FAwF/FNwF show and tell

FAwF/FNwF   ........... was catch up time for me ;-)

I promised myself I would catch up on my CraftMad Quilt Block swaps - you see I have fallen way behind :(  thankfully, Mandy and Merry are very understanding.

We have started a new colour choice for our blocks this year - dusky greens, blues and yellows.

At first, I had a real problem deciding on my colour choices, then I stumbled on some fabrics from Cynthia's Ark - Daisies in the Wind - and ordered 1/2 metre of each.  Here are the blocks I have made

First block for the year was a Card Trick



this is what I have received



then a Friendship Star



now a Rail Fence



I won't say here who gets what block ............. I want to leave something as a surprise for the recipients ;-)

I have ordered some more of this so that I can continue making our next blocks in the same colourway.  I have spied that it is also available in a pink/purple ............ I can see another order some time soon  ;-)

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.

Swap Blocks - the big reveal

I had posted some tease photos previously, and here are some of the big reveals ;-)


Here is the tease pic for Ann, my December partner for 6" Block Swap




and here are the blocks









Ann asked for Stars in blue - I hope they have arrived safely and that Ann likes them.

Here is a tease for my CraftMad Fence Rail swap partners ;-)


and here are the full blocks




Blue for Kelly


Bright for Annmaree


Pastels for Annette



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.

9" Rail Fence Block for CraftMad Swap

Our CraftMad Swap group wanted to swap a few blocks with each other to make up a CraftMad Quilt.

The first block suggested was a 9" rail fence.

It proved a bit of a challenge for the non-quilters - both in working in inches, and getting their head around the measurements.  It also proved a bit of a challenge for me - trying to size down a 12" block ;-)

The internet came to the rescue and I found a good set of directions that suggested starting with a 5" x 2" strip

As I was going through this process, I thought I would take a few photos to help explain it to the non-quilters and to help reinforce the steps in my own mind.

cut out your fabric strips 4 sets of  3 @ 5" x 2"

Sew strips together in desired order using a 1/4" seam

Sew top two sets together  & bottom two sets together using a 1/4" seam

Sew the two rows together - taking care to make sure your centres line up - using a 1/4" seam

Here is where the quilters ruler is a MOST valuable tool

Place the block underneath the ruler -here it is showing just how it is when finished - note it is a little off - this is your 'wiggle room' to trim

Lining up the block underneath to the required marks on the ruler - in this case top left  at approx 9 1/2" wide,
the very centre of block intersects at approx 4 3/4"

trim top and right edges 

swivel block around so that bottom left corner lines up with 9 1/2" marks and check the centre of the block intersects at 4 3/4"

trim top and right edges

here block is squared up and finished at 9 1/2 "

the bottom left blook looks a bit crooked in photo, but it is an optical illusion

I used a REALLY cheap Jelly Roll for this exercise and the reason it was cheap was that it was cut crooked ;-(  

VERY IMPORTANT!  Check your seam allowance is actually 1/4" or you will end up with a block with the wrong measurements ;-)

This is the first attempt - this finished section SHOULD be 5" square - with an incorrect seam allowance, it turned out WRONG

The other day, I had moved the position of my needle to do some close to the edge sewing and had not moved it back properly - DOH!

I hope this helps the non-quilters of our little group. 

I will keep you all posted on the progress of our swap - I am really looking forward to making up a lap quilt made especially from members of my CraftMad Family (I have been with them since 2004).

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.

Christmas block for Pat

Second post for me today, please scroll down to see other post.

The block I made for Pat (no blog), for the May, Christmas Block Swap has arrived safely.

so here is the snippet I posted previously

Here is the full block.  Pat requested a railfence block from http://www.quilterscache.com/R/RailFenceBlock.html in reds and greens.

I am so glad Pat likes the fabrics I have chosen.  Pat, I hope I have chosen the right layout for the railfence - if not, please feel free to re-arrange to suit your other blocks, if you wish.

This is the block I received from Pat.

Look at all that wonderful golden goodness ;-)

Quilt Block Swaps - Australia - July Swap Block

I received a rail fence block from Leena in the post on Friday.

such a beautiful block - thank you Leena!  I am impressed! such beautiful sewing.

I am glad I perservered with getting Leena's card trick block right now. 

Leena, your block will be in the post on Monday.

Leena's cardtrick block - finally completed ;-)