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.!

Hello From NZ.

Hello I'm in New Zealand.!! Ohhhh its a bit colder here than at home.!

Am visiting My Mum , and My sister Susan is here too. Chris has gone to Hamilton to the  V8 Super cars. I have found a cute Patchwork shop right here in town.!

OOh Yumm Mum's yummy Cream Puffs ..!! Chris is getting spoiled Bacon and eggs for breakfast and this was dessert last night. I told him not to get used to it cause it won't happen at home.!!

Big Carry Bag

My weekly group The Sewing Sisters Had a Bag Day Last week. Most of us started making this Lovely big zippered carry bag. I finished mine  today. The fabric is Barefoot Roses by Tanya Whelan for Grand Revival. Again it is the same range of the quilt I am doing, I just love it and its taken me a long time to actually cut into it.!

It's oh so Shabby Chic , My favourite colours and style. The zipper I used is 22 inch so that will give you some idea of size Its a pattern by Cindy taylor - Oates Easy to make Totes with zippers.

It Has a Pocket on the side and one on the end, I think the next one I will use a firmer wadding. A nice bag to take a quilt in, when you go off on retreat.

QUILT BLOCKS ALL DONE.

These are the blocks from Zu Zu's Petals quilt , Just need to join them together and decide on the borders. It is supposed to have a row of the little half square triangle right around but I don't think i have enough of the fabrics to do that.  Will have to think about it.

Mum can you make me a ......

My oldest Daughter came around on Sunday and asked for a Bag to put her Lap Top in. The one I gave her had no padding so she said why don't you make me a quilted thingy to cushion it so.......off I went to the sewing room an hour or so later this is what I came up with. The Lap top slips in then it goes inside the bag.   I put a button and loop on to hold it closed. I also used double wadding.  It is made from scraps from the quilt I am making.  She thought I could just use a couple of the blocks cause they were already done. I don't think so.!!  Might have to make another one for me now. !

Retreat Fun. !!!

Well aren't I the lucky one I was invited to attend a Retreat at Coolum with a bunch Of Fun Crazy ladies from Riverhead near Hervey Bay.!

I have started another quilt called Zu Zu's  Petals from Aunt Rosies Autumn Quilts book. I have actually used some of my HolyRoses Fabric's! A range called Barefoot Roses.By Tanya Whelan.Look at all these little 1/2 square triangles 256 1/2 square triangles " Now thats one way to wear them !

 

We found a couple of Patchwork shops , and a really nice studio that sells mostly Jelly Rolls and Cakes and charms. Well worth a visit. Have a look on line at www.fabricpatch.com.au

I'm up to 23 !!

I have now done 23 blocks on my Jane Journey, I still like the  foundation paper pieced ones the best, although I sometimes have to twist and turn all those bits to get the block back in the right place.! This one is D 8  Dee Dee's Delight all hand appliqued I am slowly learning how to get those points neater......

K 11 Columbine  this one was foundation paper. Real colour is much  brighter. These are both from my lovely swap fabrics. This one is A1 , a Nice green.! No I am not doing my blocks row by row, and I am not picking out all the easy ones either.

Next Post I will show you what I have been working on this week. I'ts nearly finished !!

Look what The Postman bought me !!

I  have had 2 nice parcels . A week or so ago I recieved a neat package from My Secret Pal, This is a swap on The Dear Jane list I am on. Every month for  a year our Pal sends us a package of goddies. I send one back to mine. I can't say where she is as she may read my blog.! This month I got these really nice D J Fabrics

I told my Pal I didn't like Icky greens, so she sent me greens so I could see not all greens are Icky, I love them and have already made 2 blocks with them.!

Today I recieved a package from Marianna B I sent Marianna a package of all the purples and pinks I started off my D J with, and now she has sent me back a wonderful package  of Pinks

Reds and browns and a few purples

Gorgeous Yellow's and orange to rusts....

Some Cheater pieces, So cute, I will make a little bag with these.!

I love them all and can't wait to make  D J blocks with them .!! Thank you So much  Marianna.!!

Kyle's Quilt. !!

At last I have finished Kyle's quilt, I made this at least 2 yrs ago.!!

I put it on the Next Generation Frame and quilted it with an allover design and some quilting to look like flames...... I am pretty pleased with how it has turned out.

Kyle's Motorbike quilt

A close up of the quilting. I bought this fabric while on holiday in hawaii over 3 yrs ago.!!

More Dear Jane.!! And Bush Fire Quilts !!

I have now done 21 Dear Jane Blocks, and am still enjoying it. As long as I do  1- 2 a week I am happy.

Some of these were much harder than others, I think My applique is improving.

I've also been busy with making blocks for quilts for the Bushfire Appeal.

I showed the ladies in one of my groups how to do the quilt as you go blocks and they are starting to come back to me now.

 

BUSH FIRE QUILT BLOCKS

These are all the lovely quilt as you go Blocks . I'll post these off and then I'll have time to do the quilting on the top's.

I will be posting off 2 big parcels tomorrow.

I have also had donations of fabrics for backings. Thanks Lisa (Megelles) and I have 1 quilt from Chris at Sew Crazy, and another from Gail McKenzie that I have to quilt and bind.

I also sewed up 20 blocks this afternoon from a bunch of I spy  blocks I have had in the cupboard for a while.