Monday, November 28, 2011

So, what have I been up to this past week?

I'm still working away at the Noah and Friends quilt - I have to finish one more block, and then I can put the top together and add the final borders. It will be a relief when it's done.

It's really quite cute isn't it?

And I've also pieced and quilted about a bazillion (okay - 8) Christmas themed placemats.

Hopefully they'll be bound and finished by this time next week, and then I can work on some more Farmers Wife blocks - I'm dying to get back into them.

And speaking of the Farmers Wife:

I received a comment last week from Danish Lisbet, she asked what fabrics I'm using in my Farmers Wife quilt. I couldn't reply directly as her email address wasn't enabled. So here is my answer:

The red is by Judie Rothermel - Cocheco Mills Collection
The mustard is by Kaye England - Remember When
The pink is by Judie Rothermel - Charleston IV
The cream print is by Judie Rothermel - Sturbridge Village Greens


I hope this helps Lisbet - some of the fabrics are a few years old now, but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to get similar prints to achieve the same look.

Well, that's it from me - I hope to check back in soon. xox

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Noah and Friends project

Just thought I'd quickly share a project that I've been working on, off and on for a little while now. It belongs to a sweet lady that I used to do some quilting for - she brought it to me because she was having all sorts of problems putting the blocks together. She'd accidentally cut the background fabric squares too small, and just couldn't get the top to lay flat. I've taken it all apart and I'm putting it back together for her - it seemed such a shame to abandon the project, and she'd done such a lovely job with the applique.

Isn't it sweet? It's a Kookaburra Cottage block of the month project, called Noah and Friends. I'm really looking forward to giving her top back complete - it's going to look just lovely!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

TFW - And two more ...

I just can't stop myself - and I may not be able to return to a normal life! :-)

Block 15 - Buzzard's Roost

Block 17 - Cats & Mice


Isn't block 15 a funny looking one. I must say though, that the piecing was much easier with the help of Marti Michell's templates. No affiliations - just a happy customer. And block 17 is super cute - but made a little tricker with the cutting of 1 and 15/16ths of an inch squares. Gah - none of my rulers have those markings ...

Today I MUST work on a whole different project ... I'll see if I can tear myself away ... Wish me luck!!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

TFW - Blocks 14, 16, 20 & 21

After the mind bending I received while stitching Block 13, yesterday afternoon I thought I'd put a few simple blocks together:

Block 14 - Butterfly at the Crossroads

Block 16 - Calico Puzzle

Block 20 - Churn Dash

Block 21 - Contrary Wife

I think this makes 17 blocks completed now - such a fun project :-)

Friday, November 18, 2011

Block 13 = Success!

Finally! I spent some of this morning unpicking and resewing this block, before I realised that it was just too far gone and I'd need to start again.

Here is my finished block:

Block 13 - Buckwheat


I've been working on another project in-between these blocks, so this weekend when I have a chance, I'll share some pictures with you.

Block 13 = Fail

So, last night I spent about an hour putting this block together ... all the time thinking something just wasn't right with it ...

See the ruler on the left, that's the size it should be ... I'm about an inch short. Not right to say the least! It's back to the drawing board with this one :-)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Just checking ...

... to see if I can use PSP on my iPhone ... looks like it works :-)

Farmers Wife - Blocks 8 & 12

Tonight I made up two more blocks - they're so much faster than the NI blocks, and not having to make fabric choices speeds up the process so much too!

Block 8 - Bouquet

Block 12 - Broken Sugar Bowl

I wonder if I'll get any more blocks made this week? Chatter soon xox

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Is it clear that I'm hooked?

Oh yes, utterly hooked. These blocks are highly addictive - I've made three more, and I've cut out the freezer paper templates of the next one.

Here are my latest finishes:

Block 3 - Basket

Block 9 - Box

Block 10 - Bowtie

I predict you'll be seeing more of these dear things in the not too distant future! Chatter soon xox

Monday, November 14, 2011

Farmers Wife - A few more

Here are three more Farmers Wife blocks I completed on the weekend:

Block 5 - Bat Wing

Block 7 - Birds in the Air

Block 11 - Broken Dishes

For Block 5, I used freezer paper templates - it's my current favourite technique for odd shapes. And Blocks 7 and 11 were super easy, using oversized squares to make HST's. Super fun! I'm loving this project! xox

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Pageant Day

Yesterday was the day of the Adelaide Christmas Pageant, and as tradition dictates in our house, it's also the day we put up the Christmas tree. Mainly because I love how the house looks when it's decorated for the season, so I want to make it last as long as possible! :-)

I must say, it all looks so much more glittery in real life - I'll have to get Marty to take a picture with his fancy camera and even fancier filter.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The Farmers Wife - A beginning ...

Originally I was going to make my 'Civil War Love Letters' quilt using the colourway I've used in these blocks, but I changed my mind. I think it will look better with a larger variety of colours, so I'll make it in scraps and reproductions some day - lets face it, I still have a LOT of scraps and repro bits and pieces!

Having made that decision, I decided to start making 'The Farmers Wife' quilt instead, and I've been dying to get busy ever since.

Here are my first blocks:

Block 1 - Attic Windows

Block 2 - Autumn Tints

Block 4 - Basket Weave

Block 6 - Big Dipper

These blocks have been fun to make, and I can't wait to get more made. I've almost completed Block 3 - Basket, it's pieced, I just have to needle turn the handle down. And Block 5 - Bat Wing, I must print the templates before I can begin piecing.

I hope I can share a few more blocks with you soon! xox

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thank you!

One of my sweet quilting friends gave me the loveliest bunch of flowers yesterday as a big congratulations on my quilty award.

Don't they look wonderful? I can't wait for the blooms to open. Thank you Monica!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Orphan Block

I have been completely unable to settle to a new project since I finished my NI quilt, so for fun I started digging around in my box of orphan blocks.

I found one I needle turned about 15 years ago when I was just learning, and thought it'd be fun to quilt it and make it into a little table topper. Here is the end result:

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Gratuitous NI picture :-)

Just because I can't get enough of these pics, I thought I'd share where my NI quilt is right now. I'll have to take it down in a few weeks for valuation ... and then next year it'll have a little holiday in Melbourne. In the meantime, it's hanging in the dining room ...

Sunday, November 06, 2011

And it just keeps getting better!

My Mum and I visited the guild show again today - I wanted to visit with my quilt again, and Mum was dying to see it hanging. I'll never tire of seeing it there with it's lovely ribbon. Lizzy called me to let me know that two of the guild ladies were looking for me - and I have to tell you they had the most exciting news ...

My quilt was one of those selected to represent South Australia at the Australasian Quilters Convention in April next year! Can you believe it?? I'm just gobsmacked, and completely honoured! Just when I thought things could not be more wonderful, they just get even better!

Chatter soon friends - I'm still on cloud nine! xox

Friday, November 04, 2011

It is so very exciting!

Now that I've had a little time to settle after such excitement, I can begin returning messages and emails - and share news and pictures a little more adequately. Thank you to everyone who has left comments here, and messages on my facebook page, it has been just overwhelming and entirely wonderful.

Here is another picture for you - one that shows a little more of the quilt - but still not a good photo. I'm going to visit again on the weekend and hopefully will be able to take some better pictures.

While at the show, I visited one of my favourite interstate booths - the one where I purchased the NI book originally - Somerset Patchwork & Quilting, and they have a block of the month going - I signed up immediately. Scroll down on their front page - it's Mrs Billings' Coverlet. I'm in love! I have the first block, and I can't wait to begin. I don't mind admitting that even though I have things I need to work on, I've really felt a little lost since I finished working on my NI quilt. I had a feeling that may happen ...

Update: my laptop died in a heap last night, (beastly thing) so I don't have access to the emails I've already downloaded - hopefully all will be well soon so I can get busy responding to all your kind messages xox

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Winner!

My Nearly Insane quilt won first place in its category at the SA Quilters Guild show, and I'm beyond thrilled. I'm at the presentation now - more later!

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Testing ...

I've been working on some table mats using some of my favourite Kaffe fabrics. I'll make a couple more and get busy binding.

Most of all though, this post is just a quick test to see if I can blog from my iPhone. I guess I'll know very soon! :-)

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