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Hi, I'm just claiming my blog with Bloglovin :)

A Giveaway Winner! And... etc...

Kisses for BB a mini quilt 20.75"  x  18.75"

Thanks to everyone who has entered the giveaway.   Apologies to all the Russian spammers but I've taken your comments out of consideration. Sorry.  Oh and now any comments need a registered user :) (Which as far as I know doesn't bring up the annoying word verification?)

The WINNER of the Giveaway is mumasu! Congratulations! I've sent you an email for more details.

There has been lots going on here the last couple of months. Unfortunately not that much was sewing related :(  I was working on a mini quilt for the challenge over at Ellison Lane Quilts but didn't finish it in time. My machine and I were having a big difference of opinion in the way stitches should be sewn.  I thought they should be one after the other, in a row, nice and neat. My Machine(on good days I call her Ella) thought she could just do a couple here, one there and skip the rest whenever she wanted.

By the time we had reached a compromise(She would sew nicely and I wouldn't put her out in the rubbish bin), it was too late.

Mini Quilt - Quilting

She's co-operating but only just!

The test mini had trapunto, my first attempt and I'm not sure it was all that successful? The X's stand out much better on the back than the front? And no, I didn't finish off my stitches properly, I had already used up all my patience so I just did a locking stitch and cut the threads (Sorry about the iPhone photos, I seem to have left my camera in a safe spot...somewhere...)  It also had a more random look to the X's but a friend mentioned it was driving her head crazy so for the baby quilt I'm making, I skipped the trapunto and I lined them up straight.  Which my type-A quilting personality loves!

So Basting was fun.. all three times.

The first time was a red hot mess. Which is what you get when you pin baste and try to play hide-n-seek with a whingy 4 year old at the same time. I do love the square spiral look though, so I'm going to try it again in the future - when the memory has faded.

Lets not even mention the second attempt.

The third time I dissed the pins and went straight for the glue.  It lasted well enough. It does not seem to last long on a wool wadding and since I'd already marked lines I couldn't iron it back together.

Spray basted and ready for action!

This time I went for straight wavy lines, not a true serpentine but very forgiving in those cases where you get a sudden cramp in your shoulder and all of a sudden you're sewing at right angles to before. The threats must have worked because she sewed all the lines beautifully.

wavy serpentine straight line quilting

It looks a bit wonky on the bed but its not really and I've just the binding and label to go! 

So Google reader is coming to an end and I've finally got around to changing things up. I'm trying bloglovin and feedly and so far feedly is winning. Since I normally read blogs on my phone I much prefer the feedly layout. However you can follow my blog with bloglovin or by rss feed. Any problems please let me know.

You can Follow my blog with Bloglovin If You'd like to :)

and just like everyone else I will be claiming my blog with Bloglovin...  in the next post.

Linking up with Fresh sewing day and looking forward to July Holidays.  Ooh Yeah!!

Comments update...

Here I was, feeling all smug that I didn't have word verification on my comments.... except that I did. I thought having a pop-up box for comments, cancelled out the verification bit. Apparently not.

Sorry everyone. If you have commented previously a big thank you for going through all that nonsense.  If you would like to enter this Giveaway it should now be much easier.

Thanks for the heads up Lucy!

The First* of May and a Giveaway!

Edited: This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all for Entering!

Modern Scallop - Pillow

Get ready to get excited everyone because this month I have finished something! And not just one thing but two.  Oh yes, two things. First up is my scallop pillow. I adore this pillow and now I finally get to use it.  I thought it would be a simple matter to just add a backing with a hidden zipper.






Scallop Pillow - Back

Well it might have been except that I chose a fabric that my machine hated more than anything in the world, but just for the top-stitching, you know, the part that everyone can see! Oh and I carefully sewed down the flap covering the zipper before sewing the back and front together and then forgot to leave the zip open a bit for turning. That was a fun 15 minutes...



Modern Scallop Pillow - Finished

Despite all that it now happily resides on the couch in my craft room/guest room/. Along with that blue scarf which is waiting to have the ends sewn in.  It's a bit long, I measured when I was sitting down and then added a bit extra for luck and now it touches the ground when I put it around my neck :(  I might have to make it into a pillow too.

I've also finished my binary code. All 104 numbers aligned as well as I could. The numbers finish at 1.5" x 2.5"  and the centre panel is 15.75" x 40.75".

I'm not that happy with it.  Maybe the making stage took too long? It was started over a year ago. I kind of wish I'd chosen softer colours. Grey maybe? I always planned to put it on a canvas to hang in my home(yes, I am that nerdy) but now that its on there I'm really not sure about it.  The border seems too wide and it definitely needs a edge/binding to break up all the black. I did make the borders wide on purpose so I had enough to staple and so if I wanted to turn it into a quilted wall-hanging later I could.  I might. I'm just not sure. Any suggestions are welcome. For now its just hanging out on my dresser until I decide what to do. Obviously I removed all my junk treasured memorabilia before I took this photo ☺ Not sure why both the dresser and the panel look bent? I blame the photographer.

Binary Code Pieced Quilt Panel

I made a binary code panel for a friend a few years ago(just one word) and loved it.  I'd been searching for a word or a phrase for a while and this quilt seemed to have just the right one. For anyone who'd like to know what it says you can go to a translator here and type in all the numbers or just have a look at the link above.

Lastly(thanks for hanging in there) a GIVEAWAY!


Down Under Quilts Magazine, Issue 157, 2013.

To celebrate that I've reached over 50 Followers(!), to thank you all for being patient and sticking around during the post-drought and to happy-dance that this quilt got a little mention in the latest Down Under Quilts magazine I'm having a giveaway!

I'm giving away a copy of this magazine, a charm pack of the fabric I used and a little Dresden related surprise! To enter please be a follower and leave a comment telling me your two favourite colours. This giveaway is open worldwide! Please make sure you are not a no-reply blogger or leave your email in the comments so I can contact you to find where to send your prize! Giveaway will close at the end of May.


I'm linking up to Lily's quilts for Fresh Sewing Day.



*(For any calendar police, I know this is posted on the 2nd of May.  It's just that my computer hates me and did not want to cooperate in editing and uploading photos, no matter how much I tried to encourage it by swearing and promising untimely demises.)

Happy Easter

The Easter long weekend is almost over here in Australia and it has been joyful watching the delight on my boys small faces when they find one of the little eggs that keep turning up in random places ;)

Every Easter I usually try and do some sewing for my God-daughters and Sons. But since my overhaul last month I still haven't managed any quality sewing. Oh I did sew two border seams on the binary code I mentioned last month but that took me the next several days to recover from. And I have fixed some of my Husband's work pants that had split seams or fallen hems but those I pinned whilst standing up and the part I needed to fix was only a couple of inches long. Not fun sewing but at least they're not hanging around making me feel guilty any longer!

So I thought I'd share a couple of sweet little rabbit bags I made last year.

Itty Bitty Bunny Bag - Easter Bag- Rabbit Bag

Itty Bitty Bunny Bag - Easter Bag- Rabbit Bag

I used fabrics from the Reunion line by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics.

Easter Rabbit Bag - in Progress

Rabbit Bag - Embroidery close Up

Easter Rabbit Bag - Back

and a pattern called Itty Bitty Bunny Bag that I found at my LQS.

Itty Bitty Bunny Bag - Easter Bag- Rabbit Bag Purse

They were simple to make and I kind of wish I was young enough to still carry one...

 Happy Easter to All. xx

Oh and since I was going to post this yesterday and didn't( I blame the rabbit), I'm now linking up to Fresh Sewing Day and Small Blog Meet over at Lilys Quilts. I would offer some refreshments but I figure you'll all still be full of chocolate and not need any ☺

Do you need a glass of water?

Do you need a glass of water? A fan? A quick lie down?? I was just checking you see, as this is my second, that's right folks, second(!) post this year and I thought maybe someone might have fallen over in shock. No? Just me then :)

That unfortunately is probably the most exciting bit as there hasn't been a great amount of progress here this month. I haven't been feeling that well and Ella has not been on her best behaviour.  She's been skipping stitches all over the place. So we've both been to the doctor to get an overhaul. It's not all bad though, soon Ella will be home and I have had the lovely Faye looking after me the last couple of weeks. It's been so nice to have another girl around to talk with, a rarity in this all boy house.

I have managed to finish all the stars for the rocket-ship quilt,

Rocket-Ship Quilt , Stars Prepared for Appliqué

make a test mini quilt of a larger quilt that I have planned, sorry no more details, I don't want to ruin the surprise!

Modern Mini Quilt - Detail

And make good progress on some binary code that's been waiting for ages to get some love and attention. (Yep that's my nerdy side showing its geeky head...)

Binary Code - Piecing Detail

But that's it. Everything else is still all plans and daydreams and possibilities. Which is kind of nice, then I can imagine fantastical quilts that I'd like to make. Ones with perfect seams, amazing colours and dazzling quilting. That in my head are a cinch to make and take no time at all....  Maybe I hit my head when I fell over in shock? Anyway, here's hoping this month of March will be more successful!

Linking up to where people have actually done some stuff for:

Fresh Sewing Day

and Small Blog Meet.

It was lovely to receive some new visitors last month.  Today I've put out some Jelly Lamingtons  filled with fresh cream and a nice cup of coffee.  Don't worry about getting crumbs on the rug - TH is great at vacuuming!

Fast Forward.... Fresh Sewing Day & Small Blog Meet

Modern Scallop clamshell applique pillow - detail

 

Do you ever feel like your life is in fast forward? That you blink and 6 months of your life have gone past without anyone consulting you about it? It's seemed like that here the past year or so. Though, once I find out who is responsible,  I shall be giving them a stern talking to!

Now apparently it's bad bloggy manners to apologise for absence(of any length) so lets just pretend that we haven't been apart and get back to the irregularly scheduled programme...  :)

In the summer school holidays, which have just finished here in Australia :(  I was lucky enough to have my annual summer sew in at Faye's house. The "sew in" part being very literal as the boys and I chose the hottest week of the summer to go. Most days were in the high forties. Of course the day we went home a cool change came through and by the time we were an hour from home it was 14°C and raining. Go figure.

 

Luckily she has a great sewing space and is happy to share. I finished making this feather bag which has gone as a present to a lovely friend of mine.




Tote Bag with pieced Feather - detail

I started making it as a Christmas teacher gift, but ran out of time, so sneakily made it for a friend of mine instead, all the while asking her opinion on how I should do it. The background is Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Charcoal, the feather is made from my stash.



Tote Bag with pieced Feather - Front

This scalloped panel managed to get finished also and is destined to be a large pillow. I used a faced appliqué technique, a variety of cotton and linen fabrics and my current favourite colour scheme: navy and pink. (Though Navy and green is vying hard for second place). These scallops are 3.5" across and that pink fabric at the top of the photo is for the back. I hoped to finish it in the linen I used on the front but of course they don't make it anymore and I don't have enough left. I'd love to make a bigger version for my bed, though TH might not like all the pink!

Scallop clamshell appliqué panel

The rocketship quilt for BB finally got some attention too. I took advantage of Faye's space to cut out the large lengths of fabric required and have been making stars and working on the rocket. More stars than are in the picture, just in case you were wondering.

Rocketship quilt background

No idea why I've left it this long and the fact that BB has been so understanding about it only makes me feel worse. I'm hoping that the usual burst of energy I get at the beginning of the new year is not too far away. This year I really need to finish some projects that have been hanging around a long time, 'cause then I can start some new ones!

I really find it hard to blog on anything like a semi- regular basis. I can easily read 50 posts in the time it takes me to write one, well, one that makes sense. I'm more of a born-to-read person rather than a born-to-write.  So this year I am aiming for a post once a month. That's only 12 times a year, achievable surely??

I guess we'll have to wait and find out!

Linking up for the first time in aaaaaages to Lily's Quilts - for:

 

Fresh Sewing Day

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& Small Blog Meet

 

 

If you're here visiting from the linky party, Welcome, It's nice to meet you, I've got virtual chocolate cake and a cup of tea to share with you!