A gift, a block, a few finishes...... and a new project ....

I find it just lovely when I get a surprise in the mail.....

Dear Anthea sent me this gorgeous zipper purse just because she could... isn't that lovely of her.... It's a goodly size and I think will be perfect for carrying a new project I am doing around.  Thanks so much Anthea - I love it and perfect timing ...

This is the newest Dutch Treat block I have done.... I rather like it.... maybe it's the geometric symetry I like?  (that sounds very arty farty of me!)

I sewed up the lonely blocks I had into mats... they are a bit ugly and the edges wavy... but they are out of the UFO drawer and have a use now.....

... so that's 6 new pot mats for me... and I even threw some old ones out!

Public opinion persuaded me to finish my hexagons to the use they were intended... and I sewed up the edges of these hexagons to make the table topper.....

.. they look pretty good in the centre of the dining table with my bowl of fruit (you can tell I need to do a grocery shop can't you?????)

... and because I have been good and finished all those UFO's I have started a new project.  It's a preprinted panel and uses quite a few stitches I haven't tried before in 4 threads at a time....

This is the project going into my new pineapple zipper purse from Anthea.....

Righto, Gotto Go.....  we have had some lovely rain... and the weeds are feasting so I should really go and show some interest and supervise a bit?????

An oldie found a home at last....

Other times when I have moved house I have very quickly found places for my 'stuff' ... however this time I seem to have been less organised and even couldn't find some of my 'stuff'......

I did a frantic search and finally found what I was looking for and put it up in this thin wall space in between windows.....

This sampler is called Times Gone By and is designed by Helen Stubbings...

I changed the quotes in it to reflect myself....

It's long and thin (12" x 52") and full of different techniques

I just loved doing it.....

.. and pleased it has found a space in our home (been here almost a year now!)

I have stitched a couple more blocks from Dutch Treat quilt...

This one is called Canada Goose.....

 and this one is Capstone....

... you wouldn't believe it but I forgot to give my little piglet a tail so this had to be rectified this week.... 

poor piggy couldn't be left with no tail!!!  

This week I have dug into my UFO pile and pulled out these applique blocks I sewed onto some vintage tablecloth fabric - you know that lovely solid linen type....  Well I'm not terribly enthused by them but I'm also not about to throw them out.....

I am backing them with this thick towelling type fabric to make pot mats - I badly need some in my kitchen ... and these will do fine and I won't be precious about spilling on them either....

Righto, off to sew I go......

It's a block party.....

This week I promised myself some me sewing time with the machine so I could get on top of the Splendid Sampler blocks.... it's not a race but I fear if I get too far behind I will give up on them!!

Block 46 - Twirl Time by Sarah Maxwell

Block 50 - Flights of Fancy by Joanna Fgueroa

Block 53 - Whirling in Circles by Deb Roberts

So that was my 'piecing' day ......

.. then I started on applique ....

Bonus Block - Top of the Hill by Pat Sloan

Block 52 - Cone Flower by Pat Sloan

Block 49 - Summers Gift by Karla Eisenach

Bonus Block - Flip Flops  by Jacqueline Steves (- or Thongs - or Slip Slops - or Jandles)

... and that made up my machine blanket stitching day! .....

... then some foundation piecing....

Block 48 - Whim by Faith Jones

... then some English Paper Piecing... which was several evenings/mornings.....

... but I got it finished last night...

Block 51 - Bee Happy by Katja Marek

... and of course the latest block is out so I'm still not caught up but I made really good progress.

I love that there are so many different skills I am having to work with in these blocks - a true 'sampler' quilt...  I'm learning lots about colour placement too and living with when I didn't make the best of the block.

Righto, Gotto Go - off to print out the newest block ....

Hello.......

do you struggle with blog titles?  I do.... so Hello it is today!

I was recently in a postcard swap hosted by Sheila, and I sent this one off to Sunny.  there is some embroidery and quilted vines all over it on a pale pink linen.....

This is a little extra picture that came with my teacup teddies from Michelle.  I'm not sure what I will do with her.....

... but I have sewn all the main ones into their hexagons....

they are really sweet pictures....

... each one a different character

... and I love the detail that Michelle adds....

..... they are always so fun to sew up....

... and I do love pretty teacups....

.... so these pictures are all very special....

I haven't sewn them together into a table topper - I'm actually not sure I won't keep them as individual coasters since I don't really have a suitable table for them ...

but I have sewn up an extra hexagon for the centre just in case.....

Righto, I am working on my Splendid Sampler blocks this week - I have quite a few to catch up on....

Little finishes....

I seem to have a few little finishes done lately amongst my ongoing blocks of various quilts....

These needlebooks are Anni Downs designs... I did the stitcheries some time ago and have finally finished them....

Inside is a little wool pad for the needles and a pocket for the threads....

and here is a mug rug (Bronwyn Hayes design) and a fridge magnet (another Anni Downs) and these went to a friend with a birthday.....

This is a new to me quilting design that I did recently... nice for a boy quilt border....

.. and of course another Dutch Treat block.... this little butterfly was a challenge - especially those little spots .....

At the weekend Hubz and I went for a walk in one of the nearby National Parks....

... lovely to be amongst the tall gum trees....

.. and flowering wattle trees.... the scent of these remind me of my childhood and I love to rub my face in those soft balls of fluff....

... we walked up the ridge to get this lovely view... a lot of raw granite and bushland....

.. this fungi was such a magnificent colour....

... and of course we had to end the day with one of my favourite easy meals, roasted cherry tomatoes and camembert cheese....

Righto, Gotto Go.....  I need to choose between another UFO or a new project... or both.... oh the decisions in life these days!