GOODBYE 2020 & HAPPY NEW YEARS 2021

Well what a year we have had. I haven't had much inspiration or motivation this year. Yes, I have done some quilting, followed blogs, been on Zoom with great friends, joined in with QATW swaps but I haven't felt the same as usual. I have missed our group, weekends away, catching up with friends and of course, quilting retreats. Our daughter, husband and grandies have moved to our town. This has been great but be still have to fall in to a routine of seeing each other. Covid interrupted. They have both secured jobs which is so wonderful and makes things so stress free. I had a great day sewing with my friend today. I got 1 border ready for BH FROLIC.. I have a Zoom with CHOOKY tomorrow and hope to get it attached.. 2021 is going to be better. I had a wonderful few days with my brother at Tocumwal. Met some great friends of his. Some of which we will be going through the middle of Australia and to the top end in May 2021. Another lady who says she doesnt quilt much but has been sewing for 10 years. She is doing EPP hexies. Something I dont do. She also lives in Geelong and doesnt know any quilters. I hope this can be changed in 2021. Nerida, You are amazing. To all my friends in blog land, my quilting world, my friends and family I can only hope and wish for a much happier, healthier and safer 2021.

BOXING DAY 2020

Well, I hope everyone had a lovely Xmas day. It's now the end of Boxing Day and my plans have changed. We were expecting to be on the road to visit my mother in law.. Due to covid and travel, work and other plans, my hubby fractured his little toe a week ago and is on crutches. He cannot walk so is feeling a bit uncomfortable, cannot work until he can put steel cap boots on. maybe 4-6 weeks away. We didnt know if we had time available for a trip. Anyway we hadn't booked. So I looked online and I could't find any accommodation. My mother in law lives 10 hours away. We decided to stay home and not risk the teavel and not randomly finding somewhere to stay. Being school holidays, Victorians now allowed to travel & Christmas everyone has decided to be away. I say, take advantage and clean that sewing room...

Choose one of the multiple UFO'S .A while back I was on Zoom with some Quilters. I think Chooky's day and I showed Deanna's row by row SAL & swap quilt from a few years ago. I said that I really should get it quilted. Well today was the day..

and start to work on it.

So I did... Here is my progress..I decided to use a darker thread than what I normally use. I am not that even when quilting and it is all free motion. This is new to me. I usually use the thread the same colour so it doesnt show because my stitching isn't that even. I am out of my comfort zone. The thread is darker but the photos show uneven tension and holes. It's not really that bad in life. I am happy with it so far.

My UFO's are many and I am so overwhelmed I am not sure where to begin. I just look and then walk away. I really need to focus this year and get some finished. I want to try and finish a quilt every month. I already have some basted ready for quilting. I have some tops completed and many more tops that need completing and so many more projects that have a lot to do to be anywhere recognisable.

MANDALAS

My local quilt group has been putting in the newsletter patterns for embroidered Mandalas. 4 so far. Here is the first one I have started.

and now it is finished...

No. 2 is finished

No. 3 is half done

& No. 4 is drawn out

No. 5 is not far away either and will be in our next newsletter in January. Better get a move on.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY SON...

Another year has passed and we miss our son dearly.

Another USA swap.... Xmas Stockings & Beaded Knitted Scissor Keeps.

I just can't help myself.. I joined another swap. Anyone that signed up sews 6 blocks of 2 different designs of blocks that get sewn into a stocking block which measures 12" finished. I had to send 5 of each block to Candis in the USA. She will collate all the blocks and forward me 10 blocks to give me a total 12 to make up into a quilt anyway I like.

block no. 2

I know mine won't be here before Xmas but it will be exciting when I get them. I have been making some last minute gifts. They are knitted and use approx. 280 seed beads threaded on to the thread first. Here are my cute little beaded handbag scissor keeps. Scissor keeps are designed to be heavier than the scissors so that if/when you drop them the keep hits the ground first and not the point of your scissors.

The beads glisten and I think they are a great little gift. Easy enough to mail as well.

Here is a closer look.

Panel swap with USA.

I just love swapping and doing something diferent. This swap we were to send a panel to our partner and they were to add up to 3 borders to finish the top. Due to the cost and time delays of postage to USA. mypartner and I decided to nominate a theme we would like. We would buy our partners panel and add borders then post to them. This way there would be only one way postage. My partner Sheila chose Xmas. This panel I did for her I have done before into wallhangings.I searched Pinterest for ideas then chose fabrics to match...

See the panel at the top. The fabrics go really well together.

This is what I ended up making. I'm very happy with the result.

I know Sheila was very happy with it. She took it to work and showed her colleagues. I can't wait to get mine in the mail. Apparently it has travelled to Tokyo on the way here to Australia..... And mine is here and its stunning. I am solucky to have a beautiful quilt top made for me as asurprise. The panel is just beautiful with those cute bears. The tree blocks are new to me. I haven't seen this design before. ANYWAY..... HERE IT IS.

Sheila also sent me some matching fabric for the binding, a little card with 2 fridge magnets..

I am so happy with this swap. There is talk of another swap being done in 2021 so I have already said YES!!!!!!!

Donated HARLEY quilt

Well i got it finished for the AGM and to donate to the owner of the local Harley Sop. Nick tookover Quick Fix Harley in March. Just as covid hit everyone and we went into lock down. So toproperly greet him I presented this quilt that I made as a - Welcome to Mildura & Thank you for your supprt to our local bike group... Finished quilt....

Here I am with the quilt and Nick

and now with Hubby, Nick and myself

Halloween swap received

And this is what came in the mail for USA for me. Just wonderful. These are just lovely.

I had to find a cup to fit the cozy.I had this cold drink cup from a cruise that Ihad been on. PERFECT....

They now sit on my desk at work and are used daily. The cup is a great size for a cold drink in the heat we have here.

Halloween Mug rug & Coffee Cozy swap

I bought a new ipad and guess what. ----- I can now do my blog posts from it. Hooray. I always did my blog from the old ipad but due to not being able to update the programs it stopped me from doing my posts. It is so easy now... I took part in a swap with a group in USA. QATW....Quilting Around the World. It was for Halloween. I made this design which I love. I have done it before.. A pumpkin and black cat.. SPOOKY (haha)

and the reverse side....

Due to postage delays we did not receive them in the mail before Halloweeen. This was Jann's reply when she received hers...

I think Jann was very happpy

SPF XMAS DINNER @ IRYMPLE HOTEL

For our dinner we had to wear a xmas themed mask. A prize was given to the best mask. I had fun making mine. I couldn't think of what pattern to do but I wanted something fun. We didn't have to wear it all the time, only when we were away from the dinner table. I decided to make a Santa beard. I crocheted this and stitched it on to a background mask.

And it was the night that we received our Kris Kringle bunting. Here is the one I got.

The person who got mine was very happy.

and here is the mask that was the best on the night.

Our tables were set

the gifts laid out

our tree ready for Kris Kringle bags

and the tree loaded.

and everyone having fun

SPF KRIS KRINGLE BUNTING

As like many others due to Covid our sewwing group haven't been together since March but we are lucky enough to have a month with zero cases and restrictions have been lifted somewhat. We can now get together for a meal. So our Xmas break up was held at the local pub. For our Kris Kringle we were to make a bunting with 7 points. I chose not to do a Xmas design but did a crazy patchwork in a fresh yellow and green pallette...

For the alternating blocks I did tone on tone fabrics and added half doilies. These doilies we crocheted by my mother so they are a bit special to me. I enjoyed working with them.

So here is my finished bunting.

I'll post the bunting I get soon.

SPF XMAS DINNER

Tonight is our quilt groups Xmas break up dinner. With the year that it has been or not been we can get together for a meal. We are expecting 35 people for dinner so my friend and I have made some gifts and we will be decorating the tables. We have been busy making homemade paper with seedlings in them. Then all you need to do is to place them under the soil and water them. Hopefully the will grow some flowers. Gettingour table setup.

getting supplies organised.

Table ready for drying

Starting the process. Paper has been pulped.

Here is our seed paper drying

Next on the list was to finish our choc oranges. My friend dried sliced oranges in her dehydrater. Now we spent the day dipping one side of the oranges into chocolate.... white and milk...

We had also made jar opening cloths. These are made of the shelf liner rubber and backed with pretty fabric..

This was the label I made to attach to the front of the package..

and here is the finished gift that will be on the table as place settings on the tables for when everyone arrives....