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!

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?

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 :)

Drawing and other random stuff

1.  My Diploma of Textile Arts course started a couple of weeks ago and one of the first things we've been doing is to learn how to draw - we'll need this skill to visually communicate an idea without actually making the idea up in fabric (or whatever medium we choose).

My eldest son has awesome drawing skills, but I've never classified myself as being able to draw.  As our teacher says, everything improves with practice and a little know how - so we have to practice everyday....

First page of my new visual diary - oh dear!!

My Doc Martins - the left boot looks like it would fit an ogre!

Doodling - zentangle style

My coffee 'table' - actually it's 2 stacked boxes  - and Picasso's Don Quixote is riding on in...

I'm quite enjoying the drawing - and try to draw something every day as instructed - and concentrate hard on getting perspective right - it is hard though!

2.  I'm actually supposed to be writing an Occupational Health and Safety report on my workplace/sewing room - but I'm bored already......

Garden Path block

Across the Sea blocks

3. I sewed a little yesterday and got blocks made for my Quilt Australia sewing bee and for do.Good Stitches.  I also repurposed a gigantor bag I made months ago which was too big to be practical - it's now a smaller tote bag, with lots of pockets, a pencil roll and a boxy pouch - I've made these to carry things to and from school and I don't have pictures as it's all a bit naff!

4.  My vegie patch is producing copious amounts of eggplant (and I'm the only one in the house that eats it) and purple beans - my freezer is FULL of purple beans.  There's also about 20 pumpkins (butternut and queensland grey varieties) and watermelon meandering all over the place - can't wait for these to ripen!

5.  My youngest son and his girlfriend have found a place and will be moving out this week - I have mixed feelings about this....

Now I really must go - only so many hours in the day and I have got soooooooooo much to do.  Arrivederci!

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...

Doing good stitches and my first 'bee' block

Anne wanted hearts for the Do Good Stitches quilt she's putting together this month - and even though she let us know details early december, I've only just got round to making the blocks up - what a slacker!

Here's mine...

machine applique on a plain grey background

pieced block, like the scandinavian hearts you see at christmas

Also this month sees the start of the Quilt Australia Bee that I joined last year - and Erin wanted a string block with a white centre, so....

so when I get them in the post tomorrow, I can cross those 2 off my list......