Hello December!

Can you believe it's December already? I certainly can't, this year has definitely flown, and this week has simply passed me by!

I had promised to check back in after the weekend was finished - based on results, I'm sure you know that didn't happen. My birthday, babysitting and appointments all just got in the way. No complaints though, each and every one of those things were wonderful.

So, what have I acheived this past week? Well, I managed to finish up the last little bits and pieces for the secret sewing that I was working on, and those things I can share with you next week. I have also been working on some placemats which are gifts, I'm hand stitching the binding down on the reverse side at the moment:

I ordered in some fun fabric for these camping enthusiasts, and hope they enjoy these mats as much as I enjoyed making them. The plaid, cream and dark green were all from stash, and there was much happy dancing that they worked well. The darkest fabric has not photographed well, it's not quite as dark as it appears.

And other sewing, I'm now making an earnest effort to catch up on my OPA sampler blocks:

Block 44 - Hunters Cross

Block 45 - Rolling Stone

Block 46 - Latticework

I now have no clue how many of the blocks for this project I've put together, I think I'll organise all of the pictures of my completed blocks into a folder so I can keep track of them. The blocks themselves are all in a project box, but I do enjoy looking at the finished items on the computer.

Next week is the last one for spending time with quilting ladies, so I've been thinking I should set myself some goals for the holiday break. I think my holiday break is 7 weeks, I haven't counted, but that sounds about right. So ... these are my thoughts ...

1.  Catch up on the OPA Sampler Blocks

2.  (And this is a wild one!) Finish making the top of the aviation themed quilt I started for Camo ... more than 10 years ago! Believe it or not, he'd still like to have it ... and it has been relentlessly pushed to the back of the queue!

3.  Continue to spend at least 30 mins each day hand quilting on Lily Rosenberry

4.  Complete at least two donation quilts. 

Do I think these are realistic goals? My heart says yes, but my head is saying whoooooaaaa, back it up a bit! Thing is, I can try, and if I don't make it by the end of the holidays, that's okay. I always work well with a deadline, so let's give it a whirl!

So, that's my week, I'm off to catch up on some emails now ... I'll chatter with you soon! xox

Friday Already?

Ohhh my goodness, I was just getting done tidying up in the kitchen after dinner, thinking about what I'll work on in the sewing room, and I realised it is Friday and I don't really have anything noteworthy to share with my lovely online friends!

This week has been a busy one, with some unexpected family things, secret squirrell sewing, so many little bead heads being painted etc ... etc ... In amongst all that though, I did get a little felt crafting done:

This is 'A Partridge in a Pear Tree' from the mmmCrafts Twelve Days ornaments series. I've made it already for little Mary, but this one is for one of Marty's colleagues who lives in the USA. I wanted to get it in the mail with plenty of time to make it for the festive season. These ornaments are such a joy to work on, and I have a few more to go in the next few weeks.

I finished up some secret squirrell projects this week too, so I can't share those with you just yet, but soon, I promise!

The Xmas tree is also up after a big effort today, but I'll have to share a picture with you later as it's too dark to get a nice shot now. In fact, I will check back in at the end of the weekend with a more newsy post. So, chatter soon friends! xox

Such relief ...

This week I'm feeling so much relief that I'm really getting through some 'have to do' things. One of those things was to complete the tree skirt I shared an in progress shot of last week:

I've been trying to get a new tree skirt into my Etsy store each year, and this year the festive season is starting to draw very close. It's a quick make so I feel confident that people will be able to get one made in time with no trouble. This was such a fun project, and I was so happy to be able to use some fun fabrics. I don't have my tree up yet (which is so late for me) but I'm looking forward to putting this tree skirt to use.

Two other projects I'm working on I can't share just yet, but won't be long I promise.

On Monday I put together another block for the OPA Sampler sewalong. I challenged myself to work only from my 1.5" strips - I haven't actively added strips to that container in quite a while, so some of the strips in there are OLD. You'll see some very vintage repros in this block:

Block 22 - Brickwork

There is definitely a Smithsonian print in there, and several from the Ann Robinson collection - both of those are late 90's collections. I also see others that I know have been in my stash a good long time but I don't remember any details about them.

And last of all for today, I can share that last night I put the last stitches in the binding of the first of the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong quilts. In this picture you can see the plaid binding I chose really well, and also a hint of the random backing fabric I dug out of my stash.

I'm mad for plaid bindings right now, I just love how they look on the edge of the quilt, and I have several different colours to suit different quilts. Come to think of it, I really like a stripy binding too.

And as for that backing fabric, I really like it, but mustn't have had a plan for it. I'm trying to get fabrics like that out of my stash closet and used up to make room for future new fabrics.

After I'm done on here, I'm heading back into the sewing room, I'm really feeling like I'm on a roll right now and may be able to get a long term project completed this evening. Such a relief! So I'll chatter soon, thank you so much for stopping by xoxox

Limited sewing time ...

Sewing time has been so scarce this week that I have very little to share with you. My little Etsy store has been super busy and I've been painting wooden bead heads almost every day. It thrills me that people are so happy with my work, and I never grow tired of the darling little faces.

So, I have two things to share for you - the first up is a new tree skirt I'm attempting to have completed really soon. It'll be another option for people looking to stitch up something for themselves, and this time jelly-roll friendly so ppl can keep to a fabric theme/collection.

I'm having fun with these novelty prints, aren't they darling? I'm sure to be close to finished/if not finished by next week, so I'll look forward to being able to share more soon.

And today I made another OPA Sampler Stitchalong block as I've gotten well behind ...

Block 41 - Chessboard

This block absolutely could not be simpler, so it's a good one to get back on the horse with. And it's the only block in the quilt that is repeated, so I definitely knew what I was doing when I put it together. I'm hoping I'll be able to sew up another block tonight, but if I don't that's okay too :-)

Another thing I want to tell you about, and it's bothering me. I'm having loads of trouble commenting on peoples blogs recently, and I'm just not sure how to fix it. When I send lovely friends a comment after stopping by, I'm getting a message in my mail account saying Bigpond isn't allowing the comment. Gah! I'm not tech savvy enough to troubleshoot and fix what has happened, there must be an update that has messed things up. But I did want to send my sweet friends know that I have been visiting with you when I can, you just won't know that I've been by. I'm so sorry!

Anyway, that's enough from me for now, I'll check back in with you soon when I have something fun to share. Have a great weekend! xox

Checking things off the super long list!

Another wonderful week is drawing to a close, with many successes making me happy. I've been busy working on mmmCrafts ornaments:

These are so enjoyable and easy to work on. I have quite a few I'd like to get done before the big day. Some more for little Mary, and also Amy, plus some that I'd like to send to far away friends. They'll  have to be next on the list to ensure they get there in time.

And I did manage to quilt and bind the first of the Scrappy Star Stitchalong quilt tops:

I do really love a plaid binding, I have quite a few different colourways to suit different quilts. I think I'm mad for plaid in general, I'm always drawn to it in clothing stores and pretty much everywhere! I have some other things to work on for a bit, so I may have to put the second top on hold for a little while. Let's see how many hours I can eke out in the coming week.

This past Wednesday I went shopping with a lovely friend in search of something I have been seeking for YEARS!

I have wanted to get a Christmas Pickle ornament from David Jones for the longest time, and I'd never manage to get there in time before they sold out. Well this year I was determined to get in early and found one. Can I tell you that in store they only had 5 left already! Apologies for the blurry 'instructions' card, but you can see why the pickle is special. DJ's always have the most glorious selection of ornaments, so I got a few more things ...

Of course I purchased the Kitchenaid Mixer ornament, and the macaron ornaments too. They're so me. I know it's early to be talking about Christmas for some folk, but I needed to shop early to make sure I didn't miss out. Also, tomorrow is the day for the Adelaide Christmas Pageant, so it's traditionally the day I'd put our tree up. I'm going to wait a couple of weeks this year, as I need the space free in the lounge for a bit.

And the last Christmas themed info for this post: I've popped one of my finished tree skirts in my Etsy store if any of my sweet readers are interested. I really like it, and hope you all will too:

Please let me know if you have any questions about the skirt, I'll be happy to help you out.

I'll sign off here, there are still a number of things to get done today, and they day is disappearing, so I'll chatter soon! xox

Scrappy Stars Stitchalong Top

This has been such a great week, from a quilting perspective, and from a home perspective too.

I got one of the tops from the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong put together, I'm so very pleased with how it looks:

The bottom row of blocks is cut off in this picture (also it's upside down), but you can see how the fabrics in the setting squares and triangles look. I'm so pleased I went rummaging in my stash closet, I really like the fabrics I selected. Hopefully this week I'll get the second top put together, and then I'll get ready to quilt and bind them. I don't think these little quilts are candidates for hand quilting, I have plenty enough of that in the queue already!

And speaking of hand quilting, I moved the hoop once again:

I don't always feel like hand quilting, so when I'm in the mood I really have to go with it. I'd love it if I can have this quilt finished some time next year, so let's hope I can remain focused!

In other news, I'm so thrilled with all the decluttering I've been getting done at home. During the week I went through all my quilting books and donated about a third of them. I wanted to free up one of the shelves in my quilting room - little Mary loves the Sylvanian Families and I have a couple of sets for her. I've popped them on the spare shelf in the sewing room and she happily plays with them while I get a little stitching done. 

And my handbags too - I gave a whole bunch to a friend today, she was interested in them and it was a great opportunity to reduce their numbers. I think I kept five total - only absolute favourites, ones that I know I'll use.

It's amazing to me how much I'm preferring having space instead of stuff. I'm going to look forward to continuing organisation in the sewing room. There are so many projects I'd like to work on, and I'm loving getting through them!

Well, that's it for me this week, I'm going to get a little more hand quilting done, and then it's night-night time! Chatter soon xox

Scrappy Stars blocks finished!

This week when I've had stitching time, I've mainly been hand quilting. But I have managed to get the last two blocks from the Scrappy Stars Stitchalong finished:

These are blocks nineteen and twenty. They're probably the least busy of the blocks, especially the last one. The project has been an exercise in letting go a little for me, as I prefer my scrap quilts to be much more 'controlled scrappy' in nature and all these different prints and patterns as well as wonky orientations have been tough for me to work with. I've done my best, and even though there were some things I just couldn't do, I'll say I'm growing!

The next step is to put the top together with setting squares - the original quilt has a largely solid fabric in a taupe/cheddar tone. I don't have anything like that, so these are the fabrics under consideration for me to use for my setting squares etc:

I'm thinking that if I can't do a solid fabric, I'll do a fabulous pattern instead. What are your thoughts? I'll be interested to hear.

This is where I'm going to leave off tonight, as I'm really itching to get back into some more hand quilting. So I'll wish you all well, and chatter soon! xox

Blocks, blocks and more blocks ...

Though I've been working on several secret squirrel projects, I've also been working hard to catch up on other blocks I've gotten behind on:

These are blocks twelve thru eighteen on the Scrappy Star Stitchalong:

I'm not sure what order they've been arranged in, but it doesn't really matter :-) The blocks were fun to put together and the best part is trying to find fabrics in my stash that somewhat match the original blocks.

There are only two blocks left to make and then it's time to put the quilt top together. I've made two of each block, so I'll be able to make two little quilts. I'm looking forward to that part.

And today I managed to put together another of the Opa Sampler blocks, a cute one too:

Block 22 - Quadruple T

I managed to find two fabrics that were somewhat similar to the original in my stash. How am I working on two projects that require this kind of attention?!? There are still many blocks to make, but I'm sure I can get them done.

In addition to working on some Christmas items, this week up I finished up painting the bathroom, and I've had bunches of orders to take care of from my Etsy store. I do love being busy, but I've paid scant attention to blogging and emails, so I promise to catch up asap. Hope you're all well, chatter soon! xox

Back to Friday posting ...

This has been a great week, a busy one, but great. I've had some stitching time - I've been working on some mmmCrafts decorations:

These ones aren't tricky ones, I'll work my way up to some harder ones later in the year. It's nice to work on something simple here and there.

I also managed to move the hoop again on the Lily Rosenberry quilt:

I go through fits and starts with hand quilting, sometimes it's all I want to do, and other times I really have to force myself to keep going. I'm wanting to quilt at the moment, so I need to embrace that and get plenty done.

There was also a Opa Sampler block to complete, and I was able to get that done on Tuesday evening:

Block 19 - Crooked Mile

This block was super fun to make, I really enjoy curved piecing. The green fabric was a find from deep stash - it was the very bottom fabric in the stack of green yardage in the closet. Who knows how long I've had it or where it came from!

And last of all for today, some happy mail from the lovely Karen from Somerset Patchwork:

Aren't these fabrics darling? I do love Karen's fun sales on Instagram, and I'm sure there will be more happy mail in my future.

It's likely I won't be doing too much quilting tonight, on a wild hair this week I decided to paint one of our bathrooms, so I've been up and down the ladder and working hard to get it done. It's pretty much worn me out, so I'll be in bed soon. Not sure how much I'll be getting done this weekend either, as we're babysitting a friend's dog, it will be such fun for Rowley, and a bit of an adventure for us too I'm sure! So that's it for me for now, I'll be sure to chatter soon! xox

Monday Evening

As the title suggests, it's Monday evening here now - we were so lucky to have had a long weekend (Labour Day), so sleep ins have been on the agenda, and sewing too! But as promised, I'm checking back in with some additional quilting eye candy.

First up, during the week I pieced and quilted a new Slightly Spooky Halloween Table Topper. I had given away the one I made last year, so because it's the season, time for another:

I love this little project, it's always a breeze to make. One of my sweet customers had asked me for some tips to bind scallops, so today while I was working on the binding I took some pictures to make up a little tutorial. Scalloped binding is super easy, nothing to fear at all - I plan to put a selection of photos with some information on Insta when I have a chance. Also, the pattern for the table topper is in my Etsy store if you like it.

Another thing I finished last weekend was some placemats for my Mum which were almost identical to the one I made for Nanna. The cream and green stripes are narrower in this version, which I think looks nicer.

This placemat is based on a picture that a quilting friend found on Pinterest and she really wanted to make some. The Pinterest link on the picture of the black and white mats didn't lead to anything other than some very suspicious looking links, and though we hunted far and wide for a pattern, we just couldn't come up with anything. So, because of our lack of success, I put together a few very basic cutting and piecing directions for my friend, and though the dimensions don't appear to be exactly the same, we're both pretty happy with the end result. If you'd like a copy of my rudimentary directions, pop me an email, I'll be happy to forward them to you.

And back to piecing, I put a few more of the Scrappy Stars blocks together in an attempt to catch up:

These are blocks eight, nine and ten. The group is up to block thirteen, and I expect fourteen to come out at any moment - I feel confident I'll have some free time this week so I'll catch up soon!

And I've (mostly) been able to keep up with thirty minutes each evening of hand quilting, and last night I was able to move the hoop on Lily Rosenberry:

Gosh I love this quilt, the hand quilting is so relaxing, and I must remember to savour it, and not race toward a finish. 

Last of all for today, a little Rowley snap:

Marty was watching the MotoGP, and I don't know if Rowley was genuinely tired, or if he wasn't happy about not being the centre of attention ... but he had his back to Marty with a less than pleased look on his face. Funny dog! It's hard to believe that in two weeks time Rowley will be eight months old - it has gone so fast!

So that's my little early week catch up - Friday I'll be back to my regular posting schedule. Chatter soon!