Welcome 2021. Thank you Chooky for ZOOM

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.... LETS ALL WELCOME IN 2021

We can only hope for a better, healthier year. I can truly say it has started off well thanks to Chookyblue with getting us all together via ZOOM. If nothing else, we have learnt to communicate via ZOOM instead of getting together for our quilting gatherings and retreats. ZOOM has connected us with overseas quilters and bloggers. It has been amazing actually talking with bloggers that we would normally only comment on blogs or email. Putting a face and voice to the blog person has been wonderful.

Over the day, from 7 am- 10 pm, we had about 20 ladies join in from AUS, USA, CANADA, GERMANY, NZ & FRANCE. The topics discussed were varied and I was asked to put up my Easy ( non traditional ) Xmas steamed pudding. It is great for diabetics as you can add any dried fruit you like. It doesn't have flour or sugar and is made in just over 2 hours. I actually make it, cut it into portions, then freeze it. It is then ready any time I need a quick yummy dessert.

This is what it looks like before cooking.

Then after cooking

Now what was I sewing. Well I had an amazing day. The last Zoom we had I said to Deana that I would get the quilt she designed quilted. It was a SAL but I didnt make the full size or design as what she had designed. Check out the pattern here. I can't seem to get the link to work so have a look at dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com and search for QUILTERS GARDEN ROW QUILT. Deana is selly this pattern on Etsy too. Yes I got it quilted.

The binding is on and I am hand stitching the back side down.

Then I spent the later part of the day trimming and adding the borders to Bonnie Hunters FROLIC 2019 Mystery quilt. It is now a completed top ready for quilting.

One discussion was about what happens on new years day will happen throughout the year. Well I am off to a productive year. Let's bring on 2021 and let me continue on a great, fun, sewing year. Have a great day planning the restof your sewing year with friends.... Can't wait for the next ZOOM. Thanks everyone for sharing on their blogs and following me, It is greatinspiration and helps the soul...

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.

A little bit of rain but a beautiful day....

I woke up to a beautiful morning and ready for a good day of sewing...
I looked out my kitchen window and my Dahlias put on a wonderful display. They are such a lovely colour.
I walked past and just had to take a photo.

Dahlia's in my garden..

Sew my sewing begins.
I had to get stuck into this months patterns for my 2 SALs over at Deana's
http://dodmystery.blogspot.com.au
Deana designs these patterns and they are fun to sew along with everyone else... One row a month makes it easy to keep up....
Here is this months pattern for the Americana quilt...
I have changed the size of the quilt intended. Mine will be a not as wide as I will be giving it to an Aussie Hero one day. I am just sewing along for the fun of it.
This row is supposed to represent the mountains for the Americana quilt. I have swap a few things around as well as the colours. I am doing an Australiana quilt the size of an Aussie Hero quilt. My row couldn't be mountain colours because I really have only used blue and red... I'm sure it will fit in ok when I put the quilt together.

AUSTRALIANA MOUNTINS

And this is it for the Spring SAL.... Now I just have to put all the rows together

Last row for the Spring SAL...

I am happy that I made it before the end of the month. I didn't think I would get there with everything else that I had to finish.....

Yes they were done before the end of January but it took til now to do a post.....

My spring sew-a-long

Well that was a little bit challenging. I'm not sure if I was not concentrating, cut the wrong sizes or just messed up but I had trouble making things fit.,I know it doesn't help when you are changing the width of the rows. I got there in the end.....
I prepared this row over a few days and I will be taking it with me to my NOTY quilt group for a day of hand stitching. Yep all ready to go and I got it finished....
I'm really happy with it.

Now I have to go and add to the houses row to match this width. I have made the quilts for on the line as well.....

A new SAL quilt started

This is supposed to be an Americana quilt but for me being an Aussie I thought I would change it a little. I am changing the size to suit our Aussie Hero quilts. I think I might donate it. The size finishes at 42"  x  72". It's to fit their bunks while on deployment..

Row 1 has 5 great looking stars. I did each one a different background..

Boy did these stars take some time to make but I think they have turned out pretty good..

Row 2...... I found some Aussie flag fabric, cut it up and made it fit

If you link up and make a block this month you will get next months pattern free.
Deanna has designed 2 great quilts.
Americana and Spring Row Quilts.....
http://dodmystery.blogspot.com.au

FNSI & SPRING SAL

This is how I spent my FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN.     FNSI.
I am taking part in a row by row Spring Quilt SAL with Deanna.
Have a look here at the blocks being made. If you sign up, make a block  you will get next months for free...
http://dodmystery.blogspot.com.au
I have stitched house number 2 & 3.. They are not really spring but it just might be the Chang I make for this project...
No 2....
I still have to blanket stitch the windows and the roof. My window fabrics has a pin tuck in it so there is no need for me to stitch on them

House no 3...

It looks pretty dull at the moment but I think I will have to add some embellishing of flowers in the window boxes, a door knob and maybe some lace work on the roof line...

Boy there was a lot of little pieces in this one but very easy to put together. Just lay them all out and it will be ok...

These are my 2 blocks that I have made and hope to complete the row by the end of the month...

THIS WAS MY FNSI

http://sugarlane-designs.com/2015/07/friday-night-sew-in-fnsi-sign-ups-2.html

Today, Saturday, I spent at NOTY..

I caught up with Mel. 

http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com.au 

Mel was doing wool felting and having a great time. 

I was learning how to use the Westalee templates for quilting.

We all had a great day. Concentrated sooooo hard.

I need so much more practice. WATCH THIS SPACE.

(Sorry no photos yet)