Overwhelmed!!!

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed this week by the tasks that I have taken on.  Two major quilts, Phebe and Swan Lake, Browne Sisters Sampler quilt, and of course I have my beautiful Klosjes and my other fill-in project, Yo Yo's.  A plan for some time management was needed and last night I spent the evening cutting out hexagons and spools.  This morning was devoted to Phebe.

Phebe is proving to be quite a challenge for me to get started BUT now I think I have had a major breakthrough.  I finally got the centre urn looking how I wanted it to.  I have had this piece of Yuwa fabric for quite a while, saving it for something special, and I think you will agree, it is perfect.  The photo does not do it justice.

I have made a start on the 2nd instalment of the Browne Sisters Sampler and I am enjoying the applique.   The Autumn weather is beautiful here at the moment, top of 30 C but cool in the morning and evening.  I think I might spend some time this afternoon outside sewing hexagons and now that I am a little bit more organised, I feel an overwhelming sense of PEACE (that is until I can't decide on the next "perfect piece" of applique fabric or run out of hexagons to stitch!).

This is Michelle's Positive/Negative 9 Patch.  Doesn't it look wonderful!  We have basically used the same fabrics and Michelle's looks totally different to mine with the lighter, fresher background fabric.  Michelle has made her quilt to fit her huge dining room table.  It looks fantastic Michelle!!!

Sue-Anne xxx

9 Patch Finished

I have finally finished my positive/negative 9 patch.  The borders took a bit longer than I thought they would.

I couldn't continue the border strips right to the edge because the math was a bit strange, so I had to improvise and place these quarter square triangles (I think that's what they're called) in the corner. 

Have you heard of Klosjes?  They are adorable and I will be back soon with an explanation and some "show & tell".

Sue-Anne xxx

Friday Girl Games Update & A Few Other Things

I did manage to get half of my top joined together before Friday sewing and I finished joining the other blocks into rows at Michelle's home.

Here is Michelle and Helen hard at work.

Helen forgot her background fabric so she spent the afternoon joining her strips for the border.  My border will be the same as this.

These pictures are for Stina.  This quilt is called "Joy of Life" by Rosalie Quinlan - another one in the pile to get quilted.  I think I have definately had a thing for pink quilts lately!

I also have a thing for red and pale blue and look what I found today in Target!  This will be my new "special" glass.

I have found out the name of the beautiful linen that I showed in my last post.  It is a Yuwa fabric and the line is called "Live Life Collection".  You can buy it locally (Australian girls) from Sackville & Lane in Wangaratta, Victoria and their phone number is (03) 57217948.  It is about $48.00 per metre.

I have not done much sewing over the weekend, I have been busy making tomato relish.  I made some about 20 years ago and it turned out terrible.  I vowed I would never make another batch again but I tried Michelle's recipe out and so far so good.  I'm off now to cook snags on the barbie and then we'll have them in bread rolls with lots of relish and a bit of salad.

Sue-Anne xxx

The 9 Patch Pile is Growing

I've been working on my positive/negative 9 patches and the pile is slowly getting bigger.

We went to an engagement party on Saturday night and here is a photo of my two boys.  Kellie had to work so I couldn't get a photo of the three of them.  It is nearly impossible to get them all together long enough for a family photo.  Even the last three Christmases, one of them was out of the country!  I have already introduced you to Nic on the right (he has an aversion to smiling in photos) and on the left is Christopher.  He is my oldest (25) and is a plumber.  He has just started his own business and has been really busy so it was good to spend an evening with him.

Sue-Anne xxx

Going for Gold in the Sewing Room

Last Friday at sewing, after seeing Marg's quilt, Michelle and Helen decided they were going to make a "positive/negative 9 patch" quilt from their fabric club stash.  They rushed down to the quilt shop and bought their backing fabric and there was lots of talk about how much free time each had over the weekend to make a start on it.  There were definately competitive undertones in the conversation.

At sewing today, they were both there, with their Janome Gem's, furiously sewing away.  The story eventually came out how the week transpired with lots of text messages to each other, checking to make sure that one hadn't done more than the other.  It made for a very funny and interesting afternoon and I decided that I wanted in on the challenge.

I raced, with Helen, to the quilt shop on the way home, and purchased some background fabric.  After tea, I hunted down just a small portion of my fabric club stash, and have made a few blocks already.

I would also like to brag that we have our first GOLD MEDAL at the Winter Olympics!  Torah Bright brought home the Gold in the Womens' Snowboard Half Pipe and I am so proud!  This is only the 4th gold medal Australia has ever won at the Winter Olympics.  Congratulations Torah!!!

Have a great weekend everyone and to Michelle and Helen, let the Friday Girl Games begin!

Sue-Anne xxx