Wine glass coaster workshop

We had a quick little tutorial night at our patchwork group.

Wine glass coasters.

These are made with 7 hexagons. 6 are folded in half and placed level around  each edge. One is kept flat for the base.

The other thing about this coaster is that you can put the base of the glass inside the coaster and when you pick up your glass the coaster comes with it. You will always know which glass is yours. It also will absorb the condensation and no mess on the table.

It was my friends birthday so I made her this cute little tag to go with her gift. I wrapped her gift with fabric and tied it up this tag.

I am trying to start the 52 weeks tag challenge. Every week you make a different tag.

I hope to use these for gifts and if I really like the design one week I might just make another. 

52 tag challenge

I saw the idea on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdoypP04MTFluM0RZPwQW77kFFiSIKw-u

Dear Jane and some Hexies

This months Kilmore groups DEAR JANE blocks are getting done. Only 1 left and that has some hand stitching on it....

Dear Jane...... A 1

Dear Jane. .... L 8

Dear Jane ....... E 4

When I went to the lake for a retreat with the Sunraysia girls this is what I was going to work on. The trouble is the storm hit. Home we headed, no sewing just storm damage. Well, I did get back to it. Here it is so far. It has taken a couple of days.

Hexies and plaids

I've been sewing....

I finally got 2 of my splendid sampler blocks finished.....
The famous tiny HEXIES are done.. What a relief.

Splendid Sampler... No 31.        HEXIES 

The Mr Squirrel has his flower button on...

Splendid Sampler.. No 45       Mr Squirrel 

I also spent the evening preparing and cutting out all of the pieces for my friendship blocks.
Now to get them sewn....

My friendship blocks

My Sunday stitching

I was lucky enough to have a lazy day today. So what did I do? SEW, SEW, SEW.......
I am still working on block 31 of the splendid sampler blocks. I have done some later ones but this one is taking me forever....
Not to worry. It's getting done slowly...

The rosettes are done

My layout

Now I'm off to finish the night sewing the rosettes together.


So it's a good day to link up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching...
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/slow-sunday-stitching_28.html

Some craft is still happening

All be it slowly but it is happening....
While everything has been boxed up I have managed to finish a crochet blanket with lots of scraps used up. The pattern was shown and given to me by a friend. Thanks Lyn. I love this pattern and it is so easy once you get going. I need the instructions to get started again but I think this will be my blanket to go to when I have left over yarns....

A great use of scraps

A nice size blanket

I have slowly been working on one of the splendid sampler blocks. EPP hexagons. Keep in mind that these are being put onto a 6" block. They are tiny. Not my favourite stitching so it is going very slowly. I keep avoiding picking it up. Here goes. At least I have started...

My tiny HEXIES for the Splendid Sampler block

On to the knitting again

I haven't done much sewing. I started on my HEXIES Splendid Sampler block.

All prepared ready to go....

I did get started .. 3/8" hexies 

A little bit of secret sewing so here is my knitting...
Here is another back that was started by my SIL.
This is a size 25 1/2" jumper..

The back and the spare wool.

 There is not enough wool to do the main colour so I have altered it for the front. The sleeves I will do the same as the back..

The front

Family near and far.

FAMILY FAR...

On Easter Saturday it would have been my mums 75th birthday. Unfortunately this is the first of many we have to get through. We have memories.  Missing you...

This is a lovely photo of mum when I took her out to lunch for her birthday one year not too long ago

Happy birthday mum.
Photo taken February 26, 2012

FAMILY NEAR...

I just love looking at all my photos. After seeing some of our granddaughter it came to me that there was one of my husband very similar. Yes, there is a very strong family likeness.

What do you think..

Madeleine & Pa

Now for my sewing part..

1 Xmas item a month. 

I haven't joined in for some time and I only have a very small finish but it's still a finish..

Quilted Hexagon Coaster

1Xiam with Narelle

Splendid Sampler.... Block 4

I have done block 4. It was good to get back to some hand needle turn applique.

I had fun sewing this block. Put together with all scraps.

Splendid Sampler .... Block 4

I also got finished, stitching and in the post...

My HEXIES for Sharmayne at Country Fragrance.

I stitched my name, blog and town on a HEXIES for her table cloth...

http://countryfragrance.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/hexie-power-friendship.html

Tablecloth Block for Sharmayne at Country Fragrance

MARCH. FNWF

Friday was spent quilting another Aussie Hero quilt.... And I finished off the binding on Saturday.
This quilt top was made by Barbara, the flowers drawn and cut by Rhonda and I did the applique and quilted it.

Aussie Hero quilt by Barbara, Rhonda & Jo...

I had a friend staying over and I sewed a little hexagon coaster.
I am in the process of cleaning my workroom up. When I find little projects I have been keeping them handy and taking them to my sit n sew days....

Hexagon QAYG coaster

I also have made a start on my Dear Jane quilt...
My first block is an easy one... B1.
Our local quilt group is having a SAL. The plan is to do 4 blocks a month. This means we won't be finished until 2020... Wow....

B1.. Dear Jane

Go over to Cherylls and see what everyone else got up to for FNWF...
http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com.au

Basting with a friend

A good old fashioned sewing day.
I moved to Lancefield 16 years ago. My neighbour moved in a year later. We slowly got to know one another and have become very good friends. When she found out I was a patch worker and quilter we even became closer. V dragged out a bag of goodies that were passed down from her grandmother. Lots and lots of HEXIES.... Well I'm not a fan I can tell you.... BUT I did help. I showed V what steps to take to finish a beautiful quilt. They are the traditional EPP.. Of course she is also English. So over the years of travelling to and fro, England to Australia her quilt was finished.


This is a quilt that took 30 years to do by a grandmother and granddaughter.
http://jobutterfield.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/grandmas-flower-garden-hexagons-go-go.html
That was the easy project.
Then there was something quite out of the blue that stumped me.
V was not a quilter but she had a vision. Started a quilt and had no idea what she was doing.
She showed me what she had done back about 13 years ago. She had very limited fabric. It was done in Chintz... Not really available here that I know of. I hadn't really used it. To me it was for curtains... So the next best thing was to find something similar.. We live in an area with Parrots. So they were added. Well what can I say. We all have our own ideas. Sorry I didn't get any photos of those early stages...BUT we have managed to get it to quilting stage...
It was so big. I am not used to it. 240 cm x 270 cm. Where could we lay it out to piece.
That's where another quilting friend comes into it. Nikki helps out in town at a lot of community things. Even in the CFA. So she asked. YES we can use the large room at the station.
On a day of TOTAL FIRE BAN due to high temperatures, high 30s, and not so good conditions, off we go.
WWOW. WHAT A GREAT SPACE.
Well we got the quilt stitch basted ready for hand quilting.. This will take another few years for V to do.. At least she won't get bored. There were so many tables that it made the job so easy. My back doesn't think so. I am tall and the 3 hours of leaning over doesn't help. But it is done now....
What do you think. Enough of babble and look at the photos...

The orange lifts the design and will be used as the binding too

It is covering 6 tables

 

All these pieces were done using the EPP method and hand drawn.

Look at those parrots. Just like on the bird feeders.

It is designed to go over the pillows and sit at the end of the bed.
 Hang down the sides to cover the mattress 

It is wider than longer but oh so lovely...

NOW THE HAND QUILTING WILL BEGIN... 

After we got it basted, got home and unpacked the sirens went off. There is a large fire burning in the nearby Forrest. About 20 kms away... So far 36 trucks attended in the first 2 hours.. Hope all is under control soon.

THANKYOU NIKKI and the CFA. You do a great job...

FNSI

Go sign up and join in with Wendy and all other like minded sewers. On Friday night grab your sewing and a drink and have some fun.

http://sugarlane-designs.com/2016/01/yep-sign-time-fnsi.html

My friends and I this week

It is so good to have a group of friends that are always there for each other. That's what my Monday group is. We have all been through so much and especially very recently.

4 deaths, parents hospitalised and operations happening to just name a few. There have been many things but we get together each week for some tears, fun, laughter, stories and of course, some sewing. Thank you to my friends for their wonderful support......

Here we are hard at work.

Here is Rhonda hard at work machine quilting this scrap crazy quilt.
It is for a Xmas present.
 But it needs to be finished this week as she is going in for an operation on Friday.
 I dropped in to see her and the binding is nearly all sewn on..

Look at the mess. I have convinced my friends at this group to bring in their scraps. No matter how small and ugly. So every week they add to this bag. They have helped me make many quilts out of it. At first they thought I was crazy but now they have even made quilts themselves at home. They cannot believe what can be done out of what we would normally throw away. PROGRESS.

Look at all these scraps.

Barb finishing a binding on her Pirate quilt for a Xmas present

Joy working away, cutting and sewing together scraps..

 These will be put into an AUSSIE HERO QUILT

Joy battling with crumbs & scraps...

I have a really good friend that has moved interstate. She was working on a grandmas flower garden hexagon quilt... http://jobutterfield.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/goodnight-irene-flimsy.html.
Well, these were some of the left over hexagons.
The clever ladies from my Monday group designed this up out of the pieces. A member that was has moved away is working on it. She has been quilting it and is nearly finished...

Di's hexagons and Jill's design, applique and quilting.

Jill quilting away

 And then there is the BUBBLE TREE. Remember I started this last year for RSC... Well I didn't get too much done and our group wanted to make a wall hanging for the church we meet in.
So others have been working on it too and now the binding is being stitched.
Isn't it looking great.... Well done girls...

Church of Christ BUBBLE TREE 

And don't forget to sign up with Wendy for FNSI
http://sugarlane-designs.com/2015/11/november-friday-night-sew-sign-ups.html

my day at NOTY

Today I went to the NOTY group & I joined as member. I hope to get there once a month due to the drive, even though they meet every week. It takes about 1 1/2 hours for me to get there but it's a great day out. The ladies are so friendly and welcoming.
I have even booked in for my first class next month. How exciting.....
Thanks Kris for taking me.
It was also great that I met a few people I have crossed paths with.
Rosalie from Kilmore quilters. Can't ever remember meeting her but it was great to talk today. I know she follows my blog.. (thanks Liz).
Carmen, I met at the Phillip Island retreat in the same workshop as me.
June, who was at a retreat last year in my home town.
Jackie, who I have emailed a few times. Can't wait for the school holidays to have a real chat.
Lastly, I caught up with Anita. Can't wait for my first class.
Sorry if I missed anyone. It is very hard to remember names, especially for the first time. It was great meeting you all.
Anyway, I took some hand sewing... Hexies. Mmmmm but what will I be doing with them. you will all have to wait and see.

I had a busy day yesterday doing my homework for my next QUILT AS YOU GO class.
We had to complete all the blocks we required. For me I need a total of 32 blocks. 4x8 blocks.
It is a strange size but I will be making this for an AUSSIE HERO quilt.
To get the length I am putting a strip across the centre.
Guess who it is be made for..  Hi request was green..... I know I have put in florals but I have used up a lot of scraps.... It is still a quilt to be used.

My blocks, borders and batting are all ready to go. The best part is I'm not doing it at the last minute. Plenty of time to spare. Class date is the 24th June...

I am linking this post with

http://www.freshlypieced.com/2015/06/wip-wednesday-dyi-ing.html

http://myquiltinfatuation.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/ntt-oops-and-two-june-giveaways.html

http://sarahdidit.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/help-for-hexie-aholics-61715.html

A busy weekend sewing

FRIDAY NIGHT...

 FNSI kept me busy with me piecing my 1/2 square triangles together. Mari from http://academicquilter.blogspot.com.au had too many half square triangles so gave them away. Yep, they came to me... This is the pattern I chose and will be making it into a folder cover...

After the piecing was done I went on with machine quilting a friends quilt. I made good progress before getting too tired. This is a basket weave design so I quilted straight lines in the same direction as the weave.
Look at what the WENDY and the others who joined in have done..
http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/fnsi-sign-ups.html

SCRAP HAPPY SATURDAY....

I am still working out what to make this year for the RSC15 with ANGELA but I am leaning towards this...... An uneven log cabin block. When 4 are sewn together the centre creates a circle. Or is supposed too. The maths was doing my head in. I haven't got it quite right but it will work. This block measures 11" so once the 4 blocks are together it will be 21" finished.

With all 12 blocks done it will be a nice size... I am linking up with ANGELA and lots of others too.
http://superscrappy.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/scraphappy-saturday-still-chipping-away.html




SLOW SUNDAY STITCHING...
I am linking up with Kathy at http://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca today.

 I have spent today quietly finishing another Hexie for Heathcote Quilters ...

Then moving on to a XMAS block. It is 12" square, made with a 1/4" bias and woven in a Celtic style. I'm not sure if it will be a wall hanging, cushion or a table centre. There is still plenty of time to work that out.