Sunday 30 December 2018

More Butterflies

I am happy with how the quilting has worked out.



And here is the purple one.
They are so pretty


The bindings are sewn on ready for hand stitching.



Here I have done the 2nd quilt to match..
Cross hatched, little flowerettes, stippling and continuous butterfly borders.


Wednesday 26 December 2018

Goodbye my dear SIL

Thank you to everyone with their Xmas wishes.
Hope you all had a lovely time with family.

With all my visiting with catching up with friends and family for this years festive season was dampened.

We had very sad news that my SIL passed away on the Friday before Xmas and the funeral will be tomorrow.
It's very hard to say Merry Xmas and then suffer with sadness.
Putting on a happy face when feeling so sad is difficult and very tiring.
I have a few posts planned which will go ahead a I am not doing any sewing at the moment.

2019 has to be a better year for me.


GOODBYE DEAR PAM, SIL. 
JOIN YOUR SON, REECE
REST IN PEACE.

WE WILL MISS YOU.

Monday 24 December 2018

Pink butterflies


I'm helping out a friend who can't do her own machine quilting.
A while ago she passed two quilts on to me to finish off.
Mmmmmm. Not just stippling. It needed a bit more.
These cute butterflies needed something a little bit more.


So I added little rosettes in the centres of all the intersections.
These were done with the Westalee quilting rulers.

I drew lines from one side to the other and cross hatched the centre.

I stippled all over the butterfly printed fabric..


I have made a continuous butterfly quilting pattern for the border.
Stitched it with the machine without cotton to make holes in the paper. 
Pounced chalk through the holes. (Which didn't work too well)
Then I had to draw over with FRIXION pens. I love these pens.

Saturday 22 December 2018

More Mungo

The wind has formed a little tunnel. It had cracked the hard surface. Now it gradually loses more and more sand.


Look how the tree grows out of the sand dune formation.


The weather is not looking good for a great sunset. Unfortunately there won't be one to see.


This mound is many thousand years old. Look at the coloured layers of the sand. The weather has formed many fascinating textures in the mounds. 


It was a good day and interesting views. Unfortunately there was no sunset but you can't choose the weather. Lucky it wasn't in the 40 degrees then it wouldn't have been a good day.

Thursday 20 December 2018

Gypsy Wife scraps is now a flimsy...


My Gypsy Wife progress.
I bought the pattern from Amitie in Torquay.
It is a great design by Jen.
http://amitietextiles.blogspot.com

All those different strips working well together.
It's amazing how different they look when placed with a lot of different varieties.


Getting the first sections sewn together.


This is where I'm at now..
Half the quilt is done and I think it's turning out just great so far.




Sorry the photos seem a bit hazey.. HERE IT IS AS A TOP.

I was really enjoying the sewing of this and continued until the top was done.

Thanks to the donation of the beige strips there is a lot of varieties.
There are a few mistakes but overall I am happy with the results so far. 



The little navy and gold stars got mixed up and now I notice one of them should be at the centre bottom of the quilt. It can stay right where it is.
I will do another of these with scraps again... taking note of where I went wrong on this one. 

Tuesday 18 December 2018

Mungo

It was my hubby's birthday recently. We decided to book a tour of Lake Mungo National Park.
Well, no lake but beautiful views..
A lot of kms dirt road. About 80kms.
Somewhere I didn't want to take our car.
It was worth it n a tour. Tiring but good.



THE WALLS OF CHINA.

Amazing. It was a beautiful night temperature wise just very cloudy.


The sand dunes an creations were amazing.
The colours of the layers were fascinating



Look AT the sky...
NO SUNSET IS HAPPENING HERE.



Well because of this end to the day our tour finished early and of we headed home.

Sunday 16 December 2018

String bag looks good but failed.




I thought I would continue with knitting this bag after pulling out the corded crochet one.
It is a great size.

My string bag is Knitted and sewn up.. it is so soft. I am really liking it.

        

I have got one handle done and it's looking good.


The handles are done.
And the bag is ready to take to market and use.


Oops.. not really.......


The failed part of this bag is that the opening is just too small.
I think I might pull out the handles and start again.
Use bigger needles and pick up the stitch/row every 2nd row.

I'll see how that goes.

Here is the link if you want to try your own bag.




Friday 14 December 2018

ON RINGO LAKE sashings trimmed- OH NO!

I had sewn these blocks well back at the beginning of 2018 when I wasn't keeping up with the mystery weekly instructions. I was so far behind and got really bored with it. Trying to fit it in around work. It seemed to be taking too long. But good things come to those who wait.
I sat down in front of a nights tv and started to trim.

Okay.. sew 2 movies later I have all the blocks trimmed and ready for joining together.
My hands are sore and need a rest.

When I went to sew the sashings together I discovered I had ironed them all the wrong way.
I've started re ironing them. They will be waiting there for me next weekend..

When I was away at retreat it's obvious the conversation was distracting as I didn't read the directions correctly/thoroughly..
At least I don't have to unpick or resew....

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Xmas is coming soon


Our quilt group is having their Xmas Break up Dinner.
I thought I would make a little gift for everyone.
There will be one for everyone.

I have got all their faces on.



These are looking so cute.
All the ribbons are on.
I do hope they will make everyone smile.



Here they are with the heir buttons on and a special number on the back.
Let the fun begin.



I am looking forward to our Xmas dinner break up.

Monday 10 December 2018

GYPSY WIFE SCRAPS HAS STARTED.

I was given all the orphan blocks from everyone's scrap bags at our local quilt group.
It was to make a charity quilt.
I decided I would give the GYPSY WIFE A GO.
I bought the pattern book from Amitie in Torquay.
https://www.amitie.com.au/about-us.htm


Look at all the blocks I have been given.
Now to make them all fit into this brilliant quilt.


I HAVE GOT ALL THE BLOCKS WORKED OUT.
Doesn't look like much so I happen it looks better when it's sewn.


I was given a few strips last week.


Now to wait for some more  neutral strips to be donated so I can continue.

Saturday 8 December 2018

Mice, mice and more MICE

MY FRIEND HAVING FUN STILL CUTTING OUT HER MYSTERY QUILT.
She is back on track, pieces counted and not so overwhelmed.




Aren't these so cute.
A member of my group makes and sells these at the market. 
She needs the money and I haven't the time but these are so cute.
I ordered some for my friends Xmas gifts..


Thursday 6 December 2018

More " ON RINGO LAKE"

Ok... so all my blocks are ready to assemble .. All 50 of them.


I am sewing together the 50 blocks. It's getting there...

I am about to iron the 240 pieces ready for trimming and the sashing blocks will be ready for joining.

My blocks are sewn /webbed in one direction ready for ironing and sewing the next step to complete the block...


I think some of these photos are out of order but I'm sure you get the picture...

Now I am on to joining the blocks, starting on the sashing and I'm nearly there.
I know the new mystery has started... GOOD FORTUNE.... I will get to it. I'm printing the instructions and not stressing that I'm not sewing along.

Tuesday 4 December 2018

My BORO Bag

I have finished doing all this stitching
It is my version of BORO.
Not traditional, as it has wadding in the centre.
Thanks to Jenni for giving me a pile of her fabrics.
It has added to the variety.
I know I want to make some sort of bag, but just what sort of bag ... I'm still thinking.


My square is all trimmed 
Now I just have to work out what to do with it.
I thought I had an idea but I love it that much I want to make something that I will use all the time and have it on show.
It has been a lot of work so far...

Sunday 2 December 2018

ON RINGO LAKE

Here I am getting my BONNIE Hunters "On RINGO Lake" mystery out of the box. 
The last time I worked on these was months ago.
Ironing and trimming 200 flying geese.

I am trimming up my many blocks. Mm mmm I think 50 * 9 patches...


Here is my friends, working on On RINGO Lake too.
Sorry the photos is on its side.She has got her pieces out and working out where she is up to.
Maxine decided to only do a certain colourway and work with what was in her cupboard.
These colours are lovely and work really well together.
Cream, burgundy & blue.

Here are my parts all baggies up

Working out what is next...