DUDQS3

I received a most wonderful package today and had to tell you about it!

Belinda of  Flickr name:  Beeware70 and Tuffin Tales

has come up trumps with a most wonderful doll quilt for moi!

AMHs Feather pattern made with fantastic colours and prints, on a Seeds Catalogue fabric, handquilted in golden perle

Boy oh Boy oh Boy

This is going straight to the pool room folks!

Some really lovely extras which were not expected but very well received:

A great book, perfect for my new teen - more on that later, and some very rare out of print, cannot find anywhere kind of stuff - Bohemian by AMH

A better close up shot of the beautiful fabric and quilting

Thank you Belinda

You did good!

When it is in the 'pool room' I will show you more, just cos I want to.

Cartwheeling all over the place

IMG_7617, a photo by Whippet Good on Flickr.

For my Down Under Doll Quilt Swap 3 partner ....always difficult to choose the right thing...inspiration is either overloaded, or nothing at all...

BUT as soon as I saw this post, it had me!

http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/doing-cartwheels-free-block-pattern-for.html

Thank you Lee!

BUT it was foundation paperpiecing! Oh my, did I put my self in a pickle! I took on the challenge, cos that's what it should be (I think), bought some Carol Doak foundation paper and after 3 tries, unpicking and just a little bit of choice words, I got the hang of it!

Just not entirely sure it is for me....
BUT...I like this result - hubbie does too and always tells me to keep my swap thingy...I won't - the pressure to make something else is too hard on the ol ticker.

22" by 22" using Robert Kaufman Chambray for the background and a mix of some of my faves.

I wanted the quilting to give it more movement - cartwheeling is such fun!

Backing and binding is Pop Garden - does anyone else forget (like me) how to put on the binding, espesh the end bit, cos it has been eons since the last quilt made and bound, and it stuffs up again and again...

BUT all good now.

Goodbye my colourful sweet swirling thing, you.  I think I will miss you.

My mosaic of favourites for DUDQ3! Join up now!

My mosaic of favourites for DUDQ3! Join up now!, a photo by Whippet Good on Flickr.

1. Spring 2012 Market Brochure_1, 2. Queen Anne's Lace, 3. QuiltCon block 2, 4. Bee block Mai for Floh, 5. Flocking1, 6. 11-Flower Mystery, 7. hello sweetie, 8. fall quilt market recap. {art gallery.}, 9. Quilt Top for J, 10. Aqua Green Lime, 11. Buggy Barn Outdoor Quilt Show, 12. [3x6] Bee - Round 2, 13. Japanese pluses and crosses, 14. DQS 10 Finished!, 15. Baby Jane Mosaic, 16. A Hobson Fairy Tale

Down Under Doll Quilt Swap 3 

I'm looking forward to joining in - haven't for quite a while and I think I have missed it!  I kindov randomly picked some of my favourites from my Flickr site - just make it colourful and maybe add a little bit of whimsy, throw in a feather, a teacup and a smile and I'd be over the moon!!

Michelle from A Quilted Tortoise is Swap Mama this round - her stuff is so ace!!!

What about you? Feel like a little mini challenge with a lovely surprise at the end??

Pressies from Canberra

Going in the Name Tag Swap late did sortov mean that the thrill of revealing your own name tag to the group was lost, BUT I was thrilled none the less with the lovely one made by Danielle of Petit Elefants

Thank you so much Danielle!  I love the bunting (very me), the quilting is divine and I love the embroidery!

This is what I made for Danielle - just HAD to use my blue and white petit elefants fabric and I had this strange epiphany to made red elephant ears - I do hope others can see the ears! (not that easy to make I have to say)  I had a shock thought that maybe Danielle had huge ears and that these would be highly offensive - thankfully not true at all!!

The Sample Swap is truly a highlight of SIT for me - after sweating over my Granny Square Cushions - would people like them?  would they hate the colours? would they op-shop them quick as a wink? I couldn't think any more of them, cos I was just in love with MY presents from 5 other lovely ladies:

A gorgeous flower complete with real twig from Sarah of Giftscreated -

Lisa from theredthread - a super sweet birdie cushion - love the vintage barkcloth wing and the red polkadots backing - perfect for my couch!  I was a little bit worried about getting it into my suitcase to come home, but no probs at all!  Lisa also donated some lovely embroidery panels for everyone's goody bag - definitely a Christmas present idea!

Last but not least presents are from Cass - Snailblazer - organiser of Sample Swap for 3rd (?) time running - and she runs it well!!!  Cass made cup holders with SIT 2012 written on linen and lovely granny square fabric - had to pick the Granny!

Then a great zippered pouch from Fiona - from bee-abi - perfect for my new ball of wool, my so so pretty crochet hook and my growing Granny Square! (all from Renae of Suzy Hausfrau)

Then a lovely pouch and needle book from Julie of Relish - gorgeous colours and tiny patchwork - love the tiny donut!

The Handmade Market in Canberra was simple fantastic - very impressed with quality of goods and wide variety of things that made me want to part with my money!

Just a little bit of my goodies - a very turquoisey/aqua splurge - 

Something to hang on the wall to make me smile!

I can put myself in the middle of this picture and dream away!

by Marja Leena

Granny Squares for the couch

We have been given the go-ahead to show our Sample Swap offerings at SIT in Canberra this weekend - this is where 6 people form a circle, do a little dance (yes, compulsory), and place a item that they have lovingly made for the other 5 participants joining in.

It is great fun - both to make (well, maybe a little nervewracking, cos, you know, it is a huge representation of the quality of your sewing (NO, not really!!!)

People make allsorts of really different things - exactly what SIT is all about - different people with different crafty loves and blogging styles, but we want to hang out together and learn about each other and catch up with each other's lives.

My winning collection (from Hawthorne Threads) of Washi Tape by Rashida Coleman-Hale (she even posted a comment on Flickr that she loves them - big hug to you Rashida!)

Thanks Louise for the suggestion of Granny Squares cushions

These are 3.5" (not the regular 2.5") with Quilter's Linen by Robert Kaufman for the 'background' solids.

Just realised I hadn't taken a full size photo of the magenta one - 2nd from the top!

Too lazy to do it now

Wacky photo but here are the backs - this was harder to choose than the fronts, that's for sure - I'm not a big user of solids, even a non-solid solid like this fabric, so it was a bit of a struggle.

Some recycled ribbon for the stays.

Not a zip in sight

For this, I should be thanked. You really didn't want Me to sew that in!!

I hope others like them
Hubbie has put his order in; he likes the magenta one the best - who'd thought!

Sample Swaps

Sample Swaps, a photo by Whippet Good on Flickr.

Just a little photo of some pressies made for SIT Canberra - not just blog ready, but ready ready!!

Hubbie wants some for ourselves...well, I might just have to do that.

On a side note - I have to learn how to crochet before end of next week  - cos I kinda booked myself into a not-so beginner class - yikes!  Okay, I thought, I will just head to the op-shop for some practice wool (I have a crochet hook from eons ago) and they. had. no. wool.  The lady had to tell me 3 times, cos obviously the look on my face was telling her that I thought she was a liar!!

Something's wrong in the world, when you can't get a naffy bit of acrylic wool from your local oppie.

Anyone suggest a really really good tute for beginner beginner 'hooker' (okay, I admit I have made a scarf before but nothing has stuck in my mind regarding this craft at all)  UK terminology please - why different names I just want to know!!!!

Clothing scares me

I think this photo scares me!  Camera head!

Some stretchy knit jersey stuff? (I have no idea what you call this fabric) that I picked up for 2 bucks at op-shop - for my muchly looking forward to.... 

Pattern Free Top Workshop

with

Ms Mallalieu

Big Big Step for me - I have no clue AT ALL when it comes to fitting some kind of fabric around my body and I am welcoming the thought of  just kindov winging a design

This rings bells for me - you know the kind that makes your heart stop and brain say Yes Please all at the same time.

Some nice person giving me instruction and signs of approval as I look up imploringly from my work  is what I am looking for and I think I will get it there - so I'm told! lol!

 My first pair of 'cowboy' boots!  I call them that, but don't really believe any authentic cowboy/girl would wear these little pretties!

And they are red!!!

Goes so so well with some looovely linen blend fabric called Jeneveve by Valori Wells - thinking of doing an A-line skirty thing from Sew What Skirts aka the Ubiquitous SIT skirt Sew Along

See that little bit with the leaves - 1/2 yard - what should I do with it?  

Yoke? - It may not be seen when I wear a top over it

Band at bottom? - Does this look like your legs are cut off?

Strip along one leg?  - Too weird or 'disruptive' to main pattern of skirt?

My lovely lovely 'roses' from my Australasian Bee girls - my idea was for lots of pink or green or a combo of both crazy-pieced blocks of all different sizes to make a bouquet of sorts of roses.

Haven't really got a clue how I am going to put them together - probably group some and piece some out and about in the quilt - like an arrangement in a vase???  I have loved getting (most) of my blocks back - though I'm not quibbling over some pieces of fabric that may or may not come back to me  - all the very best to them!

The Bee has now finished - Thank you to Jo of SparklyGreenKnickers for being the coordinator - the blocks and people have been varied and interesting (some stay involved and some very rarely) and I hope to keep up with at least a few of you  - may see you again in another Aussie/NZ bee - Hope So!!

Sydney here I come!

SIT or Sew It Together is happening this weekend ie starting Friday (when all good weekends should start!!)

Beautiful humid Sydney is hosting the show this year - I am flying up at Friday lunchtime, stitching with Prints Charming in the afternoon, dinner somewhere TBA, then Saturday bonanza crafting session which includes a Workshop of the elusive 60 degree triangle (by Material Obsession gals), giveaways, goodie bags - oh the goodies we get!!, food, drink, chat, sew, chat, sew, chat, sew, then a great meal for all of us at the Heritage Belgian Beer Cafe - Cheers!!

Sunday sees some of us on a bus to Material Obsession's new shop - a beauty I am told and I cannot wait to see some of Kathy's creations!!

Then a flight back home in the arvo to collapse at home.

I have made 5 things for the Sample Swap, where we get into groups of 6, (do a little shuffle), and swap our homemade pressies!

I have made Infinity Scarves from AMH voile - super super easy and really effective

This is me wearing all 5 - not that you would!

This is Wendy's name tag for SIT - we were too lazy to get in the official swap, so we decided to do our own - requirements are: handmade, colours of chocolate and/or citrus (food oriented here) & about 9cm size - little baa lamb has to be glued on the side before it goes. 

Pear Ginger & Caramel cake made for a birthday arvo tea at my place (cos it was my birthday - I had a truly lovely day!)  

Not so pretty once it is demolished, but oh so good!!!

Kaffe Wonky Stars

 After a (very very long) time, my Around the Block Swap (round 1) has been made up into this lovely quilt:

My Kaffe Wonky Stars

The stars are (obviously made with KF fabric), sent out to some lovely ladies all over Australia and Canada.  I asked for any size to be made - I wanted an eclectic look - a random smattering of shining sparklies. Boy, the assembly took a bit of patience though - ended up with a few Y seams - eek - though all worked out in the quilting.  I have big ones, baby ones, skinny ones, spiky ones, all fabric ones, all different pieced ones, holed ones and framed ones!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this block swap - I think my quilt is truly unique because of you!!

The background is Kona cotton 'Nightfall' - a lovely deep blue, terribly hard to photograph. I ended up with two different dye lots of the fabric - and they were different BUT I actually like the patchworkiness of the blues - gives it just that little bit more of an interest to the monotone background.

I am not in love with the Kona cotton - just not smooth enough to touch for my liking - I don't think I will use it again, if I can help it. Despite that, this has been my first quilt that I have enjoyed sewing the quilting - just a random swirl/loopy/with some stars 'thrown in for good luck' pattern.

 The back is strips of Kaffe fabric in yellow golds, pinks, red, oranges and greens - all very circular patterns - I was going with a 'planetary' effect: Cogs, Fans, Lichen and the gold one (can't remember the name!)
The binding is Star Flowers in red - truly adore this fabric!  edit:  just notice a ring-in - Brandon Mably's Red Rings on the back (that's okay - I think being the friends they are, it is allowed)

I shouldn't have favourites....but I do!!!  I love love love the star within a star within a star from Lynn of Craftstew and this little baby with a pansy inside!!

In the sunshine the blue is so much brighter!

Can anyone give me pointers as to how to get a good photo of your quilt - is the problem my camera - a small digital point and shoot - where is the clarity??

Just some sticky sticks

I've been doing a lot of whirly gigs recently - lots of very cute little red and aqua ones for my swap involving my pal Wendy, cutting 2.5 " squares - BUT - I was desperate to try really huge ones!!

so...

I went wild and cut 5" squares 

and got these lovelies!!

'My Whirly Girls' - base fabric: Kaffe Fassett Mint Spot - oh so delicate and love-er-ly - 

just the right amount of something in the back

                           - feature fabric: Jennifer Paginelli's ranges of Dance with Me, Pretty Please and BellBottoms

I am so attracted to these prints and colours; 

strong sky blues; intense raspberry and eye-hurting flashes of gold; deep deep pinks with a touch of icypole orange

 - the photos are sorta washed out - the hues and tones are more.....intense, striking, in a gentle girly kinda way....clear?

Finally - my first finished swap quilt - hubbie almost falling off his 'perch' in amazement???

I enjoyed more arty-farty fotos - if only I had a big red barn, or some snow covered landscape....none of that round here - just some sticky sticks and some blue sky

It is strange how I was never truly in love with this quilt - I would often say to myself that my feature fabric is just not me, not really - it's just too...floral? country? hmphf?

Hand to heart - it is me - through and through - I keep picking it to snuggle under on the couch - I could pick lots of others - but it's coming with me folks!

Don't listen to what your head says - if your hand lays on a fabric and won't let go - don't!!

I have always called this my Chaletgirl's Block Swap Quilt - well, I've literally just decided - 

new name: Hand on My Heart

Does anyone else call their projects silly names which only they will get?