Hello Everyone !!

I had a bit of a sewing spree in the lead up to Christmas, putting together a couple of quilts as Christmas Presents.

The first one was a Stack & Slash quilt, made for my parents.  Here's a photo of them holding it up on Christmas Eve ... I think they like it !!  I used a variety of fabrics ... the gold sashing / borders was Michael Miller fabric, the blackish border was a Robert Kaufman fabric, and the blocks were a variety of fabrics I picked up in a set at Lilly Patches in Boronia.

Next I made a quilt for my daughter, Elisabeth ... this was a challenge, as I could only sew when she wasn't home.  Fortunately, she has started working full time, so I had lots of time during the day.

I also made some matching cushions ...

I bought the wolf panels ages ago on ebay, but kept them hidden.  The squares were just a stack I found in Lincraft ... they worked, colourwise, so I decided to use them !!  How fortunate was I that Elisabeth had no idea I was making anything for her ... I found a good hiding spot ... made it all a nice surprise !!

I also made a lovely table runner for my mum ... but, ooops, forgot to take a photo of it !!

Looking forward to getting back to regular patchwork / quilting, not working to a deadline ... but first, holidays.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas ... and hope you have  a Happy New Year.

Take care,

Some Of My Favorite Fabrics

Hi There,

As with most sewers / patchworkers / quilters, I am obssessed with fabric !!  I cannot go past a fabric shop !!  And I am forever on ebay, just looking (and occasionally purchasing), just to see what is available.  Often when I purchase fabric (whether it be from a shop or ebay) it is just because I like it, and not necessarily for a particular project.  I imagine I am not the only one like this !?!?!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share a few of my favorite pieces with you.  Here goes ...

This first piece of fabric I found on ebay ... not sure at the time what I wanted to do with it, but since receiving it, I have decided I am going to make a large, long cushion to take in the camper.  The fabric is about half a metre long, with the width of the roll of fabric wide.

I just loved the retro feel and look to this fabric, and as we are campers, thought it was very appropriate !!

This next bunch is a kit I found on ebay for a quilt called "Quilting Purr-fection" by Debbie Cook.  I got it for a bargain ... all I need to buy is the wadding and backing fabric ... oh, and of course, cut it out and put it all together !!

Next are a few cat fabrics, mostly fat quarters, that I have collected ...

When we were in Victor Harbour, South Australia, recently, we visited a quilt shop, and of course had to make a purchase (the two centre left fabrics above were from there, too).  I love Australiana fabric, so this pack of eight fat quarters definately took my fancy.

And finally, these next three I purchased in a quilt shop in Kyabram, Victoria ... the two on the left seemed to go together, and the one on the right I just fell in love with.

Of course, there are heaps more in my "stash", but at the moment these are my favorites.  There are a few others, though, that I would love to share, but they are going to become Christmas presents, so for now, they remain a secret !!

Now, to start doing some cutting and sewing ....

Take care,

What Have I Been Quilting Since My Last Post ...

Hi There !!

Wow, it's been about 15 months since my last post on this blog ... I'm a bit slack, aren't I !?!?!

Bambi continues to assist me (as per previous post), and I haven't sewn any of her limbs yet, thank goodness.  She does make it difficult at times, swatting at my fabric, thread, pins, etc ... cheeky kitty !!

I bought myself a new sewing machine for Christmas last year ... a Toyota Quilt 50 ... which works a treat.  The old Singer I was using became very temperamental, needed a service, and I got the new one for a very good price.  I also recently bought myself an overlocker, from a friend.  Haven't really used it, and not sure that I need it for quilting, but it was too good a bargain to pass up !!

I've been doing a bit of sewing, in dribs and drabs ... some weeks I sew gung-ho, other weeks I don't do any.  Life gets in the way sometimes.

Anyway, since my last post I have done the following ...

A table runner, which now resides on my living room coffee table.  The pattern was called "Tranquil Charm".  It was completed in September 2010 ...

It was made using a pack (and a few extra) of 5 inch charm squares, using a pattern I found in one of my many craft magazines.

Next was a Christmas table runner, using a pattern provided by the tutors in the Patchwork class I attend at the local U3A.  It was completed in November 2010 ...

A friend of mine designs quilt patterns, and I decided to make a quilt she designed.  It is called "Allsorts Quilt".  I had to make some slight alterations, due to the fat quarters I bought being slightly smaller then normal, so was unable to follow the pattern completely.  I finished this quilt in January 2011.

The fat quarters were simple solid colours.  The border is multicoloured gum balls, containing most of the colours of the solid pieces.  The back is half purple, half pink, with a strip of gumballs up the centre.

Next thing I finished was an "Attic Window" panel, which I made into a large cushion.

I was given a roll of Aboriginal design fabric, called a Hotch Potch.  I turned this into a "blankie" sized quilt, not quite single bed sized.  I completed it in August 2011.  We decided that it would become our Holiday Quilt, and would accompany us on all our holidays.  I am very pleased with how it turned out, and love the border fabric (which is also the backing fabric), and the black contrast.

I finally finished my Stack & Slash (I also call it my Stained Glass Quilt) in August 2011.  I am very happy with it, and it now takes pride of place in our camper, ready to keep us warm on all those wonderful camping and 4WD trips.

Here's a photo of it in it's new home ...

I joined a class to teach us how to make a Kaleidescope Quilt ... the quilt is still unfinished at this stage, but it is getting there.

The fabric I am using is ...

I have completed twelve blocks so far, I think, and hope to continue with it shortly.  I plan to make 16 blocks, making a 4 x 4 block quilt.

I will be sashing each block with a blue fabric, which is the same as the cornflower blue in the fabric.  The border will be a combination of blue strips, black strips and the original fabric.  I cannot wait until it is finished, but need to put it aside for the time being, due to a couple of other projects needing to be finished before Christmas.

I have been purchasing fabric left, right and centre, also (isn't that just typical ... it's hard to go past beautiful fabrics, isn't it !?!).  I even purchased a bunch of fat quarters at a quilt shop in Victor Harbour, in South Australia, during a recent holiday.  The country stores often have such different fabrics than what I have been able to find locally.

So, that is a run-down of my quilting endeavours since my last post.  Thanks for reading / looking at the photos.

Till next time ...

Take care,

Stack & Slash Quilt continued ...

Howdy !!

Got the front of my Stack & Slash Quilt finished today, now I only just have to do the wadding, backing & quilting ... might leave it for the time being, as I have other sewing calling me !!

I had myself a little helper ... or so she thought !!

It was quite frightening, as I thought she'd twitch, and I'd sew her foot ... fortunately, I decided to stop for awhile and take photographs !!

But Mum, aren't I cute ?!?!  Do you really have to sew ???  My tummy wants rubbing !!!

How can you resist this face ???

In the end, she turned her back on me, made a sour face (as if to say ... I've had enough now) !!  Eventually, she turned around, and watched the needle go up and down ... then I got really worried, that she might take a swipe at it !!  She got really fed up, and jumped down ... too much action, perhaps ... but thank goodness, I could get back to sewing, without distractions !!!

UPDATE ... this afternoon, I'd just come out of the bathroom, and there was Bambi, up on the ironing board, sitting on the folded quilt top she was helping me sew yesterday.   Not sure if she thinks it is her quilt now, or if she wanted to help me iron it !!  She's such a cheeky kitty !!

Take care,

Sampler Quilt ... Part 1

In the Beginners Patchwork class, we are now working on a Sampler Quilt.  It is to be 12 different blocks ... although I have decided to do 16 (the 12 blocks that the teachers have suggested, as well as another 4 of my choice).  I chose to do these in aboriginal / indigenous prints (what a difficult decision, choosing 6 different fabrics that would blend & contrast, as well as 2 other plainer fabrics ... I still need to choose my border fabric, as well as the batting and backing, at a later date).

It took me a while to get moving, but when I did, I went at it gung-ho.  I managed to complete 4 blocks in the past couple of days (as wells as running around, doing various other things !!).

I have chosen an Ayers Rock (Uluru) colored (sort of) fabric, along with the others, which I will use in some way in each block, as well as using it in the sashing ... it will sort of tie it all in together.  (Unfortunately, the photographs don't really do the colours justice ... but you should get the general idea !)

The first block on the list was SHOO FLY (I used 3 different fabrics) ...

Next was OHIO STAR (I used 3 different fabrics) ...

Next was JACOB'S LADDER (I used 4 different fabrics) ... (when I chose which fabrics to use, I thought there would be more contrast in the colours ... ummm, apparently not ... but I like it, anyway !) ...

Next on the list is HONEY BEE, however I chose one of my own, instead ... RAIL FENCE (it's the same block as what was used on my Quillow !!)  ... (I used 3 different fabrics) ...

So, that's all I've done for now ... as I mentioned, the next on the list is HONEY BEE, however I will probably do PINWHEEL next.  I will share more with you when I have more completed.

Hope all this isn't too boring ... I find it exciting, creating new things ... I LOVE QUILTING !!!

Take care,

Stack & Slash Quilt

Whilst attending the Beginner Patchwork class at the U3A, I also discovered a lovely lady who has a business called Patchwork Promises ... she runs monthly quilting workshops, conveniently just down the road from where I live.  She was kind enough to invite me to join in on the workshops.  The project we are working on at the moment is a Stack & Slash quilt.  This is a totally new concept to me, but very enjoyable.  Here is a picture of the 9 panels I have completed.  In the next workshop we go through the sashing and how to put it all together.  (I have another stack of gorgeous fabrics, which I will probably use to make another Stack & Slash quilt ... it is so much fun !!).

I love the vibrant colours ... you can't really see it in the photo, but they are all sort of tie-died fabrics ... very pretty.

Take care,

Quilt + Pillow = Quillow

The tutors decided we needed a bigger project, so presented us with the instruction for a Quillow.  I jumped at it, thinking it would be great fun ... I love the idea of having a cushion / pillow, which with a quick shake out, becomes a cuddly quilt.

I bought some bright fat quarters ... 3 of each colour ... for this project, along with some homespun black and electric blue.

The method was fairly simple ... simply sewing 3 strips of different colours together, then chopping them up into squares, then sewing the whole lot together to make the relevant pattern.  Then, obviously, putting on a border, batting and backing.  We used a pull through methond (like a doonah cover, I guess), rather than the usual binding methond.  I also "tied" the front to the back, through the batting, rather than quilting it ... looks effective, I think !!

The front of the Quillow (if you zoom in, you can see the little black threads in the centre of the crosses, where I "tied" the Quillow) ... also, if you zoom in, you will notice the blue fabric actually has little black cat face outlines !!

Showing the back (black with white polka dots) folded over the front of the Quillow

The Quillow folded up into a pillow shape

Take care,