FNSI - January 2013

Friday night I worked on:
These blocks - finished the purple and stitched the pink one

 Cut 5" squares from a wonderful surprise package from Fiona - I was so keen to get into them I forgot to take a picture before I reduced a healthy pile to this:

 Made the rows for 4 more blocks for my I Spy / Funky fabric Disappearing 9 patch quilt

 and finished off another Thread Catcher:

 Not too bad for a night's work.  I was going to stop at one stage and then I remembered all of you - sewing along with me and I thought I couldn't let you all down - so I kept going - till 11.30pm.

Thanks Bobbi & Heidi for this  brilliant idea!!!   You go here to see what other FNSI'rs did!

Got to get moving - people coming for an  Australia Say Barbecue - shame about the rain!! and still lots of blog hopping to do to check out everyone's efforts from last night...

Secret Sewing from before Christmas

I had some secret sewing on the go before Christmas and couldn't show one of the projects.  I showed a hint here  (Secret Sewing Project #2).

Finally my present arrived in the USA - it did take a while - but I have now heard from the recipient.  [Edited: - And she has now commented - telling me how much she really loved it - and so did all her friends at Quilt Guild!!!]

 I wanted something "Australian" without being too much and saw this lovely panel at the Craft show in Brisbane last October - then was lucky enough to find a perfect fabric to back and bind it with.  (Thanks Bargain Box! - ever been there?? they are not too bad...I know of the ones at Capalaba and Ipswich)

I included a few extra  bits and pieces in the parcel - my friend Marti is now a big fan of Caramello Koalas!  I included some Vegemite too - she is planning on having it on crackers - with Vodka.  I wonder if she will like it??
[Edited: - please read her comment - its #2 - and see why she will have it with vodka!! - Sorry Marti - I think most of us Aussie will get a giggle from that!!)

Also I have signed up for Friday Night Sew In -  here's the link

I would usually be sewing on Friday night anyway so may as well do it all properly and remember to post on Saturday...
I have to get "something" finished before the end of the month...oh! the pressure!!!

My Christmas/New Year Break

I have been back at work for a week now and realised I didn't post about what I did over my break.
This Christmas / New year I had 3 weeks and 2 days away from work.
I always use this time to catch up with my sewing and also to try to do a lot of preparation for the next year, since I find it tedious to have to pull fabrics out and cut at night after dinner.

So, in this break period I have managed the following:

• Made a sewing machine cover for DD#1 (Christmas present)

(shown with the Tidy Bag I made her last year and the Thread Catcher I made as part of the Stitch-A-Long)

• Made 14 coasters
  See the last post here
• Made a 9 patch block for a KQ member
  (Sorry, forgot to take a photo of that one)
• Cut a heap of green squares for me and a KQ member to make into a Christmas Tree wall hanging
• Cut some more novelty/I spy and funky fabrics to make more blocks for my KQ Disappearing 9 patch
• Made 4 blocks for that quilt
• Made up the last 3 blocks of Journey of a Quilter (one still to stitch)
• Prepared 8 Projects for the SAL Blog
  (All kitted up and ready to go)
• Made one of them (5 Thread Catchers actually)
• Composed a list of projects that I expect to complete in 2013 - at a minimum

Well, it doesn't really seem all that much, and a not a lot of finishes to show, but I am a lot further along in terms of organisation and I really do hope that will help me get lots done in 2013.

UFO List for 2013

I've signed up again for Sew Its Finished 2013, where the plan is to finish at least one project a month (more if you can but let's be realistic) and at the same time I am joining in with Aunt Marti - where she has challenged us to complete 13 projects in 2013.  So, considering I have a pile of other things I also want to work on this year that I can't honestly class as a UFO, I am combining the two challenges.

So - confession time - here is my 2013 list.

McKenna Ryan Fuchsias - to be quilted & bound
Red Houses Wall Quilt - Marg Low pattern - 4 houses to be finished, put together, quilted, bound
Journey of a Quilter - 2 blocks to finish, put together, quilted, bound
Donna's Dreaming - to be quilted and bound
Flower Box Quilt -  to be quilted and bound
Homespun magazine - BOM project from 2010 - 2 blocks to be made, 4 blocks to be put together, quilted & bound
I Spy - Disappearing 9 patch - more blocks to be made, cut, re-assembled, quilted & bound
Hall Stand Runner - stitcheries done, to be put together
Sew Laugh Love - Leanne Beasley - finish stitchery, assemble
Happy Block Quilt - from many years ago - to be quilted and bound
Turtle - Anni Downs - assemble
Christmas Table Runner - pattern was a present from my husband in 2012, so has to be included so it's ready for Christmas 2013
and totally ambitious
Best Friends - a Millimac pattern, assemble, complete overlapping blocks, quilt and bind.

Strictly speaking  for Aunt Marti's Challenge I should number them and do the project that matches the number she tells us, but that doesn't work as well for me, so I will still aim to do one a month.

In addition to this I have 9 - now 8 - projects for the Stitch A Long run by Chookyblue,a challenge quilt to do before March, a quilt to be bound for a wedding last December, blocks for Stitchers' Garden (a class I am attending), and  ... well that is enough to scare me!! 

Wish me Luck!!!

I've been on a coaster roll

No - not a roller coaster.  I've been making coasters - they are not big enough to call them Mug Rugs and they are just for fun.
In my main patchwork group (LT for short) each year we either give some fabric or make a block for everyone's birthday.  In 2010 we each made "happy blocks" and I chose blue & silver Christmas themes.  I was able to make them into this:  (with a couple of additional blocks). 

At the same time I collected some extra strips and squares to make into coasters.  Finally, I have finished a set to match.

Secondly, I made 2 for my eldest daughter's best friend who got married on 1st December and since her quilt is not quite ready, I thought I would give her a little something to make up for it.

Thirdly, I made a set of 6 for my daughter to match the quilt I made for her wedding I showed it here.

I am on a roll now - I think I should be making some more for us that we can  use everyday...but I had one more Christmas project to start and finish - a machine cover for eldest daughter.  I forgot to take a photo.

Happy New Year everyone.

May 2013 be a fun filled happy & healthy year

Susan

Christmas Secret Sewing

In between work and all that other stuff one has to do I have had two "Secret Sewing Projects'.  On Wednesday I met up with my Best Sewing Mate and gave her one of the "Secret Projects"

Earlier in the year we decided we would make each other a cushion for Christmas.  It took me forever to make up my mind about colour, style etc etc.  Finally I had to bite the bullet and actually make something.

Here is my cushion.

I used the decorative stitches on my machine to do the applique.  This year I have been doing a workshop every month using this technique so I thought it was very appropriate for the 2012 cushion.

And here is the one I received - absolutely gorgeous - as her work always is.

and because I have been a good girl all year (???) she also gave me this:

 I am going to make sure I am really really good this year - she might give me a bonus next year too??

Secret Sewing Project #2 is still under wraps but here is a sneak peek.

Oh -  and Best Sewing Mate said I should post a picture of my Christmas nails, so here you are:

Sorry its a bit blurry - must be the rum balls!

Still got lots of things to do before Christmas - we do still have 2 weeks don't we????

Brisbane Bloggers meet - 9th December 2012

Everyone has said it so well.
Another lovely morning (for me) at the Wishing Well Cafe.
It was a perfect opportunity to meet Peg & Dale.

and catch up with all these lovely ladies:

Unfortunately I had to leave before lunch for my KQ Christmas party.  We had a lot of lovely food and some fun games.
Later in the afternoon we presented "W" with a quilt we had made as a group effort.  He keeps an eye out for our "workshop" when we are not there.

I also collected my Birthday blocks.  Everyone had made me a 9 patch block with novelty/funky fabrics.  I intend to add some more and make a quilt...it has to be finished before next November.

These are the blocks I have collected:

A busy but fun day.

Log Cabins Anyone?

Over here, Béatrice is reviewing some work for Fons & Porters and mentioned a free book you can download.  I have only had a quick look at it, but it seems like a vary handy reference for log cabin blocks and some variations.
Pop on over and have a look.
Meanwhile I am trying to finish some "secret" Christmas sewing, so there has not been a lot of blogging happening. 

PS:  this great e-book has a marvellous method for joining the ends of the binding.  I'm sure everyone has their preferred method - but I'm still searching for mine - Maybe this is it.  So download the book and look for Liz’s Lumpless Binding (right at the end).  It worked well for me last night.

SKOW Completed

This is my finished SKOW quilt

My Favourite Things Quilt

I have posted here (to meet the November deadline) and here (where it all started) but not here..
So here is my completed "My Favourite Things" quilt.

 

and I did a label (as one should)

I have included a picture of each block (for record keeping purposes) on the "My Favourite Things" page - see the tab at the top..

Now onto those special projects that I cant talk about (yet).