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

Still going.....

I am still going with the hand quilting on my stars quilt. I am so sick of it but the end is in sight. I have quilted 227 squares, which is 89% - only 29 to go, and then the binding.

I am determined to finish it before I start anything new...... well, apart from a couple of stitching projects which are already on the go. I cut out the pieces for Anni's Simple Life project bag a few weeks ago - and this is the stitchery to go on the front. I love the rabbit. I also love stitching Anni's font.

If you need me I'm off to do some quilting (surprise, surprise).

Susan x

Thank you

Thanks for all the ideas of how to salvage my stitchery. I have tried a couple, but the running is still visible. My last attempt will be today using natural yogurt - i'll let you know how i go. Hubby thinks it's just extra artistic effect, but I know I won't enjoy looking at it. It's only a quick stitchery so I'll just re-do it and be more wary of red thread in future. This is how my TTS looks so far. I think it will definitely need a nice red border to lift the colours.

I need to get going with In Full Bloom. Month 5 arrived yesterday and I haven't finished last month. This one is called Watering Girl.

I am still slowly working on hand quilting my stars quilt. I have 54 squares left, so have set myself the challenge of doing at least 2 a day so I should be finished in a month or so. I have so many little bits and pieces on the go that I am really looking forward to a big finish.

Hubby has gone to the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days today to look at tractors. The equivalent of quite a lot of fat quarters if you ask me!

Have a great weekend.

Susan x

Still quilting

The problem with hand quilting is that it takes sooooooo long. I could just post the same photo over and over until my Stars Quilt is finished. That's what  I've mostly been working on, with a little bit of stitchery too. I have finished two more TTS blocks - Christmas Wreath and Christmas Angels.

I have also been drooling over The Simple Life, and if the weather turns out as predicted for the weekend, there is a high probability that I will make a start on the turtle pincushion (I'll just have to hide from the family).
    
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

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

In My Garden progress

What do you do when one project is taking a long time to finish? Start a new one of course.

Well, In My Garden isn't new, but it does need to be quilted. Usually I only have one hand quilting project on the go at a time, but the top was finished, I had the batting, I bought the backing.......so on the weekend I basted it ready to quilt. I don't think it will actually need a lot of quilting, as it's all about the applique on this one. I really need a break from the stars.

I keep my safety pins in this little old teapot.

Myf likes the stars quilt too. Cheeky girl.

Susan x

Stars Quilt

If this summer had been hot I wouldn't have 40% of this quilt  hand quilted. With every stitch I love this quilt more.

My Nundle name tag is well underway, just needs a last little bit of stitching and glue.
A quiet weekend here, to recover from a busy first week back at school - hopefully lots of stitching for me.

Susan x

Plodding along

I have been quietly working away on my hand quilting - making the most of the cool weather. I wish I could hand quilt faster.

And when it's warmer, appliqueing my petals. I forgot the little round centres, so need to go back and do those.

I also have an unusual new project commissioned by my mother in law. She is a very lovely lady so even though it's really not my thing, I couldn't say no when she asked me to turn this picture into a banner for her church. We were married in the church so there is a connection. I'm off to Spotlight tomorrow to see what I can find (lots of vliesofix i think!).

Lots of emails buzzing around about GDITC - so, so exciting (only 66 more sleeps).

Happy, happy tonight, hubby is cooking dinner!

Susan x

Long term project

I love to have a great big project on the go that lasts for years. I hand pieced this quilt over about 18 months and it has been sitting waiting for some hand quilting inspiration for another 12. After a chat with Dawnie today I thought I'd better get on with it, so spent most of the afternoon on hands and knees pin basting it. I think i may have zoned out when piecing the squares - it has ended up a monstrous 240cm square. I expect the hand quilting might take a long time.