Sunday, March 25, 2012

A Baby Quilt Top.

I finished this quilt top last night. I am pleased with how it has turned out. The friend it was for is now having a girl, but I love how the way things turn out, just recieved news on Facebook that another friend has just had a baby boy, so I'll finish it and mail it her way.

Hindsight is always great.... I should have maybe moved the third row, second block in, to the left, so the orange is balanced out a bit more. But..... I always seem to sew them in the wrong layout anyway!

This is the back. All those loose threads, dark blue against white. Ekk, I'll have to cut them as they will show up. Wish I had some black batting!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

March Block Obligations Dusted!

I am finding I don't get much time to sew in the week. But I can stand at the sewing desk and cut. So this week I cut all these 2.5 inch squares for Ad's block for her round of the EB 2012 Quilting Bee. She requested Granny Squares.

They came together very quickly. It's going to look great when they are all put back together.

I also whipped up these two blocks for Karen. She wanted double four patch blocks for her 10 year old son. I dusted off the small seletion of brown, cream and black to sew these. Hope she likes them!

Monday, March 19, 2012

A Star Table Runner.

Is table runner two words or one? I finished this on the weekend. This is a detail of the back. I made one extra star for the back.

I added some extra stips and a fat quarter of a print in the same range. It measures 15 x 46 inches.

On the table in action. Can you spot the fault? No? Good, cause I'm not telling you!

The flat againt the door shot. Still not seeing that fault? Good! Next photo....

Just a simple stipple all over, easy, effective and fast quilting. This one is a "just because" present for a friend up here who has helped up recently with some teaching stuff for Grace. She is in her late 50's, the more subdued colour scheme will suit her house. You know what I mean!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Blue and Orange.

My friend who excitiedly told me a few weeks ago she was pregnant, has now told me that the ultrasound shows it is a girl! And here I am making a blue quilt! I am determined to finish this one before starting on a pink version. Having a baby quilt in the cupboard is always handy and I just have to finish things, don't like the idea of leaving these blocks in a zip lock bag for whenever.

So here are 24 sqaures trimmed down to 5 inches. It was going to be 5.5 inches but a few were too small and so rather than sew more to them, thought I'd just reduce the size. The fabric is all from the stash, haven't brought any fabric since the Christmas spree. I'm going to sash these with 1.5 inches of white and then either smaller squares around the edge or just crisp white. See how it looks.....

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Milly's Persuasive Argument!

Is Homework a Good Thing? by Millie Simpson

I believe that homework is absolutely fantastic becasue it can get your Mum and Dad's atenchen.

I think homework is really cool because you are learning and when you grow up you will probley be a teacher and how can you teach when you down't no eney thing?

I think homework is grat for kids because if you are learning it is verey good because it stops you from wouching T.V.

I totally absoluldy completely belive that evreyone should have homework.

There you go! No arguments from me on this one! Go Milly! The first merit certificate of the year. Congrats Milly Moo.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Another Tablerunner!

Have finished the top of this runner. I am impressed with how quickly it has come together but really it should come together quickly as its such a simple design! Still trying to find a place to photograph stuff in this new house. On the laundry door here!

I have it sandwiched, ready to quilt. Milly has been spending too much time on the wii this weekend, so I booted her off and she came and drew at the table while I pinned away.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Stars, stars, stars!

I finished these on the weekend. It was a three day weekend, so I got a lot done! Wouldn't it be nice if every weekend was a long weekend?

So these stars are for AJ. After I completely stuffed up the first lot of material she gave me with these odd looking stars! These ones look much better, I am sure she will like these better!

She sent me enough for three blocks which was very nice of her!

And she inspired me to make this star block. It is the start of guess what? Another table runner! I'm using from the stash a Kona solid called Honey Dew and the prints are from a range called Filigree which I brought mid last year and have sat in the green drawer since then. It feels good to be using from the stash.

Monday, March 05, 2012

The Orange Runner Finished!

I made the deadline! Had a binding issue as I didn't have enough of that deep orange, so had to break it up with some spots. It measures approximately 30cms x 80cms.

I peiced the backing too. I'm hoping she likes it as she didn't open it there and then..... guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Sunday, March 04, 2012

The Orange Runner.

Okay, the challenge of sewing a table runner in 5 days... easy! I knew the birthday girl who it is intended for likes orange and I knew it had to be a quick design, so I selected some orange fabrics and made these little squares. The brown peice of paper underneath had a rough sketch on it of how many squares, their position and size. Once they were made, then I added the orange to the sides of each square.

And then more orange to the top and bottom to join them all up and I got this!

Let the quilting beginning! I popped the ipod on to ignore any demands by the children as I have till 6 tonight to have the binding on, label, wrapped and the card written! Time to stop blogging and get back to it!

Friday, March 02, 2012

The New Boat!

Great excitment yesterday. We picked up our brand new boat!

Daz has been doing the research for the last 12 months, we looked in Perth when we were down for Christmas and last year when up in Darwin, so it hasn't been a snap decision! We had a "what are we waiting for?" moment the other week, took it for a test drive last weekend and well the rest is history now!!

Yesterday we picked it up and had a drive out on the Lake. It got the thumbs up from Grace.

We drove past Elephant Rock. Can you see why it is named that?

It is so lovely being out on the water. It is a long weekend here in Western Australia, think we may be taking the boat out!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A Christmas Tablerunner!

I finished sewing the binding down on this last night. So in the second month of the year I have completed one Christmas present! Wohoooo!

It measures 23 by 45 inches.

And for the back I didn't quite have enough green, so added a strip of red. No idea who it is for, I'll just fold it in the cupboard for 10 months now! A friend is turning 27 on Monday and I am inspired to whip her up a table runner now, 5 nights, can I do it? Enough time blogging, time to get sewing!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

A New Baby Quilt.

A friend at school this week announced she is pregnant. She had been away sick Monday and Tuesday and when I saw her Wednesday I asked if she was okay, she smiled shyly and said "I'm 4 months pregnant" I shreiked with joy, hugged her and started to get teary. I think her road to this baby has been difficult, I am so happy for her! So this morning I started making a quilt for the baby. Half of the blue about is from my scrap bucket, I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, was thinking about a rainbow colour theme to cover my bases, but then thought nope, I'll just make two, one blue and one pinkish.

Here are the first six blocks. I'm going to go for squares within squares, as usual maybe, but I love sewing them! Six rows of four blocks, sashed with white, sort of a smaller version of this Blue Squares quilt, one of my favourite quilts I have ever made. Maybe just a hint of orange this time.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Liberated Wedding Rings.

I am on a roll with my block commitments at the moment. Or rather I am late and catching up with blocks! These two are for Sarah who requested liberated wedding rings in aqua, blue, green and a splash of black and white.

They were really fun to sew. Now just waiting of AJ's parcel of white squares to arrive so I can redo her stars then I am on track for March.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Starting Early!

2012 is the year of the table runner in my house and I am starting the Christmas presents extra early this year! I recieved for Christmas just gone, a set of Christmassy themed charm squares from my sister and so what better to sew a table runner from them? On the weekend I was surfing the net looking for inspiration for a quilt I may be designing for a friend ( I say may cause I haven't said yes yet. When does one take the leap from sewing to give away and sewing for a commission??). Anyway, I came across this tutorial here for Charmed Whirlygig's which got me reaching for my stash of white tone on tone and cutting up squares. It all came together very quickly.

I only used 36 charm squares, I have enough left to make another. So here we are ready to sandwich on the weekend and do a quick stipple, bind and then next!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Baskets for Anita.

I'm continuing with my block swap commitments this weekend. These baskets are for the January round of a block swap on flickr. Anita asked for baskets, with a splash of colour on a neutral background. Hopefully I have followed the instructions on these as after posting AJ's blocks up on Facebook yesterday, she quickly pointed out they were WRONG! Classic! So I have to remake her's.....

Here are some that Anita has got back already. Looks great!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Maverick Stars for AJ

I have taken the dust cover off my sewing machine and actually sewed this morning!! It has been awhile...... Thought I would ease myself into it by sewing these two blocks for a sewing bee I am in. These are for AJ who requested Maverick Stars.

I love sewing stars! So now to turn my attention to the other bee which is being run by some flickr quilting buddies, I have to sew two baskets. I have had the fabric selected and sitting on the sewing desk here but the thought of cutting a handle on a curve is sending shivers of dread down my spine! Toughen up Helen, you can do this, you are late with this block already!

Monday, February 06, 2012

Gone Fishing!

We interupted all plans of a sewing Sunday yesterday to go fishing with friends on the King River. Worth it as Grace proudly caught her first barramundi. 61cms, 3cms longer than Darren's 58cm catch! Go Gracie!!

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Back to School!

Back to school today for the girls. It has been a long, busy and exciting holiday, nice to get back into some routine. Milly is in year 2 this year and Grace is in year 4. Their hair braids are coming out this weekend, we were waiting to go back to school to show them off before taking them out!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Rainbow Squares Photographed.

While doing my 2011 Quilt Review on the weekend, I realized that I didn't have any photos of this quilt finished. So I went outside and took some, its big, queen sized.

I love the back as much as the front!

We have just moved house, I have a real Hills Hoist clothes line in my back yard! I wound it all the way to the top but it still wasn't high enough for this quilt to hang.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Beautiful Bali.

Daz and I are back to school tomorrow, the girls start on Wednesday so today is officially the last day of holidays. Thought I would share some snaps taken at Bali. We had an amazing time. So many West Australian's holiday in Bali because it is so close and so cheap, but this was my first trip. Daz has been before when he was straight out of high school with a group of graduating friends and doesn't remember much of that trip, this one was much different!

We stayed at a hotel in Nusa Dua called the Melia. The grounds were amazingly beautiful.

This was the view from the end of our corridor. This pool was private access only for the rooms on the bottom floor. You could swim from your verandah!! Next time we are staying in those rooms!

This was our daily view going to breakfast.

We had breakfast every morning at the hotel, buffet style, every single breakfast food you can imagine! Daz and I had omlettes made fresh for us, Milly had pikelets made for her. Both girls ate their body weight in watermelon each morning. Fresh pineapple juice and chicken noodle soup for me.

This man played this type of bamboo xyolophone every morning throughout breakfast. He always had a smile on his face and would nod hello. When a child approached he would switch from traditional Baliness tunes to Mary Had a Little Lamb. Milly loved it.

Daz's first bintang beer and nasi goring. I think we had been at the hotel for an hour when this shot was taken!

We stayed at the hotel mainly but did venture out a few times. We spent a day at Waterbom Park which was just awesome! Here is Grace being brave on the bungie jump thing.

Chips Waterbom Park style, served in a wooden cup with the sauce in a handmade coconut leaf basket! Love it!

Another outing we went to the Bali Safari and Marine Park. We rode a camel and also rode an elephant but I was so focused on hanging on I didn't take my camera on that ride and now of course I wish I did!

We had our photo taken with a baby orangutan also at the Safari Park. Her name was Chloe. The girls were trilled to touch a real orangutan.

Back at the hotel.... Kids Club was optional, Grace was so against going but of course when she got there, she loved it! They did things like crab catching at the beach, sand castle making and visiting a temple within the hotel grounds.

Dress up Bali style.

We had the traditional buffet one night for tea at the hotel. This was the fruit display at one end, on the side, behind this display was the real fruit to eat. We particularly loved the watermelon face here!

With the dancers after dinner.

My first of many pina colada's of the holiday! Happy hour was from 5 till 7, buy one get one free!!

This was my view poolside most days! I did go for a swim sometimes, but reading and people watching was just as much fun.

The girls had their hair braided on the beach. It took 3 ladies an hour to do Grace's hair. She was in tears the whole time. "It hurts Mummy!" But as soon as the last bead was put in, all the pain was forgotten. And now three weeks later as I write this post, both the girls still have the braids in!

"Mum we can't stand in the middle of the road!" On our last day there we walked 5 minutes down the road to a big shopping area called the Bali Collection to get the usual cheap dvd's and sarongs. It was a fantastic holiday, we all had an awesome time. The right mix of hanging by the pool and going out. It was perfect, I can't wait to go back!