I was bugged!!!

Stitching away on my Jacobean Cross Stitch, I tugged the threads thinking I had loose a knot caught in the back, but no, there was a bug! Unbelievable! How rude of that little insect to get stuck like that.... grrrr....... Here is the poor helpless creature......

I guess seeing really is believing? :)

Traditional Tuesday

It seems that I am a bit of a soft touch when it comes to making Sampler Blocks! The one over on the blog 42Quilts is no exception. Jennifer Dick, since last September has been offering weekly blocks, which can be modern or traditional. Modern Monday offers a new slant on the traditional blocks - which is very interesting and well worth considering. However, I have chosen to do the Traditional Tuesday option - which, yep, you guessed it - is very traditional.


I am using 1800s reproduction fabrics with mostly reds, murky creams and blues with a splash of green and purple/grey thrown in for good measure. The fabrics were purchased for a different project that I had intended to design myself, which I could never seem to get around to starting and then when I came across this project online, I knew that the fabrics would be perfect.

Block 1 - Crossroads

Block 2 - Log Cabin - not yet made.

Block 3 - Rail Fence

Block 4 - Churn Dash

Block 5 - Sawtooth Star

Block 6 - Mosaic

Block 7 - Mr Bones - not yet made

Block 8 - Pinwheel

Block 9 - String Block - not yet made

Block 10 - Snowball Variation

So far I have made 7 blocks out of 15. There will be more to come in the next few weeks as I catch up after the holiday madness.

Hmmm - which reminds me, I must catch up on my Just Plain Nuts and Golden Memories blocks too - samplers are just too addictive!

A New Years Eve Resolution - UFOs

Today I have listed my UFOs onto a database - 49 this year. I have sorted into "To Be Quilted", "QAYG" and the "general list" of where there is pieceing and cutting to be done. Somehow, this simple sorting, even though they are all UFOs, has freed my mind somewhat.

I have also started afresh with a smaller list of just 4 projects too. A birthday, a class working with odd blocks and a wedding shall take care of finishing those projects, with a bag project thrown in for good measure. I'm pretty sure I've made it achievable for the 8 weeks I've allocated myself to get these things done. On my personal list there is one extra UFO added to get to flimsy stage if I have time.

Also (what - there's more? :) ) A friend and I have challenged each other to complete a 'done done' UFO finish per month during 2012. This is a very accountable thing to do as it means having to physically show it to the other person in the LQS - no escape here! The way I have sorted my UFO list now, makes me think I can achieve this. On my DSM, it takes me about a week or so to complete the machine quilting of a big quilt. My biggest procrastination point is the handsewing of the binding, so if I save this for social sewing days, it should happen while chatting shouldn't it?

My gorgeous fabrics and fantastic projects will be far better off being completed and gifted or used.

So, to all of you UFO'ers out there, whether it's scrapbooking, knitting, quilting, woodworking or whatever, raise your glasses with me tonight - New Years Eve - to a toast - UFO Reduction!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Flimsy - unquilted quilt top

DSM - domestic sewing machine

UFO - unfinished object

LQS - local quilt shop

Merry Christmas

When I signed into my blog today, I didn't realise quite how much time had passed since my last post - what happened to the last 4 months? However, I have not been idle! After Christmas, there will be several postings of my 'show and tell' where you can share what I have been making as the gifts will be with their new owners and I don't have to be secretive anymore.

The last couple of weeks have been really lovely with shared dinners, BBQs and catching up with people. The true spirit of Christmas is in the sharing of simple things, with friends and family and just enjoying each others company.

Thankfully the weather has finally warmed up and the kids have been able to run around with the rain-water tank hose in the yard and make mud pies in the sand pit - a blessing(?) of being completely self-sufficient and not a town water supply.

Here is my Christmas tree, complete with two Santas and Mrs Claus whom I made a few years ago.

With good tidings, I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to sharing more 'quilty' and 'crafty' things with you in the new year.

Baby Clothes...

Here is my latest attempt at crochet. A nice, simple pattern which was produced by 'Panda' yarns. I chose to crochet this cardigan in Patons Dreamtime 4ply 100% Australian Merino Baby wool.

It's been a long time since I have completed any baby knitted/crocheted items and this was very enjoyable to do. I had forgotten how nice baby clothing is to make.
So soft and cuddly. This size is to fit approx 6months, so it's the perfect light weight cardigan for those slightly cooler days we sometimes get in summer. The cardigan will be given away in a week or two (when the baby arrives) to my swim coach for his very first grandchild.

Stained Glass - sort of........

At the end of each year when our SS&Q Group has Christmas Dinner, 2 Elves will hand out a parcel to each group member. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make the challenge set out in the gift box. You then get 6 months to make the challenge for it to be revealed at the Christmas In July lunch. This year, the Elves chose "Stained Glass". The challenge was fantastic, with 21 out of 50 members completing the task.

Here is my entry
Above: The central section
Below: Quilting detail

The rest of the stained glass challenges can be viewed here on the Sunbury Stitchers and Quilters blog. Beware - there is some fantastic eye candy on the group blog! :) Enjoy.

Just Plain Nuts - Month 4

Here is the 4th installment of Just Plain Nuts.
Block 5 - A funny looking block, I had thought I could make it with 2 colours, but then discarded that idea because you didn't get any pattern effect in the corners of the 'mini blocks, so here it is with 3 colours and I am much happier.

Block 10 - love those geese! The geese are foundation pieced and the rest is all conventional piecing - such good practice for getting accuracy right. :)

Block 27 - nice and simple.

And, last but not least for this post - Block 28 - super quick and easy, but still just a stunning as the rest, especially the tiny little strips in the centre of the block.

Stay tuned for further installments during the year as progress is made.....

City Lights

Another UFO bites the dust! From 2006, this quilt top has been moved around my sewing room several times. Currently off being valued, it is my donation to my children's school for their Auction Night - I have to say, I am quite nervous about what the Quilt Valuers have to say and what the response will be on the Auction night.

My own design using a selection of Kaffe Fasset fabrics. A very simple but effective quilt with Colorburst fabric for the outer border and hidden stars. The design is reminiscent of a city skyline at night. Lots of lights against a dark sky, the winds of change combine with thoughts and dreams, swirling up into the darkness, towards the stars which are just out of reach, promising new tomorrows.Below, quilting detail in the border, don't look too closely - vbg.... :)

And, below, quilting detail of the main part of the back. Quilted by me, on my DSM with Raiman Variegated Rayon Machine Embroidery Thread. Unfortunately the flash blew out the colour a bit, but I think it shows the vibrance of the quilting and how interesting the back is.
Off to work on the next project now!

Just Plain Nuts - Month 3

Block 9 - Love it! - simple squares and triangles with the centre star highlighted in a darker colour.

Block 31 - Log Cabin with a border

Block 32 - super easy - very nice.

Block 8 is part of Month 3, but I haven't completed it yet. There was just something about that block which didn't work for me, I sewed the wrong sizes, sewed them mirror image, upside down and right side to wrong side, so I gave up and put it aside to complete another day. I guess every Quilter has her day where it's better to walk away than keep trying... vbg :)

Merry Mayhem Rainforest

Finally, I have had a finish from my UFO List and hopefully ended my Blog posting drought! An UFO (#36) from 2010, it wasn't an old one, but certainly far too simple to have just sitting around not being completed. This quilt, except for the final border and backing fabric, is entirely from my stash, which is wonderful.

The pattern is a Merry Mayhem mystery pattern. No, I'm not giving away the number because that would be spoiling it.
I have called this quilt "Rainforest" because that is what my husband said it looked like to him, which I am very happy with as I was thinking of rainforests when I pulled the fabrics from my stash.

A great stashbuster and an even better lounge snuggling quilt!