This and That.......

I've been doing a bit of this, and a bit of that lately.....

A couple more blocks towards my Dutch Treat quilt....

... this one is called Funny Face..... ???????

I finished my Christmas wall hanger .... 

... and did some small quilting .......

.... and some plant pounding....

a library activity - it was a bit noisy!!!

... our little dog just loves in when Widget comes for a sleep over....  look at her in doggy bliss!

Righto, Gotto Go.... there are more bits of this and bits of that to get done......

A Splendid TaDa.........

This last week my machine sewing has concentrated on the sashing and corner stones for my Splendid Sampler....

Finally on Sunday I got all the sashing together.... very pink!!!

I added a 3" border which has more blue and a bit of pink - not easy to see here 

the colours also don't show just how pink it is.... much softer in the pictures...

It's quite a big quilt 84" square......

I love pictures with the sunlight filtering through pieced blocks....

The Splendid Sampler was generously hosted by Jane Davidson and Pat Sloan with input from 80 designers to provide 2 free blocks a week over the last year.  A book is now available for pre-order.

So fun sewing cyberly with people all over the world... and I was lucky enough to sew physically once a week with Lyn and Christine as we all made the quilt blocks together.

As it happens I did a few of the bonus blocks... and I have quite a bit of leftover fabrics - I think another pieced backing may be called for????

In the meantime this kit which I have had for many years has been pulled out.... Gardeners Journal

As much as I am loving doing my Dutch Treat blocks I like a break to do my favourite backstitch stitcheries.....

Righto, Gotto Go.... scraps to cut into blocks!!! hmmmmmm the madness resumes

Gifts....

A gift found it's way into my fruit bowl a week or so ago ....

My new tape measure...... with its very own cover in minute hexagons....

Thank you Christine - it's just amazing - I can't even imagine how one sews pieces that small!

  

I popped into my favourite Quilt Shop The Quilters Angel as they had a sale on..... and there was cupcakes!!!  Thank you.... nothing like a sweet start to a day.....

.... and some fabric to come home with me..... I already had the layer cake at the bottom of the pile (somehow it jumped into my bag when I was there last Friday!!!) but wanted something for sashing to go with it..... and I needed something to act as borders for my splendid sampler so thats the blue floral.... and then I needed something for some Christmas stitching so that's the bare trees and blue sparkley fabrics......  ALL ESSENTIALS!!! haha

A lovely parcel from Shez - such a pretty table runner and quilted by herself too - she is working on her FMQ and I am flattered to have one of her pieces in my house... there are two Christmas patterns with it so I will be kept busy....

Not only have I been eating cupcakes but also sewing them... sorry this picture is sideways.  I love seeing the detail that Toni puts in her quilts like these lines for the cupcake paper - it makes such a difference but I would never think of it....

(new pattern is out - check out Toni's blog)

This new houseplant from my daughter has the most enormous strong leaves. They are much bigger than my hands.  It is one of the figs and I love it.... thanks Debs....

Righto, Gotto Go......   so much to do.....

February Challenge projects

I am going to try and do a monthly round up of my sewing finishes each month..... most of it you will have seen already so sorry to bore you with it again!!

My main plan is to move the UFO's - sometimes they will link with other challenges so that's a bonus!!

Finishing Stitches hosted by Joy

These are all UFO's from some time back,  A Christmas table runner, my boro coasters and a quilted table topper

There is a second part to Finishing Stitches and that is doing some blocks towards UFO's...

The main ones I am working on is Splendid Sampler and I finished the last 4 blocks of that this month...

This is all the blocks together - they just need to be sashed together (work has started on that!  Yay)

On the hand work side I am sewing Dutch Treat and in February I got these 10 blocks done towards it....

OPAM hosted by Peg and Kris 

Of course these include the above projects but I also had some new ones.... my scrappy teal basket, and a weeny little coin purse....

Within these projects is the table runner for 1 Christmas Item a month (hosted by Narelle) and my scrap basket for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (hosted by ScrapHappy)...

I really do appreciate those of you who make the effort to host these different and motivational activities.... None of them are competitive or races, but a great way of keeping track of what you are making - which is just the way I like it.
BIG HUGZ to you all

Christmas Sewing...

This year I am joining in with Narelle's "1 Christmas Item a Month" as I felt last year I wasn't very organised and didn't do the Christmas sewing I wanted.  (anyone can join anytime....its a great way for motivation and ideas)

I have quite a few Christmas UFO's so I'm starting off finishing them...

I quilted this runner with straight lines and matched the binding with the border....  There is a bit of wiggly quilting in the stitched area...

I love this cheerful runner..... I did the stitchery a few years ago....

.. perfect for on the table at Christmas time.....

I have been stitching up some snowmen when I wanted a short break from my Dutch Treat blocks.... I have always just loved backstitch work...

... and I was thrilled to find exactly the fabric I wanted to finish this one off... which will be next months Christmas project (and also a UFO)

Righto, Gotto Go... I just can't believe it's the end of February already... that means end of 'official' summer here - and I hope brings on some more reasonable temperatures and cooler evenings... and RAIN...

Quilt Backings....

Last years big project was the finish of Sylvia's Bridal sampler which I did in Reproduction Civil War fabrics....

I've done a few quilts in these fabrics so I had gathered up quite a lot of smaller mixed pieces ... so I decided to make a heap of different blocks and use them for the backing....

Gosh - it took ages with no pattern.... measure cut sew trim repeat again and again....

But finally it's done and I love it..... I had some real backing in a green which was perfect to finish off and make it the right size -  

I don't make up all my backings but I do love it when I do....

This is one of my early quilts made from a layer cake..... Marina mentioned she had some pieces from the same range (I've forgotten what it was called but I just love the fabrics in it)

... so I made lots of different size pinwheels and put them together with some cream background....

It makes a lovely summer quilt on this side, and a winter quilt on the other side!

Another of my early quilts I made for practice when I learnt redwork.  This was a free design (Raggedy and Friends) from Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.  Kaaren is no longer blogging but she has generously left her blog and freebies available.....

Again there were pieces left over so I put them together and made up this scrappy backing....

When I am doing it I think I am mad... but when it's done I am thrilled with it....

Here's another view of my latest one....

What about you?  Do you do this?

Righto, Gotto Go...... Quilts to pat.....

Road Trip

Last week Michelle and I met up at our half way spot .... just for coffee which turned out for coffee, and lunch... and afternoon..... lots of giggles  trying to stretch my arms out far enough for pictures....

I got a lovely bundle of pressies from Michelle.... very spoilt.  The kingfisher is a Michelle original and I happened to have a handy frame just the right size at home.....

thank you Michelle - I love all my new goodies....xx

The week began with the end of the Splendid Sampler blocks... here are all of mine together.... in amongst the fallen gum leaves...

I have started sewing some sashing and corner stones....

 ... just waiting for my design board to be freed up so that I can lay the blocks out and see where I want them all to go....

I love doing my hand stitching in front of the TV... so a couple more Dutch Treat blocks have been completed....

I like the way this one is with one side in reverse.... 

Righto, Gotto Go....  coffee time....