A night out and the challenge quilts.

 What a great Friday. I helped set up the Sunraysia Patchwork quilt show. There were helpers everywhere. They displays and decorations are wonderful. The quilts are amazing. (Photos to come).

Judy arrived with Pat. (Sorry to miss Raylene * aka. the Fairy*) . Unloaded their car and got the stall set up. Off home I came. Ready for an evening out.

We all went out to a fantastic show of The Robertson Brothers at the Mildura Arts Centre. 

It was a great night of the 60’s songs. Presented like it was a live tv variety show. Brilliant. 

We bought our tickets separately so we’re not sitting together.

Outside on the famous steps of Rio Vista Homestead.

Practising selfies.

 Janice did a great post about it HERE

Now for the entrants of the Storybook Challenge. The requirements were… to be 60*90cm. Represent a children’s story book and be 3 layers and quilted.

We had 7 entries.

Hey Diddle Diddle, the cat had a fiddle.

Finding Dory,

The Little Fish that got Away,

Poky Little Puppy

The Rainbow fish,

Digger,

So I came 2nd with mine. The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly..

Last weekend. Zoom and sewing

 Hi all.

Last weekend was a busy one for me. Especially after a busy week. Anyway, I love a deadline. My quilt group is having an exhibition next weekend and we had to hand in our challenge last Tuesday night.

We had to make a 3 layered quilt 60*90cm depicting a story book. Hence called, the STORY BOOK CHALLENGE. We have known about this since before last Christmas. I new what I wanted to do just after and I bought the story book in April to help me out. I drafted the pattern but only enlarged it at the beginning of August. Nothing like last minute.

I had a visit from Janice and we had a little discussion about a few things. Janice helped me sort out and idea. It worked. Thanks Janice.

Anyway, last weekend I had to get my challenge made. Chooky called a zoom meeting Friday night which was fantastic. Of course I joined in.  I cleaned my sewing room and I got started. 

Choosing the fabrics for each piece. The red lace zip was an idea Janice helped me with.

Cut out, ironed on and ready for stitching.

Next morning Chooky had a zoom from 6am. I actually made it. I joined in and sewed.

Nearly there

Chooky was only going to do a morning zoom but late afternoon another one was organised. I joined in from 6pm until 10pm. 

I sewed until midnight Saturday night all the appliqué was done

Can you see the zipper pocket put in. This was a bit tricky. I also added a little gusset for the dress pocket so it wasn’t flat.

It worked out really great.

Sunday morning I started to get it quilted.

On to getting the animals made…

Here is where it started.

The first animals are made during zoom.

Now I have them all done.

I have it quilted. Animals made. And now presented for the quilt show judging.

My challenge is completed and I had it labelled and ready for the deadline to hand in to get judged on.

Thanks to everyone for joining in on zoom to help me to keep on sewing and finish my challenge. I really needed your support and keeping me focused. 

It has now been handed in for judging.

Now to wait for next weekend to see the winners.

Merry Christmas to all.

 I have had a bit of trouble keeping up posting lately and reading blogs as well as commenting. Please know I have read you posts but it is a busy time for all and I have fallen behind.

Anyway.

My Xmas gathering with my quilt group was amazing.

Look at the display we put together.

Here we are all set and everyone enjoying themselves. We had 30 ladies enjoy the night.

Here are the challenge entries.

Look at the display we set up. We knew there wasn’t going to be too many entries so we came up with this display.

And the winners are. Weren’t they great 

And our Kris Kringle swap went well. This is what my gift was. Look at the lovely machine embroidery.

Plenty of room to store my needles

We all enjoyed the lovely gift my friend, Maxine, and I put together through the year.

Remember these…..

The beautiful knitted beaded scissor keep we have been knitting all year long.

Thanks Maxine.

We also had fantastic help from Colleen making the special baskets for them to be displayed and presented in as a place setting.

Thanks Colleen. 

I am looking forward to the end of the year. I have celebrated Xmas with my daughter and grandsons already and I will spend Xmas with my brothers. There might be another post before the end of the year.

Everyone please have a very happy and safe festive season and a merry Christmas to all.

A sewing machine needle case & challenge project

 For our Kris Kringle gift this year we are to make a needle case to store our sewing machine needles. 

I am making a special one for me at home but I also need one to put in my travelling machine bag.

I came across this tutorial

 on Pinterest from  https://www.thepetitesewist.com/2019/01/diy-sewing-needle-organizer.html

I have used this tutorial as a basic start and changed it a bit.

Collected my selvedges 

Added a pocket

I’m sure it will look great when it is all together. This is the one I am making for the gift so I can take part and receive one back. Now here is the one I wrapped up. It has ties to keep it closed

There is a strip of wadding to put those loose needles

The inside has plenty of pockets for packets of needles

Look at the cute bobbin charm I have added to the zipper pull

I have added a needle chart

We also had a mini challenge to complete. It was the Fairy Quilt Godmother

Look at this pattern

Choosing fabrics

 And here is my fabric chart

All the sections have been made and slowly are being joined together.

Another piece added.

Wow it is all in one piece

Doesn’t it look good now it is trimmed

after adding a little sashing strip I have added a lace edge and continued the background and dress fabric into the border.

I am double cross hatching with the quilting

I have been doing a little bit of hand stitching sewing the binding down, the label is on and the hanging sleeve is sewn down.

Here it is finished and I love it.