Monday mutterings

I have had quite a productive, although at times frustrating day.....have been working on the next block for the Underground Railroad Sampler....

all cut and ready to go...I have been extra careful with getting the measurements right....

all lined up and ready to go...and Great Hairy Crocopiggies!!!!!!!!...the last one is too short...so much for my careful measuring....so I cut another one the correct length and proceeded to sew them together... all was well until I got to the last two pieces...they were too short.....GHC!!!!!...how does that happen...honestly I was trying to be so careful.....finally though

it is all done.....just needs to be trimmed to 12 inches because it is 13 inches square....these blocks do my head in sometimes......oh well..at least it is done...I did have one distraction.....the sun was out and the rain came....

and there was a rainbow.....not so good in the colour dept but it lasted for a while and gradually moved out over the bay....and so I went back to sewing...leaders and enders now....

Ta dah!!!!! Thirty three came out ok, as in the seams met where they were supposed to and only eight need to have some unsewing and then I will try again....not bad for me I reckon!! Off to take the dog for a short walk now before dark.

Happy sewing!

52 weeks word photo challenge

The word for this week is RED, well lots of things are RED coloured, actually as I sit and write this there is nothing RED on the table!! The RED I like the most is the colour you get in the sunrise or sunset, so luckily after a grey, windy rainy day yesterday, the sun came out a little just before it set and I took a couple of photos....probably more pink that RED but here we go

actually it isn't really RED is it????

Maybe I will try something else...

this was taken in March just after take off from Samoa, sunrise over the Pacific.

You can see the other RED photos over at Alsha's Space.

Good to have a look at!

Sunday sentiments

I have been given some lovely charm squares by Tania and Trish, so thought I would get some white fabric and  use them for enders and leaders - I think that is the correct terminology - so they are here ready to go

all set....

this is the fabric and goodies I got at the show to start on the next Aussie hero quilt - the request was for Indian continent bold colours and elephants....

Oh boy!! My first seam and I have the fabric around the wrong way!!! So some unsewing has to happen!

Got a little carried away...the enders and leaders I have with me are done.....

and ironed and ready for the next step in the process! I didn't mean to do this today, just to have them nearby, but ............they actually go together quite quickly! I am thinking this could head to a postage stamp type quilt, but we shall see....

and the quilt is underway, I am having trouble getting the sides even, working on half the dining table here is not ideal, so think I will leave it until I get home when I can put it on the big table...there is an inch difference between the bottom and the top...had a woops when trimming I think! Once I manage that I am appliquéing elephants on to the wider strips...hopefully they will look ok, then they will get the orange ric rac on their legs, should be good as it has little bells on it. Nothing like a musical quilt!!  Lol!!

Happy sewing!

Craft and Quilt Show Melbourne

I had a wonderful day out with Marg at the Craft and Quilt Fair at Jeff's Shed on Thursday. We were very brave and negotiated the use of Myki cards, no choice really as there are no paper tickets from Gisborne any more, they worked perfectly so no worries there! I loved the quilt display and of course have taken too many photos but it is hard to know where to stop!! I have not put them all up here I promise!! Lol!!

Loved this frog quilt....

and this NZ one inspired by a holiday to New Zealand, the lady who made it designed it herself too! Very clever!

Detail on the kiwi.....

and the silver fern.....beautiful work....love the colours too...reminiscent of greenstone....

have a look at this one, great colours....

this appealed to me, postage stamp quilt...lots and lots of little pieces!!

This one was hand pieced...just beautiful...

this was the winner of the display.......tiny half inch hexagons I think...beautiful....

loved this one....

the 5000 Poppies ladies are there creating knitted, crochet or felted poppies for their display next ANZAC Day...

this one has shirting fabric in it, great for our group challenge......

some beautiful quilts...Elizabeth something???

Loved this one made in memory of the quilters mother who has passed.....a flower quilt...fussy cut..1 inch, 2 inch and three inch squares...you can see the detail below..just beautiful...Oh no!! I have just realised it is sideways!!!

I tried again...this is better!!

amazing quilting and detail...

also really loved these Sentinels...I hope I have the name right - Marg and I purchased one each to go home and play with....great idea!

I had a very happy and productive day - found some fabric for the next Aussie Hero's quilt and got to talk with lots of lovely people....

Off to have a play!!

Happy sewing! 

Lovely swap

Thank you very much to Fiona at BubzRugz she has felted blanket squares to swap for appliqué or stitching fat quarters. Love the colours Fiona has sent me! 

Happy sewing!

Thought for the day

Just had to share these!!

This one makes me feel so happy!!!!

So cute and so true!

Have a happy day!

52 weeks word photo challenge

The word for this week is LIFT.....many thoughts passed through my mind ...none of them practical for getting a photo this week, then one just happened!

What do you do when you have had a magnificent dessert, really enjoyed it and it is all gone??? You LIFT up the plate and lick off the last little bits!!! That's what!!!  Lol!!

As this was taken on retreat the person has to remain incognito!!

You can visit Alsha's Space and see the other lift photos for this week if you like.

Happy sewing!

Quilt Retreat Weekend

I have had the best weekend.....I was at a quilt retreat at Hepburn Springs..I was lucky enough to be a ring in as they were short on numbers....stayed in a beautiful house..great company, food, drink, comfy bed....what more could you want??

Some discussion on what is being made from this magazine..

One quilt, put together and "boxed" - a new term I learned on the weekend....I would have called it sashing but there you go!!

Checking out the finished flimsy....

OOps Trish has been chatting and not concentrating me thinks.....got a little carried away with the hexie joining!!  A little unsewing coming up.....

the work area...

some pencil rolls I have made Friday evening....they are supposed to hold 24 pencils...I measured carefully....very carefully...but I can only get 22 pencils in one and 21 in the other.....ah well....

this is the view out my bedroom window.....

a quilt on the wall in the hallway.....

oops...this is sideways.....but it was in the dining room...you still get the idea....was beautiful Asian fabrics with dragons, pandas, dragon flies.....

Trish with the mountain of hexie flowers...

you can see the beautiful fabric she is working with....

I am playing around with a journal cover and different stitches on the machine....

a 1600 quilt created Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning....we were at the pub Saturday night so not much sewing was done!!

Again this is sideways I am sorry....you can see it better in the next photo...

another raggy seams quilt created on the weekend, you can see the blue blocks better here, they will make a spectacular quilt!

Oh boy! This looks like a school photo, all nicely lined up, doesn't it, except for the body dragged in on the far right...she missed the last photo!!Lol!! Had to make sure she got in this one!

Another raggy seams quilt created on the weekend...yet to be cut...but looking amazing!

On the way home I had a detour and had a walk in the Park....

then stopped at Trentham Falls -- was wonderful to see water coming over the falls.

Now to head off and unpack....or just go soak in the bath with bubbles and a G & T....no contest!!

Happy sewing!!