Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Finish!

When sorting through my stash the other day, I came across some half finished items I had forgotten I had even started ......... way back in 2011 .......... ooops!

Here are some hot pads that I got to finish up - not much effort needed to finish,
just a final outer seam, and trim off stray threads ;-)
one has a new home to go to, and the other is in the 'Pressie Basket'.

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

An afternoon with friends and FNSI results

Well I had such a lovely day yesterday ;-)

I caught up with two wonderful friends - Mandy & Cynthia - we had a lovely time at Garden Grove, wandering around looking at the plants - then we had cake and coffee at the new Cafe - I can tell you it was good, and we were talking so much I forgot to take a photo of us all!

But I did get some shots of some pretty things I wouldn't mind in my garden ............ maybe one day  :)





Now for my FNSI results

I have finished the sashing and cornerstones for the HST BOM and
have rummaged through my stash to find a suitable border
I an thinking a thin border of either of these solids - can't quite make up my mind,
then say an outer border of black - maybe 4" or 6"


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Friday, January 25, 2013

January swap blocks - sent and received

Several of my swap partners have received their blocks now, so here is a rundown of what I have sent and received during January ;-)


First up my Christmas Block Swaps
to Carolyn
from Carolyn  

from MichellK
to MichellK

to SueB 
from SueB 

QBSA
to Karen

Block Swap Adventure
to Ann (still in transit)

from Ann



Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Support your LQS day

is today, 24th January, see HERE, but it was way too hot for me to go out - another scorcher 38C  - that's 100.4 F in the old money ;-)

I went out yesterday to my LQS (Spotlight) and spent up big - so I will happily count that as supporting my LQS

First up, I found a solid to go with my Martinique charm squares - I have two charm squares and am looking at making a quilt for our bedroom.  I haven't decided what pattern yet, or even the rest of the fabrics, but it is a start!

Then a selection of rainbow tone on tones just happened to follow me home.
The two top ones - grey and black - are earmarked for bindings ;-)

Then I got myself some Sarah Fielke - I have seen this about the blogs, and when I saw it in person, I fell in love with it.  Not too sure what I am going to do with it just yet, but I am working on a plan ;-)



Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Thank Goodness for zip lock bags ;-)

My FQ swap package arrived in the mail today - thank you to Claire for such a beautiful selection of fabrics.

There was an extra special package included as well, some beautiful Lindt chocolate balls - my favourite treat - unfortunately, they were not balls any more :(

the chocolate had melted!  
I am not surprised given that it would have been travelling in the postal system during some our hottest weather on record.  
Claire was very wise to place the choccies in a separate zip lock bag, otherwise, those lovely fat quarters would have been ruined :(

this is what I sent to Claire

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

More January Sewing

Mr Fixit returned to work this week and I have enjoyed some time to myself .......... even if it was way too hot to do anything really strenuous!

I managed to get some sorting of my collection of FQs - all in colour order ;-)



then I started on some of my scraps 

here is everything back in the cupboard 

baskets for scraps 

I completed some more sewing  ........... here are a few tease photos for my January partners

These blocks will be in the mail to their respective partners on Monday
..... you will have to wait and see who gets what ;-)

Now, for some angel sewing on the weekend ;-)


Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Friday, January 18, 2013

2012 In Review - back to school I go!

2012 has been a busy year for swaps for me.

08-12 for Diane
In February 2012, I took over the running of the Christmas Block Swap Group.  The co-ordinating of this swap group has taken up a bit more of my time than I initially anticipated, with the occasional frustrating moment thrown in, but I have settled into a nice routine now.

Jessica

I am also the founder and co-ordinator of the Fat Quarter Swap Group - an Australian only group which swaps 2 Fat Quarters with a new person each month - we celebrated our 1st Birthday in 2012 and we currently have 20 swappers.

Being a Swap Co-Ordinator has enabled me to make some lovely bloggy friends ;-)  and I look forward to another year of swapping.

My year with Quilt Block Swap Australia and Block Swap Adventure has been fun, with a change in preferences for me for 2013 as I now have enough Black and White and Red blocks.  These blocks are now on my UFO list with the aim of finishing a quilt during 2013.

BlackWhiteRed-BSA-QBSA-W
this is not all of the Black and White and Red blocks - just a photo taken in August last year.

I believe I have been lucky in that I have only had two 'one-sided swaps' for the year ........ but that has been beautifully balanced out by a few generous swappers who have sent two blocks ......... so I guess all is good in the swap universe ;-)

Just going through my list to make sure I have blogged about all the blocks I have sent and received, I noticed I had not blogged a full photo of the block I sent to Janeene for November QBSA swap.

12-11 for Janeene
This block has been sent to Janeene, but unfortunately, I haven't heard if it has arrived and I haven't received a block in return  :(

CraftMad Family Quilt
Our CraftMad Family Quilt is now almost ready to be put together - just have to decide on sashing and cornerstones - we are in discussions what to swap for 2013 ;-)

I am looking forward to 2013 with my swaps and also look forward to returning to study in February - I have been accepted by TAFE to study Certificate II Printing and Graphic Arts (Desktop Publishing).   I just really hope this old dog can learn a few new tricks and that my brain is able to absorb some new information.

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Christmas blocks galore!

I love it when the cricket is on!

Mr Fixit has been in Fixit Mode and is merrily repairing, sanding and painting walls ...... which leaves me free to spend time sewing ........ or do whatever I feel like ;-)

So in between loads of washing, I have been sewing up some Christmas Blocks for Christmas Block Swap.

Starflower1

Pinwheel #7

Starflower2
I won't reveal who gets which block ;-)  ..... I will just put them in the post on Monday.

Next to tackle my blocks for Block Swap Adventure and Quilting Block Swap Australia Swaps - fabrics have been washed and are now ready to cut  ;-)

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

HST BOM - Almost there!

I just love it when the cricket is on the TV ;-)

Mr Fixit was busy sanding and painting, ready for the new TV to go on the wall, so I could spend my time sewing.

I was a bit tired of seeing Christmas Fabrics (see my post HERE) so I decided to pull out my HST BOM and finish it off ;-)

Fabric is Sassy, by Sandy Gervais, Background is Aqua??, by Prima from Spotlight ??

HST BOM - Block #9 - September
Block # 9 - September

HST BOM - Block #10 - October
Block #10 - October

HST BOM - Block #11 - November
Block #11 - November

HST BOM - Block #12 - December
Block #12 - December

HST BOM - Blocks 01-12
All of the blocks finished - now ready for sashing and corner stones - stay tuned!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.