SAS choppy seas and Jack Sparrow has visited again. Poor Dory

 I am slowly moving along with my Storm at Sea quilt. All my pieces for the next row are laid out.

Do you see Dory swimming around. Well she got a bit confused. The seas must have been a bit too choppy and she got knocked about. 

Swimming upside down.

So I had to have Jack Sparrow visit me. He got it sorted for me.

Dory is back to normal now so I could move on to the next blocks.

Can you see the stars across the top and the beginning of the first right star at night.

What do you think of the navy border that is being created. Once the blocks/rows are sewn together my borders are already done.

The rest of the row is laid out ready for the next sewing day. It looks a bit of a mess but I’m getting there. I’m also loving these project boards. They have made it so much easier to keep my pieces in place until they are sewn.

Lovely message for my gift

 I made a special gift for a special friend. We have known each other for many years as he is a friend of my daughters from school. There is also another special meaning for our friendship too. Anyway, his wife is expecting a little girl. When we were in Melbourne last we called in to have lunch but the cafe was not open due to staff shortages 

https://www.topoftherange.net/

but he was there doing other work. We knocked on the door and we went in for coffee. Gave him his gift, which he opened and loved. 

Luke’s message was….. “ Great to see you both. Thank you so much for the presses! Xx

He got home and gave it to his wife and the message we received was super special.

“Just got home, …… started crying! She loved the presses. She said to say a big thank you ☺️! X”

Thanks Luke, we will always love and remember you.

You can’t ask for more than that…..

This was their gift…….

If anyone is in the area of Mount Macedon and wants a beautiful spot to grab a coffee, have a great view and enjoy the beautiful fresh air go to Top of the Mount Cafe. It is a very special place to me.

https://www.topoftherange.net/

But please phone first as staff is very hard to get and sometimes is closed. Covid has hit hard so support the smaller businesses. His jam is divine. It is amazing to see the view and environment and the food is delicious. 

If you know someone who needs a job please drop in to see Luke. 

Can’t wait for the baby to be born….

Another SAS block is done… and the next one prepared.

 Ok. I have been working on my next SAS block. I had made the little ship block a while back but needed to make it up to a 12” block. I have had it laid out ready to sew. Started piecing. This first part took longer than expected. I had skipped stitches, loose threads and other issues. I rewound my bobbin, changed thread, changed needle and tried again. It seemed to be better now.

So I continued on and completed the block.

But there were rocky seas with the piece next to the ships sail. It didn’t look right. So I spent half hour with jack sparrow

Then another half hour restitching to get to this. I think it looks much better. You can now see the ship and sail much better. 

How fun is Limo swimming around. Here the blocks are together. Now to get the last sailing ship ready in its 12” block.

I have laid out the last ship block ready to sew.

A cute baby quilt and bunny buddy

 Ok. So I made this quilt a few months ago knowing a friend was having a baby girl.

This cute quilt measures 36”*48” and used up a few leftovers. 

But to go with it I knitted a very cute snuggly bunny. I used the same soft rainbow colour chenille wool. They match beautifully. This one has a bit more pink in it and it is perfect for a little girl.

I have also made a couple more in a different colour. These will be ok if the sex is unknown.

Here are the three of them together.

I’m ready for the SAS SAL weekend with my quilt group.

 I am using my 20” project board for my next Storm at Sea block.

I had previously made the small sailing ship block. This needed to be built up to the 12” that fits into my quilt. So I spent about 1 1/2 hours laying out all the pieces. Then I discovered that I had missed cutting out one of the colours and shapes required. My medium blues in the shape of B & B reverse. I need 11 of each for the quilt. I hadn’t even counted these pieces. 

So I sat and cut around another colour so I had them ready.

Laid out my block. All ready to sew.

Do you like Nemo showing up. I have added a few fun, fussy cut pieces. Hope they all work out as a whole quilt. It is very busy but it should be ok.

Pottering around with project boards

 Our group had a workshop to make these project boards months ago. I bought the corrugated board and have had it sitting there as I didn’t make it to the workshop.

Well I have made not 1 but 3 project boards. Here are the steps of how I did them.

I went to office works and bout a sheet of board for about $10.

Once I decided on the sizes I wanted I just cut it up with my rotary. I knew I needed one for my Storm at Sea blocks. When I had all the pieces laid out on my table, when making my ship blocks, I turned on the ceiling fan and pieces went everywhere. This is how I decided on the first size. Now to make a 12” block with lots of pieces you need a larger board. This cut was made first. I just measured the width of the board and cut the first square. 20”. Then with the left overs I got an 11” square and a 9” * 11” piece.

Next I got out my scrap wadding and a light spray of glue to stick them together.

Trim them to size.

Went and got out my scrap bindings left over from other projects.

Now, measure and find a length suitable or join some together to get the required length.

Off to the ironing board and iron the edges into the centre like a bought bias binding.

I found it easier to put around the edges little dobs of basting glue. It dries fast, you don’t use much and if you make a mistake you can take it off. Dob the glue and press the binding around the sides of the boards.

You don’t need much of this glue.it is usually used for appliqué.

Once all around the edges I was told to use a hot glue gun to glue the rest down. I have never had any luck when using hot glue guns. I find the glue is nearly dry before I even get the fabric onto it. 

Then everything falls apart. So scrap that idea.

I use white craft glue, school glue or pva. It works for me. Put it all the way around the edges and fold fabric over to stick to the board. I found it was best to put the glue close to the edge of the binding fabric. It holds better.

I used binding clips, clover clips, whatever you know them as, to hold it in place. Repeat on the other side.

Once you have got all the way around remove all the clips, put a cutting ruler or something flat and bigger than the boards top of it. Put heavy boxes or weights on top until completed dry.

I now have 3 great versatile boards to use.

SAS - Another 12” Sailing Ship done.

 Wow. These blocks take hours to do. I am lucky this is the last of them. It was also the hardest.

I have most of the ship made and am now trying to fit the areas around it to make up to a 12” block.

I am trying to incorporate some SAS pieces to blend in with the other blocks. 

This, so far, has taken me 2 hours.

Another 1 1/2 - 2 hours saw me finish the block. What was I thinking when I drew this up. 

And here the 4 ships are together. Next on the to do list will be to make the smaller blocks up to a 12” block. So that means the outside sashing borders can go on.

I am happy how these are looking.

I am on track for our first sewing weekend in Feb to sew as a group.

SAS . My blocks have sailed.

 Okay, so our official sit n sew day for my Storm at Sea quilt SAL isn’t until February. You know what it’s like when it is all cut out and you just want to sew. I have been playing with my block of a ship. I’m glad I did it at home because it took me hours. I think these harder blocks need a lot of concentration.

Anyway, this is the block I wanted to start on. It’s the 9” one.

It took about an hour to find all the pieces and lay them out ready for sewing.

It is looking a bit of a mess.

Well the ships mast is done and some of the boat part too. This was about another hours work. I’m not sure how the overall quilt will look but I will give it a go.

Well, obviously I am getting tired as this isn’t quite right. Oopsie 

Jack has been used many times while making this block but wow it’s looking good. I am happy. I can see the boat. There are a few eye spy blocks too to keep the kids amused. 

This is the last Saturday for https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/01/scraphappy-saturday-wrapping-up-blue.html

I have sent off another Aussie Hero Quilt

 You may all remember this quilt I made a while back.

I watch the email every Monday until I find someone requesting what I have already made. Finally I was lucky enough to have someone request RED, WHITE & BLUE.

There have been so many months where the requests have been so hard. They either request so many things or so many hard things to interpret. It gets very overwhelming. I have kept this one simple. This person requested more but we are doing this as a charity so I’m not going to stress.

This is what I have made& sent.

The front

The back

Or which ever way you want to use it.

This recipient loves the Western Bulldogs. AFL

Christmas mini slow stitching

 I have gone back to some slow stitching on my Xmas mini.

Slow Stitching Sunday

Its hanging sleeve is getting sewn then binding time.

The coat hanger was cut down to use.

It looks a bit wonky in the photo but it really isn’t that bad. The hanger has made it look a bit funny.

I just need to finish the stockings now.