Woo Hoo - getting there!

Had a great day today.  An early start taking Guitar hero to catch a bus to a Uni for a special famil visit for students who are interested in being engineers.   I am so pleased.  It looks to have been a fabulous day and he has come home really motivated! and anyone with a son in Year 10 knows they need motivation!

By the time I got home Fly Boy had successfully managed to get himself out the door and to the bus - hooray!  I had about three hours to sew so I got stuck into my Rainbow Quilt and it is now a complete quilt top and the backing is almost pieced! Here is the backing all ironed and ready for me to complete tomorrow - the front is underneath.  I know you can't see much but I promise a better pic tomorrow.

 I also managed to complete the label.  I have decided this quilt is for my cousin who is recovering from meningitis.  The same cousin was wonderful driving my Mum to the centre when she had to have radiation treatment for her cancer and I always intended to make her a quilt but life got in the way.  Now is a good time to make good on that intention.

 I raced off to the LQS to drop in my Christmas Quilt and quickly choose fabric needed to finish the backing and then headed off to meet a friend for lunch.

We had such a nice meal and a good time chatting and in the end there was just enough time for me to head off to meet Guitar Hero off the bus on the return trip. 

Since dinner I have been working on Bruce's quilt.  One complete block and several under construction!

It is late but I am not ready to stop sewing yet tonight - more tomorrow.

Till next time...............happy stitching!

Bits and Pieces

Just a quick post today.  I have been quite busy but no sewing.  First up another batch of Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins for after school snacks.  Then get the kids off to school and back home for a few chores and then a bit more cutting out for Bruce's quilt.

Before going to quilt group today I collected a quilting buddy Sharon and we went to check out a gorgeous little wool shop she has been to but I have never seen.  I wanted something interesting to crochet into another poncho.  This is what I came up with.......I just love the colours.

Next it was on to quilt group.  Lots of chatting today but no sewing.  We need to get another project under way so that is my mission for the next meeting.  We are going to make a Christmas quilt as a raffle prize for the local Volunteer Fire Brigade and we are going to make it out of five inch stars like the ones I make for Celia each month.  I will make sure I have some cut and ready to sew for our next meeting!

While we were chatting I worked on my knitting - another one of those ruffle-y scarves from a different yarn called CAN CAN.  I did most of  this today.  It knits up really quickly!

Don't you love my new colourful knitting needles!  So cool and only 25cm long so perfect for this scarf!

Before going out and after coming home I managed to finish cutting all the pieces to paper piece the stars for Bruce's quilt.

Now - frustration.  I still can't find the blocks I cut out for the LQS BOM.  So annoying!

So, I have decided to change directions until I find them.  I have enough red to re-cut another red block so I will do that but I have decided to re-start my second version.  I can't re-cut Kaffe so I have decided to start a THIRD version and here are the feature fabrics.  I will be fussy cutting the birds out of the top of these fabrics and the lovely round snow flakes out of the second one and having some fun with them.

I will be teaming them with these fabrics.  I had always intended to make a hot pink and orange quilt and have been collecting the fabrics.  When I find the Kaffe block I will continue that quilt but in the mean time I will start the orange and pink one. 

That is it for me tonight.  It is time to collect Fly Boy from Air Force Cadets - something I dont normallt have to do - so I had better get going.

Till next time............happy stitching!

Not much to show but.......

Had a busy day today.  First up made Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins, followed by Banana and Walnut Muffins.  In such a hurry that forgot to take photos.  I didn't get to keep any as today was haircut day for the boys and I.  We go to a friend of mine and she and I have an arrangement - muffins or cookies for haircuts!  Last night I made Rice Bubble Cookies so a dozen of each  muffin was wrapped up and about 18 cookies and the rest were packaged to deliver to some friends and a small package for my guitar teacher! 

While the muffins cooled I spent some time in my sewing room  - more on that later  - then it was time to package up the muffins and cookies and head out to do a couple of boring errands before heading to the hair dressers.  It was 1pm by the time I left there and that gave me about an hour at home before I had to leave again for a flying visit to LQS - we will come back to that - then it was time for my guitar lesson, followed by Guitar Hero's lesson, then wait for Fly Boy to join us off the bus from school then off to the hairdresser again for their haircuts!  Finally home to get dinner.  Phew! 

Now back to LQS - I learned today that a young friend of mine is expecting baby number 1 in November  - a boy!!!  So, I get to make a baby quilt!!    Hence the trip to my LQS.  Oh Boy!  yep, that is what I bought.  The other really cute fabric is in the Quilt Group's stash so it is an option but I am undecided.  It will depend on time to a certain extent.  I am already making the rainbow quilt which I want to give to a sick friend and my quilt for Bruce in the States so I need to finish those first then I will have to see how long till the baby is born as it is important that it is ready in time.

One option is a simple two tones half square triangle quilt in which case I will use the cute pale blue with the oh boy fabric.  The other option is that I will applique either my owl picture or my  penguin picture onto blocks and sash them with oh boy!  Will have to think about it.

And now back to the time in my sewing room  - not very exciting but I have been working on the blocks for Bruce's quilt.  I am paper piecing 5 pointed star blocks.  I showed you the first one here.  I decided that it would drive me crazy not be very efficient to cut each block out one at a time so I spent some time tonight making up kits for each block so that I can just sit down and sew them  I have done the 6 football blocks and am halfway thru doing the 6 baseball blocks.  Then I can just sit and sew. 

And just before I go...

Check out this post and see if you can help.  Green fairy Quilts have recently run a Hands 2 Help program where people donated quilts which will be taken and given to Romania to give to those with very little. In the near future they are travellig there to distribute the quilts and they are also going to be getting school supplies for children in need (they start school a couple of days after they get there) as well as filling up a soup kitchen with food that feeds a lot of homeless kids, and kids in need. They are running a giveaway and you can enter this giveaway without donating, and you don't need to donate to win a prize, but they would like to raise money for their cause. So, please pop on over and check out their post and make your own decision where to donate or not.

Tomorrow is another busy day but a crafty one.  First up more muffins (will try and remember photos) and if anyone wants the recipes let me know.  After that I will have a little time to work and then I am off to collect a quilt group friend, Sharon.  We are off to a local wool shop for a little look-see.  Sharon is showing me where to go as I haven't been there before.  I want to buy some interesting wool to crochet another poncho for another friend's daughter  - I just like doing them,  they are a nice easy take along project.  Then we are off to quilt group.  After that I have my weekly "run around after Fly Boy with Fire Cadets, and Air Force Cadets mad rush" between 4pm and 630pm.  Then the night will be mine!

Oops!  Nearly forgot to show you!  Here is my niece modelling the poncho that I crocheted her - the one I forgot to photograph!

 and the sweatshirt I made her - to replace the well truly grown out of one with the long sleeves that only reach to her elbows!  these sleeves actually have to be rolled up!

Well, Till next time............happy stitching!

Where is it!!!!!

Don't you just hate it when you can't find something!  A few days ago I cut out my next two BOMs for the LQS BOM!  I know I cut out a red one and a Kaffe one - AND NOW I CAN'T FIND EITHER OF THEM.  I also can't find the pattern which isn't such a big problem coz I can get another copy but I wish I knew where the blocks are!  I was so organised cutting them out and storing them in sip lock bags and so on.  Grrrr! 

On a more pleasant note look what the postie bought me today!  These are my swap blocks from Celia.  We are both doing the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and each month we swap some block of our own - I send her four 5 inch stars and a hexagon flower and Celia sends me four 5 inch crumb blocks and a stitchery.  I always love what I receive.   I think the stitchery is really cute but I also love the little teddy and the cute little girl.

 This is what I sent Celia. 

More quilty love turned up with the postman again today.  Last week I round out that I had won a quilt from Once Upon a Quilt.  Christine had a giveaway for anyone who sponsored her SIL, who needed sponsors for the Bridge to Brisbane to raise funds for Legacy.  I was the lucky one to win her quilt and I am delighted.  It is just lovely - beautifully quilted!

 This will be it's permanent home in my living room between my grandparent's old rocking chairs.

I had hoped to get some more work done on Bruce's quilt but no such luck - tomorrow hopefully.
Till next time.........happy stitching!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - White

Start with some white scraps, cut some 2 1/2 inch squares, pair with some more scraps squares and you end up with four patch blocks.  Add in some 5 1/2 inch squares in bright colours and you end up with a rainbow hued quilt.

Seems kind of appropriate for the RAINBOW scrap challenge.    I have managed to get the first four rows sewn together tonight and I am hoping to get the next four sewn together in the next day or so.   I have to get the blocks pinned and rows numbered by end of tomorrow anyway as the floors get mopped on Tuesday and, as you can see, the bottom blocks drape on the floor - not good! 

I have a special home in mind for this quilt but I am not saying anything until I know  can get it finished in time.  I am still trying to finish Bruce's quilt and I don't want to let that slip by.  I also have a lot on this week so I will just have to see how much I can get done!  I am off to a sew in to finish off quilts to go to those affected by the Queensland Floods so my goal is to be quilting this quilt by Saturday......hmmmm.....watch this space I guess!

So, can't stop to talk - lots of sewing to do!

Till next time........happy stitching!

What did I achieve today?  Well, let's see.  I trimmed the pastel quilt we worked on on Wednesday.

 It is not a great photo but you can see the striped binding at least.  And here you can see the pretty floral backing which I hadn't shown you before.

Next I made the binding and rod pocket for my Christmas quilt and got them sewn on.  I did the hand sewing tonight while watching TV.   It was a bit of a struggle because my hand was really sore but I really wanted to get it done.  There is just one problem with this quilt.  I am not sure where I can hang in at Christmas time.  I am not sure that I have a wall big enough for it and I don't want to lie it on a sofa etc.  I will have to give it some thought!

 And the back

 And a close up of the backing so you can see what it is like - one of my favourite Christmas fabrics that I have had for ages and am glad to have finally found a use for.

 After finishing the binding a spent an hour or so on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt.  Yes, the colour is white but I teamed it with lots of random scrap squares and got this and tonight I added some squares of the bright blue to some of the four patches.  I have a companion print to the blue which will be the border so I am pick out all the colours to cut some more squares to go with the four patch blocks.  I think there will be some gold in there too somewhere.

 The end result will be something like this and then I will add borders.  I need to do some cutting tomorrow when the light is better, and when I am not so tired.

Now before I go -

You have to see this gorgeous quilt over here.  It is called "Bird of Paradise" and the detail is amazing!

Till next time......happy stitching!

Just the binding to go

I always love coming to the end of  a quilt.  Today I finished piecing the backing, layered and pinned and even managed to quilt my Christmas quilt.

I felt the quilt was busy enough so I ditch stitched around each block and the borders and left it at that.  Tonight while watching "The Green Hornet" DVD with Guitar Hero and DH I sat and sewed in all the ends.  Tomorrow I need to trim the edges, make the binding and sew it on.  I am aiming to have the quilt completed by next Wednesday.  I want to share it with my quilt group on Wednesday and then take it to the quilt shop on Thursday morning.  The teacher who ran the class I started it in will be there, but also a bunch of the lovely ladies that did the Retreat class with me.  I would like to share it with them too. 

I will take a photo of the completed quilt as soon as I get it done.  The quilting doesn't really show up as the backing is very busy and it is in the ditch on the front.

And last but not least - Christine over at Once Upon a Quilt is having a giveaway and this is one you will want to check out!  A Go Baby and three dies!  Woo Hoo!!!  Good Luck!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Till next time................happy stitching!