A Little Stitching

2012-02-10T21:51:00.000+11:00

And here it is...
my Orca Bay is finished!!!!
Ably assisted by Daisy the wonderdog, I attempted to get the whole quilt in the picture but it's a little large for my Kitchen floor.

I'm so happy with the way it's turned out. My eldest DD has already claimed it as hers.
I thought it was looking a little dark, but I think it looks fine now.

2012-02-05T20:30:00.002+11:00

I'm loving sewing small quilts.
February's quilt from Jo 's Country Junction is the Bear's Paw quilt.
Lots of little triangles in this one. I'm going to stitch in a welcome to Autumn colour theme. I'm so not a Summer girl.

Bear's Paw centre finished, awaiting more sweet little 1/2 square triangles to be added.

Aren't they just so sweet. Those brown 1/2 triangle squares are 7/8" finished.
The cheddar triangles are 1 " finished. Fiddly to sew, but worth it in the end.

The finished quilt!!!
That's 3 quilts finished this year. Oh, I don't count the actual quilting bit. However, I've been eyeing off some batting scraps and may actually get some hand quilting done to totally finish these little beauties.

2012-02-05T12:26:00.001+11:00

I've been waiting patiently, (well, a little impatiently actually) for my red and white fabrics to turn up in the post. Just Takes 2 started at the beginning of January without me. I've been looking at everyone's blocks as they stitched the first months worth.
Thanksfully my lovely red and white solids finally arrived and I've been able to get a start. A wonderful pile of colour, freshly washed.

Six blocks of the first 9 completed.

I'd forgotten how nice solid colour fabric is to work with. It's a nice weight and irons well. I'm using Moda Bella Solids.

I'm all ready to get going on my Orca Bay quilt too.
Blocks are all ready to go, even for the pieced borders.

2012-01-27T12:15:00.001+11:00

Can you hear me yelling in excitement?
I've finished the second of 2 quilts for the year. That's started and finished. Amazed?
Well, the first was only 12" square, the second is 17" square.

This little sweetie is Mourning Crosses , part of a 12 month quilt along with Kathleen Tracy of A Sentimental Quilter.
I loved choosing the fabrics for this one. In fact, I've used some new to me fabrics that were part of a scrap bag. Some had 2001 on the selvage, so almost vintage! The centre square, purplish sashing and the outer green were in the bag. I just felt I had to use them. I think they came up pretty well.
Off to sewing in Castlemaine tonight. Haven't seen these ladies since November, it'll be good to catch up.

2012-01-27T12:07:00.003+11:00

Well, back from a great week away sewing to my heart's content.
As expected, a lot of talking, eating, drinking, talking, eating, sewing happened. I'm now set up with 3 new projects to keep me occupied for the next 12 months.
Rather than do a little of my 3 chosen projects over the 5 days, I spent a lot of time on preparation of just 1.
I find the prep side can be very tedious, so I chose fabrics, cut hexagons and basted to my hearts content. All whilst listening to fabulous conversations and talking to friends.
I actually stitched these hexagon flowers on the first day of this project. These will go around a central feature piece of fabric.

The individual hexagons are 1". Felt rather large, as I've been sewing 1/2" and 3/4" lately. The fabrics are from the lovely Pom Pom de Paris by French General.

A lot of basic preparation happened.
The quilt will finish about 70"square, I prepped nearly all the hexagons for the whole quilt. Now for the stitching.

On Retreat...

2012-01-19T18:07:00.001+11:00

Having a lovely quiet, yet productive time away at a stitching week in the Blue Mountains.
I've run away from home with all my supplies, and left the family at home to look after the dog!
More than a little time has been spent eating and talking, so not as much sewing has occured as you might think. LOL.
In 2 days, I've achieved...

And of course, the obligatory support of the attending shop.

Those 2 greyish blue fabrics are so soft. I initially thought they were from the same range, they go together so well. But no, 2 entirely different ranges and manufacturers.
The panel is from the John Hewson Winterthur Museum range that has been recently reproduced. I was very happy to be able to purchase this piece.

More sewing tomorrow.

2012-01-15T21:47:00.001+11:00

Well, look at my blocks now.
Such sweet little things. Glad I decided to sew just 4 blocks, instead of the 9 in the pattern.

And now auditioning sashing fabric.

I'm thinking that this will look quite good.
The little quilt is then finished off with a floral on black border. May need to buy a little of that, I know there's none in the cupboard.

2012-01-13T23:07:00.002+11:00

What a difference a day can make.
I've been desperately trying to get along with my Orca Bay quilt, so I've only been working on that one. I couldn't let myself sew on anything else, even when I didn't feel like stitching on it anymore. Silly, I know.
Well, this morning I finally thought "Enough"! LOL. I'm leaving Orca for a while- I need a break.
Soooo, look at what I've been creating.....

It came together so quickly.

TADA!

A whole quilt finished in a day. Patting myself on my back quite vigorously.
I've been wanting to make a small quilt for quite a while, opportunity beckoned recently when Jo of Jo's Country Junction announced a "Quilt Square" quilt along.
Using a Quilt Square pattern from Lori Smith of From my heart to your Hands ,we are creating a 12" square quilt each month. I needed to order my pattern from the extremely lovely Lori before I could commence. It was certainly a lovely day yesterday when it arrived.
Lori runs her pattern business herself. I ordered my patterns over the Christmas period, so I wasn't expecting to see them quickly. Lori emailed me with apologies that she was spending time with her family, but my patterns wouldn't be too far away. I was very pleasantly surprised that she included one of her other patterns for me for being patient! I was amazed by such good and thoughtful service. (For those of us not in the USA, she also caps her postage at $4). I'll certainly be looking again at her other lovely patterns.

Seems I'm on a roll with small quilts! LOL.
Kathleen Tracy of A Sentimental Quilter is also hosting a quilt-along with her blog and her Yahoo group- "Small Quilt Talk". The first quilt off the mark, is her Crosses Mourning Quilt from her second book- Prairie Children and their Quilts.
I also had to wait for this book to arrive before I could look at starting this quilt. I am taking the option of creating the quilt in 4 blocks only, instead of the 9 in the book.

So, here is my start. A little more cutting, and I might make a start on this tonight! Oh my, what have I started?
I can't tell you how good this feels.

2012-01-12T20:31:00.001+11:00

I've been working along on my Bonnie K. Hunter mystery quilt - "Orca Bay".
I'm quite the tortoise on this quilt, slowly moving through each of the steps. I'm currently up to Step 7 of 8, so I'm nearing the finish line.
There was quite a bit of string piecing onto a paper foundation, I got quite good at tearing paper strips off! These blocks are looking very nice now, all trimmed up to size.

These red string blocks were sliced in half on the diagonal, then trimmed to look neat and lovely.

Onwards to lots of triangles!These look OK from a distance, but I always have trouble with keeping everything nice and square. A little judicious trimming helped a lot.

String pieced flying geese. Don't these look nice and tidy?

And don't these Ohio Star blocks look very elegant?
I love the colour combination, although I'm not a big user of black in my quilts.
I'm enjoying this quilt, I did have huge doubts earlier on in the process, but I'm loving it now.
More Sewing is in my future tonight!

2011-12-31T11:43:00.000+11:00

I forgot to include this photo. I was looking in the back of a cupboard for some more bits of red that might have escaped the tub when I came across this pile.
Around 1999, I was saving fabrics for 3 quilts in magazines. I remember it all so well, not much money so bit by bit over time I squirreled away fabrics. And here they are! Found still in their own bags with the magazine. All carefully labelled with many post-it notes.
Well, fashions and tastes change, let me tell you. Mine certainly have. Several bits were "What was I thinking?" material!
So, now it's all moved out of the bags, into the tubs for use. Some very useful neutrals in there.
The reds are already cut into strips and are in my string blocks.
Oh, and the magazines are back on the shelf!

2011-12-31T11:33:00.001+11:00

Stitching away madly on Step 4 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt.
I'm just a little behind!

Step 2, 3 1/2 " string blocks, I still have to take the paper off and trim to size.
Skipping Step #3 for the moment, on to Step #4.
5 1/2 " Red string blocks. Happy to say I'm 2/3 finished stitching these. I'm prefering not to think about the de-papering and trimming at the moment!

I don't keep strings, so I cut strips from my red fabric bin. I've made several mystery quilts with Bonnie that need large amounts of reds, so I'm very happy to say that I'm almost to the end of a tub of fabric that has been around since the early 90's! LOL.
I really enjoyed looking at the selvedges, some early Judie Rothermel and Jinny Beyer.

Happily waiting together for trimming and de-papering. And then on to Step #3 which involves more cutting of some (so as not to frighten myself- it's actually about 400 I think) black and neutral triangles.

2011-12-26T20:12:00.001+11:00

We very nearly had a white Christmas yesterday!
A day full of strange weather patterns- the day started clear, sunny and hot. About 30 degrees C and quite humid, by lunchtime, it was a very gray day indeed, threatening rain, but still very warm and humid.
Whilst eating our Christmas tea about 5 pm, we had the best thunderstorm with the biggest hail I've ever seen.

This was a smallish one!! The noise as the hail hit the road and the roof was very loud.

Dessert made the experience so much easier to take! Especially after we checked the holes in the Laserlight roof over our back verandah. Oh well, at least no-one was hurt.

Stitching over Christmas....

2011-12-26T12:26:00.000+11:00

is a lovely way to spend some quiet time.
I'm moving between projects as my heart desires at the moment. I've been stitching on the Vignette mystery quilt blocks for a couple of days.

Here's Block #2.
I skipped over Block #1 in the embroidery stakes, and moved onto this block.
Chain stitching my heart out whilst watching "Midsommer Murders".
I'm having trouble maintaining the "flow" of steps with Bonnie's mystery this year. She has posted step 5, but I'm still on Step 1, maybe has something to do with needing millions of tiny triangles sewn together!
Little by little though......

Whilst I had some spare time yesterday in a very quiet house, I started cutting the foundation papers for the next couple of steps.
3 1/2" and 5 1/2 " squares to be string pieced. Can't wait to stitch those, I love little string blocks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

2011-12-25T00:29:00.002+11:00

and a very Happy New Year to everyone.
It's 1204 am on Christmas Day here, time now to eat Santa's biscuits, drink his beer, and put the Reindeer's carrots back in the fridge! The DD's will be up early.

2011-12-24T14:20:00.000+11:00

We set off for Adelaide after a lovely few days R and R in the great Australian bush.
A stop in Nhill for lunch produced a lovely surprise- their local patchwork shop was open on a Sunday. A little shopping to help the local economy was in order. Jennifer, of Jennifer Meek Giftware has a lot of lovely fabric in a shop that still boasts 15 ft pressed tin ceilings. Gorgeous, in a word.

Lovely potential quilting patterns! No tiled floors though!
Whilst in Adelaide, The Sewing Sanctuary in Aldinga Beach was visited and purchases made. A lovely shop with a little coffee shop attached for after shopping refreshment. I made some unexpected purchases here. I've been looking for a fabric for a quilt- but no idea what range or who made it. Luckily, there it was tucked away on a shelf, languishing. Well, no more. One metre came home with me, I was very excited.
A quick trip to Brighton to visit Patchwork By Sea was also very welcome.
Lovely ladies in all three shops, an added bonus to some time away.
Being December, harvest is in full swing in Northern Victoria across to Adelaide.
Trucks and farm machinery everywhere.

2011-12-18T16:23:00.000+11:00

Back home again after 9 days away with my family on our Christmas holiday.
We had 2 nights on a farm stay ably hosted by Sally the sheepdog.

A couple of riding lessons went down very well.

Apparently I'm the best mum in the world at the moment!
All I can say is 2 1/2 hours of riding for them equals 2 1/2 hours of stitching in piece and quiet for me! LOL.

The scene of much sewing. A truly lovely way to spend a few days.
I can wholeheartedly recommend a family getaway at Grelco Run in the Grampians.
Even better, I have something good to show for all my work whilst away-

Somewhere along the way, I've lost a couple of hexagons to finish that lower corner. Not to worry, on to them next.

2011-12-01T13:26:00.000+11:00

The school year is coming to an end soon, so I've been preparing some hand work tor those times sitting waiting to pick-up kids from friends houses, from the pool, etc.
Since I finally succumbed to the Vignette mystery, I've been tracing out the stitchery border patterns. Hours of waiting time there!

I'm trying out Leanne Beasley's tip of tracing the design with a fine Pigma pen. I usually use a Pacer pencil, but I often have trouble seeing my lines, and the lead "grabs" at the fabric. The Pigma was very easy to draw with, gliding over the linen fabric. Because it's so fine, the embroidery should cover it nicely.

This is the current disaster on my sewing table. Not a bad disaster, just a big mess as I cut and piece 1/4 square triangles into cute little hourglass blocks. These little beauties are 2 1/2" square at the moment.

These little blocks are step 1 in Bonnie K Hunter's new mystery "Orca Bay".

The icing on the cake this week was winning a giveaway on Lurline's blog Lurline's Place. How gorgeous are those fabrics? I've love Aneela Hoey's fabrics for ages, so the layer cake of Sherbet Pips is wonderful. The charm pack of Meadow Friends is bright and cheery, and a fabulous Melanie Hurlston pattern was also included. Then there were the little bonus extras. Sooo happy. I'm a real sucker for a luscious hand made cake of soap!
Ideas for the fabric are already swirling around my head!
Happy Days.

2011-11-19T17:54:00.000+11:00

Last night was Friday Night Sew In night. I had absolutely no idea what to sit and stitch this month. I have a few projects that I could have worked on, but wasn't feeling very motivated to continue with them.
Luckily!, I had a project waiting in the wings. At the beginning of the year, I purchased the first Vignette magazine. I fell in love with the mystery quilt contained inside, and purchased the fabrics and threads. I knew I wouldn't get to it for ages.


	So, from this lovely group of fabrics....

I cut and sewed all evening...

and ended up with these...

Fourteen sweet little Churn-dash blocks.
This is just the start, there's a lot of embroidery on linen in the borders of this quilt. That's the next job!
Oh, and of course, Bonnie K. Hunter's new mystery - Orca Bay- just started last night too.
I have fabrics kind of chosen, but I think I'll leave the first step until I go to my regular sewing night next Friday.

2011-11-12T20:50:00.001+11:00

I had very high hopes of getting a lot of sewing done this week. Unfortunately (for my sewing projects), I've been reading instead. Last night I finally got some of my Sew-jo back and finished stitching down the hexagons that I stuck down about a week ago.

And now that they're all sewn down, I see that my curves aren't all equal. Oh well, not unpicking them for anything!
Off to stick down some more shapes. Or as my woodworking DH says- off to do a "glue-up".

Some progress and almost a disaster...

2011-11-01T13:54:00.001+11:00

Well, some progress is being made on my Anna quilt. Lots of little hexagons in the border to stitch around. It's quite an easy border really, just lots of sewing.

I almost had a disaster of the quilting kind whilst placing the hexagons where I wanted them. Wiped down the kitchen bench to spread the quilt out on, and when I started placing the shapes an ominous stain appeared through the fabric. With my heart in my throat, I turned the quilt over to find a large spot of the very lovely chickpea curry from tea now on my border.
I can't describe the feelings, I ran through options of washing the top, or just sponging it a little, as I turned it back to the right side.
As I looked I realised that a well place hexagon would cover up the stain very well. Big smiles all around then. So, crisis averted, thank goodness.
Perhaps next time, I'll hose down the bench before I start! LOL.
All's well that ends well.

2011-10-22T23:24:00.001+11:00

I just love Quilting. What's not to love about an activity that allows you to spend several hours with great friends, whilst creating. It just fills my spirit.
Friday night was spent sewing at my regular 6pm 'til midnight group. Held about 90 minutes away, we get together about once every 6 weeks.
This month also coincided with Friday Night Sew In hosted by Bobbi.
So, much stitching ensued, helped along by lots of talking and a little eating.

I added top and bottom borders(no sides this time), to the Medallion quilt that I've been sewing. Only a couple of borders left to sew and it'll be finished. I don't think I've sewn a quilt this quickly before (which really isn't that quickly !). I'm enjoying this pattern, and the no-buy rule that comes with it.
A great way to spend a Friday night.

Part 5 finished...

2011-10-06T10:59:00.001+11:00

I finally finished Part 5 of the Medallion Quilt.

There's a lot to be said for school holidays and taking time off work. This week I've finished the round of the Medallion, cut out the remaining 70 hexagons for the Anna quilt border and picked up the embroidered panel from Urban Stitches with Leanne Beasley.
Feels very good to have some fabric in my hands and actually finish a step in just a short while, rather than taking 3 weeks and losing momentum.

2011-10-02T13:49:00.000+11:00

So, what to do all afternoon when the footy is on?
I finished the blocks for the next round of my Medallion. In true Bonnie Hunter style, I stitched again, just inside the diagonal stitching to give "bonus triangles". In this way, when I trim the excess off the corners, I automatically get free triangles to use in "something", rather than just throw them away.
Makes me feel very virtuous! LOL.

These will give a zig-zag border when stitched together.

Then,just to fill in some time, I finished basteing some hexagons I need for my Anna quilt.

That's 110 hexies, only 70 more to go!

GO CATS.....

2011-10-01T19:06:00.004+10:00

Collingwood 4.2 9.3 12.6 12.9 (81)
Geelong 4.3 8.6 13.7 18.11 (119)

We killed 'em.
Nothing more to say.

Grand Final.

2011-10-01T14:22:00.001+10:00

Today is the Australian Football League Grand Final , between Collingwood and GEELONG.
As a native from Geelong , I feel I must keep flying the colours! LOL.
GO CATS.

Oh, the weather!

2011-09-29T20:40:00.001+10:00

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...

2011-09-22T16:49:00.002+10:00

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 ....

2011-09-18T19:58:00.000+10:00

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.

2011-09-17T14:49:00.001+10:00

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.

2011-09-11T23:24:00.000+10:00

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.

2011-09-08T20:12:00.001+10:00

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.

2011-08-29T10:21:00.000+10:00

Well, this Medallion Quilt has certainly got me working hard to get the next instructions. Instead of collecting the pattern each week or month , you actually have to finish each set of instructions to get the next lot.
So, here's Part 2:

I'm liking how it looks so far.
Now to see what the next step holds.

2011-08-22T21:33:00.000+10:00

I couldn't wait to finish the medallion centre.
Now just to wait for the next lot of instructions to come.

Friday Night Sew In

2011-08-21T12:15:00.000+10:00

Goodness me, August has been flying by. It was Friday Night Sew In again Friday night.
I was all ready for a good bit of stitching to be done.
Recently I came across a Medallion of the month pattern being offered by Therese of Patchwork Pumpkin.
Have a look at my good blogging friend Linda's beautiful start.
There are only 3 rules:    You cannot buy any fabric, you must use your stash.
   You can swap with your friends.
                                           Email a photo of your finished centre to get the instructions for the next part.
Well, that's easy enough.
So, this is where I'm up to.....

It has finished at 12 1/2" square at the moment.
I have yet to add the surrounding triangles to put this block on point.
A very successful night's sewing, I think.

I love it when...

2011-08-10T22:38:00.001+10:00

the parcel post man rings my door bell, even if it is early!
This morning, my doorbell rang at 8 am, only one person rings it at that time. I nearly ran to the door.
A lovely envelope filled with some wonderful fabrics was waiting for me.
I couldn't wait to open it.

How beautifully packed, thankyou so much Z and S Fabrics for a little present for myself.
I carefully removed the bow, and found these...

Gorgeous or what? Most of these are from the Washington's Legacy range by Windham, from several months ago.
I purchased these fabrics for a particular quilt, but I need to get a little further along with a couple of others first. Does anyone else see a quilt, think "I need to make that", and then start buying fabrics? Unfortunately, I know these will need to sit for a while. However, If I don't buy them now, they won't be around when I do want them, will they?
Well, that's my justification, anyway! LOL.

2011-08-06T15:44:00.000+10:00

Well, last night I headed up the highway a bit to meet up with a group of girlfriends for our regular 6pm 'till midnight sewing night.
Unusually for me, I actually got some sewing done.
These cute little hexagon flowers are for a border on a quilt that's taking it's time getting finished. But, these things can't be rushed! I need to make about 10 more flowers, then about 150 more hexagons.

A couple more Dear Jane blocks, started and finished last night as well.
I obviously didn't talk enough. LOL.
I took all my hexies in this sweet little basket that I received for Christmas from a fellow stitcher. Just the right size.

And, everything packed into my stitching "briefcase"! Perfect.

Last but not least, here's another of my Blind Man's Puzzle blocks. I know I've put the corner blocks in the wrong spot, but can I live with them? Probably not, unfortunately, so a little unpicking is on my horizon.

Friday Night Sew In...

2011-07-24T12:50:00.001+10:00

Well, I felt very industrious Friday night as I joined in once again with Heidi and Bobbi and many other stitchers from around the globe at Friday Night Sew In.
I had a few tasks lined up, to fill in the evening.
Firstly, I finished off a couple of Dear Jane blocks that I'd partly sewn.

Then, I filled in several hours stitching a block that's new to me. Called Blind Man's Puzzle, I found a picture a couple of weeks ago whilst surfing websites. Unfortunately, I committed the unforgivable act of forgetting to bookmark the blog that I found it on. Don't you hate that? Anyway, I love the pattern.

The centre square is a lovely red, the pic doesn't do it justice.
A fantastic flying geese sashing goes around each 15 " block.
Edit: just noticed that the hourglass blocks aren't orientated correctly. Hmm,to change or not to change.
I'm also not too happy about the dark outer pieces of the block, may have to take them off and replace with something a little lighter.
Then to finish the night off, I did a little more applique on my Princess Feather border.

I have glue basted several pieces on, now just to finish stitching.
So, all in all a very productive night.

2011-07-14T22:09:00.000+10:00

I've been a bit slow in keeping up with stitching my Dear Jane blocks recently. I'm unable to attend my support group (monthly sewing afternoons) to keep up the momentum. I do look at them often, and even fondle the fabric set aside for the blocks.
So, I decided to get some stitching done on them last Friday at my 6-midnight sewing group. I've finished 7 blocks so far this year. Oh, that sounds soooo bad, only 7 blocks in 7 months.
However, this quilt won't make it to the UFO pile, it's slowly simmering away in the background.

I like to spend a day prepping several blocks ready to sew. I only have 2 more blocks prepped. Might spend a day tomorrow getting some more ready- surely that will get me back onto a quicker track.

2011-07-10T14:41:00.004+10:00

I've had a lovely time since returning from Inspired Stitches in Adelaide last weekend.
I've really enjoyed reading Kathie's posts at Inspired by Antique Quilts. Recently she has had several posts regarding some good books on antique quilts in her reading library.
I have to say, I immediately went and had a good look at those books on the web. I'm in heaven with a good book. Whilst I resisted buying any of them for a while, in the end I couldn't help myself. I simply gave in to temptation and purchased several for my reading pleasure.
So, my parcel postie man has been coming by a lot lately. Do you think it's odd that he waves at me in the street now? LOL.
Anyway, here are some of my purchases.....

These first 2 are gorgeous books that have lots of patterns and information on doll quilts, many made by small children. Hard to believe that girls as young as 3 or 4 were stitching little blocks together. Of course many were made by their mothers as well.

This book has been on my "to buy" list for quite some time. Just beautiful.

Another lovely book from Kathie, first published in 1992, some gorgeous photos of quilts from New York State.
A wonderful night was spent on Friday at Threadbear in Castlemaine. Our regular group of quilters got together for a 6 hour session of sewing.
I managed to finish 2 more blocks for my Dear Jane quilt- currently being blocked into ~~submission~~ shape, so pics next time. Somehow, a couple more books found their way into my bag.

This lovely little book specialises in miniature quilts and their construction. It's also been out for quite a while, but somehow never made it home with me before.

I also found this little book by Mary Koval- beautiful pictures of my favourite 2 colour quilts.
The Castlemaine Applique Group had a special meeting last weekend (sadly whilst I was away in Adelaide), Mary Koval was one of the guests for the meeting along with Petra Prins from The Netherlands.
Hopefully I'll get to see these very talented ladies next time they're down this way.

Inspired Stitches.

2011-07-04T22:30:00.003+10:00

I've just had the best weekend away at a stitching retreat in Adelaide.
Organised by Sarah at Quilt Fabric Delights, a fantastic time was had by all. We had FOUR impressive teachers who each had several projects on offer for the weekend.
We were able to select from Natalie Ross, Gail Pan, Janelle Wind , and Helen Stubbings.
A sunglasses case that has already been pressed into service.

And a needle case.

Here are my first two projects, finished in the weekend. Feels very good to actually finish a project. One of my companions also finished a couple of projects, what a woman!!! And , not to be outdone, Jindi was also close to finishing her starts for the weekend.
Met some lovely ladies on my tables on Saturday and Sunday, a very diverse group. The weekend was held in Adelaide, we travelled from Melbourne, and we had a ladies from Perth, Darwin , and Sydney sitting with us!!! If we were in Europe, we'd all have come from different countries. Distance is no barrier to a good weekend sewing retreat.

And it's done...

2011-06-12T19:47:00.001+10:00

WOW, do I feel good.
Finally finished getting the top together for my Roll Roll Cotton Boll quilt by Bonnie Hunter. This was a mystery quilt started in about November last year, so finishing within 12 months isn't bad in my book.
Think I'll have to suffer defeat on the quilting front though. It's one big quilt. Just looking at it brings sweat to my brow with the thought of fitting it under my sewing machine. Never happening.

I seriously love that pieced border.
Most of the quilt came from my resource library- otherwise known as my stash. I only had to buy the green for the resting border and the red for the 17 trillion half square triangles and centre squares. I just didn't have enough in one piece of either of them in my stash.
Feeling good about now!

2011-06-09T21:37:00.001+10:00

Well, it's been a big couple of weeks since my last post.
How lucky was I to win a bag from Lynette Anderson ? I rarely win anything, so to receive a bag from Lynette was very exciting indeed.

How cute is that?
My Bonnie Hunter Quilt Roll Roll Cotton Boll, is coming along nicely. I've attached the inner, spacer border and then the first of the outer pieced borders.

This is a large quilt, and I've already had to add 2 small pieced units to this short side to make it fit. Hate to think just how big it's going to turn out. I do love big quilts though! I thought of trimming the green spacer border, but i like it wide enough to see. So we'll see how it goes.
My kitchen is finally installed. Just need to find time to go shopping with DH for tiles for the splashback.
I've just started putting things in their new home- it's harder than I thought. And since I'm quite tall (5 ft 2 in if I really stretch!), my DH gets some space in the upper regions that I will no way reach! LOL.

Well, that's half the kitchen anyway.
I'm very excited, no mission brown anywhere.

Friday Night Sew In

2011-05-21T14:07:00.000+10:00

Well, FNSI again last night. Gosh that came along fairly quickly, doesn't seem like a month since the last one.
Once again I stitched some of my Roll Roll Cotton Boll quilt blocks into rows. I finished up on the pieced borders last night.

They look really good- well I think so! I don't think that I would have attempted this quilt if I'd known about all the piecing at the start. But I'm really glad to have made it. Doing little bits at a time takes the effort out, and in the end it all comes together and looks fantastic.

Certainly worth the effort, however long it takes! Another fabulous original quilt from Bonnie K Hunter and Quiltville.

2011-05-19T13:41:00.000+10:00

Things have been going very slowly on the stitching front around here lately.
I've been suffering through the renovation of my kitchen. No, suffering doesn't even begin to describe it! LOL.

Well, I have no sink or cupboards, but at least I have my stove back. Two weeks with nothing but a little 2 burner camping stove or 1 week with only the microwave wasn't pretty.
Like the very tasteful newspaper curtains? DH has just finished painting the walls and woodwork, we also replaced the floor with new boards and that's all been resurfaced. Thank goodness all the smelly jobs are done. Best news- new kitchen arrives in 2 weeks. You'll hear me yelling with excitement I'm sure.
I always knew I liked to cook, but it never hit me how hard it is to go without baking a chicken for tea, or cooking biscuits and cakes for the kids.
So, whilst going through those trials and tribulations, not much sewing has been happening. I couldn't get to my sewing room for quite a while, then I just didn't feel like sewing in the mess.
But it's all happening again now.
Found a couple of Joseph's Coat blocks that I'd prepped some time ago, so they've been being stitched over the last few days.

I've also been slowly sewing rows together for my Roll Roll Cotton Boll mystery quilt. I love blocks on point, but I've decided I don't like sewing the diagonal rows together. They're so looooong. Need to take a pic when it's all together. There's a great pieced border to go around that I've already pieced, so it'll all come together quickly. At least that's what I keep telling myself!

2011-04-26T21:46:00.000+10:00

A lovely long weekend encompassing Easter and Anzac Day has almost ended here.
Although I had to work for a couple of the days, I managed to get some serious sewing time in.
Got to love time in the sewing room with no interruptions other than to get another cup of tea.

I stitched away on my Anna quilt centre panel. Have sewn the coffin borders on, and am now busy sewing hexagons for the outer border.
I've also been trying to get a little further along with my Roll Roll Cotton Boll blocks.
There are two blocks alternating for the centre, then a pieced border to finish it off.

These were my very first try at string piecing!

There are 600 half square triangles in the blocks. Nearly had a heart attack at that little fact when I was reading the pattern. However, they sewed together surprisingly quickly.
I'm feeling quite happy with myself and my weekend achievements.
Today was a lovely Autumnal day. I love this weather, all windows open, sun shining in.
Hope your weekend was equally full of sewing, and good weather.

Friday Night Sew In.

2011-04-17T12:15:00.000+10:00

Well, after many Friday night false starts, I finally managed to sew during FNSI. I can't tell you how food that felt. As they say, the best laid plans.... and all that.
Anyway, nothing stood in my way tonight and I sewed. DVD's in the background- managed to get through 2 movies. The original Fame from 1980, and then the re-make in 1990. I remembered the series from the '80's , it was fairly light hearted. The original was anything but, and put a sombre tone on the night until the remake. Then finished up with some tried and true West Wing. I love watching things I've seen before so I don't have to watch or listen really, just noise in the background.
Anyway, I managed to make a dent in the blocks for Roll Roll Cotton Boll , the mystery by Bonnie K Hunter from November last year.

Thank goodness I got some time in on those blocks, they've been taking over my sewing table since November. Couldn't pack them up because I was "going to work on them." LOL.

Then to finish off the night, a little light hand sewing. My "Anna" quilt by Karen Cunningham is slowly getting somewhere.

Fourth border is under construction as we speak. Then its some more applique on a lovely large border and finished! Sounds good in theory. should take me to Christmas. LOL.

Well, off to make a Cup of tea and survey the damage that was my kitchen. After 17 years of on again off again renovating, I can almost start to make out the light at the end of the tunnel. Currently have no kitchen as such. DH is plastering the walls before laying some lovely floorboards. In about a month the nice kitchen making man will turn up and put in my new cupboards and benchtops. Roll on installation is all I can say. Thanks goodness I've got sewing to do!
Gorgeous Autumn day here, hope your weather is equally kind.

2011-03-24T16:03:00.000+11:00

Well, the first part of this little hexagon quilt is finally finished. Little pieces, lots of sides, lots of stitching. This is the centre panel.

I really like the blue background. It's a bit out of my comfort zone, I usually use something in a cream/ tan/coffee colour.

Have I told you that all those hexagons are 1/2"!! LOL.
I've decided that I hate pulling out the basting threads.
So, on to the next bit- the coffin border. I think this will go a bit more quickly. It's just straight hand piecing. The centre is surrounded with a border of these shapes, 3 deep.

Then a wide border with a little bit of applique, and a final small border. And it's finished.
Thanks goodness. because it's taking all my effort not to start 1 of 2 new projects that are calling to me like Sirens.
I have the pattern, and all the fabric and threads to start the mystery quilt in "Vignette" magazine. And I am also following and salivating over a free mystery quilt designed by Esther Aliu called Hearts Desire. Esther's quilt is all applique- my favourite, and the first two months worth are lovely.
It's taking all my strength to just look at the fabric for each of these projects and leave it where it is on the shelf.

2011-03-09T20:26:00.000+11:00

I've received Issue 2 of Vignette yesterday. Imagine my delight to discover that there is a blog dedicated to the mystery quilt that is in each issue. great to see what everyone is doing , and look at the very different fabrics they're stitching.
If you're very quick, Perri is running a give away of fabric on the blog.

Yes, I have the fabric for the mystery. It's gorgeous- light and bright. It's "set aside" (LOL) ready when I finish a couple of other things.
Oh Dear!

2011-03-06T15:11:00.000+11:00

I've been working on sewing the little 1/2" border hexagons around each of the blocks that I'd completed in my earlier post. It's quite therapeutic- not hard to sew, just lots of it. And lots, and lots! Who knew there were so many edges on a hexagon! LOL.

I'll be glad when this centre is finished so I can move on to the coffin borders. I've started cutting them out, but haven't jumped to that yet.
This quilt will come together quite quickly once this and the pieced border is finished, Yayy.
I ordered some templates for fussy cutting 1/2" hexagons and 1 1/4" diamonds from Kim Bradley at
Kim Bradley Creations.

They're the cutist little things. I was telling my DH about my gorgeous new little templates when his eyes lit up. He loves my yellow quilting rulers, and I've been looking for a small one that is metric for him to use in his shed. Well, turns out that Kim Bradley's DH will make templates to order. A quick email and "Bobs your uncle", yellow rulers on their way here. Dave did a wonderful job on the rulers and was extremely obliging. I'm the best thing since sliced bread according to my DH.

Oh, and we welcomed a new member of the family 2 weeks ago. She's gorgeous, and fitting in very well.

Daisy is about 18 months old, and a bit of a mixture of Jack Russell terrier, Pug, and a bit of Dachshund I think. Very friendly and best of all- toilet trained all ready.

2011-02-11T15:15:00.000+11:00

Gosh, doesn't the time just fly by when you're not looking?
I've slowly been working on some more of my Summer School project. I'm getting quite used to stitching 1/4" hexagons together. I've finished the 9 centre blocks, these will be stitched onto a centre panel, and now I'm moving onto the border of coffin shapes to go around the centre panel.

I received a copy of Vignette recently. Besides lots of eye candy, it also has some lovely projects. I was particularly drawn to a mystery block of the month. I sourced the fat quarters of "Sweet Broderie" by Rosalie Quinlan, and some Lecien Basics fabrics. The quilt has embroidery in Cosmo threads on linen intermingled with the blocks. Today I received my parcel of threads from Gum Valley Patchwork near Warrnambool.
Such lovely thread, such beautiful colours. Lucky me, Linda even popped a couple of extra threads into the parcel.

The colours in this fabric are so fresh and yummy.

Just to bring me back to earth, I've actually been spending quite a bit of time altering school uniforms for the start of the school year. What a waste of good sewing time- taking up hems! LOL.

Slowly moving on....

2011-01-31T20:19:00.000+11:00

to my new projects.
I've been working away slowly on the centre blocks of my latest project- "Anna" designed by Karen Cunningham. I didn't get stressed at all whilst away at summer school, thinking that I had to get great amounts of sewing done in 4 days. We had 2 projects to start, so I just took it easy and in "Summer Speed", stitched my way along into the 2 projects at a leisurely pace.

I just need to make some more 1/2" hexagons to join these 9 blocks, then I can applique them to my centre fabric. Feels very therapeutic, just sitting quietly sewing hexagons.
I love summer holidays. The kids are home, no rushing, no activities. Well except for the weather. We've just started having seriously hot summer weather. I think yesterday reached 40 deg C, and today was slated for high 30's. I've been hibernating inside with the air conditioning. The rest of the week is looking like mid to high 30's too, I'm not complaining- it is summer after all, but school is about to start this week, a nice warm welcome back for the kids!
Besides the obligatory dentist visit and hair cut appointment before they go back, I've also been having fun today covering school books. Oh dear- it takes so long, and if I get myself stuck to a book again I'm going to have a quiet drink in the corner. LOL.

Two boxes full,but no good novels for me! But I do love the smell of new books and stationary.

A busy time...

2011-01-19T19:54:00.001+11:00

has been happening around here lately.
It's summer school holidays, but unfortunately the weather isn't really co-operating. The DD's are enjoying sleeping in, in the mornings and so am I.
It's the time of year when the fruit trees go into production.
I have a young apricot tree that loves to produce lots of beautiful fruit. Apricots usually ripen all together although this year with the milder weather the fruit has ripened over a longer period. However, I have managed to make 7.5 kg of apricots into jam in the last few days.

A taste of summer all through the year.
I recently went to the annual Summer School in Wodonga run by Patchwork on Stonleigh. Although the actual classes ran from January 7 to 16, I attended from 13 to 16th January.
This is the third year that I've been, and I'm very sorry to say that it will be my last. The local shop which runs the school-"Patchwork on Stonleigh"- is closing shortly. A fantastic little store run by very friendly and knowledgeable ladies, their closing will leave a huge hole in the availability of soft reproduction fabrics and a perfectly eclectic mix of others.
I chose to take part in a class with Karen Cunningham from Sydney. A lovely teacher who designs reproduction English style quilts.

Those little hexagons are 1/2", sooo tiny. This quilt is throw size so I'm hoping it will actually get finished this year.

I also took part in a class with Susan Smith. A lovely teacher who is so giving with her knowledge and expertise.

This is so sweet in the flesh, so to speak. Soft colours.

The top block, minus its centre, took nearly 5 hours to cut out each piece then hand piece it together! The square in a square block needs another round of triangles, but was so quick to cut out and sew in comparison. I also picked up a pattern of another quilt that I've loved for quite a time. No pics of that yet, but soon. A little bit of handwork to keep me busy!

A Belated Merry Christmas.

2010-12-31T11:18:00.000+11:00

Well, a little late, but never mind. Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.
We celebrated this year by beating a retreat to a local beach and spending a week there.

Many fantastic quilt books found their way down our chimney with Santa, and the odd bit of fabric too. All in all a lovely day.

I managed to find some time to continue stitching on my Joseph's Coat blocks. They're coming along slowly but surely.

I had to leave my sewing on Bonnie K Hunter's latest mystery Roll Roll Cotton Boll when we went away. I felt quite itchy to keep stitching on this quilt. Couldn't quite talk DH into letting me take my sewing machine with us on holidays. Probably couldn't have fit it in the car anyway.
So I've finished Step 1 ,2 and 4.

I'm part way through Step 3 with string piecing 60 blocks. Time consuming is all I can say, but an easy step.

And a little of Step 5 have been stitched.
I still have no idea what this quilt will look like when finished.

2010-12-18T16:06:00.001+11:00

Finally home for a Friday Night Sew In with Heidi from Hand Made By Heidi. I love the idea of sewing with people from all over the world, and this was a double world-wide sew-in. Friday Night and stitching on a Bonnie mystery. Yaa Hooooo.!
Onwards with Step 2 of the mystery quilt with Bonnie K Hunter. I finished cutting and stitching triangles together last night. So big tick to Step 2.

I bypassed Step 3. It entails stitching 60 8 1/2" string pieced blocks. I just need to get my head around that prospect, and the need to cut 60 foundations as well as all the strips. I don't keep strings of fabric in "stock". So onto Step 4. I've cut 30 strips of green, 30 of neutrals, and 120 green squares to match the green strips. The green and neutral strips need to be sewn together. Who knows what is happening to the squares!

Whilst stripping my neutrals for Step 4, I decided that it would be a fantastic idea to also cut for Step 3 strips and Step 5 (which appeared last night). So, here is a start at strings and strips for the foundation pieced string blocks. I just cut a mixture of 1", 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" strips.

This is my pile of 2" strips for Step 5. This step entails piecing 600 , yes 600 2" triangles from neutrals and a constant red fabric. Must start to strip my red today. I found it interesting to take a fat quarter of fabric, and strip it until it was gone. I did start by cutting some and setting some aside for "later". Then I thought - why later? Just Use it all up! After all, I can always buy more if the unthinkable should happen and I run out!! So each piece was stripped for Step 3, 4 and 5 until it was gone. I have to say it was actually very satisfying.

So, for many pieces this is all that was left. These bits make it to the compost bin. No waste- how cool is that?

Speaking very quietly here, but I've started to save my selvages. I know, another tub of bits. They're so enticing though. Oh, stop me now! Please.

2010-12-17T21:29:00.001+11:00

Everyone is busy at this time of year, but thankfully, the busyness around here is slowing down.
DD's have finished school for the year and their after-school activities have finished. I've started my yearly clean of the house, (I actually do clean throughout the year, but this is a pre-Christmas big tidy up! LOL ). I like to pull out furniture, dust and mop, and de-clutter now whilst the weather is decent and my windows are all open. The school uniforms are washed and put away, and relaxation can begin.

The dining room table is cleared of clutter, and the Santas are in residence. Feels more like Christmas already. I love getting out the decorations and my Nativity, brightens the house up.

I've traced out some more pattern pieces for the Princess Feather border. The preparation takes a fair amount of time, and I need lots of space to work out my fabrics, so this can't be done when DH is home. Horrific thought that he should see just how much Kaffe Fassett fabric I seem to have accumulated!

This quilt just keeps chugging along slowly. This is Joseph's Coat , a quilt along with Kellie Wulfson that has been going for over 12 months now. I have found it to be a great take-along project as I have several blocks prepped and ready to stitch. Great for found time at appointments. There are 49 blocks in this quilt, I've done about 35 I think. Into the home stretch now.
I've also managed to stitch another few Dear Jane blocks in the last few days. Need to keep up with those or I'll be sewing it in my eighties!

2010-12-05T22:44:00.002+11:00

Just for something a little different to throw into the piecing mix at the moment- we have a mystery! I had to wait until purchasing some pink before I started in on Step 1 of Bonnie K Hunters latest mystery. Roll Roll Cotton Boll started 3 Fridays ago, but I didn't start until last Thursday. I must say that the first step was very quick and easy. Simple strip piecing and cross cutting.

Step 2 is partly done. I've cut out the fabrics into paired rectangles, they just need cutting with my Easy Angle ruler into matching triangles.

Found this piece of green fabric in the bottom of the green tub. It's actually from my original wall hanging that started me on this great quilting journey back in about 1989. It's been cut up now and is in this quilt!

As an aside, here is a pic of something I said I'd never do. Save selvages. Oh no, I'm being drawn down into the vortex captain. I tried to throw them out, really I did. But the pull was too strong. Of course, I haven't actually made them into anything yet. I'm not totally caught up in it yet!

2010-12-01T14:34:00.001+11:00

After last weeks effort at getting somewhere with the Princess Feather border, I got a little over applique! Shocking, I know. In reality, I need to spread out all the fabrics and my pattern and choose the colours for the next bit of stitching. I always end up with pattern, background and fabrics everywhere in my kitchen and dining room. I do really need to spread out to get a good idea of what I need to use. (that's my story anyway!) However, to keep my fingers in shape, I decided I really needed to get a wriggle on with some more Dear Jane blocks. I've been sadly neglecting them lately. It didn't help that my Dear Jane support group was meeting yesterday and I didn't have any finished blocks to show since last months meeting.
So, during the last week I've finished these little beauties. Well, the little pink one is only half finished, but nearly! : c ) We don't meet again until the end of January, so I might put in a huge effort over the holidays and get lots done to show at the next class. Or not!

Of course, then I needed to get some pinks for the next round.
I'm also going to start the latest Bonnie K Hunter mystery- Roll Roll Cotton Boll. I'm going to use Bonnie's colours, so went looking in my tubs for pinks, greens and browns. I've got heaps of greens (some dating back more than 10 years) and browns, but little in the way of pinks. So what was I to do but go shopping whilst at my support group at Quilters Bazaar in Gisborne. Even better, they were having a 25 % off sale!!! So I helped them out a bit with some purchases. May have to go back tomorrow as I need some yardage for borders etc., and they had some lovely fabrics that would be perfect.

These are only fat 1/8s, fat 1/4s and a few 25 cm pieces. I love the checks. Oh, and I have a thing for dark brown fabric with a dash of pink in it.

Friday Night Sew In....

2010-11-20T14:27:00.001+11:00

At last I was home for a Friday Night Sew In.
The last two that were held were on nights where I was working. Very sad face here. But that all changed last night. Yayy, happy dance.
I was able to sit and sew all night in a nice quiet house. Well, I did have High School Musical on in the background, but don't tell anyone!
I started by glueing down my circle and leaf shapes for the Princess Feather border, then got stitching.

Those circles take ages to stitch around, luckily they're only small!
Next up is to glue and stitch down the flower shapes at the end of the stems- more circles : ) .

2010-11-18T22:30:00.000+11:00

Feels great to be doing some stitching at the moment.
I've finished appliqueing half of the leaves and all the birds onto the first border for my Princess Feather quilt.
Quite a bit of preparation involved in this, but once it's done, I can just stitch away.

Off to pick my fabrics for the remainder of the leaves and then it's on to the berries. Why do these quilts have so many little circles?

Progress.

2010-11-14T12:35:00.001+11:00

Well, some progress on the Princess Feather border yesterday.
Amazing what a day on your own will bring! Even better, today is more of the same.
Lots of stitching around here at the moment. It feels really good.

Luckily there are lots of large pieces in this border, so it stitches up quite quickly.

2010-11-13T10:22:00.000+11:00

Well, I've been very busy lately moving on with my Princess Feather quilt. I've decided to start a border, having completed the first of four blocks.
I spent ages during the week tracing out my leaf and bird shapes. I like to use freezer paper to make my applique shapes, then trace around them with a fine pencil, take the freezer paper off and stitch away. I've recently been converted to using glue to stick down my pieces onto the background. After years of being stuck with pins, I'm now free to hold the fabric however I like.
Got out the background and shapes yesterday to start sewing them down, only to realise that I hadn't quite finished stitching down the vines. Luckily, last night I was meeting up with the ladies from my sewing group so finished stitching down the vines in very pleasant company.
Today, I'm ready to start stitching on the shapes. I think the border will come together really quickly- well hoping it will really!

These don't look much with the freezer paper still attached, but wait until I stitch them down.
DD's are out all day, it's raining here, so perfect day for sewing for a few hours. Housework can wait until tomorrow.

2010-11-04T15:27:00.000+11:00

Battery charged, here are some pics of my messenger bag. Very easy to construct, but DD2 has already put her order in for one. Of course, she would like some modifications- lining and pockets please. And I think I'd add a gusset. Very satisfying.

Bags galore.

2010-11-03T23:05:00.000+11:00

I've gone off on a bit of a tangent these days.
I've been doing the odd bit of hand sewing, but have also been going gung-ho with a couple more bags! I've never been a bag maker, so this is a whole new area for me.

Here is my little bucket bag from a retreat in Adelaide with Quilt Fabric Delights. It's a Natalie Lymer design "Just Darling". Gorgeous isn't it? Oh, just handles to be added.
I also started (and FINISHED!!!) a messenger style bag this afternoon for DD1.
Must take a pic when the camera battery is charged.

Just a little something...

2010-10-25T20:56:00.004+11:00

Isn't this pincushion the cutest little thing?

It's called a Biscornu, made with just 2 squares of fabric, 2 buttons, and some stuffing.
I've added a button for the lovely blog of Glorious Applique in the side bar. The blog is showcasing the wonderfully colourful efforts of many stitchers as we applique our way through some of Kim McLean's patterns stitched with our favourite Kaffe Fassett fabrics.
Please go have a look.

2010-10-21T22:16:00.000+11:00

Well, this week has been special. Went on a weekend away with some GFs to Ballarat. I usually take my machine and sew away all weekend to get a project finished. This time, I took all handwork bits and pieces to do. So I stitched a little on my Dear Jane, sewed together the next lot of blocks for my Josephs Coat quilt from Don't Look Now, and stitched some stems down for a border of my Princess Feather quilt.


This was a job to be done in good company with lots of talking and tea drinking, otherwise it all gets a bit tedious sewing on miles of stems. I've finished one block but I wanted to have a go at one of the borders rather than start another block. I think it looks like a very skinny lizard with lots of legs and feet. And now I can see where the missing bit of stem belongs.


My birthday presents to me. I found some lovely fabrics which needed to come home with me. The two books also wanted to come. I love buying new books. The Omiyage book by Kumiko Sudo has some lovely little bits and pieces to make with scraps of silk or fine cotton. DD2 has already put in her order for time together to make some.

This lovely huge box was waiting for me. A week ago I ordered a pattern and fabric from Glorious Applique. I'd been looking at them for quite a while and was waiting for the Aussie dollar to rise in value.

This is another pattern by Kim McLean. I've been resisting thinking about it for so very long, but I finally weakened last week. I purchased the pattern, 28 yards of fabric and 10 yards of background! It only just fit in the large box. Thank goodness.

Isn't the background wonderful? I haven't spread out the fabric individually yet, but I have unwrapped it and fondled each piece. The fabric ribbon around the bundle is the stem fabric- should look fantastic in the blocks.

2010-10-11T20:14:00.001+11:00

I've finally finished a block that I've been working on for ages. I kept losing momentum on it, or getting sidetracked onto something else. Anyway I certainly feel like I've achieved something- the block is 32" square.

This is one block from a Princess Feather pattern by Kim McLean. Three more blocks for the centre and then a gorgeous appliqued border around it all. The innies and outies for each of the feathers took ages.
On to the next one.

2010-10-06T21:38:00.000+11:00

Besides bagel making, I was on a mission to complete an Artist trading card for a swap I am involved in.
I particularly like using my own hand-dyed fabrics for a one of a kind look. I felt like adding a bit of glitz, so discharged the background with an Indian wood block stamp of a flower in a pot. Interestingly, the green fabric discharged back to yellow not the original white fabric.

Then a little bit of foiling to add some shine and interest.

A couple of embellishments, and some free motion quilting to look like vines and it was finished. Darn, just realised that I didn't get a pic of the finished card before it went in the post.
I so like discharging and foiling to embellish a small art quiltlet. Perhaps next time some Shiva Sticks for added colour.

2010-10-06T15:23:00.001+11:00

Just a quick pic of what I've been up to in a non-sewing way today.

They're a bit of a strange lumpy shape, but they're bagels! The book says to eat them warm, so I have been. To the tune of eating 2 1/2, and yes they taste very nice with a spread of butter. So pleased with myself.

2010-10-01T15:37:00.000+10:00

Well, look what flew into my sewing area last night.

Youngest DD attended a kids sewing class at Patchwork House in Hawthorn yesterday afternoon. She certainly came home inspired to make more. "Wonky" the yellow owl came home completely finished after a 2 hour class. Well, Wonky was soon joined by Sebastion, Violet and Hoot. Sadie and Marnie are on the construction table. Such a good class for kids holiday project. I have to say that I was made to feel extremely welcome by the ladies at Patchwork House too. I'd taken my Dear Jane blocks to work on in the car whilst waiting, but they offered me a comfy seat in an upstairs area to stitch away the time. Complete with tea and music. Very nice.

2010-09-27T21:31:00.000+10:00

A little welcome home present for me. Some yummy Westminster fabrics from Kaffe and friends.
I'm currently working on a Princess Feather quilt in these types of fabrics- so out of my comfort zone.

But so satisfying to use. In real life these colours are so much more rich and the designs are lovely.
I've ordered some more that hopefully will be here in about a week, and a very colourful Kim McLean pattern to go with them. In the meantime, more stitching on the Princess Feather.

2010-09-23T23:07:00.000+10:00

Whilst eldest DD was away on a school trip, we decided to take youngest DD to a much warmer northern clime for our own holiday. Well, in theory it was supposed to be that way! We travelled by lovely little 737 Qantas jet to Queensland for a week r and r. Apparently the weather Gods didn't realise we were coming so forgot to turn on the sun. Although lovely and warm, it was overcast each day , and a fair amount of rain was forthcoming as well.
It wasn't all bad. I managed to fit in a fair amount of stitching whilst DD was swimming in the pool each day. Sunny weather or no, nothing keeps DD out of a pool.

So, whilst she was being a fish, I was enjoying myself too.

My view for the week.
Of course, some stitching did occur, but strangely enough not as much as I'd anticipated. The daily morning walk for a good latte took a while, and window shopping must be done.

I'm holding these visions in my head at the moment as we returned to a dead fridge full of warm food, and a distinctly terminal dishwasher. DH tried valiantly to revive both appliances to no avail, so first thing this morning we were at the shops to purchase new ones. It's hard to live out of an Esky at home! LOL. No room for much. Thank goodness new things coming tomorrow. My kitchen looks like a bomb site- holes where new things will live , and bits everywhere as cupboards are emptied to be made larger to fit .

Another finish.

2010-09-14T14:28:00.000+10:00

Well. I've obviously caught the finishing bug. I began a bag with Natalie Ross of In Stitches ., at Inspired Stitches Retreat in Adelaide earlier this year. Well, it's been languishing since then. I had started the centre panel but couldn't get motivated to finish the actual bag. That is, until I saw GF Ms A's finished bag and decided I needed to finish mine. So half a day later, bag is finished. Too easy.

My first bucket bag! And my second bag.

2010-09-10T11:58:00.001+10:00

I looked at a pile of finished blocks on my work area yesterday and decided it was the day to actually finish the quilt and get them out of the sewing room. They must have been sitting there, taking up valuable working space for at least 3 months. Shame on me.
Anyway, half an hour later, and the top is together.

Gosh, the green shows up in this photo. It's actually much more deep red and gold in real life. There is supposed to be a 4" ish pieced border around this, but I think if I wait to put it on this quilt will never be finished, so poetic (quiltic???) licence and I'm calling this top finished. This is Carolina Christmas from about November last year, the last mystery quilt from Bonnie K Hunter of Quiltville.
Just a little of the Joseph's coat quilt peaking out from behind, I'm getting a wriggle on with that too. I've spent nearly every evening of the last week prepping the little wedge shapes for the blocks.

I hope I've prepped almost enough to finish the 49 blocks now.

Excuse the background blocks up on my design board, two other projects that I'm slowly working my way through. I'm trying to grade my Josephs Coat blocks through the quilt to move the light and dark around. I think it's kind of working.
It's certainly spring around here. Our budgies are sitting on eggs, the canaries are friendly and the axolotyls are looking fatter than usual. Oh my.

2010-09-01T00:07:00.000+10:00

Once again I treked up the Highway to Gisborne for my dear Jane get together. Five brave souls this week. One lady is powering ahead and put me to shame. She had five rows pieced and sashed together. I was a dismal failure this time, no DJ stitching at all for ages, same block waiting for some sewing that I had left last session. Of course there has been sewing happening- I still have my callouses- just no DJ sewing.

So, look here, a bag completely finished. Completely you understand, as in nothing left to sew. Unheard of in my sewing room! I'm so pleased with the bag and myself. Only started it yesterday. I needed to source some bias binding to bind the edge of the front flap, which I did today. So, first bag I've ever finished. Complete with magnetic closure, and fabulous silver ring thingys to attach strap to bag.
Oh, and it's even lined and has pockets. Can you feel how impressed with myself I am? LOL.

2010-08-31T11:11:00.001+10:00

I'm not a bag maker, but the pattern "Out and About" by Melly and Me Designs that I purchased at Ballarat Patchwork on the weekend, looked great. Soooo, yesterday I went looking for the fusible fleece and iron on pellon , and started making it up.
The pattern was extremely easy to follow, and made up really well.

I just need to finish off the top- join the bag flap to the bag and add the shoulder strap. Can't wait to finish and take it out.

Swimming lesson sewing this week had a lot of diamonds being basted for paper piecing into 6 point stars. I love sitting at swimming lessons now, so much hand sewing can be accomplished in 1 hour of sitting waiting. I am lucky that our swimming club has a great waiting area, and a lovely coffee machine.

I just love the pumpkin colour at the bottom of the picture, only lotsssss more shapes to baste. Thank goodness swimming lessons are on going and will be for a long time! LOL.

A fabulous day.

2010-08-28T21:20:00.001+10:00

A great day to be out and about today, especially for a quilt class.
I took a trip up the highway to Ballarat. The closer to Ballarat I got, the worse the weather was, so by the time I got there the weather was perfect for a day of sewing.
I had organised a spot in a class at Ballarat Patchwork ages ago, before I had an abundance of projects on the go. But, what could I do but add another?
Today was Georgetown Turnaround with Trish Harper. A large handpieced quilt.

Here is my version of my first block

The green on the outer border will be triangles alternating with my white background. It's awfully busy to me at the moment.
I also found a lovely gift for myself. I've been looking at these sandpaper/ cutting/ironing boards for a long time. Well today was the day.

And last but certainly not least, I was weak and bought a fabulous bag pattern. The demonstration model in the shop was lovely, and I fell in love with the 2" rings that hold the straps onto the bag. Well, that's my story!

This bag is big enough for a small- medium sized laptop, but isn't specifically a laptop bag. I really loved this bag. The bag uses fusible fleece and iron on pellon, I have no idea what the difference is but I'm going to consult Mr Google and find out. I may find enough fabric in the cupboard to make one with! That makes it practically free.

2010-08-20T11:52:00.000+10:00

A lot of sewing time happening this week, but I don't feel like I have much to show for it.
I've spent quite a bit of time on my Princess Feather block, but goodness me, the ins and outs of the feather shape take ages to do.

What was I thinking taking this on? There are 3 more blocks after this one, each about 30" square. But, really, I'm sure it will look really good when it's finished- there's a lovely applique border around the whole lot.
The lovely piece of red fabric from Somerset Patchwork and Quilting arrived. Ohhh, just as nice as I'd remembered. Still don't know what to use it for, but so gorgeous.

Have also been working on what feels like the largest pin cushion in the universe.
It's got a "hollow" centre to put your thread, scissors, etc into.
I'm going to make another one, but downsize it by about a third I think.

Stuffing the outer was a bit of a challenge, thank goodness for small handed DK's. I'm still making pincushions to leave around the house in strategic spots. You can never have too many pincushions.
The weather has been really cold and bleak for the last few days, perfect for stitching inside and not feeling guilty about leaving the garden to its own devices for a while.
I know Spring is on the way, though. My plum trees have burst out in blossom all of a sudden.

I love the look of this time of year- the sudden burst of green leaves and swelling flower buds. Nature waking up after the winter.

2010-08-13T17:43:00.000+10:00

Another day another post!
Travelled to the other side of the universe today. Since I moved here 18 years ago, I don't actually go very far afield. I tend to hang around the neighbouring suburbs and not find much reason to go very far afield from my inner Northern suburbs.
Well, that all changed today. I travelled to Mount Waverley- an outer South Eastern suburb that is a long way away on the map. Anything over 2" and I don't usually bother! The reason for travel was an excellent one- a patchwork shop to visit. I've been receiving the newsletter from Somerset Patchwork for quite a while, but haven't got the courage up to go over there. I mean, it looks a very long way- do I need to take my passport? LOL. Turns out, if you go in the middle of the day and take the Eastern Freeway, it doesn't take long at all and is very easy to get to. I'm feeling very chuffed with myself. (I only recently made it to IKEA in Richmond!)
Oh my, there was some very lovely fabric- really lovely. I'm afraid I had to bring some home with me to make the trip worthwhile.

Beautiful serpentine stripes that I can never find.

And this delicious specimen that I needed for a quilt I want to stitch in Summer School next year at Patchwork on Stonleigh.
I patted and fondled a piece of 19th Century Reds fabric, but couldn't make up my mind how to use it so back on the shelf it went. Came home and called back the shop. It's coming in the post on Monday. Still don't know where I'll use it, but the gorgeous clear red paisley just needed to come home with me.
Thanks goodness DH isn't home for quite a while, the kitchen table is covered in fabric and the DD's don't mind eating tea in front of the TV.

2010-08-12T21:22:00.000+10:00

A lovely day was had by all today. I spent the day at Patchwork House in Hawthorn with some very nice ladies and Kellie Wulfsohn of Don't Look Now. We were working on one of Kellie's projects- Joseph's Coat. It's been a work in progress for me for a while and the class spurred me on to get going on it.

I completed 2 more blocks in the class today, so now I have 3 rows finished.
Earlier in the month, I entered a give away of Aurifil thread from Jenny at Always Quilting.
Imagine my absolute delight at winning one of the packs.

I love Aurifil Thread. I use the 50 wt for applique and find it's so beautiful and fine to use. No slubs, no lint, no fuzziness, nice and smooth through the fabric.
In the pack were several weights to try- 50, 28 12 weights, and a lovely 12 weight Australian Wool blend.
I can't wait to try the heavier threads and especially the Wool.
I got another parcel in the mail today too.
I recently was involved in a Christmas in July month long time of fun and patterns with Sarah of Quilt Fabric Delights in Adelaide. Some very scrumptious patterns came my way, and of course some fabric had to fly over so that I could replicate the look.

Now to go through the patterns and remember what they are for! Some of the smaller projects will be perfect for the DD's to try.

Back on track.

2010-08-02T21:24:00.000+10:00

I keep thinking of the song from old Western movies- I'm back in the saddle again. After taking a bit of a break from sewing, I'm back into it. Swimming lessons this week contributed these shapes to be stitched for more Joseph's Coat blocks.

A couple more blocks to join the others.

And a piece of the scrummiest (a great word from my mum) fabric in the world. Of course it's a Kaffe- rich colours and great textures.

I found it in my Joseph's Coat box, so now it's been cut up. The colours in the flesh are much more intense, and the flower centres are lime green, but you get the idea.
I seem to have a problem now though! I recently saw a picture of an old quilt C1800, that I've decided I love
and need to make. I've started to draft the pattern at a reduced size, original is 3 m X 3.75 m!! I love making large quilts, but that's too big even for me. However, I seem to be at a loss for the time needed to get going on this. Surely ~~someone~~ a quilter has invented a 28 hour day. LOL.

Where does the time go?

2010-07-29T21:31:00.000+10:00

My goodness, nearly 2 weeks since my last post. I can't believe it.
I was lucky enough to get my new diary for next year in the post. It's from the V and A Museum in London has released a diary to coincide with it's exhibition of quilts this year. The diary has many pictures from the exhibition alongside each week. Lovely. I've never been this organised before.

I was also bitten by the purse-making bug along with my DD's recently. It was quite satisfying to start and finish a project in one day. Unheard of actually!! It's size (about 4 " squareish) has turned out to be perfect for taking my bits and pieces in to work.

I do love Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably fabrics.
I have been quite busy these last few days though, and not in a quilty sense. My biggest DD is long and lanky. She's too long for large kids clothes, but too thin for small adult clothes. In this case, she's run out of winter pj's. So, I thought- easy. I'll just sew some for her. It's been quite a while since I sewed anything not quilt related. I had to relearn how to read a pattern- and did you know that 5/8 " is the seam allowance- a criminal waste of fabric! LOL. I had to keep reminding myself not to stitch 1/4 ". I even got my aged overlocker out for some stitching.
Anyway, all turned out well. Sewing machine manual out to help with the buttonholes and now they're all finished.

Of course, they are on and in bed tonight.
Finished off a few more Dear Jane blocks for this month. Intrepid explorer me was off to my Dear Jane gathering earlier in the week along with 6 other explorer souls. We stitched to our hearts content. All blocks coming along nicely. Most are machine piecing and can't believe that 2 of us are hand stitching. But when I look at those teeny-tiny pieces, it would "do my head in" to even contemplate putting these blocks under my machine foot.

I started from the centre out , so have nearly finished doing the red row, next on to the pink.
I won't mention my near disaster when my blog background was no longer working, blood, sweat and near tears later I have blue dots. I couldn't for the life of me remember how to change things like that. A lot of swearing under my breath with that one.
Back to my applique- I'm still working on the first block of my Princess Feather quilt by Kim McLean .

My Week.

2010-07-11T22:07:00.001+10:00

Well, this weekend was quite productive in this household.
Both DD's decided that they wanted to sew.

Such an easy pattern, they even put their own zips in with me pinning and giving lots of advice. Even I'm not that good at putting in zips.
They were very happy with their achievement, they've already asked for another pattern thanks. They want to graduate to toys. Only problem is they were each using one of my machines- I only have 2, what am I supposed to sew on? They've started calling each machine "theirs".
I've been doing a lot of hand sewing lately (no wonder!LOL).
More Dear Jane blocks have been made, I'm not quite up with my goal of 10 each month. I've stitched 5 this month. Might get 5 more in the next couple of weeks.
I've also been stitching some more Joseph's Coat blocks- nearly finished 14 blocks. That's enough to make the first 2 rows.

I'm finding these blocks to be quite therapeutic in the preparation and sewing.
I also decided that I wanted to make a start on another project that's been in the wings for a few months. I attend Summer School in Wodonga with Patchwork on Stonleigh each January. I love the quilts designed by Karen Cunningham from Sydney. I'm receiving the patterns for her adaptation of a British quilt by Jane Pizar called Irish Circles. The patterns are coming monthly.

I've cut the borders, centre and block backgrounds. The green stripe for the border was purchased last January before Ms A and I even left Summer School. We were the ones at McD's using their internet to browse around looking for it. Eventually found the last few metres on the planet in Texas, USA. We were very happy. The pink is for the centre circle. Think I'll start on the blocks first. They're only 8" finished, so not too big, and a nice mix of piecing and applique.
Plenty to keep me busy whilst my machines have been hijacked!

What's happening here?

2010-07-08T22:16:00.000+10:00

Well, no wonder I'm getting minimal sewing of the good kind done. My DD's both got new point shoes this week, and guess who gets to sew on the elastic and ribbons? Yes, that would be me!

I have no idea how they wear them. Like standing on blocks of wood on your toes.
Now onto better things though. Last week I was lucky enough to win some fabric from Natalie Lymer at Cinderberry stitches. Well it came in the post yesterday, and was I soooo happy.
Seven beautiful pieces of Beach House.

Now, just to pick the perfect thing to make with them. I particularly love the plain/ tone on tone fabrics and the stripe. So useful, but of course the florals are special too.
I gave in to the DD's who are on school holidays until Sunday- they saw honeycomb making on Masterchef recently and have been driving me bats with requests to make their own. Tonight I relented. We made some. I think I need new bicarb of soda. It fizzed up some, but not as much as I'd expect. The box is probably 3-4 years old because I only use it for cleaning and it's a big box.
Guess we'll be doing it again soon. Lucky me!!

Of course, we probably should make some for DH so he doesn't feel left out. LOL.

2010-07-02T23:04:00.000+10:00

Lookee at what I won...

Well look at that gorgeous little bundle of fat 1/8ths in the middle of the photo. They are all mine.
Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches recently had a give-away on her blog. She was highlighting the plight of women in Ethiopia who suffer severe birth trauma, and receive treatment from the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.
This year, Quilt Aid 2010 is once again being conducted to raise funds to help these women to lead lives as normal as possible, by donating money to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital where they can receive treatment. Please take the time to visit the Quilt Aid site and look at the wonderful quilt that 12 Australian designers have produced.
I'm surprised that no-one heard the yells from my house, or felt the earthquake from me jumping up and down when I discovered I'd won that gorgeous fabric. I never win anything. Ever. Ever.
Oh the planning now taking place - what to sew with the fabric. Of course, I will have to just fondle it gently for quite a while.

Dear Jane.

2010-06-29T18:32:00.000+10:00

Off to Dear Jane class today. Held once a month, it's a good amount of time to actually get some blocks done between classes. Six intrepid souls braved the freezing winter wind to get together at Quilters Bazaar
in Gisborne. Everyone is getting blocks together at varying paces. I only pieced together 3 blocks since the last class, but I've been working hard on my Joseph's Coat quilt.
Here are my Dear Jane blocks in all their glory.

The top row is blocks A1-A7. Then I decided to sew the blocks from the centre out in the Trip Around The World colour scheme that Jane used. Makes it easier to sort out different fabrics in each colour round I think.
I'm trying to stay as close as possible to the colours and patterns in the original. Oh so far to go! LOL.

Two down.

2010-06-27T21:38:00.001+10:00

Well, another great use of the weekend. I'm in count down mode to use my kitchen floor baste-ing space before my new kitchen gets going and I no longer have the room.
So , bright and mid-afternoon (LOL), I got out the backing I took all day to stitch yesterday, and started by sticking it to my floor.
Why does it always take me so long to sew together a backing. I think a lot of it's in my mind! But when I have to stitch several pieces of fabric together it takes me ages.
Anyway, backing stuck down then batting and finally the top. Yayyyyy. Onto the hardest part- the pin basting.
So once again I enlisted help of the kids and that helped get the job done.
Here's a photo of the quilt all basted.

It's another mystery quilt from Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville. I really love stitching along on her mystery quilts.
I still have another 4 or 5 quilts to pinbaste, but I think I may run out of pins before I finish. I have 2 1/2 boxes of safety pins left. Crossed fingers it will see me through.
As a thankyou to the DK's what better way to spend a cold wintery evening at the start of 2 weeks of school holidays than toasting marshmellows?

We don't have an open fire so this is the next best thing!

It's in her blood!

2010-06-25T21:12:00.001+10:00

Well, look out mum , I'm coming in.
My youngest DD at 12 has decided that she's waited long enough in the sewing stakes and she wants to get involved. She's been happy until now, cutting out animal shapes and hand sewing them together (with plenty of stuffing) to make animals. In she comes to my sewing room today, and announced she was going to make a cushion. She had a hand-drawn pattern in one hand and a piece of fabric that I had printed a photo onto for her.
We modified the design a little to make it achievable for her, I cut her chosen fabric into strips and away she went. She actually is a very safe and straight sewer on my trusty old Pfaff. I guess all those years of watching have paid off.

Anyway , a couple of hours later, we had a cushion front.

All her own choice of fabric from my "fabric resource centre"!
Only one problem: now she's asking where she can "have a corner of her own" in my sewing room. There aren't enough corners for me, let alone one for her. LOL.

Onto actual quilting, not just topping!

2010-06-20T22:00:00.000+10:00

Well, shortly I'm hopefully updating my kitchen. Yayyy to me. Unfortunately, I will lose the only space in my house where I can lay out backing, batting and top to baste for quilting. Given that I'm not a big machine quilter anyway, it's just another barrier to me in the completion stakes!
So, this morning I decided I'd better actually use the floor before I loose it. I moved the kitchen table out, washed the floor (and very nearly threw in the towel then and there!), and began.
One quilt down, only another 4 or 5 to do.
Here's my quilt when we'd finished the pin basting , I actually managed to enlist the help of oldest DD in closing the pins. What a girl.

See the sparkly pins. Millions of them, or it felt like it.
This is one of Bonnie K Hunter's
mystery quilts from a couple of years ago.
It's part of my 10 in '10 pledge- to finish 10 quilts in 2010 from Linda's Blog so I'd best get to it.
I keep getting side-tracked onto new projects. Oh well.

More on the wall.

2010-06-16T21:20:00.000+10:00

I've been sewing together some more Joseph's Coat blocks this last week. Today I pressed them and hung them on the wall.
What do you think? Mind you, I need to get 49 blocks done, so I'm far from nearly finished. Oh I wish!

Don't mind the "octopus" legs coming from behind the block! That's part of the next work in progress. Not to mention the hexagons beside that. Never want to be without a possible project!
Swimming sewing was more Dear Jane blocks this week, "one step at a time" with that one.

Quilt Aid 2010.

2010-06-16T20:55:00.000+10:00

Have you heard about Quilt Aid? It's a Block of the Month quilt to fundraise for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. This Hospital and its outreach centres offer extremely needed aid to Ethiopian women who have suffered severe injuries during childbirth.
The quilt has 12 blocks, each designed by a different Australian designer especially for this project.
It's great that quilters can become involved with something so worthy to help women in need.

Up and running.

2010-06-02T13:47:00.000+10:00

So, it's amazing what you can achieve in 1 week. I left my dear Jane blocks to their own devices last week, and carried on with my Joseph's Coat blocks. Actually, I started my Joseph's Coat blocks to be more truthful. Oh, they are so luscious in lovely pink Kaffe Fassett fabrics and some blow ins. Very Spring I think. I'd already prepped a lot of the little wedge bits, so it was just a matter of pinning them down to the background and sewing them down.

Excuse the UFO in the background! I have a lovely large design wall, but it's never big enough.
Off to cut out some more shapes, this could become addictive, just like sewing hexagons. Oh dear.

Dear Jane day.

2010-05-26T15:56:00.000+10:00

Went to my monthly Dear Jane class yesterday. We're down to 6 ladies now, a very cold, wet dreary day so I'm not surprised that 3 ladies didn't attend.
I finished my 20th block!!! These little blocks are taking over my world at the moment, so I've decided to take a week off and get back to some other sewing.

Here is my little purple lovely with some other blocks.
anyway, I need to catch up on some Joseph's Coat blocks for the stitch along with Kellie of Don't Look Now. Catch up is probably not the word I'm looking for. I actually need to start the blocks! I have been making the little peel shapes ready to applique down for ages. Need to actually sew some down. We have a class with Kellie in June, at Patchwork House in Hawthorn. Anyone who's interested is welcome to call Kylie at Patchwork House for details, you don't need to be anywhere in particular with the quilt. Just as well really, as I'm no further along since our first get-together earlier this year!

Friday Night Sew-In.

2010-05-22T21:12:00.000+10:00

Unfortunately, this months Friday Night Sew-In coincided with me working until 10pm. However, once home I made the most of it and sewed for a couple of hours-trying to finish up a couple of Dear Jane blocks that I had prepped and ready to go.
I love sewing these little gems. Tiny pieces of fabric, tiny seams, tinier applique. Don't be fooled, however. These tiny blocks don't take a tiny amount of time to prepare and sew together. I find it so easy to get caught up in "just a couple more pieces and then I'll go to bed." Before I know it, it's 2 hours later!
Here are my blocks - 1 completed, one almost.

Look at that lovely sunshine streaming in through the window, shadowing my work. It's the last week of Autumn here in Australia and the cold has hit. I'm looking forward to Winter, and hopefully some rain. This is my favourite time of year.

Where did the day go?

2010-05-13T21:53:00.000+10:00

What happened to today?
I got up as usual and said goodbye to everyone as they left. Had breakfast and my shower. That's when the time loss began.
I've been having problems with motivation lately, as evidenced by my lack of posts! Anyway, it wasn't because of lack of projects. I had fabric and projects coming out my ears. This morning I decided that this was the problem. I like to work on a couple of projects at the same time, but I'd been pulling fabrics from my fabric resource library (sounds impressive LOL) for each step of each project and had a big mess everywhere I looked. No wonder I couldn't sit down to sew and relax.
So, I started to tidy my sewing room this morning. Oh what a job. Putting away in the correct container seemed like a perfect solution at the beginning. Well, 4 hours in, I was so over it all!! I was also vacuuming, dusting as I went so you do understand how I felt!
After doing this all day I now have carpet back. LOL. I knew it was there somewhere, just couldn't see it.

Remember my stepladder AKA another perfect horizontal storage surface from a few posts ago? Well, here it is all clean and ready for use to climb.

The pile of fabric to the left of the first photo is actually waiting to be put away into tubs in the morning. As I came across pieces of fabric, I either threw away or made a pile for storage. I like to store my fabric by colour for the most part. But I also have separate a 1930's tub and a Civil War repro tub.

So, everything has ended up off the floor and onto the bench. This lot needs to be sorted too, but I'm awfully glad to have it off the floor and I know where most of it needs to live now.

All the errant projects now live in thesed very nice project boxes from my local $2 shop. When I'm motivated to sew on something in particular, I can just grab the box and all the fabrics are there.
The gorgeous red box has my Dear Jane things in it. I've been steadily stitching away on those pesky little blocks.
I'm tired after all that, off to bed! LOL.

CRISIS Averted!!!

2010-05-05T14:38:00.001+10:00

Well, just had a very happy phone call from GF Ms A. We have been waiting for some fabric from Hancocks of Paducah for 29 DAYS. A lifetime when you're waiting. Today it decided to arrive. I have to admit that I was starting to wonder if it was going to come. Usually an order, (yes, I've had a few!), takes about 8 days to arrive. Apparently, the parcel has turned up at Ms A's house in a bag from Suisse Post!!
Talk about around the world. I think we're most upset because it went to Europe without us.
Although we are very thankful the parcel turned up, now we want to know why it took the very scenic route on its way here. It also got caught up in the volcano problems. If only that bag could talk. LOL

2010-05-04T23:00:00.000+10:00

It's always nice when a quilt comes home. I received a quilt back from my long-arm quilter Wendy of Honeypot Quilting near Bendigo. I have absolute trust in Wendy- hand over quilt and let her "do whatever you think is needed."
This is Civil War 2 from a pattern by Susan at Patchwork on Stonleigh in Wodonga.

Sorry about the photo. I couldn't find a big enough piece of floor space to spread the quilt out. It's about 95" square. All those flying geese.

This is it's sister quilt- Civil War 1. Must be slightly smaller as it fit the space! LOL. There are about 1500 1 1/2" squares in the sashing. Honestly, if I hadn't cut out the squares before I started anything else, I doubt if this quilt would be finished.

I love stripes for binding. Need to find a good one for CW 2.
The quilting in these quilts is fantastic. All free hand too. I need to take a couple of pics of the quilting to show.

What to do first.

2010-04-26T21:41:00.000+10:00

Well, since I returned from the best weekend away ever in stitching history, I haven't been able to sit at one thing. My kitchen table is covered in 3 projects which are all demanding equal time from me.
I found a pattern and fabric for pincushions just before we left for Adelaide.. I do need extra pincushions- the one I use is never in the right place.

The pattern actually has 5 pincushions in it, so of course I need to make them all. I'm on to my second one so far. Suddenly it's become an obsession.

I really love the little heart button in the centre.
Next on the list is a lovely buttery yellow embroidered little pincushion.

In between times, I'm being drawn to trying to finish the stitching that I started in Adelaide. It will be the feature panel on a bag one day! LOL.

She'll look much better once she has a face.
And lastly, I'm still working away at my Dear Jane blocks. We have our second get-together tomorrow. Although our homework was to complete 4 in the month, I'm trying to get nearly a row a month done. That's 13 little blocks, so that I'm nearly done when our classes finish. Lets not think about the triangles and kites around the border!
So far, so good. This month I've completed 9 blocks, almost finished a tenth, and have 3 more prepped and ready to go.
I've been stitching on the little sashing strips as I go to. I started sewing the first row - have got to block7. But then I changed my mind and now I'm starting in the middle and working out. Jane made the Quilt in a Trip around the world style. So hopefully this will make colour choices easier.

So, blocks A1 and A2.

A3 and A4. These blocks all have their sashing added and have been sewn together in 1 big row.

A5 and A6.

Last but not least- A7.

Then, there are G 6 and G 8, and then H7 (almost finished). This is my new start - I'm sewing in the round the world style from the centre.

Unfortunately, the colour is a little off in some of these photos, but close enough.
Well, back to the stitching.
Hope everyone else is being productive or is planning their next project.

More Inspired Stitches...

2010-04-20T23:24:00.001+10:00

What a fantastic weekend was had.
Two lovely and friendly teachers, with beautiful, achievable projects.
Firstly , Natalie Lymer, was showing us her newest patterns for a gorgeous bucket bag, needle book and gadget bags.

The colours are lovely and fresh, just perfect for these projects and the stitcheries are done in a wonderful thread that I haven't used before- Cosmo. I may have to accumulate a selection of these threads.

We also had Natalie Ross tutoring us in some of her fabulous projects.

Firstly a lovely little bucket bag with a delicious strawberry appliqued onto it, then some embroidered flowers to embellish the panel on the bag. This was accompanied by a "sewing machine wristie"- a sweet pincushion to go on the machine which even I could not knock off. (which is what usually happens when I sit the pincushion on top of my machine).
This was joined by a lanyard to go around the neck with a strawberry pincushion and scissors holder, but unfortunately I didn't get a pic of this.

The lovely display from Natalie Lymer. of Cinderberry Stitches.

Joined by an equally lovely display from Natalie Ross of In Stitches
We ladies from Victoria had such a good time at this retreat, that we have already started to talk about "when we go to the In Stitches retreat" for next year.
Sarah and her very capable crew from Quilt Fabric Delights thought of everything.
The room was comfortable, well lit with natural light. The food- well lets just say we could have gone without our evening meal each day and we'd never have noticed! Friendly ladies on our tables, goody bags with patterns, starter kits, lollies. Everything was there.
Accomodation was sooooo above standard. The Retreat was held at a boarding school in Adelaide, we stayed in the boarding houses. Let me tell you, there were no dormitories.

This was our spacious self contained 3 bed room unit.
Our lodgings were so good that GF Mrs G excelled herself and actually finished one of our stitchery projects!!!

This is Sarah and I standing in front of some of her bright and luscious fabric. I did try to restrain myself with purchases, but when you're locked in a room for the weekend with all of that, what was I to do???

Inspired Stitches.

2010-04-20T13:30:00.000+10:00

Well, a fantastic weekend away in Adelaide has been had. Fabulous company, great food, terrific tutors, and the best organisation I've ever seen at a retreat.
I travelled to Adelaide over 2 days with GF Ms A. We took our time, there are shops to be visited.
We travelled to Warrnambool for our first shopping expedition. A treasure trove otherwise known as Fragrant Cottage. I got some lovely little pieces of the new range from French General- Rural Jardin. Next year at Summer School in Wodonga, Karen Cunningham is teaching a quilt which will be made in these fabrics. We know nothing more! So with trepidation and blind faith, GF Ms A and I are accumulating some bits and pieces.

The stripe will make a great binding. I also found the pattern for the great traveling size bag- The Paris Traveller's Bag by Joanna Figeroa. There was a sample made up in the shop, which I always like because it seems my imagination doesn't always work well!
Our next port of call was Stitch n Knit in Mount Gambier. Let me tell you, after 1 1/2 hours poking around the shop, I felt like we'd only been in there for about 10 minutes. LOL. A tremendous range of things and a lovely shop owner to boot.

I found the big border stripe piece of loveliness in the $10 m bin.!!! What's a girl to do but buy a couple of metres, I think I'll make the Travelers bag with it. Then there were the stripes. So hard to find sometimes- and I have to admit that I love a stripe cut on the bias for a binding. A gorgeous piece of Kaffe in there in case I need it for my sew- along project Joseph's Coat from Kellie at Don't Look Now. And some neutrally pieces for the next mystery over at Quiltville with Bonnie Hunter. No pattern plans yet, but her quilts always need scrap neutrals, and I'm fast running out.
We finally made it to the venue for our retreat by 1/4 to 5 Friday afternoon, after a hard days shopping, but we really helped the economy!LOL.

2010-04-14T11:34:00.000+10:00

Well, thought I should show you the Easter cushions totally finished. This is a whole new area for me- Finished that is!

This is the cushion I made in a class with Kellie Wulfsohn from Don't Look Now.

And this gorgeous little Easter bunny is a cushion pattern from her blog- Hunny Bunny.
My kids loved their easter gifts.
I was surprised at how easy these patterns were to put together. The instructions were great, with fabulous photos. I even learned how to put in a zip in the back!
Friday 16th of April is the next Friday Night Sew-In. I'm speeding along on my Dear Jane blocks, so I think I will continue with them. I'll actually be away at a sewing weekend- minus family. Yayyyyyy. What better reason to travel for 8 hours with friends than to arrive at a stitching get away. Of course there are also the shops to be visited on the way.