Almost show time

 It's almost local agricultural show time and Mum (Deep Creek Quilting in Vic. Australia) has express posted these quilts to me so that I can bind them in time to enter the show.

(This blue one is "Tis The Season" stitcheries by Natalie Bird, with my own quilt setting.

They often seem to end up last minute, although that's not my intention!

Why do I enter the show?

I noticed the craft and baking sections were incredibly small at the Townsville Show. I promised myself to enter at least something into baking or craft each year, so that this aspect of the show would still exist when my children are old enough to participate, and maybe my grandchildren.

If we don't enter these things, they will just drop away!

I have to get my skates on to hand stitch the binding down.

The baptist fans look beautiful on this  rendition of a selection of blocks from Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt block book.

Sashing tryouts

Er. Nope. Don't like it

Will hang up the green on the design wall for a while to see how it grows on me.

It's a beautiful green, and I did buy it for this quilt. It's a woven shot cotton, in my favourite shade of green. Oh my!

I like the cornerstone 4 patches. Let's see what develops over the next few days.

 

Gingham is trending

The blocks I am making using the vintage gingham, some from the 1950s are out again, although, really I should say they are in again. Gingham is in vogue!

 I've trashed the previous ideas I had for the Monkey Wrench blocks with a sort of colour wash, and I am back to making actual blocks with varying gingham colours in the background.

Looking for a variety of sizes in the gingham also, I am settled on this design. Time to make a few of these blocks and trial out the sashing.

But first, I think I need another can of ironing spray! The vintage ginghams really are a bit flimsy! I've used the coles brand ironing aid spray, lemon scented. It works absolutely fine.

The old fabrics have been subjected to goodness knows what, and some pieces had to be thrown away because of the mold or stains, even after washing twice. I am happy to be able to use what I can.

 

Sentinelles are out again

 I was looking for a little bit of handwork, and out come the Sentinelles for some stitching. 

Originally lino carved and printed by Dijanne Cevaal, I'm enjoying slow stitching of embroidery over the black print.

These are going to look AMAZING on my wall!

My house has some very colourful accents, so I can make anything work.

I have little projects I've started stashed away, and they seem to be found right when they want some attention.

Feeling accomplished

I'm feeling very accomplished... these bracelets love to be worn, and so the elastic string was quite loose and stretched on them all.

I individually restrung each bracelet, which is no easy thing with a very bendy piece of elastic string! ha!

I feel like this is a crafting achievement, so it's going here. Who is with me?

 

Found a loner

I was having a rummage and came across this block from The Civil War Bride quilt.

 I've made about half of the quilt. I have the pattern and background fabrics, but my reproduction Stash and already completed blocks are still in storage at my parents.

It's been 10 years since I packed my life into a shipping container, then started driving a caravan. 

Part of me wants to still be back in Gisborne.

The other part, and bigger part is so grateful I drove 3000km, and got to have my own family.

These birds need embroidered feet! Not going to applique those!

 

Border auditions

How pretty does this look?

It takes a lot longer to trace these out than it does to stitch them!

Kind of frilly, like a seaweed.

Now, which of these looks better at the edge of the cushion?

Cornerstones or no Cornerstones?

I need to sit on this. 

Which do you prefer?