A new block for the first time | Double Aster Block | and a new toy

I received the most wonderful block from Wendy for the Christmas Block Swap

a Double Aster Block

and was requested to make one in return

it was a bit daunting - my first attempt was a bit bigger than 12.5 inches

I didn't want this block to beat me, so I made another one for my CraftMad swap partner, Merry

this one was a bit better size wise, but still just a bit big :(

I am not going to be defeated by this block and will try it again!
Stay tuned for another Double Aster block real soon!

You may remember, I recently worked on a block for my Farmer's Wife ................ only one block, but I had several attempts at it

1st attempt - birds are too big

2nd attempt - better sizes, but not going together well, and block is still a bit big

3rd attempt - this one I used the templates - better sizes - but still a bit big :(

I must admit, with all the un-sewing I have been doing lately,
I am really happy with my most recent purchase

A double ended seam ripper & awl - I certainly have been giving this new tool a real workout - I don't know where my mind has been - I seem to be doing more un-sewing than sewing lately LOL  

  

This seam ripper is a lovely tool, nice and solid feeling in the hands, the finish is absolutely beautiful, and the photos just does not do the colour justice!  

These seam rippers, in combinations or small & large rippers, or rippers & awls are available from Alan's Pen Making on Facebook (as well as some gorgeous looking pens). 

Anyway, just thought I would help spread the word - and give a shout out for their business.

Lana is a crafty friend I have 'known' for a while :)  we 'met' on CraftMad many  years ago.

Must be off now, it is Good Friday, and I am intending to get some serious sewing done this weekend, as well as some serious Easter Egg Eating!

Wishing you all a great Easter Weekend - I hope you get to do all the things you love, with the people you love!

Avagoodweekend!

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

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

CraftMad Family Quilt Block Swap - New Year, New Swappers

We have gained a few new quilt block swappers over on CraftMad - Beth & MrsA have decided to join our little swap group, so with Mandy, Merry and myself, we now have 5 swappers - mostly beginners :).

This year we are swapping a 12" block of the makers choice, in the receivers' colour preferences :)
My preferences for this year are Rainbow colours with white.

From Mandy

For Beth

I hope Beth has received this by now - it was posted ages ago, and she is only two suburbs away :)

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

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

Cake & Coffee with friends

I was lucky enough to spend some time with some crafty friends - Mandy from CraftMad (papercrafts) and Cynthia from Cynthia's Ark (quilting) on Friday, 12th December

the best of both worlds I think, mixing my two hobbies with two great friends :)

LtoR:  Mandy, Cynthia, Cathy (me)

mug rugs for the girls

mug rug for Cynthia - front

mug rug for Cynthia - back

mug rug for Mandy - front

mug rug for Mandy - back

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

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

FNSI show and tell

I got to spend some much needed time in my sewing room yesterday - thanks to FNSI - Friday Night Sew In hosted by the lovely Wendy.

Of course, the afternoon always starts with some good preparation :)

I put the finishing touches on my Do Good Stitches blocks for September - yes, I know :(  I am very late with these blocks.





blocks now packed and ready to post on Monday.

I also finished up the last of my CraftMad Family Christmas Quilt blocks.
The October block is Oh Susannah




and the November block is 'sewer's choice'.  I love the way the June block came together, so here it is again, in a different colour combination.




and this is how the preparation finished :)

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

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

CraftMad Family Christmas Quilt Blocks

I was able to make a dent in my CraftMad Family Christmas Quilt Swap backlog

August Block - Greek Cross

Greek Cross for Mandy - August

Greek Cross for Merry - August

September Block - Nelson's Victory

Nelson's Victory for Mandy - September

Nelson's Victory for Merry - September

Oh Susannah (Oct) from Mandy

Only two more blocks for me to make, Oh Susannah for October, and our choice for November.

I will be putting all of the blocks I have received on the design wall soon - this CraftMad Christmas Quilt is going to be so bright and colourful when it is finished :)

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

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

Baby Quilt | Lifetime Quilt #11

I am in 'holiday prep' mode and have been busy crossing things off my check list  :)

I fly to Brisbane on Friday for a Crafty Weekend with my CraftMad friends :)  then from Monday, I am staying with a friend and having a girly holiday, starting with a trip to Australia Zoo for my birthday  :)  Crafting, Birthday celebrations, wining, dining & shopping and catching up with some old and very dear friends ........... how good is that?!!!!

I have been able to spend some time in the sewing room and made a baby quilt for my husband's niece - I actually bought the fabric shortly after the pregnancy announcement, but took a while to decide on what to make, and then took a while to actually cut into the fabric ........ at $20.00 per metre, I wanted to be sure of what I was doing.

I posted about my fabrics HERE in May 2014 - I actually started cutting on the 19th September 2014 in preparation for the Baby Shower on 28th :)

initial layout - not really what I wanted

this is next layout - I prefer this one

here it is - a complete flimsy

basted ready for quilting

then I experimented with quilting lines (on the PC)

straight down and across

in the ditch

cross hatch

I ended up doing one line of diagonal quilting and not cross hatching it :)

the obligatory quilt binding roll photo :)

the backing was Peter Rabbit

opening quilt :)

it will fit perfectly with the nursery ..... such a relief!

the card I made :)

I am so excited about my holiday, I just hope I get everything finished in time :)  I have completed my Swap Co-Ordinator duties for the Christmas Block Swap, Halloween Block Swap and Fat Quarter Swap.  I need to bake some goodies for Mr Fixit to take to work on Thursday for his birthday, and make sure I have a few things in the freezer for him to have while I am away.

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

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

Hello, I'm back ......................

Well, that was a bit longer break than I anticipated :(
Things are progressing with the sorting of my Father's estate - such that it is :)  The amount of paperwork is staggering!  I understand it would be even worse if he did not have a Will!

It is time to play catchup with my blog posts, and to say a very sincere thank you to those that left beautiful comments, both here and on my Facebook page - they were most appreciated.

A big thank you to my QBSA August partner, KerryB, for being so very patient in waiting for me to send her blocks to her - as a thank you I sent two blocks :)




Two blocks seems so little by way of thank you, as Kerry sent me a STACK of purple 9 patches so that I can finish my Purple Patch quilt just that little bit quicker :)  Will post photos of the purple patch quilt soon - stay tuned!  :)


This is what I sent Ank, my July partner for QBSA.  Photos of what Ank sent to me will follow :)


CM Family Christmas Quilt - July block for Mandy


CM Family Christmas Quilt - July block for Merry

CM Family Christmas Quilt - July & August blocks from Mandy - I noticed after taking the photo, that I will need to flip one of the sections :)

I also managed to complete one of my Do.Good Stitches blocks from June - I was running very late with that one :(

I quite enjoyed this one, just grabbed a few scraps in oranges/yellows, than scraps of neutral for the strips ...... came together quite quickly :)

I am yet to catch up with July, August and now September blocks - but I am working on that one :)

Well, that's it from me .............. for now - off to see what is next on my TO DO LIST!

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

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