Monday, April 30, 2018

Skyline Quilt

In a small group that I belong to....(there are only 4 of us)...we decided to make blocks from Tula Pink's 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.....I had a collection of fabrics in browns & aqua - with numbers and words and thought they would work for this.   (Elementary by Sweetwater).
I loved the idea of the Skyline quilt in the book - but really did not need any more huge quilts...so I worked out the size I wanted and worked out how many blocks to make.

These blocks are so easy - I could get through about 4 in a night - cutting and sewing (TV must have been pretty bad at the time) and I did minimise how many half square triangle blocks I did.

I wanted the quilt to look like a city skyline so I selected blocks for the top of each column to look like the top of office buildings - lightning conductors, air conditioning units etc.  Other than planning that I just made blocks.   I was able to organise them by colour groupings without any re-makes...that was a fluke.

I found the background (a wideback fabric) and cut the strips for in between and above the buildings and the side borders.  I quilted down each seam, vertically between the seams, across some seams horizontally, then I added machine embroidered stars and the moon - a lucky find to get a bali that looks just like the moon (I think).


This was Project #12 for the Sunday Stitchers' Challenge...and it was partially completed on time... Happy to say it is all done now.






Sunday, April 29, 2018

Busy (sewing) weekend

I confess I do often get a lot of sewing done over a weekend - most weekends one day at least is at one of my Sewing Groups.  This weekend - on Saturday (my non-group day)- after some "retail therapy" shopping and the dreaded groceries - I had to hide in my Sewing Space as DH had a cousin to visit - to watch the AFL...apparently Geelong lost - must have been bad refereeing again.....

So I worked on Ruth's quilt - I had joined the long rows (columns if you are thinking of Excel)...but had to remove a few pieces and substitute other fabrics and then I sewed 4 of these columns together...doesn't sound like a lot but there was some extra cutting involved...and it is further progressed than before . . . .


(Not a great shot)

Saturday night I spent some time cutting the brown borders and strips for the 4 patches for the baby quilt, and Sunday - at our group meeting, I made the 4 patches and joined the blocks into the top bottom and two sides.

Tonight - after dinner (and watching MKR) I was able to add the brown border and the 4 rows to the top bottom and sides.   I think I will add another brown border and that will be it.



I best go to work tomorrow to have a rest!


I hope you had a fun weekend doing what you like to do.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Working on a Baby Quilt

I took advantage of a Public Holiday yesterday (Anzac Day) and stitched these alphabet blocks:

to go with this fabric for a baby quilt.


(There will be a strip of brown to separate the two.)

I know it  looks like my colour placement is odd - but I plan to put them randomly around the edge - (more educational???) with 4 patches to make up the right number (probably 10 each side).
Whoever dreamt up the alphabet could have been more considerate of people planning to arrange letters ...26??? it doesn't divide pleasingly at all...

Stay tuned ...need to get moving on this one.


Sunday, April 22, 2018

Stitching Seams with Polka Dot Dreams

This cropped up as Project #9 for Sunday Stitchers UFO Challenge.  I can't remember when I stitched this, but it's been lying around for a while - waiting for inspiration....I didn't really want a mini quilt this time....but I was packing for a sewing day and realised for my Best Friends project (a long term WIP)....either I needed a big clunky plastic box, or two containers to hold all the threads I was using as well as the fabric/stitching. 
**Light bulb moment**
I decided I could organise a thread holder...no pattern needed and I could "just whip one up"....LOL...working with vinyl does not lend itself to "whipping it up"...Nevertheless I managed to concoct something like I had in mind and now I have a way to transport my threads - as you can see they are still doubled up...but this will work for me.


This is the binding I was doing for FNSI - 
and I didn't want to show this before the "reveal" at Sunday Stitchers.

I actually had another 
**Light bulb moment**  when cutting the vinyl....
naturally it is quite hard to see when on a cutting mat and even more difficult once you put a clear ruler on top - and if you want to lift the ruler and move it - the vinyl sticks to the ruler . . . ah ha I thought - if I put the vinyl down on the lines of the mat and then sticky tape the vinyl to the mat...I will be able to see the edge better and the vinyl won;t move as I move the ruler...so there!!!! - you may have worked that one out yourself but in case...my tip of the day!!!!


And then, because I'm a matchy matchy sort of girl I decided I needed a zippy pouch to go with it - to hold the stitching of course!

So all I need now is a scissor holder/pincushion sort of thing.... maybe a scrap bucket...and  . . .projects for another day.

Friday, April 20, 2018

FNSI - April

Another month has rolled by and here we are again - gathered at Wendy's cyer house to sew and maybe drink tea, coffee, wine champers...who knows??


I sewed some binding on a small project - to be revealed soon - and then I cut the pieces for a zippy pouch - I was going to start making it , but decided I didn't like the zip I had,  nor the thread...so instead I am doing my blog post and organising a pile of bits to take to Sunday Stitchers this Sunday.  
Several of us are going to make striped blocks so we need machines and the bits & bibs that go with it, power leads & power boards, pre cut strips...all this as well as the usual - lunch, Show & Tell and I have a pile of crochet blocks to give to Maria...Hopefully it won't be bucketing rain when I arrive and unload!

At least this month I didn't fall asleep on the recliner watching TV!!

I hope everyone had a productive day/night...weekend...catch you all next time!
Thanks Wendy - always grateful for the motivation.


Monday, April 9, 2018

Chooks for Chookyblue

Most of my readers know (or know of) Chookyblue.   She is probably the main reason I keep blogging and the only reason I went to my first GDITC - Girls Day in the Country - at Nundle.

When Kerry Swain decided to stop Nundle - Chooky stepped in - roped in a partner in crime - Sonia and created "Scrub Stitchin" which has just happened at Baradine in NSW - the town and Camp Cypress will never be the same!!

Sometime late last year I saw this pattern:



An obvious choice for Chooky ...and I thought how nice it would be if those of us who love Chooky and are grateful to her for making GDITC what is was and for creating Scrub Stitchin' which we expected to be a fun time - could each make a block.

So I started the emails and managed to rope in almost enough to provide the full 36 blocks.

At Scrub Stitchin' we gave her the blocks.   I think it is safe to say she was very surprised and happy - she had seen the pattern and had thought about making it.

Here is the photo of all the blocks - just randomly placed on the "Design Wall".


We had another 3 volunteers over the weekend - but there is nothing to say that several more can't be added.

This is my block:


I had also seen recently a crazy patch chook done by machine embroidery - and I made one of them for Chooky as well - she can make a bag or something out of it as she likes...I'm going to make a similar rooster.




I love chooks - and Chooky - but I am a bit over chooks for now so I am glad its all almost  behind me now






Make It or Fake It Swap - Scrub Stitchin'' 2018 @ Baradine

There is so much to post about our Baradine retreat - it will take a while so I am just doing it a bit at a time.

"Make It or Fake It" Swap

Part of the GDITC/Nundle tradition is the Make It, Fake It or Bake It swap.  This year it was Make It or Fake It - after all we are sewers - not cooks!!

Here is the collection of goodies I made - and the reason for the flowers in the previous post - a Zippy Pouch, a Design Board, A Pin holder (with 3 of the flowers) a scrap bucket (with one flower) and a coaster.



My gift ended up with Aime - who is recently into quilting - so I went over to make sure she knew what everything was - mostly she did and had even planned to make a zippy pouch.
I am glad it all went to a new recruit!!


My gift was from MIss Jules - a collection of lovely blue and monkey themed flannels, and a bobbin of special quilters tape.   Looks like  a baby quilt coming up...and I am sure that quilters tape will be handy.


These swaps are always a lot of fun.  Thanks again Miss Jules..

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Easter break - Getting ready for Baradine

Easter is always a long break from work - as I don't work Thursdays that means I am off from Wednesday night til Tuesday morning....BUT this year - just after Easter - I am off to Baradine (near Coonabarabran...in case...) for - yep - you guessed - a Sewing Gig - for those who don't know - it's the replacement for GDITC @ Nundle....
As GDITC started (unofficially) Friday lunchtime - I would normally go on Thursday, so only one day off work - but Baradine starts Thursday lunchtime - so I (we...with my bestie & driver) are leaving on Wednesday - so if I had to take Wednesday as a Leave Day - I may as well take Tuesday too - so I am off work from Wednesday 28th March until 9th April....Whoopee Doo - pity someone can't do my work while I am away...oh well ...not thinking about that ATM.


So Easter has been a lot of prepping, packing, sorting,  finishing...making a secret sewing project for the Make It or Fake It swap....and a few other fiddly bits including finishing a few things for the Show & Tell session....

I won't show anything now apart from this :



(They are drying on the warmish lap top)

I decided I needed a few flowers for something ...and as I needed a largish piece of washaway stabilser, I figured I may as well make the most of it and made a few more...some of them have a specific home (shhh  ....secret stuff...) but the others will go to a friend who makes stoles for First Communions.

I do hope you have had a lovely Easter - in which ever way makes you happy. 



Patchworky Friends - updated

I've been a bit tardy posting this - Cheryll (aka Chez aka Dory) - who accompanied Shez - has sent me this gorgeous little needle keeper - Very lovely of Chez - again very appreciative - but I was so happy just to get a chance to catch up.