FNSI and a chance to meet Shrek.....

Thanks again dear Wendy for hosting FNSI.....

I pretended everything was in it's rightful place and spent the day sewing ...

It's hard to see the lines but I stencilled out a whole lot of mini clams to quilt the background on this block

I also watched a DVD and learnt to do this free motion technique of 'couching' ... soooo fun although I need a lot more practice as there are lots of places I missed the yarn.




Not being a knitter I am going to have to stock up on yarn now!!

In the evening I went off and met with Kris and others at The Quilters Angel where I carried on with the applique of these angels and stars - not too much more to do now

of course there were treats to eat but I didn't take pics so you will just have to imagine apple, currants, cake, sticky sauce, caramel icecream, pretty plate, pretty fork, silence in the room

One thing that was on my 'must have' list for our new home was a larger area to do quilting.... this house has a 'formal lounge' as well as the open plan living area and the room is perfectly placed and nice and big for my playroom....

Hubz prioritized sorting a pinning table for me (for some reason he feels I shouldn't always be taking over the dining table!!) and I wanted it to have storage too...

After looking at a few places we found 4 of the same sets of drawers - so they would all be at the same height (I would have liked to have had a combination of drawers and shelves but that was going to be heaps more $)

we also purchased and had a melamine board cut to size (1.2 x 2m)

Saturday we put the flat packs together over rather a lot of laughing and silliness

(flat packs work as a couple if the apprentice (hubz) listens to the boss who reads instructions!)

.... we went to bed tired but happy ....

...the next day the frames were all placed upside down and attached to a base to provide stability (I was also going to put wheels on and this was going to help in attaching them)

.. however, I realised I had misjudged the height and decided against the wheels... a bit of heave ho and a few bruises later we turned it right side up and put the drawers in....

Shrek is a lovely beast and that is how this table got its name (and the fact he lives with Princess Fiona) ....2 sets of drawers on both sides and a gap in the middle for storing those odd shape things.  I already have a big scrap bin on one side.  It's very heavy so it's not going to shift anywhere either.

I have some trim to put on the raw chip board sides which that will stop it catching on precious fabric.

Its a perfect size and height for both pinning and cutting... this table is going to be so very useful....

Blog friend Helen is having a significant birthday later this year and has been collecting tea pots for a special quilt and I was happy to be able to make one for her

(my picture is very murky - the actual item is a bit brighter!)

It's going to be fun seeing her quilt come together with all different shapes and styles of teapots

Righto, Gotto Go.... I need to find a place I can create a yarn stash!

Woolen things.....

As you know the gig in swaps is you get a present and you give a present.... I showed my gorgeous gifts from gorgeous Peg yesterday ....

Peg was holding on to opening her gifts until my parcel had arrived so now I can show what I made for her....

This is a Scandanavian style bag which I made with felted wool blanketing

there is applique and stitching on the front as you can see

I wanted the felt firmer than it was so I quilted it with wadding and backing so it's quite thick

.... I had fun with the feather quilting on the back....

I have never quilted on wool like this (I have always gone around any applique) and I was very pleased with the effect it made...

... the hardest part was stitching the two sides together... basically two wools, two waddings and two linings so I used one of those heavy duty curved needles.

.. with persuasion it can stand on its own to be used for whatever Peg fancies.

I added a few useful sewing things as well as a small supply of my upcycled blanket felt... it's thicker than what you purchase in the shops but just as nice to work with if you don't mind the extra texture....

Today I am working on something that Kris passed on to me ... a project she fell out of love with and she know I can't resist

Most of the rows are done and so I am going to applique another row with angels and stars and then sew the rows together....

.. then I think it will be the perfect quilt for in the car for those occasions you just need something soft and warm to snuggle under on a journey.

Righto, Gotto Go... before I play I make myself unpack a box ...

Wool Swap Parcel ....

Yesterday I received a parcel from my swap partner in FHFS (Friends Having Fun Swap)

THANK YOU SO MUCH PEG

The satchel was stuffed full of loveliness.....

a glamorous mug and mug rug with a wool flower....

.. and the prettiest needlecase (there is wool inside) and this gorgeous scented candle (which is perfect for my quilting room!)

... oooh and some sweet treats and magnetic 'pegs'....

... the sweet treats hid from Hubz very quickly ....

... and the main wool item is this very pretty table topper ....

.. it's all wool save the backing and binding and Peg is so clever with colours and put together such a pretty item ....

... once I have some spaces cleared in this mess of a half unpacked house it will find it's forever home - I might even hang it up as it really is a very happy pretty piece.

Thanks so much Peg, I love it all and it was so fun doing this wool swap.  Thanks to you and Shez for organising these which is giving us different things to think about and play with.

Peg had great news this week - a little grandieboy arrived for her - and he is very adorable.. wishing you many many hours of happiness with this little man... 

Righto, Gotto Go... I'm off for some coffee in my new mug!

(it's ok to get those chocs out of hiding for breakfast isn't it?)

Blocks and Stuff....

It was wonderful to have the girls over and do some sewing of our Sylvia's Bridal Sampler on Tuesday.....  we got 2 blocks done

Birds In The Air (10 pieces)

Weathervane (37 pieces)

Even though I haven't finished unpacking I was in desperate need to do a bit of quilting... this is a sweet panel from The Quilters Angel - many of you will recognise it is Anni Downs pictures

(sorry for the faded look) 

I am going to go around the edges and then up the sashings - simple quilting so the pictures are shown up well...

For those of you who do Facebook I have opened up a page for BubzRugz .  This will be more sewing and quilting related as opposed to my personal page...  

I have been doing some hand stitching in the evenings..... just a hint for now until Helen receives it...

On Wednesday I went on the bus with a friend to the Craft and Quilt Fair in Brisbane... one of the things I bought was some crushed walnut shells ... then around the corner I saw some more - look at the difference as to the grinding... so I got some more of the finer one which I think would be kinder to pins?  It's not cheap is it?  I have had no luck sourcing from Pet Stores around here.

I also attended a workshop run by BeBe Bold on 'boro' which was fun and I got this top of a coaster completed in the hour.... mine certainly was the most 'organic' one - the others looked so much tidier - but I had fun and think I might use some scraps this way!

I wanted to get a few more backgrounds in Reproduction prints for my sampler quilt... a couple of colours got mixed up with them too!!!

I didn't take photo's on the day... I had a problem with my phone (which is also my camera).... it was in my back trouser pocket and fell out when I got up from the loo!!!  I will spare you the details but after a wipe and overnight dry it seems to be ok for now!!  

However, I did meet up with a few people, and missed a few others, ran out of time to look at all the stores and quilts and was almost late for boarding the bus back!

Righto, Gotto Go... I'm off to play with that panel 

We made it.......

Wednesday we got moved out....

(Kris tagged me in this picture .. haha.. we did need 2 loads but in all fairness it was a smallish truck and we had a heap of pot plants to move! - that's my story - Hubz' tells it different)

... and moved in....

my daughter brought me flowers for my new home....

... and we had this view in the evening from our little veranda ... 

I have booked my space....

and we have had quite a few birdie visitors... (this birdbath and statue were left here... lovely - looks a bit like me????)

I gave Hubz a break and went out to stitching on Friday night.... 

I fell in love with these rainbow roses at the quilt shop

footy fever this weekend and we had people visitors to stay....

... and today the Tuesday girls are coming round to sew.....

there's still lots of boxes and things to sort, I keep getting lost and walking the wrong way,  We feel like we are at home!

Righto, Gotto Go.... must put the kettle on....