All my blocks in their rows!

I feel I have had a pretty productive day today.  First up I worked on Belvedere here.  He is a mascot for one of the units in Afghanistan and they have asked me for an A3 sized quilt.  How much fun is that!  They sent me a picture and I traced off his markings and I am hoping once I have done some stitching it will stand out a little better.  We will see.

 And tonight I finally finished the last rows of the bright and cheery boy quilt!  Just have to sew the rows together and find the right fabric for the borders.  I can't put a very big border on so I will have to think about it for a bit.  I have a couple of ideas!

I definitely have to do another one of these but not yet - I am trying to demonstrate some discipline and finish a few off first.

Here is my list:

Bind a quilt that a girlfriend left with me 18 months ago and is coming to collect it on  Friday.  I was going to leave her to bind it but I know I can finish it for her a lot quicker than she can do it herself as she has three kids to deal with and lots of other commitments.

Next job - quilt and bind the 1930's baby quilt

Quilt and bind the bright boy quilt and the Aussie Animal Star quilt

and then I have to get back to finishing the Quilt for Ireland.   

And in there somewhere I have to make two polar fleece tops for my little niece.  

PLEASE, if you see me starting something not on the above list PLEASE YELL AT ME!

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

Rows 4 and 5 and a little bit extra

Managed to add rows four and five to this today and I have decided that I am really enjoying the bright yellow and red.  It can't help but put you into a good mood I think!  Only two rows to go, hopefully tomorrow.

Do you like this block?  Over on Aussie Heroes I have a block of the month and so far we have had a nine patch, a pin wheel and a wonky cross - very simple blocks but some of the Friends of Aussie Heroes are novice quilters.  This month though we have a block that is a little more than a nine patch and I like it so much I thought I would share it with you.  It is called Hot Cross Nine Patch.  Unfortunately I can't take the credit for it - it was dreamed up by Sophie over at Sophie Junction.  She kindly gave us permission to use the block as our BOM on Aussie Heroes but I am sure she won't mind me directing you to her blog from Cherry Red as well as I think this block is so simple but effective.

And just before I go - a little before and 

 After Shot - yep, Snickers had a haircut.  She was so funny when we got to the groomers.  No one was at the counter out the front and she stood and looked at the door which the dogs go through to be groomed and started whimpering - with excitement - and when the owners came out she went nuts - wagging her tail all over the place.  

Oh my goodness - what a Diva!

Yep, she loves her haircuts!  More than I knew!

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

Nearly 500!!!

I think it is time for another giveaway so I am gathering to goodies and getting ready.  When I write my 500th post  I will have another give away!  Standby to receive!

I had a few moments to spare this morning so I managed to sew the top and bottom borders onto the Aussie Animal quilt top.    It is so nice to see it finished!  Well the quilt top at least!

Wow!   The motley effect of the border fabric really stands out in the photo - it is much more subtle in the "flesh"!

AND I also managed to get Row 2 of my boy's quilt for the Women's Refuge.  

And Row 3!  I am really liking this sashing and corner stones.  I have only ever done one quilt like this before and I don't remember liking it this much - as my hubby would say (when speaking to one of the boys) I must be growing up!  Almost half way there.  Four rows to go and then the border.  No idea what that will be but plenty of time to decide and lots of fabric to choose from. 

Someone please remind me that I need to get back to the quilt for the Irish Charity Bazaar after this one!

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

Row 1

 I spent this morning working hard on a special request quilt top and back for Aussie Heroes and then I had to go out and run some errands.  By the time I got home it was time to get dinner ready.  After dinner I wanted something easy to sew so I sat down and started working on this new quilt.  This is for the Women's Refuge that the Gumnuts are going to give quilts to this year.  

I have almost finished the quilt top for a girl and now I am determined to do a top for a boy.  I had all these 6 1/2" squares cut out and stashed away and I got them out the other day and picked out seventy to do a quick quilt.  

The plan was  seven across and ten down - but that was before I decided to add cornerstones and sashing!  Hmmm.  We are aiming for about 42inches by about 60 for a lap quilt.  I think I am going to be unpicking the last two blocks on this row.  

That is okay! It means I will have more squares for another quilt!

I haven't put a quilt together using this method before.  I had to search out a tutorial on adding sashing for someone who was putting some blocks together for Aussie Heroes and I found this one and I really like it - it seems pretty fool proof to me.  I might have to do more quilts this way.

I think I might be working on this again tomorrow night.

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