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.

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...

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!

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

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.

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!

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.