Qilting Gallery Contest Entry - I have 8 Votes!

I have entered an item in the weekly themed quilting contest over on quilting gallery

the theme is New Beginnings and I have entered this bag - original post describing how I made the bag can be found HERE

Pop on over and have a look at the other entries - vote for what you think is good - you can vote for up to three entries ;-)


EDITED:   I have just checked the voting and I have 8 votes!  Thank you so much ;-)

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.

Made and Quilted with love

The Block Lotto members got together and secretly made a quilt for the Lotto's creator, Sophie, as a way to say Thank You.

I have enjoyed being part of this group very much and had no hesitation in making a block for this special project.

The group members were asked to contribute blocks selected from a past Block Lotto block.  We were to follow the color rules of the original Block Lotto block, but size it to 10".

I made a 10" version of the Violet blocks we made for the August 2011 Lotto. 
 

The quilt has been received, so now I can post about it ;-)

Here is a pic of the quilt just before it was posted to Sophie

My block is on the right edge, 4th row ;-)

I cannot get over just how great it looks - it has exceeded my expectations.  The quilt was organized by Laura and quilted by Cathy S - they did an awesome job with getting this together so quickly.

Sophie has posted a pic of it on her red sofa HERE

 

If you are interested in the Block Lotto, the January block complete with instructions can be found here.

I have been extremely lucky with the Block Lotto Gods smiling on me and I have won 3 times.  Making quilts out of these winnings is officially on my 2012 TO DO LIST ;-).

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.

The heat is on!

Well, it is currently 32C (89.6F) - it has cooled down a bit from 36C (96.8F) after an overnight low of 26C (78.8F)

What do you do when it is this hot?  you stay inside and watch the cricket on the TV and spend some time in the sewing room ;-)

I made up one of my Swap blocks for January for Annie for Block Swap Adventure

here is a tease photo ;-)

All being well Annie, your block will be in the post tomorrow.


I was able wash and iron some new fabric - it took only 20 minutes to dry outside  ............... it's funny, I used to detest ironing, now I love watching the fabrics smooth out ;-)


I got some much needed sorting of some fabrics and will really need to sort the scraps soon - I have a laundry basket full.

Colleen has let me know that the block I made for her for Block Swap Adventure for December has arrived safely.

Here is the tease photo I posted earlier.

and here is the block

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.

My Favourite Things of 2011

Here are some of my Favourite Finishes from 2011

Here are some of the blocks I have made in 2011 that I am particularly pleased with .... they were the first time I had made these particular block patterns and stretched my skill level ;-)

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.