What I've been wanting...

This is exactly what I've been wanting to say "It's finished!!"

I am really happy with the colour choices in this quilt.

Thanks for the fab quilting Mum. It really does make the quilt.

To read more posts about the making of this quilt, click here.

Only half to go...

Only half the final border to go on the Lizzie Mae medallion quilt. The top and bottom are added, and the half-square triangle units for the left and right are all made. Just waiting to be joined.
Why isn't it finished? I realised I wouldn't get it finished in time to give to Mum today, so I went outside into the sun instead. Glorious sun!! Shining after ALL the rain. What a long Winter it has seemed.

The Rural Jardin fat quarter quilt top is finished, and the back is also pieced with label attached ready for Mum to quilt. :) Thanks Mum!!

Getting around to it

I've finally added another round to Lizzie Mae's Medallion. One more to go!! Then, quilting please Mum. VBG.

It's a bit too big to take an entire photo at the moment. Later, I promise.

Hmm.. that reminds me, I must hang some of this year's finished projects to take complete photos. Where's the ladder?

When I get around to it, I will let you know. LOL!!

Of course, I need to start another miniature quilt to keep up my one per month quota. Probably birds in the air blocks. Little ones. Lots of them!! LOL!!

Stacks and stacks

This is a stack of ten completed sawtooth stars each measuring 5 1/2 inches unfinished. Oh! I love sawtooth stars!!

What a pretty stack! Only two more stars to make before I add the next round onto Lizzie Mae's Medallion!! This is my new stack... 5 inch squares from the "12 Days of Christmas" range by Kate Spain. I also love the pom pom trim and the chenille.

I plan to have a little play on my day off tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Lonely stars

These little sawtooth stars looked lonely when I took this photo.So I took another photo with some of their friends from Lizzie Mae's Medallion...

The blocks won't actually be arranged like this. Gee, I like the way the stars look when slightly twisted off-centre. Hmm, that gives me an idea for a quilt. Yes, another idea for another quilt. LOL!!

Next time round

I am now working on the third round of Lizzie Mae's Medallion.

These sawtooth stars measure 5 inches finished. Only seventeen left to go! Actually, these blocks are really quick to make compared to the blocks in the previous border (Old Maid's Puzzle). It shouldn't take me too long to finish some more.

I find it difficult to find a slab of time to sit at the sewing machine at night. I need to do some handwork or listen to music for an unwind before bed. My machine-progress is never as swift as handwork. I have been working on my cross-stitch sampler for handwork. When I think I've done enough worth looking at I will post updated photos.

Starry Eyed

I now have me a heckuvva lot of stars to make for the next round on Lizzie Mae's Medallion.

I love sawtooth stars. They always look good. You can use feature prints in the centre, or you can stitch another block as the centre.

I don't think these centres (finishing at 2 1/2 inch squares) will contain another block. No. That's for certain!! LOL!!

Round and er... around...

I finished the last 4 blocks for the next round of Lizzie Mae's medallion quilt, then joined them into strips. However, I have only stitched one side onto the centre yet.

I have been thinking of new things I would like to start (like this Oceanica fabric and the Gee's Bend quilt), and what I would like to finish this year. Let's have some goals.

Now that I have finished the 1950s quilt (including label!!), I would like to finish the 12 Days of Christmas (needs final applique and stitchery border), Alice In Wonderland, Lizzie Mae's Medallion, all nine Little Lori Smith quilts, I Believe wallhanging, Rural Jardin fat quarter quilt, the baby quilt for Mikey's prem baby, and something else Christmassy (I haven't even started it yet!!)...... and that's just what I can think of right now!! I am sure something else will come up.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever become tired of making quilts and quilty things. But, no. There are just too many new things to try and start, that I could never become bored.

I would really like to make something from string pieced bits. Check out this photo from the new Kaffe Fasset book "Simple Shapes". I could really burn up some scraps on something like this!!

These are both string pieced, then cut and pieced again. I really like that idea.

Oh yes! And my new stitchery design... I haven't even started to stitch it yet!!

Lizzy Mae blocks

Another 4 blocks for the Lizzie Mae's medallion quilt (Hmm, I seem to keep changing the spelling...). These blocks will measure 5 inches finished.

Only 4 more to make for the border!!

I am plugging away at these little blocks for Lizzie Mae's Medallion. Half way through these particular ones now, I have made eight.

Eight more of these to go, then another 20 small blocks for the next border.

The colours look warm and cosy when you see the blocks all together.

Of course, I rewarded myself with a bit of cross-stitch after that... which may be causing me to stay up too late at night. I found myself dreadfully tired this morning...

Woo hoo! The letters look good. I still need to fill in some of the house, but that's boring white, and best left when I am talking to others at the same time!! e.g. at sewing group!!

This is another non-fattening treat. Oceanica panel and border panel with a couple of prints from the Oceanica range, some from the Folklorica range and others I liked. I have no idea what I am going to do with this yet... it's officially a PIG (Project In Grocery Sack) and is sitting in the bag I bought it in.

Oh yes, and I have trimmed the outside scallops of the 1950s quilt. Now I need to cut binding on the bias and machine it on.

Where do all the hours go?

Another 3 blocks for Lizzie Mae's. I need to make 16 of these blocks - so that's still 11 to go. I think three or four in one night after work is about my limit though - I almost feel too tired to blog, let alone think and sew!!
One of the fabrics is a bit light, but I might let it go, as it adds an antique-sort-of quality to the medallion.
Then a little bit more on the cross stitch sampler (this is the Christmas one).

Before I can work on the cross stitch next time, I need to finish trimming the scallop shapes on the 1950s quilt which has been beautifully quilted. (Thanks Mum!!)
Where do all the hours go? I just want to sew!!

A little bit of homework... then...

Two little blocks for Lizzie Mae's medallion, then I felt absolutely brain dead!! Then I settled down to watch some Monk episodes on DVD and worked on this roof.

Sawtooth stars in the roof!! Okay, I have so many things to do that I am only allowing myself to cross-stitch after I've done some "serious homework"!! LOL!!

Lizzie Mae is growing up

Doesn't Lizzie Mae sound like she is a little girl with pigtails?

Actually, it's this quilt.

I've added 2 borders to the centre, with 3 more to go. And a lot more piecing to do!!

The colours look a little bit light to me at the moment, but the intensity of the teal/blue will increase as we progress towards the outside of the quilt.

I've got some serious homework to do too: another miniature (I haven't done one for a little while); scallop the edges and bind the 1950s quilt; finish Lizzie Mae quilt top; finish the baubles quilt top; quilt the I Believe wallhanging.

I'd better remind myself to breathe....

By hand and machine

I needed some handwork for the train - I went into Jeff's Shed for the VicQuilter's Exhibition and Stitches and Craft Show.

I grabbed my 1800s blue English-pieced diamonds (AKA "Oh My Stars!", and tacked a stack of them. I didn't need much space, and they weren't heavy. Groovy. I did about 35 during 2 hours (that's both ways on the train).

I will share some eye candy from the quilt show ... later okay? (and some of my shopping...)

I just wanted to come home and sew!!! I am still disappointed I couldn't find my miniature quilt in time to deliver it for hanging... *sigh*

I worked on the Lizzie Mae's inner border - still need to trim the centre applique block before I can join them together..

Block-age

Well... I haven't done much more on the Civil War Bride block. I feel a bit stuck. I finished all the leaves, and asked my friends at the CWBQ blog for advice... I need to think on it awhile. Now I have 2 half finished blocks to go with 10 finished ones!!

Moving on ... I only had to make 3 more of these little blocks for Lizzie Mae's Medallion. I even joined them into the left and right sides, top and bottom.

I just need to trim the centre applique block and make an inner border... Another night maybe...

Can you count?

I hope you don't mind that I am posting just a little bit of this quilt at time. Every little bit counts, and it makes me do a bit more sewing, just so I have something to show.

I think there are only 2 more to make like these.

The more I make, the more I like the colours in these. Mmm... I can't wait to get some more of it all together!!

Then I have 16 of the next block to make.... Want to count along with me?

P.S. I found the little missing pieces, nestled in piles of block bits.

Making more

I've done a little bit of work on the Lizzie Mae medallion blocks. I can't fathom how, but I lost a couple of block pieces. Can you see the unfinished ones? Hopefully they will turn up, otherwise, I will just make more.

Lizzie Mae progresses

This is the next stage of Lizzie Mae's medallion progressing. Lots of trimming down to do next. I need to make 12 of these blocks. Here is the first one.

Unfortunately, this project needs a bit of time at the sewing machine when my brain isn't too tired....

Thank you

Thank you so much everyone, for your warm thoughts and wishes (whether for my applique or my health!! LOL!)

I am fighting off a virus I think.. but I've got 2 days to rest and that's just what I will be doing, with maybe a leetle bit of machine sewing.

This is the finished centre for the Lizzie Mae's Medallion quilt.

And this is what else I made....

I had already done most of the cutting, so this was a quick bit of machine sewing to make these blocks for my Miniature Mountains quilt.

I've got to keep going with the series of 9 miniatures. One per month should do it...

Applique *sigh*

I am feeling sad that this applique block I have enjoyed doing so much is almost finished. There are only about 5 pieces left to attach, and 3 of them are pinned on.

Ahhh, look at the urn. I did not fussy cut or centre the print onto the urn. The entire fabric was pretty, so I just appliqued the urn and let the fabric do its thing.

I was supposed to do a lot of piecing on my day off... but I spent most of the day in bed, feeling unwell. The upside is, I have lots of hand sewing done (I can rest, sit and sew at the same time)... but the downside is, I need another hand project (preferably applique).

I guess I had better pull out the 12 Days of Christmas quilt blocks again, and do the 6 geese a laying....

Oh! I love applique!