Spoiled

It's not hard to stay on a fabric diet with blogging friends. I received a lovely variety of red and text fat quarters from my birthday fat quarter swap group this week. The girls outdid themselves with their selections......thank you!

And some more from others who know me well........how gorgeous is the basket that Lea made for me?

My most precious gift came from Mr 13. A tiny clay glazed rabbit made at school. He measures about 1 1/2" long and is a lovely addition to my collection.

We had another lovely stitching day at Cassilis today. Scrumptious food and wonderful company again.......and photos forgotten. Raelee had her Toes in the Sand top finished. You will have to take my word for how good it was, great blues and teals.

Kylie from Red Raspberry Quilts was there too, she is a fine saleswoman and sent out a well timed email this week with the new Kathy Schmitz range of reds.........since it was my birthday I think it's technically a birthday gift to myself not a broken fabric diet.

And I finished binding The Simple Life.

So it's been a happy and busy week here.........I'm hoping to spend some time tidying my sewing room and finding a place for my new treasures over the weekend.
Happy stitching.
Susan x

Busy binding

Another finish imminent. I love sewing down the binding on a quilt.

I also love having Fridays off, what a great way to start the weekend.
Happy stitching,
Susan x

In my hoop

Next on my quilting list is The Simple Life, a Hatched and Patched design. I finished the top last September, and now it is definitely cold enough to be snuggled up quilting of an evening.

I'm using DMC Cebelia no. 30 to quilt it. It's very similar to perle 8, maybe a little finer. I got it at Spotlight mainly because of the colour. It seems to be working ok.

Happy stitching.
Susan x

A little shopping

I did get a chance to drop in to Quiltsmith yesterday, but as is often the case, the more I plan for a shopping trip, the less I find to buy.

This is the backing I chose for The Simple Life, and a couple of prints that couldn't be left behind.....Road 15 from Sweetwater. I did find a backing for Floral beauty but there wasn't enough left on the bolt, so I've ordered it online.

The Vikings exhibition was very interesting, and we also enjoyed looking through the destroyer HMAS Vampire, and submarine HMAS Onslow. The National Maritime Musem was well worth the visit.

We are having a very quiet day today with no electricity. The power went off in the middle of my shower, and as we are on tank water, no power means no water......so not a very good start to the day. Thank goodness for hand stitching!

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

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 stitching

I have finished two more stitcheries for The Simple Life.

I even spent some quality time with my rotary cutter and mat this afternoon, cutting out pesky little squares and borders for it too. Now I just need to feel like a session at the machine!

I've been doing some hand piecing for Irish Circles, but nothing too exciting to show yet. I think I may be coming down with a second bout of hexie fever.....maybe another little purse......

So windy here today, so we have been having a cosy afternoon inside.

Susan x

Stalled

My nephew's quilt has stalled because I've run out of quilting thread! A little annoying because I've really been on a roll with it. Hoping to get some more at the weekend.

In the meantime I finished this sweet little house block from The Simple Life. It pretty much sums up my weekend.

I hope you have a happy week, and find at least a moment to do some stitching.
Susan x

Visitors

I had a quick visit from two very special "girls" this week. You can read more of their story here.

The Simple Life blocks have been good for portable sewing.

And I can tick off the May blocks for the traditional nine patch swap.

Back to Saturday soccer today, and it's a beautiful day. They are finally forecasting rain on Monday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend, and a happy Mothers Day.

Susan x

Some more Simple Life

Yesterday was the last day of our school holidays, and it was blissful........a little gardening, some DVDs with the boys, and a little stitching. Hubby is away for the week as well, so lots of stitching getting done in the evenings too.

Two more blocks for The Simple Life.

Loving this beautiful Autumn weather but I wish it would rain. My poor garden is struggling.

I donated blood today. One in three Australians will need a blood donation at some time in their life, but only one in thirty donates. It's really no worse than all the pinpricks I get when I'm sewing!

Susan x

Just for fun

School holidays and no alarm clock tomorrow..........so I'm sitting up late working on something different just for a change. I got the fabric pack for The Simple Life last Christmas. I thought I'd start with this one, simple but true.

I'm using needleturn instead of buttonhole, and may regret it with some of the small pieces later. I figure if I just do one block every now and then it will all come together eventually. They are very cute designs.

Susan x

Works in progress

I was inspired by May Britt'spost about what projects she is working on this year. I'm sure there will be new projects and fabrics to catch my eye, but these projects are what I'm working on for now.

Finish quilting In Full Bloom before GDITC in March.

Make a start on The Simple Life fabric pack I got for Christmas.

Finish sewing down hexie border and quilt my Hexagon Star......by the end of the year.

Make a quilt for my nephew's 18th in August. Best get a move on with this one.

Floral Beauty. Loving it, and scared of all the needleturn, at the same time.

New Day stitchery.....finish by Mothers Day.

Make two runners for my new coffee table and buffet......soon.
Finish my little hexie bag before GDITC.
Stay up to date with the Traditional Nine Patch Swap.
I'm thinking about starting a clamshell quilt, but might wait until GDITC with Sue Daley.

I'll stop now, or this will become a very long list of all the projects I'd like to do.

I'm off to find a cool spot to stitch the day away.......now what should I work on first?

Susan x

Project bag

A while back I decided I could make The Simple Life project bag WITHOUT a fabric pack. Well I managed to find what I needed in my stash, and set about figuring out the instructions. I am not going to complain about it being fiddly, because I think I actually like fiddly projects. I seem to be drawn to them.
The pieces had been sewn together for a while, so on the weekend I only had to add the interfacing and buttons.......

I'm not sure how well the woven wool will wear. But I do love the fabric for the drawstring bag.

It's a cute little finish, that will be very useful for a small project.

Susan x

Anni's project bag

Family life has been getting a bit in the way of sewing lately. So I took myself off to a corner last night and worked on the project bag from The Simple Life - considering the mood I was in I probably should have chosen something a bit simpler, but here is the inside. I have finished the gorgeous bunny stitchery on the front, but I'll show you that when I finish the bag. And my second go at partridge in a pear tree for TTS.

Tonight, I have a funny little bit of mending to do for work........ these fellows have a couple of holes that need stitching up before the stuffing falls out.

I can't believe it's August tomorrow, the year is just flying by. Hope you're having a happy week, and finding a moment or two to yourself.

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

Home again

Well so much for shopping in Sydney. We didn't make it past Charlestown Square, Newcastle on Monday. With the whole family in tow it was easier to go to a shopping centre we were familiar with. I am thrilled to have bought not one, but TWO dresses - and no denim in sight. One is for a special dinner next month, and the other for my nieces 21st. And a beautiful pair of black velvet heels. And no patchwork fabric or supplies of any kind - very unusual behaviour for me.

I had a small procedure on my eye yesterday so it was quite an ordinary day. Thankfully a lot of the day was spent in the car on the way home. Eye patches make it very difficult to sew or read or watch tv. Feeling much better today though, so the needles will be out later!

I did finish another Bluebird of Happiness purse before I went away. This one is heading off to Melbourne with a scarf for my beautiful big sister.

And some little squares sewn together for Anni's project bag.

It's a beautiful rainy morning outside, 34mm last night and more to come. Not so good for washing, but excellent for a lazy day of sewing. Happy stitching.
Susan x

What I've been working on.....

The problem with working on a big quilt, or hand quilting, is that there isn't really much to show. My giant quilt is getting close to finished, if you call having 69 more stars to go being close. I'm slowly working my way around the hexagon border......

....... it's a long way around. 130 inches.

I'm feeling really pleased with myself because I didn't buy a fabric pack for Anni's project bag. Last weekend I went through my stash and found everything I needed - all chosen by me. I don't have many bright fabrics in my stash, but I think what I have chosen will turn out ok.

So, apart from a little bit of stitching here and there that's about it. Mostly loving being at home with the kids for the holidays, although I'm sure they eat more when they're home all day.

Susan x

How cute is this?

Finished my zippered bag from The Simple Life last night. It was easy to put together, with a slightly different method of putting in the zip. It's a good size for a small project bag.

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'm glad I bought the fabric pack as they are fabrics I probably wouldn't have chosen myself. It makes a nice change from French General.

Off to Bathurst today to visit my parents and do a little shopping with Mr 15. I'm sure he grows overnight. I don't need anything from Hatched & Patched, but I won't be able to resist dropping in.......
Hope you have a great day.
Susan x

In a cruel twist of fate my three children got to stay at home today because of the teachers strike, whilst I had to be at school at 9am to do some P&C stuff. They thought it was very funny. They had a lovely morning sleeping in and watching movies - not fair.
I made up for it this afternoon by finishing off the stitchery for my zipper bag,

And I traced out two more Bird of Happiness purses. I found some more spring strips the right size (and price) at Avonleigh Country Quilting. Not sure when I'll stitch them but the preparation is fun too.

Then it was afternoon tea time, so we made brownies. I don't make this recipe too often as it has way too much sugar in it, but it is loved nonetheless. Yum.

Off to play with some little squares for my zipper bag.

Susan