Tweed swap

I have been collecting tweed and wool jackets from the opp shops- especially when they are having a "all clothes $1 each" sale.

I pick up the nice tweeds and wool jackets with the view to do some wool applique. It doesn't matter if there is a cigarette burn in the sleeve - I won't use that bit.

I wash the jackets in the washing machine in cold water on the gentle cycle. If they stand up to that, they can go in my quilt or cushions.

So what do you think, shall we swap "pieces" or squares of wool jackets? Anybody want to host it? I am working my butt off, and this would be insipiring.

I just read Bernadette's blog and she entered in a "vintage sheet" swap. Dang! I missed out!! That would have been great. I've collected some old kitchen curtains too...

Working on the borders

I am working on the borders for the Quilt-Aid quilt. I have chosen to use the border print from the fabric range Potpourri Sachet (all the fabric is from this range), so the size of the centre is dependant on the width of the sashings.

I am on a pretty tight time deadline with this quilt - so my DH was helping me when I trialled the sashings - he was unpicking for me.

Picture my DH bent over his unpicking, then putting "his" sewing down with the exclamation "The hell if I know where love resides!!"

LOL!! Have I watched that movie too many times???


It's going to be a b-iii-g quilt. Should be large enough for a queen sized bed!!

I will show you some more photos as I progress.

Quilt-aid progress

My best friends and I have been working really hard on these blocks to finish my quilt design for the Quilt-aid programme.



The blocks contain a mixture of piecing, applique and embroidery - Andrea did the piecing and I did the embroidery and applique.


Sandra has done the most beautiful job on this tree with the birds - her circles are perfect! (She used lots of spray starch).

Andrea pieced the block before Rosie appliqued and embroidered the birds and flowers.

I appliqued this one, and Andrea did the piecing.

This one is my applique - don't compare my "circles" to Sandra's!!


Happy birthday to my dear friend Andrea.

Redwork goodies!! Thank you!!

Maree from "On My Verandah" hosted a redwork cushion swap.

I signed up as soon as I found out about it! Wouldn't you know it, I had just enjoyed making a redwork cushion myself!! Actually, I made 2 the same. That's how much I liked it!! LOL!!

So, I kept one and posted the other one off to New Zealand...

I had the most wonderful surprise in a LARGE parcel!!


A big present - my cushion!! Now, this angel just needs to plant my bulbs!! LOL!!

She could very well be me, she has a handbag!! This cushion is so gorgeous... look at the chenille on the sides!!

But wait, there's more in the box!!

What is it? Oh my goodness!! A big red mug, cherry ripe (Mmm, ate that straight away thank you....), ric rac and threads... I guess my gardening angel was reading my blog and knows how much I love ric rac, stitching and chenille!! LOL!!

Here is the back of the cushion.... the buttons are so sweet!!

Guess who made my present??? I am honoured to have received this special gift from Maree arch-angel of swapping herself.

Thank you so much Maree. I really enjoyed this swap, what fun! Now, back to her blog to read what other people have said about the swap!!!

The bag lady strikes back!!

Yesterday afternoon we had a really cold snap. The change of seasons always seem to set us quilters into a change one way or another... and we in the southern hemisphere are all settling in to snow er... SEW in this weather. And drink warm drinks!! Here are my gorgeous girlfriends!! Don't we look like the Gingham Girls in Bronwyn Hayes patterns (or are we kidding ourselves?)

We are picking rich and warm colours to make quilts to keep us cosy... however.. I saw this bag pattern yesterday and decided I would like to make it.

I picked my fabrics (this is the really easy part for me), and cut them out.

The white section of the original bag is made with a piece of old cotton knitted jumper with stabiliser ironed onto the back. I saw this woven textured cotton and thought it would be perfect!!!

After making the bag, I reviewed my button choice. I didn't want the flash buttons to distract from the pretty handle.

But, I stuck to my original plan....

I think this pattern was appealing to me because I already had the beautiful handles... they just seem to work with the shape, style and fabrics.

I'm back with a vengeance!!! (Only 3 weeks left to work on the QuiltAid quilt!!!).

I'm off home to roast some carrots for soup and applique while watching DVDs of Cold Feet episodes.

Dame such-a-lot

Such a lot has happened since I last blogged! I want to keep up with my blogging so that I am keeping track of my work. Hmm...

So what happened?

I lay in bed for 4 days with the flu, sat out in the Autumn sunshine when I could, ate oranges etc. I got the flu before the flu shots were out... so I guess there's not much point getting one now! (At least for a few weeks until I am quite over this one). I have mixed feelings about flu shots, but I really need to talk to my Dr. I had pneumonia 13 months ago and need to be very careful. Well, that's one of my excuses for not blogging..

What's another one? Oh yeah! I couldn't find my camera.. well, my DH's camera just doesn't quite cut it, it's a different brand, and I always find the colour quality so different to real life.

I have been working on another funky monkey!

Here he is!!! What a cutie! This one reminds me of a little cartoon stuck to my fridge. It is one scene picturing the traditional pirates with a wooden leg, or a hook, or an eye patch and one is saying "Arhh, here comes Mr Perfect" because a pirate with all his appendages and eyes is approaching. At the moment, this is Pirate Magoo because he is missing an arm and his eyes!!!

Here's something else I have been working on... yay!! The medallion quilt from Jo's Little Women club is finished! (Well, the top is finished). I just love it!! I challenged myself not to use green (which I usually LOVE) and I only have one in it (one is not too bad is it????).. the original quilt was green and red, so I wanted to do something cool and soft rather than warm, but still use the vintage look of Jo Morton fabrics.

I have also been working on the Quilt-Aid blocks. I am at the half-way mark in terms of time, and have 3 weeks left to completely finish my quilt and write the instructions. ACK!! You know what I will be showing you next!!!

I will post pictures of the Quilt-Aid blocks very soon!

Not a fan...

No, I am not a fan of the flu. I have been in bed all week.

The weekend before Easter I went on retreat... had the most WONderful time!! but there was a fellow retreatee sitting under my elbow... and she must have been a lot sicker than she let on! We thought she just lost her voice... well, I just lost a week of my life!

I will post some photos of progress tomorrow (not my cold, the sewing, silly!!). Hope you had a Hoppy Easter.

*hugs*