What a Pair!

Another two blocks to show you - haven't managed to do much more than that over the last fortnight, sadly.
  On the upside, exam marking is finished and workish things should slow a little between now and Christmas.

First of my pair this week is the next George III Coverlet block (which I have been incorrectly calling King George Coverlet).

I do enjoy hand piecing so this project is making me smile :)  I like Carolyn's fabric choices for the BOM which are a mix of fabulous repros and some more modern soft florals.

Block 2 this time is the next block from our gorgeous Di's Antique Wedding Sampler.

The blocks will be set on point, so the dear sweet bird will be flying correctly eventually! Until then, tilt your head 45 degrees to the left.

Speaking of Di, poor girl has broken her ankle, so will be forced to sit at home and stitch furiously.  If you leave her a comment at the SSS blog, I'm sure it will speed along her recovery.

Another thing making me happy, is Sue Spargo's glorious stitching book, mine is already covered in drool.  

Last photo is of my "design wall";), lol,  I don't actually have one.  But what I do have is an a tapestry frame that I throw things over, so you can see a bit of a sneek peak at what is to come.

I hope your run up to Christmas is not too hectic.  Mine is rather busy but includes my DD's birthday and a couple of trips to Castlemaine, too much fun.

Much joy to all

Deb

A Pair of Finished Blocks

A little progress on the Caswell Quilt.  Block 2 all done.  I can tell that I am going to enjoy this more with each block. Especially the selecting and collecting gorgeous fabric part.

 

  

And another block finished for my "vintage" Antique Wedding Sampler.

Some real old fabric gems in there!

I can't believe it's November already!  Exam time has come around and soon I will be up to my eyeballs in Exam Papers..........oh joy!  My own two are in the midst of their own assessment requirements, but one has her main performance behind her, the other has one performance down and one to go.  Takes the pressure off  a little when this part is out of the way.

In the quiet moments I am thinking of my friends who have been storm affected.  Some have already reappeared in Blogland, but others are probably still out of power.............my thoughts are with you.

Much happiness to you all,

Deb

A New Project and a Progress Report

As you know dear friends, I have been very good over the last months (maybe more than a year), about getting down and dirty with some well loved, but neglected, UFO's.  Although this made me feel quite virtuous, it also left me feeling a little uninspired.  Let's be honest, for some of us, starting is everything.

So in  a moment (or two) of weakness, I succumbed to my starting desire, and started not one, but two, new projects.  OK while we are in the confessional, I will also admit to signing up for an extra BOM (of the Sue Spargo variety).

I'm not revealing all today - too much excitement could lead you all into temptation!  But really, confronted with this, how could you resist?

 

It's a magnificent, ambitious project, that comes in small doses.  So whilst I can't guarantee that I will keep up, I hope not to get too far behind.

The first month of the King George coverlet, was one beautiful block.

 Not too much work, but the pieces are tincey. I love it already.  The second months pack contains two blocks which I will describe as being full of pleasurable anticipation  (that is, I haven't even thought about starting them yet).

Progress is being made on the very gorgeous 2011 BOM, Imperial Blooms. Block 6 (out of 9) completed (a couple of close ups)

 and Block 7 well under way.

And yes, another treasured project from the past continues to move forward.

I like this block of the Antique Wedding Sampler very much. I've actually lost track now of how far I have to go with this - sometimes better not to count I think.

Hopefully next time I will have the first block of my other new temptation to show you.  It's soooooooo  pretty.

Other than that, today I went to the always enjoyable Quilts in the Barn.  Linda and her very dedicated friends do such a fabulous job with this event, well done everyone.  I didn't take any photos,  but there are  plenty in blogland, for example, check out my sidebar for Buddy & Me.

I hope the lucky raffle winner will enjoy the raffle quilt, lovingly made by the SSS and quilted by Helen Hayes for such a great cause.

Until next time,

Deb

Post Sue Spargo

It seems like such a long time ago, but it was only a week! My SS sister Ann and I choofed off to Amitie to do a two day workshop with Sue Spargo. How exciting!  I have long been a fan of hers and was really looking forward to this break from my all too hectic schedule.  In fact, this was the first class I have taken since Di closed her shop so many years ago - can't remember bit I'm thinking five??  Anyway, it did not disappoint even though expectation was HIGH! 

Sue is a delightful person, as is her sister Wendy, and Jenny and her crew organised the workshop beautifully. I enjoyed every single minute, including spending some one on one time with my friend Ann.  Just perfect.  And the beautiful work that Sue and Wendy do, was breathtaking up close.  Photos just don't do it justice.  If you ever have the opportunity to do a workshop with her JUST DO IT! You won't regret it.

Having said that, I have yet to photo what I did.  But I have got Block 5 of Imperial Blooms finally finished (just needed that inspiration).

And for the traditionalists among us, the next Block for the Antique Wedding Sampler.

Back soon, take a class - it's good for the soul.

Deb

Not many words but a few photos

Hello lovely bloggers. Today I had an epiphany.. true....it takes me awhile to remember things I knew once and then promptly forgot.

Nothing earth shattering mind. Only that I can post photos of things that are in progress, rather than things that are finished. It seems that this is better than radio silence for weeks on end.

Seriously, how thick am I? Don't answer......... I know you already know.  So ....here are a few things unfinished.

                                               

 Work in progress on the Antique Wedding Sampler (above and below).

 A couple of weeks ago I attended a quilt show in Melbourne.  Didn't buy too much fabric (just this below)

But I did buy some yarn...I have a hankering (lol) for yarn at the moment! This is a scarf I am making with Noro Sekku.  It is beautiful, but so slow....very fine yarn.

What else is happening?  I'm really looking forward to meeting Sue Spargo at a workshop my friend Ann and I are going to in a couple of weeks.  My sample piece is called Leaf Play Too.  It started off like this

and now looks like this.

Quite a bit of prep for this class but I think it will be really worth it. The first couple of rows look a bit wonky in this photo..........better get the ruler out.

OK, OK, I know you want to see quilts.  Here is one of may faves from the quilt show.

 I think this is quite unusual. I just love it.

Ant the one below, well it is by our lovely friend Helen Hayes, from a pattern by our lovely friend Di Hall.  A beautiful version Helen. You go girl!

Hope you are enjoying whatever  you are working on now!

Deb

Anther One (or Three) Down

While trying to bed down my course for this semester, I still have only enough head space to potter and tinker with existing projects.  Strangely (for me) this is very satisfying. It even clears up some clutter which is sorely needed in my space.  So, first up, two blocks from my old version of the Antique Wedding Sampler.

 

Some of the fabric that I'm using seems so old now, the background is an old Robyn Pandolph rose tone on tone.  It is like sewing with vintage fabric, almost!

Some of the blocks were virtually finished which gives me a false sense of achievement.

Next, the fifth block from Lollipop Trees.

Talk about poles apart.  But I love them both. Not sure what that says about me.  I'm really enjoying both projects.  Hope you all are enjoying your projects too. 

Until next time,

Deb

PS. My comment answering is very haphazard at the moment due to waves of busyness.  But please know that I do read all your comments and appreciate your interest.

Still pottering around

dabbling in trying to finish a few older projects.  Yes I have finished Homage to Sallie Ann WOOHOO....but haven't had a chance to take a decent photo yet.  In the meantime here are a couple of the things I have been playing with.

Another block for the Antique Wedding Sampler quilt. Di Hall has released a new version of this quilt, which has inspired me to pull out my old version and finish it (maybe).

The next block from the Lollipop Trees quilt. Quite a contrast no?  I like them equally well.

I have a few things I am contemplating starting, but life is still busy so I am happy just dabbling until my head clears.  In particular, I have had severe jetlag which is starting to really get to me.

On the up side, I have a new computer at home, which is fantastic.  My old machine was getting so antiquated that I was avoiding using it (another reason why I have been quiet).

More soon,

Peace and Joy,
Deb

Milestones are achieved by inches

or in this case - fractions of inches! Remember way back in November I showed you this picture? Well I finally finished it and now it looks like this.

I'm really happy with the outcome - but boy was I slow. Sometimes I don't mind that - it's the process that I like. But other times (like now when I'm in a "finish me" state of mind) I like fast results. Hope the next one doesn't take so long.

Mind you - if I ever worked on one thing (or at most five things) at a time I'm sure I would make more progress (I think there's another maths equation in there somewhere).

My main preoccupation the last few days has been starting Phebe. Here she is so far.

It's so much fun picking fabrics for this - I'm rediscovering fabrics I'd forgotten I had - but because the pieces are little - I'm not even making a dint in the stash. I'll write some more about Phebe over at the SSS soonish.

I've also been neglecting the GTASB BOM, so I thought I'd better get going for the month.

I have to admit, my mojo has been a bit distant over these couple of holiday weeks - everyone here is a bit lethargic due to the weather and the Christmas anticlimax. So I have been enjoying passively clicking around your blogs looking at all the wonderful work you are all doing and wishing I was snowed in too! I hope you all are getting some sewing in - especially you girls in the north trying to stay warm!

Finally - some family shots if you're interested. NOS turned 18 earlier this week. It was 43.7 that day so we decided to head to a restaurant near water. His party is yet to come (I can hardly wait). Here's birthday boy
and with his gorgeous sister
Isn't it amazing how quickly they grow up?

Deb

It's beinning to look a lot like Christmas

well on your blogs anyway........put the tree up yesterday but that's it. Went shopping on Sunday and bought almost all the required presents, just a few more to go. What a relief - I work right up until Christmas eve so not much time for organising/shopping or having pre-Christmas fun - but never fear - I'll be making up for it post Christmas. Are you having some fun? I hope so.

Just a few things to show you today. Number one: Mary Mannakee. Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this. But I have a question. On this block I decided to sew a big stitch to quarter the block and mark the diagonals, since I wanted to get the placement right. After removing the machine basting - I have rather noticeable needle holes - any advice as to how to remove said holes? Won't be doing that again! Here is my finished block.


Number two: GTASB. This is the final block from last month - thought I'd finished it, but when I photoed it and went to put it away I realised that it needed to be set into a background square - der - what a thicko! So I'm still to do that, probably not worth another photo unless I'm running short of photos to show you. So just imagine this is set into a background square please.



Number three: Antique Wedding Sampler. I haven't finished the previous block but it's coming along. Just thought I'd give you a sneak peek at what's coming.


Number four: My backyard. Remember some time ago I showed you this photo


well now it looks like this


not bad huh? Not quite finished either. Scary part is the MOTH said the P word - yes - painting - OMG NOT THE P WORD! It quite possibly will not be finished in my lifetime - but I don't care - I can still sit on it right? Don't you love it - I do. And so do the kids and their friends who gave it a road test on the weekend.

Finally, on my shopping trip I sneaked in to Zetta Florence and got my stationary fix


These can make me enjoy filing bills - actually that's not quite true - but you get the idea.

I have not had much of a chance to read your posts the last couple of weeks, but I take a quick look at the photos which always make me happy. Hope to catch up shortly.

Until then dear friends,

buy yourself something that makes you happy,

Deb

Sorry to disappoint

all you Kaffeicianados out there. But I have resisted the call of those seductive temptresses Cathy and Janet, and not started a new Kaffe project. I did flick through a few Kaffe books and picked out some treasures, but then my desire was sated just by looking (cooking magazines often have this effect on my appetite too). I feel the need to finish things right now rather than start new things. So I remembered that a long time ago I started a quilt for Number One Son. We had just revamped his room from little boys room with puppy dog curtains in pastel shades, to big boys urban cool room. He was 14 after all! So I thought he needed a new quilt too. Well he still does (even though he's quite fond of his cowboy quilt). So I should finish it before he leaves home. Maybe.


The pattern is quite old and I don't have a photo - so it has taken me a bit of time to figure out what happens next and how it is supposed to look. Next step is to turn these blocks into circles. Progress report later.

The GTASB package arrived this week. First up I need to make seven of these little orange peel blocks.


They are all ready to cut and sew.

My next MM block has quite a bit of work in it. Here it is today


I think I'm enjoying this project more than any other right now. I love the green/red/cheddar combination.

And last but not least - the next AWS block I'm going to finish is this one


Wow, so much to do and so little time. Weather hasn't been great for sewing or anything else this week.

A big thank you to all of you who have been leaving comments. It is very reassuring to know that other people like what you do when you invest so much time and energy in it. It also gives me a great opportunity to find other sites and see what's happening outside my little world. As you can see by my ever growing and fabulous sidebar, there are some amazingly talented people in ordinary houses all around the world. Truly inspirational.

Stay cool,

Deb

A lazy Sunday

ahead following on from a lazy Saturday. Just the ticket! Yesterday the children were happily engaged in their various activities and I had nothing on the agenda apart from the usual driving them to and fro. So that left me with plenty of time to potter around and do a little bit (emphasis on the little) of housework. Too hot to spend much time in the garden although it needs some TLC. The grass is about a metre high since the lawn mower still hasn't been replaced after the shed burglary. So I had no choice but to spend time in my sewing hideaway. It's a tough life I know. Today the kids are both out of the house, so apart from shopping I am once again a free woman.

So here's what I've been up to. Finished a couple of AWS blocks

these are set on point so that rose in the middle will have its stem vertically aligned.

Started prepping the next MM block

I really love working with all this greenery. Each leaf here is different fabric.

The I cut some basket blocks.


Each of the backgrounds is from the stash my friend sent and the baskets are from my stash . I really like it so far and it gives me a pile of stitching ready to go when I need something quick and easy to grab.

Not sure what' s on the agenda for today. I usually only hand sew at night and machine sew in the day - but I don't have any machine projects on the go right now - how odd!

I hope you have something interesting or fun or relaxing to do for the weekend. Maybe I need to look for a machine project...I feel a Kaffe moment looming..........

Ciao

Deb

A small Ta-dah moment

Good afternoon to all and I hope you are having a fabulous day. I'm very excited and ready to say "Ta-dah" because the first Mary Mannakee block is finished!


I'm very happy with the way it looks. The red, green and yellow colour combo is lovely. Deciding still on which block to tackle next. If you would like to see more blocks from this quilt, visit Kathie and Janet. Both of these very talented quilters have been given a mention on Barbara Brackman's blog! How cool is that - and very well deserved. The Civil War Bride Quilt was also mentioned on BB's blog - well done to Lizzie and all who are contributing such beautiful work and of course to Corliss for reproducing the pattern and her stunning version of this quilt.

Still working on my antique wedding sampler block, and have picked this one


to finish next. I love it because it's a seventeen pointed star - and you don't see too many of those now do you?

I thought I would show you this picture


which is a lovely folder that I bought at Zetta Florence the other day when I was buying paper for the box. Isn't it just too PRETTY.

And last but not least, an extremely generous friend asked me if I was going to make a basket quilt (from Blackbird designs). When I said yes, she said she would send me some squares of fabric that she had been using. Have a look at all these gorgeous fabrics


it seems like she's sent me enough to make the whole quilt! I was gob-smacked! Thank you so much - I'm now itching to start this quilt. Don't worry - starting is good for the soul and I'm being very good to mine!

What's on in your week ahead? Any plans to start new quilts - do tell!

I'm thinking - next MM block, and next CWB block to cut - the two antique wedding blocks, yes and I need to catch up with Di who is now back from the US and the next GTASB pack is about to arrive, and some baskets to start. I'm sure there's something I've forgotten.

Have a fabulously productive week.

Deb