Uh-oh!

So much more to do!! I've got a secret to tell ...
I organised a challenge with the Sunbury group that we have been working on all year.

We all chose our own fabrics and placed them into a bag. Then, 12 people each made a block for that person using their fabrics.

The block was really simple. This helps to reduce errors and allowed beginners to participate.

Some people chose exactly what fabrics would be used where.

Other people put the fabrics in the bag and said, just use "medium" here, "dark" here and "light" here.

We haven't looked in our own bags all year!

What an exciting surprise!

Of course, this now means I have another project to finish.

I entered the swap twice to end up with 24 blocks (my quilt will use 25 blocks).

Then, I won some of the raffle blocks!

I even won one of the blocks I entered - my favourite - it says Peace.

Look at this cute snowman. The nose looks like a coloured icy-pole! What a shame this block wasn't named. After I make these blocks into something (that's another project!!) I will try to find out who made the blocks. I would like them named.

Okay, let's finish something else before I sink my teeth into these 2011 projects.

Stitch and Cut

I stitched another raffle block - that makes three. We have all purchased little squares of the same fabric from the swap co-ordinator (20 cents each) so that it really is all the same fabric. (You know how solid black can vary? So can solid cream). Everyone is using the same variegated thread "Christmas Time" by Threadworx. I like stitching with variegated threads.And, I have been cutting. I will make a sample of the quilt "Garden Song" by Nancy Halvorsen of Art To Heart for my LQS. Her patterns are just luvverly.
This is a close-up of some blocks in the book.

It's okay, I am not yet sidetracked from Log Apartments. I machine-stitched a bit more of the border last night... and would have done more, but I ran out of fabric!

I am only cutting out these appliques so far. Well... cutting and fusing, but definitely not machine stitching!!

Why? Because...

No, really. I don't feel sidetracked. It's not quite veering away from the Log Apartments quilt. Why? Because that's machine work and this is handwork.

These little stitchery blocks are the first (I plan to stitch five blocks) in a series for this year's quilt group raffle blocks. Do you remember raffle blocks from previous years? Each participant makes as many blocks as they want to. For each entry they receive a raffle ticket. All the raffle tickets go into the draw, and winners receive a bundle of blocks. (Okay, so I am stitching five blocks, I could have used them all myself.... but where is the challenge in that?). Besides, it's nice to have friendship blocks.And, I finished hand-stitching the binding on the final bibs.

Grassy Christmas to you...

Guess what Annette brought to quilting last night for me? A child's wooden coat hanger! Thanks Annette! She reckons it must be leftover from her childhood. (How precious!!).

We don't have our Christmas tree up yet.... but... I can't wait!! We will put it up on the weekend.

We have to get all our grass mowed and whipper-snipped before Friday or the council will send someone to do it and make us pay for the service. It's a fire prevention thing, but it's such a big job! (2.5 acres of "garden"). It looks like our Tree will go up after that.

Here is a start to our decorations. This isn't going to stay here - I just have a book and camera weighting it down at the ends. LOL!!

This decoration is made from raffle blocks I won a couple of years ago at our local group. I turned each one into a mini-quilt with ribbon sticking out of the binding, and joined them into a swag. I think I will hang it in the hallway.

Spring rabbits at the letterbox

Congratulations to my dear friend Andrea - who won second prize in the Kilmore Kwilters blue and white quilt challenge (despite the fact she is living in Germany).

I have stitched the 3rd raffle block. That will do, there is no point making 5 blocks to enter the draw when you only win 5. You might as well as keep them!! LOL!!

As promised, here is a photo of the Spring rabbits in their current home. A quilt this size could easily be changed with the seasons. I might make one for Christmas next (see how we go of course!).

Last night I couldn't find the other 2 Mammy pictures I know I photocopied to make them the same size as the others.... so I traced off the Noah's Ark stitchery blocks. They are sooo tiny!

Raffle blocks

I have stitched 2 raffle blocks for my local group's Christmas draw. What are they? I am glad you asked!

This year the guidelines are to stitch 2 strands in DMC 319 on a 6.5 inch block of a specified background fabric - any design to do with Christmas. One can enter as many blocks as they like. For every block entered, the person receives a raffle ticket in the draw. The blocks are divided into piles of about 5 or 6 depending on how many blocks are submitted. Then, at our Christmas breakup the raffle is drawn in the hope of winning a pile of blocks.

I won some in 2006. Just this year I turned them into the Christmas redwork doorhanging. They were on varied backgrounds of white on white.

I also won some another year, probably 2005. It was applique onto a green background (everyone provided their own backgrounds). I made a swag. (I'll have to insert a picture here later, my DH is asleep and I will wake him up looking for it.)

Last year I was too busy getting ready for my wedding to make any blocks. (I hardly even sent Christmas cards, which is terrible, but I will make up for it this year). It was ecru stitchery on a specified red background.

I have traced off one more raffle block. Isn't it good to get a few things done early??? Goodness knows I leave enough to the last minute!!

I feel like frolicking already!

Here are some better photos of the Christmas doorhanging.

I've had a very busy day and I got home from work in time to go for a 40 minute walk. That's three days in a row walking! I am proud of me. It's not easy if you usually get home when it's dark and you live (and therefore walk) in an unlit area. The ground is uneven and cars go fast (100km per hour) near my house - too dangerous! Spring is nearly here, and I am sooo ready for it! Daylight hours will be longer! Making a fungly quilt will be a good way to celebrate spring! I feel like frolicking already!

I am on my way to starting the fungly quilt (ooh! I wonder how I will quilt it???) I can start it once the binding is on the Kaffe and Liberty quilt and when the Old Chooks quilt is finished. Here is a sneak peek of the Kaffe and Liberty quilt with its binding machined on!

I am going to call the Old Chook raffle blocks quilt "Chicken Soup for the Soul" - it will be a nice and cheery quilt for family members (once I have a family) who are sick. I hope they will reminisce about their childhood days under the Chicken Soup quilt, and the comfort it gave them. I am storing up quilts for the future!!