Third week of August

This week I started joining up hexagons for my Field Journal blocks.... I am also still self framing the cream and teal hexagons....  lots more of them to do.....

Machine sewing day with friends I started working on a project I cut up years ago.... so long ago I have forgotten how gorgeous and rich these fabrics are.  Luckily I had a drawing of what I was planning to do with them and they were all kitted up in little groups of colours so I could just sit and sew....

These are not sewn together but this is how the big blocks will look.... I still have quite a few of the smaller blocks to make before I do this....

The UFO box it is in is called "Man Quilt" !

My pretty Intermezzo scarf has been neglected... I do need to concentrate on this one .....

However, I did do a few more shells this week and I am over half way.... I started the first ball from the inside and then the second ball from the outside with the hope it will end up sortof the same each end....

Way back in 2011 my local daughter was into browns and I made up this chocolate coloured quilt for her in the disappearing 9 patch block.

Now she is into different colours so we did a trade... I took this quilt back and will recycle it...

It's quite fun to see how my quilting has changed... my feathers are quite different these days....

Splendid Sampler went to live with her.... I love that quilt and was sad to see it go but happy it has gone where it is loved and used.... (silly me I get attached to them!!)

The back was pieced with left over fabrics and blocks .....

I had used lots of coordinating scraps and smaller pieces of fabrics - just bought the sashing and border.

Righto, Gotto Go.... it's a stunning late Winter/early Spring day and I have a Caswell block to prepare....

Have a good week....xx

Splendid Sampler

In 2016 Designers from all over the world generously shared a free block a week - 6" blocks with different techniques.  I sewed along with a couple of other friends and it became our Tuesday project.

I took out a bunch of pastels from my scraps and stash and purchased some pale pink which would be suitable for sashing....

The top was finished in 2017 and then I used up lots of the leftover fabrics to make up the backing....

December 2021 I custom quilted it....

So many different ideas and techniques....

Really generous of all the designers....

I totally love samplers like this....

I have finally sewn down the binding and have it finished..... 

I believe the blocks were made into a pattern book .. and there was a 2nd version of Splendid Sampler also available as a book.  Not sure if either of these are still available.

Thank you to all the designers that made this possible..... I really love samplers, especially when they are in smaller blocks...

There are heaps of progress pictures with more detail of some of the blocks going through my posts HERE (just as a reference)

End of December - almost

Finishing up the year....

I have been cleaning up the sides of my blog, taking down some lists etc.... and noted that I did indeed get quite a lot of finishes done this year....

.... and started lots of new projects.....

.... and kitted up lots of new ones to make.....

Thanks Kris for keeping count on OPAM.... always fun to look back and see what was made in the month....

Thanks to Cheryll and Wendy who each month host a virtual sewing evening..... always fun to go and visit and see what others have made...

Thanks to those who comment on my blog.... it's the best part of blogging for me.... I do reply to comments and if I am not it's because they are on no reply or I don't have an email for you... apologies....

Thanks to those who write blogs... I love visiting you....  being entertained, motivated, encouraged and most often tempted to start something else...

Back to December....

Finishes included.....

A cushion (black-work stitching done throughout the year - thanks to Helen for the arm-twisting to join this one!)

Black work was my new skill/technique that I learnt this year..... very much enjoy it

In the black-work theme I made these as decorations to send out this year....... 

Made on plastic canvas and fiddly diddly ....  15 made altogether

Then I made 25 masks.... boring snoring.....

6 of these little pouches went as gifts for my regular sewing friends.... happy snappy

And during the break I have been quilting quilting away 

Mama Tembo - each dancer is done separately to show off her pretty dress -  and swirls in the sashing and edge triangles..... 

Splendid Sampler - each block (100)  is done differently to fit the design - scrolls in the sashing...

I have made their bindings and machine sewn them on.... will need some cooler weather, loan of the dining room table and a good book to listed to in order to hand sew down the binding...

Wishing you and yours all the very best for 2022 - I am going to endeavour not to take things for granted... well the special things that are important to me anyway.

Righto, Gotto Go.... time to prepare to see the New Year in (which will mean BBQ, shower and pyjamas)

Catch up with you next year .... 

Winter woolies......

I miss Autumn!!! haha... but in order to have magnificent Autumn we have to go through summer and winter!

But I love wood fires, hot soups, casseroles, early sunsets,  flannel PJs ....

..... and cuddly flannel quilts....

These 3 lap size quilts stay in hiding most of the year here... this weekend they came out as Widget was here and we needed some warmth to watch movies!  (that was after he spent all day outside helping Pops dig holes for our new fernery!)

This one is lovely quality flannel - I had actually made a couple of scarves but found them a bit too thick and bulky for me so I unpicked, added some bits and made a quilt....  I love the addition of stars...

This one was a free design from Michelle May some years ago... I used a vintage tablecloth for the background and the applique is wool with some stitching detail. 

When I first started doing applique I found this freebie from Toni of Red Boots Quilt Company.  I used a vintage chenille cover for the backgrounds and all the applique is using wool from blankets which had been heat washed to felt them ..... this has been washed so many times and held up well...

Strangely enough this was Widgets choice of quilt to use..... 

I started a new washcloth... going with moss stitch this time ....  my car trip project

... but I have also taken out some of my crochet to do.... when my hand are cold I find it easier to crochet or knit instead of stitcheries....

This ripple blanket is being made from the left overs of my single bed size one which has been rehomed....  it will be a nice baby size....

... and this one is my easy peasy no thinking one that I like to pick up and do... a variegated yarn and it will be whatever size it turns out.....  I am just going round and round now....

I finished off another set of circle blocks last week.... trying to remember to do at least a few a month so the project grows....

... I have been working on this Angel Story block for a while but it finally got done at the end of last week..... this is Harriet the Homebody....

... the project by my chair at the moment is finishing off this block for Flowerville....  

... and something new!!! ....

A couple of years ago I took part in a Free programme The Splendid Sampler.... well  #2 is starting this week!  100 blocks from various designers.

20 blocks will be given out free to get us going and then the latest book will be out and we go from there.....  6" blocks which I love and even though I have several (unquilted) sampler quilts I am joining in again.... well I have been coerced by the ChooseDay girls...

A couple of years ago I found this bundle of Downton Abbey fabrics at the Quilt Show in Brisbane going for a bargain price.... I love the colours so this will be what I will be using....

Anybody else doing this... starts this Thursday

this is the one I made last time... soft colours

Righto, Gotto Go.....fabric to stroke.......

Sampler quilt

I do enjoy sampler quilts.   I did Sylvia's Bridal Sampler....

... and made a backing with leftovers ....

... and I did the Splendid Sampler....

... and made a scrappy backing with the left overs!!!

And this year the 3 of us who sew together on a Tuesday (we sewed the other samplers together also) are making this one...

My friend Deb was destashing some French General fabrics and these ones are just perfect ...

Here are the first 6 blocks and my choice of cornerstones and sashing and border/binding depending on how I finish it up...

I couldn't resist trying out the sashing and corner stones....

 

This week we got another 4 blocks done...

the blocks are smaller this time and some pieces are hard to hold on to ...

I am using my classic Elna Stella machine (the others are using their vintage Singer featherweights)

I have decided to try and keep up with the sashings and cornerstones on a weekly basis...

Here are all the blocks so far....

I am liking the look ....

I think I like the challenge of a variety of blocks, and the fact that the three of us sew the same blocks together - all our quilts always look completely different...

One day I hope to quilt and finish off mine?????? hmmmmm

Righto, Gotto Go.  I need to photocopy a foundation piecing pattern for next week!