Zoooommmm!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I had my second-ever Zoom experience and this was one was much more fun than the previous (which was a meeting) as it was a virtual sit and sew in the Chook Shed, organised by Chookyblue of course.

Thanks Chooky for the virtual bloggy meet...it was great to see her "in person" again as it's been ages and I caught up with my friend Jo who I haven't seen for a very long time since we both moved away from where we used to be...not to mention all the other bloggers new and familiar to "meet in person".  A fun relaxing day and I'm very very glad I joined in.

I used it as an opportunity to get some "must do" stitching done for group projects for local quilt group...blocks for two Big Birthday quilts (secret) for which the blocks were provided and just needed to be stitched...and a block for a friendship quilt the recipient knows about, where she nominated a theme "High Tea" and a block size and left the rest up to the individual stitcher.

I started the first Big Birthday block Saturday night, which was blanket stitching applique...I chose to do it by hand as I'm hopeless at the machined variety...I kept on with that Sunday morning listening to the lovely chatter and before I knew it, it was done!...

I then picked up the stitchery for the friendship quilt...it had been languishing for weeks because what was left was the "fiddly bits" and I couldn't decide on floss colours so I'd been studiously avoiding picking it up other than to move it here and there...now was the time...the company of the Zooming ladies meant it was done without fuss...second "must do" finished!...

The design basis is an old Ella & Skysie Designs pattern "Two for Tea".  I added the tablecloth scallops and moved the words about to suit and played with the designs on the teacups - somehow it became a bit hippy dippy but it was fun and that was how it wanted to be so I let if flow...I hope she likes it.

That took care of the handwork and, after everyone signed off Zoom, I looked at the foundation paper pieced blocks, realised they weren't going to take very long at all and fired up P-faff...

Done! All finished, a run over with the iron and packaged up ready to return from whence they came...thanks to the virtual sit & sew...think it is the most productive stitching I've achieved at any sit & sew day (or a weekend retreat for that matter!)...might have had something to do with not flitting about the room checking out what everyone else was doing as it was all there right in front of me without moving and everyone was in on the one conversation...thank you ladies for your company...

Happy Stitching...

TQWNICR ... A Finish ...

It's taken me a bit of looking to find which year of Summer School this quilt came from but I've found it - Summer School 2012 ... have to admit I have enjoyed reading those old posts.  Also found the post from when it became a finished top...the same year! It was sandwiched and has hung over the hand quilting frame with a couple of lines of quilting done here and there ever since ... I guess I just became so used to it being there I hadn't realised just how long it had been.  In about February this year I picked it up to do a line of quilting and so enjoyed doing the hand quilting I left it on the couch and did a row here and there (between going to work and getting study modules lodged there aren't a lot of stitchy hours) and last weekend the final stitches were put in the binding!  Now those aren't words I type very often...final stitches put in the binding!!!

So to prove that Summer School Quilts can get finished...Tah Dah!... TQWNICR - The Quilt Whose Name I Can't Remember...

Hand quilted with a Valdani pink/green variegated embroidery floss that were just the right shades that I bought from the lovely Michelle from The Raspberry Rabbits all those years ago.

It still needs to have take a dip in the bath, hopefully the weather will co-operate this weekend.

Happy Stitching...

SQT Secret Santa Swap...

This year I played along in the Secret Santa Swap in the on-line Small Quilt Talk group.  I hadn't joined in on this particular swap before and when I was given the name of who I was sending to I had a moment, just a moment, of intimidation...a long-time member with a fantastic sense of nonsense, I mean humour - in her likes/dislikes she stated no puce or zebra stripes! Only Jane! I decided to do stitcheries in quilt-as-you-go hexies for hanging decorations so the rummage for designs began.  Now she has a band of bears that run to mischief when she isn't looking but the bear line drawings I found weren't "quite right". I have a couple of patterns with lovely bears I could have embroidered but they weren't at all Christmassy and I'd by now decided I wanted Christmassy...then a light bulb moment....rummage, rummage, rummage, found it! Michelle Ridgeway's Christmas pattern with drawings of Aussie birds/animals...I love Michelle's drawings...there wasn't a koala (not a bear) so I chose two of my favourites and a kangaroo because, well, going to America so I figured a kangaroo would be recognised...the wombat and blue wren were a bit maybe, maybe not, in the recognition stakes but I love wombats and blue wrens...

I added a couple of other bits - you'll notice everything was "flat" to make it easier for posting...

and gave the envelope to the care of the Post Office Elves and crossed my fingers and toes they'd deliver it in time for the Christmas Eve group opening event...they did...well done on that one Postie Elves getting it there on time.

Then...I waited for the Postie Elves to deliver into my post office box...and waited...and waited...and then we finished work for the year and it still hadn't arrived and I had to go back to the house where my furniture lives - 220kms due east so hardly a quick trip to check if there was mail...I had to wait until I swapped towns again and came back west after Boxing Day...I was very excited to find a red parcel locker key in my post office box!!!!  I took one look at the return address and knew I was a very lucky swapper indeed...it had come a loooonnngggg way...all the way from...Belgium!

And how sweet is this...Christa waited for me to be able to open before she opened what she received...and boy was I spoilt...

Ooohh...multiple surprises!...

Worth the wait is an understatement...a lovely wee tree runner, bear claw variation mug rug, cute pinwheel hanging cushion, christmas stickers, a lovely L'Occtaine travel sized set and Real Belgian Chocolates! handmade by Christa's chocolatier friends (and they are delicious!).  I sat in wonder at each item for a looonnnnggg time.  I love it all.

Happy Stitching...

Flourish Block....

In June last year (2018) Sharon Burgess of Lilabelle Lane Creations did a workshop for Stawell Craft Shop. It was a fun day and the project was a block from Sharon's Flourish Quilt that she had made into a cushion.  Paper pieced of course being Sharon but interesting with different shapes.  I have finally finished the paper pieced block - it isn't appliqued onto a background nor does it have any purpose in life - yet - but it is done as such.

Going to live in the box of random blocks and stitcheries for now as I don't want to make the cushion but I'm sure it will come into its own at some point in the future.

Happy Stitching...

Stawell Quilters Fat Quarter Swap 2019 - Part 2...

Of course I had a surprise back to me from the fabric I'd put in for the Fat Quarte Swap.

Typically I'd completely forgotten what fabric I'd put in - makes it a real surprise when I open the parcel on all levels, the item and reminding me what my fabric was!

It turns out I'd put in a Tilda fabric and I was gifted with a little travel stitching roll...

A lovely use of my fabric and matched beautifully by my secret maker, love the red spotty binding - who also included important touches in a reel of thread, a small pair of scissors and a good chocolate supply!! ha ha ha.

I'm sure I'll get use out of my gift.

Happy Stitching...

Stawell Quilters Christmas Fat Quarter Swap 2019 (Part 1)...

Stawell Quilters held the Christmas Fat Quarter Swap*(explanation at end of post) again this year.  The fabric in the paper bag I was given was this...

Mmmm, that is interesting and not at all what I'd have expected from the person I was making for. Coincidentally, just that week, I was in the local habby and she had a bundle of fat quarters that I really liked but couldn't justify and that bundle immediately sprung to mind as appropriate colours for this piece of fabric...what a shame I was forced to go and buy that bundle - he he he.  And then when I was in the ACT I found the perfect perle cotton at Crafty Frog in Kambah - the shopping gods were smiling on me with this fabric which I had initially thought would be impossible to match.

Instead of a fat quarter the recipient had put in a half metre of her fabric so that was plenty to play with. I had the idea to make a bag that could be used for transporting knitting but couldn't find a pattern to fit the picture in my head so used a pattern for an all-purpose bag I have made before and found useful myself. I used a mix of the "True Friends Tote Bag" from Natalie Bird's book Red Home with a stitchery pattern from Anni Downs' book The Simple Life, then when being totally flummoxed about what fabric to use for handles I found resin handles that I felt matched perfectly. I had just enough of her fabric left to make the handle hinges.  I hand quilted with big stitches in the variegated perle thread I'd bought home from the ACT.

 Front

 Back

 Handles

 Front up close

 Stitchery detail

 Interior

Quilting detail on back

I think I may have missed the mark with the person particularly liking it but hopefully she'll get some use out of it.

Happy Stitching...

*A fat quarter is put in a paper bag with your name on it and handed in to the Group.  The paper bags are put into a basket and randomly distributed to the participants.  You make something using the fat quarter in the paper bag you are given for the person whose fabric it is.  The fabric the person puts in is the only guide the rest is up to the maker.

Fabric Frolic 2008 Sampler Quilt...It's a Top!...

Yes, you are reading the Title correctly 2008 (not 2018)...back in 2008 Mistea and I played in the Outer East Fabric Frolic in Melbourne and collected the block patterns at each participating shop for the event sampler quilt.  I decided at the outset I wanted my quilt to be blue and white and bought blue/white fabrics along the way.  There were some other fabrics added to the pile over time and the blocks were made here and there and kept together in a basket with fabrics for some day.  Well, Melbourne Cup Day this year that some day came around...that morning I went into the sewing room and spied the basket and that was it...putting the quilt top together became the event for the day. I didn't get it quite done on Cup Day but it went from a box of bits to this...

And then, a week or so later...to this...

A completed top...and an empty basket with fabric released back into the wild of the stash...

One day it may even become a sandwiched quilt, but...no rush.

Happy Stitching...