Oh Sew Busy

Paper Peicing

2012-02-03T06:11:00.000+11:00

Not the best pictures, but these are my pieced hexagons that I have been working on bit by bit to make up a quilt that is my version of 'This Goes With That' quilt by Sue Daley and 'Candied Hexagons' by Kerry Dear.

I was looking at this the other day and decided that I would piece what I had into a table runner with a white background/border as I am sure it will take me quite a few more years to have even a lap size quilt at the pace I am going.

I couldn't resist sharing Jerry being caught out last week.

He sneaks into the pig shed when he can, he knows he's not allowed in there but he is VERY nosey.

I found his head in the molasses bucket, getting his fill! He uses his teeth to pry the lid off so he can help himself. Because this happened a couple of times in a week the molasses bucket has now been moved to a harder to get to place!

Max and Whiskers

2012-02-02T14:44:00.001+11:00

Love this range by Basic Grey.

I bought two charm packs last year to make a quilt for my youngest then decided as at the time he was 4 yrs old that the quilt would probably be on the small side for him. So it got tucked away, quilted but not bound, for the 'gift cupboard' in case I needed a baby quilt for a gift at any time.

Mr Busy became a great uncle last week for the 6th time so I bound the quilt on the weekend and sent it home with his nephew (uncle the new baby) to deliver in the next few weeks. Mr Busy really liked this quilt, nice to know he likes some things I make.

Love the backing fabric!

When Mr Busy's nephew was here, the screen sliding door came off and bumped the table, which smashed. It was good to have another set of hands to help with the clean up because these are not easy to clean up, especially when your verandah has gaps between the decking for water/rain drainage.

Our first glass topped table smashed only weeks after purchasing it, 11 years ago. That time a strong wind knocked the umbrella standing in it, which was enough to smash the table. We had the table replaced but it stayed boxed up until four years ago when we had somewhere to put it under cover; so it has lasted a bit longer than the first one!

Glass top tables are not a favourite with us, that's for sure! We still have the frame from the other day and Mr Busy will make a top for it in the future.

Here is Lucy, she belongs to Miss Busy (8yrs old).

She asked about getting a pet guinea pig for a while but dad kept saying no, we've had them and they die.

However just before Christmas Miss Busy came with me to pick up a Wessex Saddleback sow that I had bought and the seller breeds guinea pigs to sell at hobby sales. Miss Busy very quietly asked if she could nurse one. She did. Then she asked if she could have one. I didn't agree with Mr Busy, as Miss Busy has had no pets of her own and I felt she needed to have something to call her own. So we brought Lucy home.

Miss Busy told dad that we bought TWO PIGS!

To date, she changes Lucy's water everyday, tops up her feed, moves her cage a bit and carries her around for a time. No reminding needed from mum or dad. Do you reckon she will take care of the calves that need marking without us too???? LOL.

Down in the Garden

2012-02-01T14:42:00.000+11:00

The main stitchery from block 2 of "Down in the Garden" by Leanne Beasley.

This took me about two weeks to stitch and I wasn't working on it everyday.

Most of the small stitcheries for block one.

Small stitcheries for block two.

All the stitcheries for blocks one and two, including two not started and the birdhouse that is nearly finished.

Stitcheries for other blocks, mostly blocks three and four I think.

I have started using the gorgeous bag Vicki made me for Christmas to keep the 'Down in the Garden' patterns, threads and stitcheries in. This makes it easily transportable from the coffee table to the dining table or outside. I have put each blocks pattern along with the traced or finished stitcheries into a plastic sleeve, this makes it easy to see where I am up and what needs working on.

LOL, the working lately has been slow due to life taking over but I am still enjoying this quilt.

If you are waiting on an email from me, I am hoping to empty my inbox in the next few days (there are SO many emails there needing replies!). I have been using hte computer a lot less lately, only checking emails a couple of times a week and posting/scheduling my blog posts ahead of time (fantastic to be able to do this!). This is for better time efficiency and to help cut down on power usage, really the computer does not need to be running 24/7!

Babies on the Farm

2012-01-23T05:38:00.000+11:00

Berkshire piglets born just over two weeks ago, this was taken when they were less than one day old. Below they are feeding off their mum who is a first timer and so very placid.

A Wessex Saddleback sow that we bought just before Christmas who was in pig to a large white boar. She had her 13 babies a couple of days ago. This was taken today.

The electric wires that separate the pigs doesn't keep the piglets apart, earlier today we found all the white ones snuggled up with a few black ones!

The pigs are in the paddock but have separate access to the shed for feeding, water and shelter. Here is the daddy boar on the left and mummy is feeding some of the Berkshire piglets. Mr Busy is enjoying being with them. Mummy pig is so placid the kids can pick up mega squealing piglets and she isn't bothered, she grew up with us since she was a baby and I think this counts towards her easy going nature with us.

Daddy pig is up close for a look! Miss 8 yr old took this photo, great one!

Another daddy, this time Jerry the goat. He is lots of fun, doesn't hop onto cars but don't leave the door open because he does like to hop inside them! He is very nosey and Mr Busy has to continually chase him away when he is working in or near the workshop because Jerry being nosey usually involves his mouth!

All of the children ride him, no equipment necessary except a long branch with leaves if you want to direct him about. LOL Mr 11 yr old often 'hitches' a ride to the pig/chook yards or back to the house!

Jerry is a Melan breed of milking goat and he has a twin brother the other side of town called Tom.

Here is 'mini me jerry', born early Dec; this little fulla has such a beautiful nature.

Here is his twin sister who looks just like their mum, who is a British Alpine milking goat. A real shame is that this little one has a very flighty nature.

Also not in the photos are baby ducks, some born Christmas day and some born in the last few days.

Mr 11 yr old had baby rabbits born just before Christmas, he has four still here out of nine (sold the others).

You can usually find baby calves, lambs and chickens here most days as well.

As you can see from the photos it has dried off a lot here in the past few weeks, prior to that we were having unusually mild days with some lovely rain (not heaps but rain that we don't normally get this time of year). So the feed in the paddock is drying off but it varies from being waist to shoulder height on me. LOL makes it not so easy to find things such as piglets and calves when you are doing a head count!

I will show you my DitG blocks in the next few days.

Butterfly Garden

2012-01-21T09:51:00.000+11:00

A few weeks ago I was able to put my Butterfly Garden top together, lol I only started this quilt top late January 2008! I can't recall the number of times I have put this quilt aside to work on other projects. It was so exciting to finally get it together. It just needs a really good press and basting so I can quilt it.

I had planned to start either An Angel's Story by Anni Downs or Polka Dot Girls by Red Brolly but found when I finished BG that I couldn't pick these quilts up to work on. Down in the Garden by Leanne Beasley was really appealling so I have been working on it. I actually did start DitG nearly two years ago when it was released but I got overwhelmed with the amount of stitching in it alongside all the other stitching I had to do (BG and A Gardeners Story quilt) so it was put aside and I didn't think I would pick it up again so I started using the fabrics to make Sue Daley's 'This Goes With That' paper pieced quilt.

I had a dig around and aside from ordering a couple of Lecien basics FQs I was able to use either fabrics I had originally intended to use or substitutes that I am happier with. I am close to having two blocks completed for this quilt already so An Angel's Story and Polka Dot Girls might not have to wait too long after all!

Quilts

2012-01-20T11:57:00.000+11:00

The above quilt is HeMingHos that I actually finished a number of months ago but didn't have a camera at the time to show you. I made it using only two jellyrolls and backing fabric. The centre squares are pieced with two JR strips and the binding is a scrap binding. I had very little left from the two jelly rolls which was fantastic. Even better I bought the JRs on sale! The quilt is SB size and is on our lounge at present.

This one is ready for me to stitch down the binding. It is a baby quilt to put away for when I need one for a gift. I used two American Jane charm packs to make the dissapearing nine patch, then sashed it with white. The quilt size is about 50" square, so a generous size for a baby/toddler.

Another baby quilt to have the binding stitched down and be put away for when I need a gift. Another dissapearing nine patch quilt, this time using Basic' Grey's Max and Whiskers range. Size is about 38" square.

The Friends in Stitching online group that I am in has been doing pieced block of the months the past two years, with one person choosing a block per month for everyone else to piece. This is the BOM from 2010, I didn't start last years because I hadn't finished the previous years quilt top, and I when I decided to put this quilt together I didn't piece the four blocks that I was behind on, so it is 55" square, lap quilt size and not single bed size. I used my stash of pretty Holly Holderman fabrics to make this.

A quilt top to quilt and put away for a baby gift. LOL It seems like I am building up stash of these, but with two nephews and one neice being born within a couple of years and me being as slow as I am at getting their quilts made I wanted to be a bit prepared from now on.

I used the Verna quilt pattern and Pure fabrics to make this one. It's about 40" square.

This quilt top is a project from last years Fig Tree Club and once quilted it is a gift for my neighbour who went through breast cancer and a masectomy a couple of years ago. The layout of this quilt was quite simple and basic, and to start with I was a little dissapointed with the design; but once I started piecing it I fell in love. It is so much prettier in reality than the computer image. I feel a little reluctant about giving it away! I am sure my neighbour is going to treasure it when she recieves it. I think it's about 68" square.

This is a SB size (78" by 50") dissapearing ninepatch, lol I think I have made enough dissapearing nine patches for the time being! I used two ranges, Farm Fresh and Fox Trails, both by Riley Blake Designs.

This quilt is for our new baby, lol it was meant to be cot size as I haven't any patchwork/quilted cot quilts but as wanted to make as much use out of the charm squares I had bought the quilt has ended up being much bigger! Before I quilt this for the baby I have set myself the goal of finishing off quilts for my other children as I have only finished quilts for two out of five children. Luckily don't have much to finish the remaining three quilts, provided I can manage better with this all day nausea that doesn't seem to be going away.

This is Floral Bouquet and it is for my eldest daughter, made with a JR of Sunkissed that Kerri sent me as a thankyou for when I helped her out last year. On the back is one of Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut fabrics. This is one of the quilts that doesn't have much to go on it; and I need to get it quilted so I have pins to baste some of the quilt tops I have recently finished. Don't get me wrong here, I do have quite a pile of basting pins so I don't need to purchase any more. I also happen to have a QS quilt that is also full of basting pins at present too; AND I need some motivation to get these tops quilted!

Belated Christmas

2012-01-20T10:19:00.000+11:00

Above is what Vicki made me for Christmas in the Friends in Stitching Secret Santa swap.

The bag was the main present, this is a Red Brolly pattern and Vix has made it for me in reproduction fabrics (love these). Vicki also made me a Red Brolly purse in the FIS purse swap late last year, so they both go together very well! The gorgeous gifts in the other two pictures are what Vicki sent for the advent part of the SSS, we had to purchase or make a small gift to open for the five days leading up to Christmas.

Thanks so much Vicki!

I made for Peg in this swap, and you will have to look here to see what I made her as I didn't have a camera up and working prior to sending her gifts.

My friend Lynda sent me this gorgeous ornament that she made.

Thanks so much Lynda!

Golly Gosh!

2011-12-08T14:24:00.000+11:00

I can't believe it has been more than two months since I last posted! Guess I have a lot to update you on!

Last month I spent four days with Aunty in QLD, it was busy busy as our time was cut short due to dh having to take his mother to a solider reunion for the company that his dad was in, and also due to a change of exam date for my studies (got a distinction for the exam). The kids loved the beach and had a fantastic time. They bought prawns straight off the boat, walked a waterfall hike and visited an aquaponics place. The girls went wedding dress shopping with me for aunty, no she hasn't decided which dress yet but she did say that we helped.

We weren't home long from QLD (our first trip away in twelve months from the farm, aside from day trips) when had a trip through Sydney to dh's mothers surprise 80th. Coming home we had car trouble which ended up being costly and time consuming to fix, and the car drives better now than it has done in years.

I have spent a lot of time in bed the past three months but with some changes (from the naturopath) I am up and about. We have a baby due in April that we are all very excited about! Due to being so sick I wanted to have my scan and make sure everything was alright before letting too many people know; everything is fine. After Christmas I will start shopping the op shops for baby things as most of my stuff has either worn out or been passed on/lent out.

With the new baby coming I ummed and ahhed over the quilting baby books, didn't need them but I ended up purchasing Anna Maria Horner's 'New Beginings'. I LOVE this book! It has so much more in it than I expected. Maternity and breastfeeding clothes for mum; clothes, toys and quilts for baby; toys and bags for dads and siblings etc.

I got my new camera last week, after not having one for a number of months. It's not up and running yet but will be soon. I have lots to show.

Just before going to QLD the older two children went to leather work and MrZ made leather thongs and JessieGirl made leather sandals. They are fantastic and the kids are so proud of their achievement. Miss Busy went to leather work last weekend by herself to make a belt and she ended up making her own sandals too! Her sandals are more suited to her tastes, one sandal has red straps and the other has blue!

During the winter we bought a second hand industrial sewing machine from the leather work teacher; dh has used it to repair his bee gloves and I have visions of HIM (not me) making some good canvas tarps for the farm with it! A very handy addition to have!

I have been busy sewing (in fits and starts) on my machine. I have completed five quilt tops ready to be quilted, my Friends in Stitching secret santa present, a few smaller things for Christmas gifts and a number of things for the children (dolls, bags etc). I am STILL stitching Butterfly Garden, only have 2 blocks left to stitch and then about five to machine applique. I started this quilt January 2008!

Our milking goat had twins last weekend, a girl who looks like mum and a boy who looks like dad! I will have photos of these soon, they are so gorgeous! We also have two Wessex Saddleback pigs, and Peking duck eggs in the incubator. Two weeks ago, in all the rain we had, one of the four milking cows calved and lost her calf to the weather before I got her in. It's nice to have fresh milk again but not so good to lose the calf. I am hoping to get a poddy to foster onto her soon.

Bec xxx

2011-09-28T17:16:00.000+10:00

A beautiful birthday gift sent by Christine from the Friends in Stitching group. Christine's town starts with P, so she made me a pillow (ever so lovely!) and sent me pens, pad and pattern (love Rosie's red christmas stitcheries). Thanks so much Christine and FIS!

A surprise parcel in the mail from my friend Kylie...gorgoes Etchings charm pack, spring strip to make a purse/small bag with, and a gorgeous zipper purse/bag. Thanks Kylie!

This is the purse that Vicki made me in the Friends in Stitching purse swap. Gorgeous isn't it! I love it, thanks so much Vix!

I made Vicki the same purse, LOL! However I didn't photograph it before it was posted so you will have to see it on Vicki's blog. This was a fun swap and it was great to make a different purse to what I had previously made.

It seems like four weeks have slipped by rather fast. I have been quite sick for all of them and then some, with a terrible terrible flu. This has kept me pretty well bed/lounge bound with minimumal housework being done. Slowly catching up on that now.

The children are all well. JessieGirl has knitting up a storm, she is a great knitter and well on her way. She finished her first (and long term) project of a scarf, and now I have her knitting a teddy bear which is half done. She has also been incubating eggs in our incubator, hatching chickens and attempting to hatch ducklings. She is enjoying this. MrZ did this a few months ago and loved it as well. He has been told to cut down on the rabbits or get them breeding so they can pay for their feed, so we should have some babies in the next few months. Miss Busy is now full time assistant to JessieGirl with goat milking, chook and pig feeding. Both girls are early risers; I wish their brothers would be too! MrL is offically 'at school' now and proudly showed the Board of Studies Inspector how he can very speedily shimmy up the verandah posts without shoes and then run about on the roof.... and Mr A informed us the other day that he doesn't want his cot anymore but would like a fire engine bed in MrZ's room (LOL probably so he can get into all that lovely lego!).

I have also been studying part time, and this has been taking up sewing/copmuter time. I doing a certifcate IV in Accounting which will qualify me to do book keeping work, which I can do from home. I am enjoying the course so far but am a little worried about my first exam as I haven't done exams for quite a few years!

1930s Quilt

2011-08-25T16:17:00.000+10:00

I now have my stash and projects to work on where I want them to be, much more managable! However I do have one more quilt kit to list. This is a 1930s quilt kit, the pattern is by Kerry Dear of My Favourite Things. It is a gorgeous quilt but I have enough on my plate without adding to it. You can see a picture of the quilt on Kerry's blog sidebar, Suzanna's Stars. The quilt is 68" by 86". The place I bought this from didn't include binding and I have no suitable reds for the binding. However I have included some extra F8s and approx 7 yards of mixed 1930s fabrics (5 fabrics, with minimum cut being 1 yard). The quilt kit includes over 8 metres of fabrics and to purchase the pattern individually is over $20. I am asking $160 for the lot plus $10 postage. Postage only within Australia. Email or leave a comment if you have any questions.

Grab a tea or coffee

2011-08-21T14:05:00.001+10:00

I can't believe how quickly time slips by these days! I still don't have a camera, so still no pic's to show you, sorry.

In July I finished the HeMingHos quilt, all quilted and bound; now on the lounge to snuggle with on cool nights.

I have a quilt almost finished for my son's birthday, the Shheep one and named so because he calls them 'heep' and we have to remind him to put the 'shh' in front of the 'heep'! Another quilt almost finished a lap sized baby/toddler quilt, a dissapearing nine patch with white sashing made with Punctuation by American Jane. I am pretty sure I showed this quilt top a while back. It's all quilted now and just waiting for the binding to be stitched down.

It seems everywhere I look everyone has taken to English Paper Piecing! I haven't stitched anything on Candied Hexagons for quite a few months now and stitched six hexagons last week plus prepared a few more. The hexagons are made up of other shapes, they give a bit more interest than just piecing a plain shape which was what I needed. To date I have 30 completed and need approx another 60 to make up a lap sized quilt with borders.

Butterfly Garden has had a rest and now is being stitched again, I have 15 stitcheries to go and 20 machine appliques. The end is getting closer and I am looking forward to getting this pretty quilt together.

I haven't done any work on An Angels Story since I last blogged it. I have decided to sit it aside until Butterfly Garden is finished.

I recieved a Random Act of Kindness gift in the mail from Julie - such a lovely surprise! She made me a beautiful bag complete with stitched on shells; and inside the bag was a little quilt pattern, a scented candle, body powder, an embroidered tea towel and some very funky plant markers made from spoons! As soon as the new camera arrives I will show you what she sent, much nicer to see a picture. Now I have to send something back to Julie......mmm the possibilities are endless!

I am part of Sarah's Fig Tree Club and recently recieved the third project, a lap quilt made in Strawberry Fields fabrics. Such gorgeous fabrics. I am going to make this quilt for my next door neighbour who has her farm up for sale. She cares for her elderly parents and needs to spend more time with them. She also went through breast cancer and surgery a few years ago. The quilt is to show her our love and appreciation.

I have also been working on a few secret projects, one for the Secret Santa Christmas gift for the online stitching group Friends in Stitching; another secret project for a purse swap for the same group. I am making for Vicki and she is making for me, we've had a few laughs with emails working out what each other likes and discussing what purse patterns we both have.

oh, and it seems inspiration goes two ways. Sandy from Shiralee Stitches had her An Angels Story quilt at Nundle earlier in the year and inspired me to start this quilt again. She recently purchased fabrics to make Butterfly Garden from seeing it on my blog; LOL cause as we know it is far from being finished yet!

Have a look at Marina's blog, she recently bought a quilt kit from me when I had a clean out (helps you to re-focus on what you really want to stitch). Anyway she is making Leanne Beasley's Down in the Garden with the Sunkissed fabric....so gorgeous!

What else has been happening???? We went to Ag-Quip last week, haven't been for 2-3 years. It's a large agricultural field day. It was lovely to see that two quilt shops had stand there, and there was also a Bernina stand. Mr Busy bought a special drill to put the screws in onthe verandah roof, so he won't have to bend down now. I bought socks. LOL. Normally I avoid anything made in China but we go through socks here like nothing else (on an average day I wash 7-10 pairs depending on what the children have been doing) and I can't justify spending $5 on one pair that wear out in a few months. So when we go to Ag Quip I buy socks. The stand I buy the socks from sells them for anything from 4 pairs for $10 to 6 pairs for $10. We also buy socks at second hand shops for 10-50c a pair and a friend 'collects' socks from second hand shops and other people for me too. If nobody walks on wet ground with only socks on, I have 7 pairs of socks to wash, DAILY. Multiply that by 7 days in a week and that is a lot of socks to keep track, and socks don't always stay together with one often mysteriously dissapearing never to return! Last January I found that Coles supermarket was selling new school socks (yes, made in China AGAIN!) for a great price so I will be checking there again next January.

Recently I saw that Jenny of Elefantz has a monthly magazine for $4 which has a BOM pattern, two other patterns and a recipe in it. She stitches such beautiful things, it's worth having a look at.

I have some frugal sewing to show you all when the camera comes - dishcloths, nighties etc.

Bec xxx

Not much sewing

2011-07-26T10:56:00.000+10:00

I have been quilting two quilts since I last posted, sorry I don't have any pictures as the camera has died and I am waiting on a new one to arrive.

Last week one of our milking goats, the naughty one, broke her leg. A compound fracture near the hock on her back leg. Mr Busy set it, bandaged it and splinted it. Goat fractures heal in approx 10 days, that is fast; but they are classed as a light animal. She is hopping around fine on three legs; except the buck deicded he wants to be with her. This caused problems because I had no where to keep him separate; Mr Busy came to the rescue again. He sprayed Katy (goat) with some Impulse. Jerry (buck) took one whiff and didn't want to go near her!

My Busy has more framework up for our verandah, though it's not ready for the tin yet it is looking good. Summer shouldn't be so hot in the house this year with the verandah.

A big thankyou to everyone who has bought fabric/patterns/books from me. I really appreciate it; and it allows me to relax more and not stress about having so much to do! Quilting/patchwork is about enjoying the process. I also downsized my massive stash because I am studying from home. The end goal is to do some part time work from home.

When the new camera arrives I will show you the quilts I have been working on.

Sale list - last bit

2011-07-07T16:50:00.011+10:00

Last lot for sale. updated 25/8/11

McKenna Ryan BOM pattern set

Once Upon a Star $50

sale list

2011-07-07T11:09:00.009+10:00

Updated 25/8/11

postage in Australia only.

Books, in as new or almost new condition unless otherwise stated.
Sew Sunny Homestyle $20
Sew Pretty Homestyle $20

Millie doll kit and pattern $30

Kate doll kit and pattern $30

Twinkle Toes kit and pattern $20

Aunt Millies Garden pattern set by Piece'O"Cake Designs $10

Bias Binding maker with tape $15

Last June Finish

2011-07-06T12:31:00.000+10:00

I thought I had posted this pic on the weekend but yu know what thought did, don't you!

I finished Simple Pleasures on the last day of June.

This is a gorgeous little quilt and I have decided now that I will pack it away to give as a baby quilt in the future. Love the feeling of knowing you have something special for a gift when you might need it.

I have had another, and hopefully the last, cleanout of my quilting cupboard. Things are actually fitting quiet nicely in it now; and my project list is much more achievable! So when I get my camera fixed (lens problem) I will get some pictures up to show you whats for sale.

Quilting

2011-06-29T15:41:00.000+10:00

Finally I have all my Butterfly Garden blocks together and ready to be machine appliqued and hand stitched. I can see the end in sight now, though it is over near the horizon!

BG is my night time stitching; aside from doing bindings.

I have another An Angels Story block prepared ready to machine applique.

This cute little quilt is half bound and I have almost finished quilting it; maybe it will be done by tomorrow for the end of the month????

Ah yes, quilting. Lots of it!

Even though it is pinned and ready to quilt I keep procrastinating about quilting the QS Luna Notte quilt (2nd from right).

Also ready to quilt is the Shheep quilt for DS5yrs. I kept putting off machine appliquing the sheep on it because it's awkward once the whole quilt is together. I am going to ditch the quilt then raw edge/quilt the sheep. Not sure how it will turn out but at least my son should get his quilt sooner rather than later!

The quilt on the left is a dissapearing nine patch with white sashings that I made using two charm packs of American Jane's 'Punctuation' range. I will quilt this and put it away for when I need a baby/toddler quilt.

The last quilt in the pic (2nd from left) is another dissapearing nine patch, but without the sashings. I used two charm packs of 'Max and Whiskers' by Urban Grey - gorgeous fabrics.... This quilt, small as it is, isn't pinned yet as I AM OUT OF BASTING PINS and need to quilt in order to baste some more!

Solutions

2011-06-15T12:04:00.000+10:00

Do you get tempted by all those lovely new ranges coming out all the time? I do.

A few months back I came to a solution for me that I thought was worth sharing.

In this magazine I found a scrappy quilt that I loved but I didn't have fabric or time to make it.

To make a lap/single quilt 66" by 81" you need 783 charm squares.

Crib/wall 48" by 54" uses 378 charms.

Full/Queen 85" by 90" uses 1,110 charms.

King 103" by 102" uses 1,530 charms.

So I put aside the charm squares I had, and every once in a while I buy another one or two to add to my collection. To date I have approx 400-420.

By the time I have enough charm squares to make the quilt; and it might be queen or king size yet; I will have finished numerous other projects so I will have time to make this. The great thing about it is I will have a piece of all those lovely fabrics I admire in it without the huge cost of money and time to make a quilt from each range that catches my eye. I am using reproduction type charms for this quilt; but it would look fantastic in brighter, more modern fabrics too. I nearly started to put together two to make, but decided one was enough for the time being.

The quilt uses a template to cut the tumbler shape and then it is machine pieced.

I love tumber, clam shell and apple core quilts but decided on this tumbler one because I could machine piece it; however I may just take on making an apple core or clam shell quilt in the distant future!

Muddy Weather

2011-06-14T16:27:00.001+10:00

DH has been home a bit recently and time seems to fly even more when he is about.

I have finished piecing Floral Bouquet in Sunkissed, though it isn't basted yet as I am out of pins! LOL, Lynda had a fabulous idea for me to baste a quilt as soon as I finish it to help me get them quilted. This IS a great idea however I have basted two quilts but not finished quilting them yet so Sunkissed Floral Bouquet will have to be a flimsy a bit longer....LOL.

Very pretty though....

DH has been home putting in our verandah posts, so we can put in the front and laundry doors. It has been rainy miserable weather here for a few days now; this is our track from the house (three bedrooms, small study and one loungeroom at present) to the former car shed that now houses a tiny kitchen and a bathroom. When you get seven pairs of feet tramping back and forth for the toilet, a drink, a snack, to transfer washing etc etc it creates a lovely track in the wet weather! I can tell you, living like this for nearly five years now I will be VERY appreciative to have an INSIDE kitchen and toilet!

In the photo above you can see our solar panels in the background, just above the ute dh bought in Tamworth a few years back that he wants to do up one day. His passion is HG Holden utes....having previously owned and done one up, he regrets selling it. We have his old mags sitting in the shearing shed ready for when he has one registered!

Mr Busy owns the succulants in the pot at the bottom of the stairs, he is gaining quite a collection of these and cactuses.

LOL, and you can see how much the younger children love to sit IN THE MIDDLE of my shrubs, the rosemary near the ladder is looking a little 'parted'....

The photo below shows the mess that gets tramped up onto the verandah....not point cleaning it till the ground has dried out.

X-Rated schnibbles quilt for my newest nephew. My Busy picked this quilt, he said make something you haven't made before. It is small, 30" by 30" - gorgeous though!

When I was piecing this quilt it was imperitive that I had it all laid out as I worked. This was done on the floor and after CAREFULLY arranging the colours and patterns I commenced stitching. The stitching took me over a week, working in dribs and drabs. Three times the boys raced throught he house and scattered my unpieced pieces, driving me to distraction. Suffice to say, the colours and patterns aren't in the original placement! LOL, boys....

Love the green pin stripe binding and the red alphabet backing.....

This is Penelope, a doll I made back in MARCH for Miss Busy's birthday.....

She is a Katkins design; gorgeous. Miss Busy sleeps with her every night, loves anything mum makes for her, definately puts a smile on face to see/hear this!

She has gorgeous ceremic buttons on her dress and shoes.

I have also finished a bassinet quilt for a work colleague's first grandchild; forgot to take a picture of it though....however I made an identical one back here.

Happy Birthday to Kerry from Cottage on the Hill, who is part of the online Friends in Stitching group I am part of. I was the one out of the group to make and send her a present. As I am not sure if she has opened it yet or not I can't show you yet. Though I can tell you that it had to be something starting with M, the first letter of the town nearest to me.

He Ming Hos

2011-06-03T19:20:00.000+10:00

Today I made a mug bag, this is a birthday present for a friend of mine.

The pattern was a Hatched and Patched pattern, Kylie told me they went together pretty easy but I still put off making one - turns out she was right! Even the circular base wasn't a drama and usually I avoid these like the plague! I bought these fat quarters from Cottage on the Hill a couple of years ago; so pretty....

This gorgeous bundle has been partially cut and in very slow progress. I pulled it out the other week and now have the top together and it is all basted ready to quilt. This was Lynda's helpful suggestion; baste as soon as possible after completing a quilt top to try to avoid the top collecting dust. I am good at procrastinating over quilting quilt tops; currently there are 7 waiting to be basted plus two basted in the last week or two. I am sure Lynda's suggestion is going to help me.

This is the quilt from the bundle. It is made from two Hemming House jelly rolls, only the two jelly rolls. The centre square is pieced from two 4 1/2" strips. I kept aside strips for the binding and only had to purchase backing in addition to the jelly rolls I bought from Sarah ages ago. I loved the colours in this range, the blue/teals in particular so I chose these to be the square centres and the binding. Strip wise and colour wise this worked out well. The quilt is 64" x 80"; it was almost 64" x 72" as I didn't have enough blocks for another row; I needed two more. I didn't want to not use all my blocks so I pieced two patched blocks from the offcuts/scraps (you can see a black one in the middle bottom of the photograph) to get that extra row. There is very little wastage from the jelly rolls, mostly small pieces that are less than 4 inches long - I was so pleased as this quilt was a challenge to myself. Actually that's how long this quilt has been in the works; I was working out the mathematical side (how big to make the squares and how to divy up the colours) in between dumping truckloads of rubble off up the paddock while Mr Busy was on the traxcavator. I had most of the kids in the truck with me and would fiddle on paper while waiting for the truck to be loaded, Feb 2009.

I played with words for this quilt and called it 'He Ming Hos'!

To update, I am still slowly hand stitching Butterfly Garden and My Town. I have half of the rows for Floral Boquet Sunkissed together. This weekend I am doing a leadlighting course (again! they are fun) so will have a lightshade to show you next week. I made one of these last year and it is easy to see why this craft gets addictive!

Menagerie

2011-05-24T13:19:00.001+10:00

A little of our home/farm life.

A rabbit that appears in our household from time to time! This picture shows the rabbit at line dancing classes! A few weeks back the rabbit ran into Landmark (rural supplies store) and gave lunch to one of our friends working there, this was at 8am in the morning and the staff couldn't stop laughing, it really made their day to have the bunny visit!

My son, Mr Z, breeds rabbits for pets and to eat; but we won't be eating this one!

These are geese that potter about, usually making loud noises when they see me on the telephone! Theylay lovely BIG eggs around Oct-Nov, one egg fills the fry pan!

Our two ducks, Henry and Jemima. We also have some younger ones about 2 months old, they grow really quickly adn the younger ones are almost identical to the older ones now! These are Peking ducks and we are breeding these to produce eggs and meat - I love duck in plum sauce! We also have a number of chooks too.

The pigs have names like Pork Chop, Nibbles, Roast, Bacon and Crackling.

We have kept two sows and a boar to breed from; can't wait till we have piglets again they are lots of fun!

Miss Busy is gluten and dairy intolerant, to the point that it has had a terrible effect on her health. She is 8 yrs old but is the size of 4-5 yr old. Over the years we have visited many Dr's and had many tests done, showing up nothing. Late last year we visited a nautropath who picked up a multitude of problems with Miss Busy. The first thing was to cut dairy and gluten from her diet and supplement her with priobiotics and enzymes to aid her digestion. Six weeks later ALL of her problems cleared up, everything was caused by her body trying to cope with the gluten and dairy. Miss Busy is growing at a fast rate now, isn't lethargic, sleeps less, has a more cheerful/happier disposition, is having less memory problems and generally looks allot healthier.

She was drinking rice milk but when I found out she could have goats milk we bought a pair of milking goats. We have milked house cows here for about 8 years so adding a goat wasn't that big a deal, it made sense. I never thought I would have goats or milk them but they are fantastic pets, rather like dogs in temperament. Milking them is quicker and easier than milking a cow, currently in their low milk production time we are getting approx 1.7L a day, in two milkings from one goat (the other one hasn't had a kid yet). They don't consume alot and if you make sure they have copper sulfate in their diet your trees should be safe from being ring barked.

Dolly is on the left and Katy is on the right.

Around the time we bought the milking goats we also bought two new house cows, Jersey's this time; we already have two Friesans. This is one of the calves, gorgeous!

This is Doris, one of the Jersey cows. While they had alot of milk we had to milk daily with the calves on them 24/7, but now that the calves are a few months old we have to separate the cows from the calves overnight or during the day to be able to milk anything. Between the thre cows we are currently milking we are getting approx 20L a milking.

A few months back I did a cheesemaking course and loved it!

The Cheesemaking Workshop

At the course I learnt how to make; greek yoghurt, fetta, camembert, ricotta, marscapone, quarg (cream cheese), blue vein, havarti, haloumi and cheddar.

This is some of the yoghurt that I have made withJersey milk that wasn't separated, you can see the rich creamy layer on top, yum yum! We add honey to sweeten it a little and often add stewed berries. I also make yoghurt from the goats milk.

Our 10kwh grid connect solar system that is on our shed.

That isn't all of our menagerie, by a long shot, but a little glimpse of what keeps us company (and busy) here.

(don't ask about the garden)

Butterfly Garden

2011-05-20T14:26:00.000+10:00

I got my Butterfly Garden quilt out the other day to work on. It has been hiding in the cupboard since I put it there over twelve months ago so I could stitch A Gardeners Journal.

Lynda has her Butterfly Garden quilt almost finished.

The first three blocks are finished, the fourth block is almost there and blocks five and six are prepared all ready to stitch and applique. It's so nice working on this quilt again!

I have machine appliqued the appliques in this quilt.

I bought this caddy some time ago (on a really good discount!) and have been using it recently to cart my ever growing stitching projects between the loungeroom and the sewing room. Keeps everything nice and tidy, rooms included!

Random Act of Kindness

2011-05-19T11:12:00.001+10:00

close up of some of Carole's return gift

I joined up for Maree's 'RAK', random act of kindness swap. Everyone who joined up was allocated a month to send something to any person they choose off the list. To make sure everyone recieved something you had to send a parcel back if you recieved something.

I chose two people, for different reasons. I chose Pat from Narromine, whom Peg blogs for on the Club Quilt blog. Pat has inspired me over the years with what she makes; and in particular a quilt of hers was very inspirational. I also chose someone at random, wanting to spread some love and kindness around; Carole from Abberdean was my random choice. It has been lovely reading her blog and getting to know her.

Now the slacko that I am, I didn't photograph what I sent to Pat and Carole. Initially I planned to make a gift for this swap but as my month ended up being March, an extra busy month I wasn't able to. So I put together a package of misc things; such as charm packs, threads, stitchery kit, bag handles, Cath Kidston pincushions etc etc. Both packages had some things the same and some things different. It was fun to put together these surprise parcels, a great swap! Thanks Maree for organising it!

This is what Carole sent back to me. A gorgeous bag with all sorts of bits and pieces in it. Love the stitchery on the bag!

Pat also sent me a gorgeous bag; funnily enough a bag that I was hoping to purchase the pattern for and make at some point; now I don't have to!

love the buttons she used, the right ones are on the back of the handles and the left ones are on the front.

Thanks so much Carole and Pat!

Excuse me posting twice in one day, I didn't want another week to get away before posting again!

EDIT - link to Carole's blog fixed now.

Piecing in Progress

2011-05-19T10:21:00.000+10:00

After all my applique preparation last week I have been busy piecing. Got a bee in my bonnet about getting something DONE so I got to work!

This is Anni Downs 'Simple Pleasures' quilt top, minus the stitcheries. I have used LuLu, a Maywood Studio's fabric; they have such lovely fabrics. I also left off the prairie points from the light border. This is a cot sized quilt and that is possibly what I will use it for, as a gift; or maybe a large table topper. Not sure yet, but it does need quilting!

I seem to have an ever growing pile of tops to quilt, does this happen at your house too?

A friend recently suggested that when the top is finished I get in and baste it ASAP. I think that is a great idea, and worth having a go at.

This is a Sunkissed jelly roll that Kerri sent me a little while ago as a thankyou for me helping her out with fabric for a quilt top that was from an older range and difficult to source. That is a frustration. With so many new fabric ranges coming out it is hard to keep up with them, they date really quick and it is often hard to purchase yardage or pre-cuts once they have been out a few months.

Anyway I ummed and ahhed over what to do with the Sunkissed jellyroll. Something that I DID consider purchasing but I kept deleting my cart as I didn't NEED it! So it was a fantastic choice of Kerri's to send me.

I finally settled on making 'Floral Bouquet' from the Jelly Roll Quilts book. I have wanted to make this quilt for ages but keep putting it off; and seeing Lynda's coming together was inspiring! Late last week I cut it out, was so nice to have found a white jelly roll in the cupboard so there was a little less cutting than if I had yardage. The next day saw me have the blocks together and at present I am stitching the blocks and rows together. I need to speed up a little as it is lying out on the floor and the floor is getting dirty....a design wall sounds great about right now!

This is Maypole by April Cornell, it's been around a couple of years. I bought this as a kit to make a braid quilt but lost the desire to do so but wanted to make something from it. I had no idea what until I saw Peg use the same jelly roll to make a Chinese Coins quilt with white sashings/borders. It was stunning!

That's when I knew I had to make 'Floral Bouquet' with it, and for the last twelve months or so this has been waiting to be made up! It's cut and ready to go now. This is for one of my daughters, the bright colours suit her so well.

Here is a block from the 'Sunkissed Floral Bouquet'. It looks so so pretty. Just right for the DD it is for.

Found It!

2011-05-12T09:43:00.000+10:00

I knew it was here SOMEWHERE!

I finally found where I misplaced the purse I made at GDITC Nundle 2011, it was tucked SAFELY in the side pocket of the bag I had there....duh!

I chose to do something simple for the purse applique and had this finished on the day. This is a birthday present for DD JessieGirl later in the year. Loved making it and I love working with wool, it is so forgiving!

Seems like this week has been applique preparation week here at my house. I have got 5 blocks ready to machine applique for 'An Angels Story'. {Yesterday I thought I had 6, can't count} I did start this quilt a few years ago, using Simplicity by 3Sisters but frustrated myself ith how I approached the quilt making and ditched the project, NEVER to return. However seeing Sandy's quilt and another 'An Angels Story' at GDITC 2011 I was re-inspired to make this quilt. This time I have 'Fresh Cottons' by FigTreeQuilts. This time my plan is to prepare all the blocks, machine applique, hand stitch then piece the quilt top. Fingers crossed that this doesn't get ditched again! is anyone else out there making 'An Angels Story'????

Kylie is about to start this quilt using 'Martinique'......

Homespun's My Town BOM

2011-05-11T13:36:00.000+10:00

I really wanted to have the first block of this quilt finished before showing you; however the THIRD block from Homespun magazine showed up in Monday's mailbox so I need to get a wriggle on!

This is 'My Town' block of the month that is in Australia Homespun magazine from March to December this year. The fabrics used in the quilt are 'Wild Rose' by Blackbird Designs; gorgeous fabrics. I wanted to make something from these fabrics but didn't know what. I also wanted to make a 'town' quilt at some stage as most I have seen I have liked. Then Homespun put out this years BOM project and I thought why not.

I did purchase some of the 'Wild Rose' fabrics but not all. I have got a little of 'Harvest Home' (an older BB Designs range in similar tone) here and some of 'Garden Party'; I will use some of these mixed in with 'Wild Rose'. I have two background fabrics as I didn't have enough of one and decided not to spend more money - use what I have.

The first block, the Quilt Shop by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched; is all appliqued but only partially stitched.

The second block, the Post Office, by Vivan Robinson. It is ready to be machine appliqued then hand stitched.

The third block, the corner store, by Melanie Hurlston of Melly and Me; is also ready to be machine appliqued and hand stitched.

I just found this morning that there is a stitchalong blog for this quilt; MyTownBOMStitchalong; and from reading the posts it looks like at least a couple of the blocks to come have a lot of work in them so I had better get stitching!

Quilts in Progress

2011-05-04T13:44:00.000+10:00

I may not have done much sewing lately but did find this partially together quilt top in the cupboard recently.

Brimstone Fire.

It is made with the 'Good FOlks' range by Anna Maria Horner.

I played around with cool and warm colours with it. The blue squares are to be appliqued.

What do you think?

Something a bit different to what I normally make!

Luna Notte.

I have two rows left to stitch together on this quilt, though I don't think any rows are stitched in the actual photo. I have made this quilt with just two jelly rolls and it is approx 80" x 80" - great size for my bed!

The photo above gives a better indication of the colours, so so pretty....

FIS Hatched and Patched

2011-05-03T14:00:00.002+10:00

This is what Kerri made for me, the gorgeous 'Smell the Roses' bag from Anni's book 'A Gardeners Journal'. I love the teal/blue fabric she made the bag from....so rapt to recieve something so beautiful! Thanks Kerri! I have used the bag on every trip to town since recieving it; lots of room inside!

This is what I made for Razzy. I made her up a sewing set using patterns of Anni's from here and there; tied together with the same stitchery/applique pattern. The bag is 'Petite Sewing Set' pattern, the needlecase is a 'Simple Stitchings' pattern, the scissor fob was in the book 'Simple Pleasures' and for the pincushion I used a pincushion pattern for the shape and enlarged the red bird stitchery (''In the Life of a Bag" book) and made it into a wool applique. I even used some of the fabric that I used to make my 'Gardeners Journal' quilt. Love what I made, it was fun making up a sewing set.

I can't believe how long it has been since my last post, I have been laid up though. Had a minor surgery on my foot and the stitches only came out yesterday so I am still hobbling about. I have done only a little sewing, and that is secret sewing for a FIS birthday. I have the bookwork for the farm up to date and have been reading alot. I recently discovered Julie Klassen. So if you are a Jane Austen fan you will love Julie Klassen. Another recent favourite is Cassandra Clare....eagerly awaiting the next book in the mail!

What are you reading?

FIS 2010 BOM progress

2011-04-15T07:20:00.001+10:00

Last week I pieced three blocks for my FIS sampler BOM from 2010. I got just 'a little' behind with this one! Loved doing it though, one block picked per month and they were fairly easy piecing.

The fabrics I used are misc Holly Holderman ones,most are from the Dolly Dresses range.

Excuse some of my piecing, it seems that you cut things out and double check. Then once they are stitched together, they don't always end up how they should! I am sure I am not the only one out there that this happens to!

My blocks so far. We had 12 to do, I have 4 left to go.

The extra block came in when I made two of the block I chose - Colorado Beauty, top right in the picture.

I will incorporate my second block into the backing, as I don't want to cull any of the blocks from the quilt.

I have a white on white dot for the sashing.

Pretty pretty!

GDITC 2011, belated

2011-04-14T08:03:00.001+10:00

Gareners Journal quilts and quilts in progress

Our table, with Anni and Kerry.

Tracey, Anni, Paula, Bec, Jo, Kerry

Janice, Kylie, Alison, Tracy

Friends in Stitching online group

Dawnie, Peg, Kerry, Kylie, Pauline (TAS represenative), Bec, Chookyblue, Tracey

Bloggers at Nundle

The swap gifts from Saturday

Hard at work on our purses!

I did finish my purse, but it has gone missing since I got home. Not sure if I have tucked it away for a certain DD's birthday that is up and coming; or if some little fingers has tucked it away amongst his toys.... I will show you when I find it....

Aunty Al is taking the pictures.

Time to smile!

Coming home.

Not much room in Aunty's car with what we bought......

More pic's on Aunty Al's blog.

Harry's Zoo

2011-04-13T13:35:00.001+10:00

Harry's Zoo

I bought three of these quilt kits while pregnant with my third son; thinking I would make the three boys the same quilt. Anni put in different fabrics for the borders so as they wouldn't get mixed up. I spent alot of time cutting and appliquing for one quilt then, with the busyness of life with five children under six along with a teeny tiny house I packed my quilting away. Fast forward four years and as you know, children grow up quickly. My eldest DS, MR Z from yesterdays post, didn't want a Harry's Zoo quilt any more. I still have the one appliqued and ready for machine stitching but really didn't think I wanted to make more than one at this time. So I advertised on my blog and sold one of the kits.

Karen from Brisbane (non blogger) bought it, and in no time at all (less than a month I believe) she has put together the quilt top. Doesn't it look fantastic!

Makes me itch to finish mine off now....

BugzRugz also recently made up a quilt kit I had bought to make up for MrZ, Animal Party. Also looks fantastic!

Now why do these kits sit in the cupboard for often years without being made up, then with the transfer of hands they are done oh sew quickly????? LOL. I guess that's quilting life for you.

I recieved my FIS Hatched and Patched swap parcel in the mail today from Kerri, I have put it aside ready to open Friday night. Very exciting!

Spooky!

2011-04-12T12:31:00.001+10:00

My eldest DS, MrZ, has picked this quilt out for me to make for him. He is the son that 'outgrew' the previous quilts I was making for him....hehehe we won't mention here that I had one of those two quilt kits here for a number of years...LOL.

MrZ has also picked out another quilt for me to make; one that I don't really want to make and I told him. He offered to help so I thought he can help with this one first. Last weekend I went through with him how to trace the patterns onto heat'n'bond lite, then press them onto the fabric and cut them out and press them onto the background fabric. Now we have two blocks ready for me to machine blanket stitch in black thread, this is great! I hope the other blocks go just as smoothly; the quilt will be done in no time if they do!

Now this quilt picture was up the right way but blogger turned it, not sure why and I couldn't turn it back - sorry you will just have to look at it sideways!

Here is a NEW project I am working on. I know, I can hear, I don'd need to start something NEW when I have so many half done projects....but a new project is just always so tempting, and inspiring!

It's gorgeous Luna Notte fabric by 3 Sisters.

Mum's FQ Quilt

2011-04-09T11:38:00.001+10:00

Mum was in a birthday FQ swap and from a number of last year's FQs she has made this quilt top. It looks gorgeous!

Lovely Things....

2011-04-08T17:51:00.001+10:00

I don't know where the rest of March went, nor do I know where nearly half of April has gone; but I do know that time has slipped by far too quickly since I last blogged, and I have so much to share!

Earlier in the year I was in a colour swap that Maree from On My Verandah organised. I sent green things to Cheryl and I recieved pink things from Toni. Gorgeous pink things. There were also a number of yummy pink things (lifesavers, marshmallows, turkish delight to name a few) to eat but they didn't make it to the picture. The parcel arrived on a day I needed a pick me up. I had just arrived home from doing a 10 hour return trip to pick up solar panels for DH; I had four of the children with me and a hellof a load in the trailer; and big mountains to drive down....fun day....so Toni's parcel put a big grin on my face when I got home!

I forgot to take a pic of the greens I sent.

Toni covered the buttons herself, gorgeous bits...Thanks Toni!

Another swap that I was in recently was for the Girls Day in the Country at Nundle last month. We had to make something designed by Hatched and Patched (the guest tutor) with a size limit.

Having just finished my Gardeners Journal quilt I used some of the beautiful border fabric to make this needlcase, LOL, with a GJ stitchery - love the ladybug!

This is the inside of the needlecase.

A lovely lady named Di, who has recently started stitching recieved the needlecase I made; she was so excited!

The swap gift I recieved was made by my friend Dawnie! She made Anni's dog pincushion, which I love. I don't have one of Anni's pincushions for myself though I have made a few, so this is just fantastic, I love it thanks Dawnie!

This parcel is yet another swap parcel! The online stitching group I am in has also had a Hatched and Patched swap (no size requirements). Opening night is Friday next week. I made for Razzy in the group and my parcel was posted to her yesterday. Can't wait to see if she likes what I made! I had lots of fun making this swap gift, did something a little different but still within the guidelines. Will share these swap gifts next weekend.

Please forgive me for not putting links in, the internet is running pretty slow here this afternoon.

Bindings Galore

2011-02-28T15:20:00.000+11:00

Gardeners Journal is finished!

I tell you, it was hard at times to keep working on this quilt for someone who likes to chop and change projects; but the encouragement of the Stitch-a-Long was fantastic! Thanks to Dale, Peg and Chooky who got it started; and thanks to Chooky for running the blog.

I am so so SO pleased to have this quilt finished, an achievement!

I have also finished binding FORKS, it has only taken a bit over twelve months from start to finish, LOL!

I am marvelling at this quilt, it looks so different with the binding on!

I love the backing too.

Forks completed.

I started on a baby quilt this morning for my sister. DH picked the pattern out a couple of days ago.

The crosses are dainty!

Sampler Quilt

2011-02-26T18:49:00.000+11:00

Finished at last!

My longest running UFO, a sampler quilt done in a class at The Home Patch, Bathurst.

I started the class late 2002 and then moved 6 hrs away to our farm before the class was finished. I had the quilt top finished early 2003 then had trouble quilting due to isolation and being new to it. I have made and quilted many quilts since then; and now this one is done! YEAH!!!!

DS was 2 when I started this for him, and now he is nearly 11. He is very pleased to have it on his bed, and it looks great there. I love the periwinkle blue and check in this quilt but there's no way I would choose all these fabrics to make one quilt these days, tastes change! It measures 63" x 96".

I love how varied and interesting my ditching quilting is on the back.

I did freemotion the hexagon block and part of the honeybee block.

Feels so nice to touch.....

and this is a little bassinet quilt for another baby that is due soon.

This is the reversible quilted fabric from the Whimsy range by Fig Tree Quilts; if I knew how nice this was when I ordered it I would have ordered more.....

Works in Progress

2011-02-26T18:24:00.000+11:00

My youngest sister is due with her first baby in the next week and I haven't made a baby quilt yet! Bit different to the arrival of my first neice nearly two years ago, I had her quilt bound and waiting for her to be born to make the label! Not to worry, I am improving with speed and accuracy the more I piece and quilt! I am sure this quilt will be done in time for the baby.

Just love Carrie Nelson's book, 'Schnibbles Times Two', so many fantastic quilts in there!

I also love the brighter colours of American Jane's Punctuation fabric.... a little brighter than Wee Play, Recess and Look'n'Learn. Love them all though, great ranges for kids/babies quilts.

A year on and I have finished quilting Forks and have the binding on waiting to be hand stitched down. YEAH! I am sure DH is pleased to have the pins gone from this quilt, LOL, as we have been sleeping under it for a while now and occasionally a pin would come undone! (and he was always the one to find it!).

Definately a works in progress, this quilt has been cut out for 18months to 2 years. I pulled it out on Thursday and got the appliques on it. Now to whip stitch them down...

A Disapearing Nine Patch Punctuation quilt.

Not sure where this quit will end up.

and I am also making a doll for my daughters birthday, another Katkins Designs one.

When asked what she wanted for her birthday she replied 'I want you to make me something. Then you don't have to spend money.' I asked her if there was anything she wanted made and got 'Anything you want to make me mum. I will be happy with whatever you make me.' WOW. How great is that.... and she is turning 8, so isn't all that old for such a selfless answer!

Bag Making

2011-02-26T17:57:00.000+11:00

This is a bag made using Beach House fabric by Blackbird Designs. It is from Leanne Beasley's book 'Romancing the Road Trip' and is 'The Easiest Bag You'll Ever Make'. It certainly was easy! It is also very roomy.

These are also from Leanne's book, and are 'Market Bags'. Not too hard to make either!

The fabric is Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey.

I have made these for birthday presents for my daughters; one birthday is up and coming very soon and seeing as I was making up one bag I thought I might as well make up the two.

Now I realise I haven't blogged for while, sorry but I have been busy stitching. I have also been to a cheesemaking class which was fantastic! In a few weeks time we will have a couple more milking cows here (Jersey's to add to our Friesan house mikers); bring on the cheesemaking! I have lots of stitching to share over the next few blog posts.

Quilting Forks

2011-02-08T14:15:00.001+11:00

I am about two thirds of the way through quilting my 'Forks' quilt that I started to quilt at the same time last year, definately time to finish it! Of a night I am stitching down the binding on the sampler quilt in the last post and will show you when it is finished. I can't begin to tell you how good it is to get these UFOs finished!

I am also working on a few secret squirrel projects that I can't share just yet...

We've had some rain here today, only about 5mls but that is better than none. Unlike other parts of Australia we have only had a very few ml of rain since Christmas time and if we don't get some half decent rain in the next few weeks with this heat things will not be looking good fire wise. We have dry thistles in the paddock that are waist and chest high on me, I dread to think how fast a fire would burn through. So I am hoping that we get some more rain.

Sampler Quilting

2011-02-04T08:31:00.001+11:00

Fresh in the morning sun is a snapshot of my first quilt top that is almost completly quilted!

I didn't know what to choose, fabric wise, the choice was so overwhelming. I ended up choosing the border fabric (bottom left) first then a co-ordinating solid in that lovey periwinkle blue. There are alot of stripes and plaids in this quilt as I chose them so I could give the quilt to my eldest child, a boy. At the time he was just over two years old. Now he is almost 11! All things going well the quilt will be on his bed before this birthday.

Cath Kidston Bag

2011-02-01T16:30:00.000+11:00

I made this Cath Kidston bag earlier last month ( Feb finish due to my slack blogging). The fabric came with the book all cut out and ready to stitch! It was pretty quick and easy to finish, I only wish I had of lined it. So pretty her stuff is..... Oh, and the book is called 'Sew' by Cath Kidston.

A Warning

2011-02-01T16:16:00.001+11:00

MrZ who is ten, has been practising his whipcracking, after being inspired by the bullock driver at Timbertown, Wauchope earlier this year. The welt heaped up and wasn't visable the next morning, and ds has learnt a valuable lesson in taking care with whips. The wearing of sunglasses (eye protection) compulsory for any whipcracking the children do, Mr Busy set this rule into place before the first whip was bought.

I have two bundles of fabric to clear from the deep recesses of my cupboard.

These are by Debbie Beaves, and both kits are the same excepting the colourings of the fabrics.

There is a roll of strips; 5.5" by half the width of the fabric (quilt top and scrappy binding); and fabric for backing. The purple backing kit has 27 strips and the green backing kit has 35 strips.

The quilt in the photo is what I intended to make with these kits (no longer need to), you could make this quilt or use the fabric for something else.

I would like to sell the green backing kit for $50 and the purple backing kit for $60. Leave a comment if you are interested. I will also take offers. I would love to send these to a new home where they will be used.

Chicken Run

2011-02-01T15:36:00.001+11:00

This is Chicken Run by Hatched and Patched, and it was the second quilt top I pieced!

I pieced this one while I was finishing the sampler quilt top I made in my intro to patchwork and quilting at Anni's Shop, The Home Patch in Bathurst.

We used to live in Bathurst and it was while we were in transition to moving to our farm (6hrs drive) that I walked into Anni's new shop and liked what I saw. After speaking to Anni and Kate (teacher) I signed up for the 8 wk class though I would only be there for 6 weeks of it. Before leaving town I stocked up at Anni's shop and actually had this top peiced; a big thing for me then as I had two children under two and was 5 months pregnant with the third. After we moved, I appliqued the chickens on and was desparate to have Chicken Run and my Sampler quilt quilted. I rang and ordered a walking foot and once here made a terrible mess of the practice quilting. No way could I do that. (Now I know that the silly shop sent me a freemotion foot and not a walking foot, no wonder I had trouble!) So I rang for an approximate price to have the quilts quilted. DH said no way were we paying that. At this time I only had a few weeks till the baby was due so I resigned myself to not having my quilts quilted.

As you can see in the above photo I did start to handquilt, but that didn't get very far! My arms got very tired of holding up the hoop. I looked into buying a hoop on a frame like Anni uses but again DH was a firm NO.

So Chicken Run has been sitting tucked away, out of sight.

EIGHT YEARS later I have now ditched the blocks, leaving my hand quilting in and giving the option to handquilt more in the future. It is finished and I am so very pleased with this lovely quilt! The chooks are so cute....

This is my second oldest UFO....

I am very sorry about not posting for so long, I didn't realise how quickly time has been ticking away. As a result I do have quite a few posts to put up in the next few days to catch you all up on what has been happening here.

Muddy Colours

2011-01-10T13:40:00.003+11:00

Raggy Rose is finished now and all wrapped up ready for her train trip. Unfortunately neither dh or ds would carry her on the train so she could enjoy the journey, she HAS to go in the bag or she would not be going I was told.....

She is meant to have a lace doily thing on her chest with a suffolk puff and button on top of this. The children and I decided that her dress was too pretty to cover up with this, we preffered her without it. Also other suffolk puffs were meant to be on her shoes and one in her hair, nah she is fine the way she is!

Some of my scraps left over from making A Gardeners Journal quilt.

My finished quilt top yesterday. The lighting in the photo doesn't do the quilt justice, maybe I will get a better pic when it is quilted.
I am so so SO pleased to have this quilt top finished!

I have also finished off a little swap gift to take to GDITC at Nundle in March.

Stitcheries and Doll Heads

2011-01-06T13:40:00.003+11:00

This is the last block I have to stitch for Gardeners Journal quilt. earlier in the year I had three blocks completed, then fractured my foot and was able to complete most the stitcheries but wasn't able to put the blocks together. Just after christmas I spent about half a day piecing the blocks, got carried away with joining the blocks up and am now VERY impatient to have this last block stitched and added on so I can put the borders on!

At times it did feel like I had a mountain to stitch, but like mountains when you get there the feeling is just great! Can't wait to quilt this....

Now that Gardeners Journal is almost finished I can pick up the stitchery project I just started when the Stitch A Long came along. This is Little Patchwork Village by Rosalie Quinlan Designs. I raided my stash and have a lovely pile of reproduction fabrics to make the quilt up in. The threads I am using are the Valdini three strand that I got from Anni at The Home Patch. They are beautiful to work with; and though it isn't much trouble to separate the DMC threads it is nice to not do it for a bit.

Chookyblue has a new project for the StitchALong for this year, Natalie Birds gorgeous christmas book, but I won't be joining in with this as I want to get Little Patchwork Village finished and also have an older BOM that I want to get done that has alot of applique and stitching in it.

Aunty has been meeting up with other stitchers in her area and she tells me that she will be joining in with this StitchALong and will be working on it at their weekly get togethers....sounds so lovely! Aunty has another big job this year, she is coming to visit before/after we go to GDITC at Nundle and will be sorting/helping me to sort out my fabric kit to make up McKenna Ryan's 'Back to the Farm' quilt (the same one she has been making at classes). I ordered this kit last year from Hancocks of Paducah (who sell these kits for McKenna's new quilts at a great price) and Aunty joined her local patchwork shop to make the quilt; then we compared notes and realised we both wanted to make the same quilt!

This face is Raggie Rose and she needs to be finished before Tuesday as she is off for a full day on the train to Sydney to go to her new home. I bought her as a kit from Katkin Designs. Gorgeous dolls.

Gifts I sent

2011-01-06T13:19:00.002+11:00

This is what I sent to Leanne from the online Friends in Stitching group. She loves reproduction fabrics and stitcheries so I made a table topper with repro fabrics and put in a Hatched and Patched stitchery kit. Since Christmas I have seen that Leanne does stunning quilting work so I hope she doesn't mind my ditching.

The angel ornament above was sent to Carole in the US for Chookyblue's SSCS.

and this was Carole's present; a small quilt, a Hatched and Patched small wall hanging kit and an Aussie teatowel. Like Leanne, Carole does stunning quilting - must pick my game up!

Secret Santa's Revealed

2010-12-25T15:52:00.004+11:00

My Secret Santa Christmas Swap partner for Chookyblue's swap was Marcia. She was tricky, it wasn't her name on the back of the parcel so she was VERY secret till today! Thanks Marcia, it made it all the more intriguing! I love what Marcia made and sent me, as you can see the lollies didn't make the photo! I have also put in the christmas tree decoration that I was able to open when I recieved the parcel. Beautiful presents, thanks so much Marcia!

This is my Secret Santa parcel from the online stitching group Friends in Stitching. This parcel came from Chookyblue, and what a surprise that was as I had posted her off a surprise parcel! LOL. I love what she has made me, beautiful gifts.

Below are the christmas tree decorations that were sent to my children in a decoration swap with some other children. The crocheted one was sent to me, I wasn't expecting it so thanks Jodie!

My five year old son HAD to join in with the stitching when the older three were making decorations to swap. He hasn't quite finished this one, and he only had a little help with cutting out and making knots. He even threads his own needles! He has a completed one hidden away somewhere.....not sure where it dissapeared to.

This was my christmas present. Mr Busy said earlier in the month that he didn't know what to get me so I ordered this. I wasn't expecting it to arrive before Christmas and it wasn't in yesterdays mail. Mr Busy sneakily collected the parcel from the mailbox and hid it till this morning! A lovely surprise! The book is about the history of quilting in Australia, I haven't had much of a chance to look at it yet but hope to get some good browsing time in the next few days.

I will be back in the next few days to show you what was made here and sent off for swaps.

Have a lovely christmas day!

Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T17:11:00.002+11:00

Wishing everyone a lovely christmas and fantastic new year!

I apologise for blogging little this last month and aim to blog more in the new year.

We have had three weddings, a farming seminar and numerous other things on to attend to in the past couple of months. I think we have lived in the car part time! I am glad to be home for a while now.

I received this parcel in the mail today, a secret santa parcel from the online stitching group I am in - Friends in Stitching. Looking forward to opening this tomorrow (and the SSCS one).

This quilt I finished just this morning, in time for Christmas.
This is 'Taffy Treats' by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill; I bought this as a kit from Honeysuckle Cottage about two years ago. This has been a flimsy for almost that long! This photo is to show the backing for someone who asked me recently on the phone about what backing I used...here it is. Not my first choice for backing for this quilt but by the time I made the quilt this range was quite hard to get (Poetry Collection by April Cornell); and I am happy with what I have used.

The scallops make the quilt so pretty. It was hard to let this quilt go, but it is going to be dearly loved where it has gone. I delivered it at lunchtime today to a neighbour who lives on another farm closer to town. She has been really good to me since we bought the farm and I wanted to show my appreciation for all that she has done.

This quilt is 'Rebekah Amy' by Rosalie Quinlan and I have used mostly Simplicity fabrics by 3 Sisters with a little Poetry Collection by April Cornell and a couple of other fabrics.

This quilt I finished last Monday (sewing the binding down). This quilt was commissioned before Christmas last year for Christmas 2010. I checked earlier in the year and again LAST WEEK, and yes, she did still want the quilt. Delivery day has come and gone, with the purchaser not taking my calls so I am very frustrated with being given the run around. I would prefer for someone to say that they have changed their mind.

This quilt is FOR SALE now.

I have a price range in mind so make an offer if you are interested.

Anyone interested please leave a comment

or email me at ohsewbusy at ipstarmail dot com dot au.

NEXT TIME I will be asking for a deposit to cover materials, this is a lesson learned.

I will be back in a flash with pictures of my SSCS and FIS Secret Santa parcels tomorrow!

Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

That Time of Year is Coming...

2010-12-03T06:26:00.003+11:00

What a beautiful tree decoration!

This arrived in mailbox this week from my SSCS elf, not sure who she is yet except that the parcel came from Sweden. I love the decoration she made me.

I have three parcels to open on Christmas that I have tucked away to wait for later in the month. I posted my parcel over a week ago so it should be arriving at it's destination very soon.....

We've been away which is why you haven't heard from me for a while. I will be back in the next few days to show you what I have been working on.

Lots of Finishes!

2010-11-18T13:08:00.004+11:00

Yes it is finished, I know it isn't bound in this photo but this is the most finished pic you will get of this quilt. This is Northern Solitude fabrics used to make up the Jellystone Park pattern, and this quilt is for my motherinlaw. I bought the kit from Sarah at PatchworksPlus a while back. This is the second time I have made this quilt and it is the second time EVER that I have had puckers on the back, in spite of being so careful with my basting. The top didn't quite sit flat this time or last time with this pattern. I love the pattern but don't think I will be making it up again, it seems that we just don't quite work together. has anyone else had trouble like this with a particular pattern?????

Oh and the backing. I used a Barbara Brackman olive green Morris Workshop tonal fabric that blends in beautifully with the greens in this quilt.

A charm square pincushion.

I first saw this stitchery pattern on a cushion in the Secret Santa givings at the Club Quilt Narromine last year or the year before; and by chance happened across the pattern in a Country Threads Stitchery mag in a second hand shop. I traced off the small design onto a charm square, then stitched the charms together to make a pincushion. The charms I used were from Pure by Sweetwater and I used a dark chocolate brown DMC thread for the stitching; love the effect!

Two more green sheep with Green Sheep books! I bought these books from Book Depository.

When I bought my half metre of green chenille Kerry thought I would get three sheep from it, but I still have enough left to make a fourth! The pattern is Kerry's but I added in the ears.

I have finished my Secret Santa present for the online Friends in Stitching group. I will reveal whats inside after Christmas.

Looks like Woody has put claim a the mini log cabin quilt that I have FINALLY bound!

It was done with a single fold binding and I found this to be rather fiddly, much prefer doble fold binding. Excuse the wonkyness, I pulled the binding over too tight in some places....

Last, not a finish but a works in progress.

Nellie's Needlecase by Anni Downs. I am part way through whipstitching the wool applique on. Love working with the wool, it's so lovely to push the needle through.

Matilda Station Finished

2010-11-08T16:06:00.004+11:00

Lovely wrapping paper!

Matilda Station is finished, wrapped and gone to it's new home!

A massive quilt and a huge amount of work; but very satisfying to have it finished.

A few weeks ago I went to make another sewing purse for a friend and stuffed it up. I didn't re-pin and sewed right over a pin and then caught almost the tip of the pin and broke the machine needle. It is the white headed pin in middle of the photo; and this project is still not finished!

Since I last blogged I have been head down working hard on my SSCS present to send. I finished it today and have it ready to post. The little parcel on top contains a christmas ornament and the recipient is to open this upon recieving the parcel; then the larger parcel is to be put away to be opened on Christmas day.

Time is Flying...

2010-10-16T14:02:00.004+11:00

It seems like I took a fortnight long nosedive into a rabbit hole! I intended to post Matilda Station progress a few days after my last post, and somehow that couple of days has turned into weeks! I have been busy stitching, don't worry. I have ALMOST finished BOTH my secret santa presents, very pleased about this!

Matilda Station isn't finished yet, though it is getting closer.

My freemotion quitling around the appliques is improving, these flowers above were done most recently; and the poor sheep below was the first guinea pig. I do intend to go around him/her again.

Here is the whole thing laid out on the floor. Blocks left to freemotion quilt are the pigs, cows, yard of animals and some fences. Yes, it is bound already! Because I had already quilted the borders I was able to do the binding, so chose to stitch this done while dh was sitting watching tv this past week. It definately needs a bit of a press too, rather crumpled from being in my hands binding stitching! I've also attended my sisters hens night, a first for me, but fun!

Two weeks ago I finally got to meet Janice! We have been online buddies for a while now, we used to live in the same town and while our paths crossed and we look familiar to each other we didn't actually know each other. So it was great to finally met her, and Mick. We had dinner at the pub together, Master 10yr old said 'it had been too long since he had been to the pub and could we please have dinner there mum???' How could we say no to that! A fantastic meal there as always; and fabulous company!

I made Janice a little present, and unbeknown to me she made one for me!

This is the beautiful coathanger Janice made for me. Thanks Janice!

This is the needlecase and gift bag I made for Janice (borrowed the pic from Janice's blog as I didn't photograph this before meeting her - thanks Janice)

I was recently in a brown paper bag swap with my online stitching group, Friends in Stitching. We had to send 2 FQs, some trim and a button to our swap partner to make something for us. I had to send my bits to Leanne in TAS, and I chose to send two fat quarters I had bought some time back from Kerry's shop that I hadn't used yet. Leanne made this beautiful toiletry bag for me! Thanks Leanne!

Peg had to send her bits to me to make for her. Peg sent a stitchery so I made her a bag with the stitchery on it. Again, I didn't take a photo - so thanks Peg for letting me borrow this one!

I really enjoyed this swap, it was fun!

Happy Days

2010-09-30T11:29:00.004+10:00

Finally finished after about 3 years!

This quilt has been sitting, about three quarters quilted for that long. I wasn't happy with my quilting and left it. Could not stand the thought of unpicking and starting again so it sat collecting dust. My friend Kim found out and told me to GET IT FINISHED! I didn't unpick, just picked up where I left off. Most people would not notice what I was unhappy with; and the quilting is part of my learning and progression; so I look at this quilt with a GREAT BIG smile now - it's finished!

My corners are a little rounded, actually looks nice for a something different. I had trouble binding my corners and when I finished the last one I worked out how I should have done it! Isn't that often the way!
What a beautiful sunny day we have here today, and some lovely green grass!

In the pattern Anni suggested using 10 inch squares for the backing or a single fabric. This was my first pieced backing and I love it! A pieced backing makes the quilt more reversable but I also don't think all quilts are suited to having a pieced backing - some just say one fabric to me.
The pattern is 'Happy Days' by Hatched and Patched. The fabric is by Heather Bailey.

I had trouble with lighting and camera's this morning; this is why I have two pictures here.

These fabrics are Beach House by Robyn Pandolph.

There is almost a full FQ bundle (missing maybe 3?), a couple of half yards, some full yards, some yard and a halves; also a couple of yards of wide backing fabric.

Anyone interested in making an offer for part or all of these fabrics, email or leave a comment.

I originally bought them to make a couple of quilts for some people who the fabrics suited, but have gone on to choose something different since the purchase.

Amy Bradley and Paper Piecing

2010-09-28T09:08:00.003+10:00

You'd better grab a cup or tea or coffee, this is a loooong post.

Remember this quilt???

I started it some time back with stash/scraps for my eldest son. After his recent 'I'm not a little boy anymore' revelation that ended up with some of his intended quilts being sold, I am feeling lucky that he still loves this one.

As you can see I have already done HEAPS of it! Not! Looks like I need to make a bigger effort with this quilt as my animal loving son has found a second quilt for me to make for him, ALREADY!

Kim over at Honeysuckle Cottage is going to run some Amy Bradley quilts as BOMs, mmmmm! These are so bright and cheery; and not all for kids either!

My two daughters are in love with Kitty Ballerinas.

Looks like I am about to embark on an Amy Bradley fest here; anyone care to join me???? I would love for some others to join me while I work on these quilts....nudge nudge!

Another option would be to purchase patterns and use as much of your stash as you can to make them.

While I was laid up with my fractured foot (now almost back to normal!) I started on a paper piecing project.

It's funny how things change, some time ago I started on small hexagons and lost interest. Then I started a Pies and Tarts quilt; and didn't enjoy making these either. By then I thought paper piecing wasn't for me. Sue's dvd on paper piecing came out with Australian Quilters Companion magazine a few months back and I really enjoyed watching it; but held back from paper piecing feeling fairly sure that I would start and not continue. By chance a fellow quilter sent me a link to SouthernCrossQuilters blog (she attends their monthly meetings) and the first post on their blog showed a paper peiced quilt that sucked me right in! Don't get me wrong here; so many of Sue Daley's and Robyn Falloon's paper pieced quilts have come close to tempting me, but this one just 'got me'. Kate found that the quilt pattern, Candied Hexagons by Kerry Dear, was in an out of print Quilters Companion mag. Kim found that Sue Daley is designing/making a quilt paritally based on this one; and has a starter's pack of templates and papers, which Kim is now stocking. Another turning point with paper piecing for me has been the basting. I hated basting. Now with the Sewline glue pen that Sue uses basting is much quicker and easier. Love it! Also, on Sue's blog are tutorials for all the paper peiced hexagons, which actually total more than what is in the Candied Hexagons quilt so you can pick and choose if you like! You will need to go back through her blog because there is no quick link on the sidebar, but they aren't too far back.

Have I lost you now???? Have I made sense???

Here are my blocks so far, about 15 done. I have another 10 basted up ready to stitch too. So that will make it 25 done out of approx 100 needed. Not too bad for someone who didn't paper piece! The block on the bottom left is JessieGirls; we made one block the same together one day and she really enjoyed the mum/stitching time.

A closer look at some of the blocks. nah, don't look too closely; I wouldn't get too far past the quilt police for accuracy!

Animals aren't allowed inside our house, but kids leave doors open from time to time and earlier this morning I found THESE four cats on MY Valori Wells 'Sole' quilt.

I often see photos on blogs with a cat or a dog on quilts but rarely do I see more than two at once; so before kicking them OFF and OUT I photographed them.

For no real reason their names are (left to right) Salem, Cactus, Eddie and C-Fa. LOL.

C-Fa was named by Mr Busy as he has a large C on his back and Mr Busy said 'C for cat, we'll call him C-for', which has become C-Fa.

Well I am off to do some more on Matilda Station!

A Little Cheer - part two

2010-09-27T17:06:00.003+10:00

Part two because I couldn't load all my photos into one post for some reason....

This is Bliss by Bonnie and Camille. The 'cheater' fabric, and one of the nicest ones I have seen so far - not just rectangles or squares but lovely looking circles! I have two daughters and one has a quilt already. The other daughter sadly will be waiting a while for one because I have a number of other priorities to get through first, and her two quilts here waiting to be stitched aren't quick and easy ones. So, after consulting with her I bought 3 yards of this Bliss fabric, 3 yards of backing, some red for a frill and some binding. This SHOULD make up a quick and easy quilt for her MUCH sooner than the others on the schedule!

She is so excited!

I have trimmed and joined the top piece for this 'whole cloth' quilt; and need to prepare the backing and baste it!

Verna by Kate Spain.

A gorgeous range, love the colours and prints in this. Moda did a little 42 inch square quilt using this range and I bought a couple of kits. One kit I passed on to Kylie. She made hers up at a retreat last weekend and said I need to get mine done; so here it is. Super fast to piece, and looks gorgeous! So, thanks Kylie for the push to get this one done! I am sure it will be almost as quick to baste and quilt.

I used another green for the outer border, just to be different!

This quilt top, also completed in the past few days, is Northern Solitude by Holly Taylor made using the pattern Jellystone Park by Legacy Quilts. I bought this as a kit (minus the pattern as I already had it) from Sarah at Patchworks Plus. You may recall seeing this quilt when I started it, quite a few months back.....

Lovely colours in this. I have renamed this quilt Southern Solitude as once quilted it will be heading South, to my motherinlaw.

All three quilt tops laid out on the new loungeroom floor - making the most of the space while I can!

I have also been busily working on Matilda Station for my sisters wedding next month. The top is all appliqued and pieced, it is basted and I started to quilt it today. I have to say it is a MONSTER of a quilt and over the weekend I had two words for it.

NEVER AGAIN!

I just get tired of working on the same thing especially when it is a BIG project.

Maybe some pictures tomorrow???

This week I am going to make a start on my Christmas secret santa swap stuff, should make for a refreshing change!

A Little Cheer

2010-09-27T16:47:00.003+10:00

From Jellywares on Marshall I ordered some of this gorgeous hot pink cotton, Jodie put in the lovely buttons - Thanks!

Also in the mail today was some Moda Basics (I love Kona Cottons but ordered the Moda so as to combine orders into one, I also had something secret to squirrel away for a secret swap....).

The Moda Basics and Kona Cottons are heaps cheaper than the print fabrics to purchase, and the book 'City Quilts' uses only these plain fabrics - making the quilts very cost effective to make! The print backing you can see here (Farmers Market by Sandi Henderson) was already here waiting to be used for something. I am hoping that you will be able to see my 'lolly' quilt for my food obsessed son very soon.....

Fat Quarters

2010-09-23T16:33:00.002+10:00

My fat quarters from the birthday swap I am in. Love them all! I have one quilt top planned for a large portion of these FQs but haven't any plans for the rest, YET!

This was a special gift sent to me, a notebook and a journal - so pretty in Rural Jardin, love that range.....

ummm not sure which is the front of the journal!

****

The FigTree baby quilt that I finished a few weeks back was FINALLY posted and has arrived while the baby is still little! Maree over at Farmyard Crafts rang this morning and was SO excited to have recieved a surprise gift in the mail for her new baby. *grin*

Lots of Mail

2010-09-20T17:46:00.002+10:00

I recieved this lovely parcel in the mail today from my Friends in Stitching online group. There are 8 fat eights and an extra FQ; and three block patterns to choose from to use the fabric for.

The fabric is from the Aviary range is very pretty and feminine, lovely!

In my Hatched and Patched bag I have my FQs from a FQ swap that I am in.

This is only a peek as I have a few more to come.....

Home Again

2010-09-18T16:18:00.006+10:00

I was packing the other night to go away for a wedding when Mr Busy wanted something to give a work colleague whose wife recently had their first baby. So what do you make for a baby when you are short on time? I made Kerry's sheep, a simple and great pattern. Mr Busy put the ears on it and we put Mem Fox's book 'Where is the Green Sheep' with it. A great present for twenty minutes work!

The baby was gorgeous, a week old and so tiny. The wedding was great and we had a lovely time away. The children had soccer on and stayed with my parents. The eldest went shearing for a day and now wants to quit school to go work....he is 10 so it will be a while before he is allowed to quit school to go work full time! Nice to have him keen though. Mr Busy took me to the movies and we saw 'Tomorrow, When the War Began' - I haven't read the book and really enjoyed the movie; and the outing to the movies! It was very quiet being away without the children.

We stayed at Mr Busy's cousins place and his wife recently recieved a quilt for her birthday. A lovely quilt....it's always so nice to see other people's quilts.
There was a matching cushion with it too.

It has been quite a while since I have read blogs, so please forgive me. I am so looking forward to catching up tomorrow and seeing what everyone has been up to.

Gardeners Journal Stitcheries

2010-09-07T13:06:00.002+10:00

While I have been laid up I have been working away on my Gardeners Journal stitcheries. I haven't been able to put the blocks together yet but soon!

Pincushion and Baby Quilt

2010-09-06T16:00:00.003+10:00

I finished Masie's Pincushion for August, my ONLY finish for that month!

It was for JessieGirls birthday last week and she loved it!

Just to update, the Dr at emergancy does have to eat his hat as there is a fracture in my foot as well as a piece of bone chipped off that is attatched to a tendon. I have another two weeks on crutches then am back to the physio.

This week I stitched the binding down on an already quilted baby quilt, such a wonderful feeling to get a quilt finished.

The quilt was made from Fig Tree Quilts charms and I did a dissapearing ninepatch.
Quilted it in the ditch then quilted some not quite circles on some of the larger squares in the quilt. Gorgeous colours.....

10 Days on...

2010-08-19T15:35:00.007+10:00

I think you had better get a cup of tea or coffee as this post has turned out to be WAAAY longer than I intended when I first started writing.....

10 days ago I fell down some steps.

There were only two of them but the lower one isn't as wide as the top one; I step off towards the side to avoid the big mud puddle that sits in the middle at the bottom of the step. AND because I am a sparky's wife we have lights in the sheds but NOT outside. It was night when I fell and my poor little boy was in my arms at the time. He was quite shocked to have his mummy suddenly fall screaming to the ground. Aside from the shock he was fine. I was not. LOL.

Somehow I made the long and painful trip into the hospital, funnily enough there was another patient in the emergency room (our hospital is small) with his ankle bound up in bandages and crutches near by! Good news, the Dr said he would eat his hat if I had broken bones in my foot and sent me home on crutches.

Crutches are not fun to use, especially in my circumstances. To leave the loungeroom/bedroom part of the house I have to go down about 7 very narrow and steep stairs (no railing of course); then negotiate about 25m of postholes (waiting for posts), uneven ground and lots of mud. This the only way to get to the bathroom and kitchen at present.

I can now hobble to the bathroom without the crutches almost causing another accident, which is much better.

Where the icepacks sat on my foot I only had mild yellow bruising come up. Amazing stuff that frozen water! The rest of my foot was not pretty. In the photo below the bruising has cleared up alot since it first came out.

Now I am hobbling about and helping more with everyday things but it will be another week or so before my foot is back to normal and pain free.

A few days ago my second youngest son, who is almost 5 yrs old, suddenly had a bad foot like mum. I found him lying on the lounge with pillows under his head and his foot, complete with ice pack!

Paper Bag Swap

I am making for Peg in the paperbag swap that with the Friends in Stitching webgroup that I involved with. She has sent me a stitchery (beautiful, as everything is that Peg makes!), two fat quarters, two buttons and some gorgeous ricrac to make SOMETHING for her!

I have no idea what yet, any ideas? Don't you just love how she decorated her paper bag? Just beautiful! My bag, that I sent to Leanne who is making for me, wasn't decorated nearly as creatively - sorry Leanne.

Part of the swap was that you had to put in something chocolate for your partner. Peg put in a couple of my favourite chocolates and some for the kids; but they aren't in the pic's as they were enjoyed last week when I was lounge bound. This is the back of Peg's gorgous bag.

While I have been laid up; between handing out extra chores and schooling the children; I have done some stitching. I already had the two little stitcheries done, and part of the house before my accident. Weeding the Garden should be finished tonight, all things going well. So when I am able to sit at the machine again I will have three blocks to put together for Gardeners Journal.

One day last week I had had enough of the stitcheries and decided it was high time that I got this pincushion made for DDs upcoming birthday. It is made from wool and was just divine to stitch on. DD went back and forth to the iron and did the pressing for me. LOL, a couple of pieces have a slightly brown tinge to them! So far she has forgotten that she asked me ages ago to make this for her.... The yellow pin is a pintopper, gorgeous!

Last of all Mr Busy has started to paint the house. I take ages to pick paint colours. He was in a rush and not happy because I hadn't decided. He didn't want to paint it mid to dark blue like I wanted so I told him to pick a colour. He chose violet from a traditional colour scheme, but I told him he had to have a darker colour as our windows, roof, gutter and fascia are all light in colour and we needed some contrast.

So the house is Intense Purple. I love the colour. I am not sure if it is right for the outside of the house though. Maybe I have been too used to seeing the white undercoat for the past four years???? Once the verandah sides are done I will be able to get a better idea of it. The only side painted at present doesn't have a verandah off it so it is rather exposed and bare looking.

Don't you love our temporary verandah rails made from sheep yard panels......

Skills

2010-08-06T09:52:00.004+10:00

I rarely go in the newsagent these days but last week on a wet day in town I felt drawn to visit my local newsagent. I found this special edition Quilters Companion magazine with dvd. I so wanted to purchase it but struggled as I wondered did I REALLY need a dvd on BEGINNING patchwork as I have been stitching for quite a few years now. I bite the bullet and bought it. Hehehe I was tempted to tell the girl at the counter that I WASN'T a beginner but didn't.

It is FANTASTIC!

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this dvd; and how much I will get out of it over time.

Beginner is such an inappropriate name for this, something like Skill Builder would be more suitable. The dvd went through basic things like cutters, boards, fabrics, cutting; and things like Y seams, on the point, setting triangles, half square triangles, curved piecing, foundation piecing, machine applique, english paper piecing, partial seams and specialty rulers.

The accompanying magazine has 12 projects that build in difficulty following the dvd. The projects are all designed by different Australian designers and the dvd is presented by Michelle Marvig and Claire Mooney.

It was well worth purchasing and made a cold afternoon lovely, snuggling up on the lounge to watch it.

This is my block keeper that was made for me earlier in the year by Lynda in Wonderland in a swap. I wanted to share how full it is getting!

The quilt blocks I have in here are; Gardeners Journal, Little Macca's Farm, Friends for Christmas, Harvest Home Sampler; and Friends in Stitching BOM. Love it!

Here is block A for my Gardeners Journal quilt, finally! Now I have three blocks done and am only one behind now.

This stitchery slowed me down, I had the table and the tree to go but could not get motivated to pick it up to finish it *grin* all done now!

Little Macca's and Gardener's Journal

2010-08-02T17:11:00.002+10:00

I put together block H and block A on the weekend. I have only shown block H here as block A still has a stitchery that isn't quite finished..... After only finishing one block to date and being quite a few behind it felt really good to have more pieced together.

The seed packet stitchery was quick and fun to stitch.

something went wrong with my square in a square block for the wreath and it was smaller than it should have been, also the points got cut off with the seam allowance. I guess these blocks aren't something that I do easily! So I put an wider border around the block so it would fit.

This morning I finished off the last two blocks for Little Macca's Farm. Next to do with this quilt before putting the blocks together is to stitch all the animal sounds on each block (neigh, meow etc). These have been fun, easy blocks to do and after seeing lanalarn's Noah and Friends I am keen to do one too; though this won't be for a while....

The maroon on the horse is flannel, very nice!

Noah and Friends

2010-07-27T19:07:00.004+10:00

My friend Lanalarn (non-blogging) recently finished making Noah and Friends for her daughter.

All the fabric came from her stash except for the main background. They eyes have crystals, and I love the wavy scalloped border! Hasn't she done a great job! It looks fantastic!

Has anybody else made this quilt?

Fantastic Book

2010-07-23T10:25:00.002+10:00

This is Pam and Nicky Lintott's newest book; Two From One Jelly Roll Quilts.

It is FANTASTIC!

Each quilt in the book is made from half a jelly roll (or 20 x 2 1/2 inch strips) plus a little extra yardage. The quilts range in size from 47 x 58 inches to 34 x 44, and there are instructions up the back of the book on how to increase your quilt size. Also up the back of the book is a chart for fabric requirements if you aren't using a jellyroll; and information on calculating the amount of backing required.

Such creative ideas, they takes the worry out of what to do with that jellyroll!

Gorgeous Rural Jardin fabrics....
and 3 sisters fabrics, so pretty...

This week I have been working on finishing a couple of quilts that are partially quilted, Happy Days by Anni Downs and a disappearing nine patch baby quilt. I am hoping to finish these over the weekend, and also get some work done on Matilda Station and Little Macca's Farm.

Sons. They grow up. Too fast.

My eldest is 10 now and he informed me the other day that he longer wants the quilt made from the kit I purchased last year for him (I have two others to make for my other two sons - better get a wriggle on!).

The fabric is Animal Party by Amy Schimler for Robert Kaufman - Amy creates fabulous fabrics for children. Anyway, if anybody is interested in this 'I'm too big for this quilt now' kit; then drop me an email. There is backing for the quilt, the quilt size is 43 x 52 inches; and cost would be $85 including postage within Australia.

EBCC Apron

2010-07-16T08:03:00.002+10:00

I finally finished this apron yesterday. Initially I started on this apron sometime last year....

It was made using Momma's Apron Strings range of fabric, gorgeous 1930's repros.

The first thing to go into my EBCC basket.

Both the waist and neck have ties, so it is adjustable for anyone to wear.

I love the lining fabric....you could wear it reversed as well.

I started quilting a baby quilt yesterday and am hoping to have it bound and finished by tomorrow.... I am anxious to get some quilting done, so hopefully a number of those flimsy's that I have here will soon be quilts!

Day Trip to Nundle

2010-07-14T11:16:00.003+10:00

Late last week Kylie and I met at Cottage on the Hill at Nundle. This is kinda half way for us.

Here we are pictured with Kerry in front of a Rural Jardin quilt, just gorgeous fabrics!

After shopping at Cottage on the Hill we visited the Nundle Woollen mill. I bought some seconds wool to put away for a future project that I am collecting for; and Kylie bought something to try a new craft (I will let her tell you about that). Then we had lunch at the park and browsed quilt books and had a lovely time. This sort of meeting for me is treasured as I don't have any quilting groups to attend to and rarely see anybody in person that quilts.

Some of the beautiful quilts that adorn Kerry's shop walls.

A lovely array of buttons in the beautiful old cupboard.

Early Bird Christmas Crafting

2010-07-07T16:38:00.002+10:00

I have joined Judith with Early Bird Christmas Crafting. I am a bit late joining but better late than never. July is making presents for the home and I have a few things on the table part way through. Judith has lots of inspirational ideas on her blog to get our creativeness going, well worth a visit.

My journal and my basket, trimmed with Tilda Christmas ribbon, ready to record and hold the gifts that I am making for Christmas.

Here is the journal cover up close. It was wing pattern, meaning that I winged it! The fabric I used is an older one, ummmm Masion de Noel by 3 Sisters for Moda. Loved it, it was so pretty.... The red ribbon set it off nicely.

A close up of the Tilda ribbon, this was part of Chookyblue's SSCS present that I recieved from Gudron two Christmas's ago. I have been reluctant to use it, it is so pretty. However it is just wound around the basket handle so it can be used again easily!

PS Having trouble getting other pages to open today so the links I intend to put in may not be in my post yet.

Productive Weekend

2010-07-06T21:46:00.004+10:00

EDITED to ADD: I neglected to mention that the appliques were all prepared ready for me to stitch them on Saturday, and that the baby quilt was basted on Sunday. I didn't mean to write it to read that I prepared, stitched AND basted in the short time, sorry! Bec xxx

I thought I had lots of time this weekend just gone to do some sewing amongst other things because there was no soccer on the Saturday. I ended up with 40min that afternoon and was interupted three times. A bit later in the afternoon I managed to snag two more 40 minute sessions. Why 40mins??? I listen to podcasts when I sew (mostly) and alot of these are for 40min. Though I didn't achieve all that I set out to, I was happy with what I did get done - always set more than I can manage!

Here is another Harvest Home Sampler block. I still have a few more blocks to do as I have fallen behind.

The centre block for Little Macca's Farm. As you can see storing them and not finishing them isn't good for the edges....

I basted a small baby quilt in our new loungeroom. The room is a similar size to the loungeroom we left in Bathurst. At the moment it is great for basting; till hubby starts sanding the walls....
Another block for Matilda Station. The top of the windmill goes on once this block is joined to another block as it overlaps. Nice big pieces to applique in this block.

Some bath mitts, made from wavy chenille. They feel ever so soft and lovely....

I have done more since the weekend, stitching for Gardeners Journal quilt and a journal cover for the Early Bird Christmas Crafting (see top of the sidebar); will show you in the next couple of days.

Anni's New Book

2010-06-23T17:26:00.002+10:00

This arrived in the mail today, I was on a pre-order list at the shop. It is just divine, lots of lovely quick and easy projects; all related to bags. A fantastic book for gift ideas! Thanks so much Anni for all your creative ideas!

This is a treadle clock that Aunty sent me a few weeks back. She is collecting miniture sewing machines and Treasure (her boyfriend) suggested sending one to me. What a lovely surprise it was! I have photographed the clock where it sits, on the shelf near some FQs. So lovely to look at.... Thanks Aunty!
Aunty is making McKenna Ryans 'Back to the Farm' quilt in classes, have a look at her posts about it so far.

Also in the mail today was Down Under Quilts magazine; and while flicking through got a big surprise! There on the page with random photos from the Royal Easter Sydney Show was my mother-in-law watching a beading demonstration!

This week I have been machine appliquing Little Macca's Farm. It seems I put together the main centre block but did little stitching on it, so I have a bit of work ahead to get this one done as it is a large block. I have also done some machine stitching on a not quite finished block for my Harvest Home Sampler quilt; and have finally picked up the needle again to work Gardeners Journal stitcheries. There does not seem to be enough hours in the day!

Little Macca's Farm progress

2010-06-17T18:25:00.002+10:00

Another two blocks together and appliqued for Little Macca's Farm.

They still need their 'sounds' stitching in, BLEAT for the goat and MOO for the cow. There are two blocks and the border to get together before assembling the whole quilt.

The eyes are buttons which go on after quilting.

It's a fun quilt to make, large blocks so fantastic to start off with machine applique.

Anyone know what this is????

LOL

That's right, it's a piece of weaveline that I didn't pay attention to the other day when pressing it onto a stitchery. Lucky I haven't put together my new ironing board cover yet!

We've hit some cold weather here today and a great place to be is in the kitchen with the slow combustion stove, the children and a board game. We have just finished playing Monopoly Junior - me being weary of Squatter, it has had quite a work out the past ten days or so!

This afternoon I have been working on machine applique projects. I should have some more Harvest Sampler blocks to show you soon. There are five completed and I have a number of other blocks for the quilt on my desk waiting to be started/finished.

Knitting Takes Off

2010-06-15T16:16:00.002+10:00

A knitter I am not. It is an aspirtion though, same with croquet. I start, doing maybe a row or two and that is it. Until this last week. I am SO excited! A week ago last Saturday I picked up the needles to knit a scarf for my friends birthday; and kept at it, and at it until it was finished! I REALLY enjoyed knitting it! My technique does need some tweaking, but it certainly got easier as I went. Looking foward to some more knitting soon!

We have just had a long weekend here in Australia. Tonto came to visit and she was very pleased with her scarf. So glad she loved it. Tonto visits regularly and we enjoy her visits. This time she joined in with an archery shoot out and was introduced to a new board game, Squatter.

In case you are wondering Squatter has been around since the 1960s and is kinda like Monopoly but is about sheep stations, buying and selling sheep.

Late one afternoon Tonto made 'Happy Hour' so good that we skipped dinner (she does a FANTASTIC happy hour spread), and kept drinking and nibbling.... well the kids didn't drink but they were full up on creamy cheese bacon bread dip. mmmm. Next time I will get a photo of it and post it with the recipe.

The night after I finished the scarf, our midget doorway dissapeared, permanantly!

MrBusy got busy and pulled it down. He has now 'adjusted' it and it is back up as a bedroom wall. The bedroom is to the right and has the ladder in it. Looking straight ahead you can see the family/dining and kitchen, through to the laundry (outside door is covered with Rhino wrap until we go buy one).

This afternoon I have mucked about with freemotion quilting, to do the applique work on the geese block for Storybook Farm that I put together the other week. Not ready to start on the real thing yet, worried about mucking it up!

Gardeners Journal

2010-06-11T12:53:00.002+10:00

This is block G from Anni Downs A Gardener's Journal quilt that I am doing with the Stitch-A-Long group. This block was meant to be finished back in April....and I was meant to have block A finished in May....

I am very pleased now that my fabrics are cut and bagged up in their blocks, so I am hoping to progress more quickly now.

You have to have a look at the Stitch-A-Long blog, the quilts are coming along beautifully and they all look fantastic in all the different colours and fabrics!

(and it's not too late to join in)

I recently renewed my subscription to Australian Quilters Companion and they sent me this little bundle of FQs for free. They are just gorgeous and I can see bits of them being used in lots of projects. Last year I bit the bullet and subscribed to three magazines; something I had never done before, mostly due to the initial cost. However it has paid off. My magazines come to me in the mail so I no longer have wasted trips to the newsagent to check if the next one is out. It also saves me money because I am not going into the newsagent and coming out with unplanned purchases! Last of all, the free gifts are fantastic. When I subscribed to Australian Homespun last year I recieved a pair of the Scissoroo scissors which are worth a bit of money, I love them! Not all magazines offer free gifts for subscribing, but having my magazines delivered to my mailbox (I can't say door because the mail box is quite a drive from the house) with no extra mailing costs is great! Do you subscribe to any crafting magazines???

We've had a lot of icy cold weather here lately, how are things your way???

24inch Baby Quilt

2010-06-09T07:30:00.002+10:00

I finished this quilt yesterday for a competition that was advertised in Down Under Quilts magazine. The quilts from the competition will be distributed throughout Australia for Neonatal Intensive Care Units to offer small quilts to families whose babies dies before or at birth.

I was sent the FQ of Nicey Jane fabric to use to make the 24 inch quilt, and I put white with it because I wanted something simple but effective.

Now here is an interesting read!

The Duggar family has 18 children, one daughter-in-law and one grand-daughter. I stumbled across this book one day at Amazon. It is a fascinating read on how they family manages everything; from day to day life (including homeschoooling) to overnight trips together. They don't have live in maids and they live in a HUGE house that is just gorgeous; AND they are debt free, not rich but comfortable.

They certainly make my five children sound like a small number!

Duggar Family

National Parks

2010-06-04T11:58:00.002+10:00

These are some pictures of the National Park where we went camping last weekend.

It was beautiful, and peaceful though terribly terribly cold as it is winter here in Australia.

Exciting Works

2010-06-04T10:59:00.003+10:00

Above is some DollyDresses yardage that arrived today from the US; I have been using my stash of this range to make a BOM quilt with the online Friends in Stitching group. Each month one of us posts a link to instructions to make a pieced 12 inch block; we will end up with 12 blocks over 12 months. Until very recently I was a bit niggled as I didn't know how I wanted to 'set' my blocks. However when that pretty floral piece of Dolly Dresses 3 came the other week I knew Ihad to have some more of it! So I have 5 yards of it to do the main border and the backing. The periwinkle spot is for the inner border and binding; and the white spot is the sashing between the blocks. I ordered a yard each of the spot fabrics, but am wondering now if there will be enough for the sashing???? I hope so.

Also in the mail today came Deb Louie's quilting stencils!
The most recent Australia Quilters Companion magazine came with a free dvd 'Introduction to Free Motion Quilting with Deborah Louie'; and in the magazine was an offer to purchse the quilting stencils direct from Deb. These quilting stencils are used with a quilting pounce and chalk - which will arrive here soon. Deb's dvd has re-inspired me to make a move on my quilting. I seem to be able to pile up quilt tops easy enough but am rather slow when it comes to quilting them. I am hoping that the quilting procrastination will ease up as we gain some more living space here - things have been rather cramped here for a number of years.

A recent project is McKenna Ryan's 'Storybook Farm' quilt.

These are art quilts, and something new to me. The majority of the quilt is freemotion raw edge applique. I thought I picked the easiest block to start with for this quilt; however soon realised that even the simple blocks have many many pieces!

Here you can see that I am using an applique mat - a fantastic creation.

Here is the Geese block ready to be spray basted to the backing for me to freemotion the raw edges and quilt. As you can tell by my boot the blocks aren't tiny!

This quilt has been around for sometime now, and I NEVER thought I would be able to make something like this (LOL still might not be able to!). I bought this from Annie's Cottage Crafts in TAS as a BOM - she still has a few left but once they are sold won't be making up anymore BOMs/kits as alot of the fabrics are out of print.

Aunty started an in-class BOM for McKenna's 'Back on the Farm' quilt. (Lucky her, she gets tutoring!) So far they have cut and appliqued their fabrics and are almost ready to start stitching. Aunty tells me they won't be doing the stitching as freemotion rawedge so I am anxiously waiting to hear how they do it and how it goes. We both agree that the purchase of a Clover Mini Iron would be a fabulous help to press all the tiny pieces in these quilts.

I am so excited to be doing this quilt, and to be able to confer with Aunty as she attends her classes making her similar quilt.

Another recently started project is a Moda quilt using the Verna fabrics by Kate Spain.

Gorgeous range... I bought this as a kit a while back from Natalia at Piece'n'Quilt in the US.

I have been working on more applique projects but will share these in the next few days, will also show you why I haven't blogged since last week - it will freeze your toes off!

Kerry made for me in FiS Bag Swap

2010-06-04T10:48:00.003+10:00

Kerry made my bag in the Friends in Stitching bag swap, she used a pattern from a book by French General AND even used french fabrics!

The bag has a square shaped base and folds up very nicely; so it will be great to keep in a town bag, to give me extra shopping bags.

The stitchery is one of Rosalie Quinlans from the quit pattern Little Patchwork Village, very cute stitcheries and I LOVE all red stitcheries.... and red bags.... funny that Kerry made me a red bag and I made Jan a red bag for the swap!

Had to show you the inside of the bag; just gorgeous fabric.

Thanks so much Kerry! I love it!

oh, and because I put MissBusy's clothes in for the first pic; she thought the bag was for her! Wasn't happy when I said she couldn't keep it.

LOL

Smell the Roses for FiS Bag Swap

2010-05-28T19:12:00.003+10:00

This is the bag I made for Jan in the Friends in Stitching bag swap.

Smell the Roses by Anni Downs/Hatched and Patched in the Gardeners Journal book.

I really enjoyed doing the stitchery; and added in a small red butterfly just above the roses.

I hope Jan likes it. I loved making it; except for pressing the handles, it seemed like no matter what I did I couldn't get the handle lining fabric out of sight - very dissapointing, sorry Jan.

Top and bottom of the stitchery is some gorgeous cotton lace that I was saving for a special project. Love the effect it has on the rich red background.

Rebekah Amy for my Nan

2010-05-23T10:57:00.004+10:00

This quilt went to Sydney last week to my Nan via my Mum. A week before that Mum said she was going down to visit my Nan and my Sister. I had planned to make this quilt for my Nan for Christmas and her birthday but decided to go all in and try and get it done for Mum to take it to her to use THIS winter. It would be oh so lovely to recieve a quilt for a Christmas present but here in Australia that is NOT the time of year to snuggle with a quilt!

Saturday night I did the cutting up.

Sunday and Monday I spent a little time piecing.

Tuesday afternoon I basted.
Wednesday I did some quilting.
Thursday was a no power day (Country Energy doing some linework in the area) therefore no quilting could be done that day; but this actually worked in my favour. The night before no power I machine stitched the binding on so I was able to spend the powerless day handstitching down the binding; something that normally takes me 2-3 nights.
I spent some time Thursday night quilting and finished the last bit of quilting Friday morning.

I ditched the quilt. Originally I had plans to do more quilting than ditching but with our normal jobs, schooling etc etc and my time frame ditching the basics was all I had time for.
oh, and the thread. Because I decided to do this quilt on the spur of themoment and in such a short time frame I had NO matching thread and wasn't able to do mail order or go anywhere to get some. LUCKILY I found some cream similar to the cream in the fabrics and this ended up looking fine on the back, though it was in contrast to the backing fabric.

Here I am Friday morning stitching the label on that I had time to make before heading to meet Mum in town.

The finished quilt.

Started Saturday night and completely finished before lunch on the following Friday; a mind boggling experience for me to start AND finish a QUILT in such a short time! Very empowering too; though I haven't done much since, LOL, must have sewed myself a bit out....

Every quilt needs a label. I like to use leftovers from making the quilt.

This quilt was very appropriate for me to make for my Nan.

Rosalie Quinlan named the pattern 'Rebekah Amy'.

I am Rebecca and my Nan is Amy.

I bought this quilt as a kit from Kerry at Cottage on the Hill, the border isn't part of the original pattern and is about 8 inches wide with mitered corners. This was my first time donig mitered corners and I was pretty happy with how they came out and that doing them wasn't as bad as I thought!

The fabrics are Maywood Studios...'He Loves Me' by Jackie Robinson I think...

Anyway, they are just simply gorgeous - thanks Kerry for such a beautiful kit!

Thanks Kim for the lovely backing fabric!

You know, Mr Busy liked them...that has to say something!

My Nan rang a few nights ago; very excited about her quilt. I was so pleased she liked it!
Then I told her it was second hand. LOL She didn't know what to say! I told her that when I quilt quilts they live on my bed in between quilting time as I have no where else to keep them flat and nice. Mr Busy has gotten used to sleeping with safety pins on his bed! LOL.

Where do your quilts stay while they are being quilted, if you quilt your own???

Mail, Shopping and Other Bits

2010-05-21T15:10:00.007+10:00

Look at what came today! Can't wait to sit down and watch this dvd of Deb's.

It comes free with this months Australian Quilters Companion magazine, so if your interested in free motion quilting - head to your nearest newsagent to see if they have it.

Mr Busy did this last week. We now have a 'midget' doorway between our house and the extension. It's great not to have to walk all the way around the house to go between the two; though as the eaves aren't done yet (and winter is fast approaching here in AU) it is a bit chilly...

oh, mending pile is on the left and ironing pile is on the right. The ironing pile has a pulse by the way.....

Looking through the 'midget' doorway into the extension - family/dining room and kitchen further down. The children and I have been doing bookwork for school here, in the lovely morning sun coming through the stacka sliding door. The mess is stored stuff that I am sorting through. What's being kept is less than half - now that is a load off my mind!

Had a parcel in the mail today from Kerry. We are in an online stitching group together, Friends in Stitching. Kerry made a bag for me in the recent bag swap. I made a bag for Jan (who made my christmas present from this group). Jan's bag is finished but I can't show you yet! and I can't show what Kerry sent me because it's not time to open it yet ...... though I did open the card to read.

(Don't worry Kerry, I haven't seen inside the book you said you made the bag from so I have no idea what is going to surprise me on opening night)

Fabric buying (and spending) has come along way with me, for ages it was 'gotta have gotta have'. Now I have learnt to be more choosy about what I do buy.

Recently I found a fantastic site in the US that sells mostly reproduction fabrics (a favourite of mine) AutumnRoseQuilting. I was so tempted to purchase a number of FQ packs. I spent a number of weeks pondering over this purchase and decided I didn't need to spend the money to have most of the fabrics collect dust here when I already have so much to sew. Instead of purchasing the FQs and other bits I chose three fabrics and ordered 1-1.5 yards of each. I did not purchase these from ARQ this time as I had a partial order from another shop at the time and combined it to help with postage.

The rest of the order included these two Nicey Jane fabrics that I have been eyeing off for simply ages, to make two market bags for my girls - like their brothers.

and, this piece of DolyDresses3 - to go with my little Dolly Dresses stash that I am using to make the Friends in Stitching BOM (taking turns to pick a 12 inch pieced block each month). This was my favourite fabric in that range. Just adore the blue and pinks in it.....

This is the Friends in Stitching block for May for the BOM.

Dawnie picked me to choose this months (she did last months).

I thought it was going to take me ages to pick one but the first one I clicked on to look at (liked the name) I loved, so it was easy!

This block is Colorado Beauty and is made up of 16 half squares in two fabrics. You could use a third fabric to replace the 'orange' in the central pinwheel too.

You will have to excuse the long post, and the long absence. Things have been hectic here to say the least.

Soccer, soccer training, dh home for the weekend and RDOs, starting AND finishing a quilt in less than a week (more on that soon!) and the other night I happened to run the kids Jack Russell puppy over coming home. So yesterday JessieGirl spent all day crying. DS 9yrs had to bury Goofy twice, to his dismay as DS4yrs old dug up Goofy to see where he had gone.....(not being naughty but curious as to what happened to the dog after it was buried). and I am attending a leadlighting course tomorrow with one of my closest friends! So sometime between dinner, ironing clothes and organising food for tomorrow and bedtime I am hoping to watch Deb's new dvd on freemotion quilting!

PS.

I have been trying to look at a number of blogs this afternoon but keep having trouble (slow connection this time of day??? not sure) so I AM thinking of you and will get to your blogs as soon as I can. looking forward to seeing what you have all been up to! Bec xxx

First Birthday Present

2010-05-15T17:15:00.003+10:00

EDITED UPDATE

My neice loves her doll, especially the eyes....LOL eyes are so fascinating at that age!

My niece will be one soon.

Her mother bought my daughter a baby doll for her first birthday so we have done the same.

With the baby I have made a FQ whole cloth quilt that is reversible.

Done in fabrics to match the Sophies Stars quilt that I made to celebrate her birth last year.

A great present for a little one just starting to be getting about; and about to become a big sister!

Aster Manor Canvas Bag

2010-05-13T08:04:00.002+10:00

This gorgeous bag was part of my mum's belated birthday present.

I saw a similar one in a local gift with a high price tag so searched online and found some similar fabrics. I used a canvas from FatQuarterShop and it is very soft and was lovely to work with; and for the bag top and inner handles I used a pretty yellow print from the Aster Manor range. The handles are a bit wide but by the time I realised I was out of time to redo them, so I hope they go ok mum.

Farm Market Bag

2010-05-12T08:00:00.002+10:00

This a Leanne Beasley market bag with adjustments. I made this for my eldest son recently so he would be able to carry a book, a drink bottle and other bits while we are out and about.

The strap is shortened to suit. I made the flap narrower, to fit between the handles so it all fits nicely; and I also shortened the flap for something different.

DS was given a choice of closures and he choose to have two velcro fastenings.

Don't forget to have a look at my Clean Out Sale in the previous post.

I wasn't sure what prices to put on somethings so just email me if you want to make an offer on something as I need to clear some room here but can't really give it all away.

Clean Out Sale

2010-05-11T08:34:00.009+10:00

It seems like so long since I posted, I have lots to share over the next couple of weeks.

I took some time off recently and didn't turn the computer on for about a fortnight because I needed to get things in order here. The long and the short of it is that we moved here 8 years ago from a much much larger (and better condition) house; proceeded to have three more babies and things have just gone from busy to crazy. We started building a new house four years ago, these things take alot of time and money. In the meantime we have three closets and two chests of drawers for seven people's clothes; this is part of why I seem to be constantly organsing stuff here. Things got to a point that I could no longer live with things the way they were, I considered leaving but ultimately wanted to stay so the next best thing was a major cleanout and organisation of the house and shed. I'm not quite done yet but what has been done puts a smile on my face. Things are getting there. Life is good again.

Part of my clean out resulted in culling my fabric stash and projects.

I will only post these within Australia and postage is extra.

I accept payment by direct deposit.

Queries welcome, just ask.

First in first served.

SOLD

OhCherryOh by Me and My Sister

Layer cake, red zigzag 0.5yard, blue zigzag 0.5yard, green flower print 1 yard, blue with cherries 2.5yard.

$70

SOLD

Cottage Romance

5 x 0.5yards

$25

April Cornell

1 metre

Cottage Romance
large floral 2 yards
$12
~

American Primer
dark blue 1.5yard $15
light blue 0.75yard $8
red 1 yard $10
all three together $30
~

Recipe cards
1 yard
$10
~

Cakes
1 yard
$10
~

SOLD

Rusty and Worn
3 x 0.5yard
1 yard neutral
$25

SOLD
~

Robyn Pandolph Sweet Dreams
27"
$ 10
~

Al Fresco
1 yard
$10
~

SOLD
Japanses prints
medium print 0.5 metre $6
large print 0.5 metre $6
note these are 100% cotton but the texture thicker, like linen

SOLD
~

Girly Girl by Patricia Bravo
kit to make 'Sweet Girly Girl' with backing
0.25 yard blue/pink medallion
0.25 yard green/pink diamond
4 yards cream/pink vine
2 yards dark pink scroll
2 yards yellow floral
2 yards pink/white floral
2 yards dark pink hexagon
1 yard green circle stripes
5 yardss cream/pink vine for backing
total 18.5 yards
$180
I have the pattern for the kit as well. photo on request.

Urban Couture by Basic Grey

Charm pack, 16 x 0.5 yards, 1 yard of stripe, 2 yards of periwinkle, 4 yards of large periwinkle.

total 15 yards plus charm pack.

$150

SOLD

Daisy Chain by Amy Butler

11 FQs

$30

SOLD

No photo yet for this lot

Beach House by Robyn Pandolph

108" wide backing in blue damask 2 yards

blue floral medium 0.5yard

blue floral large 0.5 yard

blue tonal 1.5 yards

blue stripe 1.5 yards

cream stripe 1.5 yards

total 5.5 yards plus backing

$70

Update

2010-04-25T09:09:00.002+10:00

Just wanted to let you all know that I will be offline for the next week minimum. Will be back as soon as I can. Bec xxx

All Things Newb

2010-04-23T18:01:00.003+10:00

A quick post while the plum sauce is simmering down and the roast is cooking for dinner.

You all remember my friend Nat who recently started quilting???

I have shown two of her quilts here on my blog, Stash Box and Courthouse Steps - both gorgeous quilts that she has done a wonderful job on.

Nat has started her own blog All Things Newb.

She has a new quilt to show you all.

Piecing and Pressing

2010-04-21T16:05:00.004+10:00

Busy pressing.

Busy sorting projects.

Busy piecing.

Busy piling up my quilting to do.

Oh dear, look at those tops tucked away in there....and I know there are a couple of tops not in the picture...yikes!

I have decided that next month is quilting month for me.

Last week I knew I had 12 tops to quilt. Then I had a piecing frenzy and now have... um... another 8! It's not as bad as it seems as most of the 8 are small quilts.

I don't intentionally drought and flood my posts, but since I last posted my daughter has had measles, we have been on a couple of family outings and if I stop sewing to use the computer the momentem is lost. I have also cleaned out the cupboard again and will be posting a for sale list next post. In a few months I will have some quilts to sell, and would love some recomendations on whether to post them here for sale, go to a local market, open an etsy shop or a website. I won't have heaps of quilts to sell, but over 6-12months it will be a few. It won't be something I will do a big scale, just something I don't mind doing every now and then.

On another topic, what covers your ironing board???

I am tossing up purchasing a good thick ironing board cover or making my own. There was a pattern in the recent Australian Homespun magazine.

Any thoughts???

Surprise!

2010-04-21T15:33:00.003+10:00

I was lucky enough to win one of Kerry's scrap bags from when she cleaned up her sewing area. Beautiful fabrics, and they are great cuts to do something with, not very scrappy at all! Thanks so much Kerry!

This is what happens when you leave NEW and UNUSED threads on the coffee table....the 3 yr old unravels them and sucks on them....

I won these beautiful flannel FQS at GDITC at Nundle last month.

I need some ideas on what to do with them.

Not sure if I want to add ANOTHER quilt to my list....but a snuggly quilt is all I can think of to use flannels for.

Kerry sent me samples for the rest of the range to help me decide. the tonal red on the left also comes in cream, pink and two greens.

ANY IDEAS to help me out????

Whose in bed with Edward Cullen????

2010-04-10T16:31:00.003+10:00

Why it's Snow White of course!

Bella has not moved here yet, and she may not if we are unable to locate her.

DD Miss Busy turned 7 recently and the Edward Cullen barbie was all she wanted; luckily I found ONE on the shelf at department store. She wants Bella now....

I spotted a gorgeous barbie bedquilt and pillow on Thimbelina's blog yesterday.

I felt bad because I haven't made anything like this for my girls in such a long time, so this afternoon I made one single bed quilt for the barbies and two pillows; I will have to make a few more but in the meantime Edward has to share with Snow White. JessieGirl and MissBusy tell me she is his girlfriend so they should be able to share happily enough.

I didn't have any pretty ricrac to use as Tracy did, but am sure the girls won't miss it. I did the binding the lazy machine stitching way; but the girls are happy, very happy!

Thanks Tracy for the great idea that ultimately put huge grins on my girls faces this afternoon.

the back

Wedding Cakes

2010-04-10T07:24:00.003+10:00

My sister is getting married later this year, at The Dag which is at Nundle just down the road from Kerry. There has been alot of questions about how dh and I went about organising our wedding, and idea bouncing from sister Jac. I had forgotten how much time and effort is involved with organising a wedding, even a simple one.

It has been nearly 12 yrs since I was married and a lot of things have changed, especially the trend in wedding cakes. My wedding cake was a tradional; a fruit cake with fancy icing.

DH grew up with his mother making wedding cakes and he likes to see the skill of the decorator in the fancy icing work.

I didn't realise how cool patty cakes could be!

Have a small cake on top to cut (and make that a mud cake please), then distribute the miniture cakes amongst the guests, how easy is that!

No, I haven't posted my sisters chosen cake here!

My other sister was married last year in Thailand at a resort, they organised pretty much everything for her which makes things nice and easy.

By the way, has anybody here in Australia had anything to with Homestead Brides ????

Southern Solitude

2010-04-08T16:57:00.002+10:00

Also over Easter I started on this quilt that I bought from Sarah recently to make for my mil.

The fabric is Northern Solitude and the pattern is Jellystone Park, which I made up using Swell fabrics some time ago. I called the post title Southern Solitude because the mil lives south of us and this is where the quilt will end up. It is quite enjoyable to sit on the lounge and sort jellyroll strips; and it didn't take all that long to stitch them together.

I will be back tomorrow to share the stitching I have been doing for Gardeners Journal.

BOM love

2010-04-08T07:29:00.002+10:00

Over Easter I didn't get alot of sewing done, just bits and pieces. We had a number of visitors over the weekend and DH was flat out busy as usual. I will share more of what I did in the next post, but here is some to start with.

These first blocks are from Lynette Andersons Friends for Christmas.

I liked Pauline's country colours in her version of this quilt so got mine from Calico Crossroads.

The reindeer/snowman/penguin still need to be stitched on.

This is Matilda Station by Kookaburra Cottage. A very long ago BOM that is now a wedding quilt for my sister who gets married in October.

This is my latest block in Harvest Sampler through Magic Patch Quilting, love these applique blocks they go together beautifully...

All my blocks so far; excepting the dreaded curved piecing block which I am content for it to wait a while before attempting.