Machine quilting.

 I have had my bookcase basted for the whole year.

 I did a swap with the QATW girls for these blocks. It was started in 2019 and the top put together in 2020. It’s about time this one was finished.

I have started quilting it. I am using the Westalee rulers. 

My first attempt was bad. I changed needles, thread, tension and cleaned the machine. I got so frustrated with the thread breaking, fraying and skipped stitches. I could also see the backing thread on the front at repetitive areas. I couldn’t fix it. So it went on the floor. Now, we didn’t go away for Christmas so I picked it up again. Wound a new bobbin and had no issues at all. I am not the best quilter, especially when the top and bottom threads are different colours. But, I will go with how it’s working. This quilt is for me…

2 Panel swap quilt bindings are done.

 Here are another 2 bindings done. These panels are beautiful. They are to go on my single beds in the spare room for when the grandsons stay. A while back I made some panel tops and sent them off to the USA for a swap or two. I had them quilted and now the bindings are done.. Look how wonderful they are.

This one was from Candis

Look here to read about the swap.

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2021/05/my-panel-has-arrived-from-candis.html

And this was from Sheila.

And here is the story about this one.

https://jobutterfield.blogspot.com/2020/12/panel-swap-with-usa.html

Thank you QATW panel swappers

I’ve had some quilts quilted for me.

 I am so lucky. A lady from my quilt group offered to quilt my quilts for me. She wanted the practice and I wanted them done. Win, win. And yes, I gave her some cash too but the charity quilts are being done for free.

My quilts that were from the QAYG panel swaps are now quilted and only need to be trimmed and binding on

So the first one has been trimmed

And the binding is now done

It looks so pretty.

I received this panel from Mona from QATW. Thank yo Mona. I do love it.

Mona’s Panel QATW

I can’t believe I received this back in November 2021

Hi everyone. I’m still here

 You will need a drink, coffee or wine, whichever you choose, enjoy the following. 

This is a catch up of what I have been doing. There will be lots of photos from the last couple of weeks all in no particular order. I can’t believe that we have been in lockdown, restricted movements and I still can’t keep up with blogging. My motivation is low but hopefully with some nicer weather this may improve.

I have loads of ideas, plenty of UFO’s, projects planned and no need to shop. I have everything to make them. The fabric & time but no oomph.

It needs to change. ANYWAY, here is something to report.

Here is my finished bell with another one I was gifted. It was easy to make. And didn’t really take long. 

My friend came over to choose fabrics for masks for the kids to go back to school but you couldn’t see my sewing table, sewing room or move anywhere so a clean up was necessary. This is it now..

Now I can start to sew again. Making some masks for a work friend and her children. Kids are back to school but must wear a mask. This family wants fun ones to enjoy. 

This is what they chose.

Here are the finished masks for the kids to go back to school. She liked them so much that I need to make another rainbow stripe for her.

You all remember the panel, Australian animals, I sent to the USA for the swap I was in. Well, here we are on a public holiday, MELBOURNE CUP DAY, I get a knock at the door and it was a delivery. A parcel from the USA. Excitement set in. I was amazed when this parcel arrived. LOOK AT THAT COST. Just ridiculous. I was so shocked and thrilled at the same time. I raced in and opened it straight away.

Look at the beautiful panel I received from Mona. Thank you. It is perfect and I am a purple fan.

I will make this into a quillow and use it when I am watching tv. If I line the pocket part with polar fleece I can use this as a pocket to keep my feet warm. It is the perfect size.

I also took part in their FALL/AUTUMN mug rug swap. I don’t like doing just square items so I change them a little bit. I saw this design on the end of a table runner and thought it was perfect. I’m so happy with how it worked out. 

This is the beautiful mug rug I received.

 Looks like we were thinking along the same lines. How fun is this.

This is the fat 1/4 I won from QATW for a visit and comment I made on one of their posts. Lucky me. This will definitely get used.

We have been meeting up in the park for our sewing group. It is hard to sew in a camp chair without a little help. I bought this bed tray years ago from an op shop for about $5. It is finally getting some use.

What makes it even more special is I have been using my new zippered placemat with it and it fits perfectly. Now everyone wants to make one.

Even the ducks came for a visit.

Our group has a birthday fat 1/4 gift swap. This is how I packaged mine this month.

Now the year is over I have to find another way to wrap a fat 1/4 that is using something I have at home. I find it hard just to put it in an envelope. Maybe, I could make boxes using my birthday cards they have given me. Oh, that’s a great idea. Problem solved. This just came to me as I was typing so I might just give it a go and post a picture later if the fabric fits in the small box. 

I had a lovely friend come over for the morning. 

Before we got into the planned activity I was notified of a local garage sale. So off we headed. There wasn’t any quilting fabric like we expected but we both managed to purchase something.

My friend bought some pieces of vinyl which she uses in her pin cushions and I bought these. Some ribbons/braids, felt, bias making bars. I already have the Templar plastic ones but another set wouldn’t hurt. Also got some more zips. These are always handy for when I make bags of all sizes or the new style zippered placemats. All this for only $5.00. 

A real bargain.

Back home now for the purpose of the visit.

My friend brought her die for me to cut out heaps of hexies. 

A start on a new project. 

Why do I keep starting them… 

She was amazing and I appreciate her time and help. Now to sew them

Papers and fabrics are all cut for my future project.

I am organised and have some hand stitching to take to my sewing meeting nights or even zoom, Chooky, for quite a while.

So this is where I’m at. Hexie sewing. Who would have believed it. Gotta start somewhere.

I can say that I will not be making a quilt with these and will never in the future. 

This is not me!

Good on you all for your EPP sewing. It is amazing and I appreciate your work.  

Enjoy it and happy sewing.

Meeting up in the park…..My panel swap is on its way to the USA

 My friend and I set up a lovely meeting in the park. We shared show’n’tell, a coffee from the local van.. Bobbie’n’me. Caught up on some much needed chatting. Even though it was a bit fresh we soldiered on and it was great. The following weekend we were back in lockdown. We are trying to organise a catch up for our sewing group. Hopefully if lockdown lifts we will meet in groups of 10. If too many turn up we will make 2 groups. An easy fix.

I joined this panel swap on QATW site. My partner really liked the idea of getting something from Australia. 

So I bought this panel.

Chose fabrics.

Started sewing

I had so much trouble getting this to work. I drew it out. Measured it up and cut the strips but failed to realise I had done it wrong until I was sewing it together. The strips don’t get cut the width of the squares. So I unpicked, cut, resewed, repeated. Joined pieces together as fabric was running short. Frustration set in but I persevered.

Now the borders are on. This now measures 60” square. A great size quilt. The colours are showing a bit darker than what they actually are. I love this top

I got this in the mail on 5th Sept. It waited in Australia for weeks. 7th October it finally arrived in the USA. Now to wait until my partner gets it.

More mail.. QATW & teabag strings & some knitting

 I received an envelope one day from someone I don’t know. It turns out that Brenda had seen my posts about knitting with teabag strings and after a few emails sent me some. I was very happy with them. 

I have rolled them on to an icy pole stick that someone had given me with some already on there. 

But I still have a few to tie and roll up.

These will make another lovely scarf for a gift.

The kindness of fellow crafters gives me a smile and makes me feel good.

Thank you Brenda.

XMAS IN JULY - QATW

How about this happy mail from my swap partner Dorian from QATW. 

This was our Xmas in July swap. It didn’t make it in July but it did the first week of August. Yes, I am a bit slack and this is a catch up post. Anyway… here is my lovely parcel that arrived.

I opened up my parcel and some were wrapped and others not. I thought the postie had had a look inside but it was confirmed that this was how it was sent. Some wrapped to tease me.

There were a pack of magnetic bookmarks, heart shaped tape measure, sewing shaped buttons, a framed stitchery in a hoop, lollies and chocolate. Last of all a quilt themed novel which I will enjoy reading. I have all the Elm Creek novels and loved them too so I am looking forward to this read.

Thank you so much Dorian. It was a great surprise..

KNITTING

I have got my act together and finished sewing these knitted cot hanger covers on the hangers.

They have been knitted for over 12 months now. I thought it was time to finish them off.

Postcards & Mug rug swaps.

 I have enjoyed being in the QATW swaps.It is fun and exciting to receive special surprises in the mail.

I received a lovely fabric postcard from Tracey.. Cosmcat…

This is the one I am sending off to my partner. It is for October.. Spring time..

I am also making an Autumn mug rug for a swap too. I went with the lovely colours of Autumn.

I made a maple leaf block into a mug rug. But also made the backing in a light coloured fabric so I could write on it as a postcard.

A weekend of sewing & a completed Xmas stocking top

 I finally sat down and finished a top that the swap blocks have been sitting around since 2020.

I had these Xmas stocking blocks from a QATW swap in 2020. It was time to do something with them. 

I decided to design a quilt/tablecloth to suit my lounge coffee table.

They went together really well.

Now to get it quilted and finished.

Holiday snaps and some sewing and a finish

 Ok, here are a few holiday snaps. I didn’t really take many but I’ll show you some.

While driving along you see some beautiful views. Driving up the highway the morning we left Port Augusta we saw this amazing view. The clouds surrounding a table top mound. (I am not very good with names of things or the history). It was stunning.

My next photo was when we had a stop just over the border into the Northern Territory. Of course we did get a photo.

We had a big day of driving this day. Approx 700kms. It was a late day so we ended up having our overnight stay in a roadside stop bay. It was at the landmark for the Tropic of Capricorn. It was busy stop for travellers too.

It’s such a shame that there are people out there that want to destroy everything.

Now for my sewing.

I have been working on my Fairy Quilt Godmother but I can’t show the right side of  my work a sit is a challenge for our group. But I will show you a bit of progress 

Then I worked on my motorbike quilt. It is finished and today I sewed on the label and hanging sleeve.

I am involved with an online group called Quilting Around the World. QATW.

We have going on an ugly fabric swap. I got sent an ugly 1/2 metre and I am to make a quilt with it measuring larger than 36*45”. It cannot just be a border but must be used in the main part of the quilt. I also had to send my partner a fabric I chose. 

Here is what I received.

I have decided on a pattern and chosen the fabric I am putting with it.

I can’t show my progress as this is a challenge as well.