September Finish

Last Sunday was Sunday Stitchers and I took along my latest finish.

I've been working on this for a number of years...

(there is a photo in a post dated August 2012 

where I had joined a lot of squares into strips...

though back then it seems I was planning on a bright blue strip to join them)

It's a Leaders & Enders project.  

I sew 2 21/2" squares together, then 2 sets of 2 and 2 sets of 4...etc...

and total them up to 30 squares.

Then join that to a plain strip - mostly 21/2" but that bit is flexible...

depending in what I have lying around.   

I used 21/2" binding strips too so that the left over can go into the next project.

It's fun to re-visit some of the fabrics.
I am planning one that will have at least one row of fabrics from each quilt that I make in the future - or if I can do it - that I have already made.

This is destined for a nursing home or similar.

Bluebird Lane

Three of us at Sunday Stitchers have been working on Natalie Bird's Bluebird Lane.

This month's deadline was to have all the blocks finished, 

and we all managed that (nothing like a bit of peer pressure!!!)

Here is mine

I used a fat quarter bundle I bought a while back - a Helen Stubbings range and added some beiges and the teal green.
As usual (for me) I changed the layout and used birds in a block that was originally rabbits.

Here is Inca's

(had to use her instagram photo as she wasn't there on Sunday)

Inca and I are still pondering the borders - the original has stars all around.

and here is Sandi's
Sandi is thinking of making a table runner 

and some mini quilts, so she hasn't put her blocks together 

It's been great to have a team project...wonder if we will do one next year???

August 2012 Retreat

Every year in August my group head off to the Scenic Rim to enjoy a few days of luxury and sewing.  This year was our 6th visit and there were 9 of us - most of us stayed from Friday through to Tuesday.  We start planning what  projects to work on weeks in advance.  We just work on our own projects and for whatever hours we feel like.
Generally we arrive sometime Friday morning and set up all the gear.  Then it's off to the Mt Alford pub - "It's not the prettiest pub" but the atmosphere is fun, the food is typical Aussie pub food and the licensee and staff all help make it a fun time.  (Even took the photos for us!)
I won't talk about the pin up boys in the Ladies toilet!!

Quite a few years back, we started our "Wishing and Hoping" board.  Each person has a little pad of Post its  and we each write one project on a 'page' and stick them up on the left hand side of the white board.  I keep the pages from each year and do a roll call each time to see what projects that were listed in previous years have since been finished.  There are a number that have been on that board for a few years. (Not mentioning any names here.)
So this year everyone wrote their initials and 2012 as well as the name of the project.  Some people bring lots of little things, others bring a few larger things.  Its not a competition - just fun.

Here is the board early on Friday afternoon.  One of the group brought some mending to do - so she was able to sneak in very early with a finish.


(Blogger is being naughty here - its upside down!  - all the tickets should be on the left!!!)

The lady who runs the place was celebrating one of "those" birthdays this year as well as another major milestone so we made her a small wall hanging to celebrate.

Then it was down to business. Sewing, talking, laughing, eating.  Too busy to take photos.  Most nights I finished up at about 12 midnight - and I wasn't alone.
I had one major project to concentrate on - a quilt for my eldest daughter's best friend who is getting married in December and would like a quilt just like the one I had made for my daughter.  This version is in teals and I got as far as I could as I hadn't finished all the larger embroideries.  But I was pleased with my progress.

I also worked on a leaders and enders project - I had finally organised a lot of 2.5" squares - this is what I got done over the whole weekend.  I plan on adding a bright blue strip in between each row and a blue border.

The second project was to finish a Project for Sew Its Finished for August.  It seems I started this in 2004 and put it away.  I only came across it accidentally a couple of weeks ago - I had totally forgotten about it.

Then I moved on to what I hope will be my September finish for Sew Its Finished.  I did the raw edge appliqué and have other plans for the background.

 Next was the "Red Houses" - a Marg Low pattern. My best sewing mate bought me the pattern and some red fabrics from the quilt show in Sydney, so I teamed them up and hope to finish that fairly soon.  Here is one house.

 
By Tuesday early afternoon - the Wishing & Hoping Board looked more like this - I think we were all pleased with what we achieved.

Another "on going" theme of our retreats is "The Girls - Belle & Pearl".  One year E. made these two dolls. But they had no hair the first year and went home in a shoe box!  The next year they grew their hair.  One year they were left behind and we missed them so much!!  Their owner got a good roasting for that.  Now they sit up high watching over us and this year they were given a special quilt to keep them warm.  And this year they were joined by a little angel.

Only 50 weeks and 6 days to go til the 2013 retreat!!!!!