Bitsa this .... bitsa that......

I haven't done an update on the pincushions for a while... most of them are 'home' now.... and I wanted to show you a few recent homecomings....  I have linked to the 'owners' posts so it would be great if you can visit and read about them.....

Sue's  pretty base..... Sue explains where the pincushion has been

Marina's base

with a detailed picture on her blog....

Janet's base:

travelled slow due to postal strikes...

there are a few more which are on it's way home..... update later....

These pincushions started as a base and then went to various countries for a little bit to be added each time.... they had great adventures and we end up with an amazing pincushion .... or whatever we choose to make....

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Now I was lucky enough to recieve a block this week.... look at my lovely Christmas Tree from Larain and she added some very pretty Christmas tree fabric..... which I'm dreaming about what to do with.... hmmmm

Don't you love all those parcels under the tree?

and my regional postcard from Yukon Territory..... Janet really does get bears in her backyard... look at this post - amazing.... and I love the postcard.. with the squirrel and a beautiful stitched bush.... thanks Janet... fun swap

Sheila is thinking about doing a 'tutorial' on how she does landscape cards and organising a postcard swap..... go HERE to read more and let Sheila know if you'd like to join in (will be in September sometime)

and just so you know I have not been sitting idle... prep work for Block 2 of Butterfly Garden....

.. only took 3 evenings to stitch that one block - but oh so effective

Although this morning was a bit chilly I had to sit on the veranda for coffee and watch these amusing galah's.... there were 13 of them at one time... and they do perform wonderfully..... 

So I sat in the sun with my coffee and this sampler I am learning on....

welovefrenchknots is a lovely blog .... always fun to read and Bari J is teaching us through video's, guest artists and stitchery designs....  I am presently working on the bullion roses..... and am so impressed I can do them thanks to the video lesson...

Hoping your week is happy....

Treasuring the Swaps ....

I do enjoy swapping.... I am learning different blocks and making some of those little goodies I would probably not make otherwise....
plus I get to know some new people

Christmas Mug Rug swap....

I wanted to try out Foundation Paper Piecing.... I had got some tips from Tonya who has got a series of tutorials HERE ..... so I used FPP to make the little tree

I found this lovely little Nordic Pine pattern HERE - have a look... there are lots of free patterns

and then I pieced a block.... the mug rug was about 7" x 13" in total....

The swap was organised by Crafty Pug on the Christmas Block Swap

The other swap I did was with Janet for a postcard.....

I hadn't made one of these before so it was fun.... Janet and I agreed on a 'regional' theme

 ..... I had to include our lovely Barrier Reef, our beautiful sandy beach (with thongs) and the Southern Cross stars...

I enjoyed both mini projects....

I made a bunch of blocks....

In July Terri wanted any Star in Red, White and Aqua....

Larissa wanted Goose Creek using Green, Gold, White and Reds

and Sue wanted a Sawtooth in either Blue or Red on a White background....

I hope all my swappies enjoy their blocks as much as I enjoyed making them

This is the Wonky Eye Spy block I received from Sue

isn't it great .... I just love those jumping penquins in the middle  -  and there were some extra fabrics which I really appreciate - thanks Sue

this weekend I caught up on this months blocks.

Cheryl asked for any simple block in brights....

A Christmas theme in Reds and Greens for Larain

and a Log Cabin in Traditional colours for Jen....

So... lots of blocks done ......

Sweet little wrens are still amusing me.... here they are at the reflection on the car...

Mr has a bit of colour change happening (he will go a brilliant blue) and Mrs is enjoying the blokes attention over her......

Today I am linking up with Melody's Tuesday Treasures...

I hope your day is wonderful...........

The story of the Little T shirts.....

Once upon a time Mrs Bubz thought about doing good to the whole earth and recycle T shirts.... so she faithfully visited Op Shops and bought some poor orphan Tshirts for nice cheap cheap prices....

.... soon she had a whole drawer full of them....

and they sat... and sat... and sat .... in the drawer....

totally ignored ... miserable... and they thought they were better off in the Op Shop where at least people came by occasionally and had a look at them.....

one day Jenny of Elefantz - a kind fairy godmother in blogland

waved her magic wand and called out for fellow bloggers to find forgotten T shirts

and give them their freedom by making them into something wonderful

so Mrs Bubz went to ThedraweroflotsofforgottenTshirts

"PICK ME, PICK ME" they all shouted out....

well PrettyLittleRedTshirt was so excited that it almost turned purple so Mrs Bubz took her out and folded and sliced....

snipped and snipped

and miraculously PrettylittleRedTshirt turned into a long long length of yarn.....

Mrs Bubz rolled and rolled and soon there was a nice ball ....

"But you are too thick and strong for my knitting needles" said Mrs Bubz and put her in a bag.....

So LittleBlueTshirt was rolled and sliced and snipped and rolled until she was just right

and the knitting begun

"Oh my, Oh my" said LittleBlueTshirt

"You have made me so ugly - there is nothing I am good for"

"Nonsense" said Mrs Bubz

"My Mr HotPot would love to sit on you when he is full of soup"

"This life is miserable" said LittleBlueTShirt

"Well" said Mrs Bubz... "all the rest of the T shirts can go back to the OpShop instead of sitting and complaining in my draw......"

And Mrs Bubz packed them up in a bag and they are ready to go.

and that is the end of this story

I would love you to visit the Kindfairygodmother of blogland and join in the T shirt Challenge.... Jenny has made a beautiful cushion HERE 

but I warn you... once you go and visit the kind fairy godmother of blogland you will want to stay a long, long time...

maybe forever after........

Repeating FMQ designs.....

I do want to finish off some of those UFO's hiding in the cupboard

somehow they seem to be breeding in there!!!

Some time ago I attended a workshop for a 4 patch Stack and Whack and made this top.....

It is slightly over 60" square and I love the colours in there.... creams and soft blues with a dash of sage green ...

I have pulled it out this week to quilt... so I sandwiched it and pinned using my fantastic pin gadget  and prepared the machine with my beautifully adapted extension table I have been wanting to try out...

I decided on a large feather design that would fit over the size of each 4 block and into the sashing.... the blocks are 8" and the design is 9"....

because I was going to need 16 of the patterns I traced one and then free motion quilted the others on baking paper using the top tracing for a guide......

(an OLD needle and no thread in the needle or the bobbin)

the bottom side is clearer where the needle holes have embossed the baking paper...

quilting pattern attached to the quilt.....

you can see the design quite easily.....

one block quilted......

baking paper is not hard to tear...  especially as the lines have been perforated twice .....

My FMQ stitching is still a little erratic....... (but improving each quilt..... I think.... hmmmm)

seen quite clearly on the back... which is actually a grey blue..... (looks very light in the picture)

The extension on my sewing machine is making a huge difference - SOOOOO much easier to move around

I thought I would show you my quilting gloves.....

right hand.....

left hand......

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I am continuing with Helen's Sunday Stitches lessons

although I have done Lazy Daisy (or Detached Chain Stitch) before I hadn't filled them in ...

gives quite a different full look

...  back to the quilting table.... lots more squares to be done....

I hope you find some time to spend in your Happy Place

Tuesday Treasures

Some of the greatest treasures are those that nature provides

Evening Winter Sunsets......

Signs of Spring......

Superb Fairy Wren's in my fernery....

Mr Wren at the mirror squabbling with his reflection/rival

and Ms Wren is quite happy to have two equally handsome men after her

They dance around, flying in and out and have the sweetest trill

Thanks to Melody who hosts Tuesday Treasure - it's always fun