Happy Australia Day

 Hope you are enjoying your day.  I have today off and got up early so that I could fit in some sewing time.
We are now going out for a bbq lunch which is going to cut short the sewing day I had planned.
Above is a photo Terry took of last nights fireworks display. Quite speccy.

 This is a quilt by Vivian Robinson that Kim has just finished called Carpe Diem. I will show you another photo when we get it quilted.  It's quite pretty and the applique and stichery are just lovely. Well done Viv and Kim.

After finding a large stack of UFO's at Christmas, I made the decision to finish a project a day for January.

I started the month really well and finished off 15 projects, before slowing up. I went back to two block of the months that had stalled, Peacocks Garden and the Adelaide Floral Sampler. I had only finished two blocks each of these quilts and felt it was time to really put an effort in, so I have now almost finished block three of each . Does any one else under estimate their time?

I have been a bit restained and only started two new projects this year.

These two blocks are from a new free block of the month by Craftsy . It seemed the perfect way to make a quilt from some wonderful Kaffe Fasset fat quarters given to me by Rebecca some years ago. I am using different white tone on tones for the contrast and as you make two blocks a month, I will use one of Rebecca's fat quarters and one of mine from the shop.

The other project started is the 12 days of Christmas again by Viv Robinson. I will show photos's soon.



Here are a couple of finished items, my owl cushion and a childs quilt using a panel.
Must go now, look out for heaps more finished projects and new fabrics--- orientals, Twirl from Me and My Sister, Rouenerries Deux, lot's from P&B textiles, plus more -not sure where I'm going to fit them in!!

Handmade Christmas

 I thought it would be nice if the girls and I swapped a handmade gift at Christmas. Above is what I received from Leanne, a lovely bag, an ornament and an owl. So lovely, wasn't I lucky. And the bag is just the right size for my new project from Figs n Berry.  Below is the bag I made for Kim. It also has a small purse inside, I forgot to take a picture of that.

Happy Holidays

I have been enjoying some time off and feeling bad 'cos I haven't put these photos up. I am very slack with my posts, but if one looks at the number of posts over the last couple of years, I am improving.  If I can repeat the almost 50% increase from  last year, I should soon be getting to a reasonable level.

The photo above shows some fabric that came in last year.  I gave a piece each to my Thurday girls and challenged them to make something by Christmas and five of the girls came up with a finished article.

Thank you Lynice, Cheryl, Derrise, Nicky and Lorinda.

I am currently working on finishing off many projects. More on that soon.

Busy, busy, busy

The past couple of months have been very busy for us, hosting evenings at the shop, a Christmas function off site, a breakfast/morning tea fundraiser for breast cancer and working on the Quiltaid 2011 project.

So I am heaving a great sigh of relief at putting these events behind me.  All have been a very successful, enjoyable and great learning experiences.  Above is a photo of the girls hard at work on Saturday at the Christmas Gathering. We had a wonderful day with Helen Stubbings from Hugsn kisses, working on two new projects. See more pictures on Kathy's blog and Jo's blog .

Watch for our next gathering with Helen in July 2012.

This pink strippy is a fundraiser for Breast cancer.  We have been making a few of these very easy quilts- called 1600 or 800 quilts.  The name relates to the length of the strips used. Add 4 1/2" accent pieces to the end of each of your strips and join all strips to make one continuous length. This length is then cut in half and joined together.  Repeat a few more times and this is what you will end up with. It makes a very quick top. If you would like to win this quilt, make a gold coin donation and guess how long it took me to piece the top. Hint-between 35 and 120 minutes.

For more photos of our morning see Leanne's blog.

And here is my finished Quiltaid 2011sample - aka Secret Squirrel. It's no longer secret, but I think the name has stuck! Big, big thank yous to Helen for all her work - a mamoth effort in putting it all together and for letting me take part. Also many thanks for my fellow piecers - Marian, Leanne, Helena, Kim, Sue and Raelene. Thank you to Leanne for helping me to quilt it.  For more information on the project go to http://www.quiiltaid.com.au/

And finally a photo taken at Bridport on Sunday. A little bit of time out.

Now to write up all the patterns I have been putting off. 

Lots of news

 Here are the two blocks we are selling for Quiltaid 2011, designed by Bronwyn Hayes and Natalie Ross.
I have been working frantically to get the quilt top finished. It is looking really great. Hence no time at the computer.


Below we have a couple of pictures of some projects from the Asian night. We had two wonderful nights, many thanks to those that came along and to Marian and Terry for the great support.

Next function will be a Christmas Gathering on Saturday the 29th of October with the wonderful Helen Stubbings from Hugs n Kisses. I am taking names and promise to put all the info up real soon.

As well we have organised a Pink Breakfast on Wed 2nd Nov.  More details very, very soon.

Quiltaid 2011

A small peek at one of the new quiltaid blocks.  More to come soon. Get in early so you don't miss out. 

Spent a night in Sydney on the way home last week and these were some pictures of the view from the top floor of the hotel.  And no, I didn't try the pool.

A little holiday

Having a lovely break in Coffs Harbour, enjoying the beach, sunshine and a little rain.

Working occasionally on some small projects for our Asian Night, at the end of September.

 

                 

And I did finish the last block of Stitched by Me, before my holiday, only the borders to go now.
Just as well cos I hear Lynette has a new one!
Hope Leanne is having fun without me!