SIL picks the one with the dots ;-)

I gave my SIL a choice which gathered clutch purse she wanted, and she picked one of the latest ones I had made, the other SIL picked the alternate colour combination (but I wasn't quick enough to get a photo)

Block Lotto - December Trees - Part III

I got some more black fabric and made up some more Tree blocks for BlockLotto

2 @ 6.5" blocks, 2 @ 6.5" x 9.5"

2 @ 6.5" x 9.5"

that makes a total of 5 pairs

Checking my list twice ;-)

I have just been checking my list to make sure I have sent all my 2010 swap blocks as I had promised, and blogged about them ;-)

I came across this one that I had sent to Linnea, my October swap partner, for QBS

Linnea has now confirmed that she has received it, so I can show a full pic.

Linnea requested "Blues, greens, purples, love batiks but open to anything"  This jelly roll had everything - blues, greens, purples, all lifted with some white.

I was thinking about leaving QBS, as I was unfortunate enough to have two months in a row with 'no contact' partners.  Blog Mom, Cecelia, was kind enough to swap with me for November and I am eagerly awaiting her block in the mail.   Cecelia has given me some words of encouragement and is making endeavours to ensure the Group is a little more active in 2011.  I will give it another opportunity to improve in the new year.

I should clarify that my level of disappointment with the group, is a general lack of communication & participation from SOME members.  My experience has been after receiving notification of a new swap partner for the last two months, there has been no contact from either of them at all - even after several emails.  On searching the group blog, I have found that these people do not seem to have participated since some time in 2009.

Another member of the QBS group posted that 50% participation seemed normal. I don't think so!!! That is so not fair on other members - for every second block you send out, you don't get one back - not happy Jan!!!!

Please, if you are a member of a swap group and find it a bit too much to contribute - even if it is only for a short time - PLEASE, PLEASE, let the Blog Organiser know it makes life so much easier for everybody ;-)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Another quick post of some more pressies I have made

love this combination of colours - bright & cheerful

am loving using my new machine

getting better and better ;-) 
I have even figured out a way to get two purses & tissue holders out of two fat quarters

I have a new toy ;-)

Hubby said to go ahead and get the Brother BM-2600 and if it didn't suit my purposes, then we can look at something else - at $174 it was a bargain!  normal RRP $349

oooh, look at all those beautiful stitches ;-)

my first project on the new machine

the inside

lovely, even stitches

I even figured out the zip thing ;-)

so I went on to make this one too

The only negative I have come across so far, is that it has the STRANGEST zipper foot ;-)

Another pressie done ;-)

Here is another Gathered Clutch Purse made using instructions from HERE

I am really beginning to enjoy myself in the sewing room.

made using some leftover scraps from a block I made

I am beginning to get this zip thing down! 
**doin a happy dance**

I think I want to keep this one for myself ;-)

It's time to replace my Singer Futura, but what with?

We have just spent some time in Spotlight looking at sewing machines and getting nice and confused.  I want to replace my old Singer Futura with a machine that will allow me to do some freehand quilting.


I am looking for a simple basic machine - nothing too outrageous - a fancy embroidery machine is out of the question - I am thinking under $500 is preferred.


Spotlight have a special on the Brother BM-2600 RRP $349 down to $174 as a clearout - I figure it is going cheap for a reason ?? 

EDITED:  Spotlight have one set aside for me that I will pickup tomorrow.  at $174 I can't go wrong - if it doesn't suit after a year, I will look at something else.  At a minimum, it will be better than the Singer which is missing stitches on a more regular basis now and I am only left with 4 bobbins, as they are plastic and have deteriorated over the years - they are the screw together type and I have not seen them in any of the stores.

HERE is the Brother BM2600 brochure if anyone is interested. 

I am hoping my fellow block swappers can give me some suggestions ;-) 

what machines (model numbers too please ;-)) do you use?  are there some that are better for quilting?

FNSI - 17th December

I had an unexpected opportunity to participate in FNSI again

So, using the basics of the principles I learned for the Gathered Clutch Purse, I made a pencil case for my Great Niece - in glorious pink ;-)

These are my old pencils, I will buy new ones for Christmas.

I think I am getting more confident with zips, too ;-)

One very happy camper here ;-)

I am one very happy camper ;-)

After receiving some very nice comments recently about some blocks I have made, this little camper's confidence level has soared ;-)

I only started quilting in April 2010, and I am so glad I decided to 'give this quilting thing' a go.

Thank you so much to all my fellow swappers, I am beginning to really enjoy myself.

Another block has arrived safely

Cecelia, my November swap partner for QBS, has advised that the block I sent has arrived, so now I can show the whole block. 

Cecelia asked for star blocks in deep shades of red, blue and green.

I quote Cecelia "The colors are just right and the workmanship is great"  **doin' a happy dance**

thank you for your lovely words Cecelia

More sewing done ;-)

I made some travel tissue holders

Now we have matching sets ;-)

Around the world in 80 days - well, 75 days actually ;-)

My October swap partner for QBSA was Linda.  Unfortunately, Linda's first block never arrived, so Linda was very gracious and made me a new block - which I blogged about HERE.

Guess what turned up in the letterbox today? 

yup, you guessed it .... Linda's first block

Beautiful material - love top right hand corner fabric ;-)

Gathered Clutch Purse

I managed to spend some time in the sewing room again this afternoon and made up another purse - this one came together much quicker

FNSI - Part II - my first Gathered Clutch Purse

Hubby needed to use the main computer to do some stuff for work that he couldn't do on the laptop for a few hours, so I was kicked off the computer, and relegated to the sewing room - do you think I minded ????  LOL


I decided to use this prime unexpected opportunity to try something I had been meaning to make for a really long time - the Gathered Clutch Purse.  I used the instructions from HERE and made this!!!

Here is a better photo of the gathers **sigh**

here is the inside lining  **sigh**

My first zip since high school sewing (circa 1975)
My sewing teacher would have given me a "B" **sigh**

Can you tell I am so pleased with this?  ;-)

I raided the bag that came with my mum's sewing machine after she passed away in 1998 - I have a smorgasbord of zips!!!!  most of them are big ones, but I imagine this particular zip was from the 70's when I went through my purple phaze ;-)

it took me 2 hours to make this first one - the longest time was co-ordinating the flipping of the liner and outer layer when attaching to the second side of the zip - I was not reading the instructions properly and managed to confuse myself (not very hard to do ;-) )

I was so engrossed, I let my coffee go cold  :-((

I can see me doing more of these in the future ;-)