Closeups of the train

Wendy asked me if I would take some closeups of the train quilt to show the detail - so here they are.

The carriage in the last photo has an opening door with crocodiles inside - what more could a boy want!!!

The train quilt part 1 and 2

I have pulled out another UFO to work on.  This row by row is for another grandson.  I really need to finish it before he gets too old.  This is the top 2 rows of 5.  This one I have been designing as I go, so it has been slow progress - hunting for pictures in books or clipart, then drawing it to the right size and working from there.  Again I am doing it quilt as you go. Another 2 rows are almost ready for quilting but the 5th row isnt started yet.

Here's the engine in close up.  (I assure you it is the photographer who got it crooked, not the quilt maker.)

After the train one, I have a car one and a cowboy one to make.  But they are not UFOs, just plans at this stage.

Its curtains week ...

This week's sewing has consisted of making curtains for my daughter.   We have been pitching in to paint the interior of their house, and the new curtains will finish off the fresh look.

That's two sets down, and a few more ahead.

Meanwhile my companion Molly found herself a warm and cozy spot in the sun to have a snooze.

She stayed there long enough so I guess she was comfortable.

The orange and the blue

Colourful Friday  is here again, and today it is orange and blue.

My first thought was the logo at my work place.  The orange and blue shine so beautifully together.

I work under these colours each working day.  Got to be happy with that.

Check out the sign as we walk in the front door of the office.

Little water boy is quite happy in his orange swim seat in the blue water of the pool.

And again in his orange singlet with the blue Australian flag.

Love the brightness of the blues and oranges in Zac's Transformer quilt.

But even more beautiful is the sashiko quilt worked by Susan Briscoe. 















I had thought this would be a much harder combination to work with, but instead it has amazed me to see so much orange and blue working so well together.
Pop over to see Robyn at Daisy Quilts to see what other people have found today.  Such variety !!!

A fun class and a raggy rug.

Last Friday, the guest class teacher at Sew This and That was Joy from Joy Patch.  Joy taught us her table runner featuring 2 methods of Quilt as you Go.  It was a really good class with an excellent teacher, and the good thing was that we went home with our table runner almost finished (some more finished than others - guess who had to do more reverse sewing than she would have liked to !!!)

Even so I had it  ready for the hand sewing in just a short time at home.  It is now done and ready for use.

If you live close enough to Joy and need a teacher for a class, keep her in mind. You will be very happy with her teaching methods and projects.

The long weekend was a good time to make Harry a raggy rug from the pack of flannel fabrics I bid on and won at the Biggest Morning Tea auction last month.  It is rather cold where he lives, so I am sure it will be very useful.

Little nappy pouch

Now that Harry is growing up his Mum doesnt need to carry the big nappy bag with her all the time, so I made her a small nappy pouch for carrying just 1 or 2 nappies, a pack of wipes and plastic bag.  It will fit into her handbag and be much easier to manage for trips to the shops etc.

Feeling spoilt after the Quilters Muster

Last Sunday was the Quilters Muster, the picnic held at the end of the Quilters Trail, where the prizes are handed out, and the event is celebrated.  The suppliers for the 9 stores as well as the store owners themselves donate prizes and items for giveaways.  They were once again so generous, throughout the Quilt Trail and at the Muster.

People who had visited and supported all 9 stores went into the draw for the prizes, and many came away with beautiful gifts of fabric packs, rulers, patterns and other goodies.  I was fortunate in winning a beautiful pack from Northcott Fabrics (their version of a jelly roll), a pattern, and set of template rulers for a Carpenter's Wheel quilt block from Meredithe Clark.

On spending $10 at each store we were given a part of the pattern, plus fabric which together made up the quilt project for the year, this year's being Beach Party.

My finished quilt

was chosen as the winning quilt, which was such an honour as all of them were beautiful. (I need to take clearer photos of it, and not when the wind is blowing.)

My prize for it

is perfect for keeping my Candlewick supplies in, and taking along to the class.

Now that is enough excitement for any quilter - but it didnt finish there !!!

At the end of the day the major prizes were drawn - and my name was drawn out for the first prize - which comes from here:

I havent received it yet, but I know it is going to be fantastic.

To have all that and then follow it up with Charlie's birthday party made for one very exciting day.  I am still shaking my head in disbelief.