Up, Down and Round About

Hubby and I enjoyed a lovely visit with DS, DIL and GS last Sunday. He's blossoming after his early arrival and they make such a gorgeous little family.  Lots of cuddle time too!

Monday was Patchwork day for our little group so I finally packed the sewing machine up and took it in with me to continue with the border blocks on the scrappy quilt from the workshop. Usually I do handwork because it's less to pack and unpack.

Yesterday I made the trip into town, picked up Mum and went to view all the stunning quilts at the Bundaberg Quilters Biannual Quilt Exhibition. A lovely morning out ... caught up with some of the other girls from our Patchwork group ... yummy lunch and of course a purchase or two from the great stalls.

Found the perfect fabric for the backing of Little Maccas Farm quilt for bubby and a couple of reels of thread. This little light will clip nicely onto my embroidery hoop and the sweet tins are just because.

During the week I'm driving over rough dirt roads to and from town work or helping hubby on the property. We're back feeding cows again as the little bit of grass quickly disappears. Poor things ... when they hear the tractor at the shed, they start making their way across the paddock and up the lane to meet it. You can hear them calling to each other ... "he's coming, he's coming".  Then this morning I didn't even finish filling the kitchen sink to do the breakfast dishes when the water stopped flowing ... empty rainwater tank! Lucky we have another tank on the car shed with some water but how long will it last?

To top it off I had to walk 2 km home this afternoon ... hubby's vehicle wouldn't start when we were working up the paddock so I needed to take my car back up to jump start it. Just glad we weren't right over in the back corner and kept thinking of the positive side ... all the calories I was burning.

Well it's time for some dinner followed by some more blanket stitching and then time for some zzzzzzzz's ready for whatever the new week will bring.

Keep the needle threaded and keep smiling.     >^..^<

Weekly Catch-up

Oh boy, do those days fly by!  I finished another TTS block ... 'Chilly Penguin' ... an appropriate block by the look of the weather forcast for the weekend :(

I've also stitched the wreath block to use as the label for the back of the quilt.

At the moment I'm enjoying a spell of knitting ... must be the cooler weather.  After finishing the collar scarf I've been working on another UFO scarf as well as knitting a dish cloth for my 1 Xmas Item this month (I'll be back tomorrow, fingers crossed, with the finished item).  I love those ruffle scarves and just have to buy more wool in different colours. Also next on my knitting agenda is an attempt at socks. I thought I better shout myself to a nice knitting bag to hold all these projects :)

Another spur of the moment purchase was an adorable sewing box. I wasn't looking for one but Spotlight had a whole stack of them on sale and as I walked past one particular one jumped up and said that I just must take it home with me.  Of course how could I not! It was the only one of this design and I also got to use my birthday discount to reduce the price even further :)

When I'm lucky to have a day at home I always have a constant companion ... almost to the point of being a pain in the proverbial and I just have to walk away and come back later when the computer is free.

She's here again right now but as yet I have full use of the mouse pad. The balls of wool sitting on the printer are waiting for the socks to begin.

Now it's back to some more knitting and perhaps the sewing machine will get a run today too. Hope you find some time today for a little crafting.

One Xmas Item and Some Buys

Oh dear, I thought I had another day up my sleeve but today is the 25th in Aus. I quickly put the finishing touch on this little hexie ornament and it's all done.

I finally gave in to Mug Rugs and made this little Tis The Season stitchery into one last week.

How did everyone else go this month with an item ready for Christmas?  It's a great feeling to know that my handmade goodies are ready and waiting to go to their new homes or decorate my home this Christmas. This challenge has been made all the more enjoyable for me knowing crafty elves are sewing along together ... thankyou :o)

On Saturday my alarm went off at 3.45am to travel by bus to Brisbane for the Craft and Quilt Exhibition.  We had a great day made all the more special because I got to meet up with Jeanette. After a lovely chat over a coffee, we went our separate ways to browse, buy, and oooh and aaaah over all the gorgeous quilts.

I was very good and only bought a couple of things although there is always that item you didn't buy but wished you had. Guess I'll just have to go back again next year. This glittery ball of red wool with metalic should make me two scarves ... I'm hooked on scarves.

Mum and I had hoped to attend the workshop for this little Japanese purse but it had filled quick smart so the kit came home with me. I bought another clasp incase I make a second and also bought a couple of fat 1/4's.

On the way down we stopped at a park in Gympie for a quick breakfast where this swan family was also enjoying some breakfast.

Arriving home after 10.30pm we had a quick cuppa, a little show and tell and crawled into bed just after midnight. Phew! But well worth it!

There's much to do in the garden ... can you see the busy buzzy bee?

Happy Sewing

Quilty Day Out

Yesterday I had a wonderful day out with some lovely ladies ... admired gorgeous quilts ... enjoyed some yummy food ... and perused enticing stalls.





Just a little spending was done as I kept thinking of all my projects, UFO's etc waiting at home.

First up 3 buttons just because I liked them. The cat to remind me of my girls; the letter 'N' is obvious; and a pretty cup for the coffee that keeps me going sometimes. Then I spotted a small pincushion kit and couldn't pass on the pink/red/black fabrics which included the precut hexies, templates and other bits which I will share later with a photo of the finished item. I made the hexies up last night. Also I've been on the lookout for a pencil for tracing stitcheries so I'm going to give this one a go.

Last but certainly not least, I spyed this wool in a patchwork shop and a good friend has a scarf made from it ... it's soooo lovely and soft. So I grabbed two balls because I couldn't decide on which colour, and shall endeavour to attempt to knit myself a scarf. The scarf only takes one ball and the instructions are on the wrapper.

Off to finish my pincushion.

Progress, A Finish and Buys

Well I made it out to work last Thursday and then we had a shopping day Friday. Putting my time stuck at home to good use, I managed to complete the blocks for our log cabin quilt and after much changing around, DH and I decided on the final layout.

Now for joining the blocks. Then I need to add a border to the sides and bottom.

My attention span is often quite short so I had a play with a couple of other projects as well. Jenny has a challenge for March to use a charm pack (maximum of 20 squares only) so I grabbed 'Aunt Purdy's Parlor' by Moda and came up with this Shaggy Bag.

Just the one bag with a view of each side.

With the remaining 5" squares I made a small table runner but it's only at the top stage.

I did manage some retail therapy while in town Friday. The red fabric is to back my fishpond quilt and some matching thread. The goldy leaf fabric kept catching my eye so I bought it home too. I'll use some to back the table runner along with the varigated sandtone thread.

The yo-yo maker is to replace the one I bought last year, used once and has never been found since. My guess is the first one will turn up now.

Now that I have a new bulb for my lamp, I can get back into some night time stitching. I've been itching to start on the 'catalicious' stitchery from Red Brolly and I picked up this varigated thread for the job. Would you believe that as I walked past with thread in hand, this fabric jumped right out and offered to sash the stitcheries for me. I couldn't refuse, could I?

The weather is extremely windy today, perfect for staying indoors and stitching or sewing so off I go.

If you haven't heard already, the girls from Among the Gum Trees are giving away 5 fabric kits to make the Baseco bag in aid of Dawn's quest. Take a look at their lovely bags too.

Back From Shopping

Hi, I'm back from our shopping trip and don't know where to start. We had the most wonderful two days of fabric shops and great company with plenty to show for it.

Once I get caught up with the household chores, I'll unpack, take some photos and get back to posting. I just had to check emails and a couple of blogs while waiting for the next load of washing.

Don't forget I'm participating in a PIF so if you've been thinking about joining one, I'd love to send you a gift handmade by me. Please leave a comment and check my earlier post for the rules.

Happy Sewing

PIF, Cutting Strips and Shopping

Firstly I'd like to thank Vivien for joining in on the PIF fun. You might like to pay her a visit and check out her lovely Christmas Quilt.

As for cutting strips, I spent yesterday doing exactly that. I finally made a start to the Log Cabin for my brother's quilt. All fabric is cut into long strips and the backing and wadding is squared and waiting. Hope I can make a start on actually sewing tomorrow.

Then I'm off for a couple days R & R ... rest and relaxation you think? ... well yes and no. I'm off with a few of the Mt. Perry Girls for a Retail Roadtrip. Or a Fabric Acquisition Road Trip ... if you take each Red letter what do they spell?

I'm one of those who refuse to allow retail to dictate when Christmas and Easter begins. I like to wait to do my Christmas shopping from the beginning of December and my Easter shopping a couple of weeks prior to Easter. However today I gave in and bought some of these .....

(sorry, having trouble uploading pics, will try later... can you guess what I bought?)

after all they are delish ... but I promise not to buy any more till April ... perhaps.

Also today I got the last ingredients for 'Red Delicious' so the next step is tracing and ironing, can't wait to get started.

Happy Quilting

Recipes and Fabric Buys

As you will see on my side bar, I've joined Another Little Quilt Swap, and already have a pattern picked out, depending if it fits with my recipients preferences.

Also, I have a pattern selected for my bag swap and have decided how I'm going about it. Here are two of the fabrics recently purchased to enhance my choice of fabrics. Hope to get started today.

A couple of ladies asked for the recipes of my wonderful daughters cooking. For the slice I usually make a triple batch and use two lamington trays.

CHOCOLATE SQUARES

1 cup SR flour, 4ozs butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup coconut,
1 tbsp cocoa, 1 dstsp syrup.

Melt butter, sugar and syrup in saucepan. Pour over dry ingredients and combine.

Press into tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a moderate oven.

Ice as desired. I usually sprinkle with coconut but little choc bits and yum too.

MOCHA COOKIES

150g butter, 3/4 cups brown sugar, 1 egg yolk, 2tsp instant coffee granules, 1 tbsp hot water, 1 1/2 cups plain flour, 1 tbsp cocoa, dark chocolate Melts

Beat butter, sugar, egg yolk and combined coffee and water until smooth.

Stir in sifted flour and cocoa in two batches. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth.

Roll mixture into balls, place 5cm apart on tray and flatten slightly. Press 1 chocolate melt into centre of each and bake about 12 minutes in moderate oven. (She ran out of chocolate Melts and used white chocolate ones instead. Just as yum!)

Enjoy

I also bought this 300cm or 120" tape in a tin. Cute, safe and yes, I have had it out and got it back in the tin.

More fabric purchases later.

Quilting Wishes

Another Finish for Peg's Challenge

I'm cutting it fine but July's not over till it's over. My Summer Swap Quilt is finished, in the post, and on it's way to .........


This pic shows the front and backing fabric. I'll post a couple more photos once I know it has reached it's destination. I hope _____ enjoys it as much as I did making it.



Carolyn at Ohio Quilter's Journey asks "What do you do for inspiration??" I'd have to say that Peg's challenge has helped, nothing like a deadline to keep you keen. Pay Carolyn a visit and let her know where your inspriation comes from. She has a great giveaway to go with it.

Each time I've packed up my chenille bag stuff to go sewing, something spoils the plan. This time it was all the rain but I will not complain about rain. We had 100ml (4 inches), more than enough to make our road to town impassible. Slippery mud and flooded creeks. Today is 'project 1' time (in between catching up on all the washing ~ sunshine today) but I've still got a couple more days to make some progress at least on the bag.

Next Friday (fingers crossed) I'm going to visit the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition. After work first of course, but I'll still get at least 3 hours there. I've been writing up my shopping list and saving pennies, can't wait!

Quilting Wishes

Bright Spots in an Overcast Day

Where do I start? The house to myself for awhile .... jobs to be done ... sewing to be done .... hmmmmm!

A quick visit to blogland to keep up to date with what everyone is doing. Visit here at Debbie's Quilts and More for a fantastic giveaway.

I also had to take a photo of the one rose in my garden.




And while I was outside my two girls came out to join me. Soon to be curled up inside somewhere for the day. Usually on something they shouldn't be.

Here is the backing I purchased last week for 'project 1'. I'm hoping to get it pin basted today ready for quilting.

The summer swap quilt is almost finished. Just a little more quilting and then the binding. End of July is looming and there's still my chenille bag to do. Nothing like a bit of pressure to get you moving. Atleast the GST and Tax are basically done.

So ... a quick cuppa ... a quick routine job .... and sewing. This Friday is Patchwork day so roll on Friday!!

Quilting Wishes

Indoor Weather

Today's weather is as predicted by the weather guys. Freezing cold blustery winds, perfect for staying indoors all day. So it's full steam ahead with the housework with intermittent bursts of sewing to break the drudge.

Here's the fabric for my chenille bag I started at patchwork last Friday. All sewn and I just began to slice with my chenille cutter.

The two red fabrics I bought on Tuesday . . . . . just because. The black is for my single bed horse quilt but also works with the reds.

And here is my fabric ready to become a Summer Quilt for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I have a design in my head and sizings written down on a piece of paper so let the fun begin.

Lastly, this was my 45km (28 mile) drive to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the thickest fog on Friday.

Shopping Day

Friday 23rd November, 5 ladies from our Quilters group jumped in the car and headed off for a day of shopping in Patchwork Shops of course. As well as 5 shops, 2 shops having and second location, making a total of 7 shops visited, we also managed a coffee shop, lunch and a chemist. The sun had set a while by the time we got home but we got value for distance travelled.

I had a project in mind and managed to purchase almost enough fabrics plus a thread box. This leaves me with a new shopping list for the next time I can get away to the fabric shops again.

I didn't think to take the pattern with me, just the requirements of 4 cream/yellow fabrics and 12 other prints. When I got home and lined the fabrics up, I took out 2 from the top row, moved the 2 cream fabrics to the top row and now need two more fabrics to make up the 12.

The house fabric I just liked and the thread box I have filled already. One of the yellow fabrics from above has already been used as a backing.

Yesterday we adventured into the world of Free Motion Quilting. I had a ball and am eager to do some more practice. I have a quilt sandwiched and awaiting my new, um, skills? We'll see.