Joy's 3D Bow Tie Quilt

I know that Joy loved her quilt.

It was her birthday and a special day for us all. We were all together when we gave it to her.

Here we are all in one photo together.

It came out so lovely with all the buttons on it.

Well done to all the girls.

From left to right.

Rhonda, Barb, Jill, Jo & Joy.

This is such a lovely group and photo too......

Heathcote Quilters car pool shopping trip

Today was a wonderful day out. It started a little cool but as I travelled North and the day moved on it became warmer and warmer.

I met the other ladies from Heathcote Quilters at our meeting place at 8.45am. 13 of us gathered and into 3 cars we hopped. Get the motors running and off we go.

First stop is at Seymour to have our coffee stop until the shops open. In to 2 quilt shops we head.

I only bought some wire edged ribbon, quick unpicks & a SANTA key for a wall hanging I have planned.

Ok, back into the car and we head for Nagambie. Another quilt shop where I bought some beautiful note pads for a gift. Then next door for lunch.

NAGAMBIE LAKES ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE.

What a view. 

 Here we all are enjoying a drink and waiting for our lunch. 

The favourites were the Wedge Salad and the Fish and Chips.

Very nice and relaxing.

As the sun warms us up its time to move on.

Next stop was Meg-Mog at Rushworth

It's a quaint little house with the most beautiful stitching projects and patterns.

They had the most beautiful XMAS STITCHERIES. 

There was this gorgeous XMAS ALPHABET stitchery which had to come home with me.

I can see a lot of uses for this pattern. 

Then I had to have some beautiful XMAS fabric for only  $16 a metre.

And check out the great buttons. Lady birds, Butterflies & Owls. How cute....

We finished at the quilt shop and heard about a tasty ice cream shop.

Of course that was our next stop.

Oh YUMMY....

WE ALL HAD FUN DECIDING WHAT WE WANTED. 

I ended up with Banana with  Strawberry & Honey crunch in a waffle cone.

It was lovely sitting outside, talking to the locals & enjoying the sunshine and the day.

How relaxing.

What a great way to spend a day with friends. I'll definitely going back there...

FINALLY A VISIT WITH MY MUM

I have been sick for 2 1/2 weeks and haven't been able to see my mum.

On Monday I got to visit. It was only short but it was nice.

I went with my daughter and grandsons. It was special.

Unfortunately the boys were not too comfortable with my mum and her tubes. Mum was in good spirits and feeling really good.

She was happy so I was happy...

NICHOLAS WITH HIS GREAT GRANDMA..

how special 

Millrosie Retreat at Ballan

Well, I arrived excited and early at my Ballan destination.
http://www.millrosecottage.com.au

Mill Rose Retreat with the Millrosie group.
http://millrosiefriends.blogspot.com.au

I was a late comer and filled in the spot of Shez. She was enjoying a fantastic holiday in Thailand.
http://shez-enjoyinglife.blogspot.com.au
Here is the beautiful Mill rose Quilt Shop and Retreat House.

 Mill Rose retreat

 Through the RED DOOR if you dare

 The bedroom I shared with Lyn from
http://oldburycottage.blogspot.com.au

The beautiful work room, lounge room and dining room

 The relaxing dining room

Our work area

 Here is the group saying HI
There is Anne,
 Melody from
http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com.au
Anne &
Barb from
http://barbscreations.blogspot.com.au
Lyn from
http://oldburycottage.blogspot.com.au
There was Linda and Judy &
Kerryn from
http://christmascreationsbykeryn.blogspot.com.au
& Sue from
http://curlyquesue.blogspot.com.au

 Here was Melody, Anne, Anne & myself sitting down for our joint luncheon. Cheese, fruit, dips, paste &  cracker lunch. Oh so yummy......

 Here are the sewing machine girls with their pedals to the metal. Very productive group.

Sue and Liz did a fantastic job of looking after us. The food was fantastic, the accomodation was the best. I just loved the beds, room & shower. It was so relaxing.

The whole venue was such a treat for all of us. 

It was amazing and I hope to get the chance to do this again with the special friends that I have made this weekend.

Thankyou Millrosie group.

And a special thankyou goes to SHARON from 

http://lilabellelane.blogspot.com.au

SHARON was the lovely lady who organised this wonderful weekend for all of us. Yes she was supposed to be there to share it wit us but unfortunately had some health issues. If there is another one, I'm sure she will make sure she will be there. And so you should.

Thankyou for giving me the opportunity to have a great weekend......

Scrap happy Saturday

I haven't participated in SCRAP HAPPY SATURDAY go quite a while.

I haven't done any RSC 14 blocks for months. I am so far behind.

My mum has been sick, my daughter has needed help and I have been so busy with 21st quilts....

Well here is a post to participate this week.

The other month was bright green fabric scraps so I worked on my Wonky star block.

I got another one done and added to my other blocks and put together a quilt for a special friend.

So here is my block made

My quilt top is done and on the frame for quilting.

I really only use this frame when I stipple a quilt or do an all over design.

 I do not have the knowledge or confidence to do much more on it.

The quilting is done.

The binding is on and it is finished

And here it is done with the label on it for a special friend of my Son, John. 

It is Haleey's 21st and I think she loves it.

I gave it to her on Thursday so I hope she gets great comfort from it.

My link up,today is with CHERYLL at......

http://superscrappy.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/scraphappy-saturday-dawn-to-dusk.html

Scrap happy Saturday

Not the Browns of this month though... I hope I can catch up...

On my way to retreat for the weekend and my October 12" block is done and posted

I AM ON MY WAY TO QUILT RETREAT FOR THE WEEKEND.
MILLROSE RETREAT AT BALLAN HERE I COME.
THERE WILL BE ABOUT 10 OF US MEETING UP & I CANNOT WAIT.
I NEED A WEEKEND AWAY.
I HAVE HAD SUCH A STRESSFUL FEW WEEKS I NEED SOME ME TIME
https://www.millrosecottage.com.au/retreat
this is such a beautiful place to stay. They have a cafe next door and a quilt shop as well.
What a fantastic time away



My partner this month in the 12" block swap was Narelle.

Narelle wanted me to do any block in Black & White.

I know that sounds easy but choosing a block is a big decision.

I went with one that I had made years ago and a member of Kilmore Quilters showed everyone attheir retreat. I have since shown my friends I sew with on a Monday. It is a fun and easy block to do.

The 3D BOW TIE block.

I also sent a little gift to get her into the Christmas spirit.

Pam Buda's sew along in PURPLES

I started to sew along with Pam Buda and the 

MARCUS FABRICS FRIENDS & COMPANIONS DESIGNER SEW-ALONG.

This was a mystery quilt started by Pam at.....
http://heartspunquilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/welcome-to-friends-companions-sew-along.html

Each week, for 9 weeks, a different designer put up the directions to make a 8.5" block.

I didn't use their fabrics or the final design of quilt but I have made their blocks.

I have used a green and purple range of fabrics.

Here they are.........

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

So my 9 blocks are done.

I am placing them with 13 blocks that were done by the members of another group I was in years ago. So this just maybe helping my finish a UFO out of my cupboard.

These blocks above only measure 8.5" so need to be built up to match my other blocks which have to be cut back to 11". I will add a dark purple border around the smaller block to build up,to the larger ones. I still have to do another 3 smaller blocks to make up my design..

This is my layout so far.

My GOOD VIBRATIONS are here

I just received so happy mail.

My GOOD VIBRATION sewing machine blocks. These are from

FELICITY

& LYN

& these are all 4 blocks together. They do go together well.

I am participating in a row by row mystery quilt over at DOD MYSTERY.

http://dodmystery.blogspot.com.au

If you decide to join in and make this months block pattern and share them for swapping you will get next months pattern for free.

It is a fun quilt so far. These are the first months blocks. 

This month we are doing ROTARIES IN BLOOM.

FNSI........My test pattern quilt

What I have been doing on my FRIDAY DAY/NIGHT SEW IN

I have been testing a pattern for Jan from The Colourful Fabriholic

 http://thecolorfulfabriholic.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/plus-dash-tutorial-draft-pattern.html

This was the photo of original pattern from Jan

So I decided to go for it today.

I chose to do mine in a neutral colour for a cot quilt size. This way it can be put away for that special little person... It was a great pattern. Very easy to follow. 

And yes, the best part was, it was QUICK, LARGE BLOCKS and EASY.

Jan gives you directions for a variety of sizes. The blocks measure 14" so they go together very quickly. The instructions are easy to follow.

After I cut all my pieces I had left over fabric. Just incase I slipped with the rotary... Haha.....

I did have a few fat 1/8ths in Browns so I used them instead of fat 1/4s. I didn't have any trouble with not enough fabric.

 Here are my blocks cut out and sewn together. I am very happy with the colours.

Time for a break and off to eat dinner......

Back to follow the rest of the directions and here we have a finished cot size flimsy.

I am very impressed with this pattern as I can see how it would adapt to using up scraps or a feature fabric instead of the background. I will be doing this pattern again....

Now when will I get to quilt it.....

Now to see what others got up to tonight check out here......

FNSI with WENDY at

http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/fnsi-sign-ups.html

My Rotaries in Bloom are BLOOMING CUTE

I am taking part in Deane's QUILTERS GARDEN row by row MYSTERY QUILT

http://dodmystery.blogspot.com.au

I have really enjoyed this months block.. ROTARIES IN BLOOM.

The rotary cutter makes the stem And centre in the Dresden plate flower. How cute....

You have until the end of the month to do some blocks. Then over on the DODMYSTERY BLOG all you need to do is post how many blocks you want to swap. (Click on the link above)

If you can do this you will get next months block instructions for free.

Thanks Deane.

Here are my blocks.....

No. 1 to swap

No.2 to swap

,

No. 3 to keep

No. 4 to keep

My flowers didn't quite meet up right but they still look great.

The ones I am keeping I somehow doubled up on the fabrics. 

I have needle turned appliqued them all down.

This week I am linking up with Kelly for NTT. Needle & Thread Thursday
http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/jeweled-and-ntt.html

FNSI time is here again

Why don't you start planning your Friday night and join in with Wendy at

http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/fnsi-sign-ups.html

Settle in and enjoy your night.

Not sure what I will be working on as I am spending all week sewing.

I have this horrible flu I need to get rid of so I am staying home.

SEWING.

I am also sewing along with Sheryl and sewing along with her LITLLE LETTERS quilt. 

http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/little-letters-k.html
Here are my blocks. I am making enough for 3 little cot quilts and I have caught up.

I am going to mix the colours up in the quilts too.

Here is the finished quilt of Sheryl's from

 http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/little-letters-k.html

Sheryl puts up one letter each Wednesday and Sunday.

So I am ready for the next letter... "L"

I am linking up with WIP WEDNESDAYS

http://www.freshlypieced.com/2014/10/wip-wednesday-autumn-wips.html