Chaletgirl Swap Blocks #1

I've finished sewing my first lot of 9 patch blocks for Chaletgirls Block Swap. It took longer to work out which fabric to choose than actual sewing!

These are for Lisa who lives in Canada. This Alexander Henry print is one of my all time favourites. I hestitaed for a second before cutting it up but then thought if I didn't it will just stay sitting in my stash forever, time for it to be released into the universe!

These are for Bronwyn from Melbourne. Nice and soft tone on tone prints to match her delicate floral print.

And these two are for Beth who is also in Canada. A very nice Anna Maria Horner print, thought I'd bring out the pink here!

I hope you like them girls! :) Popping this in the post tomorrow Sheridan, ready for the next round.

AJ's Quilt.

I finished the binding on this last night, AJ's quilt. She sewed the top, I have sandwiched and quilted it. I was thinking just simple diagonal cross hatching, but my walking foot isn't walking properly, I don't know whats up with it. So after doing a terrible job on two thirds of it, I unpicked it all and went with what I know best, meandering stippling. Looks much better! Just a label and 10 minutes in the tumble dryer to get it nice and soft then on its way it will go.

While I was taking the photo of the quilt, Matilda was being a goose under the trampoline, lying on the grass making snow angels. I snapped some shots of her and caught this sweet one, little freckles on her nose, a sweet grin instead of a horrible forced CHEEESSSSE smile she always gives, little Pippy Longstocking plaits. What a poppet, she keeps us on our toes!

WIP Wednesday - Week 12 - Flickr Birds and Daz's Big Day!

And so the work on the flickr dolls quilt swap goes. I haven't done much on it this week really..... I have appliqued down the birds, thank goodness my machine has a blanket stitch button!

There isn't enough contrast between the wing and the body. Another thing to change when I do the next version. I really like this red and white polka dot one!

Some of you know from other parts of my life on the www that my husband Daz has gone back to University this year. He is studying a one year full time course, a Bachelor in Primary Education which will make him a primary school teacher at the end of the year. It's only a years course as he already has a Degree in Media Studies and so it is just a one year course to be a teacher. A very intense full on year though! So far we have survived the first 6 weeks of the semester.... This morning there was excitement in the house as today was Daz's first day of "prac" teaching. He's been allocated a school in the next surburb and funnily enough the class he got is the same year as Gracie's class. I packed him a lunch and we all gave him good luck kisses and then waved him goodbye.

Wonder if I should have a beer open for him ready when he walks back in this afternoon....

Maverick Star Dolls Quilt Finished!

I finished this beauty on Friday. Well, I think it is a beauty! LOL Some time last year Sarah, of wonky houses flickr fame and I threw around the idea of having a little private swap, as you do. Then life and Christmas and stuff just got in the way and we both agreed "one day". Fastfoward to last month when the chat about flickr DQS#6 was happening and she was getting impatient to start, we agreed to squeeze our little swap in before the flickr one.

And having been caught up in the joy of making maverick stars for the Bushfire Quilts project, I went small stars! And all scraps except for the borders and binding.



As always I made two, one for me, one for the swapee! I made my one first so the second one for Sarah is much neater, more well made. Oh, such bad English Helen, more well executed in it's construction? It's better! Here's a sneek peek Sarah. I can't resist blogging it!

WIP Wednesday - Week 11 - DQS#6 - Started!

Well I have been putting off starting sewing this dolls quilt for the flickr DQS #6 as there has been stuff I have had to finish before starting this. And I have been very good! I posted the Monochromatic Challenge off today and I sewed the binding down in another mini private swap, so I have rewarded myself with starting, at last! I drew this sketch last week, picked the fabrics on the weekend, have had them just sitting on the bench in my sewing nook, waiting paitently...

I've admitted in public here, that I just don't get the whole aqua and red combo which is so popular at the moment. BUT, I think my partner does, so I am going to try out aqua and red on crisp white Lakehouse spots. If it is on spots, it will work!

I got out the rotary cutter, slashed and sewed up these strips, then slashed them again to sew them together. From an outsiders point of view I sometimes think that patchwork must seem such an odd hobby, you cut up material just to sew it back together again! Works for me though.

I like to sew two quilt for my swaps, for one reason cause its hard to let go of your creation. Second reason, the second quilt made can alter the mistakes made on the first! Like already I am thinking to reduce the white between the blue branches to half of what it is here. We'll see....

4 Seasons Monochromatic Challenge Dolls Quilt Finished!!

I have finished my dolls quilt for the 4 Seasons Monochromatic Challenge Dolls Quilt Swap. Finally sewn the label on......

I called it Summer Poppies. Hope my partner likes it, she is rather a traditional kinda quilter. I quilted swirls to represent flames at the bottom which you can see more on the backing.

My favourite bit is the quilting in the white around the flowers. I like that! This swap was a challenge, I found it harder to work with one colour than what I thought it would be..... Thats the aim of a challenge I suppose!

Onto the next dolls quilt swap now!

Self Imposed Fabric Buying Ban Starts NOW!

It doesn't take long through the joys of the quilting forum chat rooms, for the word to get out that some bolts of delicious Amy Butler have arrived at Textile Traders. Milly and I drove straight there after dropping off Grace at school, no rush or anything... We walked in their door and OMG!! There was a lady standing at the counter holding the bolts I wanted!!! I was very good, I didn't rugby tackle her or anything like that, I picked up another bolt causally and then stood at the other counter and said "a metre of this thanks and then some of everything she's got!" We soon walked out with the above goodies. I have some of the green prints coming from here that will hopefully next week.

So much fabric, so little time! I realized later today that in two months time exactly I will be going here. Two months hey...... I am not buying any more fabric till then! Two months, can she do it?

WIP Wednesday - Week 10 - Wonky Stars

Remember the mini wonky stars from last week's WIP? I have been playing with them and sewed them all together. All from my scrap box, I am trying to get to the bottom of the scraps but it seems never ending, you just make a dent and then it gets more stuff from another project thrown in.... These are looking wonky but some of them look too fat, can a star look too fat? And then somehow, don't know how as I am usually so careful about this, but I got a blur pen mark on a bit of the white. Only small, about 5mm's, it hasn't washed out though so deary me, whats a girl to do but keep this one and get started making another!

This was the view down on the dining table last night. Please note the colour cordinating new Olfa rotary cutter! Got myself a new one on Monday, both of my previous rotary cutters died on the weekend, I am in love with my new one, it just glides through the fabric.

EB Quilters Charm Square Swap!

I recently participated in the EB Quilters Charm Square swap. We all sent out and recieved 10 5 inch charm squares in colours of our choice. I choose red and black thinking I could use them to do a final border of my Round Robin Quilt.

Stunning selection hey? Thanks girls!

Unfortunately Helen....

I stumbled across this funny blog meme I think you'd call it, here last night. It gave me a chuckle before I joined the snoring husband in bed.

Basically you type "Unfortunately.....insert your first name here" into Google and see what comes up, just for fun. You have to do the "" quote things to make it work. Here's what "Unfortunately Helen" came up with.

Unfortunately, Helen refused to take no for an answer, forcing them to face up to their feelings and causing turmoil in the Fitzgerald marriage.

Unfortunately Helen was thrown away by the studio.

Unfortunately, Helen fell from the Fugly tree and hit every limb on the way down.

Unfortunately, Helen is the last of her kind.

Unfortunately, Helen, as the fairest of her sex, was the prize destined for Paris.

Unfortunately, Helen was rather unlucky in getting work, she did have a short spell working for Northampton Council.

Unfortunately, Helen's dress looks a little like a safety harness.

Unfortunately, Helen passed away in the early 1990's.

Unfortunately, Helen liked to gamble and by all accounts she wasn't very good at it.

But I saved the best for last, it wasn't on the list but this sums up the last 24 hours...

Unfortunately Helen had a crap day quilting and has to unpick alllllllllll the quilting she did yesterday! The above photo is a pile of my efforts so far.....

WIP Wednesday - Week 9 - Fingers in Pies....

Where to start for this weeks WIP! I have my fingers in lots of little pies at the moment. All at different stages, I'm flitting between one and the other.

I have made a dozen or so of these little mini scrap maverick stars. For a secret squirrel project...

And I also have this quilt top ready to be quilted. Another secret squirrel project that has to be on the other side of the country by the end of the month!

I got this quilt top from AJ a few weeks ago, she asked me to quilt it for her. She bribed me with fabric so what is a girl to say but yes! See AJ, I have started!! But I have run out of verigated thread to continue..... typical! Did go to Spotlight today to get some but their eftpos machines were down so it was cash only. I had to get some spray adhesive so the thread had to be put back on the counter. I'll try again later this week.

And look at this fabric! I have signed up for Chaletgirl's block swap. Check out the details here on flickr, I think she's still accepting people.

Grace's Merit Certificate!

We had a note come home earlier this week inviting us to come to the school assembly as Grace was getting a Merit Certificate!! I was so excitied when I read it but had to be cool as Grace had no idea what the note was about. I asked her, "do you know what this is for?" and her causal reply was "Oh something about the teacher telling us to invite our loved ones to the school assembly." So we all went up today to watch her! Being in year 1, their names are called out first, two kids per class get one. When her name was called, I saw her turn her head to her classmate as if to say "hey thats me?!" and then she got up, walked over to the Principle, shook his hand and stood in line with the rest of the kids.

It says: Grace completes all tasks quietly and efficiently, taking considerable pride in her work. An excellent start to Year one Grace!

Week 4 of Year one and a Merit Certificate already! I have my proud Mummy hat on today!

WIP Wednesday - Week 8 - Quilting Monochromatic!

I’ve put together the top for the monochromatic 4 Season’s Doll Quilt Swap this week. It has been hanging on the design wall just begging for 30 minutes of attention to do this! Started the quilting today, lots of turning around the wonky flowers and then I am thinking in the white, some stippling with little stars? And then in the main red area, swirly free motion quilting to suggest flames. That was my idea at the start of this project and then with the recent sad events in Victoria I thought hmmmm, maybe not?

Talking of bushfires, here is some binding ready to post to Tia for the Bushfire Quilts, just over 1,350 inches!

And sign ups for the flickr Dolls Quilt Swap Round 6 are now being taken here, if you want to play. I'm in, this is one of the best dolls quilt swaps around I think.

Grace's Rainbow Log Cabin Quilt Finished!

Mum came over on Thursday and I realized that she hadn't seen the Rainbow Log Cabin or as it is now known as, Grace's Rainbow Log Cabin Quilt, since we sandwiched it that day in the school holidays. And then I realized, I hadn't blogged it since I had finished it. So here we go, the largest quilt I have ever sewn and quilted is finished.

The finished size is 48 inches by 78 inches. I went through 3 and a half reels of 250 metre cotton thread for the meandering stippling, so about 1,750 metres of thread for the meandering stippling.....



I found it hard to photograph it flat. The above photo was taken standing on a little step ladder on top of a wooden blanket box and I still didn't get the angle right. I didn't dare lean over any further.

This is my favourite shot. She looks pretty pleased with her quilt. She likes laying on it and playing match the material, first she finds say a strip of orange with spots on it and then trys and finds a matching bit on the quilt somewhere. Kinda like eye spy with colours. She has slept under it every night since I put it on her bed which makes me feel like putting two thumbs up and going YESSSSSSS! I knew she was excitied at it being made but thought after a few days she'd request her doona cover back but nope! Guess I'm not that bad a Mum after all, hey Grace?

WIP Wednesday - Week 7 - Appliquing Birds.

I have been working on appliquing some birds the last few days. It's top secret though and I really shouldn't say anything till later on in the year. You know how it is....

To be honest though I don't really feel like saying anything about anything at all at the moment. Passing through a patch of silence. Grumpy silence more like it. Grace declared last night "I want a new, better Mummy than YOU!" Okay, swift kick back to reality there.

*Edited to add: the blanket stitch is done on my sewing machine, with normal gutterman thread. The tail, legs and eye are by hand with two strands of DMC thread.

More Bushfire Quilt Blocks.

I got these blocks finished over the weekend. Just have to pop them in an envelope and post to Tia.

Bushfire Quilt Blocks.

I finished these two blocks for the Bushfire Quilt Project we are working on. I say we, cause so many quilting bloggers have signed up, its fantastic! I decided to use up the little stars I made a few weeks back for the middle of these stars, it seemed fitting. Wonky but fitting. Happy star sewing everyone!

WIP Wednesday - Week 6 - Project Improv and Bushfire Quilt Project.

Well I finished my Project Improv blocks. All packaged up to post to Jacquie. Can't wait to see the magic happen as she sews them all together. I think my favourite is the top right one, I love that deep green Valori Wells fabric and the sharp point it goes up to on the left. It was fun mixing up designers, something I wouldn't normally do. And I mixed up my whites, spots with floral and stars..... Usually that would freak me and hunt down more of that fabric, but for this project, as was the whole idea of improvising, I let it go.

Like the rest of Australia and the world, we have been devasted, upset and saddened over the bushfires in Victoria. We had to turn off the telly on the weekend as the girls were watching and getting upset and starting to ask questions that I couldn't answer without getting upset myself. Just the comprehension of loosing everything, your house, friends and family members...... and how quickly it happened makes me cry. The news in the paper and online, the photos of heartache and loss makes your heart ache, everyone is just so sad even though we here are on the other side of the country. Grace's school is doing a fundraiser for icey poles tomorrow to raise money for the people affected. Her teacher has showed them the photo of the koala drinking water from the fireman..... The girls from my Mother's Group are quickly whipping up some boxes of non perishable food and toys for a convey that is heading over East. To help some how from far away.

Tia has had the fantastic idea of starting a group of flickr called Bush Fire Quilts up to make star blocks, to send to her so she can do her magic, assembling quilts to send over to those who have nothing left. 12.5 inches finished, white/cream/light background. All the details are over at the flickr group or on Tia's blog. Lets get sewing!

Pink & Purple D9P Finished.

I finished sewing down the binding for this quilt two hours before I got news that the baby was born. Great timing! Grace and I are going to visit this afternoon.

Just a simple Dissappearing 9 Patch, such an easy and effective block, love it. It all came together quickly after being a UFO for a year or so. I say UFO rather than WIP as it wasn't in progress at all.... Feels good to have another UFO out the sewing room. I still have enough blocks to make another of these which is on the list for the next girlfriend due.


I really enjoyed doing the quilting on this. 100% cotton, new needle and smooth stippling all the way, bliss! See the little lovehearts in the stippling? I did a darker pink over the D9P blocks and a light pink on the white.

WIP Wednesday - Week 5 - Grooving down with Project Improv

Yes, I know its Thursday and so I technically late with WIP Wednesday but was a bit busy in blog land yesterday, seeing dots and spots! I've been working on my Project Improv blocks. I can't do one, so I'm doing 4! Such fun to work on, I don't really know what the next border is going to be till I finish the previous one. I'm loving mixing up designers and ranges. A Kaffe with Amy Butler?? Is that allowed?!! In Project Improv land, the answer is yes, love it!




Well I closed the giveaway at a massive 212 comments!! Seems like lots of girls out there like spots and dots. Love a giveaway, always leads to discovering new blogs. I hope you all did the rounds and entered lots! I did! Checking my emails hourly to see if I won anything....

Speaking of winning, a big congrats to Selina! Random Org picked you as the lucky winner!! I'll email you now. Thanks everyone for playing, special big thanks to the amazing Katy who organized it all. We should do it all again soon, who needs the Global Recession when we can just have International Stash Give Away Day!