Happy Saturday

We are having a lovely day at home, even though it has included a bit of housework. It's just nice not having to go anywhere.
I think this is a better Partridge in a Pear Tree than the smudged one from a few weeks ago.

Hubby has picked some of his mandarins. How cute are these little guys? They are really sweet and yummy, but very small.

I have had my first live chat online with another blogger today - feeling very tech savvy.
And then I also realised that it's my first blogaversary today. I have learned so much and made so many great new friends in one short year.
Thanks for reading my blog, even if you don't comment, it gives me a thrill knowing that somewhere out there lots of people love their sewing as much as I do.
The fire is going, the roast is on and it's time to stitch - it doesn't get much better than that.

Susan x

After the Stars Quilt

After being so focused on finishing my Stars Quilt I plan to get back to some of my other projects on the weekend.

Yesterday and today though are all about music exams for two of my boys. I took Mr 13 to Dubbo for his trumpet exam yesterday. He was not disappointed about missing a day of school. We went to Spotlight to get some fabric for a cushion for his Yr 7 textiles class. I was a bit surprised - very black and white.

I couldn't leave this on the shelf, navy on white.

I haven't sewn clothes for years and years, but I have been wondering whether I should get back into it. Some of the dress patterns were 40% off, so for $12 I got two, a skirt and a dress. I figure at that price it's not the end of the world if they don't get made. I might end up looking like I'm wearing a quilt.

A saxophone exam for Mr 11 today, and then a blissfully empty Saturday in front of the fire I hope - shhhhhhh don't tell anyone.

Hope you're having a fun week (and keeping warm).
Susan x

It's finished

I have a BIG finish to present, so I hope you don't mind if it comes with a story.

Back in 2008 I was reading Anni Downs blog and I saw this picture.

It was the Blackbird Designs stand at Houston, and I just loved the look of the quilt in the background. I saved the photo away in my ideas folder, and thought, maybe one day.

In January 2009 I was at home with the kids for the holidays and desperately needed a new hand piecing project. Hmmmm..... I could draft my own 8 pointed star easily enough, maybe I'll make a few of those and see how it goes. Well I got a bit carried away, I used a bit of almost every fabric in my stash, even the ugly ones, and ended up with 128 star blocks. I did buy some fabric for the plain squares for variety.

Fast forward three and a half years, and my Stars Quilt is finished. I had to get the boys to stand on the trampoline and hold it up high for the photo.

Every star and every square is hand pieced, and the whole thing is hand quilted. The binding was sewn on by machine, but stitched down by hand. It has been an absolute joy to have a project I love so much always waiting to be worked on in the background (although the quilting got a bit tedious towards the end).

It measures 96" square ( or 2.4m), and this is how it will look on my bed tonight.

And this is the first quilt I ever made, which it is replacing (although hubby isn't convinced).

Thanks to everyone who has enquired about my poor pricked finger, it is looking forward to a rest for a little while.

Sweet dreams.

Susan x

Binding bought

Suffering from a head cold today, so probably not much sewing.
While I was in Bathurst yesterday, I spent a lovely half hour at The Home Patch with Deb. After trying quite a few different options I went with my first choice for the binding. It's not as bright as it looks in the photo.

It was so nice to wander around the shop with a friend, even if it was only for a short while. Thanks Deb.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Susan x

Woo hoo

256 squares quilted. I have finished hand quilting my Stars Quilt. I can hardly believe it's done. Now I just have to choose the binding fabric.

Happy, happy, happy Susan. X