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!

What have I done with my photos?

So, as I'm getting set to write my post tonight, I had a look in my phone and could only find one picture of things that I'd worked on this past week! I know I've been much busier than that, so I wonder what I've done?

This is my solitary picture, progress on the OPA Sampler Quilt:

Block 37 - Chubby Chex

There is another picture of this block, just a different setting, but I wonder why I haven't taken any more pictures of other things? So my plan is that I'll leave this here as a placeholder, and check back in with you at the end of the weekend. With some new work, and hopefully some pictures of things I've worked on previously.

I hope you've all had a lovely week - I know mine has been super busy - we're getting to the sharp end of the year now. Chatter soon, hugs!

Quickie post ...

I'm so sorry, this is going to be a super quick post tonight, I'm so very tired after a seriously busy week.

Today I got a couple more blocks made from the Scrappy Star Stitchalong, these are Blocks 6 and 7:

Block six has that fabulous blue stripe, and even if I did have time to stitch a bunch during the week, I didn't have anything remotely similar so had to partake in some retail therapy. I'm so glad I did!

I also got another block made from the Opa Sampler Stitch Along:

Block 18 - Crossed Canoes

A fun one to make, and I simply adore that blue Judie Rothermel print. It's yummy!

Last of all, I promised I'd share a little of the fabric I'd managed to get in a fabulous sale. These are largely for little Mary quilts, I'm adding to a whole new area of my stash for that sweet girl.

And finally for today, I've moved the hoop on my Lily Rosenberry quilt, I've managed to get 30 mins of hand quilting done each day, often times it's quite late at night. A perfect relaxation toward heading to bed.

And speaking of bed, I think I'll head in that direction now, I feel like I'll be asleep within minutes! Chatter soon xox

More stars!

Ohhh I hope you're ready to see more stars? I had a great time working on them during the week. I think I'm behind by one star at the moment, but that one will have to wait until I can stumble upon the perfect fabric.

Block four - I was thrilled with how this one came together, the perfect fabrics were lurking in my scrap stash, so I was able to put them to good use. The brown stripe and the little check print were gifted by my lovely friend Donna (and possibly one of the indigoes too). I dug the music print conversational and the other indigo from deep stash, they were fun finds. 

Block five - I struggled to find appropriate scraps for this one. I don't have very much purple repro fabric, something I feel like I should try and remedy.

Block six has a wide mid blue and white scrap for the outer squares, I am 99.675% sure that I don't have anything like that hiding in my fabric closet, so I'll have a think about what I'll do there. It really does make the block, so it's worth contemplating.

I also put together the latest Opa Sampler block:

Block 35 - Variable Star

Cooincidentally this weeks block is just a larger scale version of the other blocks I've been working on. It was hard to find a brown print that mimicked the fabric in the original. I auditioned a couple of darker brown fabrics, and thought they were too dull. I settled on this sweet brown print fabric from the tub of reproductions kindly gifted to me by lovely Pam Holland. I had a small piece of this way back in the day when it was new, but that was long gone, so it was a thrill to find this piece in the tub.

And last of all from a quilting perspective, tonight I put the last binding stitches in a placemat I've made for my Nanna's birthday.

Nanna is 94 this week, such a great age. She's in a nursing home as she needs a lot of care now, and we'll visit with her tomorrow for cake and celebrating. The placemat is for her to put on her tray table where she has her meals, I hope it'll brighten her space some more. We just adore Nanna, and we are so blessed to have five generations of first born daughters that are all so close.

Also this week, I received a small delivery of fabric, which I managed to forget to take a picture of, so I'll share that with you next week. Lastly I've been busy and finally finished up updating all the pictures in my Etsy store - they decided in their wisdom that we needed to have square listing photos going forward - so that was a fun exercise in playing with photoshop etc. 

So that has been my week, I hope yours has been wonderful too, and I'll chatter with you next week! xox

Sidetracked!

This week Instagram completely sidetracked me! Lovely Taryn (reproquiltlover) introduced a Scrappy Star Stitchalong, and I was all in! It was impossible to resist. The blocks are only 6" little things, and the hardest part of the project is choosing fabrics. We all know I have scraps that block out the sun, so I set to rummaging:

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

I only really need to make one block each time - but with the technique I'm using it's just as easy to make two, so that's what I'm doing. Also, I'm trying to take interesting photos - so many of you are such amazing photographers. As you can see with Block 3, I have much to learn about depth and perspective. I guess those are the right words lol. I'll get better!

The cupie doll was a fun purchase this week at the Royal Adelaide Show. We took Mary along again this year, and she had a wow of a time. I've selected a couple of my favourite pictures from the competition area - my favourite quilts, sourdough, vanilla slice (yum!) and cake decorating.

I also made one more block from the OPA Sampler Stitchalong, as you see it's a very easy one:

Block 5 - Corner Logs

For this block I forced myself to draw from my 2" strip box, which made for an odd assortment of fabrics. Of course there is no discernible reduction in the amount of strips in the box, which always causes me to fret about the state of my stash. I'm sure I've had this conversation with you before - I really need to put time aside to pare down. 

Anyway, that is where I'm at this Friday evening. Contemplating my stash, and looking forward to putting some more blocks together. How has your week been?

Three Opa Blocks

This week I got three Opa Sampler Sewalong blocks made, and they were super fun.

Block 23 - Wagon Wheel

Block 12 - Thunderbolt

Block 33 - Bears Paw

All of the blocks had fabric from deep stash, and some of them were treasures donated to me by lovely Pam Holland. I've eked out the very last of a couple of fabrics, and there are tiny seams in some of the pieces to use up the last little bits. It's no wonder I seem to be inundated with scraps!

And speaking of scraps, I'm thinking of going through my scrap bins and tossing out some of the contents, really, just the pieces I just know I'm not going to use. Before they hit the trash can, is anyone interested in taking them off my hands? Local is preferable, but I can send some bits and pieces further afield. Postage is prohibitive these days, so I can't promise how much there will be, or what size and scope of things I'll be sending on to their next lives. Please let me know.

I don't have more pictures to share as I've started working on some of my secret squirred projects toward Christmas. I have a lot to get through this year and don't want to leave it to the last minute and be stressed. It's about this time of year that my Etsy store really starts kicking off (as it has a bit of a Christmasy theme), and that always becomes a focus for me. If anyone is working on the mmmCrafts ornaments, please do check in on my Etsy store for the painted bead heads. They're reasonably priced and take away the stress of painting. They also save you the trouble of tracking down the beads, paints, markers etc. I'll love to help you out!

That's all I have to share with you this week, it has been a super busy one, but you wouldn't know it from this journal entry. Let's see if I can have something more interesting for you next week. Chatter soon! xox