Pay attention class!

Okay, so as promised here is my tutorial on how to make my up-cycled stars.  

First up cut yourself some three and a half inch squares.  You need 8 cream ones and one coloured one.  The centre one doesn't have to be a picture print but I quite like it that way.

Next you need to cut twelve 2 inch coloured squares.

Draw a diagonal line across each 2 inch square.  

Like so!

Place four of the 2 inch squares on one corner of four of the cream three and a half inch squares and stitch along the pencil line.

This is what you will end up with.

 Fold over the square to form a triangle along the stitching line and press.  Do this gently to avoid stretching the square out of shape.  I find it useful to finger press first.

 Turn the squares over and cut away the corner of the cream fabric and the underside of the coloured square leaving a quarter inch seam.  Only the top triangle and seam allowance will be left.  

 And again this is what you are left with.  Some people might keep those discarded triangles and I might too if they were bigger but when they are this small I don't bother.

 Take another 4 two inch squares and sew them on the adjacent corners of the cream squares.

 Repeat the pressing and trimming process and this is the result.

 Take two of these pieces and to each sew a cream square as per the diagram below.  With a third piece sew to the coloured middle square as below.  Press the seams towards the centre piece and the cream squares towards themselves.

 This time take the remaining piece with the corner pieces on it and stitch it to the centre piece.  Take the remaining two cream pieces and sew them to the other side of the side pieces and press.  You will end up with something that looks like this.

Take one side piece and carefully pin it to the centre piece.  Now is the time to make sure that your seams  match up nicely.  Open out and press.

 Sew the other side piece to the centre piece.  Open out and press.

 Place the remaining four squares in the corners and stitch.

 Fold, press and trim the excess.  And you are finished!!!

Now just make yourself some more.  My quilt had 28 blocks - half of them have cream backgrounds and the other half have colour where the cream is.  I hope my tutorial is clear.  Leave a comment if you are unclear about anything.

 Till next time.....happy stitching!

No more flimsy excuses!

I told you I was determined to get the borders on this quilt today and I did!  I am so glad that I decided against going with a coloured border.  I think some of the colours would have looked great but I really think the cream and black make this quilt top all about the stars and that is what I wanted.

I am actually quite enthusiastic about getting this layered and quilted.  I am now trying to decide whether I should use a coloured thread or cream.......again I am thinking cream.

I am still planning a tutorial on these stars.  Tomorrow is Gumnuts (my quilt group) during the day and then a school meeting at night so Thursday is going to be tutorial day.  

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

As promised...

Yep, as promised here is a picture of the petal pouches that I made last night.  The one on the left is holds a necklace and some ear-rings and went off in the mail today.  It is a shame that it doesn't show up in the photo but the purple and white gingham almost has a opalescent look to it.  

 I also thought I better show you that Maisy also has a pretty tough life here.  This big blue pillow actually lives on MY big leather chair and ottoman.  I bought them for me to use but the truth is that i hardly ever sit in them and enjoy them as I have to move everything off them first.  The dogs love them so I have protected the ottoman with a quilt and the chair with a quilt AND this big blue pillow to save them from scratching around with their claws when they are trying to get comfy!  Lucky they are so cute!

Quick update on Aussie Heroes.  It is keeping me pretty busy at the moment and that, coupled with the fact that I have to do an unusually large amount of teenage taxiing in the next couple of days in meaning that my Cherry Red sewing time is cut down.  Hmph!  It is only temporary.  Today I did manage to get the narrow black border cut and sewn onto the short sides of the star quilt. It is pinned to the long sides.  The cream borders have been cut and are ready to go when I have time.  I was hoping to write a tutorial for the up-cycled stars tonight as I have had a couple of inquiries but hopefully that will get done tomorrow night.

Aussie Heroes is now on Facebook and has had a couple of blog posts on other Aussie blogs, one with 500+ followers so I am expecting a few emails requiring follow up so bear with me till I get it all under control again please.

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

Oh it is a tough life for a dog in this household...

Poor Snickers!  Life is so tough!  First you have to get lifted up on to the comfy day bed and lie on your left side

 then you might as well roll over to your right side and snuggle up to the pillow

 oh and just stretch a little bit ......oh sigh....I think she can struggle through another day.

I can't show you any photos today as my camera battery is flat.  There is not all that much to show you but I will catch you up tomorrow.  I think I have decided on the borders for my Up-Cycled Stars quilt. I think I will use a narrow, maybe one inch, black border or if not black, then a dark colour.  After that I am thinking I will finish with a cream border and then a multi coloured binding.  I am determined to make a decision tomorrow and then get the borders on.

I also sewed a couple of little petal pouches tonight in purple and red fabrics.  One is a gift that will go in the mail tomorrow with some goodies in it and the other will be put away for when I need a nice little gift for someone.

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

Red, green, peach or pink............help!

I was determined that by the end of this weekend I would have my up-cycled stars quilt top put together and I have nearly done it.  I finished my last four blocks today AND I got all the stars sewn together.  I still love this quilt and I am still planning to give it away but I can always make another one.

So, now the hard decision - and annoyingly I don't think the light has resulted in the clearest pictures but now I need to decide on the border.  Which colour?  Red or green......

 Peach or hot pink gingham?

Snickers said "just pick one Mum!"

and then she gave up and left me for bed!

Hope you stick with me a bit longer - what do you think?

Another cool rainy day! Another Perfect Sewing Day!

And also a perfect day for making this - Lamb Shank and Pasta Soup.

I need a really easy appetizing a meal for Friday nights and tomorrow night is no different.  First I have to collect Guitar Hero (and his backpack, laptop, folder of workbooks and electric guitar) from school at 3pm. Head to the post office to post off a round of care packages to our Aussie soldiers - I am taking advantage of the fact that my son will be in the car and therefore volunteering to help!!!  SSHHH don't warn him!  We will get home around 430is I guess.  Then at 530 I have to take Fly Boy to his keyboard lesson - one hour's driving and 30 min sitting in car.  Back home again - arrive about 7pm and have to leave again around 745 to take Fly Boy to Youth Group.  Hubby will probably walk in around 8pm from interstate flight and he will want food too.  So, soup it is tomorrow and this is a goody!

LAMB SHANK AND PASTA SOUP

2 lean lamb shanks

1 brown onion finely chopped

2 carrots, 2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

400g can diced tomatoes

4 cups salt reduced beef stock

¾ cup small shell pasta

¼ cup basil leaves, finely shredded

Lightly spray a large saucepan with oil.  Heat over medium heat until hot.  Add lamb shanks and cook, turning, for 5 minutes.  Transfer to a plate.  Reduce heat to medium and add onion, carrot and celery.  Cook stirring for 2 – 3 mins. Add garlic and cook for 1 min.

Increase heat to medium high. Return lamb to pan.  Add tomatoes, stock and 2 cups cold water and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low and cover and cook for 1 hour and thirty mins or until lamb is cooked.  Remove lamb shanks and shred meat.  Return soup to boil.  Stir in pasta.  Cover and cook for 7-8 mins til pasta is tender.  Add lamb and basil.

Now note - I didn't add pasta to mine this time - I usually do - but I have a few cans of beans that need using up so I added borlotti beans instead.  Still yum!

And sewing?  I gave my self the day off from sewing for Aussie Heroes and concentrated on sewing my stars.  I just had a feeling that today was a good day to make some progress on the last stars that need to be sewn. I haven't managed to make them all but I have managed to finish all the mostly cream stars and pull out fabrics for all the remaining coloured stars.

I have decided that this quilt is going to someone who has been affected by the recent floods in QLD.  Tonight I heard that one town, Mitchell, had 93% of its houses go under.  How devastating for them.  That is the whole community!  Just awful!  Makes you really appreciate being dry and safe.

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

2 down and 9 to go.....

till I have made all I need for the quilt top I am hoping for.  Seven more with white backgrounds and four with coloured backgrounds.

 I thought there were going to be more completed today but I ran out of squares - agghgh!  The horror!  There was nothing for it but to cut more squares and prepare for tomorrow night's sewing!

I am being really disciplined - sewing for Aussie Heroes during the day and sewing for me at nighttime.  That way I can make headway in both areas.  Maybe I am not churning out as much for me as I used to but this is so much more satisfying!  

Till next time....happy stitching!