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

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!

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! :-)

Another runner ...

I hope you don't get tired of these runners any time soon, because today I made another, and I know there will be more in my future!

Lyn chose this gorgeous fabric for the shop, and it looks wonderful - very glitzy! Kind of Christmasy, but with a hint of spice :-)

And here's how I've quilted it - I should be more adventurous, perhaps on the next one :-)

If I try hard, I should be able to apply the binding tonight, and I'll do the hand stitching later.

This weekend I'm going to make up some more blocks, and also get busy on some other small projects - I'll check in soon! xox

Lo and behold - I reacquainted myself with my sewing machine!

But first - a photo I had taken with my phone-camera and forgot all about it ... when I took the picture of my Nearly Insane quilt hanging in my dining room the other day - I had unceremoniously dumped my Dear Jane quilt in the lounge.

Miss Gracie clearly saw this as an opportunity to rub up against a quilt that up till now had been impossible to get to! Little monkey!!

And in entirely marvellous news - I have been able to make a little headway toward catching up on the Civil War Quilt blocks. Here are the blocks I made on Sunday:

This is Block 39 - Hovering Hawks. Such an easy block, but so effective.

Block 42 - H is for Hospital. How fun would a quilt be made entirely with this block in a Rail-Fence kind of design. Very striking.

And lastly, Block 43 - Right Hand of Friendship. I had to do a little unpicking with this one to get it just right, but I think it was worth it. I love the red print with the dots - I only had the smallest piece and wish I had more, it's adorable.

Well, that's my sewing for the weekend - it was so much fun, and I can't wait to get a few more blocks made. Chatter soon! xox

Table Runner

Would you like to see one of the things I did at work today? Yes? Well, here you go:

Isn't it cute? A table runner made with a pretty border fabric, and Marti Michell's Kaleidorule. How I love that ruler!

We have a bolt of that pretty border print left over from a kit, and to help customers see what they can make from it, I thought this runner would be just the ticket. Last time I made a Christmas runner like this, the fabric sold out so very fast! I'm just about to quilt it and apply the binding, and I can take it into work on Tuesday. How fun!

Roses

We have some really beautiful roses in our garden this year, and I thought I'd share a couple of pics:

These are just so lovely that I couldn't bear to cut them from the bush. Such gorgeous old fashioned roses - they were all planted before we purchased our house, so we don't know the names of any of them.

And these are lovely too, but a little past their prime. I snipped just a few so we could enjoy their last days inside.

Bears Anyone?

I was cleaning up in my sewing room today (because I have the time now!), and came across this little bag of goodies:

They're bear parts that I bought a good long time ago. Now I know that I'm never ever going to make a bear, and even if I did, I don't think I'd know what to do with them. Would anyone like them? I'm happy to send them anywhere. Just drop me a message and let me know. If there's a few of you, I'll draw a number.

Thank you for helping me de-clutter! xox