This and that

Over the last few days I have made 27 quilt as you go blocks, it used up lots of fabric left from other projects. They have been sent to Jan Mac for her quilts for the people who have lost everything in the fires. You can see what she is doing at her Blog.

27 is an odd number for making a quilt I realise, but that was all the backing I had. I will get to make some more in a couple of weeks.

Flat Stanley spent the afternoon at the beach, had a bit of a float around

and then sat in the sun for a while.

The first Aussie Hero quilt is under production, I have done quilt as you go method to make the stripes, now I have things to applique in place.

As it was cooler yesterday afternoon I decided to get this top ready to quilt..I think I have too many things on the go at present, but variety is the spice of life!!

Off to do more pinning.

Happy stitching.

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley has come for the US for a short visit, he got to see the smoke haze sky on the weekend! And not much else!

Our first meeting back for the year at Bellarine Quilters, we were organised to make Cool Neckties for the firies. We had a good turnout and everyone was busy

By 3pm we had made 110. Since then the CFA has said they are not approved to be worn by CFA people so our group are trying to find somewhere else to send them. We originally had CFA approval from a local group and they asked for 10,000. so production, for the moment has ceased. 

Yesterday afternoon we took Flat Stanley to Jirrahlinga Koala and Wildlife Sanctuary over in Barwon Heads.

Two Tawny Frog Mouths hiding in plain sight! Love these birds.

Flat Stanley met a 10 month old wombat who had a nibble on Flat Stanely's hand!! (Both wombat and Flat Stanley were unharmed!)

We saw some beautiful sleepy koalas

These two corellas ,I think, must have been someones pets, they were very friendly and said hello many times.

Another sleepy koala, this one was 20 months old, we were not allowed to touch it as it could pick up illness from us easily.

This wombat was sound asleep in his home away from home.

This guy put on a show for us.

At home today I have done 3 load's of washing, one is still waiting to be hung out, had a walk, watched the emergency helicopter land on the park area over the road, apparently someone had a heart attack while walking down Edwards Point, hopefully they are ok.

Then I cut the remains of the owl sheet up into blocks and also some left over wadding ready for quilt as you go blocks.

Now I had better go and hang out the washing and get back to cutting.

Happy stitching.

Home again

We had a wonderful weekend in Adelaide, DH played war games to his hearts content, talked figures and scenery - what more could he want!!

We saw this rainbow on our way to Ballarat - the pot of gold was somewhere towards Ballan!! Lol!

we had a stop at the Giant Koala to get Giant Koala postcards but they had run out....

the weather got a bit ominous looking as we approached South Australia, but wasn't too bad and we arrived ok. Saturday I found my way to an op shop and found two 100% cotton shirts for a secret project you can find out about over at Tracee's. Then I went via a sewing shop to the Zoo.

Here I visited with the panda's - this is the male - pacing round and round his enclosure - I was sorry for him thought he was bored but then read a sign that said it was heading for spring and this is what the males did - must be getting ready to make baby panda's???

the female panda meanwhile was resting, not such a good photo through the glass..

and the tourist got a photo with another panda!!  (PS to self to work on 'selfie' photos!!!)

the boy is still pacing....

this macaw was out for a flight...beautiful birds....

and this little wombat was out for a walk - not easy to walk on a lead I would have thought but they take her out for two walks a day...there is another wombat at the Zoo who goes out too...

the female orangutan came out for food treats in the afternoon...she is pregnant and not feeling well so is allowed to stay inside on cooler days - she got her treats, gathered some leaves for a nest and went back inside...another not so good photo through glass....

the male, dressed in his most favourite blanket came out for a while and watched what was going on and then went back inside!  He has very cleverly worked out that if he positions the rip in his blanket on the top of his head, the blanket stays there and he doesn't have to hold on to it!! He is nearly fully grown and has lovely dreads developing and big cheek pads.

Gathering a little food before heading inside.

After the Zoo I made my way to another quilt shop in the suburb of Hove, not far from Glenelg, then, with may instructions in my head started to make my way back home....well somehow those instructions must have leaked out my ears or something 'cos I got very lost and ended up at the end of the freeway heading back to Melbourne!!! Luckily I could do a quick left, left and another left turn, then right and headed back the way I had come. Eventually I stopped and got more directions, unfortunately the woman I asked said she had no idea of directions but told me the suburb I was in and so I kind of worked out where I was, but which was did I go from there??? Oh dear!! Luckily DH rang at that stage and asked if I was running late or lost?? I said I was kind of confused so he put his friend on and I was given directions to get home! Phew!!!I was worn out!!

Sunday morning I went for a walk along the Linear Park, just down the road from where we were staying, which went along beside the river. I made sure I took note of the house at the park entrance so I could find my way back....thank goodness that worked....didn't want to be saved two days in a row!! Lol!!

In the afternoon Angie and I did some card making, the two above are her creations, beautiful stamped and layered images...

my efforts...

the shelf of lovelies in Angies craft room....

and I am pleased to say the quilt as you go quilt is finished and on the couch! Yay!!! I finished the binding sitting out in the sun on Sunday afternoon....

I also sewed together the knitted pieces and did the crochet edging on the weekend...another rug for the KOGO collection...they are also short of adult dark coloured beanies at present...

so made three while sitting in the car going to Adelaide and back. Today a lovely looking envelope arrived in the post....

it was from the lovely Cheryll who organises Friday Night with Friends where we can sit and stitch with virtual friends or if we are lucky real friends, last month I was lucky enough to win the draw and receive a  present from Cheryll and it arrived today.......

some lovely fabric, a Natalie Ross Christmas bunting pockets pattern and

a lovely FNWF coaster! Thank you so much Cheryll it is lovely of you to send this to me.

Off to do some sewing now!

Happy sewing.

Thursday thrills

No, it not really thrilling here I just liked the title!! Lol!
I attacked the Bow Tie block this morning and after a few hiccups and some unsewing I ended up with this.....one of the blocks isn't quite right, but then most of my blocks have something not quite right....hey, maybe it will be called the NQR quilt instead of the Underground Railroad Sampler!!  Hee hee!!

Bow Tie block...

and as I was in an industrious mood (these do not last long, so I have to strike while the iron is hot so to speak!!) I sewed the binding onto the quilt as you go quilt so that is now ready for hand sewing on the weekend. 

Happy sewing!

Wednesday wanderings

Today I started the next block on the Underground Rail Road Sampler - Bow Tie...

and all was good until I had to trim them with a 6 and a half inch triangle square up ruler! Oh boy!!! I tried all the rulers I have looking for horizontal lines and diagonal lines - now I am confused so think I will ask at group tonight....the instructions said not to iron the blocks flat, so I didn't, now when I have a peek some of them are not meeting up correctly in the centre...honestly I told them to lie flat and behave!!! So some unsewing will have to happen and then I shall try again!!

I tried to hand sew the strips on the quilt as you go quilt here, boy that was awkward!!! So I thought, well, I will give it a go on the machine and do you know it took me an hour and ten minutes to sew them all down......why didn't I do that straight away I ask myself????? Must be very silly I decided!! Lol!!

So here is the finished quilt, I have managed to get some similar colours together, I think one row is the wrong way around, but hey, it is staying where it is now!! (Sorry Tania, I am quite happy with this now so it is staying here!!)

You get this row of stitching on the back, but as it is on the back I can live with it!!

Off to cook some dinner!

Happy sewing!

Monday happenings

This afternoon I have finally got all the bits sewn on to the quilt as you go quilt, now I have to do the hand sewing on the top - not a problem as I find hand sewing relaxing!! I did have a problem with the back of the quilt....

(apart from the dog hair I haven't brushed off yet, Lol!!) I couldn't get the blocks to meet up in a straight line...at least it is the back of the quilt and wont be on display......

..I have cut the pieces for the next Underground Railway Sampler block....

and today finished this book...I enjoyed this one and when I got to the end I found out it was number 2 in a series of three!! Mmmmm...off to the library tomorrow to see if I can find number 3!

Happy sewing.

Sunny afternoon

I had a walk along the beach this afternoon when the sun came out

St Leonard's pier in the distance 

the supervisor having a rest on the way

beautiful peaceful day

back at the pier

I have done some sewing...I have rescued some fabric I started on last year, I was making a raggy seams quilt for my dear husband, got the pieces together and quilted than, laid them out and he said he didn't like it at all!! Bummer!! So back in to the bag it went and on to a shelf and there it stayed until this week when we decided it could go on the couch in the family room 

four little rugs for the KOGO collection, just polar fleecy with the ends hemmed.

these are the squares I have been joining, now I need to hand sew one of the front seams - kind of on hold now - I have 2 more rows to sew together but have somehow managed to damage the walking foot and I just breaks needles now!! Not so good! No more spares here with me! Off to the hand sewing mow I think!!

Blue on the back patterned on the front!

Happy sewing!