And I'm hooked!

Even though I'm uber tired, I have been dying to piece a little more on the Omigosh! quilt. I have lots of cutting ahead of me, but I have enough bits and pieces done that I can piece a bit with a little variety. Here's the end result of piecing from last night and tonight (I did manage to make more elements, but these are two blocks that I've completed):

I can't even tell you how pleased I am that I'm finally satisfied with the accuracy issues I've been having with my new machine. I'm using the 34D foot with the needle stepped over to position 4, and I'm no longer having trouble with the fabric trailing away at the end of a piece, and the 1/4" seam is exactly where I want it. I'm thrilled to no longer be having that feeling of fighting my machine.

And just a little tip for any of you that are thinking of working on this project: I found it so very helpful to use best press when pressing every seam for these little blocks. It really helped me keep the small pieces stable, and I press after every single seam I sew. Don't skip these two things - they were really important.

I've deliberately left the markings of the board visible there so you can see the size of the blocks - they're 5in at this point, and will be 4.5in finished - that makes most the smallest of the pieces 1/2in finished! You can see why I'm striving for accuracy! These blocks are addictive, and I'm itching to make more already! I'm going to pack it in for the night now though, and do a little hand work in front of the TV while watching Wimbledon. I do love my tennis :-)

And because I promised, I've taken some (poor quality) pictures of the patterns I purchased from Sue Garman:

These two are going to be great for scrap busting - and I have more than my fair share of scraps to bust. Don't we all?

And my massive love of appliqué led me to purchase the Lily Rosenberry pattern. I will love working on this one, though I can't imagine when I'll get to it. I have a list of 'must make' quilts as long as my arm ... and more than enough fabric to take care of them all!

Well, the tennis is beckoning, so I'll catch you all soon! xox

You cannot handle the cuteness ...

Early last week my pattern order from Sue Garman arrived - OMG, I was so excited and tore into the mailer - I couldn't wait to check them out! I should have shared a pic of the patterns with you, but for whatever reason I was too flaky to take that picture, so I'll save it for next time. But let me tell you that I was so excited to get working on Omigosh! that I started cutting immediately:

Those strips you see are 1in wide, so when all seams are done, the pieces will be 1/2in finished. Yes, you read that correctly. Isn't the quilt so aptly named?? Omigosh!

And of course, I couldn't stop at cutting, I had to try a little piecing. I'd had some advice from Otto recently that was going to help me with accuracy and the new machine - I'm trying a different foot - just not happy enough with the quarter inch foot. Happy days, things seem to be going okay at the moment ...

So, those little cuties that you see there are 2in at the moment ... and they'll be 1.5in finished - aren't they adorable?? A real test for accurate machine piecing. So far so good ... and I'm thinking if I keep going with this, it will be a real scrap eater!! Until now I had never saved 1in strips, nothing smaller than 1.5in strips actually, so I guess I'll have to add 1in to the rota too!

Also in the picture above, a little tin that I purchased while working at Hetties Patch. They always have the most adorable things, this combined with my complete lack of self control meant it had to come home with me. I can see myself using it for stitching hexies while I'm out and about.

Next up is another little thing I put together last week (or it could have been late the week before) I have totally lost track of time! It's just a little something I'm passing on to a friend:

It's always so nice to piece something small, and then quilt on it - you don't have all that bulk to deal with and it looks pretty without fail. I don't have a lot of batik fabric in my stash, and I really need to change that, as it's just lovely to work with.

And last up for today, Friday was my little man's birthday. Time is just going so fast, how can he possibly be twelve already??

He'll always be a tiny man to me!

More Broderie Perse

Though I haven't had much stitching time this weekend, I have had stolen moments where I've been able to put some more bits and pieces in place on my Montmellick project ...

I'm thrilled with how it's coming along. In the beginning I thought it looked so sparse, but each new piece really brings this border to life. Just a few more leaves and one more cluster of flowers and this border will be done.

I've also been looking at a picture that is on the Di Ford Mystery group on the Facebooks, trying to determine whether the next pieced border is 3" finished, or 2.5" finished. I'd love to get a start on it, but think I'm going to have to exercise patience - I just can't be sure and don't want to mess it up!

When I finish up with the applique this afternoon, I have a little job to do ... a sewing job, but not a fun quilting job:

I get to take the hem up on these jeans I purchased yesterday. I'm only 5'2", so I almost always have to take my jeans up, and I don't mind confessing it's not a job that I love.

There are many times when I can buy the petite size which is for us shorter folk, but when you see cute jeans like these ones that were on sale, you just have to grab them regardless of the length. I'm just loving all the checks and houndstooth styles that are going around at the moment. Hopefully they don't date so fast that I won't be able to wear them next year too.

Well, that's it from me - I'm off to get the last of the border appliquéd. And I'll be doing that in front of the heater ... it's COLD here right now!! Chatter soon :-) xox

Hexagons and Pentagons

Since I checked in last, I've been working on the hexagons for my Di Ford project. All the hexies are made (they're half inch!), I just need to stitch them into little flowers now. Being the impatient girl I am though, I wanted to see how one would look when appliquéd in place, and I love it:

I can't wait to get the others sewn in place, and then I can get busy with the rest of the broderie perse. Can I tell you how thrilled I am to be enjoying stitching for a change? It's a good thing :-)

And while at class on Thursday, I just had to get some happy snaps of my sweet friend Norma's recent (almost) finish, it's just delightful!

This is a pattern designed by the lovely ladies at Hetties Patch, I'm not sure of the name, but they kitted it up for Norma, and I just love how it looks. Norma has been both hand and machine quilting it, and she's on the home stretch now.

Can you see the big-stitch quilting on the pentagons there? It's done in a lovely deep red perle cotton and it's a lovely touch. I do love big-stitch hand quilting - I haven't done it for a long time, but long to do some again.

Well, that's it from me for now, I'm dying to get back to my little hexagons, so I'll check back with you soon! xox

Appliqué Vines

On Saturday it was our Guild's sewing day - always a super fun event, and though I'm guaranteed to get little done due to my excessive chattering issues, I thought it would be prudent to have some hand-work at the ready.

So, Friday night I prepped some bias strips, and packed up Montmellick ready for our outing. As predicted, I didn't get much stitching done (this was also hampered by the fact that I didn't manage to bring threads ... but I was able to borrow some), however I did manage to do a little ... and now I'm inspired to work on this project again ...

Here's where I'm up to as of today. Saturday saw me pin the bias strip in place, and I appliqued about one quarter of it down. Last night I started with a little of the broderie perse, and today I started working on the little leaves. It's not easy to see, but I wasn't happy with the placement of the flower there, so I unpicked it today while waiting at tennis training, and I'll hopefully re-position it tonight. If I can get all the leaves for this side done tonight, I'll start working on the little hexies for the whole of this border - they're super portable and I'll be able to take them to quilting group on Wednesday.

And in other news, I'm going to be excitedly watching the letter box for the next couple of weeks. I've ordered some patterns from one of my favourite designers - Sue Garman. She is the quilter I'd love to be. Her appliqué designs are sensational, and her piecing is intricate ... just how I like it. Be sure to check out her blog and her website, and you'll see what I mean. I always look forward to her blog post at the beginning of each month with bated breath - the eye candy she shares is just amazing and so inspirational.

FYI, the patterns I've ordered are: Ancient Stars, Omigosh!, and Lily Rosenberry. Those of you that know me well will see that they're right up my alley :-)

Last of all, I'm a little behind returning emails at the moment, so if you're waiting to hear from me, don't panic, I promise I'll get back to you really soon ... much learning of stuff going on here, I have new duties with the Guild as Membership Secretary - super fun, and super busy! Chatter soon :-)

Machine Quilting

These past few days, I've been machine quilting on a charity quilt I received through our guild. People donate completed tops/blocks/fabric to the charity arm of our guild, and when tops are assembled/pinned, they are offered to quilters who have the time and inclination to finish them up.

As soon as I saw this project on stage at a recent meeting, I knew I wanted to be part of finishing it up so it could be handed on to its next home. It's just delightful:

Here is a close up of one of the blocks - they are all beautifully needle-turn appliquéd, and on this block, you can see the lovely gold threads couched in place.

This block is just lovely too, the fabric used in the urn is delightful. You can't see it well in the picture, but the buds at the top of the block are dimensional, and made with a beautiful ribbon.

Some of the other blocks have reverse appliqué, and even gorgeous dimensional carnation looking flowers. So much work was put into making this top, it's puzzling that the maker was able to give it away. I have no clue who made it, but their work is seriously beautiful.

I really hope I can do the quilt top justice, it is a joy to work on - and I know that the eventual recipient of this quilt will just love it!

Fun in the mail ...

This week I received the most wonderful treat in the mail. My sweet friend Linda S. from Canada (I have a few friends named Linda) sent me the most amazing tin of Reese's candy. She is well aware of my addiction to the stuff and treated me to a selection of Easter Reese's, which we just don't get here.

Yum! I think it would be greedy to keep it all to myself, so I'll share just a little with the kids. Just a little ... And Linda also made me the most darling little quilt - isn't it sweet? I love it all, thank you so much Linda S.

And I was so excited to go to work this week, especially after I learned that the next instalment of the Di Ford project in Quilt Mania had arrived in store. I'm so looking forward to getting busy on it. But take a look, the next step is going to take a while ...

There is quite a lot of appliqué to work on and some tiny hexies to keep me busy. Camo has a birthday party to attend tomorrow after tennis, so I'll get started on the bias stems while he's there. Can't wait!

This evening I'll just settle in with a little hand quilting now that my chores are done. I'll check back in soon - have a great weekend! xox

Checking in ...

I thought I'd quickly check in and let you all know that I haven't fallen from the face of the earth. These past couple of weeks I've been suffering from bloggers block - I've been doing stuff, but nothing has really felt blog-worthy.

There are a couple of pictures to share though - I've been quilting in stolen moments on my wholecloth quilt - the hoop has been moved once. At this rate of progress, I should be finished by ... ohhh, let's say 2084!!

I do love quilting on this sweet baby, but it doesn't make for exciting pictures ... they all look pretty much the same. Won't it be fun when this quilt finally gets to grace someone's bed? I can't wait :-)

And here's a picture from my Mum's phone. I had my brother extract it on Mothers Day ... it was beyond my Mum's capability to do it, and I have no idea how to work a Samsung phone ... so yay for tech savvy brothers :-)

My facebook friends will have already seen this picture, but it's nice to share anyway. This is Camo and I having dinner in the nice restaurant on the cruise. DH noticed something that I had not ... Camo is playing on his iPod ... hmmm ... I should have recognised that suspicious glowing anywhere ...

In other news, I'm hopeful that the next instalment of the Di Ford mystery will be in my hot little hands soon. I'm dying to see what will happen next. And hopefully I'll have something interesting to share with you all soon ... surely there will be a project that will hold my interest ...

Chatter soon!