what a stinker!

This month for the Quilt Club Australia bee we were asked to make a lonestar string block using red, white and blue - being the staunch anglophile I am, I have quite a bit of fabric in those colours so finding scraps wasn't going to be a problem.

I have foundation pieced lots of times, so that wasn't going to be a problem.

However, I am never going to make another one of these blocks in my life.......

That's all

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.....

I'm in!!!!

I'm very excited that I was able to snaffle up a spot on Mouthy Stitches 2 - I did the first one and it was fabulous - very talented group and the swap mamas absolutely fantastic - I almost missed out on a spot last time so this time I watched and waited, lurking on the 'net and then the call came out - I filled in my form quick smartish and hoped and hoped - and got an email to say that I needed to cement my place in the swap with an inspiration mosaic for my secret partner. WOO HOO............................

Even while filling in the form I was struggling just a little to try and articulate what I like - and then searching through my faves it was clear there was not a theme to those I'd picked - so, secret partner - I have eclectic tastes - I do like colour - but not 'all in' vomit colour (unless it's a gigantor quilt and then it looks fabulous!).  I like screen printed simplicity and clever contrasts (pin stripe v screen printed floral).  I like texture, whether it's clever pleating, ruching etc and especially when it's combined with hand embroidery (not the florally embroidery of old though!)......................so here's some images I like - hope it helps you :)

1. Brooke's Quilt #5, 2. Fern Trio, 3. Cosmos Pillow and hand embroidery, 4. Autumn, 5. Paisley Hand embroidery, 6. Laptop Bag Brown Leaf, 7. Estojo, 8. DS's new Tetris messenger tote, 9. Frame purses, 10. Inset Zip Pouch, 11. Echo by Lotta Jansdotter, 12. echoes, august 14, 13. Red and White Churn Dash14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Now to load up the swap button....

when the sun shines, you just have to.....

get into the garden - yesterday was the first day of spring Downunder so what's a girl to do when the weather turns on a glorious display?

We have been slowly building the beds over the last few weeks with lots of poo and compost (from the animals I hasten to add!) and today we planted seedlings of toms, a load of asian vegetables just right for stir-fries, lettuce, spring onions, leeks, pumpkins and garlic.  Tomorrow I'll get to the seeds I saved from last year and get those in too - some I'll sow direct and some into the greenhouse (sweet corn for example - still a bit too cold for those).  I've also got some potatoes to put in but I have to get the box ready - I'm not putting them into the garden beds themselves as I'm still picking out potato plants from 3 years ago!

Lloyd did a fabulous job of the surrounds with the scoria and it's certainly easier to get around the beds now.

Spring is certainly blooming about - the avocado has a lot of new growth (avocados due next year) the wattle is out (so sneezing and red eyes abound!) and I just found a tiny asparagus shoot that I hope will presage a whole bunch - it's a purple variety called 'fat bastard' but it's not so fat at the minute - a few more sunny days though and I think it'll be pleasantly plump!

Yesterday I got a bit of a wriggle on with some sewing - I have school stuff to do too but it wasn't calling my name at all - this was...

It's mostly Kate Spain's 'Terrain', with some Kona solids thrown in for good measure - in between will be white (which I might go and cut out shortly) and there's a few edges to be completed too - should look very pretty once it's done - actually, might cut out a few more crosses and make it a bit bigger.......

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day - pop on over and take a look at what others are doing...

Helping hands

A call went out to the members of the Quilt Club Australia on Facebook to help with auction items to raise funds that will be put towards travelling expenses; a young couple is currently battling with a distressing issue that requires medical attention in Sydney and they live in Queanbeyan - so there's quite a few kilometres...their story is here....

I don't know this young couple at all but I'm trusting they find an answer quick smart and they can get on with their lives.

I've decided to send them a baby quilt with a matching soft basket - hope it brings them lots!

Finished size is 38.5" x 45" (98cm x 114cm)

catching up.....

It has been a little while since I posted last - there's been quite a bit going on this last couple of weeks, not least of which was a wonderful visit by one of my nephews and his gorgeous wife - Ian and Mads usually live in Manchester UK and they took time out to travel very south after a wedding in FNQ (Far North Queensland, Oz), to catch up with family - which was just brilliant - I hadn't seen Ian since he was 15 and now here he was, with a beautiful wife too - we spent a fabulous couple of days and then dropped them off to spend their last night in Melbourne before their flight home - thanks to them both for coming south, putting up with the rotten winter weather and joining in so marvellously with us lot here - it was fantastic sitting around the dinner table on saturday night and getting on with the 'craic' - they also took 'The General' home with them as it is destined for one of my sisters, who just happens to be Ian's mum (Finona, if you're reading this, make sure to remind Ian about it!!)

one of a few photos with various members of the family - I don't think I have one with us all!

I've been knitting - I've pulled it back 4 times but now it looks like this one sock will be finished soon....then onto the next (and the next pair..)

My bestie and I bought a knitting machine - and can't wait to get some time to have a decent play...

it came with wool for practice and all sorts of clever bits and pieces

I bought a new book and it's awesome..

We have some new babies (who were really cheesed off when I stuck my camera with the flash under their cover) - they're too young to go outside overnight as it's still too cold - so they're making a hell of a mess inside!

we have 5 chooks here - 2 black ones and 3 creamy yellow one - I think there's 2 roosters among them (damn - they may be destined for the pot!) - and they're at the very ugly, reptilian dinosaur stage....

...and last, but not least, some fabric I ordered in March arrived - it's called 'Garden go round' and it's really pretty - here's 3 of the bolts - there's about 9 bolts all up - and I have to get off my butt and organise selling it...

and now I have to go to bed - I spent the last couple of days quilting a quilt top for a client on the longarm - I used Aurifil thread for the first time and it broke too many times to mention - drove me absolutely insane and I spent a lot of time unpicking and or sewing ends in......don't think I'll be using it again......good job my bestie was helping me otherwise I think I would have done a Basil Fawlty and wallopped the Gammil!

smiling...

Nothing like a visit from your bestie to add some much needed perspective - thank you Miss Lizzie - you always make it better :)

We spent the day yesterday loading up the long arm with a quilt that Liz is making for me - I feel so spoilt - it's a beautiful quilt - and there's going to be hand quilting as well - soooo looking forward to this one being finished and I can show it off in all its glory then....

While Liz was quilting, I actually got some Farmer's Wife blocks done - another 6 making a grand total of 93 complete - only 18 more to go - last time I did anything on this was about 3 months ago - so an attack of the miseries substantially increased my sewing output this last week....hopefully it continues (not the miseries, the output - I have an assignment due on Friday and my piece is still only at concept stage...)

blocks 88 - 93

....and here's me trying to get a good shot of my new top - some say it is a good shot because I cut off my  head  - and I will never win prizes for photography.......but, check out the shoes - these are so high I can only just about  stand in them - although the first time I wore them, at a wedding, I managed to do the 'Nutbush' without falling over - they are highly impractical but I love them..

Hope you have a good week