May FMQ challenge

I am just scraping in to link my FMQ challenge pieces for May.

May’s tutorial over at Sew Cal Gal was presented by Leah Day.  She demonstrated how to do foundational designs.  The part I found hardest to do was the foundation line, a largish stipple.  I can manage small stippling just fine but always am unhappy with my large stippling, and also have difficulty keeping it to the same size.  I tend to go smaller as I go along.  Well this time the best way to achieve it was to draw lines first.  Even though I didnt keep on the lines with my sewing it did help me keep a better size and shape.  The smaller wavy stipple lines sewn over the top of this foundation was much easier to do.  No problem with the curvy one, but some of my straight lines in the railroad track piece are somewhat crooked.  I thought I would be tempted to keep doing curvy as that is what we do more often with stippling, but no, it wasnt so difficult. 

Leah explained the tutorial well, and her DVD lessons were excellent. I think now that I have practised this design over the month that I would find it useful to use in place of “normal” stippling sometimes.   

My first curvy one doesnt show up well in the photo. 

so I have finally realised I really should do my practice pieces on homespun fabric to be able to see the quilting design better.

Onto another subject.

Five years ago, here was our gorgeous little Grandie, Charlie meeting his uncle for the first time, though I dont think he was overly interested – as long as he could sleep on.

Yesterday was his fifth birthday.

Happy birthday Charlie.  We are looking forward to your little party on Saturday.

Quilt show and… dont forget …

The past weekend Mountain Quilters at Peachester, (about 45 minute drive from where I live) hosted their quilt show.  They hold it every second year, and their work on display is always amazing.  Not many photos, but I did take some photos of my favourite quilt on display, ( the one I voted for in the viewers choice.)

The stands were quite close together so it was difficult to take a good full photo of the quilt.  I love the colouring in this, and the applique work was amazing.  A beautiful quilt.

They had invited a good number of merchants to have stalls.  At the back of this photo is Sew This and That. (my favourite Local).  They were demonstrating the Sweet Sixteen quilting machine.

I have finally finished the embroidery for my tablecloth.  This is the last block, and is the centre of the tablecloth. 

It is on a white background, not good for photographing, and is about 8 inches square.  This block has taken me ages to complete, mainly because it has been sitting in its box, untouched, for a couple of years.  It is on my UFO list for Sew Its Finished so I am keen to finish it this year,  I pulled it out a couple of weeks ago and have been working on it most nights.

Those in South East Queensland, dont forget about the Bloggers meet up on Sunday.  It is not too late to let us know you are coming, and we would love to have you come along.  (see previous post).

Remember the Brisbane Bloggers Meet up

 

You may have read about it on Susan’s blog .  We decided we wanted to have a relaxing morning/lunch meet up to catch up on what we have been doing since we last met in November.

Location is still the same – The Grandview Hotel at Cleveland.  Go around to the beach side, plenty of parking there, and you will find us.  Cant say follow the chatter as there are usually other happy groups meeting there as well.  But you will see us there, and we will be watching out for you.

The view is spectacular.

But the company is even better.  This was taken at the last meet up, We had such a lovely time, good coffee, lots of catching up, a bit of show and tell, and then a wonderful lunch.

This meet up is on Sunday 3rd June, yes only 12 days to wait.  We are planning on meeting at around 11 am, for coffee, then staying on for lunch.  However if you are not able to be there for the whole time, still drop in for whatever time you are able to.

And bring some show and tell.  Susan suggests bringing your SKOW blocks if you are doing them.  I am not, but I am looking forward to seeing what others have done, as I keep seeing the progress on people’s blogs. We always like to see and hear about what other people are working on or have finished.

We do need to have an idea of numbers so as to reserve our space at the Hotel.  Please drop over to Susan’s blog and leave a comment, or you can leave a comment here, if you are planning to join us.

FNSI stitching

Just small progress at this month’s FNSI. 

 

Pin cushion is finished.  This has freestanding lace made on my Embroidery Machine, with pockets around the sides to keep  sewing notions handy. I sewed in the base, stuffed it and put the button in the centre ofthe top, and it was finished!  It will sit near my stitching chair, with everything needed close at hand.

I also worked a bit more on my embroidery. 

And a bit more on a secret project.

I will be here tonight

After the last week of M-I-A in Blog and sewing land, I think I need to join in FNSI just to get myself back into that happy place. 

Better go find my project for tonight.

It’s a wrap

Aussie Hero quilt is finished, and ready to post to my daughter in law. It is more purple than the photo shows. 

I have also made her laundry bag.

They will be in the mail tomorrow morning, and she should receive them in 2 or 3 weeks time.

It is a special day today.  Our youngest Grandie turned 2 years old.  He will be the youngest for only a couple of months now before he becomes a big brother.

By the look of his face he has already been partying.  And what’s more he has eaten an eye !!!  Poor Banana.

 

Birthday dinner.  Spaghetti and red CORDIAL.  Harry will be arriving here for a  visit either tomorrow night or Saturday.  Cant wait.

Biggest Morning Tea

At Sew This and That for The Biggest Morning Tea.

 

This year we each took along some home baked goodies and the recipe.  We could then buy the recipe of the ones we found yummy.  Of course it was all delicious so I now have 20 new recipes. 

(ps - I didnt eat all of the above - these were what I brought home to share, but as Hubby is away, there is noone to share them with.  Oh dear !!!)

Aussie Hero quilt

The top is done. 

Weekend workings and Aussie Hero Quilts

Coathanger completed:

Table topper progress:

last border is on.

Stitchery complete.

And then an unexpected “get it done quickly” project came up.

For some time I have been following Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags.  Well I guess I was more lurking than anything.  This group of quilters started making and sending quilts and laundry bags to our military personnel in Afganistan, particularly over there because the winters are very cold. Also it is a way of letting them know we do think of them.  Whatever our feeling about our guys being in these areas, the fact is they are because they have been sent there, and they need to know we care.  I have wanted to make some blocks, quilt tops, or something but just hadnt started anything. 

Then last week the project was extended to cover our guys and girls in Egypt.  Immediately my interest rose to a new level as that is where my Daughter in Law is at the moment.  Anyway a few emails back and forth with Jan-Maree and I was underway making my DIL’s quilt and laundry bag.  But it needs to be made and posted quickly – like this week.

So yesterday found me digging through my purples – her favourite colour and what my son asked me to make for her.

Yes, should be enough there.

By last night I had the blocks made

and the first 2 rows completed

Today I will complete the top ready for quilting.  The request is for cotton batting to be used in all the quilts so I have to wait till tomorrow to go buy some of that, because shops are closed today for Labour Day public holiday.  I have heaps of wool batting but cant use it.  There are specific size requirements, and mostly using a quick piecing design. 

I also have to make her laundry bag today.  I am hoping to have these in the mail to her either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday. 

You can read more about Aussie Hero Quilts here, and they also have a Facebook page.  Along with these quilts they are also making some called WWQ (Wounded Warrior Quilts) that are used for injured guys particularly when they are evacuated for medical attention.  The WWQs feature Aussie fabrics, flags, etc.in whatever way the maker of the quilt decides.

Now back to the quilt.

This week’s WIPs

On my work table this week have been

This is a combination - blocks from a cushion out of Patchwork and Stitching, designed by Bobbie Small.  I have made mine bigger and turned it into a table topper,  And the paper piecing project taught to us by Fee at Lets Get Stitched, which I have used to border the blocks ( the blue and red pieced border). I will be using the red spot on the butterfly for the outside border.

I did an embroidery class to make this large pincushion with pockets around the sides.  I still have to add some bling to the pockets before sewing in the base and stuffing it.  Not a very photogenic item at this stage.

Yesterday’s class at Sew This and That was an heirloom lingerie bag.  Instead of that I decided to make a covered coathanger for my Grandbaby due in a couple of months time. I used most of the techniques taught in the class, but on a smaller scale.   I still have to pad the coathanger and add the finishing touches.  I think I will make some more of these.  After all even a little girl needs beautiful dresses,  and she needs to be able to hang them.  Right?

The last project under way is a baby wrap using this lovely pink baby muslin. 

I was so overwhelmed by lovely messages and gifts from friends and family, for my birthday last week. 

Gorgeous fabric from De.  I love it, it is so dainty and pretty.   I know just what I will use it for. De lives close to me but we had to travel all the way to Tasmania to find that out.

And a girl needs lots of stationery, so lovely little notebooks from Ann (and also the cat that I am keeping for 10 years before passing it on.)  Ann is one of my stitching buddies..

.

My lovely blogging friend Teresa gave me these absolutely gorgeous fabrics, and the soaps match beautifully.  At this stage these fabrics are so pretty they are still in the stroking and petting stage.  I have met Teresa only once but it seems like I have known her for ever.  That is the fun thing about blogging friends.

Wendy, who I was able to meet last year when I went on a road trip up north, gave me little parcel of goodies above right.  Such a beautiful charm pack, the cutest little cat scissors with scissor fob,   Dont you just love the little Russian doll (trinket box).  She is so cute.

My birthday just keeps going on.  I did say I was going to celebrate, and I certainly have and am.  My daughter has booked us to go and see this

in a week’s time.  I am so looking forward to it.

Now back to working on those projects.

Friends with Benefits swap

I have had a visit from the postie.  He dropped off a lovely parcel from Tracey – we were swap partners in Friends With Benefits, organised by Kathy.
Wow!   I am still in awe at the beautiful stitching Tracey did on the embroidery.  If you have never seen her stitching up close, you are missing out.  It is so even and tiny and perfect.  She even had my favourite colour combination of pink and green.  You have to check this out, though unfortunately the photos dont do it justice.

As well, Tracey included these little extras. 

Thank you so much Tracey.  I love it so much.  It will have pride of place where I can show it off.

My swap gift for Tracey was a "Dear Diary" journal ( pattern  by Joypatch. ) I used a stitchery design from Hugs and Kisses for the front cover. 

I also stitched a bookmark, using one of the embroidery designs from Girls Day Out.


This was a fun swap, with the benefits being giveaways each week of our sewing time.  Thank you so much Kathy for all your organising and making sure the swap ran smoothly.