... more progress....

Hubz has been away for a few days so I take advantage of that time by making up a big bowl of soup, staying in my pyjamas and stitching the days away....

Firstly I added the next border onto In My Garden....  the stitcheries are not that clear in the picture but they are very sweet 

... then I started work to catch up on The Splendid Sampler blocks....

hmmmmm

 .. that's better .... 

Hand in Hand designed by Kari Carr

Inspector Sidekick designed by Michele Foster

Derby Day designed by Pat Sloan (bonus block)

Goose on the Loose designed by Amy 

I have two more prepped up which I will take to Friday night Sew and Stitch tonight .... 

... lots of HST in today's work - rather satisfactory seeing a pile of little trimmings...

Last evening I finished off the stitching for my eye mask.... you can see the shape in the stitchery...

.. the next border of In My Garden needed lots of 1.5" x 2.5" rectangles - I chose to make them by sewing strips together and cutting them back... 

... there is some regularity in the strips but they worked out okay ..

... and that's the top finished for that quilt - I love it....  I think I will get a bit more of brown for binding?

Hubz and I have been filling spaces with some new plants... this little hibiscus decided to flower - the flower is almost as big as the plant... so pretty...

Righto, Gotto Go - I can probably finish off that eye mask this afternoon...... Hope you have a wonderful weekend....

Progress

Another 4 blocks for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler done this week - 

Sawtooth Star, Silver and Gold, Sister's Choice, Square and Star

... I've also been doing a bit of sashing - there is lots to do as I'm going around each side and then trimming back to sort out the fact that my blocks are not all the same size!  I've done these 20 so far (they are not joined yet)

Loving the look of it... exciting... 

The centre of In My Garden is completed now - those hexagons took me a while and then were appliqued on with the little oval stitcheries.... looking very sweet I think,,,,,

the next step is cutting more fabric to go around the edge with these other stitcheries...

... meanwhile I have another hand sewing project on the go - I want an eye mask to use at a sewing retreat I am going to in a couple of weeks ...  

Our little Australian native bees are very sweet and little, don't sting and I think it's a compliment that they come into my garden.  The garlic chives in my herb planter have gone to flower and the bees have been collecting pollen like mad.... I hope you can see them here - looks like they have big boots on -

Righto, Gotto Go ...... border fabrics to choose and cut.....

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