Happy, happy

When I went to The Home Patch yesterday, guess what was on the counter.........

.... and Anni very kindly signed it for me. 

I didn't expect to buy it before the craft show, so it was very exciting to get it now. Michelle was preparing the fabric kits for the quilt - they looked amazing, but no, I didn't get one. There are some beautiful projects in the book so it may take a while to decide what to make first.

Very, very happy.

Susan x

Weekend Sewing

After a late night on Friday, and a cold morning at soccer yesterday, it has been a perfect weekend for hand quilting. I have finally passed the half way mark on my Stars Quilt. Only 116 more stars to go.

I tried it out on my bed the other day and I love it, I hope I can finish it before winter is over.
I have also been sewing hexies together for the borders of my other star quilt. It has gone from a project that I hated to one that I think will turn out ok. I really like gluing the papers in, so there may be more EPP in my future.

Hope you have a happy week, and keep warm as we roll into winter.

Susan x

In Full Bloom

It is hard to beat being tucked up at home in front of the fire when it's cold and wet outside. Lots of lovely rain yesterday, and lots of mucking around with gutters and pipes to catch it all - the joys of living on tank water.

I have finished my latest In Full Bloom block, Flower Pots.

My Hexagon Star has been appliqued to the background with surprisingly few bumps. I'm amazed that I was able to keep it flat.  That means I should hurry up making these long hexie borders.

Out for Italian for a girls night tonight - you know the ones you see at school, or the supermarket, or racing by at kids sport - and you finally get together once or twice a year. None of them are stitchers, but I won't hold that against them, it should be a fun night.

Enjoy your weekend, and keep warm. It's so cold that maybe you should start a new quilt!

Susan x

Calling all Anni addicts

This is a sign of a true addict. Pop over to Hatched & Patched to see some of the projects from Anni's new book The Simple Life. Looks like my next couple of projects are sorted.

Recycled Treaure

Where we live there is no garbage service, so we have to take rubbish to the tip ourselves. My dear husband usually does the tip trip, and since it's a small country tip, he often brings home little treasures for me. He excelled himself last week with this lovely little ladder.

It just needs a light sand and clean. It doesn't have a home yet, but I can picture some quilts hanging on it.

I love surprises like this that cost nothing and save waste.

Susan x

Sunday afternoon

We love making honeycomb. So easy and yummy.

I have been making more hexie scraps for the border of my big star quilt. It's very relaxing once the rhythm gets going, and Sue Daleys turning cutting mat makes it easier.

Hope you're having a happy weekend.

Susan x

iPad case

As much as I love my iPad, I thought it needed some fabric so it looks like it actually belongs in my bag. I had a look on the Internet, lots of great patterns and ideas. Decision making isn't one of my strengths - this could take a long time. Then it came to me - I could use the last little scraps of Rouennieres from my Chelsea Charm quilt. I had just enough left.

I do have a nifty black magnetic cover, but now the whole lot fits neatly into this.......

I love it when you have an idea, have the scraps, and have the time, and it all comes together quickly. It was a very productive start to the weekend.

Three games of soccer today, and another fairly quiet weekend. Hope you get to stitch this weekend.

Susan x

Clamshell finish

I finished the clamshell sewing roll tonight. Love clamshells, love the fabric (Petite Odile), not sure what will happen to the sewing roll. The magnetic clasp is in thanks to some good craft glue.

I like the little wool felt hearts for needles inside.

My conscience is clear, now back to some quilting.

Susan x

Clamshells

My clamshells from GDITC have been making me feel guilty. I had finished the paper piecing, but really wasn't sure about the sewing roll project. I try not to have too many UFO's, and I'd paid for the kit, so thought I might as well try to finish it. Some of the instructions left me baffled, but it's coming together.

I didn't use the linen for the ends because it was so bulky, and if you're going to use the magnetic clasp i found it easier to put it in earlier than the instructions say.

Cold and frosty again today - I love Autumn.

Susan x

In Full Bloom

Oh my gosh, I've done it. Technology is simply amazing.

This is the latest block for In Full Bloom. These little stitcheries are just divine - so much fun to do. I did this one on the train to Sydney last week - much more productive than driving.

Susan x

Playing around

I'm trying to work out how to blog from iPad. If it works, I'll be back shortly with a photo.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day has been wildly extravagant here. My family has really surprised me with an iPad. I am in shock - partly because we usually keep mothers and fathers day fairly low key, but mostly because I can't believe i have an iPad. Will have to spend the rest of the day working out how to use it and keeping my little experts away from it. I hope you are having a wonderful Mother's Day. I'm off to play on my iPad, stitch, and eat chocolates. Susan x

Not very much going on here in the sewing department - nothing new anyway. I am determined to finish my hexagon star. I bought some background fabric at Bathurst Fabric and Trims. The photo doesn't really show the pattern, and it will have a single row of hexagons added around the edge. I originally thought a dark background would suit, but I like this one. Very traditional looking.

I bought this magazine today....... a little something to drool over on a soccer-free Mothers Day weekend.

Other than going to the hairdresser I haven't achieved anything that I had planned to do today. Out for a farewell dinner at a great local winery tonight, and a weekend of making the most of the glorious Autumn weather.

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Susan x

A late weekend finish

Amidst the comings and goings of family life, I finally found time to finish my SKOW bag tonight. It only needed the button and loop (yucky simple little job) and ta-da, it's finished.

The back is quite plain, but I think two sides of stitchery would be too much.

It's quite a nice sized bag, so I may make it again, but in a feature fabric.

I went to Bathurst on Friday to see Dad, and again today with the whole family. He is doing okay, but it is an exhausting and emotional experience for us all. After our visit today we went to see Avengers in 3D - it was pretty good (especially for hubby and three boys).

I am working on my Hexagon Star quilt again. I figure if I get the big star done it will be easier to choose a background. I'm just sick of it hanging around. And now that it's getting colder, I want to get back to hand quilting my Stars Quilt. Look at the poor thing shoved under my desk in a washing basket - I'm aiming to finish it before the end of winter.

Hope you find a quiet moment to stitch this week.

Susan x

Yay. Housework done. Shopping done. Back to my stitching!

SKOW bag is coming along. It's construction method is a bit different for me, but I think it will be okay.

Had a dreadful experience on Monday. Waiting in town for Mr 10, hmmmm, how about a bit of stitching. Fabric, thread, scissors, needle - NO NEEDLE. How on earth could there not be a needle in my car?? Normally I can cover how badly impatient I am by sewing or reading - but I had neither - it was the longest half hour I've had for some time. But I made up for it when I got home, and have started the Birdhouse block for IFB.

I have planted 7 new trees now. My hole diggers have abandoned me. It's probably quite funny watching me swing a mattock out in the paddock. Three more to go. It's nice to get beyond the house yard and plant some trees that will (hopefully) grow really big. I loved the trees in NZ, so maybe I'm trying to re-create a little of that here. Some pine trees will be next on my list (oh how I wish I could grow a giant NZ hedge).

 

Off to Bathurst to visit Dad tomorrow. I really can't justify going to The Home Patch again - maybe I'll just pop into the other fabric shop - just for a little look.

Susan x