It's going to be a good day

We are having a mini holiday in Newcastle. Beautiful Stockton Beach yesterday, although the water was freezing.

Shopping til we dropped today........there was no way I could resist these shoes.

Off to Sydney tomorrow to see this........

And if I'm very good my three boys will let me go to Quiltsmith. It's going to be a good day.

Susan x

First mini

This is the first and only mini quilt I've ever made. It was way back in 2004, and we were living in central Queensland, and it was just too hot to work on a big project. I don't even remember where the pattern came from, and to be honest I'm not even sure what it's called. I'm much better at keeping a record of my work these days.......at least I had my name and the date on it.

It's all hand pieced and hand quilted, and measures 10" x 12".

Susan x

Hexie fever

I think I always knew the day would come when I couldn't resist trying some smaller hexagons. Last time I was at The Home Patch I bought some 3/8" hexie papers. They are even cuter than half inch ones.

Spurred on by my success, some 1/4" papers arrived. I think this is the moment I officially lost my mind, they are so small......but look at how cute they are sitting on a 1" hexie.

Now the half inch hexies feel huge to work with......the three sizes.

After seeing this post at Quilts in the Barn I feel inspired to create some mini quilts. I've never really seen the point of mini quilts until now. I have one from a couple of years ago, and that's what I'll use the little hexies for too.

The school holidays are going well, the boys have been enjoying lots of water bomb games, sleeping in and generally taking it easy. I have been busy turning this.......

.......into this. Painting the fence has been on the job list for far too long.

Happy Friday.....enjoy the weekend.

Susan x

A lovely day out

We had another fun stitching day at Cassilis yesterday. As always Linda had the cakes and coffees at the ready, and a scrumptious lunch prepared for us.

Lea had this beauty to show off, and was working on an adorable hexagon baby quilt featuring Liberty prints.......which I didn't take a photo of. Lucky baby!

Julie (no blog......yet) was binding this quilt for a another lucky baby. She has made some very cute matching bibs too.

Raelee was working on her Legacy to Violet quilt....so many hexies and diamonds in the borders.....and oops, no photo.

I was happy sitting in the sunshine working on my Irish Circles centre, and playing with 3/8" hexies.

Thank you girls for a relaxing day, perfect to begin the school holidays. I'll leave you with a photo of the canola just outside Cassilis.

Have a happy weekend, I'm heading off to the farmers market and more busking!

Susan x

The Simple Life

Feeling pretty pleased with myself because I've finished The Simple Life top. After quite a few dedicated night sessions at the sewing machine and iron, it's done.

The finished top.....hard to get a good pic in the wind today.

This has been a strange project for me. I probably wouldn't have made the quilt except that I bought the fabric pack in a moment of weakness. Being a compulsive finisher, I couldn't just shove it half done in the back of the cupboard. I have no plans for this quilt so it can sit quietly in the quilting queue for a while now (which isn't EXACTLY the same as being shoved half done in the back of the cupboard.........or is it?)

Now to find something to sew in Cassilis tomorrow.

Susan x

Cassilis

We have another stitching day at The Plough Inn, Cassilis this Friday. I can't think of a better way to end the school term than lunching and stitching with friends. If you're in the area, please come and say hello. I will be working on Irish Circles, and maybe showing off The Simple Life flimsy.

Mr 12 had an extremely profitable morning busking on Saturday. The generosity of strangers always amazes me. I think he looks pretty cool.

It's finally raining today.....8mm so far.

Susan x

On a roll

Yesterday I had a big afternoon in the sewing room working on The Simple Life. It helped that I had cut out all the squares weeks ago, in preparation for the day I would feel like sewing them all together. Almost half way now.

I am using Anni's fabric pack for this quilt. One of the things that always amazes me is that she includes some fabrics which I wouldn't even give a second glance, some I would even call ugly. Yet together they work. It's a very telling sign that my favourite part of this quilt is the needleturn blocks!

And a little secret hand stitching watching Tv last night.

I'm taking Mr 12 busking this morning........a badly cracked iPod is a powerful motivator!

Susan x

The Simple Life and SSCS

I spent some time at my machine over the weekend sewing block borders for The Simple Life. Sewing borders on is one of my least favourite activities but they turned out okay.......

Very excited that Chooky and Googy Girl have teamed up to bring us the Secret Santa Christmas Swap for 2013. I know who my partner is now, so my thinking cap is on!

I'm planning a trip to Quiltsmith in a couple of weeks so I'm very busy making a shopping list! Top priority is backing for Floral Beauty......and a new needleturn project.

Susan x

A little sidetracked

A warning.......making school lunches is hazardous to your sewing. I had a little incident with a knife whilst making lunches on Monday. I didn't realise how much I use my left thumb when I'm hand sewing......looking forward to sewing without band aids.

In the meantime I have taken a little walk outside my comfort zone with some help from the lovely Michelle at Hatched and Patched. I am not into brights, nor am I a fan of green, but I love this combination with the linen.

I love the rain girl on the main print. I'm sending the pouch to my niece for her birthday with some goodies inside. I hope she isn't tired of getting zippered pouches from me!

This treasure trove came in the mail this week. There are so many gorgeous projects in this book that i cant decide where to start.........or if I'm even capable! I'm feeling somewhat daunted. My stash is certainly not prepared for these projects. Can you suggest any good shops/websites for buying Japanese taupes?

Happy stitching.

Susan x

Bits and pieces

I've just been working on a few different projects. My September nine patches are finished, I'm looking forward to seeing them all together before too long.

Playing with teeny tiny pieces of fabric for Irish Circles. The centre circles are sewn together, and now I am making the small appliqué shapes for the ring and centre corners.

I couldn't resist the community project that Sharon from Lilabelle Lane is working on. It's a beautiful variation of an Ispy quilt, for a little fellow called Blake. These are the novelty blocks I'm sending.

My wonderful in laws are visiting for the weekend, and we are enjoying a glorious Fathers Day and first day of Spring together. After a scrumptious lunch the only decision is whether to nap or sew......

Susan x