dust

I didn't mean for a whole month to go by before posting but it has been an endless battle with dust here after many days of strong winds. No sooner did we clean up than another windy day came along and we'd start all over again. Yeah, I know - first world problems.

Luckily we didn't experience any damage from fallen trees but a lot of folks did.The State Emergency Services (SES) are the first on the scene in events like this. The service is made up of volunteers and they do an amazing job.

A big project at work and health issues of a close family member have kept me from the sewing room. 

Until today!

 

I don't normally show projects at this stage but I'm so happy with how this quilt is looking. It was a good feeling to finally piece this top together.

Another reason for delaying this quilt was my frustration in not being able to find a fabric for the border that I liked. Nothing suitable at the local quilt shops so I ordered from the net with the only drawback being that you don't get true colours on your screen. 

The last fabric purchased is the best of a ho-hum selection.

The more I gaze at this quilt the less inclined I am to give it away. My sister won't mind if I buy here a box of chocolates instead - will she?

Now for a bit of gloating. . .

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and Sydney Harbour put on her best day for the International Fleet Review featuring tall ships and 40 ships from 17 countries.

image courtesy of The Australian

You can read more about the event at International Fleet Review. The fireworks and lights spectacular is supposed to be bigger than the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

To the men and women of the Royal Australian Navy - thank you for your service.

grinning

 

They say winners are grinners and I'm surely that! 

I was lucky to win Ann Hermes Giveaway and my prize has arrived! The Primitive Quilts magazine features a pattern by the wonderfully talented Ann. I also received a beautiful postcard and one of Ann's famous mini quilt decorations.

 

Look at all those lovely pinwheels!  As it happens I need a new mat for my coffee table and I have some left over half square triangles from my Scrap Baskets quilt.

Thank you so much Ann! 

I wish I could say that during my prolonged absence from blogging that I have been sewing with feverish enthusiasm.

Sadly no...Spring has arrived with a vengeance and with no rain for nearly two months hay fever  and asthma have been my constant companions.  Who needs enemies with friends like those?!

Never fear I shall be making a return to the sewing room soon. 

pumpkin

Okay, so not quilting exactly. . .

I rather fancy making some recipes I've seen on the inter-webs for pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies all of which use canned pumpkin.

All things American are creeping into the stores these days so while I can get my hands on a can I wanted to ask you first about it.

Why canned pumpkin and not fresh pumpkin?

 

 

Okay, you are all still thinking S'mores and pulled pork, watermelon margaritas, summer berry pies and homemade lemonade but it's winter here!

 

Feel free to share a favourite recipe.

 

petite

 

After weeks of seeing only the binding on this quilt I thought it only fair to show you the whole thing. I'm rather happy to have this quilt finished and now it can be gifted to a dear friend.

 

The pattern is Rectangle Reverie from allpeoplequilt.com (Quilts & More Winter 2010) and measures 58.5 inches by 81.5 inches.

 

The fabrics used include Petite Maison by Bunny Hill Designs with some co-ordinating spot prints.

 

It was quilted by The Quilter's Quilter with an all over floral design.

 

Another dear friend gave me a small iron found when she was tidying up for a house move. That means I can pick up Park Avenue Rosettes - just two blocks to finish.

 

 

It's still wet and miserable (I guess it's winter after all) so perfect for staying inside and sewing. Enjoy your weekend!

 

broken

 

 

I've broken my diet. The fabric diet that is. Didn't mean too but I saw the yardage in the quilt shop and ...well...

 

Funnily enough, I had seen these on the internet but the colours are even prettier in real life.

 

I would love to make this quilt with them.

 

 

Mary's Quilt  by Les Secrets de Marie

 

 

Seriously baskets and stars! Two of my favourite blocks (you know I haven't stopped loving pinwheels right?).

 

I'll probably throw in a few extras for the background fabric and perhaps the large blue floral for the backing.

 

The finished size is about 46 inches square I think so I'm going to try and make it bigger.

 



weekend

 

 

I changed my mind about the quilt show. Didn't fancy tramping into the city after all. Stayed at home instead and worked on the charity quilt.

 

Now that I'm starting to join the bigger pieces it's getting a little tricky to manage the 1 inch and 1.5 in binding strips but it's looking good.

 

 

 

Also stitched a little more binding on the Petite Maison quilt. Never an unpleasant task as it's such a pretty quilt.

 

 

Homespun has a new look. No more glossy pages but a couple of interesting projects in this issue.

I've also been looking for projects to use some of the fabric in my stash. These two lovelies are on Moda Bake Shop.

 

What has inspired you lately?

 

intentions

I had such good intentions. Honestly...I did!

Who knew that unseen forces would conspire against me so that I wouldn't really sew much of anything on a gift of a long weekend.

Sigh.. the best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley.

(from one of my favourite poems by Robert Burns)

All I could manage was a little more binding on this quilt.  Looks like I'm going to have to redeem myself next weekend.

sewing

 

It was cold, wet and windy today - perfect conditions for sitting with a quilt on your lap so it may as well be one that needs its binding.

 

 

This quilt is well overdue for finishing. Fortunately I had just the right colour fabric in the stash to make the binding. Seriously, that never happens.

 

 

Also found time to sew a little more on the charity quilt. We have the Queen's Birthday long weekend coming up soon so I hope to make inroads on this project.

 

Happy Stitching!

may

Not a lot of sewing happening around here but I have been working on the next sections of the charity quilt.

These are long pieced strips which need to be quilted. I am rather impressed with how the QAYG method is working on this quilt.

In the meantime, I'm still searching for a small iron to make work on the Park Avenue Rosette blocks more manageable.

Also proving vexing is how I am going to join my EPP star blocks. I've seen a couple of variations on the net but may put it to a vote here.

Stay tuned...

mother

 

BlueEyedSun Gorgeous Greeting Cards

 

 

It's Mother's Day here in Australia and the US I think.

 

Wishing mums a very special day.

 

more

 

Just a few hours of piecing here!

I think this was the quilt that took seven years to make.

 

 

Simple design and colours but a striking result

 

 

Samplers aren't normally my thing but I quite liked this one

 

 

A little applique to while away the hours

This quilt was fabulously bright

 

 

Another fabulous applique quilt

 

 

Not surprisingly, this was a prize winner

French General fabrics and some very small applique pieces

 



 

Another beautiful French General quilt

 

 

One of my favourite quilts using the Saracen block.

Fantastic for scraps

 

 

One of three quilts in this pattern.

 

 

Not surprisingly this was a prize winning quilt. The fussy cutting was meticulous and my picture doesn't quite capture the fantastic effect created.

Each of those little feature circles in the blocks is fussy cut. The border blew me away. It looked 3D in real life.

 

I hope you enjoyed this tour of the quilts!

 

bonus

More quilts from the Eastwood Quilt Show ~ a lovely paper pieced quilt

 

 

Baskets (for Ruth)

 

 

Ohio Stars (for K)

A great pattern to make from scraps

 

 

More paper pieced quilts

 



 

 

Bright coloured Compass (for canuck quilter)

 

 

 

A charming sampler with centre medallion