Sunday, October 12, 2014

I met Brenda!


Yes the Dear Jane wizard herself, and she is lovely, considering I arrived at Quilts in the Barn about an hour before it closed. So after three days of talking to 1000's of quilters all weekend she chatted and signed my book and put up with the kids trying to talk and let me take a photo, when I'm sure all she was thinking of is "there's only half an hour to go". So what have I been doing tonight? Well pinning Dear Jane quilts on Pinterest of course, I just have to decide on colours before I can start, what was that did I say I was going to start oops I was trying to resist.......


Monday, October 6, 2014

Swap time again

Here's my bedroom swap from my partner Kim, the project is from Helen Stubbings book Simply Applique and I just love the colours I'm definitely a blue girl that's for sure.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Yes I am still here!


Wow has this been a busy term, I haven't been back here to post for ages, mainly because being back at work 5 days a week the chance to get something post worthy done is very limited. I have been making a new baby quilt with some cute embroidered bunnies but it's just as well it's not for an actual baby as the poor child might hit 18 before it's finished at the rate I've been going. School holidays start this Friday so I'm looking forward to getting a chance to get a little sewing done, potter in the garden and maybe even a nana nap or two!


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Squishy mail!

Here's what I received from my swap partner Kim from www.quiltingwithkim.blogspot.com, a gorgeous bag from Gail Pans new book, clover binding clips, which I can't wait to try, needles, a new tape measure some ecru perle 8 thread so I'll have to do some more hand quilting, and some dissolvable hexies from hugs and kisses which look like a fantastic idea! Thank you Kim I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful swap partner.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

FNSI

Not too much stitching last night but there was a netball match and a 13th birthday to celebrate, I did get a little done and some more today watching Jordan play footy. Thanks to Wendy @ http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com.au 



Thursday, July 17, 2014

Jenny's off to the doctor

Jenny the janome that is, she's in need of a little tlc, so I braved the thought of not having her for a while and dropped her off. 10-14 days at best they said!!! Aaaarrrrgh, but she will come back as good as new, well that's what I'm hoping for. Last time, about 5-6 years ago she seized up, a very worn out cam shaft bar thingy needed replacing but the bloke was a bit dodgy and she has never been the same, this time I have researched the best of the best, many recommendations and fingers crossed she will be back better than ever. Strangely they said every day use doesn't mean they expect them to be used every day, well they should explain that better!

Monday, July 7, 2014

More stitching

Chilly weather with some snow nearby, just right for some stitching in front of the fire.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Block 4

For block 4 I chose a couple of these cheeky fellas, they are King parrots,
this is one sampling my nectarines last summer. They are so bold there is one that marches right up to the window when I'm doing the dishes and taps on the window if there's no seed.
Cut the background fabric to 9 1/2"x 4 1/2".


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Monday update on Tuesday

Well the plan worked, the quilt is finished

The kids bedroom has needed a few extra coats to cover the dark blue that was in there but it's coming along and just needs the colour on two walls, that's Thursdays job, but the stitchery hasn't been done maybe some stitching in front of NCIS tonight. How was your weekend?

Thursday, June 5, 2014

I have a plan....

A long weekend here in Victoria, so I'm starting with a plan 
This quilt is about half quilted, so I hope to finish that and paint one of the kids bedrooms, block 4 of the BOM stitchery is ready to sew and the garden needs some love and attention if it's not too wet. 
How do you think I'm going to go? Umm I'll check back on Monday and let you know progress. What's on your to do list this weekend?

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Scrap box quilt

I've been trying to use my scraps and stash to make a quilt, I've been very disciplined and I'm trying hard to not overthink fabrics and just see what happens. So far...

Or

Amazing the difference a 1/4 turn on a few blocks makes. I think because the fabrics are all very country I'll stick with the more traditional pinwheels. Hoping to quilt it over the weekend while celebrating Chookyblue's chookshed birthday party sew along. 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

New Dolly

Tulley has learnt the joys of Pinterest and has been searching through pages of dolls so Mum (me) can make her a new one. Not that she doesn't have enough already. So Friday is our day home, we started with a plan a lot of enthusiasm, by Friday night we had a head, Saturday night a body and by tonight we have hair and a face. Of course when you are 4 this seems rather a looooong time, so she slept with a head, took a bald faceless dolly on the trampoline and finally she is finished, but still naked, oops so we have borrowed some pjs from another doll. 
 

And in action!

Hope you had a great weekend. 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Friday night stitching

I love joining Friday night stitching with Wendy from Sugarlane quilts, it makes me do something when it's all too easy to just sit on the couch. Friday night was mostly secret stitching for Mrs Martins swap but here's a small peek at the stitchery I'm using for my laundry or bathroom item. 

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Woo Hoo Block 3 finally....

This one is the girls, I hadn't had chooks until Hayden asked for some for Christmas about 6 years ago, by the time we made the shed and run he got them for his birthday in July, well it's a bit hard to ask Santa for them the night before! But now I wouldn't be without them, they are lovely in the garden, despite having to protect my seedlings, bulbs and rhubarb, they give lovely eggs and are so funny to watch. Our original batch mostly died from old age at around 6 years, they were all layers from an egg farm so 6 years was pretty good, our next batch were all named by Tulley, Vanessa, Jemima and Neville and no we dont have a rooster. Neville doesnt seem to mind her name but she is always the last one that we are chasing around the yard to lock up.
This is Lewis in the veggie garden about 6 months ago with two of them, he's a bit bigger now.

Here's my version, it's a little different to the download but I stitched mine, lost it and the drawings I'd done, drew them all up again and then found it again. I think the new version is actually a bit better, but I'm not stitching it again. That's Neville at the back looking the wrong way!
Cut your background 7 1/2"x 9 1/2"  and have fun!



Sunday, April 27, 2014

Holidays!

School holidays, Easter then Anzac weekend I feel I haven't been home for a month! The next stitchery is ready to go and should be done in the next few days...after I finish catching up on the washing. 
Cheers
Michelle

Saturday, April 12, 2014

AQC

Mum, Meg and I managed to get into Melbourne to AQC, we were there as the doors opened on the first day and got a great look at everything without it being too crowded. I got a quick chat with the Quilted Crow girls who have some very exciting news coming soon! Then a cruise around and a few purchases, some repro greens, it's  always hard to find nice greens, oops, and a yellow, some text fabric, a block lock ruler, I've been after one of these for ages and I treated myself to a tape measure bracelet from Gum Valley but it seems that Tulley has taken a shine to it and it's gone AWOL.
Then we had a look through the quilt display, some amazing quilts on display
I loved this, so often Australian wildflowers are ignored in favour of European flowers and yet they can be stunning on a quilt. These mushrooms were amazing, so densely stitched to give fantastic detail.


Then we went to test drive some sewing machines for Mum, that was a lot of fun but I'm still staying loyal to Jenny my Janome! Next we found material Obsession and I lashed out and bought some of Kathy Doughty's range of fabric, yummo!

and I know just what I'm planning to do with this. After all this we headed to Chinatown for lunch and then off to do some clothes shopping.
And finally here's Flynn and his backpack at the Patchwork Teahouse stand.

A lovely day out with Mum and Meg.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

AQC

Anyone off to AQC? I'm hoping to go tomorrow, but I managed to finish this little fella just in time to go with Marilyn from the Patchwork Teahouse
I had seen the fabric when Marilyn ordered it and had something in mind for when it arrived in May, but on Sunday I was dropping patterns to Marilyn for the show and it had come in early so I raced home with a bundle of new fabric and a request that if I could get it back to her complete and with the pattern by Tuesday she would take it to AQC. Once I had the fabric home the ideas started flying and the original idea was shelved and this took over I think he turned out pretty cool. Let me know if you spot him at  AQC!

Monday, March 31, 2014

Bloggers and blog readers

Ever wanted to meet the faces behind the blogs, well join me at Mrs Martins on Saturday, 10 - 12:30 Bring some stitching, bring a friend. All it will cost is $5.00

Friday, March 14, 2014

I should have taken a before photo..

But here's the after
My ribbons and trims box has been sorted! This was overflowing and all tangled and then Meg decided she was going to organize it for me, she has a thing for ribbons so I think there may be an ulterior motive here! lol

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Free BOM Block 2

I know I called this  Our Backyard but as I started drawing I really couldn't get away from the birds, maybe because the king parrots are eating my nectarines and the crimson rosellas are demolishing the tomatoes, but these little fellas are really cute and besides a great twittering they don't eat any thing they shouldn't.
This block is a finished size 11" x 5" and I have stitched mine in 2 strands of Cottage Garden embroidery thread in cobblestone.
As you can see it hasn't even been pressed yet, and here's the king parrot, maybe he'll get stitched next!



Monday, March 10, 2014

running late....

I know I'm a few days late with the next stitchery, just finishing the last few details and trying to get another pattern finished before the end of the week, so watch this space it will happen soon....
In the meantime Sharon from Avonleigh Country Quilting in Albury sent me some photos of the sample she has made from our pattern Little Traveller.

Doesn't it look fantastic in yellow, I really love the diagonal stripe on the pockets. Sharon is running a sewing circle for this pattern so if you are around the Albury area drop in and have a look. Now back to stitching.....

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Where has the time gone?


The year is zooming by, nearly the end of Feb but I have been busy, a new pattern, Audrey, a paper piecing pouch. It's designed to fit everything you need for some paper piecing on the go.

Scissors, threads, glue pen, paper pieces and your project all have a pocket and small enough to fit in your handbag or glove box, great for when you're waiting for the kids, husband or various government departments!


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Free Stitchery Pattern

I'm just giving myself a little pat on the back as I think I've managed to add a link to my new stitchery pattern. My Backyard is a collection of simple stitcheries, just to say thank you for visiting my blog. I'll post one a month for 6 months and some measurements for sashings if you would like to make it into a mini quilt. The first block should be cut 7 1/2" x 5 1/2".
Patterns are for personal use only, but feel free to share the link with others. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Michelle

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Another Birthday...

and spoilt yet again by Wendy. Wendy sent me a beautiful doll with a bag full of stars
Here she is sitting in my kitchen with the bird Wendy made me for Christmas (it was too cute to pack away with the other decorations). She also sent a Tilda book and some thread, a pack of Lilac Hill charm squares a mini quilt hanger and more! I was so touched that someone spent the time to make me something so special, I have really enjoyed this swap and am very thankful to have Wendy as my swap partner.
Also for my birthday I was in Triathlon Pink and this year Meg came too, she was in the 2.5km run and came 2nd! Not a bad effort for her first event, I was pretty pleased with my event too, the timing was stuffed up for the run leg but I think my total was around 10 minutes faster than last year. My best improvement was in the swim (my weakest leg) last year I was 2nd last in my age group, this year I was 6th fastest!
A great day all round.



Sunday, February 2, 2014

And the winners are......

Lou with Britannia Farm, and Julie Schliefert was our random prize winner! Thanks to everyone for our Facebook likes and all your suggestions. If like to email me your snail mail addresses to britcreek@bigpond.com I'll pop them in the post for you.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Name that Quilt!

Ok here is the new quilt, so who can give it a name? The same quilt has been made  in two different colours, you can see how different they look. It's a center star surrounded by 14 applique squares, farmhouse, barn, rooster, flowers, rabbit, hare, fox and robin. So get the ideas rolling and comment here or on the facebook page by the 31st of Jan. We will chose the favourite name and also draw a random winner, each will receive a copy of the pattern.
Good luck!



 This is the farm house block in the two colours. Don't know why ones turned sideways, they were both taken the same way.




Saturday, January 18, 2014

Summer School

I spent the day stitching and chatting (mostly chatting) at Mrs Martins summer school today. I forgot to take any photos at all so all I have is what I was working on.
I chose the blazing star pattern, but as you can see I didn't get very far. The patterns were all designed by Max and Louise Pattern co. and the lovely Lisa and Lou were both there as the perfect hostesses for the day. There was a choice of eight mini quilts and it was great to see the same patterns done in different colours, it really gives each one a personal twist. I was on a table with Carol 
whose blog I have read for the last few years but had only met at Karen's once before, as well as Jo who makes the beautiful hand dyed felt I have used in a few of my patterns and Elissa who had been lucky enough to visit Japan and see their quilt show. So thanks to Karen, Lisa and Lou for a wonderful day and if the amount of noise generated is any measure of the success, then it must of been a winner!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

And another one!!!

Don't worry I'm sure this finishing things will wear off pretty soon!  This is the same quilt done in repros with a black background. This one I left off the corner blocks and made an octagonal quilt, just for something different.
Using the black background was a bit challenging. I usually avoid anything black, I don't even wear black, but I read an article about using black in decorating and decided to give it a go. I even bought myself a black t shirt just to see how far I could push it!! I have a friend who has a similar aversion to green, she even chose the school her kids went to because it had a blue uniform. Anyone else have least favourite colour? And what would happen if you were pushed to use it????

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Another finish

Wow watch out I'm on a roll! Here's the next quilt off the quilting frame all finished and ready for the pattern, now I just have to think of a name for it???? Any suggestions.....

Thursday, January 2, 2014

First finish of 2014!

Granny Square Quilt is officially finished!!
I'm really pleased as I pushed myself not to stipple all this quilt, so I have done a circle pattern on the coloured squares and a stipple in between. I definitely improved as I went and it's no where near perfect but I tried something new and I think it turned out OK.

You can almost see the quilting in this photo. Not wonderful but I have learnt a lot that will make the next one much easier.