Rosebud

I tried and tried to get Max off the quilt so I could take a photo and everytime he just kept coming back - in the end I gave up.  I have attached all four borders and have been busy auditioning fabrics for the corner whirlygigs.  I love them and they are the reason I decided to make the quilt.  I had already planned the exact pink fabric I was going to use.  Of course, when it came time to cut out all the shapes and put them together, the pink I wanted did not work at all.  I changed the pink, then added the yellow and then had trouble with the blue.  I decided I was using that red whether it worked or not!  I started appliqueing the pieces down and still felt there was something not quite right.

Thank goodness for my Friday Girls.  After consultation with a couple of fresh sets of eyes, it was decided that the yellow I had used was all wrong - too solid.  Jan's expertise found the right yellow for the job and it looks so much better.  I then spent the afternoon unpicking all the yellow and recutting out all the shapes.  Hopefully I will get them finished over the weekend.

Does anyone else have problems like this?  Sometimes I can put the fabrics together and they look great and other times, I just can't seem to get it at all!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

Making Some Progress

I have been working quite a bit on Me & My Shadow.  I have finished the applique half circles and have added all the borders.  The scrap borders seemed to take longer than the applique!

Now all I have to do is applique 4 more large flowers and it will be ready to be quilted.

Michelle has finished her needlecase and darling little scissor fob.  Isn't it beautiful!  You are so clever Michelle.  It's a bit hard to judge in the photo but the little bird is soooo small.

I have also been making some progress on Rosebud.  Hopefully I will have a little more applique done on it to show you tomorrow.

Sue-Anne xxx

"HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY"

Hope everyone has a great day today celebrating the birth of our great nation. 

We will be celebrating by throwing a couple of snags on the barby (although with today's temp forecast at 39degC, cold chicken and salad might be the better option!)

Sue-Anne xxx

Pieced Hexagons

Following on from yesterday's post, this is another project that I have on the go when I feel the urge.  There is a whole range  of templates from Matilda's Own  that form hexagons.

This star one is the most challenging for me and I have been handpiecing them on and off for a couple of years now. 

One day I will make them into a quilt but at this stage I am still unsure of what settiing to use, how many pattern variations or colourways etc etc etc!

Just a quick note about the Australian Open - it's killing me!  I am staying up way too late at night watching some fantastic tennis.  Another late one tonight I think - Go Leyton and Sam!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

Dear Jane

I too have been caught up in the world wide adoration of this masterpiece.  I have made about 15 blocks so far and it is something that I do not intend to finish for a very very long time.  I have a basket that I put all my reproduction  fabric pieces in and every now and then I will make a couple of blocks.  The hardest part has been deciding which one to do next. 

I have struggled with getting organised into some sort of system with this quilt but have now decided that I am just going to work across each row until I have them all done, maybe work on a couple of border triangles as I go.

I have a little A5 folder that I keep them all in (in order) with photocopies of each block, templates for piecing and then the finished block.  I am using all different methods, some pieced by machine, others by hand, some paper or foundation pieced.  I love it when I finish one of these little treasures, especially ones that have lots of little pieces like the red one above.  I feel a great deal of satisfaction and constantly marvel at Jane A Stickle - how clever she was  and so ahead of her time.

Sue-Anne xxx

Friday Sewing Girls

Today we gathered for our first Friday sewing day since December.  There was lots of laughter, eating and solving the problems of the world.

Michelle was very busy preparing and cutting out all these VERY TINY pieces of wool for a beautiful needlecase.

I, on the other hand, managed to applique 1 1/2 half circles on my quilt in 4 hours???

Oh well, Max thought it was acceptable.....

Sue-Anne xxx

I Remember and a Visitor

This is another UFO called "I Remember" by Rosalie Quinlan.  I completed it as a BOM through Beechworth Quilters Cottage and I love the fabrics that Yelena chose.  This quilt taught me that it is ok to use other fabrics besides cream as a background.

The most challenging block was definately the birthday cake above.  This is another quilt on the handquilting list.  I have quite a few I want to handquilt but have been put off by the basting - it is backbreaking for me.  However now I have a new secret weapon - my machine quilter Rose, from Pandora Quilting.  She machine basted my "Flowers & Flutterbys" which I am now in the process of quilting, and it is fantastic, keeping it all together much better than if I did it by hand myself.

This is my son, Nicholas, with his friend's "puppy" called Koby.  He is an Australian Bulldog,  which I haven't seen too many of.  They are a fairly new breed of dog and this little fella is soooo cute.  Nic's pretty strong but he was struggling to hold him still for the photos.  Look at that round tummy!

Sue-Anne xxx

Cross Stitch & a Visit to Stonleigh

I have admired cross stitch for a long time, especially Blackbird Designs but have never done any.  I fell in love with this pattern I saw in a magazine.  It is from Stacy Nash Primitives and thought it might be a good one for a beginner.  I finished it just before Christmas and loved the process, although it really showed me how bad my eyes are.  Strictly stitching in the daylight for this one.

Today I called in to my local quilt shop, Patchwork on Stonleigh, and came home with these.

Sue-Anne xxx

Me & My Shadow

I can't believe it has taken me ALL day to put on two borders and cut out a heap of half circles!

Most of the time was spent agonising over which fabrics to use and then of course, I had to put them all away afterwards.

I am looking forward to sitting down and appliqueing tonight while watching the Tennis and "Big Love" - thanks Marg!

Sue-Anne

More Show & Tell

I had to go to the dermatologist this afternoon to get 5 sun spots removed from my face.  That will teach me for being a sun worshipper in my teenage years, plastering myself with coconut oil and in later years playing tennis three times a week in the hot afternoon sun without a hat.  Needless to say, my face is stinging a bit and I didn't achieve what I wanted today in the sewing room, so... more show and tell.

This is another project I am currently working on.  It's called Rosebud from Patchwork on Stonleigh.  And seeing as a few of you commented on how much you like stars, here are a couple more.

I can't remember the name but this quilt is a Primarily Patchwork pattern.  I have no skill whatsoever when it comes to piecing set in seams so I decided to handpiece everything in the quilt bar the flying geese.  I will handquilt this one some day.  You can't see too well in the photo but there are some lovely blues in there.

This last one is the same pattern as the pink one I showed a few posts ago.  I had a Charisma layer cake and got one star out of each piece - great way to show off a range of favourite fabric.

Sue-Anne xxx

It's Finished

This is the finished "Quilt-a-Long" doll quilt called Cheddar Cheese & Crackers that Lori from Humble Quilts ran on her blog.  I thought I would have finished it a lot earlier but boy, there is a lot of sewing, not hard, just have to concentrate with the fabric placement.  I am really pleased how it has turned out and look forward to hand quilting it in my favourite Sulky thread.  Thanks Lori for sharing.

Tonight I will be stitching yo yo's as I have run out of prepared applique to do.  First thing tomorrow I will be making more mess in the sewing room with fabrics pulled out everywhere finding just the right pieces for the next part of Me & My Shadow.

Sue-Anne xxx

Sewing Bags

This bag is my first serious attempt at applique and since then, I do a little applique nearly every night.

This bag is in my new favourite colours (inspired by Jackie). 

This is just a small selection of sewing bags I have made, it is sort of like collecting handbags - you can't have too many!

I have nearly finished Cheddar Cheese & Crackers and hopefully I will have a completed quilt top to show tomorrow.

Sue-Anne xxx

Milo

This is Milo.  He is 3 years old and Kellie brought him home when he was a kitten.  I had to do a post on him today because when I walked past Kellie's room, he was sleeping like this:

He sleeps like this ALL the time.  He has the sweetest nature and when you pick him up, he wraps those big paws around you like a Koala.  His nickname is "Fat Cat".  He lives for food and if Buddy goes near him while he is eating, he growls like a dog.  He tries very very hard to catch birds, but has never caught one (he is too big and slow) but he loves chasing flying insects in the back yard.  He is an absolute darling.

I will be back later with another obsession I have - sewing bags!

Sue-Anne xxx

My Obsession with Poetry

A few years ago there were two ranges released around the same time, Poetry and Faded Memories.  I was looking through my photos to see what I could show today and realised I have SO many quilts made of primarily these two ranges.  I really was obsessed with all the pretty colours and floral prints.  I still have fabric left in my stash and I am still drawn to it after all this time.

Sue-Anne xxx

Star Spotting & Retail Therapy

Kellie and I arrived back from Melbourne just after 1am this morning.  A very long day but I did manage to fit in a little retail therapy.  I have wanted to visit Patchwork with Gail B for quite some time and I was not disappointed.  Above are the fabrics I purchased, all "oldies but goodies". 

I got the date mixed up with regard to Kellie arriving home, thought she was arriving tonight instead of last night but not to worry because as it turned out I did see someone famous!  Kim Kleister (not sure of the spelling) the tennis player, here for the Australian Open.  I would have taken a photo (yes I had my camera in my bag) but it was pouring with rain and she was busy loading up the vehicle with all her tennis racquets.  It was very exciting, living in a country town you don't get to see anyone famous.

On the sewing front, I have finished all of week one's homework for Cheddar Cheese & Crackers.  The mauve cutting board underneath does not compliment the look so far but I am looking forward to the end result.  Tomorrow I will work on week two.

Sue-Anne xxx

Feeling the Heat

It is very hot again here today (43c) and we are all starting to feel it.  The cats can't be bothered moving and Buddy didn't even look up from the couch when I took his photo.

I am off to Melbourne in the morning to pick up my daughter from the airport.  It will be a little cooler down there and I am looking forward to a little retail therapy.

Here is another Show & Tell - Ring a Rosy by Primitive Pieces by Lynda .  I love the border in this one.

Sue-Anne xxx