A little peek.....

One side border sewn onto my Floral Beauty. Oh how I love this quilt.

Susan x

Prints Charming

After reading this post by Annie I thought I should pop into Spotlight and check it out. While I was in Bathurst yesterday I did just that, and bought this Prints Charming fabric to make myself a new skirt, and it was on special too! Fingers crossed that this time I will continue to love the fabric enough to ACTUALLY MAKE the skirt.

As I spent the morning standing at athletics in a pea soup fog and about zero degree temperature, I rewarded my self with just a little fabric goodness. And some parlan and interfacing....both very exciting! The one at the back is actually a green Michelle Hill, not black at all.

I have been sewing my Floral Beauty blocks together by hand, so a little progress to show.

I recently discovered how easy it is to make creme brûlée, so I am having another go at it today, with a new little burner to make the yummy toffee top. So, a little soccer, a little cooking and maybe an afternoon of sewing for me. Hope you have a great weekend too.

Susan x

Cassilis stitching day

We had a lovely day of stitching on Sunday. I was a naughty blogger and took the grand total of only two not very good photos.

Peg and Dale showed up........and went straight for the cake!

Here we have me, Lea, Raelee, Janice (who drove for three hours to be with us!), Julie (no blog....yet) and Lenore, who owns the patchwork shop in Merriwa. I had to borrow this photo from Fiona. Unfortunately, Kylie couldn't make it this time.

It was a cold day, but Linda had the fire going for us, and soup on the stove, so we were well taken care of.

Lots of beautiful stitching was being done.......I worked on my pieced border for Floral Beauty.

Happy stitching,
Susan x

Stuffed!

I did get around to stuffing my Heart & Soul Pincushion. I would have to say that stuffing is my least favourite sewing activity, whether it's fibrefill or walnut shells, it's a pain in the neck. Too much, too little, sewing the opening closed........I dislike the whole process.

Having said that, I do rather like my new pincushion.

This is the last batch of Floral Beauty blocks. I have laid them all out this morning, and I am absolutely thrilled with how it looks. Hope to lay out the pieced border this afternoon. I might keep you in suspense until then.

Stitching in Cassilis tomorrow, so if you're in the area, please drop in to The Plough Inn.

Happy stitching.

Susan x

It's raining...

Sitting in the car in the rain at Eastern Creek waiting for Mr 16's cross country race to start. Just finished my last block for Floral Beauty, and it's a favourite in rusty reds and French general cream.

Its a long drive home.......do I deserve a quick stop at The Stitching Post on the way?

Now I'm hanging out to get home, lay out all the blocks and start the sawtooth border.

Hope you are having a great Friday.

Susan x

Distracted by a good cause

I've always wanted to try a two tone checkerboard quilt but thought I'd start small. Ive also wanted to make a little quilt for Blankets of Love. After digging through my stash I found this pretty blue check cut in 2 1/2" strips (I can't remember why I cut them), and some cream. It sewed together so quickly.....just like strip piecing the nine patch blocks. A quick trip to Spotlight for some bunny flannel on special, and a couple of evenings quilting with perle thread, and my sweet little quilt is finished. I love how it turned out, that it mostly came out of my stash, and that it may bring a small amount of comfort to a family going through a hard time.

It's a bit dreary here today, the blues are prettier than in the photo.

Thankyou Cheryll for coordinating such a kind and generous program.

Susan x

A day in the mountains

Yesterday Mr 16 and I took a drive to the Blue Mountains to pick up a second hand desk we bought. It was a great opportunity for him to do some driving hours and for me to enjoy the scenery! We had a lovely lunch at Leura, but it seemed like there were a million other people with the same idea. We did a bit of window shopping, but as a collector of rabbits, I just could not leave this little fellow behind.....he's only 3" tall.

On a quilty note, I went to Post Office Patchwork in search of a huge quantity of background fabric for my next big project, Irish Circles. I don't usually buy much yardage so 6 metres of one fabric is a big deal for me (and why I was trying to be cheap with the backing for my hexagon star!). I chose this beautiful cream from the American Banner Rose range. It has a lovely warmth of colour, and subtle markings.....less obvious than tea stain, but not as flat as plain cream. The red fabric is for the main centre ring, and the rest will come from my stash.

It came down to a choice between Irish Circles and Camelot by Trish Harper, and whilst I'm starting with Irish Circles, I might come back to Camelot yet.

I thought you might also be interested in this tub I bought at the Reject Shop last week, perfect for fat quarters. The dividers are removable too.

I'm off to sew a few stitches. Hope you're having a good day.

Susan x

FNWF update

Last night I finished one little Simple Life block. This project isn't really holding my attention, but I'm getting there slowly. Thanks for hosting us Cheryl, it's always nice to think how many of us are stitching away at the same time.

I have absolutely no idea what the day will bring. I love school holidays!

Hope you have a happy, stitchy weekend.

Susan x

FNWF

Tonight is Friday Night With Friends, so pop over to Cheryl to sign up. I'm planning to work on my Simple Life blocks.

See you there.
Susan x

Are you free?

Are you free on Sunday 21st July? If you would like to meet for a day of stitching and scrumptious food, join us at The Plough Inn Cafe in Cassilis. You can see how much fun we had here.. Just let Lea, Raelee, Kylie or me know if you're coming so Linda knows how many cakes to bake!

Thanks for all your great suggestions regarding my hexagon star quilt. I bought a plain homespun for the back, but know in my heart it's not what I want. There is too much time and work in hand quilting to not like the fabric. After a rocky start I kind of like this quilt now, so it can wait on the shelf for a fabric sale!

Still working on my beloved Floral Beauty blocks, and cutting triangles for the border.

And my nine patches for July.....love this dark purple.

Planning to spend some time in the garden today while the sun is shining.

Susan x