Queensland sewing

Tried to think of a good name for this post but am too tired to come up with anything funnier.  We (four of my quilt group buddies and I) worked really hard today!  We got together to answer a call from Corrie to make some blocks, or quilts to send to Queensland.  Lots of sewing, pinning, ironing, trimming and laughing later these are the result -

 This one is going to have some more red added to each side and then red binding and backing.  I should have taken a close up as this does not show the fabrics off to advantage.

We actually did two of these.  Both will have green borders and then a band of strips top and bottom to make them longer and and finally red binding and blue backing.  These are really busy quilts but as a kid I would have loved one of these as there are so many novelty fabrics to look - always something new to see.

Tomorrow is our normal meeting so we hope to get these three quilts completed as much as possible.  If we can get them layered from quilting that will be great!  We are having another Queensland Quilting Bee next Tuesday as well so maybe we will get another couple of quilt done then too.

Till next time
Happy stitching!

Jan-Maree

Breeding Scraps!

Did you know that in the dark, late at night, when the house is quiet, lots of naughty scraps are getting up to mischief and creating more scraps!  They must be coz surely I didn't end up with this many scraps all by myself!

 I tried several time to orient the above photo properly but maybe it is just too late at night for me.  Nevermind, at least you can see all the separate bags of colours.  Quilts in waiting all of it I guess!

Actually, what participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge has made me realise is that I have about fifteen years worth of scraps to sew with!  Oh the stories these scraps could tell!!!

This is another load of scraps and you will see the completed quilt soon but I just had to share tonight's dilemma with you!  Can you spot it?  I ran out of binding with about three inches to go - amazing!  I am sure I measured!  Well, it is a scrap quilt so I can scrap the binding - tomorrow after a good night's sleep!

Sewing tip for the night - measure your binding!

Happy stitching!

Flood Relief Auction - Popsicle the Penguin

Okay, now I have never done this before so be kind please.

It is time to find a new home for Popsicle the penguin.  He said he is very keen to go to someone who wants to help to Flood Relief Program.

This is how this auction works:

1.  Bidding will start at $10 (Australian).
2.  You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount and email address.  Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder.
3.  Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
4.  This auction is open to everyone, however $15 will be charged for International addresses.  Postage is FREE for Australian residents.
5.  The auction begins NOW and will END at midnight on Monday 24th January 2011.
6.  At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner (please make sure your bid comment includes your email address).  The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Fund and send me proof of payment via email.  Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your Penguin to you.
7.  Thankyou for participating and happy bidding!

I also have a second auction of a quilt that you might like.  Why not pop over and check it out.

Cheers

Jan-Maree

Celia's Swap Blocks and Popsicle wants a home

Hi all, look what the postman brought me yesterday.  I would have blogged about it last night if only I could have found my camera!  These are the blocks that Celia sent me as part of a swap we are doing whilst we take part in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Four blocks,  a pin cushion (with the yellow centre) and some gorgeous variegated threads!  Aren't I spoilt.  We are going to exchange blocks each month throughout the year of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I decided that I would like any 5 inch blocks at all and I think I will use mine as the centres of some star blocks.  I haven't quite decided yet. 

Celia asked for 5 inch star blocks - one of my favourites to make.  And I really enjoyed making these and strange though this may sound, I have never made them this small before and I loved them.  I am going to make some more for myself.

Now onto more important matters.   This is Popsicle and I am hoping that someone will take a liking to him.  I am going to offer him up for auction in the Flood Relief Auction next week.  My only problem, what price to set bidding to start at.  Any ideas?

I would have loved to finish off my Blue Wonky Log Cabin Quilt but I can't count on having it finished in time given that it is school holidays and I have my husband home as well.  I have already re-named that quilt "Queensland Blue" in my mind and will use it to raise funds for Queensland - just haven't worked out the finer details - may be a raffle quilt at my sons' school. 

But for now I need to decide a price for Popsicle and I would welcome any suggestions please.

Happy stitching

Jan-Maree

Another way to help

  No time to post any sewing progress tonight but I just found this from the Gum Tree Designers and wanted to pass it on in my own small way. What is going on in Queensland is just mind blowing and heart breaking.  I think their idea of putting a starting over kit together for crafters in the devastated areas is a wonderful one and I am going to try and organise my quilt group into making some of these kits.

Please check it out and see if you can help.
Love and prayers to all those who are affected by these horrible floods.
Jan-Maree

A few more blocks

Like most Aussie quilters I am sure, I have been sewing in front of the TV or the radio keeping up to date with the latest news about all the floods occurring at the moment in Queensland.  It is just unbelievable.  I was so pleased to see that there is going to be a Flood Relief Appeal starting Monday with auctions on lots of blogs.  I don't have anything to auction but I will be bidding that's for sure.  If you can't contribute something to auction please get along and see what you might like to bid on. 

On a less important subject, I completed five more flower blocks from my blue scraps, that is a total of nine and I still have a few more cut out.

Next I pieced these two eight inch blocks that are destined to become pot holders - maybe on Thursday they will be finished.

And finally, these are the extra half square triangles left over from the flowers.  They are about four inches and i think they might score a blue border and then become another set of pot holders.

The only other bit of news is that I have registered for a Mug Rug Swap with the Quilting Gallery Blog - see button to the right.  That should be fun.  The first time I have done something like this so I am really looking forward to it getting underway.

Well, that is it for me - now it is bedtime.  Tomorrow is another busy day!

Still got the blues but love my 12 inches!

Am up early today.  There is no truth in the rumour that my husband was snoring (cos he said I am not allowed to post about that) so let's just say I am up early just to post this cos I didn't post last night!  Have been stitching since January first to use up my blue scrap stash and you would have thought I wouldn't have much left over!  Oh well, guess I will keep stitching till the end of the month and see what I am left with by then.  It is a fun challenge and certainly makes you think creatively!

It brings back a lot of memories too, of all those quilts, some of which I have no photos of.  It is certainly a reminder to me to make sure i record what I make!

Had a huge day yesterday.  More clutter busting in the garage before it go too humid and then off to the dentist to spend a huge amount on getting one tooth finished!    Next job pulling down the 7' Christmas tree finally and then a trip to IKEA to check out storage options for some of the rooms in the house that we are rearranging now our kids are a bit older.  After all that it it was time to sew - and time to finish off some smaller projects for a change.  First I completed four 5" star blocks to send to Celia.  We are swapping four scrap blocks to go along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge that we are taking part in.  Can't show them to you till Celia has them.  But I can show you my happy 12 inch block.

The centre of this block was completed by my Mum for me in the last few years before she passed away.  I have been waiting for inspiration to do some thing with it.  This year a couple of us decided that it would be a great idea if our quilt group did a round robin and so we are all supposed to make a 12 inch block to be our centre.  I have had all sorts of great ideas but in the end this one just seemed right and it will be nice to see what the other do with it.

Happy stitching!

Jan-Maree