New Computer = lots of time to set it Up.!

Well after a 2 week holiday in Melbourne, a great time At the golf to See Tiger Woods with 19,999 others, and not sewing a single stitch.! I’m home to a new computer……Vista  which is a bit different. (waiting for my windows 7 upgrade to come.). It has taken me most of this week and $110.00 to a techie to get everything to work. I could not download, turned out tobe a huge conflict with Norton’s so that is gone…. new anti virus now installed.!

So I will show you a few photo’s of our trip,

We travelled down with the caravan via Goondiwindi,  Dubbo,Shepparton,Where I met Up with Jan Mac and passed on a huge Box of donations and stuff from my sewing room cleanout for her charity and bushfire quilts.

This is a storm we met just over Cunningham’s Gap and not quite to Warick. We stopped it was so dark, by stopping for 15 mins we managed to miss the worst of it lots of Hail on the sides of the road when we did get going again.

After we left the storm behind it looked like a lovely sunset coming up.? It was only 4.00pm. We think it was smoke blocking out the sun, which just became a bright orange ball  in the sky.

You can see from this how high the sun still was in the sky.

I love this one, I stopped to take this one the previous were taken from the car window.

The wheat fields were endless the colour amazing.

Not sure if you can see the massive Hay bales or rolls.

Our home on wheels.!

 

Jelly Bean and strawberry cows in Shepparton.

My Week Of Stitching....

Well a couple of days anyway, I spent Tuesday At a class organised by our Guild With Kerry from Tulis Textiles in New Zealand. She has the most beautiful Batik fabrics from Bali.

The class was using jelly rolls , and Drunkards Path Templates. A Lovely pile of rainbow Jelly Roll strips.

Strips sewn together

Shapes cut and sewn from Drunkards Path Template These were 8" blocks  the ones bottom left are 4" which 4 of then make up one block. The idea is to do these in all sorts of different combinations and play on the design wall till you get a layout you like. You then end up with circles running through the quilt.

This excercise was to set in a circle the coloured one then it was cut and another circle cut from the piece and another background colour circle put back in I will then add  further circles to this.  It was a fun class.

I also did a bit more on the challenge quilt and am trying to prepare some hand sewing to take with  me next week when we head off to Melbourne for a couple of weeks. We are taking the van and  taking a few days to get down there and DH is off to see Tiger Woods Play, I will go for one day and then am meeting friends who are also going down to go quilt shop hopping on the Friday. Fun Fun Fun.

Flaunt for Friday

I haven't flaunted for the last 2 Friday's as what I have mostly been working on, Is a challenge quilt for my Sewing Sisters group so no pictures of that till after 8th Of Dec I still have a way to go.

Iv'e started a new quilt called the Farmers Wife and at this stage am doing block of the week with a yahoo group. so I have done 4 blocks. It is a sampler quilt and the blocks are 6.5 inch so a bit bigger than dear jane which I am still doing as well.  These are the  four blocks I have done so far .

These are a couple of dear jane blocks I did

And whats wrong with this picture

Well Nothing really apart from the fact The fat cat Kimba is sitting in the box with my Dear jane Blocks. This cat weighs 6.5 Kg so its a tight fit. Naughty pussy cat.... cute tho.

Yesterday I went to Brisbane stitches and craft show , Lots of lovely eye candy and some amazing quilts in the Queensland Quilt show. I bought some things = Bali Jelly roll and fabric for a class we are doing with the Gold Coast Quilt Guild next Tuesday, also some new scissors, and a gorgeous pattern called Fancy Pants for Miss Talula.

This afternoon I made up the pants and will try and finish the Top that goes with them tomorrow, but I have to do house work this weekend YUK visitors  from New Zealand next week.! How cute are these .! I made size 12 months , as I made a size one dress from the same company last year and it still dosn't fit her and she is 17 months..... but they look small. Oh well I may have to make some more.!  Fancy Pants is the name of the pattern.!

Another Friday Flaunt

This week I have finished a Stable Bag, this one is for a friend of my Daughters, Very Neutral colours but Has come out quite Nice Lots of Pockets and Heaps of room inside.

I also made some Glasses Cases out of My favourite Kaffe Fabrics

 

 

Nice to keep your Sunnies and glasses from getting scratched in your Handbag

And then I was browsing some blogs as you do when I came across a pattern for a cute little pin cushion  so bought the pattern, It came yesterday so I have made one to try it out.!

A little Apple, almost too cute to put pin's in !

The pattern came from www.craftapalooza.com  In W.A Nice easy to follow directions.!

I also did a swap block, No photo of that its gone in the post. And I'm still sewing a binding  on the Caravan quilt.!

And this is my new helper in the sewing room.

This is Stitch.! he is now 7 weeks old, Iv'e had him for 2 weeks and he is still being spoon fed, so he is very tame, Not sure how I am supposed to get him to eat seed. He is picking at it but not much.!

What I have bought this week.!

A couple of things to show off, First a new book which may mean a new Quilt. I heard about a new book The Farmers Wife It was a Contest in the 1920's asking Farmers Wives if they would want there Daughter to Marry a Farmer. There are 111 6" blocks and pictures  to follow. The letters are great reading.

It comes with a CD which has the template patterns on it.

A picture of the quilt  from the book.

I'm thinking of using these fabrics for my quilt.

 

They are 1930'3 Lil Darlings well thats what I will start with as there are lots of other 1930's I can add as I go.!

Whoops I'm late

Well better late than never, a quiet but busy week, a little sewing, Our guild had a sale day so I was trying to finish a few of the little zippered bags I make, and also tried a pattern for a little lunch sack come gift bag , they are quite cute and would make a nice gift with something in them.

I also made another 2 or 3 sweet treats bags

This one out of kaffe Fabric, still needs a button.!

More Little Lunch Sack Gift bags .

Ive also been doing the binding on my Posh quilt, and I now have more Kaffe Fasset lights to make the Kaffe Quilt bigger.

Some of the other bags I forgot to take photos and now they have gone. I also did a couple of Jane blocks but no photos of them either ....

Another week another Friday.!

Well I came home on Wednesday after 4 lovely days of fun, eating, laughing, talking and some stitching, with a group of 20 ladies at Coolum,I decided to start a new project even though we call it a      

UFO Retreat.  I took my collection Of Kaffe Fasset fabrics and made a Turning Twenty with a Twist Quilt well the rows are done but I have decided to make it bigger so had to wait for some morelight coloured fabrics, they came today so now I can finish it. These are some of the fabrics The blocks before I cut them The rows laid out on the floor, I have decided to add another row to make it wider. Out of some of the scraps came this little Sweet Treats Bag.

I also made a little zippered pocket drive or Nintendo bag but I haven't got a photo will add one tomorrow.  Also did some Jane blocks , and another Stable Bag that is waiting for it's Handle and cord.!

Also need to have a brag and flaunt of my little grandaughter who is now walking  and very cute . Miss Talula, I have some more pics I'll add tomorrow as they are in the lap top.!

Late Friday Flaunt

  Well its early Saturday morning and after a busy week am now relaxing at Coolum 20  Girls 5 days of stitching No cooking cleaning  or men allowed. Had a fantastic Baked Italian chicken and veges For dinner followed by orange and almond slice for me (gluten free.!)

This last week I finished a big baby bag, which the reipient was thrilled with and I did a matching bib.

I also quilted 2 quilts on the frame, the  first one belongs to a friend who gave it to me to practise on about 18 months ago.!! Well i did it for her as she is here at Coolum this weekend. She loved it Its a very pretty quilt a big Lap size

Tis one is for our caravan, made from Fran' From Tasmania's instructions . We made these tops at the last retreat her I still have to bind it and the decision last night to bind it in a dark Red.

This is   about queen size  I love this fabric Chez Mois Posh by Moda. I will put it in the caravan.!

Its beautiful up here and we can see the Ocean and its a glorious morning. lets hope lots of sewing gets done.!

Friday Flaunt.!

Well this week Iv'e been shopping, and stitching,  I made this little bag from a Moda Aviary sweet roll, Like a jelly roll but only 1.5 inch wide, I have enough for 3 more of these from the same roll.It's quite clever as the outside becomes the inside so it's all nice and neat, a nice makeup bag, or sewing kit, or... what ever you want.! 

Ive also spent a couple of days working on some challenge blocks for My Sewing Sister's group. We meet once a week and often have projects we all do, this one we were given a swatch of fabric and we had to use the red colour and as many of the other colours as we chose to do 10 blocks all of contrary wife, now we all get one from each other and have to have a quilt completed by December, It is amazing how different everyones blocks are.

These are my blocks . Next week after I get the others back I'll show you a photo of them all.

I've Been Shopping

This week I went with friends  to Quilters store In Brisbane, and Peppermint Stitches at Toowong, So much fabric to choose from I bought a few delicous Kaffe Fasset Fat 1/4's and some yardage for a border, this is what I bought...

I have a pattern for a Kaffe Fasset Quilt I like . Its actually a from one of the newer Turning Twenty Books, I might start this when I go to a Retreat next Friday....

 

These ones are for a bag...

This is my 46 Kaffe Fasset Fat 1/4 collection..yummm

Hmm watch this space.........

I also bought a few kiddie prints for the 2 little people in my life.

Nice little boy prints. and  for a little princess.!

Better Late Than Never.

Ok I'm late but I'm not at home We are up at Moore Park beach where we have bought a 5 acre block of land for our retirement in a few years. anyway last weekend I did the best class ever with Helen Godden She called it Pablo meets Picaso, we had to draw  our picture a still life fom cards or magazine etc. drew it the size of a card then about A3 size  then drew this on to calico  We then used the Genis paints to paint it and added raw e4dge applique as well.

These are my drawings........

 

First part of painting After adding applique and painting the border, 'Ive started quilting and love how its looking...  Next week I should have more photos ..

Ive also been doing some challenge blocks  for my sewing sisters group, I have to have those finished by the 8th Sept  thats Monday's job.

It's Friday again.!!

Well another week has gone.! Iv'e been busy doing other stuff this week , but still managed a little stitching.

Iv'e been working on some Pieces from A Vikki Pignatelli class I did a couple of months ago, well this 1st one was from the class. It's a technique that is an easy way of doing curves and you use a blind hem stitch to tack it all down.

I really have  trouble with NOT being monochromatic. I love colour but I just seem to want everything to blend...... This one  I have a few more angles in now could I join these two together .????

I have also done a  Dear Jane block .

 

This One is Berry Basket..

Now this is a flaunt but not my work.!

Susan Moore from W A asked me for some Rose fabric scraps, for a siggy quilt she was making and suggested in return I send her some of my Dear Jane Back ground fabric and she would do me a few Dear Jane blocks , This is what I got back . They are just beautiful, Susan's work is just so lovely. Thank you again Susan. The photos just do not do these justice .!  I think I now have 45 blocks finished.

The Postman came this week.

When I checked my Post this week I found a Parcel. I wasn't expecting anything so Hmmm I wonder what it is ???? I opened the Parcel to find the most Lovely Shabby Chic Bag FOR ME.... A while back I entered a giveaway on Linda Bosworths Blog  for PAY IT FORWARD, which means She has sent me something really nice and now I will do the same ... so leave a comment on this post and after a week or so I will pick 3  people to pay it forward. This is the bag I got from Linda

  I Love the handles and the colours  Don't forget leave a comment and  you could be the lucky one to Pay It Forward.!

What I have done this week !!

Well my Friday flaunt is a little late due to the Migraine from hell yesterday.!

This week Sewing Sisters day was at My place so we went out into the sunshine and played with various sorts of dyes. What fun and we didn't have to worry about mess as I have a gravel drive way so that was good too. Here is a few photos of some of our efforts. We tried dying felt with really good results.

Variuos fabrics and colours curing. Cram Jar with three colours

All in all it was interesting we used Procion and Genesis, dyes The Genesis was easy to use and not toxic. we got a big range of coulours from those little bottles. Really looking forward to a class I am doing with Helen Godden, Called Helen meets Pablo using still life  pictures etc  and Genesis colours etc.

Baby Bibbies !!

I also spent some time making some lovely  Quilted Baby Bibs, When My daughter was here a few weeks ago she didn't have any Bibs that covered her daughters,  nice outfits so I made one up. They look nice but are practical too.!  Everyone loves them so I have made some more to put on our Guild sale day table. I just have to put those little snaps on them.

Friday Flaunt.!!

Well this last week has gone very fast, but I do have something to show for it.  I finished a baby bag I started the week before. This is a nice big one made from Charm squares, the design is Funny Babies By Amy Bradley for Moda.

  I also quilted this quilt for Our weekly group the Sew Crazy Quilters, It is a good size Lap quilt, It doesn't have a binding yet, someone else will do that.  A close up of the quilting....

I also finished this quilt top I had done the centre already a slash my stash, from 4 fat 1/4's I t will make a nice baby quilt, Or floor play quilt. Baby  Quilt ,   ......

I also  went to my other weekly group Sewing Sisters and have started a quilt for Charity, Probablly the Leukemia Foundation from Birdie By Moda, Donateed by Linda from  www.fabricpatch.com.au   Sharron and I got most of the rows done  from blocks made from a jelly roll and the layer cake. I'll see how far I get with it this week and put photos up next week. !

Project for the Friday Flaunters

Iv'e been quilting !  So I can flaunt it .!

Well after talking about it,  family visits and a bad dose of the flu, I finally got around to putting a quilt on the frame, I just did an all over meander, and it is surprising how nice it can look, This is a quilt from a weekly group I go to , The Sew Crazy Quilter's We make several quilts a year that are donated to a women's  refuge, this is one of them. I never took a photo of it finished but here it is on the frame.

I did also start a Baby Bag a swap block was finished, and a couple of Dear Jane Blocks, I will post photos later.

More Bags !

Here are some more bags the other girls at the retreat made.

These are the Big Zippered Carry Bags .

 

Lots  of Charm Square Totes.

Hope they are not all travelling together.!

Update on my Sewing and Quilting

Well another reason for non blogging was I organised a retreat, which has now been and gone.! but it was very productive for all who went. We made bags and more bags and several lovely jelly roll quilt tops were finished. This is a lovely big bag made from charm squares, we also used a stiffer wadding, which gives the bag good stability. I now have this for sale.! the wadding that is.!

This is My jelly roll quilt I used Moda Natures Chorus and added borders. I will quilt this in a week or so when My visitors go home.!

My visit to New Zealand....

I'm Back.!!!!!!!!!

Well has it really been nearly 2 months since I did a blog post, Oh dear where has time go .?? Well I went  to New Zealand  so here are a couple of photos of a lovely autumn spent there. Beautiful Colours of the Leaves on the trees

 

Mandarin's on  My Mum's tree

Dahlia's in the Garden

Lemon and Paeroa, a yummy Lemon flavoured soft drink

Mum lives in Paeroa in the North Island the home of L & P as we called it when kid's.

STILL STITCHING

At least you can still sew when it's raining .!!

Ive shown my sister how to make these little zippered bags, I sew the zip in by hand but she managed to come up with a way to put it in by machine. Susan made this one !

Yellow and blue a nice combinationPretty in Pink I think it's an Amy Butler.

The Bag on the left is a Hum Bug shape quite cute, I was sent a little one in a secret sister swap and worked out how to make it. Thanks Sue.!