Octagonal Quilt.

I have been responding to an on-line inquiry about what to make for a friend who has sent some fabric with playing cards on it. I told her about the one I made for my Mum back in 1987 to use as a card table cover (i/o an old blanket she was using). The top block is the actual "Card Trick" block (variation) and quilted in the orange triangles are the respective suits. I saw one about 3 months later in a magazine, very similar, although I actually designed this one myself ... anyhow, they had appliqued the suits.

This now covers my washing machine, which is the first place you come to when you use our back door. It's faded and starting to wear out - the fabric wasnt the best quality when I made it. I was living in an oil camp in Sumatra and the fabric was from the local market, so considering that, it has lasted well.

I have the design for a new cover for my machine - the one where she is hanging out the washing and the sign says "I'd rather be quilting". Just have to get around to making it now. I'll post a photo when it's done ..... if I remember.

After Xmas

It's all over again. I had a nice day with just our family - hubby and 2 sons (23 & 26). We had a BBQ lunch and I made 4 different salads to go with it. Nice and easy. The boys helped chopping the salads and Hubby and No.1 son cooked. No.2 son did the washing up later.


Would you believe I actually did some sewing too. Xmas day and holidays (as well as Sundays) are for doing what you like - and I like sewing. I also spent some time on the computer.


Pressies? Well I got a nice Parker Pen from the boys, a Lavender print Tea Infusion set from DH, and a huge box of chocs from a friend. The chocs are all gone!! Adam got Brute from the same guy, so I'll have to use some of that to make up for the chocolates he ate LOL.

I've been sewing madly still. I'm making some things to sell. So far, 2 bags, 2 aprons, a pot holder and am almost finished a small wall hanging. I'm having fun.

Saturday - 4 days till Xmas

I think I've finished my Xmas shopping- food included. Xmas day will be just the 4 of us, so not a lot of food required. Mind you, I still want to make my Xmas cake and a slice or two. The fruit cake I do in the microwave so it doesnt take long, and we never leave it any length of time before we eat it, so I dont know if it improves with age ... LOL

I have been participating in an Advent swap that has been fun. We had to collect, wrap and number, 24 gifts to the value of $2 or $3, at least 10 of which had to be handmade. The 25th gift had to be to the value of $15. When we received the name we had to send them off to arrive at the recipients address before 1st December. Then each day we open one gift until the 25th December. I'm really enjoying it all.

I have spent most of thisafternoon making a cot quilt for a friends daughter who had a son early December, and then a Humpty Dumpty pillow for his older brother, who is only about 18 months old. I think it's important not to ignore the first child, and I know my son loved his Humpty cushion. This family travel a lot (and so did we when the kids were young), so his Humpty can be the "constant" while he is travelling. I remember Jason left his in the airport once and I had to quickly make him another when we got home.

Tonight I'm going to try and finish off all the swaps that I have. I've almost finished one, then have one more to do. This second one doesnt have to be finished till end of January, but who knows what might happen between now and then, so I'll start on it tonight and finish as soon as I can.

The I want to get on and quilt some of the tops I made in Nov/Dec. Next year will be another year of finishing UFO's I think. I still have quite a few in the box on top of the cupboard.

December photos

As promised from last night, I'm now attempting to put up some photos of my recent patchwork items.





These are a couple of bags that I have made for my nieces. It wasn't until I'd finished the one on the right that I realized it's quite a bit smaller than the other. I hope she wont mind.













This is my "Scrappy Bargello" that isnt scrappy. I love the colours. I made this during a retreat at Collingully (see previous post). I have called it "Thunder & Lightning".














This was made as "starters & enders" using leftover fabrics (plus some) when I was making "Thunder & Lightning". I havent actually named it yet. I didnt plan the placement of the 9-patches - just picked them up and sewed them together.














This wall hanging was started at my very first class at the first Australian Quilt Convention in 2005. It is a Patricia Campbell design and was taught by Gabriella Swain. I have added a couple of extra vines on the outside and am very pleased with it now. Even my quilting was a little outside my comfort zone.












This was from AQC 2007 - "Draplique" with Pam Holland. I'm now a fan of the Fabrico pens.







These next two didn't go where I wanted them to. The first one I finished about 18 months ago, a class with Lyn Sorrenson from Country Patchwork Cottage called "Beyond Baby Blocks". The second one is the leftovers (plus some) and is only about 60cm x 80cm.
That's all I'm going to do today. I have 3 more to show, but have run out of time. I think I'll be able to remember how to do them without Jason lurking within easy coo-ee

Waiting ...

I'm just waiting for the boys to arrive - its Sunday, 12.45 - I guess they didnt go to bed early - you know how it is with young ones. I was there once, long time ago.

Jason is 26 and lives in Perth, but is visiting for the weekend. Matt is 23 and lives here in Pinjarra. Jason stays with him when he comes to Pinjarra. Matt mentioned going next door to the winery for lunch, but they had better arrive soon, or we'll eat. It was his idea to go, so I'm not going to ring him.

Jason is the computer wiz. He is going to show me how to upload photo's so I can put up some shots of what I've been doing. I could ask hubby, but he has no patience and if I didnt get it the first time I'd feel like I cant ask him to show me again. Jason is used to dealing with dummies :>)

It's hot here today, which is a change. Summer has been a long time coming. Hope it's not going to last forever. I dont mind a few hot days, but need some relief inbetween.

waiting ... waiting ... waiting ................

I'm back

Well, I'm back and trying to remember all the things my son has told me about blogging. He has been showing me things and has now gone home, so I'm on my own.

Firstly, I'd like to talk about my weekend away. Seven of us went to Collingully - a reatreat barn on a farm near Meckering in the wheatbelt of WA. It's like you died and went to heaven - you live, eat, sleep patchwork. There is sooooo much fabric to choose from, and sample quilts all over the place. Such an inspiration.

Anyhow, I had been visiting Bonny Hunter's site and was all inspired and enthused about Scrappy Bargello, although I had co-ordinated mine so it wasnt scrappy at all. As I was sewing it, I did 9-patch starters & enders and at the end of the 4 days I had one top finished and another almost done. I also worked on leftovers from another quilt I had done about 12-18 months earlier - needed more fabric (as you do .. LOL) and this was the place to find it. Once again 9-patch, but with snowball blocks to join it all together. This is only a small quilt.

Since then (13-16th Nov) I have been absolutely inspired and have been sewing every day and half the night. Tomorrow I will take photo's of everything and learn how to put them on my blog.