Challenge #4 Progressing

Big thank you to Deana and Chooky for this Challenge.  It's been just what I needed to quick into gear and move some projects along.

No power Saturday was a bit of a drag so I did some crochet on #2 and am about to 'turn the corner' with it. After lunch I grabbed out a square of fabric and some strips and prepped to make a practice block for 'Strip Insertion' ... just to make sure I could still do it.  Power back and block complete.

Then Sunday I was out in the van, completed blocks 9 - 12 and then put blocks 1 - 12 together ... now to work on the last 4 blocks basically from scratch.

It's supposed to have a border of the main fabric but finding that will be pretty much impossible ... I will have to come up with an alternative.

Sadly I missed out on some lovely Zoom time Saturday ... no power = no internet and very limited phone service ... boil the kettle and fill the flask so there was coffee, snacks and crafting.

Busy week this week with work and town but I'm looking forward to another finished flimsy ... have a great week.

Unearthed Mystery

At the start of the month, while I was looking for my #2 Strips project, I unearthed a small plastic container and dared to peak.  If I'm being honest, there's more than one small plastic container in a large tub but one at a time.

This particular one contained fabric already cut into strips of varying lengths and sorted into sets, each with a 2.5" square ... and about seven 6.5" blocks already sewn.  Last patchwork day I had a last minute change of project, packed the sewing machine and got to joining those sets into more blocks.

Yesterday I finished sewing the last few blocks, auditioned some fabrics for a border and ... hey presto. Finished size is 42" square ... a nice size for a lap quilt to keep me warm in front of the TV. I have no idea how long it has sat hidden away but I'm pleased to have a completed top.

Now on with the Strip Insertion Quilt ... I've managed to track down the pattern. We're having a planned power outage for maintenance today so I'm rushing to get a few jobs down; fill the hot water flask for future cuppas; pressed this top; quick vacuum and then I can sit outside in the sunlight and do some handwork.

Happy Weekend

All Wrapped Up

 A timely wrap up of my sewing for the year.  Thanks to Cheryll and her WOOFA Challenge, I kept stitching away at A Merry Christmas Garden (picture in previous post) and plan to have it quilted and binding finished to gift to my daughter for Christmas 2021.  That might be a long way off but I have a lot of quilting lined up for next year.  So with the help of Cheryll, I will accept next year's WOOFA Challenge and aim high.

Thank you also to our little group of Elves over at 1XmasItemAMonth ... it's always much more fun to sew with friends.

My last finish for Christmas was a wall hanging for our Patchwork Group Santa Swap and Break-up on Monday. 

The Murder Mystery Quilt will be wrapping up in January. December's task was adding some lotus buds.

We've managed a few good showers of rain and a green tinge is appearing but hoping for a lot more rain yet to fill dams and the underground water.  Hoping 2021 is much kinder to everyone.

Party in the Chookshed

This cyclonic wind is playing havoc with my internet. Good thing I get to stay indoors and party with Chooky and friends to celebrate the Chookshed's 4th birthday.

Friday I was lucky enough to go on a quick shopping trip and made some fabric purchases. Saturday we had a surprise visit from our son and grandson ... pikelets for morning tea. After lunch was fabric playtime with the new purchases and digging through my stash.

Every quilt begins with a first step ... a new "Little ???s Farm" and every farm needs a dog.

Time to start cutting and tracing.  Thank you Chooky for a great party and I hope everyone is having a fun weekend of sewing.

Healing Hearts and O.F.W.

Not much to share for One Flower Wednesday today. I did manage to make 4 hexie leaves while waiting for other ladies to arrive for our last patchwork day for 2010.

Our day started with the regulation cuppa and added to this were some lovely yummy treats to celebrate our Christmas Break-up Morning Tea. We also finished the day with more yummy goodness for afternoon tea.

Time then for some machine applique on these heart blocks which I had prepared at home. These are my contribution towards Healing Hearts blocks and will be on their way to Shirley tomorrow.

9 Patches

Today I'm making some 9 patch blocks to send off to lovely Lyn. Click on the links to find out what they are for.

Workshop Fun and Friday Night News

Did you join in the Friday Night Sew-in for January? Well it's on again so grab your goodies and have a sewing good time. Click on the logo on my sidebar for more info.

Home again from the best weekend! A patchwork workshop of course!

This is how I packed up Sunday afternoon after two days of lovely company, delicious food and lots of sewing.

I took part in the 'strip insertion' class ... the top left block is complete and the blocks are 10 1/2" square. Hope I can now find the time to finish it off before it slips into the realm of UFO's.

January OPAM

I can only show you this much of my 'Purple Pressie' ... my first finish for January and the OPAM Challenge.

As the name would suggest, it's a present for someone who I know visits here so I'd like to keep it as a surprise for a little while longer.

I've also added another strip to the log cabin blocks yesterday and done some baking this morning.

My sewing frenzy has come to an end as it's back to work tomorrow, however I do hope to be able to share more log cabin progress next week ... that's if you're not getting sick of them yet.

Happy Stitching

Small Finishes

They may not be big projects but they are finished projects.

This little pin cushion didn't take long at all ... made from 5" squares.

I made an ebay purchase of these red/white squares and thought I could make a machine cover to go with my red machine mat. A simple, quick method but I'm very happy with it. The cover has ties either end to keep it in place.

After seeing the wonderful matching set of machine accessories over here, I then decided on the pincushion and yet to come will be a little scraps basket. You really must take a look at this lovely blue set.

Back in July I started this pin cushion for Mrs Martin's Cyber Stitching Day. Now that I've signed up for another day in November, I told myself that I must finish this project first. It's a very clever pin cushion on top and a needle folder on the other side. I already have some needles in residence.

Slowly but surely I am still working on Esther's Red Delicious BOM. Here is my block 3 ... I will keep working on this in between all the other projects.

Hopefully another finish for today, my third Stitchers Angel gift, but that one will stay a secret until they all go to their new home in ....?

Have you noticed a new link on my side bar? I'm taking part in Finn's New Years Eve Challange again this year. I aim to complete one large UFO by then and any more will be bonuses.

Happy Sewing

Red Finish

Here it is! Yes, another sewing mat, when I like something I usually roll with it.


As I mentioned, this one is also mine and is now happily sitting under my trusty old Janome ready for some action. The red heart sticker top left of the machine has been there for several years so the red mat feels right at home.



I don't think I've ever worked with red before but the reds just jumped out at me.
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My next project will also be in reds. Our local art group hold an annual art exhibition and have included a textile section which requires 1/8th of the quilt to use blood red. Sorry, no reveal until after October.
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I really must make some progress on our log cabin quilt this weekend and that won't happen if I stay here ... so bye for now.

Woohoo! I'm Sewing

Hmmmmm! What could this be the start of?


How long will it be before I can show the finished item? And it's something for me!
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Now away from here and back to the sewing machine.

Postcards and Family Craftiness

Two more fabric postcards ready to take the plunge into the red mailbox. This first is for a birthday . . .

the heart card is for our July swap so I've just scraped inside the end of the month.




As for family craftiness, DD made this folder cover while home from Uni, so no UFO box for this little project.

My mother is into all types of crafts. This denim quilt she made from hand-me-down jeans and purchased the border fabric. She also made the cream bed ruffle.

Another little wall hanging of mums, featuring stained glass work.

Happy sewing be it with family or friends.

What I've Been Up To

I think I lost the month of July to everything being hectic at once. Combine that with a dodgy internet and I haven't been here as often as I'd like. So while all is good and quiet, may I share what I have managed to squeeze in.
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This is a pattern I purchased from Tazzie Quilts and I've been wanting to make up for a while so I made two. Pink for me . . .

Blue for my lovely FRIENDS Swapee, Marina.

I also finished off joining the strips for the month of June and embroidered the name of each month on each first strip from January to June.

Then I got stuck into July and finished with a week up my sleeve. To see more colourful calendar quilts, click on my sidebar link. You can also read where some of my fabrics come from as my stash isn't plentiful enough to cover 365 days of the year.

At our last patchwork day I managed to cut all the strips and backing squares, ready to make a start on our king bed quilt. Currently I have 36 x 6.5" blocks ready for the next step.

There are two fabric postcards awaiting my attention today so I may have more to share later on.

A Little Sewing

There's so much else that has to be done and sewing is taking a back seat for a moment. However I did manage to get and hour or so in at our Patchwork group on Wednesday arvo. I can only get there after finishing work at 1.30pm so I'm going to take my Red Delicious and hand sew each month. Of course the coffee is a must as is chatting with friends.



January is all caught up for my Calendar Quilt . . .



and February up to the 14th. The 7th and 13th are backing fabrics for gift quilts. Then I thought I'd go with pinks for 'love month' and a red with bunches of white flowers for Valentine's Day.

As you'll see on my sidebar, I'm also taking part in Lurline's Happy House Swap. This is the first block I've made, untrimmed as yet. Can anyone else who has made these tell me if the side strips are supposed to be angled like that or have I done something wrong?

I have a date with Spiderman today. Quilting that is, on a panel for my nephew. Hopefully soon I'll have some finished photos and can add to my '2009 Finishes' on the sidebar.

Happy Sewing

Sewing, Sewing and More Sewing

I've been having a sewing good time! Every day last week I managed to get some sewing done. Yesterday and today have been more of the same. My machine is set up with the ironing board close by and I just keep sewing . . . with a few household jobs inbetween.

I'm getting as much sewing time in as possible before I head back to a work routine this Thursday, so sadly, 'ample' sewing time is coming to an end. Then it will be back to squeezing the sewing in.

So, what have I achieved.

This log cabin quilt I'm doing as a quilt-as-you-go. I'm just about to start joining the blocks.



I finally made a start on Red Delicious. Here's block one all ironed on, ready for hand blanket stitching with some embroidery on the bird tails and cherries.



And for this T-Block quilt, I used fabrics that I'd originally bought for the log cabin but I had twice as much fabric as I needed. For more pics of the steps to this quilt, see here.

Of course this means I've added more projects to my WIP list but I do have a time frame for these two quilts so hopefully they will soon be moved to the Completed 2009 list.

So it's back to the sewing machine for me, perhaps with a cup of coffee.

Happy Sewing Days

Easter Swap

Check out Mr Bunny on my side bar and clink on the link ... or click here to visit Julie and see what she's organising.

I'm off to finish the other eight of these.

The 2nd and 3rd row of darks will be different so this won't be the final layout.

Happy Sewing

Try, Try Again!

These are the strips cut ready for my Log Cabin.

Here are the reds for my 'Red Delicious'

And finally picture added at 5.00pm, this is what I bought yesterday. Shocking! January 5 and already the hot cross buns are on the shelves.

I'm Back With a Giveaway and Show & Tell

I didn't mean for me to take this long in getting back, but that's how life goes. Since my 100th post I've enjoyed our quilt retreat, met some deadlines, been to town, busy at work, another day in town and attended our local races yesterday, plus all the usual stuff.

So without further waffle ~ I'm having a giveaway to celebrate my first 100 posts!

Just leave a comment on this post and I'll pop your name in the hat to win this Christmas Table Topper (28" square) or one very similar. I'll ask DD to draw a name from the hat on November 30.

Before I could enjoy our retreat, I needed to finish my quilt for ALQS2 but I will wait to show a picture till after I know it has been received.

The Christmas Topper was my project for the retreat and I finished hand sewing the binding at home this week.

This is my table at one of the tidier moments.

I also managed to make another Quilters Mug Bag for a gift. It just needs the top binding hand stitched and a draw cord. See here for the finished drawn effect.

We had five very industrious ladies who spent a wonderful weekend sewing, chatting, relaxing and enjoying the good company.

I've still managed to read some blogs and make progess on my #1 item for Finn's Challenge. I might only manage this one, but that's better than still being on the WIP list.

The heat today is something shocking, fingers cross for some good drenching rain tonight.

I feel like there's something else I wanted to share but can't remember now, so there could be another post following soon. I'm off to prepare some hand applique for my November postcard.

Quilting Wishes

Gardening in the Shower

Yes you've read the title correctly, I've been gardening in the shower. A shower of rain that is.


I got home from work yesterday around 4pm to find that the power was off. Quite a large area was without power and they didn't have an estimated time of return. It was so overcast that the light was fading fast so we pulled out the camping gear and candles, cooked a quick meal, boiled a pot of water to add to the bath, and we were "in bed with the chooks" as the saying goes.


So this morning I've been catching up on all the things that couldn't be done last night.


Getting back to the title, it's been showering on and off this morning so inbetween showers, hubby and I headed out into the garden to take advantage of the heavy clouds promising more rain to come. We've planted two new trees, transplanted one and removed one. The plantings involved the tractor and post hole digger as the ground is so hard and stoney, so while the tractor was in the yard it was time for the removal of one tree that has struggled for too long. Hopefully transplanting the other will give it a better chance at a life.


Of course we weren't quite finished when the next shower of rain came across, but it was a pleasant change to the heat and dry.


Just thought I'd share these King Parrots with you (pictures from google). When we were having lunch today, I spotted the female heading down a hole in the tree next to the house and the male was flitting about on the branches above. Obviously a nest down there so I'll be keeping an eye out for the young.

Female

Male

While you're visiting, link on over to May at Abyquilt for a smile or two at her Oct 10 post.

I spent a lovely few hours with the girls at patchwork yesterday and while I didn't actually get any sewing done, we did quite a lot of planning which involves a weekend of sewing so we're all excited about that one.

Quilting Wishes

Some Sewing Progress

Just a quick post to show some sewing progress. A lovely lady has donated four embroideries for a "Girls' Night In" function in Mt. Perry to raise funds for cancer research. I'm making one of them into a small wall hanging. The top is complete, just needs quilting and a binding.

This is the infamous Queen Bed Quilt in my WIP list. Several years in the making, it's been something to work on when the mood was right. So I laid it out on a bed to see what it needs to finish it, which isn't much. Just some hand sewing on ric rac around the border piece and complete those english patchwork pieces and attach them. Only four of those to finish now.



While I won't be posting my bag tomorrow like others, I only have a little hand sewing to do on the bag and on the little extra something.

Just realized it's SPRING here tomorrow.

Quilting Wishes