easter if she sews that quickly?!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful stars, her work is wonderful.
I like how she fussy cuts the designs in them, that is a fun idea.
Debbie
I was going to say that you girls must have fun shopping for fabric! But fair enough....seeing as MIL is putting those scraps to good use. Love the HR mermaids!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteAren't you from a talented family? Good to see that some of your scraps are going to such good use.
Those stars are amazing! I would love to share my hobby with my mother. My DIL has done a quilt or two, but is too busy right now with my darling grandkids, so I'll give her a pass on that and hope we can share this great hobby at some point in the future. And also that you will share that quilt when it is done.
ReplyDeleteOh, aren't they pretty!!
ReplyDeleteYou belong to SUCH a clever family!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that chicken star Rita! It's so cool... reminds me of that Chicken Song by the Wiggles (you can I tell I have toddlers!) - do you know what the print is?
ReplyDeleteStunning. Just stunning. My Oz Day was not as restful as I would have liked, but has ended with champagne and making a lamington roll, so it's all good.
ReplyDeleteHappy BIRTHDAY Today!Rita.
ReplyDeleteMum.
Ooh, those are gorgeous! (I'm slightly obsessed with fussy-cutting since I saw a demonstration at the Irish Patchwork Society meeting at the weekend.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day!
They are beautiful stars - amazing hand piecing Jan!
ReplyDeleteRita, I hope you have had a wonderful day!
These are wonderful! I love your fabric selections!
ReplyDeleteI am in love... Be sure to show us her completed quilt!
ReplyDeleteWow, those stars are amazing, especially love that Heather Ross one! Does she just attach all the stars together once she's finished?
ReplyDeleteThe mermaids are stunning!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I would love to see what she makes out of them!
ReplyDeleteYou're nicer than me - I would totally give her the bins with the non-designer fabric! My MIL wouldn't know the diff and would be just as happy with "regular" fabric.
ReplyDeleteThe mermaid star is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteHope we get to see the finished quilt
Happy Australia day!
Beautiful! :) What a great job she is doing! I would love to be in the presence of a family member that could teach me how to hand piece. What an opportunity!! :) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australia Day! The stars are wonderful...I can't believe she makes them so fast! I hope you'll share when she finishes it...
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the festivities
They are absolutely beautiful! I'm in awe!
ReplyDeleteYou've really given those starts a new look! I love the mermaid!! :) Christine
ReplyDeleteAren't you the lucky one! Hope you had a good holiday...
ReplyDeleteYour MIL does beautiful work. She certainly is a pronounced quilter for sure. Just love her work an thank you for sharing it. Love your blog, and happy quilting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delicious assortment of stars- you are very lucky to have such a gifted MIL!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love these stars!
ReplyDeletePlease keep us posted...
; )
LOVE them, fabulous, they are beauitful.
ReplyDeleteYour MIL does beautiful work--every star is absolutely amazing! thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteI love the diamond with the mermaids! Absolutely gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteImpatient to see the finished quilt:)