doing Good

A couple of years ago I answered a call out from Rachel, of Stitched in colour, to establish a do.Good Stitches Circle here in Australia and the result was the Cherish Circle.  This wonderful group of women have made lots of stunning quilts, all destined to be gifted to people who would benefit from a quilty hug...here are a few of them.....

these can all be viewed in Flickr do.good Stitches group
Flickr

Late last year however, I made the decision to  bow out for a while - my school work is getting more full-on and with various other commitments, time is at a premium.  We found a new member to replace me and Anne very kindly took over the leadership.  All I had to do was finish the last quilt - which was supposed to be finished by November 2012.......

Anyway - yesterday I decided it was next on the list - so I loaded it on the Gammill (I have these new Red Snapper things that make loading and unloading quilts onto the frame an absolute breeze) and freehand feathery quilted it all over.  The backing I pieced out of a few lengths of fabric that suited and the binding - all done by machine (and I have those Clover binder clips - wow - they make such a difference too) - was a blue stripe I've had for some time too - so now it's ready for a label and then handover to the recipient.

crap photo - another thing on my list of things to improve...

I've really enjoyed making with the Cherish group - I'll keep calling into the Flickr groups to look at what stunners they have come up with and there's always lots of inspiration in the main do.good Stitches group too.

All the best ladies - you made my tenure as Circle mama so very easy and I wish you all the very best.

Bee block catch up - and a new sewing group catch up

Fallen a bit behind in my Bee blocks - so made a concerted effort yesterday to catch up...

These 2 are for Nicolette's October do.Good stitches quilt - Nicolette is a very, (actually, she rates in capital letters - VERY) talented quilter and I often sigh at her work (take a look at her blog and you'll see what I mean!) and she asked for a warm and a cool bowtie block - so here they are - they'll be winging their way to  Europe when I get to the PO tomorrow.

Next one is for Shirley in our Quilt Club Australia Bee...

Shirley asked for a convergence block in black and white - Shirley is the Queen of convergence blocks and whilst making this one I can understand the allure!

...and finally, I'm the Queen Bee for November for do.Good stitches so I've asked for Converging Corners in manly greys and blues - I don't think I quite mastered the process so I'll have to make a couple more...I like them though :)

Now - as the title mentioned, there's a new Sewing Group been formed by the indomitable Sally, the Peninsula Sewshells, and the inaugural meeting is at the Frankston Library...here's the flyer:

peninsula sewshells

Are you a quilter?

A bag maker?

A clothes maker?

Embroiderer?

Crocheter?

Thread artist?

Want to meet like minded souls, with a modern twist?

Then come to Frankston Library

Friday November 16 or December 14 from 6 til 10.

Cost $5.00 per person.

BYO project, sewing machine or hand project.

This is not lessons, it is a sit and create social evening.

Parking is available under the library, and a lift is available to the rooms.

Check us out on facebook – sew shells,

or at sewshells@gmail.com,

Or just come along!

So if you're in the area - come on down - I'll see you there!

do. Good Stitches - Cherish

Debra asked for a couple of blocks with a beachy theme and they had to be all one colour - so I've added a little artistic licence and we have a blue boat for sailing on the deep blue...

and a green lighthouse, who really wanted to be a greenhouse....

There was a couple of 'Y' seams when I joined the pieces together - that was fun!

These will be joined with the other blocks made by the clever ladies in the Cherish Circle and will become a gorgeous quilt for a deserving someone.

Progress

In between refining my workshop (how share trading works - an operations perspective) and shooing the baby chooks out of my herb patch....

Some came over to check out the shiny thing in my hand (my camera).  The little rooster on the left is feeling particularly brave after lasting a couple of rounds with Big Red, my fully grown - and 4 times larger - rooster

I've been putting together one of the CFA quilts...the blocks were pieced by some of my wednesday evening ladies and they've done a fabulous job......next to do is the quilting but first I'll have to find some backing before I can throw it on to the Gammill.....thinking flame shapes all over - ladders and flames - must be for the fire brigade of course :-)

Making a stationery box (with blank cards and notelets) for my ma-in-law's birthday...some days she doesn't get out and I thought this would be handy in an emergency - I followed this fabulous tute - and have to say the blank cards I put inside took me longer to make than the box!.

the box packs up to this

when you take the lid off, it opens up to this - space for cards, tags, stamps, a pen and a little booklet for writing down reminders

I've also done some work on my school assignments (so much more to do on those - and time is running out!) and contemplated how I'm going to quilt this...

busy, busy, busy - thanks gawd for school holidays.

Linking up with Cindy's Really Random.......check out the diverse range of doings this week

Community projects

When I first joined the local community quilt club, we met in a tiny room - no-one could bring their sewing machines because it was too cramped, not to mention dangerous (an Occupational Health and Safety nightmare!)  So when I took over teaching, I vowed to myself that I had to find a better venue, especially as I intended to introduce Project of the Month and sewing machines were mandatory.....

A couple of times we'd used the room at the local CFA (Country Fire Authority) for making charity quilts - the room was large, well lit, lots of power points and has an accessible kitchen - perfect - so I slept with one of the Firies (it's ok, he's my husband!!) and we were able to secure their meeting room on wednesday mornings and wednesday evenings - so much better and so much more conducive to boosting creativity.

The Firies have been great - if they're in the building when we are (for call-outs and other stuff) they never fail to pop their heads through the door and say hello, so when they asked if we could make a quilt to include in their upcoming 70th birthday celebrations, we couldn't say no -  in fact, we said 'yes' twice! - and all proceeds from the raffle will go to the Burns Unit at the Royal Children's Hospital.

We've started two quilts - one that we hope will appeal to the older generation and the other, a more modern style.....neither are finished (lots more to do) but here's a little preview....

Simple nine-patches in country colours and applique created by the very clever Jan and Lynne - Somerville is known for chook farms and apple and pear orchards

This one is called 'Ladders' - appropriately - by the very clever Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson fame - out of the new 'We Love Color' book

Obviously more to do before they're finished - but well done ladies - doing a fabulous job :)

.......and here's a little montage of some of their creativity so far....

Love my ladies.....

Bee blocks

Had to catch up a little on Bee blocks and in the process of fixing a very slight backlog, I got ahead of the game and got August blocks finished too...........excellent!!

For the Cherish Circle for July, we were asked to complete any blocks we liked in the colours of red, aqua, grey and white.

a bit of wonk

if I did this again, I'd flip the patches so the white is on the inside

For August, we were asked to create snail trail blocks in greys and aquas (a manly palette)

...and last, but by no means least, August requirements for the QCA bee was for a Mondrian inspired block - love, love, love this one.....

What's your fave blocks at the minute?

Stupendous Sunday

Today was one of those truly wonderful days that happen, unfortunately, all too seldom......let me explain.....

My bestest friend and I decided to go to Treehouse Textiles to attend their open day - we'd been meaning to go forever and not quite got round to it....but we did today. 

For those in Oz, and more specifically in Victoria, if you get a chance, drive on down the Peninsula and visit Emma and Sarah at Treehouse Textiles in Merricks North -  even though it was a cold and greyish day (the sun did make an appearance for a second or two), we had the warmest of welcomes, handed a coffee and a cookie (or a piece of slice - mmmm) and taken on a tour around the place. 

The studio overlooks a lake and it is set in beautiful bushland - perfect for that sewing retreat or to learn new skills.  Emma and Sarah have a sensational range of fabric - not so many that it's overwhelming but certainly enough to get those creative juices flowing

Cathy of Cabbage Quilts showed up (Cathy teaches at Treehouse Textiles) and it was lovely to catch up - we're having our inaugural 'Mornington Stitchers Group' meeting tomorrow night at Cathy's house so I had the opportunity to introduce my bff who will also join us.

After purchasing some gorgeous fabric from Emma (because I don't have enough!!), my bff and I headed to my house for some sewing.

We were well ensconced when we had a phone call from my bff's partner, Sparky,  - he's been cooking and can he bring dinner round for us all? - hmm, let me think about that - hell, yes!!  So dinner is sorted (fresh pasta, a yummo meat sauce and homemade bread - followed by cheesecake....yum) without me doing anything at all! 

My eldest son phoned, he and his lovely fiance are coming over to say hello, no problem, see you soon, and my bff said for them to stay for dinner, there's heaps.  In the meantime, Sparky had been speaking to my youngest son and he and his partner were coming for dinner too!

How funny - dinner at my house, I didn't actually invite anybody specifically, but I spent the day pursuing things I love to do (spending time with my bff, sewing and buying fabric), spending time with my gorgeous family, and I didn't have to make dinner - it SO works for me!!!

......and I got my do.good stitches quilt finished - another one off the list :)

Excellent all round really..

WIP Wednesday - well it would be, but now it's Thursday and the link is closed :(

omg - I knew it had been a while since linking up with WIP Wednesday at Lee's, but just saw that the last time was 9th Feb - definately a long time between drinks!

So obviously there's a little bit of creativity going on in the meantime - most of which relates to the Textiles course I'm doing, but I got a few things done outside of that too :)

I have a finish which started about here....

Totally inspired by this

Here's the back........

there's actual sunshine in Melbourne today!

I finished up another quilt...

I'm in the process of adding hand quilting to this next one...

Completed some farmers wife and projects for school, sewing bees and my teaching classes...

I also managed to complete a few quilting commissions on the long-arm too - I'm sure there's more but it's been so long I think I'd be here forever finding all the photos!

Anyway - pop on over to Lee's and check out everyone else's awesome WIP's - huge amount of inspiration out there :)

Wild Waves Tute

Specifically for the lovely ladies of the Cherish Circle of Do.Good stitches for our April quilt - but obviously, anyone can have a go at this block - it's very pretty - and made in bright, saturated fabrics, looks a bit like bunting twirling in the breeze....

this is 2 blocks, side by side.....

Okey dokey, to make 2 x 12" finished blocks, you'll need the following....

from the white fabric - 8 x 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" squares, plus
                                     16 x 4" x 4" squares
n.b. - you can use any white

from your scrap box - 1 x 4 1/4" square of 8 bright, saturated fabrics - any colour and you can use a mix of prints and solids.

Method:

1.  With a pencil and a ruler, mark each of the white squares, on the wrong side, with 2 diagonal lines, 1/4" away from the centre diagonal (fig 1)

fig 1

2.  Pick up one white 4 1/4" square and place it on top of one of your bright 4 1/4" squares, right sides together, then sew down the inside of the drawn lines (fig 2)

fig 2

3.  Cut apart down the centre of the sewn lines.  Set the seams with the iron then press the seams open (fig 3)

fig 3 (showing wrong side uppermost)

4.  Repeat with remaining coloured squares and 4 1/4" white square until you have 16 HST's
5.  Pick up one HST and lay a white 4" square on top, right sides together - make sure the diagonal of the HST is NOT aligned to the diagonal lines drawn on the 4" white square - it should be opposite (fig 4)

fig 4

6.  Sew down the inside of each drawn line, cut apart and press the seam open as before (fig 5)

fig 5 (showing wrong side uppermost)

7.  Continue until you have used all the 4" white squares - you'll now have 32 small 1/4sq patches.
8.  Trim all of these patches to 3 1/2" square (fig 6)

fig 6 - I used a JT ruler to square these up, but you can do it just as successfully with a regular cutting ruler

9.  Using the following guide (to ensure the patches are oriented the same way - this is a little trickier than it looks - and please make sure the first column has the triangles pointing up :-)), layout your patches in 2 blocks of 4 x 4 patches 

please note the direction of the diagonals - your 2 blocks will be mirror images

10.  Sew 16 patches together to make a 1 block
11.  Repeat with remaining 16 patches
12. Send blocks to me (but only if you're a Cherish Circle member....)

There you go - please let me know if you have any questions - have fun....

Quilts of Hope

Last month I received an email from Deborah who asked me whether I would make an 8" block which would be joined with other blocks, from other donors, and be made up into a quilt which will be raffled to raise money for Deborah House and Missio Link International.  Any remaining blocks will be made up into quilts for the girls who attend Deborah House.

I don't know Deborah - so I looked up the websites and decided making an 8" block or 2 would be a nice way to help.  Of course it wasn't until I was virtually sealing the envelope to send them that I wondered whether it was 8" finished or unfinished..........so a quick look at the conversation link and I found out it was 8" finished - damn - back to the sewing machine and I whipped up a couple more, the correct size this time.  Apparently I wasn't the only one who made the mistake so luckily, Deborah can use both sizes - she'll just put the 7 1/2" finished blocks together in a quilt.

So, if you have a spare 8" block hanging around, or you feel a bit crafty and can whip one up, details of where to send them are on this website, Quilts of Hope.

I made 2 very simple 'autumn tints' blocks.  The larger patches are cut 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" and the smaller ones are cut 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" - easy peasy and great use of those scraps.

Wednesday, again??? - and it's now Thursday even...

These weeks are sneaking up on me - can't believe it's WIP wednesday again - which was actually yesterday - so 'Thought it was Wednesday Thursday' then?

I haven't even redone my WIP list, so it's going to be a bit of mish-mash til I can get myself organised.

I had a couple of finishes...

from the UFO bin - gift for a friend who will faint when it's presented!

I finished my mouthy stitches pouch but I can't show it as it's a secret - but I can show a detail of it...

...and a I wrote a tutorial as to how to do the twists - it's my previous post

I did some more on my hexy quilt border..

I made a couple of blocks for the Cherish do.good stitches February quilter...

love this - might have to make a quilt myself!

I made another little mug bag to show my wednesday ladies that you can make the little bag with whatever scraps you have leftover...

and forgive me, I stitched a little counted cross stitch teacup...

I finished one sock and started the next...

and I've just spent 4 hours in front of the computer reading and commenting on blogs - Gordon Bennett, must do something about that - but I love reading and seeing what others are up to - so check out other Wednesday WIPpers - and Lily's Fresh sewing day - and Lily's small blog meet...whew

WIP Wednesday #12

I'm linking up with Lee at Freshley Pieced - thanks Lee - this weekly summary really helps in identifying what I've actually done (and still to do) - although the last time I linked up was 16th November last year..............so there's some progress to report!

I also love having a look at what others are doing - it provides so much inspiration - there is a seriously large group of very clever people out there.

I did some sewing for Christmas..

pj's x 3, boardies, a pincushion, a cushion cover, 2 stuffed dollies, a matching bag, journal cover and a little drawstring bag, and a frock for my ma-in-law

Made a skirt for me..

7 bags and pouches (other than christmas ones)

2 do.Good stitches blocks...

a Quilting Australia Bee block...

2 baby quilts with matching soft baskets...

14 Farmers wife blocks....

total finished is now 72, so 39 to go

put the hexy quilt together and am now working on the 2nd border...

loaded and started quilting the batik medallion...

made a journal cover for me...

started knitting a pair of socks..

and completed the first 4 of the QAYGFMQQA blocks...

I've decided to review my list of stuff I'm reporting on to keep it more in line with the winter/summer stitching lit - but not tonight - I'll do that when I post my progress against that list, maybe tomorrow...

Jump into Lee's blog (button on the right) and see what everyone else is up to...