Zippies

I think I just mentioned I wouldn't be able to contain myself... And I couldn't!!

I had a $7 panel of Australiana design... What to do with it??

I've made an iPad zippie bag, another pouch for a tablet, and another for an iPod.

These were so easy and fun. They use hardly any fabric...

I'm moving interstate soon, and I've given away about 6 garbage bags of supplies... I'm looking at the fabric I have, making little things ... And noticing I've only used a handful of fabric bits. I think I can safely say I have enough fabric to keep me well occupied for years!!

The Christmas Frenzy Begins

Every year I seem to get close to Christmas, thinking I won't make gifts... Then I change my mind... Am I the only one??

I've got Australian fabric here going begging. All I had to do was cut strips in different widths, cross cut them and join together, quilt them in a big strip (ooh, that would make a lovely table runner!!) them cut out the Christmas stocking shape...

And so I've made 2 Christmas stockings for non-Aussies in bright cheery Aussie
fabrics, and used overall Aussie prints on the back..

The only thing is, while I was looking for these fabrics I fondled quite a few more. I bet I can't contain myself despite all the jobs I'm meant to be doing!!

Retro-recycled Table centre

This gorgeous fabric was leftover from the 1950s dresses quilt... I thought my dear gf in Devon, England would like it as a table centre.

I backed it with a green bandana, and she uses it as a table centre.....

I forgot to take a photo of the completed project.... but I know she uses it, and it's loved.... xo

Temple Blossom and Gypsy Caravan

I am loving these tumbler blocks...

The selvedges say the fabrics are from the ranges Temple Blossom and Gypsy Caravan...

A great name for this quilt would be Gypsy Blossom I think.....

Karla is going to love this!!!!

Progress

Huge progress on Karla's quilt!

After using all the pieces that were already cut, I decided to use the tumbler ruler I've had in the drawer for quite some time now.... Ooh goody! Using new tools and old fabrics!

I feel like I'm having a cleanout by sewing this!

Such fun.... no plan.... just a growing quilt..

Jack's Quilt

I'm so pleased with the finished look of Jack's quilt. I know it will be used a lot as a floor throw while he's googling away, to keep him warm in the pram, on his cot and bed, and later to make cubbies.... so I'm glad it's a dark colour.

I love giving quilts to people that use them!

 

The seal of approval... he loves it! (Actually, the real seal of approval is that he's pooed on it... yuk! but we don't need to see a photo of that!!)

 

 

The beginning....

The beginning of a 1970s retro patchwork quilt for a retro girl.... (I think the photo is complete on the 1970s carpet... heh heh....)


I've had these Amy Butler fabrics for at least 10 years... I think I bought them on super special for $2 per fat quarter.... and started to make something one rainy afternoon, then changed my mind...

So now I'm playing it by ear... I started by using the pieces cut years ago and joined them in new ways...

 

I really don't know what it's going to look like! Join me on this journey!

 

Gagging to sew

I've been gagging to sew... I just wanted to feel like I'd finished something! So here we go! Three little zippy bags... I love these Australian fabrics - I've just come back from central Australia, and feeling so inspired! I LOVE AUSTRALIA! xo

 

Because it's pretty.....

Because a pretty quilt deserves a pretty back...

 

and now it's ready to be quilted! Oh! I can't wait to see it finished!!

Etchings

Whoot! Whoot! That's the quilt top finished! Ta-da!

I had quite a lot of the Paris map fabric for the outer borders.... while it's quite light, I think it's really pretty... quilts are made to be used - and are easily washed if necessary!!!

There are some interesting bits and pieces left over that I'll play with for the back.. but really... I think that's enough for tonight!

Border Zone

This is the centre of another Persian Tiles quilt - it's made from a jelly roll and a layer cake with border fabrics...... These go together so quickly there are no "before" or "during" photos.. uh oh.....

Right now I am testing out border fabrics... hmm.... what will work?

 

These fabrics are from the "Etchings" range - it's a beautiful range with maps of Paris and architectural drawings with old French buildings......

It's pretty without being too girly. Perfect.

I deserve it...

This poor little 1950s dresses quilt has been on the go for 6 years!!!

I've just added borders and pieced the back.... I like to stitch on a label before quilting to make sure the ownership of the quilt can never be disputed.... when it's quilted right through the label, the quilt can't be easily stolen or disguised...

I'll be giving this to Mum to quilt very soon! Wahoo!

And this quilt will be for me - I deserve it!

I love my machine....

Eek! You know you've been working hard (well studying in my case) when you haven't had your sewing machine out for some time!! I look at my last blog post - 3 months ago! Awww....

And why do I have my machine out now? I'm keen to make a quick quilt for my cousin Jacqui's first baby - due anyday now...

I found this cat border print, then decided to make batik strips to go between the borders.... a very simple quilt. 

It needs to be hardy and machine washable. Jacqui will use it as a throw to put on the floor for her baby to lie on, play on, and have his nappy changed on, no matter what the floor is like, the baby will be on a clean surface... awwww.... 

I've made the back from co-ordinating fabric.... it's ready to be quilted by my wonderful Mumsy!! Then I'll add the binding, and visit Jacqui, and hopefully the new bub before too long!!

Kobe's Quilt

Awww.. little Kobe is only three months old... and look what he's getting!!

This is the second Cat In The Hat quilt I've made. It's mostly similar to Be Seussical, but I've rearranged some of the background pieces and the appliques.

Mum was up at 6am yesterday to make sure it was quilted in time.. I worked on the binding last night and this morning. What a marathon at the last stretch!

Snowballing in Winter....

It's the middle of Winter here - perfect time for stitching with a quilt on your lap, or stitching down the binding on the quilt that might be sitting on your lap!!

I've made another three of the Aussie snowball blocks.

This brings the total so far to 12 out of 30.

 Hmm... Twelve sounds like quite a few, until you realise you're not even half way through making them!! I need to buckle down a bit... I feel I only have a few more weeks left on this project - then it is time for another one for another gift....

27 snowballs

I caught up with Mum on the weekend, and had another go at setting up the Statler Gammill.  This time on an initial quilt... the blocks were swapped in 2004, and the quilt top was completed in December 2010!! Mum's had it nearly a year and a half... my finished items for the year list is looking a little bare... so let's snap to it Mum!! We didn't quite get it totally quilted on the weekend... It will be good to have a quilt to keep for myself when I have completed it.

I know it's not always about quantity... quality is also key. But, I love to sew... I should be finishing things... otherwise I don't get to start anything new... and that keeps the creative juices working....

What I have been working on is the Snowball In Hell quilt... Oh yes. A few more blocks to show today.

I've made only another 3 blocks, but I've done a lot of cutting and sorting. Ready to sit and stitch!

I'm using the Hipstimatic app on the iphone to take some of these snaps. I love the little frame, and the random way the flash is applied, but the colours aren't always true, so I've put the photos in here twice for show and tell purposes.

What else has been going on? There's the Be Seussical quilt just getting its binding hand stitched.. and the Basket Case quilt is also ready to bind...

...There must be some other things I've worked on this year... what's have I been blogging about? I'm gonna see what I can finish.

6 out of 30

Woohoo! Just loving these new snowball blocks.

I did quite a bit of cutting, then sat to sew... then I'm making the first 9 patch, and I can see straight away that there's not enough contrast. It doesn't look like a 9 patch at all...

So I make a few snowballs in another colour, then take a photo to test it out.

It works! And so, the rest of the block is made.

Yes, the other light colour looks fine in the second block of the evening.

I happily sewed away on four blocks, took a lovely pic.. then made another one.. heh heh

So, that's a total of 6 blocks out of 30... still got a bit to go... but enjoying the Snowball In Hell quilt. :)

Friday night sewing... so it's crappy weather, and Fiona has a cold... well.. I'll sew on my own!

I traced off 19 foundation piecing thingees ready to stitch, and now that I've made two of  'em, I realise I've miscalculated and drafted. They don't work! There is no way those seams are going to match... Well, it's Friday night, and my brain won't work.....

I'll have to redraft on Tuesday when I've got Andrea's brain to lean on! So... what to do...

I've been looking at this magazine, and drooling over a quilt.. imagining it in all sorts of colourways....

 So, I cut up some Australian Aboriginal prints to make a test block. I love it!!

One block took 45 minutes, another 29 to go to make this quilt....

Ooh! And here's the magazine in case you want to make it too...

Well, I didn't get up to finishing the second Cat In The Hat quilt top in time for quilting over the weekend...

So, guess what I brought out this week on the Tuesday sewing session with Rosie and Andrea?

You guessed it! And I'm pretty chuffed that the Quilt Top #2 is now finished. Oh boy, I can't believe there are another 2 Dr Seuss quilts to be made... I'm going to be quite tired of it when I've done them all... Anyway, it's relatively easy to make: only about 8 hours in the quilt top.... that's why they are all getting (nearly) the same. I'll just mix around the arrangement of block backgrounds and appliques for a bit of variety.



I've accidentally rearranged the background, so I've also altered the positioning of the appliqued bits. Rosie says it's the "Wonky Quilt"... very true that... I mean, have you seen the Cat In The Hat movie? It's enough to make anyone see sideways.. hahahahhhah

After working on the "mundane" task of another Dr Seuss quilt, I rewarded myself by taking out a project I've been hankering to work on....

These Baltimore album blocks have been sitting in a box since August 2009. I made myself finish 16 blocks before starting the Civil War Bride applique blocks..... and I've had an idea of what to do with the sashing for years...

First I needed to draft the cornerstone to see if it would work... then calculate the sizes for the sashing...  and make a test bit to see.

Oh yes, loving it... I over-stayed my time a little bit, because I was enjoying the way the blocks were going together... Friday night sewing with Fiona - and I'll be foundation piecing my little fingers off to make the cornerstones.

After the centre is complete, I can think about the borders.... I must show a closeup of the red sashing fabric: is it ombre when the fabric changes from light to dark? Anyway, it's an 1800s reproduction fabric. And it looks smashing! If I say so myself... *wink*

Cats and Dogs

Well, what a strange combination - cats and dogs! I never thought I'd be quite as fond of animals as I am now.... but it's a bit like babies really... I enjoy giving them back. (shhhh)...

Rosie, Andrea and I followed up last week's sewing day with another busy day of sewing. I machine stitched bindings onto the Pokey Puppy Quilt and Be Seussical. The couch awaits! Hahahaah.. perfect weather for sitting indoors with a movie actually....

Then I worked on the next Cat In The Hat quilt top.... pieced the background together and fused on the appliques. If I am able to get the quilt top finished by the weekend Mum and I will put it on her big machine... and zup zup.. another one done.

But wait, I've already had couch time.. and I've finished the Pokey Puppy quilt binding.. It just needs a label.. Yay!! Baby Finn is going to love it... (Finn is the one in the braces jumpsuit... and Marcus is having a swing at his lil' toy).