Christmas Table Runner #2 and #3 finished....

I have finished two of the table runners for the girls teachers Christmas pressies. The end of the term is sneeking up on us!

I think this one is my favourite so far. This is the back. The binding was picked out by Ads and Emma on a recent Adelaide shopping spree!

And another from the same Twiddletails pattern.

And the back again. I used a Micheal Miller daisy vine print that I have had for years and wondered if I would ever use it! I now have half a meter left! Actually these runners have been great for stash busting, haven't brought any new fabrics to make them.

And this is where I am up to on runner #4. Sewing down the binding. My arm has been aching as it did here. I am recognizing that this happens when I have done too much. Too much mouse clicking, to much hand sewing, too much bauble writing. I am about to give up the least important thing, the bauble writing! Yahh!

Lynn's Blocks.

Another round of blocks for Around The Block. These are for Lynn. She requested zig zags. I hope these fit the bill Lynn!

If you love a good Flea Market Fancy Giveway, check out here.

Chaletgirl Block Swap Quilt being Quilted!

Well I finished the top for Chaletgirl Block Swap last month here, and took it up to Mum's to pin on her frame. She finally bit the bullet and brought a new machine for the frame, one with a big throat! The Janome 1600 Professional. This was the first time I got to use it!

I don't know if it was just getting used to a new machine, or cause I haven't done any machine quilting on the frame for over a month, but I found the flow of stitches to be jerky in places. Once you got the speed up and into the flow it was good, just had to get there..... I think that is just practice, if you were doing it everyday there wouldn't be that factor. But because in some area's there are sharp curves and sudden changes of direction, I don't know if I'll give it to my Mother In Law now. I used a dark to light pink verigated cotton which probably wasn't the best choice as in places the wonky quilting stands out. In hind sight a lighter pink would have been better.

For this quilt I sewed a 2 and a half inch strip to the top and bottom of the quilt top. So I could quilt up to the edge. When it is pinned on you loose about an inch of quilting space. I wanted to do swirls and loops to the edge.

It does look great spread out though. So another quilt for the girls bed? I'll do the binding and then make the final decision.

Christmas Table Runner #3..... Sandwiched!

I have an outdoor studio today! Used the outdoor table to sandwich Christmas Table Runner #3. Made a change from doing it on the floor.

Here it is all quilted, ready to be trimmed and the binding on. This one is for Matilda's other teacher. She has two teachers, one for Monday and one for Tuesday! I noticed the other week that this teacher had a stylized rose print similar to the black print third from the top, on the hem of her skirt. So thought I would match this runner to her taste? I don't know! It's hard to guess what they would actually like, I can't go in and quiz them, do you like brights? Amy Butlers new range? Log cabin or bento box?? So I am making things I hope they will like.

Christmas Runner #1 Finished!

Watched Miss Austen Regrets tonight on the ABC and finished sewing down the binding of the first of the Christmas Runners. This one is for Milly's teacher Miss B, she announced at the parents info morning back in term one, that she just adored Christmas! So perfect for her, I hope.

I went for the green in the end. I used some of my Soiree by Lila Tueller for the backing. Next!

Highlights Quilt Finished!

I have finished sewing down the binding and sewing on the label to the quilt that is known as the Highlights Quilt. It is so massive, 230 cms square massive to be exact, I struggled to get all of it in a photo. Had to take it up to the folks house and drape it over the pergola and even then I didn't get it all in. So above is the artistically hanging shot.....

And here it is hanging. I am missing a good 30cms from the photo as its drapped over the top, but its the best I could get and I'm sure you get the idea.

And here is the back.

And the label. It is our quilt, for our bed. After how many years I finally have a quilt I made on the bed! Started back here in April, finished in November. It is so nice to snuggle underneath. We are in a pokey little bedroom in this house so I won't post photos on the www of it on our bed just yet. ;)

Christmas Table Runner #2 - Twiddletails Denyse Schmidt!-

Well I have got the binding sewn on for Christmas Table Runner #1 and so it was time to turn my attention to Christmas Table Runner #2! Something a bit more funkier for this one. I have raided the Denyse Schmidt stash and found my copy of the wonderful Twiddletails pattern. You can find a PDF copy of her pattern here. I have made this pattern before, here. Honestly it takes more time to ponder over the fabric choice than to sew, nice and simple which is what I need as although I may seem like on a roll with the Christmas Table Runners, I'm not at the halfway point in the list to complete yet....

But today was productive, I cut, sewed together and have it all ready sandwiched ready to go for tomorrow! Just planning on doing a straight stitch 1/4th an inch on each side of the seam.

EB DQS #3 Received from Lily.

Well today was the opening day for the 3rd Annual EB Quilters Dolls Quilt Swap. I was the lucky girl to receive this stunning beauty from the talented Lily. She has taken all my likes and combined them in one beautiful quilt. I love brights, I love white, I love wonky houses, just perfect!

Here is the house....

A detail of the amazing quilting. The stitches are so perfect!

A butterfly is just flying by.

And the back is as perfect as the front!

Lily was also sweet enough to include a pin cushion made by her, stuffed by her daughter! One of my daughters has claimed it as a new pillow for Barbie's head! I'll let her play with it for a few days and then nick it back for it's real purpose!

Thanks so much Lily, I love my new quilt! It is just lovely. I am very lucky. :)

Christmas Tablerunner Progress...

I have quilted the first of the runners. Just an all over stipple, nothing fancy, no flowers or loopy swirls, just a good old stipple! I ended up using a verigated green, both on the front and back.

So now I am ready to bind this one and am unsure which would be the best colour. This photo isn't the best, sometimes seeing a photo really makes the choice easier..... I love the greens as there is little bits of dark green in some of the holly leaves, so that would be a good match even though it is not "Christmas material" But I don't have enough, going to raid Mum's stash over the weekend and see if she has anything similar or even one of these prints as its a dull dark green, not in my usual palette! The reds are deep and rich with little tone on tone motifs, again not Christmas related. I have plenty of each colour, just pondering if it will make the red zig zag in the middle too bold? Thoughts dear blog readers?

WIP Wednesday - Zig Zag Runner

Christmas is coming and I need to make some table runners for presents. So I need quick and simple designs! I got out a Moda charm pack called Christmas Past purchased back here with the best of intentions, but it has sat in the bottom drawer of my stash since then. Just over 2 years ago, how is that for stash busting??!

I paired them up, one light with one dark, pinned them together, drew a diagonal line on the back, sewed 1/4th an inch down each side of the line then sliced in half to make a square out of two half triangles. No photos of that as I was on a roll! So with 28 squares, how to lay it out?

This was my first layout.... but I didn't like that I had four blocks left over and the brown triangles making the background when the rest was white? Naaa, that's not going to work.

Then I went for zig zags, hmmmmm, not bad! Possibilities....

But then just to see what else was possible, I did some pinwheels which I admit I do love but again, one block left over. Suppose I could put it on the back but I want the runner to be as big as possible.

So I went for the zig zags. Easy and quick to sew together. I have the backing and pellon already cut, ready to sandwich and then quilt. I think I might try out the red of this thread. Or maybe the green. I have four runners to finish for Christmas so maybe I can try out both threads?!

Happy 5th Birthday Miss Matilda!

Our baby was 5 years old yesterday. 5 years ago since she was born. Her birth was an elective C section due to complications from Grace's birth, so I got to choose her birthday. I had about 4 different days to select from I remember and I picked the 1st of November, new month, new beginnings, a new life. This cheesy grin sums her up perfectly today! She is such a little character, a chatter box with a big heart, always ready with a smile and a kiss and cuddle for you. She loves colouring in and drawing especially, loves puzzles, swimming, watching Scooby Doo and following her big sister where ever she can.

Happy 5th Birthday Milly! We all love you very much and Mummy is really going to miss you when you go to school full time next year. It has been a fantastic first five years!

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!

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!

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.

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.....

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

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!

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!

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?