Maxine's quilt - Curved quilting

My friend usually quilts her quilts at the LQS but 2 of the staff have been off with broken ankles, legs, hips... Coincidentally they both suffered injuries a week apart so the shop has been understaffed. Therefore the quilt frame was not available due to no assistance. So over to my house to help out. She needed it for Xmas..
Now it is done...

Added a bit of curved quilting...

The quilting is done.
Now all she has to do is the binding.

Mug rugs for the girls in my office...

After I received my Xmas mug rug from GG from QATW... everyone at work was interested. I then explained what they were for and they all liked the idea. I surprised them one day with a gift of a mug rug each. I quickly whipped 10 for them all.
I still don't know why when I make my photos larger they go blurry


The tops are made, basted with the wadding and backing...

Now they are quilted and trimmed...

Binding is all cut, ironed and ready to sew on...

Here they are all done and ready to give as gifts..

All the girls in my office loved them...

QATW Christmas Mystery Box Swap

I joined in online with a mystery box swap for Xmas. My partner loves Vintage, flowers and pink.

I managed to get some things sorted.

A vintage supper cloth, cushion cover, beautiful lace edged hanky, an old biscuit tin from kookaburras biscuits,  a lovely vintage fat quarter and even an old notebook of my mums..

I also included some Aussie celebratory items.

Paper plates, cocktail flags and an ice tray.
We also have a little tourist book of Mildura so that was posted to show where I live.
 I sent a little thimble with a photo of the state of Victoria on it.

I sent a beautiful little tea cup. I hope this didn't get broken in the journey.
 I forgot to take a photo and these are the ones GG took. 

BONNIE HUNTER FROLIC Clue 3 & 4

I'm not sure what is going on with my photos again. When I take them they show clear but when I upload to a post they turn blurry. So, I apologise for them...
Clue 3 ready for sewing, Clue 4 quarter square triangles cut...

Here is part 4 of FROLIC all cut out and ready to draw on my lines for sewing.

Lines are all drawn on ready for stitching.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL..... Reindeer Chupa Chups

WELL XMAS DAY IS OVER AND I AM EXHAUSTED.

I hope eveyone had a happy and safe Christmas day.

We have had family with us for the week so this means a full house. We also have been having very high temperatures. Around the high 30's and even into the 40's which makes it very tiring.

Every year I make little gifts to hand out to all my work colleagues. There are about 45 in our building so I need something quick and easy. This year I decided to make reindeer heads with chupa chup noses. I printed off many patterns and just kept cutting. I had enough for 66. This means other visitors at home could have one.
A month later my thumb is still numb from the cutting but they are very cute...


All the heads are cut out and ready to be assembled...

Look at this cute little fella....

Here are all 66 lined up ready to hop off.

Tissue holder that is tiny and fits in your bag.

Here is a little fun gift that I have made. It goes in the post easy and is quick to make.

All the patterns on the internet I found were in Japanese so I studied photos, drawings and loads of sites. I cut, sewed, unpicked and sewed again until I got it. I am happy now I have a simple pattern that can be made in half an hour.

I am going on a trip to Japan next year so these made in Aussie fabric might make a great gift.

The beginnings of my INTERNATIONAL SISTERS from all over the world.

I am starting this great quilt. So many amazing friends from all over the world have stepped up to help me out.
They have forwarded a little bit of there life to share with me. A 10" square from their part of the world or something special to them.
I thank you all for being my friend and following me on my journey as I have you.
Quilters are united in many ways.
Now I have to get sewing.

https://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/2019/05/international-sister-block.html

Here is what I have been sent. I hope I haven't missed anyone..

PREETI - USA
designer of this fantastic block that has spread worldwide.
Here is a touching story from PREETI and how amazing this quilt is.
https://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-quilt-for-eva.html

Linda - UK - https://linda-koshka2quilts.blogspot.com

SUE - Australia - A lovely friend

Vireya - Australia - https://weednstitch.blogspot.com

Sue - Australia - http://kiwikidspage.blogspot.com

Look at the quilt Sue made.... It is beautiful...

https://kiwikidspage.blogspot.com/2019/10/international-sisters-quilt.html

Julierose - USA - https://julierosequilts.blogspot.com

Jenny - NZ - https://romanyquilting.blogspot.com

A VERY BIG THANKYOU TO ALL OF YOU. 

QUILTERS ARE THE BEST SUPPORT.

I LOVE READING WHAT YOU ARE UP TO AND FOLLOWING YOU ON YOUR BLOGS..

KEEP UP THE SHARING AND CARING FRIENDSHIPS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

Bonnie Hunter Clue 2 & 3 - FROLIC

Bonnie Hunter Clue 2 - FROLIC was done in plenty of time.

Then we had CLUE 3

Microwave Bowl Holders and Show n Tell.....

More bowl holders made.

I have made many for other people.

Maybe I should make some for my family and especially me. My other ones are well used and could do with a refresh.

Time for some show n tell..

Look at my spare wardrobe, filled with quilts to be quilted.

Here are 9 quilts basted ready for quilting and 5 quilt tops completed.
One day they will be quilted...
All sizes, patterns, styles.

QATW XMAS MYSTERY BOX

I joined in QATW A Very Merry Xmas Box swap.
This was the gift box I received from my partner GG.
Coincedentally GG was my partner for the mug rug swap...
http://www.quiltingaroundtheworld.com/forum/

June's quilt at our all day sew.

Look at what Maxine's sister is working on. June only started patchwork this year. 

She isn't scared to just give it a go....

She has made the blocks and now is working out how to finish it.
She never measured the quilt centre before making the blocks on the sides.
There was some adjusting to do.
This is how it finished up.



Not bad for a newbie. She still needs to learn about measuring for borders though.
Good on her for giving it a go though.

Mystery top is done..

I had this top started at our mystery night but noticed 2 blocks were around the wrong way. Yep, upside down. It went in the cupboard until retreat time. So while at retreat I decided to unpick and get it back on track.

All resend and now for the borders.

I got this top finished as well....

Overall it was a very productive and fun weekend.

I got 3 tops finished and a box of scraps cut into strips.

I also made a pair of slacks. Yet to be finished... Just need elastic and hems sewing up.

Jelly Roll Race quilt is a top.

Our group owns an electric go cutter so while on retreat I decided I wanted to cut up a container full of scrap fabric. I filled a tub
Then I cut strips of red, white & blues for a jelly roll race quilt. I used any width of fabric so there are many different sizes.



All my strips are cut, sewn , now my seams are being ironed ready to sew together.

I got all my strips sewn together and ironed.

The large blue space is there to appliqué a name or football team name..

Anyway, it's there ready and waiting for someone to give it to and I will completed then.

Maybe an AUSSIE HERO.

My KRIS KRINGLE

WOW, what a night we had. The meal was great, the game was great and we all went home with our potholders and some went home with a KRIS KRINGLE gift.

Here is mine....
I don't know who made it.


Here is the inside.
It has a pocket and 4 pages of felt to hold my cut blocks in place until I'm ready to sew them.

And for the other side..

I do like the colours

The quilting design looks good.


And the game was a whole lot of fun...

Kris Kringle game

When it's time for our Kris Kringle gifts to be exchanged I have decided we will play a little game.

...PASS THE PRESENT

....DIRTY SANTA

....THIEVING SANTA are other names it goes by.

Each person rolls the dice and follows the instruction on the number showing.

The dice is made with a 5ltr water cask. A big Xmas bell is put inside and then all wrapped up with instructions pasted on.
All ready to roll on the night.


Then I printed the instructions onto A3 size and laminated them. This way they will be easy to see.


This should be a fun night...

Kris Kringle gift

Our group decided this years Kris Kringle gift was to be a block holder.
I have made mine 13" square and inserted thin plywood into the outside covers. This gives it a stronger cover. Added with straps and loop and button keeps everything secure.

I bought a laundry washing bag to use as the pocket. I didn't have to try and sew zips in..
I also added the wool pages to hold the blocks either just cut or made.

I used up my leftover bow tie blocks...

Here is the outside cover....

Potholders

For gifts for everyone who attends the Xmas party my friend and I made round pot holders.

These will be on the tables when everyone arrives.

In the pockets I have made recipe cards.

3 recipes and a blank card each.

Card making assembly line.... and a much cleare photo..


Here they are already to go..
35 in total.....