Happy New Year

December has passed very quickly this year.  I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. Mine was lovely, but the time went so quickly and I didn't even take any photos! Heaps of fabric came into the shop during the last two weeks and when Flirt arrived I just had to make this journal cover/sewing pocket for Leanne.

A huge Thank You to Leanne for all the work she has done for me this year.  For working whilst I had a holiday and all the quiltinq that she has done and even making great samples like the Fernhill quilt below.

Many Thanks to Kim as well, we miss you heaps!

A few people may remember that I started a BOM by Lisa Cantelay from Fig and Berry Creations last year. After making the centre block (below) work stalled but I am pleased to say that now I have made great progress and I have finished five blocks with work on the remaining four well underway.

These stitcheries were finished this weekend (sorry they are sideways) and the BOM should be ready to start in February.

We have been having great fun with our new mini charms. These 2 1/2"quares can be used in a variety of ways. The Marmalade range has been very popular, we have a cushion sample in store and I have been trying to see how many projects I can make from one pack. Below are three items made from one pack, with the fourth (a bag ) still to be finished. Watch out for more examples. Many of the designers have made free projects from them and they have bneen featured on their blogs

At this time of the year I seem to make grand plans to start and finish off many projects.  One I pulled out today may well get finished in the new year. Breast of Friends has been packed away in a big yellow box for quite some time!  I didn't like the original setting and had plans for another design. This hasn't happened and now I think a simplified design is on the cards. The stitcheries took quite a while to work and I think it would be a pity for them to stay in the box any longer. Keep watching for more progress.

Also starting in the New Year is Libby Richardson's new BOM "A little bit Country"

Have a Happy and Enjoyable New Year.

Doiley's and hexagons

I had a lovely morning at the Evandale Market yesterday. And as the doiley queen I couldn't resist a few more! I spotted a couple of jug covers and had to have them too. I think Marina has started something. I received my first one from her and then one from Mum, so with these two I now have a collection! These two do need a bit of TLC, but I can fix that. I think I am going to make a pin cushion from the little cup.

Another finished quilt, a Christmas wallhanging featuring lovely postcards. And I have been enjoying making some hexagons using Helen's Hexies. I  have now definitely stepped out of my traditional mode. They are so easy this way.

Birthdays and Roses

 This week has been a big one for me. It was my birthday and I seem to have been celebrating it all week.
Last weekend we spent in Melbourne at Quilt Market, so that was just one big party and spend up.
We finished all our classes this week so that meant more parties. Above was my present from Leanne, photgraphed amongst my roses.How lucky am I? And she knows me so well!

This was a present for Judy - one of my students. She does wonderful work and is a loverly lady so it was a little daunting to make something for her.  I also made one for another lovely lady - Cheryl, so I seem to have started something, not sure where it will end. It's a small sewing pocket and because I liked it so much, I made kits for the girls to make up in class. We all got better at it as the week went on.  Many variations were made and I will try and post pictures soon. 

Below is another photo of my roses, they seem to be blooming well at the moment.

I have noticed that blogger will allow me to post from my iphone, so that is going to be my next challenge.

Hopefully it will be easier and quicker and I will be able to put up lots of photos that I take with my phone.

/

Thank you to all the people that made this year special for me.

Hugskisses quilts

Here are two shop samples designed by Helen and featuring her new fabrics.

The top one uses a panel for the centre and is a free pattern on this site.

Below is our version of the Block of the month 'Home sweet Home'

Travel and new projects

It's been a while but I'm back into again. Our trip was wonderful - not so much a holiday, but nice to have such a good  break from the everyday. Here I am at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. This is where my Mum worked just after she left school. One of the highlights of our trip. So great, finally, to be able to see places that I had grown up hearing about.

New fabric arrived while I was away, so we just had to start a few more samples. Here is a little bag I whipped up quickly from Helen Stubbing's new fabric range called Life is Beautiful.

This is our partly finished sample of Helen's new BOM " Home Sweet Home". Borders are being added and it will be quilted very soon. And below are some needle case. You can find instructions on Helen's blog.

we have also nearly completed another quilt that I will show you soon.

New Sweetheart Houses Bom

Whilst I have been absent from blogging, Leanne has been very busy working on these blocks for our sample quilt.

Marian has also been very busy. This is the newest version of The Best using a lovely

range of fabrics called Once upon a Time. Great fun was had cutting out applique

shapes with the Go Cutter, and the buttons just finished the quilt off beautifully.

Fernhill samples

Our fernhill samples are coming along well. They look great and so different. Kim has just added block 5 to her's, so I must remember to take a new photo tomorrow.

New Cushions

Just when I thought I was getting on top of things, everything fell to pieces.

I am now back on track and I will try to keep up regular posts.

As you can see from the photo, I have finished a couple of cushions. The Eiffel Tower cushion is available as a  pattern or a kit. I am still working on the owl cushion, it is the second sample and I think it's the cutest. And the yachty one is just to showcase the fabric.

Leanne and Kim are stitching up great Fernhill samples. Iwill post pictures of them soon.

Jinny Beyer monochromes

Three quilts that I finished in time for the Sydney Quilt Market.  These quilts feature Jinny Beyres new range of fabrics and were made in a very short time frame. Amazing what one can acheive under pressure!

Kathy's Friends with Benefits Swap

I know I am a month late showing this but life got in the way for a little while.  Anyway I am back on board and here is the table topper, tape measure brooch and scissor keep that I made for Marina. Below are the lovely gifts she sent me. A sweet little craft keeper, jug cover, some buttons and tapemeasure. Thank you so much Marina, they are beautiful and so useful. I have been keeping my 12 Days of Christmas blocks in it as I have been working on them. 

Thanks for being my swap partner and a great big thank you to Kathy for organising the swap.

Thanks also toVicki for the pattern called Around we Go.

Friends with benefits swap.

I am a little late but it is going in the post this morning Marina!

I have really enjoyed this swap, it's been a long time since I have participated. I mostly am a very last minute person, but I thought I was doing better until last week. Well they say a leopard never changes his spots.

I am looking forward to seeing everyones presents.

Thanks Kathy. 

April Sewing

I have been quietly working away behind the scenes this month but it's been a tough time for me lately. Most people know that I have great man supporting me and having him laid low has been very hard. But he's now well on the mend. So I have let a few things go whilst I have been looking after him.  Many thanks to Leanne, Kim and Marian and my many customers, friends and students for their support and for putting up with me.
Shown here are two blocks from February's Craftsy Bom. Unfortunately this month's blocks haven't even been looked at, so they may take a while. The red and white blocks have also been put on the back burner this month.

I did however finish this small Japanese wallhanging and blocks five and six of The 12 days of Christmas.

And I have been working on my secret project for Kathy's Friends with Benefits Swap.  It may not be in the post on Monday Marina but it is not far away!

A few finished items

Finally finished block three of Monica's Peacocks Garden, this quilt is taking so long. Leanne has quilted them and I have put them together quilt as you go, not without a couple of problems. Will take a photo and show them next post.

Two blocks from this months Craftsy BOM, I seem to have forgotten to photograph February's.

One project from my weekend in Hobart finished. Thanks Vicki.

And block four of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Pictures from Dear Jane group

The girls worked well at the last meeting.

Gina's finished quilt.

Great March Sale

From now until the end of March we will have great savings instore and online.
Up to 50% off some fabrics and kits.
Everything reduced!
Come in and see us or email for more info.

Trying to keep up

After having two long weekends away in a row, trying to keep up with my red and white quilt is proving difficult. I am now two parts behind. It has been fun though, shopping and collecting new red and white fabrics. Below is part three of 12 days of Christmas. Being portable it is easier to keep up with this quilt.

I have also finished this months Craftsy blocks and I will photograph and show them next post.

Melbourne was great.  Walked my feet off again. But I did get to see a lot of shops, markets and I managed to get to Castlemaine and Bendigo. Many people took advantage of the great weather to go hot air ballooning.  They were floating over Melbourne every morning.

This is the best shop in Castlemaine! Haberdash- great vintage lace, doylies, antique buttons and bits and bobs.Spent so long there I thought I was going to miss my bus! And the lovely Sonia was the most wonderful person.

Long stitching weekend

An opportunity to spend a weekend away from home with new and old stitching friends was too good to pass up. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend.  Many thanks to Fee for all her efforts, to Jo for all her help, to Kathy for transporting me and to all the other helpers and participants.

I came home with too much chocolate, fabric and d'oylies, great memories and many new friends.

The markets, both Salamanca and MONA were wonderful.

The projects were very well presented and I even managed to learn a few new tricks.

Thank you all again and I look forward to Adelaide.