Keeping Out Of Trouble Part 2....

I was asked to make a special gift for a special Dad for Father's Day this year, and I couldn't refuse! 

It started with "I'd love to buy a hexie brooch off you" and "Do you have any blokey fabric in your stash?" and a deal was done! (I'm cheap sometimes...hehe)

Surprisingly (or not if you've ever seen my stash) I had it all in there. I added some Curlypops fabric, of course! Also a mix of quilting cottons and thin to thick corduroy. For some reason I wanted texture in this quilt! (I had free reign, but checked in regularly with Cam).

  

there was cutting, sewing and basting....

 and the quilting. I was with outlining all the squares, and then some diagonal lines. I had heard of and been recommended to try the quilter's gloves, and luckily Coles has the Ansell brand of gloves that worked a treat. (If you click on the link, just add 'quilting' to the uses haha). In case you've never heard of using them, they help grip the fabric to be fed through the machine. I don't think I've made such a heavy quilt before, due to the cord, so I literally had to pick it up to feed through; the gloves help you push it a bit more. Just what I needed!

  A 'mid quilting' layout and admire inspect

and a full shot when I delivered it to Cam. We were to busy gas bagging to remember to do it outside in the sun, so an inside shot unfortunately.

I named it 'The Bloke' haha

 Trying it on for size- my eyeballing on the design wall is always off- I thought I would need to add more before I tested it this way! Lucky the kid will sleep through anything...

We ducked out to vote on the quilting day (ie election day here in Oz) and came home to find the first seal of approval... (the backing was a lovely soft flannel with a teeny purple stripe. Poor cam had bought something similar it Spotlight for the back, but this from my stash trumped it- sorry Cam!)

 The binding is the Denise Schmidt green and blue check fabric, in a smart move I'd grabbed a bit when it was on clearance at Spotlight, I like how it's a bit scrappy with some bits green and others blue.

And the best pic and the reason I love making them? A happy new quilt owner!

 Awww! (yep, there may have been choking up at that!)

Pinwheels and PJ's

The kid and I had a long weekend last weekend, with Friday being a curriculum day at her school. So her BFF slept over the Thursday night and played beautifully together all day, while I got this done.

I whizzed up to Spotlight to get some light grey homespun, as I woke up thinking 'grey quilt. pinwheels'. Anyone done that before?

I found this great tutorial which meant they were perfectly joined;

and by Sunday I had a quilt top!

(it's meant to be random, don't know how successful that is)

I then found a twin needle in the packet that comes with the sewing machine (never even looked at those packets before!) I've been dying to try one out, and leggings were the best to try them out.

and the verdict- fantastic! I forgot to change the bobbin the first time, luckily a scrap try first.

they were deemed perfect, just right!

I did a nice think waistband, which she says is more comfortable.

I also made her some pj pants, out of op shopped Little Miss op shopped fabric. She really didn't need them, but hey, they look great!

  

nice and baggy, last 2 seasons maybe?

My crazy kid.

 (tshirt from Target. $8 and beautiful quality.)

A while between posts.

Oops, time is getting away from me! Have finished a few projects off this week.

It this one, unfortunately our of print but still on Ebay or Etsy (Butterick 4758 if you're interested). It's like a Tardis bag, fits in heaps! And the fabric is from this range, picked up at the Lark sale the other week.

another cross stitch finished;

I stopped off here last Friday for a quick look; visiting the Ballarat Patchwork stand was way too tempting for me (a bright treat in a sea of beige is my thinking). Emma and her mum were run off their feet!

Jodie had to miss out due to her run of bad luck, but check out her little display!

I got all inspired to finish these babies off. With 3 new baby's on the way, I made 2 

of these for my sister to give out, and 1 for our cousin.

 Pattern is from here

chenille backing;

and a close up of the binding; yellow on yellow

purple sheet on purple;

 

and pink on pink.

Hope the little bubbas love them too!

Scoring!

Last Sunday, the fatique of the Skydive still in my body, my sewing was going to s%^t, 

so I packed the kid into the car for a treat. 

Bowling!

She's loved it from the first time she tried it. 

Now the ramp is gone (bumpers still up though)

When did she gets so big?!

 She very quickly worked out how much she beat me by!

 At least I was helping her maths!

(yes, she beat me while I was using the bumpers, how embarrassing!)

Once the bribe bowling was over, I got to go into Ikea with no complaints. I was definitely the winner out of that one!

Where, among other things, we got some chair pads (no more sweaty legs sticking to the chair on a hot day)

And the 'bargain corner' gave her a proper chair for her desk

I also got a special delivery during the week, the ultimate score. The new Flea Market Fancy range! I missed out first time around, and wasn't going to let it happen again!

This is the 21 prints;

and these are my particular favorites.

Plus I still have my collection of Picnic and Fairground.

I just have to be strong and chop them up! They'll still be beautiful!