Quickie post!

Hi there friends, this week I've been working really hard to get through all my deadline projects, and I'm so thrilled to report that I'm really getting there!

I've pieced this quilt top, and it won't take long to quilt once I've pinned it:

I'll use a light coloured thread and an all over design. Not sure what I'll use for binding yet as all the fun prints were fat quarters, but I know I'll have something cute in my stash. This is one of the sweet Flinders Kids patterns, I love how it came out, and I'm going to use it for some donation quilts later in the year as it was super fun to put together.

I've got a good start on the last of my deadline projects, I'm quilting on this sweet top for a friend. I don't quilt for others very much anymore, but I was happy to do this one:

I'm trying to work on my quilting repertoire, when it comes to machine quilting I'm a bit of a three trick pony - I'm usually happiest with the results when I venture out of my comfort zone a bit, so I don't know why I don't try more often. Please don't look too closely, the experts among you will see all the imperfections, but I'm happy and I know my friend will be too.

And last of all for this post, I wanted to do something just for me that has been hanging around for A LONG TIME!

Did I share this dress while it was a work in progress? Well, I stalled when it got time to attach the neck band. I was kind of scared of messing it up as it's usually the most noticeable part of the garment. Anyway, with advice from one of my quilting friends, and a dose of courage, I basted the neckband in place, overlocked it to the body of the dress, and then used the coverstitch machine to topstitch it down nicely. I did have to do some unpicking, but I got there in the end, and now I have no clue why I waited so long! Now I want to find some more knit fabric and make some more to take on holidays with me.

So that has been my week. I'm going to get back to quilting now, I hope to have the black fabric area of the quilt finished before I head to bed tonight, so I must get moving! Chatter soon friends :-)

A slow start, but I got a little done ...

This week got a off to a rough start - a nasty gastro bug swept through our extended family, it was violent and persistent, so I had very little energy for a few days. Once the worst was over it was actually nice to lay low for a little bit, but I did miss time in the sewing room.

Before all that happened though, I put together another sweet little Alice Dress for Miss Mary:

I just love the Llama Drama fabric, both it and the lining were from Spotlight. The pattern is an instant download from Rebecca Page, and because goes right up to size 12, I'll be making these for many years to come. It's super easy, and since I'm not really a confident garment maker, I'm learning each time I make one.

During recovery I spent time online ... as you do ... and put a lowball bid on a box of random china bits and pieces at my favourite local auction house. I really didn't expect to win, but I did and here is my loot:

I was only really interested in the Spode Byron pieces, which are the green rimmed dishes at the back there. But the Myott dinnerset in the foreground is just lovely, and as well as the other bits and pieces, there were five pieces of Carltonware in there too!

This was the prettiest of the Carltonware dishes. I've given them all to a sweet friend as she loved them so. And the Myott dinnerset is going to another lovely friend, she's picking it up to grace her new historic home. I'm so pleased to have found some pieces I was looking for, and was also able to bless others with the pieces I don't need!

And then I was able to get quilting on one of the tops I made:

My machine gave me the devil of a time with this quilting project. I broke a needle, bent a needle, and had all kinds of backlash issues. I ended up having to change the tension on the bobbin, hopefully it won't mess anything else up. I did use a new to me batting - a Quilters Dream poly, and also used King Tut thread which I don't usually use, it's just so hard to imagine they could affect the tension so much, but who knows? Anyway, it's finished now, and I'm very happy to call it done! 

This week I have some more churn dash blocks to make, a secret squirrel project, and the binding for the quilt above. I'm sure that will keep me busy and I'll report back soon!

Friday already?

Wow, are days disappearing more quickly at the moment? Maybe they are but just in my house? Who knows, but I can tell you with certainty that I didn't get much done this week!

This is as far as I got with my two tangled hearts blocks:

Yes, there's only one block in the picture. Exactly. I'm about half way through sewing the binding down now. But when I think about it, these blocks are quite a bit of work - I hand stitched all the applique pieces down - that took a while, then I machine quilted it quite heavily - also somewhat time consuming. Anyway, it's not a lot of eye candy for you.

Slowly I'm getting better at machine quilting - I was having tension issues at the start. I also began quilting with a shiny thread but had to unpick it all as it was making my machine crazy. One thing I really find hard is deciding what quilting designs to use to fill areas, it'll be great to practice a few more fillers and get comfortable using them. Such a close up picture really is warts and all, so maybe don't look too carefully lol!

And here is one of my favourite distractions:

Amy has been working a little bit, so the Grandma Gang has been pressed into service, and we have the babysitting schedule all worked out! Today was my turn in the rotation! <3 <3

Last of all for today, Carol in Texas asked last week what the background fabric in my hearts blocks was. I have to tell you that there is nothing to identify the fabric on the small piece I have left, but I took a screenshot from the online store where I got it from:

I realise it's probably not really helpful given that you're in the USA - Spotlight is a large craft/haby store here in Australia, so maybe they have a similar thing at one of your large chain stores over there? Happy fabric hunting!

Anyway, I am going to leave off here, baby minding has me worn out today, so I'll chatter soon! xox

Back to normal ... or something like it ...

Hello! It has taken a long time for life to return to normal after Amy's wedding. The lead up to the big day was pretty exhausting, the celebration was so much fun, the days afterward during the 'take down' exhausting once again ... and what I wasn't expecting was the fatigue for weeks afterward!

I should explain - Amy and Mark were offered the use of a family friend's vineyard as the location for the ceremony and the reception. It was so very generous of the lovely people that owned the property, but because it's not a place that hosts weddings on the regular - we needed to do so much to ensure the 150 guests would have everything they needed. This is the very picturesque location:

I enlisted the help of a wedding coordinator, but there was still so much to be ordered and delivered into the foothills: A marquee that could fit the guests and all other items in the event of inclement weather, a bar, fridges to accommodate all the drinks/alcohol - and then we had to load them, bar tables, benches, tables and chairs, pews, electrical for lighting, portable bathrooms, photo booth, lounges, catering, speakers for music and speeches ... ohhh it went on and on.

Amy asked me to make cupcakes and a top tier cake for cutting, as well as gingerbread people for bomboniere, and the cakes I did do, but I outsourced the gingerbread, thinking I just wouldn't be able to juggle all the things in the time I had available. I haven't managed to find a picture of the top tier, but here are all the cupcakes and the flowers I made for the cutting cake:

Hopefully I'll be able to share some more pictures once we receive everything from the photographer.

Because I had such a busy day running around working with the wedding coordinator, I didn't manage to find myself in front of anyone's camera that I've seen so far, but there will be some of the official pictures I'm sure, but I can share what I wore on the day :-)

It was hard to find a dress that I liked as I'm not in great shape at the moment. Five months of not being active on the court has taken it's toll. But I loved the dress when I saw it, and then had the fun of finding some shoes to match. These ones winged their way to me from Tasmania after a little while of searching. I'm truly a lucky girl that I have a sample size foot - shoes just seem to fit me well!

Anyway, we made it through all the things, a lovely day was had by all, and here is the first pic sent through by the photographer:

Isn't it a lovely picture? I'm looking forward to seeing more of them, shouldn't be long now!

So now that all the wedding fun is behind us, I've been spending a little time in the sewing room and also working on things that I selected as my goals for this year. Last year I made it my mission to make macarons, and I managed to do that in a passable way. This year it's my goal to pick up the French language again, and also to learn how to make clothes.

I studied French while I was in high school for two years, so I can sort of remember the basics, but certainly couldn't carry on a conversation. I've been using the DuoLingo app for a little while now, and I can definitely see improvement. I hope I can keep it up.

And regarding sewing garments, I had tried a few bits and pieces, also as a teenager, but that was limited to running in the seams on a pair of jeans, or very minor alterations/mending. I have been inspired by Laurie Perry (crazytourist.com - but honestly her Instagram is the place to go), and then lately I found the blog of Gertie - so much more inspiration! I bought her book and I was ready to rock and roll!

Next up, supplies:

And before you know it, I'd made the pencil skirt in her book. I was assured by people in the know that a skirt is the way to go for beginners, but that I'd chosen a challenging fabric to start with. Here are the results:

The skirt fits well and I'm pretty happy with my pattern matching on the side seams. Yay! Who knows what I'll tackle next, but I know I have a boiled wool coat in my future, because I found a brooch on Etsy that had to be mine ... and I made it so:

Isn't it just adorable? Apparently it's from the 1950's - I just know I'll be able to wear it with lots of things. Nothing like planning your winter wardrobe around a cute piece of jewellery.

To keep things quilt related, here is something I worked on for a sweet friend. Lovely Betty made this quilt top from Jo Morton's Little Favourites 3 book - she's not much interested in quilting, and since it was not large I said I'd quilt it for her:

I loved the look of the top, and was so happy with the quilting that I've added this to the list of projects I'd like to make in the future, it's just darling.

And last of all, I'm back working on the star exchange that I'm doing with some of my lovely USA friends. I'd best get busy on it as I understand they've finished their blocks, I've a way to go, but hopefully I can get it all done in the school holidays:

Well, I've pretty much written a thesis here, so if you're still with me, you're all caught up on what's going on in my world. Hopefully I'll be able to write more regularly now that my life is all back to normal. Chatter soon! xox

Another project on the home stretch ...

I've been quilting like a fool these past couple of days - I thought I'd be done so much sooner, but it's amazing how life can just get chaotic. Today though, I finally finished quilting on the strippy and stitched the bias binding in place on the scalloped border:

I'm super happy with how it's looking, and I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get started hand stitching the binding down tomorrow evening after cardio.

Here's a closer look at the quilting:

I really struggle to take good pictures of quilting, but here's one I took while it was under the machine - the lights under the machine throw some mad shadows:

At least you can see what I was trying to achieve a bit better.

So, that's my effort for the past few days - I should type more and fill you in on what I've been up to, but I'm just so darn tired I'm going to head straight to bed. I'll catch up on emails and bits and pieces tomorrow. Chatter soon! xox

You cannot handle the cuteness ...

Early last week my pattern order from Sue Garman arrived - OMG, I was so excited and tore into the mailer - I couldn't wait to check them out! I should have shared a pic of the patterns with you, but for whatever reason I was too flaky to take that picture, so I'll save it for next time. But let me tell you that I was so excited to get working on Omigosh! that I started cutting immediately:

Those strips you see are 1in wide, so when all seams are done, the pieces will be 1/2in finished. Yes, you read that correctly. Isn't the quilt so aptly named?? Omigosh!

And of course, I couldn't stop at cutting, I had to try a little piecing. I'd had some advice from Otto recently that was going to help me with accuracy and the new machine - I'm trying a different foot - just not happy enough with the quarter inch foot. Happy days, things seem to be going okay at the moment ...

So, those little cuties that you see there are 2in at the moment ... and they'll be 1.5in finished - aren't they adorable?? A real test for accurate machine piecing. So far so good ... and I'm thinking if I keep going with this, it will be a real scrap eater!! Until now I had never saved 1in strips, nothing smaller than 1.5in strips actually, so I guess I'll have to add 1in to the rota too!

Also in the picture above, a little tin that I purchased while working at Hetties Patch. They always have the most adorable things, this combined with my complete lack of self control meant it had to come home with me. I can see myself using it for stitching hexies while I'm out and about.

Next up is another little thing I put together last week (or it could have been late the week before) I have totally lost track of time! It's just a little something I'm passing on to a friend:

It's always so nice to piece something small, and then quilt on it - you don't have all that bulk to deal with and it looks pretty without fail. I don't have a lot of batik fabric in my stash, and I really need to change that, as it's just lovely to work with.

And last up for today, Friday was my little man's birthday. Time is just going so fast, how can he possibly be twelve already??

He'll always be a tiny man to me!

Machine Quilting

These past few days, I've been machine quilting on a charity quilt I received through our guild. People donate completed tops/blocks/fabric to the charity arm of our guild, and when tops are assembled/pinned, they are offered to quilters who have the time and inclination to finish them up.

As soon as I saw this project on stage at a recent meeting, I knew I wanted to be part of finishing it up so it could be handed on to its next home. It's just delightful:

Here is a close up of one of the blocks - they are all beautifully needle-turn appliquéd, and on this block, you can see the lovely gold threads couched in place.

This block is just lovely too, the fabric used in the urn is delightful. You can't see it well in the picture, but the buds at the top of the block are dimensional, and made with a beautiful ribbon.

Some of the other blocks have reverse appliqué, and even gorgeous dimensional carnation looking flowers. So much work was put into making this top, it's puzzling that the maker was able to give it away. I have no clue who made it, but their work is seriously beautiful.

I really hope I can do the quilt top justice, it is a joy to work on - and I know that the eventual recipient of this quilt will just love it!

Catching up ...

Now that Mrs Billings has been sorted, I can work on a few things that have been niggling at me in the background.

First up, I had promised a sweet friend that I'd quilt a little project for her. I checked that off the list this morning. Here is a little of the border:

I find the hardest part of machine quilting is deciding what to put in each area. It's something I need to work on. Also, it had been such a long time since using my machine - my quilting was a little wonky in the beginning. It's like riding a bike though, and soon I was charging along nicely.

And next on the list: I had purchased a cute nightshirt from an online store a couple of months back. I just love it, but the buttons are so far apart on it that it gapes terribly. Solution: Add extra buttonholes. Something I have never done on my machine before!

In the top right picture, you can see the 'before' situation with the buttons. Bottom left picture, my terror getting ready to cut the opening in the button holes. Thankfully it worked. And bottom right picture, more buttons, happy wearer!

I don't have to procrastinate over this project any longer, and I'll be toasty warm in bed tonight!

Lightning speed ...

Wow! My dear friend Lizzy is amazing! I can honestly say I've never heard any urban legends recounting tales of quilts being turned around in 16 hours, but that is exactly how long it took for my quilt to be quilted and back in my hands! Amazing!!

I've taken the blurriest of pictures for your enjoyment:

And believe it or not, I actually cropped the worst of the blurriness out!

For those who enjoy their pictures a little more in focus, a close up:

I'm just thrilled with how it's come out - Lizzy is an amazing quilter, and so fast!! (I'm super lucky that she'd finished up with her Christmas deadline quilting.)

I've already applied the binding, and I'm around one quarter the way through the hand stitching on the reverse side - I used the same fabric that I used in the sashing strips for the binding and it looks really cute.

Also done today, I made up the dough and cut out the templates for this years gingerbread house. Hopefully I'll have some successes tomorrow to share. (Ohhh, and I'll just say this quietly ... It's now the 22nd of December here in Australia, which means 'apocalypse averted' ... Yay!)

Insert sound of crickets chirping here ...

Oops - I didn't mean to be away for so long, I don't really have a very good excuse - only that I've been on the 'down low' with sinus trouble, ohhh, and a lack of very much interesting to share ... But I'm here now - still not much to share, but there ya go :-)

I'm still working on the hexagons for 'block three' of Mrs Billings coverlet - I really hope I'll have enough done soon to be shareworthy - they're really cute, and I'm loving the ones that I've fussy cut. If I have a chance tomorrow, I'll applique some to the background so I can love them some more :-)

The other thing I did this week was quilt a small charity project for the guild. This is it:

I don't actually know who pieced it, but isn't it cute? I finished binding it today while watching the F1GP. (And a big thank you to Lizzy for her part in the binding too!) And regarding the F1, love that there's two Aussies in it this year!

And here's something I forgot to share from my travels to the USA:

To add to my collection of Masons Vista, I had the two handled soup bowls delivered to Linda's house so I could bring them home with me, they're so cute, and terribly expensive and hard to find here.

I wasn't sure they'd make it home unscathed - I had to put my carry on bag into valet baggage on one of my short hops - and while I was waiting to pick the bag up at the side of the aircraft, I saw the bag somersault off the end of the little conveyor onto the tarmac. OMG, I swear my heart just stopped! I didn't have an opportunity to unwrap anything to make sure it was okay, so you can imagine my relief when I got home and found that nothing had been damaged - phew!

Well, that's it from me - I need to do some reading with Camo, and then I have some emails to return. Chatter soon! xox

Something different ...,

Hand quilting has kept me very much occupied since I last posted, but recently I've had the need to work on a couple of different things:

A dear friend Margaret came to visit Friday week ago for a sewing afternoon. Rather than continue with my quilting, I thought I'd start on the Civil War Love Letters quilt I'd like to work on when I'm done with the NI. I made the two easiest blocks I could find, just to see if I really want to continue with the fabrics I've chosen.

These blocks are called 'Enthusiasm' and 'Virginia Military Institute'. I quite like them, and think I'll continue in this vein :-)

And on Friday last week, I quilted something that I threw together at the shop on Thursday.

It's a table runner made using the Kaliedorule - it'll be useful for demo's at the shop, and really nice if I do say so myself! Amazing things can be done with lovely border prints :-)

And this morning, I just finished quilting on this little project. It's hanging on my clothes airer, so looks a little funny.

I had a really great time quilting this one - it's the Dogwood Trail fabric and project from Moda. This is also a shop sample, and I hope there are still kits left as I type this, because they've been going so fast!

Well, that's what I've been up to recently - this afternoon I'll be getting back to the hand quilting - I'm really getting it done now!

And it's done ...

Just last night I put the last stitches in the binding of the cot quilt. This was really fun to put together - a treat after working with such small pieces for such a long time.

Such large strips meant I could go to town with the quilting. So of course I got busy with my favourite thing - feathers ... with a few swirly tendrils thrown in for good measure.

I have missed working on my NI quilt though - so I'm looking forward to getting some more hand quilting done soon. Perhaps tonight while I'm checking in on the next installment of Downton Abbey - how I love that show! Chatter soon :-)

Busy Quilter = Neglectful Blogger

I've been so busy getting ready for my trip to the USA, that I have become a very neglectful blogger of late. You can expect more of the same, probably until the end of April when I get home I'm afraid. I leave on Friday, and while I'm away, I'm not sure of the opportunities I'll have to get on line.

But in the meantime, here are a couple of the things I've been working on:

I've bordered, quilted and bound all the fruit blocks. I'll hand sew the binding down as I have the chance. I really like these little blocks, and I'm so glad I purchased the patterns last time I was in the USA.

And right now I'm quilting on that scrap quilt I made a little while back. I hope to have it finished tonight, and then I can sew on the binding. If I'm a really clever girl, I may have it photographed before I go, so I can work on the pattern in my spare moments :-) It could happen! It's my plan to make another of these quilts, this time in a bright colourway. This one used such a good deal of my 2" scraps that I'm inspired to work on it again.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, I hope you're all having a lovely time with your families and the people most important to you. This is the start of my children's school holidays, and we're spending some quality time together, as I know I'm going to miss Marty and the kids while I'm gone. They will probably cope a good deal better than I will.

Chatter soon. xox