Oh, the weather!

Oh how quickly things can change.  Last week was gorgeous warm Spring weather. Perfect to be out in the garden in t-shirt and  3/4 length pants.  If I say the last couple of days have been perfect quilting weather, you'll know what I mean.  It's been freezing cold and raining, yesterday was a great show from nature- thunder and lightning like I haven't seen for some years, and the heaviest September downpour since 1916 or something like that!  We had 48 ml in our raingauge in about 12 hours here.
I have a couple (or more!) projects on the go here.  I finished the border edge on my Anna quilt by Karen Cunningham.

The outer blue triangles are all cut and pieced separately, I really didn't think that it was all going to be the right measurement.  I shouldn't have doubted, it fit perfectly!
I've also started a quilt called Mrs Billings Coverlet.  Sigh.  It really called my name!
Anyway, I've also been working on the centre of the medallion.

Those hexies are 5/8" each and the diamond shapes are just tiny.  I do love the pattern though.  You won't believe how long I agonised over the placement of those outer 4 corners.  I measured about a million times to make sure they were correct before I cut them.  They were supposed to flow around the corners, all in the one direction.  Oh well.  Can't believe I didn't see that they didn't until it was all stitched together!

Spring, lovely Spring...

I love Spring.  After the dreariness of winter, a little bit of sun's warmth feels good.  It's nice to get out into the garden, or just open all the windows and let the sunshine in.
Today is a wonderful Spring day, 21 C , warm breeze, just gorgeous.
I opened my sewing room windows today and had a lovely time just stitching in the quietness.  Finished the next step of the Medallion Quilt, I'm liking how it looks.

The pattern used a new (to me) method of flying geese construction.  I usually cut rectangles of fabric and  stitch squares of background to each corner diagonally, then trim and flip the background back..  This method used 1 large square, with 4 smaller background squares and produced 4 geese per block.  (I hope that's clear!)  I must say that although the new method is a bit quicker, I lost a lot of my points so I don't think I'll bother with it again.
I'm still enjoying the challenge of only using fabrics from my stash.  As the quilt gets bigger, it's getting harder to find pieces big enough for the sashing.  I don't, as a rule, have large pieces.  I find myself buying smaller pieces now.  Fat 1/8ths and 1/16ths.  Maybe because I do a lot more applique now.
Anyway, I'm still having fun with this project.

A Great Day ....

was had today.
I had the pleasure of a stitching day with Annette ,Jean, and Rosie.We all attended Urban Stitches with Leanne Beasley, Melanie Hurlston, and Rosalie Quinlan.
The day was spent at the Novatel in Glen Waverley, they excelled themselves, let me tell you!  The room was spacious and well lit (if a little warm at times), the food was fantastic- plenty of it and good variety catering to all needs and tastes.

Our projects for the day.
Our goodie bag contained many treasures- a charm pack, some fat quarters, and all three projects fully kitted and ready to start.  Nothing to buy.  (Well, theoretically anyway!)
I decided to start with Leanne Beasley's project.

Some easy stitching, and a little applique to start the day.

I have these 3 lovely projects to carry on with.  Two Eastern European style stitched Baltimore blocks, and a lovely stitch wallet to hold sewing needs.









Oh lovely lunch.....

All ready to start the day , and some luscious Cosmo Threads.
Ahhhh, what a day.

FNSI and a found pattern.

Once again, last night was the  monthly Friday Night Sew In..  I really like the fact that I can give myself "permission" to sit and sew for a whole night with minimal interruptions and not feel guilty!   Silly, I know.
Well, I found my Anna quilt pattern after much searching.  Isn't it frustrating when you know it's there, just not sure where?
So, onto the borders for the quilt.  Firstly, tracing, cutting and sewing the triangles together filled the night. 

 

Pinning, pinning, so much pinning......
Hmmm, might be a good time for the glue baste so I don't stick myself a million times whilst appliqueing.
Only a million more hexagons and it's finished!

Step 3 Done.

A large part of Step 3 was completed at my Friday night sewing group.  I haven't taken machine sewing for a long time, so was very happy with myself when I cleaned and oiled it in preparation for a long nights stitching.
Imagine my horror when I got all my sewing things out only to discover that I'd left the table part of my Bernina at home.  When I sew at home, it fits into a table that my DH made for me but I'd completely forgotten that important piece of gear when I packed up.
Thanks to the kindness of fellow sewers, a machine was lent to me for the night by the wonderful Corliss of Threadbear  Quilt shop in Castlemaine.
So, I finished the step tonight,in anticipation of the next part.

Please excuse the partially amputated projects behind the Medallion.  I really need to work out how to crop my pics!
I was hoping to spend some time stitching on my Anna quilt from Patchwork on Stonleigh's Summer School last January, but can't find my instructions.  If anyone knows where they are, would you let me know please?  LOL.

Look at this lovely little gift that came in the post this week.
Courtesy of a give-away from SandyN.
Just too cute.  First a gorgeously wrapped little giftie and card.

Unwrapped to become this- lovely and excedingly useful quilt labels.
Lucky, lucky me.
Thanks sandy.