A Christmas Tree for Robyn

Here is tease photo I posted earlier for Robyn, for Christmas Block Swap

Robyn recently posted on her blog that she has to step down from all her swaps as life is just too crazy at the moment. 

I do hope that 2012 is better for you Robyn.

I am assuming by now that Robyn has received the block I made for her, so I will post a full pic here.

Robyn requested christmas tree either in patchwork or applique, in red, green gold and cream - I hope you are happy with what I have made for you ;-)

The red star button came from this lovely swap package from Barb in The Fat Quarter Swap for September.

 Hope you are all having a good day ............ I am ;-)

Blocks received from Nolene & Jodi

Morning everyone!  thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you are having a good day ;-)

I received these lovely blocks in the mail yesterday

from Jodi for BSA

from Nolene for QBSA

thank you so much ladies, you have picked the most perfect colours ;-)

Another sampler for Block Lotto

I have managed to make up another block for Block Lotto

This month we are requested to make a sampler block in Blue & Cream (optional tan can be included)

Here is a new photo with my two previously submitted blocks

1 Disappearing 4 patch

1 Diamond Panes block

1 Pinwheel

Here are my three (3) blocks (to be donated)  I am hoping to get some more done, but hubby will be home for the next two weeks and we are hoping to have a few days out and about and play tourist in our own city ;-)

October swap blocks completed & POSTED

I have finished my swap blocks for October ;-)

Here is a tease for Jodi for Block Swap Adventure

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

EDITED:  My Blocks have been posted to Jodi (BSA), Robyn (Christmas Block Swap) & Nolene (QBSA)

Ladies, please let me know when they arrive ;-)

Next up are my blocks for Block Lotto

This month we are requested to make a sampler block in Blue & Cream (optional tan can be included)

1 Disappearing 4 patch

1 Diamond Panes block

Here are my two (2) blocks for the moment - I intend to get some more done next week.

October Blocks almost completed

Am on a roll this month - getting my blocks in early (well early for me)

First cab off the rank is for Robyn, for Christmas Block Swap

Am working on my block for Jodi for Block Swap Adventure

and will post pics in a separate post tomorrow

now a tease for Nolene(no blog) for QBSA

I almost squealed with joy when I saw Nolene's preferences ;-)

I have also received a block from Gemma for

the August swap for Block Swap Adventure

this gorgeous block looks like it is hand sewn!  it was definitely worth the wait - thank you Gemma ;-) 

Gemma, also sent a postcard, but I forgot to take a photo - sorry ;-(

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 ;-)

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 ;-)

Linnea's block completed

I finally managed to get Linnea's block completed and in the post

here is a snippet

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 ;-)

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 ;-)

October block for Melody

The block I made for Melody, my October swap partner for Aussie Quilt Block Swap is in the hands of Australia Post ;-)

Here is a snippet of the block

The Good .............. and the Bad

The good bit ..................... I have completed all my swaps for the Aussie Quilt Block Swap group for the month of October - 1 block swap & 1 Christmas swap .......  ;-)  YAY


The bad bit ...................... waiting on the postman to deliver the blocks to their recipients  ;-(  BOO

October Block Swap

hubby has been sick this last three days ;-(

so I have been left to entertain myself in the sewing room ;-)

I have completed my block for the Aussie Quilt Block Swap Group

This one is for Linda, who requested a Blazing Arrows block in greens or blues with a combination of white.

So I don't spoil the surprise, here is just a snippet of the block.

Blogger is not playing well today - it took several attempts to upload this picture.

Christmas Block Swap Group #1 - October

YAY!!  I have completed Cheryll's Christmas Block - I have a heavy social calendar for October and thought I should get it done quickly ;-)

So that I don't spoil the surprise for the recipient, here is just a snippet ;-)

Cheryll requested a Log Cabin block in Christmas Fabric

Blogger is not playing well today - I had 5 attempts at loading a pic - new photo uploader did not work and had to go back to 'old' uploader ;-(

Cheryll, your block will be in the post to you on Tuesday ;-)