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!

Pincushion time!

I've had a busy week.... with a wool project!  Chookyblue visited a little while ago and brought me a gorgeous kit designed by Anni Downs .... 

... first requiring a bit of applique.....

.. then some little legs....

... which needed stuffing....

... finally there was a mini porker in the house....

.... the pattern says this..... hmmmm.... Anni clearly doesn't know me! haha...

... and just to get a better idea of the scale of this little pin pig...

Thanks Chooky - I love him to bits and he was such fun to make... even if I wasn't that quick!

... not sure I can stab any pins into him.... could you????

Righto, Gotta Go... for some reason I have a craving for a good piece of bacon....

Flimsy done.......

I made the blocks for this quilt some months ago.... I did a bunch of them wrong so it went into the sulking box..... Now they are together the mistakes don't really show and over the last few days I sewed the borders on ....

I love the fresh colours of this 30's Playtime range.... The pattern is by Kate Henderson from Two Little Banshees  and was found in the December 2014 Homespun.

It's going to sit in the 'waiting to be quilted' place - but at least it has moved from the 'sulking' place!

Some lovely mail this week.  A postcard all the way from Maryland, USA from Sunny where it is summery and a lovely flower is exactly what I needed now there is not much in our garden.  

Sheila hosts these postcard swaps and they are a great way to meet new friends and make a piece of art without a huge committment....

This is one of the Splendid Sampler blocks I recently finished... and then discovered I left out the circle in the middle!  Never mind it is pretty as it is.  A long way around all those edges which I did in single thread blanket stitch......

I've got quite a few to catch up on with these blocks.... need some machine piecing time - anybody got some available? 

I continue whenever I can with my Dutch Treat Quilt blocks.... this one is rather pretty with it's curves and frame....

You can start to see the shading of the different background fabrics now I have done a few....

I finished another block yesterday ... those tiny pieces of light colour in the middle nearly drove me over the edge!

18 blocks done.... only 178 to go......

Righto, Gotto Go.... I have a desire to sew a piglet.....