Hello from New Zealand

Hello and Merry Christmas from New Zealand.! I,e been here for just under a week and have been to 2 quilt shops. I had to buy something to play with so bought some hexagon papers and some 1930 fat 1/8ths and have been making some hexagons by HAND who would of thunk it !! Me doing something by hand .I have been with mum to a friends who has the most beautiful cottage and a garden to match.

Next Generation Quilt Frame

Here are pictures of the frame all together and with my Janome 6500 on it.

To Many Toys, Not enough Time.!

After the last Brisbane quilt show I managed to talk my Other half into letting me buy a Quilting frame, I have just bought the Next Generation Quilt Frame, I have put my 6500 on it but can already see I would be better off with just a straight stitch Machine. I will see how I go and might have to save my Pennies Next Year.

My daughter and I learn't a whole new language while trying to put it together .

Thanks Vanessa for coming to our rescue and helping me with the last part of putting the rollers on.

Time Fly's When your Having Fun !!

Well Time flys when your having fun !! I can't beleive I haven't written anything for a month! So what have I been up to ? Well the Feelin Groovy quilt has taken a back seat while I finish a few other things. I went to a Friend Julie Donovans Yearly retreat at Lake Moogerah.. Lots of fun lots of mossies and bugs and lots of sewing done. I made a nice quilted carry all out of my favourite blue and white fabrics.

This is lake Moogerah where we had the retreat we couldn't actually see this lovely view from where we were.

From This To......?

From This to the first 3 blocks

Feelin Groovy !!

Last week I spent 2 days at a Wendy Scott class learning how to do curved piecing. This is the quilt we are making. We used freezer paper to transfer our pattern pieces on to.

I am doing mine in brights you only got the pattern for the centre panel of 12 blocks and have to make your own for the outer border. ! I got almost 6 blocks done over the 2 days. I am meeting a few of the ladies tomorrow to do some more, so we can help each other if we get stuck.!

Snake man

This is the big carpet snake..... and our neighbour..... wouldn't him to eat my chickens !!

From This To......?

I am doing a class on Thursday, Friday, with Wendy Scott, with our Guild, It is called feelin Groovy It is all in Brights and curves and shapes, I have never done anything like this before. it has been fun putting all these bright colour fabrics together. I,ll post a progress photo on Thursday night.

Hydrangea quilt

I bought these beautiful Hydrangea Fabrics , thinking I would make a quilt for my Mother for Christmas, and her birthday, As we are going to N.Z to spend Christmas with her this year. I know she likes the fabrics.

I did not have a pattern in mind but while reading some Blogs as you do, I saw Lynnette from Gin Gin and her friends were all making the Rose Trellis quilt but in different fabrics and one of them was a similar fabric different colour,

I tracked down the pattern, and while at the retreat managed to get the top made, here is a picture of the top, Its blowing in the wind a little. I am still not sure how I will quilt it. I have the wadding and backing so will start to do it this week.

Baby Quilts

Several of my daughters, friends are having babies so I have had the usual requests, Mum doo you have anything for a baby shower, One friend they were so sure she was having a girl so I made this pretty pink shabby braid quilt. oops she had a Boy !! Lewis .

Well I had also made a yellow one .....but they weren't sure so while at the Retreat I made a cute Teddy Panel up, I quilted free motion around all the pattern on the panel, The girls think that is the one she will choose.

Quilt Retreat Fun.!

I've just come back from a 5 dau U F O Retreat, Well I did finish 1 U F O a pretty table runner , I started this one last Christmas, now I have to finish the table cloth to go with it.!

Beading Is fun

And also frustrating, I was lucky enough to attend one of Lisa Walton's beading classes, at Patchwork Pantry, On the Gold Coast. Lisa's work is just beautiful, Mine, well maybe with lots of practice one day I might make something nice at the moment its a W I P work in progress lots of half finished bits.!

Individual A T C 'S

I'll add photo's of some close ups so you can hopefully see the details.

Artist Trading Cards Fabric

These little cards are the first items I made with the Xpressions Embellisher, I was trying out different ways of using the machine, I had watched the video that came with it , and just got out all my bits and pieces and played. It is really interesting the different effects you can get, with different base fabrics waddings etc.

My New Toy

Well a Girl has to have New toy's too ! I bought myself a Janome xpressions Felting Machine and it is fun making up little cards etc. It has a 5 needle unit that punches fibres and threads and wool rovings etc to either make felt or to embellish . It's fun

INCHIES !!!

Inchies, What is an Inchie, One of my Yahoo groups Aus-NZArt quilters had an inchie swap, we all made 7 sets of nine one inch little squares, These are the 6 sets plus my own, and one from Kathyrn, who organized the swap, displayed together, I mixed them up and love how they all look together. The theme was just BLUE . I will probably fix them to the background and put them in a frame. Aren't they cute .!!

I'ts been a while !

Gosh I couldn't beleive the date of my last blog entry, I have had a few hiccups, to say the least. I hurt my back getting out of the car ! Ended up In Hospital for 2 weeks , Had a Lumbar Disectomy OUCH! I am slowly getting back to some quilting. I am involved in a swap On the QDu group, we have a Secret Sister who we made a santa sack for , now I know who I am sending to but I don't know who is sending to me ! She wants to know what sort of Miniatures i collect so SCSS# 19 this is for you !

Look What's new!

Today I finished a New Sewing Machine cover.A yahoo group I am on Had a Sewing Bee, It was to get us all motivated, even though we can't get together and sew in a group, The goal was to have a sewing bee and make a Machine cover. The day was Thursday and I actually cut it out and did some machine embroidery and then well Life got in the way, till today so I finished it and am pleased with the results. I practised my free motion quilting too and it Fits !

Busy Busy Busy

The last couple of weeks have been busy ones, I had to look after Dylan the Villian ! for nearly 2 weeks. His Mummy ran away to Vanuatu to get married. Everything went really well and it looked nice in the Photo's. I could have gone too But C didn't want to as We are going to Tasmania On the 30th of March.

Post Cards for Me !

I have received lots of Post Cards Since I started making and sending them, Its fun.

But wait There is More Postcards that is

Everyday I receive and send new Post Cards. Un fortunatly My picture taking skill leave a little to be desired . This a few of the cards I have recently made The Corsets were for an Ooh La La swap with fabricards .

Bitten By The PostCard Bug!!

Well a few weeks ago I was introduced to fabric postcards. I joined a couple of online groups and have been making cards to themes chosen, and swapping with somelovely girls and guys from the Usa and England and Australia.
It is giving me the oportunity to try new techniques and practise free motion quilting.