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Sunday, February 22, 2015

FNSI .... and more.....


Friday morning saw me all packed up and ready to go off to retreat..... I recently joined a group at The Quilters Angel who meet fortnightly on a Friday night and they have regular retreats.  Kris was there too for a couple of days so we managed some chat time - just a little!

My first ever retreat (I came home at night so just needed the sewing stuff)


How wonderful it is to be away and have nothing else to worry about .... no fussing with those little jobs that make me procrastinate at home -  just sew sew sew and I got heaps done....

these are my scrappy square in a square supposed to have been scrappy star blocks.....


by the end of the first day I had these all sewn together ..... 8 x 9 12" blocks sewn together....

I LOOOOOOOVVVVVEEE it... and keep seeing new shapes ....


I wanted another row to fit my bed and I had pieces ready in the box so I added another row the next day....  so it's now a 108" square (2.7m square) and 2,349 pieces - the biggest quilt I have ever made....

It is quite heavy and I am going to have a challenge quilting it I think ....

Cyclone Marcia did not visit our way... we did have quite a nice rain fall from a previous weather system and on the evening drive I was spoilt with this lovely sunset complete with evening star and new moon....


the next day saw me making some nice little knick knack bags .... as you can see I used some pretty little lacy zips...... I think I'll be doing more of these for the giftie box.....


I didn't slack off in the evenings... and for FNSI... I finished off the letter M.....
(I have done A and B but now I felt like M.....) Michelle's bear alphabet designs

Thank you Wendy for having us..... see you again next month


... all in all a very happy weekend and I'm already looking forward to the next one in June....

Righto, Gotto Go.... I want to check that my resident gardener has been working and not just getting into the home brew!!


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39 comments:

  1. CherylFebruary 22, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    What a wonderful weekend Fiona. I love your - how beautiful. You achieved so much

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  2. Peg - Happy In QuiltingFebruary 22, 2015 at 7:27 PM

    Do many beautiful projects xx

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  3. Karen SFebruary 22, 2015 at 7:29 PM

    Wow, you have been working hard.
    That quilt top of yours is wonderful. Great work on getting it all together and I wish you luck with the big quilting job ahead!
    Love the little bags and the bear as well.!

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  4. Jindi's CottageFebruary 22, 2015 at 8:28 PM

    That's a whole lot of achievement for one retreat...well done...great quilt top and the M is very cute...

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  5. ElyteFebruary 22, 2015 at 11:08 PM

    Congratulations on getting so much done. The quilt top looks fabulous.
    That cyclone know better than to cross paths with quilters on retreat!

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  6. ChantalFebruary 22, 2015 at 11:31 PM

    Your new quilt is GOOORRRGEOUS Fiona! In some places, I do see stars but it is so lovingly scrappy that some just disappear. It makes me look harder to find them lol. The bags are awesome. Never seen zippers with lace before. So cute as is your M bear. Sounds like you had a ton of sewing done and a ton of fun too. So glad to hear Marcia didn't bother you much.

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  7. MariaFebruary 23, 2015 at 12:43 AM

    What a productive retreat... Love your scrappy quilt as well as those pretty poches and the M stitchery...

    Have a great day...

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  8. HilachasFebruary 23, 2015 at 12:43 AM

    What a productive weekend you had! And look at all the beautiful things you have to show us. Sounds like you had fun too.

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  9. Egléa Senna BordadosFebruary 23, 2015 at 12:49 AM

    Reuniões para apenas costurar parecem o verdadeiro paraiso! Eu quero!!!!!
    sua colcha está LINDA! Eu gosto realmente dela.
    As bolsinhas e o bordado são doces.
    Você trabalhou bastante.
    Um abraço e boa semana!

    Meetings to sew just seem true paradise! I want to !!!!!
    your quilt is BEAUTIFUL! I really like it.
    The pouches and embroidery are sweet.
    You worked hard.
    Hugs and good week!

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  10. TerryFebruary 23, 2015 at 1:50 AM

    I love your big quilt! It's beautiful! :0)

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  11. ChrissieFebruary 23, 2015 at 2:02 AM

    Such a lovely quilt, you have been so busy, love the little knick knack bags, very pretty. So glad you had a fantastic weekend, makes all the difference doesn't it xcx

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  12. WoolenSailsFebruary 23, 2015 at 2:18 AM

    The quilt is beautiful, as well as the bags.
    We had snow all morning so it is a good day to stay inside and start something new.

    Debbie

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  13. GrammasheriFebruary 23, 2015 at 2:29 AM

    Lovely finishes Fiona! Inspires me to hit the sewing room and get some things done too. Been procrastinating way too much lately!

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  14. JanetFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:09 AM

    What a great scrappy quilt! Although I don't see stars... Is there a pattern? Love the lacy zippers too and I want to know where you get them... Retreats are such fun. Glad to hear you had a great time at yours.

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  15. Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra StitcheriesFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:43 AM

    Glad you were safe Fiona! Great quilt and cute purses! Hope your Resident Gardener did all your jobs on the list!

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  16. SusieFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:47 AM

    Fabulous quilt. Those gif ties and bear are lovely also. You have been busy

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  17. JeanetteFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:48 AM

    Fabulous quilt, Love the little pouches. Hugs,xx

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  18. sunnyFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:55 AM

    Love your giant quilt! Don't you just love retreats? I bet you'll be going to another soon. Those lacy zippers are pretty. This is the second blog that I've seen them on. I haven't been brave enough to try a zipper since junior high school Home Ec class!

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  19. Christine MFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:12 AM

    That's the great thing about retreats, you spend your time doing what you want, not things for the house. You got quite a lot done Fiona. The quilt looks great. Your little bags are so pretty. Little M bear is very cute.

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  20. JenniferFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:36 AM

    Can't let that gardener slacken off! Perhaps you could do "F" for Fiona bear next? I love your big quilt, by the time you add wadding and backing it's going to be very weighty indeed.

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  21. Sue SAFebruary 23, 2015 at 6:50 AM

    Wow you were busy on retreat, that quilt is huge! I think you had better wait until July to quilt it though....too hot now! Cute pouches, pretty zips work well.

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  22. Chookyblue......February 23, 2015 at 7:08 AM

    oh retreats are just the best fun............better start planning another one now............

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  23. Michelle RidgwayFebruary 23, 2015 at 7:14 AM

    So glad you have had a great time. Your quilt is wonderful and the pretty pouches too. You scared me there stitching M Lol! Happy Birthday hugs too xxx

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  24. KätheFebruary 23, 2015 at 9:08 AM

    Hi,
    I like your wonderful quilt !
    Lovely work the little bags with the zips !
    Sorry for my english !!!
    Best wishes
    Käthe

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  25. AllieFebruary 23, 2015 at 9:14 AM

    Oh my goodness that quilt is just gorgeous!!! So glad you had a wonderful time! I love your little zippy bags and the M, so so cute!

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  26. DawnFebruary 23, 2015 at 10:20 AM

    Its amazing how much you can get done at a retreat as well as lots of talking. Yours quilt is looking good as are the lacy zips.

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  27. AnonymousFebruary 23, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    Hi Fiona I only just got your post don't know what's going on,lol,awesome you going on retreat,they are lots of fun.Boy I love your quilt and those little purses,oh and I was going to say you are whipping through the alphabet,lol.,awesome work my friend xx

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  28. SusanFebruary 23, 2015 at 4:09 PM

    You got a lot done on retreat. It's lovely Tom et away from all the day to day chores and focus on our friends and sewing.

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  29. JaneFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:04 PM

    What a great weekend, you got lots done. The quilt looks fab

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  30. marinaFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:10 PM

    well done on finishing your new top. it looks amazing and there are so many different patterns to see!
    what a marathon it will be to quilt that!
    pretty purses.
    hope the resident gardener didn't get himself into trouble.

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  31. SisbabestitchesFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:47 PM

    Oh. My. Goodness. You were so busy! Love, love your new mammoth ssss-ss blocks ;) It really is a shapeshifting design! Cute, cute little pouches :) Lovely 'm' bear :)

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  32. FlickenstichlerinFebruary 24, 2015 at 12:25 AM

    Dear Fiona,
    you had a great weekend and how much you have sewn together, amazing. Wonderful quilt top, love it.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  33. JosieFebruary 24, 2015 at 5:21 AM

    Wow.... you had a great first retreat. Bet you can't wait for the next one now. Your square in square quilt is magnificent .... all those pieces! It'll look great quilted and on your bed. Quilting... no worries for a woman of your calibre. Super cute pouches too... the lacy zips are perfect. Hope you didn't find the gardener drunk as a skunk behind the potting shed......:o)) xx

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  34. SheilaFebruary 24, 2015 at 10:04 AM

    Your retreat weekend sounded wonderful and very productive . I love your scrappy quilt and your stitchery is adorable . Hugs Sheila

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  35. RosieFebruary 24, 2015 at 6:23 PM

    What a wonderful weekend you had and the little zippered bags are beartiful.

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  36. Kris Meares - Tag Along TeddiesFebruary 24, 2015 at 10:09 PM

    Hey Fabulous Fiona! It was a lovely time stitching, but chatting??? No ... not US! I'm sure we were quiet as little mice in that corner!! Tee! Hee! Hee! Love your scrappy square quilt ... you make such gorgeous scrappy quilts, Clever Clogs! :0) Enjoy your week - Bear Hugs! KRIS xx

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  37. eFebruary 25, 2015 at 5:46 AM

    Retreats and weekends away are great for getting things started and finished. Your quilt top is gorgeous !!!

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  38. WendyFebruary 27, 2015 at 3:28 AM

    Beautiful quilt Fiona, an amazing amount of work done!

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  39. LinMarch 1, 2015 at 1:31 AM

    Sounds blissful to me! Great quilt and those little bags are sweet. xx

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Thanks for coming by.... If you have time I would love to hear from you and I do love a chat so I reply whenever I can ... if you don't hear back from me you may be a no reply, anonymous..... or blogger isn't sending my your comment by email.....