Leanne's House

Friday in the Studio...

Well life here is pleasantly paced today. A day of finishing sewing on some binding. I love having the excuse to sit infront of daytime t.v. (oohhh, I get to watch Oprah!) and just stitch. I've been putting the binding on the 'Loxton Vines Quilt'. My friend Melinda did an AMAZING job of quilting it:

With it dark and raining outside there's no better way to spend the day than stitch. With no possibility of this rain stopping and me photographing the completely finished quilt I can stitch at a normal pace.

I picked a yummy 'Urban Chicks by Moda' stripe to bind this quilt:

Better go and keep stitching now...

Back soon,

Leanne Beasley xxx

Apron Strings and Other Things...

You may have read on Rosie's blog that we will soon be off on a couple of road trips again! Well I have been doing a bit of photography today for the trip to New South Wales where I will be teaching my latest design called 'Apron Strings':

 

There's three different versions of the apron in the pattern. One has a floral stitchery pocket (the pink one), one has a plain pocket (the white one), and one has a pocket that you can make your own(the green one)! Or you can make it without the pocket.

Along with Rosie, I will also be teaching with Gail Pan, and Viv Robinson. It's going to be a lovely weekend of stitching and just great girl chatter and fun really. Some ladies may choose to work on the stitchery pocket for the apron, or have a lot of fun designing their own personal pocket with me. The pattern includes a full alphabet so anything can be written on the pocket:

The weekend is hand sewing based but I hope some of the ladies bring along their machines so maybe we can stitch a bit on Saturday night and maybe complete an apron or two!

I haven't done a 'sleepover retreat' for a while so it will be really great. I'm not sure what happens when we stay over and have pyjama time together but it always seems that there's a lot of giggles and chocolate and stitching (and maybe a wine or two!):

There are still a few places left for the weekend (pack your best pyjamas and some chocolate). If you're interested you can contact Kim from Jukejema Quilting Barn on (02) 4421 2577. The weekend will be held at Waterslea at Shoalhaven on August 8, 9, and 10. Don't plan on doing much sleeping if you come because Rosie, Gail, Viv and I can talk all night!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Here I Am! Here I Am!

Oh yes, life has been VERY busy at Leanne's House and I am in one of those frantic work situations where every deadline seems to be yesterday! So here's what I've been up to:

Writing the pattern for my new Christmas stockings, which I have decided will be called, 'Waiting For Santa'. The pattern is being double checked at present but I will let you know when it's ready to be released. Here's a snapshot:

 

I have been stitching  and writing like mad to complete the apron pattern (more photos soon) that needs to be done yesterday! Working on the 'Loxton Vines Quilt', that just needs to be bound (photos will be posted when I can get some non- rainy weather!). Writing and stitching a pattern for Quilt Fabric Delights wonderful 'Pincushion of the Month' program. But best of all has been going to Rosie's book launch!:

 

Here's me and Rosie (did you notice that each of us has an angel on our shoulders!):

Here's Rosie and her sisters - Melly, Rosie, and Erica:

And ladies keen to get their own copy of 'Gift':

 

We have also had another big event in our local area, the relocation to a larger store for Foothills Fabric and Threads:

It's big!:

And beautiful:

Look at that full and entire range of DMC threads! Oh yummy!!!!

More chat and photos soon...

Leanne Beasley xxx

A Winner and A Design Wall...

The lucky winner of the 'Butterfly Garden Sewing Tin' is:

I was pretty excited when I drew Kathy out of the hat (well, little green bucket actually) because in her comment she mentioned that she just uses an old plastic box for her sewing tin. Hope you enjoy the pretty new one Kathy! Kathy, can you please email me your snail mail address so I can ship your tin straight off to you.

This post would have been on the screen much earlier today but I was having so much fun working on this project I just couldn't stop:

It's an apron pattern that I'm working on for an upcoming teaching event in New South Wales. Here on my design wall you can see the prototype apron in yummy 'Prints Charming' fabric (this one I'll keep for myself I think!). Rosie and Melly got me started on this fabric and I am loving working with it because it is the softest yummiest fabric. The apron took a bit of perfecting (and getting all my friends of all shapes and sizes to model it to make sure one size does fit all!):

There will be three apron versions in the pattern and I'll show you more as I stitch my little fingers to the bone. The pattern will include a full alphabet so it can be personalised:

I can't wait to get to have it ready for the ladies coming to the 'Jukejema Quilting Barn' retreat in August in Nowra. If you think you'd like to join us at 'Waterslea', which overlooks the river, there are still just a few spots left for the weekend in August. It will be a really wonderful weekend and I'll be there with Rosalie Quinlan, Gail Pan, and Viv Robinson too.

If you need more details you can contact Kim Goatcher at 'Jukejema Quilting Barn' on (02) 4421 2577.

More soon,

Leanne Beasley xxx

A Catch Up and a Giveaway (Because I Just Couldn't Resist)...

A few days since my last post, I know! I have been very busy finishing off projects and articles for magazines, finalising my 2009 teaching appointments, working on my project for Jukejema Quilting Barn's retreat in New south Wales that I'll be teaching at in August (can't wait to show you that), local teaching at Foothills Fabric and Threads, and of course celebrating with my friend Rosalie:

 

Yes, Rosalie's brand new book is out! I snapped this photo of her with the very first book off the press when she dropped in to give a sneak peak at a class I was teaching on Tuesday night. The ladies were VERY excited to be the first to see the book! It is truely divine. For the thousands of Rosalie Quinlan fans you will be in love with this book!

When Rosalie dropped in I was teaching a 'Butterfly Garden' Block of the month class. Some of my favourite pieces of the quilt are right in the centre:

I particularly like the little double pink butterflies so much that I have had a few samples of tins made with this part of the quilt.

I love good quality. Sadly, this means that the tins I have selected turned out to be too expensive to wholesale really. Bad in general (don't worry, I'm shopping around still) but good for the one tin I have left for a giveaway:

This is the tin that I personally use for my sewing tin now, and one of you out there will win one for your sewing tin. It's a 7" diameter so it's a lovely size for your pincushion, needles, scissors, and threads.

To enter the draw, simply leave a comment before Thursday the 26th. It can be about anything: your current sewing tin, what's in your sewing tin, how you're going with 'Butterfly Garden' or any of my other patterns, books or DVD, anything that takes your fancy!

On Thursday I'll show you my new Christmas stocking pattern that looks a bit like this:

Until then,

Leanne Beasley xxx

A Sneak Peek and Some Show and Tell...

You know I can never resist a sneak peek! Here's what I've been working on:

I thought I'd also give you a peek at some of the wonderful 'Butterfly Garden' quilts that came to class today. I think it's fun to see what other people do, especially when it comes to colour.

Here's Debbie's version with beautiful little blue butterflies, and have a look at how she's used the floral fabric:

Debbie also loves beading so she's done this little basket of flowers with half French Knots and half little beads. (And yes, she can crochet too! That's how she did the bucket handle!):

More beads:

Elaine loves beads too and she's added them into her floral fabrics:

Pam's quilt is really amazing because it's entirely hand pieced!!!

Ramona is a blue girl:

See!:

I haven't included all the quilts from today, I have to keep you wanting to see more!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Tracey's Butterfly Garden...

More photos from the 'Butterfly Garden' classes that I'm teaching at Foothills Fabric and Threads. Here's a weekday class where we have a lot of fun! One of the things we all love is 'Show and Tell'. It's great to see where everyone's up to and what individual changes they've made to the patterns:

I mentioned that I'd show you Tracey's quilt and here it is. (Tracey is second from the left in the above photo):

 

Tracey is an art teacher so she always adds extra special flair to all of the classes she's done with me. I just love her own little butterflies like the one above!

Another nice touch is using a varigated thread for the 'patchwork stitchery blocks':

Here's one of Tracey's butterflies she's designed:

Also added in is a beautiful DMC metallic thread which adds a special bling!

I hope you've enjoyed being part of our class 'Show and Tell'!

Leanne Beasley

P.S. Please bear with me as I try to work through this new Typepad. I still can't get the clarity on my photos, or the sizing right. I will work it out though (I hope)!

Show and Tell...

One of my favourite things that I get to do is teaching. I have been enjoying my regular Block of the Month classes for 'Butterfly Garden' at Foothills Fabric and Threads. I've had a few emails asking for more photos of "the black and white quilt" (with a splash of orange) that Phena is making:

Here's Block One and Two of Phena's quilt:

 

A close-up:

And the beautiful basket that she's done:

Tommorow I'll give you a peek at Tracey's version that she's working on!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. I am really struggling with the new Typepad. Can anyone give me a hint as to how to load my photos the same way I used to be able to?

I Hope This Helps...

Recently I have had many emails and phone calls from women who have had difficulty in getting some of my patterns, particularly some of my Block of the Month patterns. This blog entry is, in my own sheer desperation, an attempt to help you out.

I will not go into details, if it effects you, you will know what all this is about. I am having closed comments only on this blog entry as I do not want this to be a negative thing but simply a way of helping out those of you who are contacting me. This means I can read your comments but no-one else can.

If you have been left needing Block of the Month patterns to complete an already started quilt my first advice is to contact your local quilt shop for assistance. If however, they are unable to help you this might help you. Foothills Fabric & Threads, the local shop where I do much of my teaching, are willing to individually assist ladies in obtaining patterns that they might be missing.

If, for example, you are missing Block 9 and 10 of 'Journey of a Quilter' you can contact them and they will mail order them for you. If you need fabric to complete your quilt the ladies at Foothills Fabric & Threads will aim to help you as well, although this may be difficult with older fabrics of course.

Foothills Fabric & Threads can be contacted at:

Shop 3, 1567 Burwood Highway, Tecoma, Victoria, Australia 3786.

Phone in Australia: (03) 9754 6166 Phone Overseas: 61 3  9754 6166

email: foothills@telstra.com

When I design a quilt, especially a Block of the Month Quilt, it is my full intention to bring nothing but sheer joy in not only the stitching but the entire experience, including for many of you, the excitement of waiting for the mailman to arrive each month with a package from your chosen quilt shop. I hope, above all hopes, that you will continue to wish to participate in my current, and future Block of the Month quilts.

Leanne Beasley

Raw Edges and More Skipping Boys...

My 'Loxton Vines' quilt is off to the machine quilters (I whipped that up pretty quickly eh?). Actually I have fallen in love with raw edge applique and just couldn't stop stitching really:

Seeing as I'll be teaching it as an 'introduction to raw edge applique class' I decided to see if I could stitch it with just a normal sewing machine foot, rather than a free motion foot - it worked! This means no-one needs to purchase an additional foot just to have a go at raw edge applique. So much fun, can't wait to start teaching this class!

Raw edge applique means that the quilt top can be made in a few days!

 

I've designed the quilt in such a way that you get to do all the machine applique in a block, then you stitch the blocks together. As you can see this makes it very easy to manipulate around the sewing machine:

If you're a regular reader you may also remember this quilt from Christmas last year:

I made it for my brother and his divine wife for Christmas. They are both very much into design and so I was thrilled when they were happy with it. They are the proud parents of my little nephew, and guess what, at only a few days old I've actually finished his birth quilt!!!! Okay, it still has to be quilted (and bound and labelled), but I'm happy to have reached this point:

I love the 'Skipping Boy' fabric which just oozes 'modern baby'! So that his quilt co-ordinates with Mum and Dad, I used a block of the same red toile, in the same spot as their quilt, and I'll add the black and white stripe binding, also a left over from their quilt.

Back to stitching,

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. Still having a LOT of trouble with the new Typepad and wasted a LOT of time trying to get it right. Apologies with photos until I can find some help! Where's a teenager when you need one?!