More block swaps completed ;-)

I was able to get some more sewing done this last few days - the cricket was on the TV, so I was left to my own devices ;-)   I think I'm gonna love this summer

I managed to complete:

• the sewing swap for Craft Mad - Merry, your tags will be posted tomorrow.

• the block for Cecelia - Block Swap partner for November

Cecelia, your block will be in the mail tomorrow.

• the block for Linda - Christmas partner for December

Linda, your block will be in the mail tomorrow.

Linnea, your October block is almost completed and will be in the mail this week too.

Another Sewing Swap completed **smiley face**

Over at CraftMad we had a sewing swap in September for luggage tags - I am so very late with this swap and Merry is my very patient swap partner.

I previously posted HERE about what I had made, but I was so disappointed with my end result, I started fresh.

I am happier with my second attempt (which is really my third attempt, but we won't go there)

This weekend I will be finishing off my Quilt Block Swaps for Linnea (October) and Cecelia (November) for Quilt Block Swap - they will be in the mail on Monday, along with Merry's Tags.

Stray Stitches giveaway

There is a wonderful giveaway HERE

The good person in me wants to let you all know about it so that you can all have a chance at winning
The bad person in me wants to keep this information all to myself - I LOVE that fabric ;-)

November Block arrived in NZ

Alethea has just confirmed that my block has arrived safely in NZ

Alethea requested a block of squares in blue/white/cream
I made up a block of Squares & Oblongs from HERE

thank you Alethea for letting me know the block has arrived safely and that my block is on it's way ;-)

October Swap Block received

I got a lovely surprise in the letterbox this afternoon - a block from Linnea, my October swap partner for Quilt Block Swap

I had not heard from Linnea in quite a while and had believed she had withdrawn from the swap.

So, receiving this block was a very pleasant surprise.

here is a close up of the beautiful material (better colours in the second photo too ;-) )

Thank you Linnea, I love the material you have chosen, and the pinwheel block is a favourite of mine ;-)

Your block will be on its way to you shortly ;-)

Friday Night Sew In - for real this time ;-)

Well, I finally got to participate in the FNSI - for real!!

I had several things I wanted to complete - but only actually completed one sewing item.  ;-(

unfortunately, I can only show a snippet of it, as it is for a swap over on CraftMad.  This swap is way overdue for me - I had the material cut out for quite a while, but could not actually get to sewing it up, mostly because I was unsure if it would actually work.  It is my own design, but my measurements & cutting were way off and it has not come together as I would hope.  Unfortunately, some of the links provided in the swap information did not work for me ;-(   but I have since been able to get back to one of the links and will use that info for the second luggage tag.  So hang in there, Merry, I haven't forgotten you ;-)

But I did get to spend some time in my sewing room and sort out my cupboard of fabrics and separated them into 'washed' and 'not washed'

My stash of larger cuts of unwashed fabric

My unwashed fat quarter fabrics

My Washed fabrics - ready to grab and start sewing!

Christmas Fabrics

How do you store your fabrics?

When does a piece of material go from being useful to being a scrap?

I have seen several blogs where they cut their scraps into squares or strips and set aside for a scrappy quilt - I am thinking of cutting my narrow scraps into 1 1/2" strips for future strip quilts or log cabin quilt ;-)

Above is a selection of fabrics I am thinking of using for a Black/White/Red log cabin quilt or for the Layer Cake Quilt Along.  The QA has only just started and is two blocks in ;-)

September block from Vicky

I got another wonderful surprise in the letterbox today. This lovely block from my September swap partner Vicky, for http://quiltblockswap.blogspot.com/ . Vicky has recently moved and has been busily packing and unpacking. I am pleased she was able to take some time and get some creative therapy going ;-)

I also have had some other goodies delivered for the craft room and am hoping to get some stamping done real soon.  See my other blog HERE

A Thank You Gift from Alex

The letterbox had an unexpected package inside yesterday ;-)

The lovely Alex sent this gorgeous fabric as a Thank You for the heart block I made for her quilt.

Thank You so much Alex, your thoughtfullness is greatly appreciated.

P.S.  I love the card you included too ;-)

More sewing done **smiley face**

I finished my November Australia Quilt Block swap this morning for Alethea in NZ.

Alethea asked for square blocks in cream, white lace blue/white.  I hope that lace blue is a very light, soft blue ;-)

here is a snippet

Alethea, your block will be in the mail on Monday.

I only have one more block swap to do for this month - one for Quilt block swap for Cecelia.  I have washed my fabrics, now to start cutting ;-)

Aussie Quilt Block Swaps - November blocks & other stuff

it was FNSI last night, but I didn't get to sew :-(
EDITED:  oops, got the wrong date ... next FNSI is 19th November

so I got up early and did a SMSI (saturday morning sew in)

I finally finished my November Christmas Block swap for Mary in Canada - here is just a snippet. 

Mary, your block will be in the mail on Monday.

On Friday, the postman delivered this lovely block from Linda (my October partner)  Linda's first block never arrived, so Linda very graciously made me another one - thank you so much Linda, I love the richness of the colours you have chosen.

I would like to thank Crafty Pug too ;-)  for the lovely patch of material she sent to me as a thank you for participating in Alex's quilt. 

I think that fabric is beautiful.  I am intending to make up a pin cushion with it so that every time I use it, I can think of our swap group.

Now to get to some more sewing ;-)

Another Christmas Quilt Block to add to my collection

Yesterday, the postman delivered this lovely block from Mary in Canada for the November Christmas Block Swap.

I got an email from Mary saying she was glad it arrived safely, but for some reason my spam blocker blocked the email, and I could only see the first line of text ....... I hope it did not cut off anything important Mary wanted to say ;-(

It is lovely, I love the way Mary has fussy cut the tree in the centre - the fabric has a beautiful feel to it ;-)


I have started cutting Mary's block and hopefully, it will be on it's way to Canada very shortly.

My First Paper Pieced block

I wanted to try a paper pieced block - I was so impressed with the block Mary from Canada sent me, I just had to give it a try.

Mary very kindly pointed me to this link and here is what I produced ;-)

I have impressed myself  LOL  -  I used up some scraps half expecting it not to turn out, but now I think I will get some more of that purple to make an outer border to bring the block up to a 12" inch block.

I am now trying to imagine what combination I can use with my christmas fabric ;-)

Not the Craft Fair, but better ;-)

I decided not to go the Craft Fair yesterday - I couldn't stand the thought of the crowds and all those prams and wheelie carts.

But I went on a crafty shopping trip anyway ;-)

I went for a drive to the new Gepps Cross Spotlight - let me say, I love my little Clovercrest, the staff are just great, but the Gepps Cross store is about 4 times the size!  It is so well laid out and organised and so VERY neat and tidy and the staff are GREAT too!

I got some great fabric and bits and pieces

I picked up a colour guide - hopefully, it will help me in picking my fabrics

great aussie sunburnt country browns & golds

navy & white and grey & white

fat quarter bundle - I don't normally like greens, but I am quite taken with this combination.

I'ts Pink Friday

It's Friday again ........... where did that week go?

that means over on http://daisyquilts.blogspot.com/ it is Pink Friday

I have made up a collage of pink things I have made - I think pink may be my go to colour ;-)

pop over to Daisy Quilts and see other pink pages

Quilt & Craft Fair - Adelaide

I will be going to the Quilt & Craft Fair in Adelaide tomorrow.

I even have some 'spending money' leftover from my birthday and have been making a 'wish list'

Anyone else going?? 

October Swap – block for Melody

EDITED: This was scheduled to post over the weekend when I was away - ARGHHHH - I did it wrong ;-(


My October swap partner for Aussie Quilt Block Swap  was Melody.
I have received the most beautifully designed and hand appliquéd block from her.

Melody requested an owl block (either appliqué or embroidered) or any block made with owl material. I did not have any owl material, so I set about making my first appliqué block.

A google search for ‘owl quilt block’ images resulted in all sorts of pics for inspiration. They all seemed to have the same features – oval body, big round eyes, soft triangle for nose, and teardrop wings. I found a fairly simple picture and used that as a basis for my block – I know I have seen the picture before on someone’s blog, but I can’t remember where – if you know, please let me know and I will give the original source credit. EDITED: Owl inspiration came from http://quiltedhugsandothernonsense.blogspot.com/

I knew exactly which material I wanted to use for the wings, and built the rest of the block around them ;-)

I can’t hand sew for quids, so I decided to use Buttonhole stitch on Sadie. I wasn’t very happy with the stitching towards the end around the feet – it seemed to forget where it was when doing the stitches. Me thinks 30 year old Sadie is in dire need of a service (or replacement).

I wasn’t going to send the block at first, but I sent a photo to Melody, who was very gracious in saying my block was ‘cute’ and to send it anyway ;-) Thank you Melody! I do hope you like the ‘rustic charm’ of my block. I think I will really have to experiment with some hand appliqué very soon.

So here it is – my ‘cute, rustic’ owl block.

I must confess, this month's swap was very challenging for me - but having said that, I did enjoy it. 

I joined a swap group specifically to learn new things and I am certainly doing that, and meeting some VERY nice people along the way ;-)