I'm FMQ!!!!

I bit the bullet and started my first Free Motion Quilting with my new, though not so new, little baby with its tricks and bells - I think I'm addicted!!  

I had this quilt and this quilt professionally basted - am v.v. pleased with not having to worry about shifting layers and puckers and the like (which happened with Every Other Method I Tried!)

Just doing little random swirly loops and dives; no pressure to stick to pattern, just fun!!

This is fun too! Got some beautiful hanky linen from Tessutis Fabric in the city (on a little shopping outing during SIT) - doesn't it go beautifully with Nicey Jane, which I LOVE

This: not so beautifully!!!

Bought the Curve Master Foot for mastering curves - WELLLLLL - not yet!!!

Has anyone got this - and can they tell me please - what am I doing wrong??????

(I have contacted Judy from the shop, but as yet to hear back (I think she's in a show in Perth))

(Edit:  Judy did contact me and explained that I needed to use a proper Drunkard's Path Template, which allows for seam allowance difficulties - free hand cutting will produce this problem!

A-ha! 

More gadgets to buy - if anyone has one they don't need or use - let me know!  Happy to do some swapping!) 

Sew It was Sew Good!

Sew It Together Melbourne 2010 - I woz there!

When I got up that morning - I had butterflies in my tummy - a whole day and then dinner with 60 crafters and bloggers - meeting, chatting, sewing, drinking and eating - the whole darn day and late into the night!!!

I was not disappointed - I met so many lovely people that day that it was just a little overwhelming, and I only met half of the room!

So so good meeting Sheridan, Donna, Susie from interstate and Lara (again)- all part of the Around the Block Swap - see here for a scary photo of us at dinner!

Spent some lovely time with Claire too. Thanks so much for the lift too!!

We got a show bag and a name tag on a long red string - all telling us who we were and where we were - just in case we got confused hehe

I got a name tag with some lightening bugs on it - we had to find 3 others with the same tag - the room was full of frenzied women!!  Our group thought we got all of our team first and pushed our way to the Boss, to get a prize, only to find someone else got there first - we all just laughed!

And that is how the day began at 9am in the morning!!

In our show bag - stuff was simply donated by lots of sponsers for the day and boy, did we get lots and lots of good things:

Picture one shows bamboo needles from Donna of Craftjunk; fabric from theozmaterialgals and hexagon kit from Retromummy; a gorgeous notebook covered with bunnies and my doorprize for the day - Dilbert by Melly & Me!!

Picture Two - yes there is more!!!

Selvedge sisters bag pattern from Jodie of Ric-Rac; Coathanger cover kit from Thea & Sami; vintage covered notebook from Lark; button covering kit from Jackobindi.

Yes - there is more - I kid you not!!

These little lovelies are from Cass of Snailblazer for being in the Snailblazer Swap - all very vintage and oh so sweet:

And these are my swapped presents - remember the S(crap) baskets I made in the last post? - well I am going to have to lift my game if I am doing this again - what a stash!!  

My sincerest apologies that I am not sure of who they were from exactly - I know that is so rude - but it was all very exciting and I could not keep up with all the new people I was meeting and seeing more people I was yet to meet and...... well, the felted flower is from Susan, Anti-bag (to put your i-phone and card in) are from Susie, Tissue holder from Andi and the other really gorgeous things are from really gorgeous people (I'm sure).

Only got a few shots of the day  - the room was not this yellow and was this full and more so:

Susie from Yarnplanner - knitting vertically!!

This was my work for the day - only 1/2 a block done - lots of people came over and thought I was crazy doing this quilt-along - though most wanted to!!

Lizzie from A house in the Country on the right telling someone off?? and Head Girl / Event Organiser Extraordinaire Sheridan on the left (with my scrap bag as raffle drawer, sweet!)

I like this shot so it stays!

Sheridan (Chaletgirl) and her trusty side-kick Donna (Craftjunk) have done a tremendous thing in putting a dream, a wish, a desire to meet people in one spot, who are from all over Australia, NZ and even a UK (ex-Ballarat) blow-in, Hi Trash!, who have one thing in common - we like to craft and we can't stop talking about it.

Keep the Dream Alive 

(I think I have heard that somewhere before?)

Most most sincerest thanks goes to these two - I can't say anymore.

Rock on Sydney 2011!!

S(crap) baskets

Well, maybe the title is a bit harsh - still, when I show you what I swapped these for.....

No - not for this - check next post!

My Daughter's Painting from Primary School Grade 5 - knew you would like it!

Lookie lookie at my new toy! My girls love the pink/purple case the best! No-one can agree on the colour

I just downloaded for $5 this app - I think it is going to be a fave!!.

The blocks are set out very easily - though I did have to make a trial block (just a 3 piece one) to check size description - this is not the first time instructions tell you a certain size, but it is the size without seam allowances ie block size within quilt, not block size finished off the sewing machine, as I would describe it. Anyone else have this problem? No?, just me, maybe.

These two are for Rita of RedpepperQuilts for ATB:

Lots of HST's and squares are requested - such pretty fabric!!

 The Formal Garden

 The Jewel Box

Bee Blocks

Around The Block:

These two are for Susie of Yarnplanner - a space theme for her son Gryff - even has Gryff fabric from Spoonflower - great choice!! A wonky star and a wonky space scene, well, that's what I'm calling it!

These two are for Rachel of Fourwisemonkeys - squares and rectangles are requested for her two boys - they will each choose their blocks and have matching but different quilts for their beds. Love the blue paisley - which reminds me of another blue paisley I apparently won in a blog comp but never ever received, despite hints, email and post comments - well, what can you do? 

Australasian Bee:

This one is for Viv of Highway Cottage, in NZ for the Australasian Bee - a big piece of calico and lots of little bits made up into this abstractness - Viv wanted 1.5inch squares, triangles or rectangles in a line of some sort - I enjoy arranging them in colour and value order.

Red & Aqua:

Some more HST and Whirly Gigs! Love the ladybugs, thanks Tula Pink.

Lots of little flags on a string

My stash so far!  Looking good I think! Had a lovely time at my second meet with my Whirly Gig/HST girls - lovely chatting and some lovely new fabrics! Just lovely!