Saturday, October 31, 2009

Day 31 of Blogtoberfest - Last day!

The last day of Blogtoberfest! What a month! We had the good and then we had the bad. Now we have the end. To say farewell to October I leave you with 416 inches of binding ready to sew on to the Highlight Quilt.....

Thanks for all that visited and left lovely comments. Special thanks to Joan who left a comment every day I do believe!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Day 30 of Blogtoberfest - Wonky Houses Part 3.

Sewing Lara's blocks earlier this week made me think of my own blocks that I have received, my wonky houses. And I realized I hadn't posted photos of them all.

This one is from Donna. It is the only one that is horizontal, I'm thinking I'll add it into the backing for some interest.

This one is from Louise. I like how she has the house material is graduating from dark to light. And the tree, love the little tree!

Nice and simple this house from Susie. The girls love the zebra!

This one is lovely, from Lynn. Who wouldn't like to live in a four storey house?

Part 1 saw me receive these beauties and part 2 I got these lovelies! So combined together is all this! There are still two more to come, I'm happy to wait. Thanks girls!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Day 29 of Blogtoberfest - Labels....

Thought I'd do a post on how I make my labels. There are lots of ways to make a label, but this is the way that I like to do mine. I design them in a program called Quark XPress. We only use that program cause 1. We have it loaded on the computer and 2. I know how to use it! You could do it in Word or Photoshop, I just prefer Quark. I do mine on an A6 document and like to do two labels at once, save paper. I use Matilda's Own Inkjet Printable Fabric. I got a pack of 10 sheets from the craft fair back in May for $11.95, I have 4 left in the pack.

Then I print it out on our little old Canon printer. It's just an ordinary inkjet printer!

Then you peel the backing off the fabric sheet, iron some vliesofix on the back of the label, cut it out to size, then peel the backing off the vliesofix, then iron it into place onto the back of your quilt. Couldn't get any shots of the ironing action as it kept steaming up the camera! I didn't used to iron vliesofix onto the back, but it just helps to hold the label in place while you blanket stitch it on.

And wolah, during one episode of City Homicide you will have your label sewn on! I like to use two strands of DMC thread. Love to hear how you do your labels.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Day 28 of Blogtoberfest - Quilting Highlights.


Remember here I had to stop quilting the Highlight quilt? I have put it under my machine again and finished the last 50 cms that needed doing. Didn't take as long as I thought. It measures a whopping 93 inches square! Now to square it up and sew 372 inches of binding on.....

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Day 27 of Blogtoberfest - One word meme.

Doing the rounds in blogworld at the moment. Usually I'm not a meme kinda girl but day 27 of Blogtoberfest has me starting to scratch my head! Play along if you like. I have cheated a bit and used two words for some!

1. Where is your mobile phone? Handbag
2. Your hair? Short
3. Your mother? Crazy
4. Your father? Laughing
5. Your favourite food? Thai
6. Your dream last night? None
7. Your favourite drink? Diet Coke
8. Your dream/goal? Whale Sharks
9. What room are you in? Study
10. Your hobby? Quilting
11. Your fear? Assult
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Adelaide
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? Fit
15. Muffins? Yummy!
16. Wish list item? Sewing Room
17. Where did you grow up? Perth
18. Last thing you did? Facebook
19. What are you wearing? New top
20. Your TV? ABCKids
21. Your pet? Smelly
22. Friends? Online
23. Your life? Busy
24. Your mood? Content
25. Missing someone? Daz
26. Vehicle? Hyundai
27. Something you’re not wearing? Jumper
28. Your favourite store? Textile Traders
29. Your favourite color? Rainbow
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Last week
32. Your best friend? Daz
33. One place that I go to over and over? Girls School
34. One person who emails me regularly? Meredith
35. Favourite place to eat? Out

Monday, October 26, 2009

Day 26 of Blogtoberfest - Lara's Block #2.

And this is my second block for Lara. This block is called Carol's Star. I found it on the Quilter's Cache site, home of a gazillion quilt blocks galore!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Day 25 of Blogtoberfest - Sunday Sewing for Lara.

My fabric from Lara arrived on Friday for the November round of Around the Block. I know November is going to be a busy month personally with family and work stuff, so I got stuck into the first block today. She wanted twirly things. Hope you like this Lara!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Day 24 of Blogtoberfest - Table Runner.

Remember back here on Day 3? Finished sewing down the binding last night watching telly. I'm thinking it may be the first cab off the rank for my PIF? I sewed this for no reason or purpose rather just for fun, so any PIF girls out there that would be interested?

Friday, October 23, 2009

Day 23 of Blogtoberfest - Grasshopper Grace!

It was Grace's class's turn to host the school assembly today. They had a theme of "mini beasts" meaning insects as that is what they have been studying lately! She went as a grasshopper, green leggings and a top and a huge pair of green butterfly wings - wolah, grasshopper Grace.

And to make it the best assembly of the semester, she got another merit certificate! When I read it I thought huh? Is that my child?? Delightful personality, attitude and work habits? Outstanding role model? Her work exemplifies this? Really?? I am as proud as punch that she is doing well at school and enjoying it...... must be doing something right as a Mother as some days all I seem to do is yell like a broken down record at them.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Day 22 of Blogtoberfest - Chaletgirls Block Swap Quilt Top Finished!

Finished! I ended up removing one of the blue blocks. Unsure about giving it to the Mother In Law now as some of the blocks are really out in the rows matching up. And others are spot on. I'll quilt it and see.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Day 21 of Blogtoberfest - Chaletgirls Block Swap Sewing Together, Part 2!

Well I am continuing my Chaletgirls Block Swap Quilt. I seem to be possessed with just finishing it. There is no time frame to get it finished, MIL's birthday is in early January so it would be nice to have it done by then I suppose..... I have all the blocks laid out on the lounge room floor and the family has strict instructions to walk around them at the moment! I'll admit I have taken out about 10 blocks as the colours were too dark or too busy. So I think those ones will go on the back. Hope that doesn't offend any of the girls that participated in this great swap. The black ones in particular just are too strong, they just scream "look at ME!!!!" so I have put them aside and made some more blocks of my own in softer pastels, to blend in. Finding softer pastels in my stash was a challenge!

I've added in some pale blue which I am uncertain about. Sometimes I look it and go, yep, lovely, blends in, works nicely. Other times I think ekkk! There are 5 blue blocks, scattered about to balance. I'm not packing this one away till the top is done!

Thanks to the three ladies who signed up for my PIF in yesterday's post. Donna who I have meet through flickr dolls quilts swaps, Alissa and Ad. I'll admit I am puzzled why Ad has signed up, for those of you that don't know, she's my younger sister, she's getting a table runner from me at Christmas. What does she want me to make her now?? Maybe she's hoping for that queen sized Baltimore quilt? Tell her she's dreaming!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Day 20 of Blogtoberfest - Pay It Foward.

I signed up for a PIF over at the lovely Lily's blog. I've never done one before and Lily's work is beautiful.

Want to play along? I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people that comment below. I then have 365 days to do it in. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! But it will be after Christmas I can say that now. The catch is that you must participate as well: you must have a blog and before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going.

So, who's in? It will most likely be a dolls quilt from me that you will receive. International players are welcome too.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Day 19 of Blogtoberfest - Chaletgirls Block Swap Sewing Together.

I'm after a quick and easy sewing project I don't have to think too hard about. So I pulled out my blocks from Chaletgirls Block Swap and started sewing. I'm thinking 7 rows of 7, soft pastels.... and I think I'll give it to my Mother In Law for her birthday in early January as she did admire the blocks as I was pulling them out the envelope when I received them all. Maybe if she's lucky.....

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Day 18 of Blogtoberfest - Sunday Stash.

I haven't done a Sunday Stash post for ages! And I'll admit if I wasn't on the Blogtoberfest train I wouldn't be doing it! But I am so lets drool together over some Kaffe Cabbages. I have these three prints and am not ashamed to admit I do not dare cut the yellow or blue! I have taken a 2 by 7 inch slitter out of the red though.....

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Day 17 of Blogtoberfest - EBDQS#3 Finished.

I finished the binding on my dolls quilt for the EBDQS#3 today. I'm pleased with the quilting, glad I took the plunge and did the flowers instead of just straight stitch.

It's on the bigger side of a dolls quilt, 25 inches square. But seeing as though it is being used for an actual dolls quilt I thought it would be good to be a little larger so they could wrap their doll in the quilt.

Another close up. Just have to do the label then in the mail. And this will be the last swap for the year!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Day 16 of Blogtoberfest - The Joeys.

Meet Luke and Banjo! I don't know which one is named which though. They are Western Grey Joey's, about 8 months old. They weight just over 3 kilos each.

Mum volunteers at a local wildlife reserve once a week, but she is a full time Joey Nanny. These guys are maybe the 4th lot she has looked after. The history is always hazy. Their mother's are killed either accidentally or on purpose and luckily someone eventually thinks to check the pouches and finds these guys. Apparently Luke and Banjo were put on a passing truck from the road side, handed into the truckies neighbor who knew someone at the reserve who handed them in and then they found themselves in my folks backyard.

They are bit like having a newborn! Mum has to feed them every 3 hours although at night they sleep through.

They love snuggling in their bags and as you can see, the girls love snuggling them! They love helping Mum feed them and get them in and out of their bags. They understand they are wild animals and that when they get bigger they will go back to the reserve for awhile longer and then they will be released to the bush again.

And this is the latest addition to the family, Rosebud. She is also a Western Grey and weighs only 750 grams, she is so young she hasn't got any fur on her body. Mum has only had her for a few days. She let the girls hold her but the flash on my camera freaked her out and she scuttled back into her bag after this shot.

So you won't see kangaroo's bouncing down the streets in Australia, but you will see some bouncing in my folks backyard.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Day 15 of Blogtoberfest - Thread! Thread! Thread! Thread! Thread!

My apologies in advance. It is day 15 of the Blogtoberfest, I am halfway there, starting to struggle a bit with witty and entertaining craft related posts! I feel another dodgy tutorial coming on!! In the meantime, read on to see how many teatowels Helen purchased today!

Despite going to Textile Traders twice within 20 hours earlier this week, to stock up on pellon and sewing machine needles, you know the stuff you still need but isn't as pretty as fabric. Despite that spending spree, today Spotlight had 20% off storewide and so I went childfree with my Mother to shop! We promised no fabric buying though as the ques on these days are a nightmare. I purchased boring things like 4 teatowels, 2 satin pillow cases for the girls, some modelling clay for Christmas stocking fillers, some ribbon and lots and lots of thread! Its just so pretty. I haven't used this brand before, QA Thread it's called. It says it is a machine embroidery thread, 100% polyester...... such pretty variegated colours. 1000 metres of each! I'll give it a go. Anyone had any experiences with this thread? Love to hear.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Day 14 of Blogtoberfest - Free Motion Flowers.

I went for the flowers. First I practiced on this.

Then I practiced on this....

And then went for the real thing.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Day 13 of Blogtoberfest - Back to School!

It seems like day one of term one was only yesterday and now here we are on day one of term four! The school year has zoomed by! This is my last term of Matilda in two full days, next February she will be in full time school. Mixed feelings there, happy for her as she loves school and is a bright little spark, sad cause all my babies will be at school. Growing up to fast.

Matilda took a drawing for her teacher this morning. Grace took a mantis she found on the weekend, its in the tupperware container she is holding. She named him Max. Max the Mantis, of course. That white long bit at the end? Thats his skin shedding! Ewwww!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Day 12 of Blogtoberfest - EBDQS #3.

I have finished the top the EBDQS #3. It is a simple design but graphic and fresh with a twist, whatever that means! I have altered the colours again.

Now to quilt it. I don't know whether to go something fancy. Bit of stipple then a flower?

Or something like Louise did on the beautiful dolls quilt she made me. Wavy straight lines?

Which would you prefer swapee?

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Day 11 of Blogtoberfest - By Grace.

Hello. This is my birdie. I cut him up and then with Mummy's help we sewed him onto this blue sky with a sun. I sat on Mummy's lap while she sewed and my foot pressed the black thing on the floor that makes the machine go. When I am 7 I am allowed to have a go by myself. Matilda and I are allowed to play with Mummy's scrap material but not the material in the drawers. I like cutting up material, it is fun.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Day 10 of Blogtoberfest - Quilt Festival Time!

Its on again! The second annual Quilt Festival hosted by the lovely Amy from Park City Girl. I played along last year, my name is on the list, but I have trawled back through my blog and I can't find the post! Odd... so I can't remember last years favorite quilt! *edited to add 24 hours later..... Thanks Kit! For some reason I was looking in last years posts, not earlier this year. doh! So for the record, this was the quilt I featured last time here.* Anyway......

This year I picked this one. I called it Bricks and Mortar, it was from a pattern. Started in late July and finished in August 2008. I love it cause it was the first quilt I made for me. And I love it cause it took me two weeks from cutting to sewing the label on, the top took 24 hours to sew. I remember the joy of Grace being at school and Milly being at her only day of day care that year, popping Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version of course!) on the DVD player and just sewing, sewing,sewing!

The label says its for me, so I can't give it away!

I like how the business of the prints just speak for themselves.

Stipple with rainbow verigated thread.

And the back of pieced strips. As I write now the girls are snuggled under it on the couch watching morning TV. Might take advantage of the quiet and check out some of the quilts at Amy's festival. Great start to the day.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Day 9 of Blogtoberfest - Bye Bye Birdie.

Today was the day! I received the magazine in the post. I'll admit I saw the article yesterday. We went up to my folks house and walked up the shops to get a copy. Mum and I stood in this little tiny news agency and Mum started squealing as I flicked to the page, Milly is pulling on my top going "Mum! Mum! What is it?" I showed her and she goes "How did you get in a magazine?" How indeed Miss Matilda?!

So here's the main spread. My eye first went to that little bubbled bit on the bottom left. I pointed it out to Daz this morning and he said "What bubble bit?" and I wonder if I hadn't of mentioned it, would you have noticed? I did have trouble with my walking foot at the end and in real life it isn't as noticeable as here. Me being fussy I suppose. Otherwise I think the layout looks fantastic! Homespun took the photo, I sent the quilt to them for all the shots.

And here is the bit about me. I sent a selection of quilt photo's over, they got to choose which ones. I'm quite chuffed they choose the doll quilt I made for Tine in DQS#5 and my placemat swap with Sarah. My blogging buddies are a great support to me and I am thankful to have meet lots of lovely ladies along the way that have become friends. You know who you are!

Here is Daz holding up the creased masterpiece.

And here is the back. I was quite pleased with the back. Great way to use up extra strips.

And to complete the mail, my parcel from equilter arrived. The Aussie dollar is so strong in the US at the moment, seems a shame not to go shopping. More swirly fabric. Have no idea what I will sew with this, add it to the stash.