OPAM - December Finish

Thank you all for your delightful Christmas wishes!

I don't know about you but I enjoy those few days after Christmas when the hubbub has settled and there seems to be time just for me to spend as I choose.

The fridge is full of leftovers so the family pretty much feed themselves (constantly), there is plenty of chocolate to keep me fuelled and no seems to want me for anything. Bliss!

That means time in the sewing room and here is my December OPAM. It has been rather pleasant to work on all those projects I didn't finish in time for Christmas. Thank goodness my dearest friends have the patience of Job and know that when they receive their Christmas gift in March it is with the best of intentions!

There are a few UFOs on the to do list for 2010 but that's okay.

Before I forget, Unexpected Paths is hosting a post-Christmas give away. If you didn't receive as many presents as you would have liked then stop by and enter.

Happy Stitching

One More Sleep

Merry Christmas to All

Thank you for your wonderful comments, support
and encouragement throughout the year

I hope Santa brings you what you wish for

OPAM - November Finish

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments and compliments. I have been quite overwhelmed by your generosity.

I haven't done much sewing of late - nor blog visiting after our pc keeled over in the extreme heat a couple of weekends ago. I wasn't far behind.

I did make this little Christmas bag which featured in Homespun (Vol 8 No 11). The design is by Marg Low and her Santa was made from punchneedle. I substituted applique instead. The finished size is about 7 inches square and I'm filling it with Christmas treats for a friend.

I also made this Christmas heart from Handmade magazine substituting the felt for a reproduction print. I borrowed Leanne's technique by adding some Pellon on the back before stitching the lettering. It gives a nice effect. Thanks Leanne!


That's it for now. I'm off to visit some blogs and catch up on all that you have been doing.

Happy Stitching

15 Minutes of Fame

You just never know who is watching your blog.....

Australian Homespun it seems.

It was a real surprise when they asked if they could print my projects in their magazine.

I wasn't sure at first.....don't be ridiculous! Of course I said yes.

So there I am - in the Red issue currently on sale at all good quilt shops and newsagents


Except the one near my place because my family bought all the available copies.

While I have your attention Lena over at LeKa Quilts is hosting a giveaway. A very nice applique book and one of her lovely handmade bags.



Happy Stitching

Simply Delicious

Sigh. Is there anything more delicious than a layer cake? Okay, chocolate perhaps.

This one is Simple Abundance by Bonnie & Camille for Moda. What clever designers they are and such a pretty colour combination - soft teal, terracotta, sage and cream. Don't get me wrong I still have feelings for charm packs - those flirty cupcakes of the pre-cut fabric world. But oh, those 10 inch squares - so many possibilities.

 

My layer cake comes from Busy Thimbles at St Ives. It's a wonderful quilt shop and Annalisa, the delightful owner, is a talented quilter who likes reproduction fabrics and English paper-piecing. Visit her blog here.

If you can't get to the shop in person you can visit them on line at www.busythimbles.com.au.

Busy Thimbles classes and BOMs are very popular and they have contributed to the QuiltAid 2009 quilt project. Twelve shops have each designed a block and a finishing kit. It's in one of my favourite fabric ranges - Faye Burgos' Sachet Potpourri.

I'll be making this quilt designed by Camille called Late Bloomer which featured in Australian Homespun Vol 10 No1.  To create the circles I plan to use the aluminium foil method.

Thanks for letting me share one of my favourite quilt shops with you.

Happy Stitching

OPAM October Finish

The miniature stars in reproduction fabric are now finished with some simple quilting using YLI thread. I haven't used this thread before and chose it because it was a good colour match. I like the wooden cone that in comes on and it was nice to sew with. My favourite quilting thread so far is King Tut.

Good news!

My Friendship Bag arrived and it's just delightful.

It was made by Jennifer from the United States and you can visit her blog here. As you can see, Jennifer sewed on the little yellow flowers and beads. Isn't she clever!

The colours are so pretty and there are self threading needles, some fat quarters, a message note pad. Jennifer has even sent along some of the beads she used on the bag.

I just love it! Thank you so much Jennifer.

Now back to work on a UFO.

Happy Stitching

Small things amuse small minds

This little sweetie is just 12 1/2 inches - well it will be when it's finished. Each star block is only 3 inches.

It's a design by Ann Hermes and I used the lovely reproduction fabrics purchased at the quilt show. Ann uses snippets of vintage fabrics in her projects.

Thanks to some handy hints from Ann this quilt was easier to manage than my first effort.

I do like miniatures.

I have just discovered that Shabby Fabrics have a blog. I do like this shop and they have lots of lovely fabrics and projects.

Happy Stitching

Quilt Show Report and a Prize

I am becoming rather well known for forgetting to take pictures at quilt shows and the Wentworth Quilters Exhibition was no different.

Sorry folks, one day I will get my act together.

It was a terrific show on what was a spectacularly windy day. Congratulations to all involved. There is so much work involved in one of these. The venue was historic Linnwood House.

I did have a little shopping spree at the stalls. Shop of the Day was Patchwork Plus from Miranda. I bought these.

Scrap Basket Surprises is a terrific book by Kim Brackett. Her blog is Magnolia Bay Quilts. All of the projects use 2 1/2 inch scrap strips or jelly rolls. I'd like to make all the projects featured. Nice work Kim.

I also picked up some reproductions fabrics for making Ann Hermes miniature quilts, some Metro Goes Au Naturel fat quarters and a couple of pincushions.

A little while ago I entered Lena's giveaway over at LeKa Quilts and I won a consolation prize. It arrived this week and it's as sweet as sweet can be.

Thank you so much Lena. I adore it!

Happy Stitching

OPAM Finish - September

After not finishing anything last month I thought I should make the effort and finish two things for September.  This is a sewing machine cover and I am rather pleased with the final result.

I'm also going to count the little bag I made for the Friendship Bag Swap. I'll be posting this swag of goodies tomorrow. I'm not allowed to reveal the secret identity of my swap partner but I think I can safely say she is in Europe.

Happy Stitching

An exciting new blog

Among the Gum Trees is a fantastic new blog hosted by seven Australian designers. They have amazing giveaways and free patterns to download.

I learned about it from Lena in Norway! Go figure

Check it out!

Happy Stitching

Presto Chango!

Take one of these...


Rearrange it slightly...


And hey presto...you've made one of these!


Okay, I had some help from Rachel over at p.s.i quilt. Thanks Rachel - you're the best!

This is the Friendship Bag I have made for my secret swap partner. Now I'm filling it with goodies.

I also started on another project using these.


Last, but by no means least I won a prize in LeKa Quilts giveaway. Thank you Lena, I'm looking forward to receiving a parcel from Norway.

Happy Stitching

Don't Delay...Act Now!

Go now...don't wait..get a wriggle on! Lena at Leka Quilt is hosting a giveaway.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Stitches & Craft Show - Sydney 2009

The glory days of the show are gone but there were still plenty of good things to see.

Catharina's Country Collection was a terrific stall with a fantastic display of quilts - especially her BOMs. This one is Pond House by Lynette Anderson.


They were one of only a handful of quilt stalls this time. That's because the quilt show is the big event in June.

For me, the top floor held all the surprises - Cloth Fabric, Kristen Doran, Ink & Spindle, Pippiejoe, Audrey & Maude - just to name a few. It was fabulous to see Tara Badcock's tea cosies - so much better *in person*.

I bought some fabrics from Ink & Spindle which I will probably use to make some bags


and some cards from Pippijoe that I plan to use for Christmas. She also had fantastic fabrics.


I saw the platypus designed by Kate from Two Little Banshees . The pattern was featured in Australian Homespun Vol 10 No 1. These are my version made for Jen's new baby Tamsyn after she posted on her blog about how much she enjoys seeing the platypus that live on the creek near her mum's house.



Kate's new design is a cute-as-a-button caterpillar!

Have a super weekend

Lots of good things

Well, at least I thought so. Put the quilting aside to work on Farmyard Stack. This is an easy quilt to put together. Square in a Square blocks next, then four patch.

Discovered the website for Living Creatively - okay I'm behind the times on this one but lots of interesting stuff including this


A bracelet made from typewriter keys from Mrs Smith jewellery. Unfortunately, the link on the website is broken.

Also featured is Tara Badcock from The Teacosy Revolution. Tara is a textile artist and her work is exciting. She has a particular fondness for creating or transforming the ubiquitous tea cosy and some of her works will be on display at the Sydney Stitches & Craft Show.

You can read the on-line article about Tara here. I'm looking forward to seeing Tara's work up close. She uses an interesting combination of textures and free motion embroidery in her pieces - even the odd exotic feather.

Last, but not least, I *discovered* Ink & Spindle - three incredibly talented Melbourne textile designers. They will be at the Stitches & Craft Show also. Here's their blog.



Happy Stitching

I Won a Giveaway!

It's so exciting! I was lucky enough to win these marvellous goodies from Lola over at andsewon who was celebrating her 300th post. Thank you Lola.

Isn't that snowman the cutest?

Happy Stitching

Farewell Old Friend

Vale faithful Pfaff. We've had so many good times together.

How I remember fondly all our sewing adventures - endless kids' costumes, t-shirts, fancy track suits and that bathing suit I never wore. You understood my fascination for Justknits and Knitwit; never criticised my insatiable appetite for cotton spandex and stretch lycra.

I will always remember you. *Sniff*

On a brighter note....these wonderful goodies came in the mail today.

I can't wait to give them both a good run. Guess what? I won my first giveaway - from Lola at and Sew on. Thanks Lola! I am looking forward to receiving my gifts.

Thought I would also join in the Friendship Bag Swap being hosted by Quilting Gallery.


Rachel at p.s. i quilt has a terrific tutorial for a suitable bag. Go check it out.