Fun, fun, fun......

Thursday brought an adventure for me ..... and I took a lovely drive out in the country to a town called Gatton....

This is their main cultural centre entrance - there is a special display for Anzac at the moment....

.. the hall of fame - local legends...

... and a lovely cafe/restaurant with this view.....

... and to the left...  Lake Apex looks great for a walk around ....

There is also a Transport Museum, Art Gallery and Library at the centre... great public facility

... and here is the reason for the adventure..... meeting up with Michelle.  A mutual friend Robyn was on her way to the coast so joined us for lunch

It's a wonderful half way point to meet up and we'll do it again - maybe some stitching, walking shoes and picnic next time?  

I got home in good time to enjoy this lovely Autumn sunset....  this happens to be my view from the kitchen sink - at least it can make washing dishes a little pleasant????

Talking of Michelle I am starting a little project from her Holly Cottage book.... there are lots of sweet ones to do....  I find books are such good value when they have multiple projects in it..  Michelles book is available direct from her HERE

We have a rule of no pressies when we get together - Michelle is such a rebel and brought me one this trip.... look at this adorable tin with sewing things all over it..... I love it... 

... and a Tilda treat inside it too - I have fallen madly in love with Tilda fabrics (amongst others!) so this was just perfect... thanks Michelle (but you are very naughty to break the rules!!!)

So a lovely day out - can't wait for the next one...

Righto, Gotto Go... some stitching to do and a Christmas project to choose...

Blocks and blocks...

Yesterday us girls sewed another 4 blocks in Sylvia's Bridal Sampler....

Queen Charlotte's Crown (22 pieces)
Rambler (33 pieces)
Rolling Star (28 pieces)
Rolling Stone (29 pieces)

We have now done 130 of the 140 blocks and these are made up of 4209 pieces 

It's hard to believe we are on the last 10 now - all being well we will have them all done by the end of the month

Christine and Lyn both came over with their vintage Featherweight machines, Christine's is the white one and she has been using hers for some time... Lyn has just got hers and it was her first outing to sew these blocks with us.

As you can see we spread out a fair bit - very much a working day with tea/coffee on the go all the time

They really are dear little machines and piece beautifully - it's really fun having them over 

I have started with some sashing - as my blocks have not all turned out perfect 6 1/2 " I am adding sashing around all edges and trimming back to 7 1/2" so they fit well - I think with the neutral sashing any variations in the sizes will be disguised

The Splendid Sampler blocks come in at 2 per week - with the occasional bonus block as an extra

These are some of the latest one's I have done .... they truly are a set of Sampler with different techniques and styles - great fun 

For my handwork I have started appliqueing the stitcheries on In My Garden (Natalie Bird) - they really are very sweet - there are hexagons to add also...... hmmmmm

My traditional Mothers Day dishtowel from my daughterwholivesnearme arrived early for me this year.  She always finds such fun ones...

Righto, Gotto Go and be Badass.......

Busy, busy.....

It's wonderful that I have been doing quite a lot of quilting for others.... I looooovve it but it has meant I don't have as much to show off of my own stuff as before

(I know I am such a show off/attention/compliment seeker - but you all do it so well!!!)

The quilts obviously belong to other people I can't always show them off - these ones I have permission and I have added links to their blogs/shops etc

Toni has brought out a couple of delightful new patterns which you can see more of on here blog HERE .

I was lucky enough to have them come over for a play date with me - for the amazing Wild West quilt I went carefully around the applique in an invisible thread then chose a nice grey to fill in with loops and stars... 

and in the Giant Daisies I again went around the edge of the applique and filled in the blocks and spaces with quite large loops....

Toni has lovely big bold designs and  we usually chat together about what to do - I try and keep the quilting big and bold too but subtle so the fun applique is the highlight in the quilt - these and her other patterns are available through her shop HERE

Another delightful play date was with Kris's crazy combi congo quilt - this is also a pattern available and you can read more about her quilt HERE....

(picture taken from Kris's blog with permission)

There are some gorgeous batik beetles in the making too!!

I echo quilted around the Combi's and their exhaust smoke to give the feeling of movement.... 

in the patchwork squares I repeated wriggly lines to match - I love the informal movement it gives (and Kris does too which is the main thing!)

I have also been lucky enough to do some flannel quilts for Marion at The Quilters Angel....

sometimes you can see the patterns better from the back

- there's no reason the back can't also be interesting

 without taking away the piecing on the front... repititions can be very effective I think...

This is another quilt also in flannel from Marion

big waves but outlining the circles and adding them to the sashing...

... again you can see it better on the back...

I quilted the flannel quite loosely which keeps it very soft and snuggly ...

Righto, Gotto Go - guess what?  I have another quilt to work on!!  happy happy

Stitching, stitching....

Nothing unusual going on here.... stitching and stitching.... I am an addict I know...

A few more blocks for Sylvia's Sampler.....

New Mexico - 77 pieces

Ocean Waves - 49 pieces

Sarah's Choice - 24 Pieces

This is now up to 122 blocks and 3964 pieces if I have counted properly as I go along...

Over the weekend I took out a long forgotten UFO this week having seen Jeanette take hers out...

My stitcheries have all been done and fabrics chosen....

.. these are all the main stitcheries....

I made up half square and then quarter square triangles..... I always find the trimming rather satisfying and then getting nice squares to work with.....

these little oval stitcheries just need turning in to sew them down...

.. they will be attached to the outer border on this piece - with a bunch of teeny weeny 1/2" hexagon flowers which are yet to be made.... that is this weeks job!

... rather fun seeing a quilt take shape... 

This quilt is called In My Garden and is designed by Natalie Bird at Birdhouse Designs

So that is on my Design Board this week (hosted by dear Cath at Bits 'n Bobs)  

Righto, Gotto Go - those hexagon fabrics need cutting out.....

I hope you have a wonderful stitching week

ANZAC DAY 2016

Australian and New Zealand forces are remembered for their service and sacrifice to this wonderful country.  My family are not Australian - we are the first generation who have made this our home.... however, I do have family that served in several wars in different capacities  ...

My paternal grandfather was a Minister during WW1 and I like to think that his service included supporting and praying for ANZAC's in their service.  I never met the man as he died before I was born.  This is inside the front page of his bible, which I now have.

Righto, Gotto Go.... widget is spending the day with us and wants to make some ANZAC biscuits....

Cooling Down...

I have been wanting to make up this heat pad from Anni Downs book "Some Kind of Wonderful' for some time..... this week I finished mine...

A brown linen background and lovely wool for the flowers....

I filled mine with barley since I haven't been able to find wheat - but rice would also work...

Our evenings are definitely cooling down (traditionally we have our first frost at Anzac weekend which is this upcoming weekend ....

At last I put on my huge big scrap happy quilt on the bed... so glad to be using it ....

We tested out our fireplace which we haven't used before - I was surprised at just how quickly it warmed up the room.  I'm really looking forward to having this fired up...

I finished off my practice recessed applique trial - it took me ages but I did enjoy it.  I have actually gone with a different fabric for the top but also in the bluegrey colour...

I decided I wanted a special case to put this long term project (Dutch Treat) in so pulled out this pattern which I have made before by Marilyn....

I did this stitchery ages but ages ago and it is the right size so I will be using that on the front

... and I found some pretty fabrics to use in a bundle of pieces passed on to me by a friend 

Late yesterday afternoon I noticed Superman having a fly-by.... 

did anyone else spot him????

Righto, Gotto Go - that bag needs cutting out....