The Versatile Blogger Award

I was completely taken by surprise when Candace from Double Nickel Quilts nominated me for the versatile blogger award. 

I have been feeling pretty ordinary lately, can just can't seem to shake off whatever I have. Third lot of antibiotics that are stronger than the last. Being nominated brought a smile to my face and even DH was happy for me. Thanks heaps Candace.

So part of this award is identifying 7 things about yourself that no one else may know about you. So here I go :)

1. I started quilting in 2005 and learnt with my Mum. We did a beginners class together. I learnt the whole process over 5 weeks from cutting to piecing to basic straight line quilting using my own machine.

2. I am a proud stay at home Mum of 2 kids but one of them is not my biological child.

3. I have an addiction to coffee.

4. My first fabric ranges I fell in love with was 1800 Reproductions.

5. I want to learn to free motion quilt on my Janome but have always been too scared to give it a go. I don't like not having the control that you get from straight line quilting.

6. I have a notebook that I carry around with me so I can record my ideas, patterns, and aspects of my quilting. It's like my little black book.

7. I'm planning a trip to US for my 40th birthday. No DH, no kids and all the quilt shops or quilty things I can fit in to my trip. Only 3 years and 11 months to go.

So now for the other part to the award. I have to nominate 15 other bloggers for this award as well. If you get an email from me, congratulations. There is no commitment to even accept the award. Just email me back and let me know if you plan to be the next Versatile Blogger or not.

I have nominated the following blogs:

Daisy Hill Quilts
The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe 
Hillbilly Handiworks
Rogue Quilter

Emma's Daze

Little Jewel Quilts

Sam's Sewing Room

Selfsewn

Karen Styles
Pomegranate and Chintz
McIntyre Girl

Quirky Granola Girl

Crazy Mom Quilts
Quilting is my Down Time
Freshly Pieced

W.I.P. Wednesday

This week has flown by again. I'm heading over to catch up with Lee at Freshly Pieced to find out what others have been up to this week.

This week was a one big celebration. Our little girl turned 5 and had her birthday party. The big downside was that DH and I are still battling with a virus that just doesn't like to respond well to antibiotics at all. I'm so over being unwell. So the party went off without a hitch and Miss A had a fantastic time. We were all very exhausted by the end. She is into fairies and wanted a fairy cake with red icing.

My little man is growing up so fast. He dressed up as a pirate and doesn't look 2 anymore. Now we are counting down to his big 3 birthday next month. He has also had another growth spurt and is looking really tall to everyone else. He is catching up to his big sister fast on the height scale.

So for my achievements this week...

I joined the Friday Night Sew-In with Crafty Vegas Mum and tried to finish off my first Rose Star Block. I really like how it comes together. I was exhausted by 11:30pm and had to go to bed with a few seams left to finish off but I managed to complete the block on Saturday.

I completed another Ahhh Hexie this week. It's the Sliced Hexagon. I need to get some more card stock as what I have isn't thick enough.

I have also worked on my colored hexagons. Last row of color went on last night. Now to add the rest of the background. I'm thinking of adding another row of background all around the quilt. 

I have my cottons brought for hand quilting this project. I'm looking at circles that interlock together. All the cottons are variegated.

This upcoming week its all about my machine. I really need to finish piecing my sister in-law's quilt. Deadline is looming and I don't want to quilt it myself.

Friday Night Sew-In - Saturday catch up

Well I managed to join the party for Friday Night Sew-In. I sewed until I could sew no more. For me that was 11:30pm. My kids are early birds but to my surprise they both slept in today. DH arrived home to everyone still in bed at 7:30am.

So here is where I started my party 

 

and here is where I finished. 

 

In between late night "go to sleep" and nappy changes, to progress updates with my girlfriend, Simone, crappy TV, texting my other friend, Michelle and coffee breaks, I sewed and sewed and partied on. Oh, I worked on my rose star block. It's an EPP project. This block is being hosted by Selfsewn. Go and check it out. Her quilt is amazing.

So today I will attempt to finish off the block. Just a few seams to go. Block 1 will be completed. I have the fabric cut and ready for basting with blocks 2 and 3.

I'm also in the progress of getting ready for the big 5 birthday party. She actually turns 5 tomorrow but the party is Tuesday as DH has his non working days then. We are having a 'Dress Up' Party with a fairy theme for all games and food. I am even dressing up for the occasion.

Friday Night Sew-In

I have decided to join in tonight with a little party.

I have nothing better to do as I plan to sew anyway, so I have decided to have some fun. DH works night shift and is working tonight. I can sew until my heart is content.

I wonder how long I'll last. I have just the project to do tonight. 

Go and check out  Crafty Vegas Mum and sign up if you are so inclined.

W.I.P Wednesday

It's Wednesday again so I'm heading over to visit Lee at Freshly Pieced for W.I.P Wednesday.

So since last week, I have been fighting off a bug. Well actually as of this morning, it was a throat infection and conjunctivitis, thanks to my little man who happens to have the same problem. We are both on antibiotics and should be feeling better within the next couple of days. At least we won't be sick for the big "5" birthday bash next week.

We went away sick on our short but delightful break. We managed to have some fun swimming, playing in the sand and eating lots of yummy food. The ambiance was great and there was heaps of time to relax. A little bit of hand sewing happened but not as much as I would have liked. Now I know why.

So not much happened this week. I need to get myself back on track to finish off some quilts to meet more deadlines.

Last night of my little holiday

Here is my current view. Just divine. So hard to go home. Weather has been great. Kids have had a great time swimming and playing in the sand.

Now to go home....will definitely come back soon.

Sewing spaces and views

This was the gorgeous view outside yesterday. The wind was like ice. Afternoon improved the day but not warm enough for a swim.

Do you like my sewing space?? I have to admit that it didn't stop me from working on my hexies. The best part, my 2 year old let me sew when he was plodding around the house. Now that's a first!!

W.I.P Wednesday

Where is the time going??? I'm off this weekend for a belated Christmas family get together. Its a 7+ hour car trip and as DH is coming off night shift I will be driving the distance. I'm thankful for DVD players and The Wiggles. I promise to upload some photos to my blog because the place we are heading to is beautiful.

Do you like my new toy? As I don't have a sewing room, I purchased a foldable table that I can use anywhere in the house. I mainly use my lounge room and dining room. I'm tired of moving my dining table into the lounge so its really nice to have something I can just pack up and put up whenever I want.

So before I head off on my next traveling adventure, I'm heading over to visit Lee at Freshly Pieced for W.I.P. Wednesday.

My biggest achievement this week was finishing off "Checkered Patches".

I am so happy to have this off my list and the family it went to are very happy with the quilt. One of my January goals is done and dusted.

I have also been quilting a floor mat or panel depending on how you look at it which was another January goal. I have been straight line quilting wherever I want to. I'm not sure about the quilting as it has been a trial but it doesn't look bad and its going to be for a little boy to play with on his floor. Photos to be posted when completed.

I haven't had much of a chance to work on the wedding quilt but I want to get it finished asap. I plan to sew some more tonight if I'm not too tired. I have another sick child yet again. Our family run with illness this summer has been awful. I seem to have caught what he has as well so I'm not the best.

I have managed to work on my colored hexagon quilt. I'm not willing to share at this time because its so close to a finished top that I want to show if off when I have it done. I've purchased some thread for the hand quilting. There are different colors and all the cotton is variegated. I can't wait to trial them out. I planning to quilt in circles. Backing is purchased and binding as well. I'm going with Kona. This project is traveling the distance to be finished.

My first new project for 2012. I discovered this one through my friend Michelle. Another EPP project. This project is being hosted by Selfsewn. The quilt looks amazing. I just couldn't resist. I'm planning to take this one away too to start putting some blocks together. My fabrics have been chosen. I will post more later.

Introducting Checkered Patches.

I am happy to announce that I finished off a quilt this week and crossed off one of my 2012 January goals. Number 2 to be exact.

I was spurred on by a birthday invitation to the older sibling's 3rd birthday on 7th January. It didn't take me as long as I thought it would once I set my mind to finish off the quilt. What a great way to start off the year. It has also felt good to be back on my machine. With my recent surgery (November) and recovery time, it felt like I had another Caesarean. I was directed not to do much and rest as much as possible. That's quite funny seeing that I have a 2 year old. Mummies would understand.

So here it is...Checkered Patches.

At the beginning of this quilt, I wasn't sure how the fabrics would work. I happened to ask the expecting Mother what colours she would like and she came back with orange. The look of horror on my face must have said something and it isn't a colour that I would usually pick or have readily in my stash of fabric. I actually love how this quilt has come together with the colours especially the orange. I would use orange again for another baby or child's quilt in the future.

It took one afternoon and a part of an evening to piece together the backing.

I used the leftover strip pieces from the blocks to piece together part of the backing to match with the quilt top. I couldn't resist the cute orange fabric with small white spots to go with it. It just went only with the expecting Mother's request for orange.

The following day I managed to quilt and bind the top. I used my walking foot to straight line diagonally down the white squares so that the finished quilted has a cross hatched pattern.

The coloured squares have just popped with the quilting. I used Signature cotton varigated orange thread for my quilting and loved how it turned out on the solid white fabric. 

Checkered Patches

Finished Quilt Size: 48" X 48"
Fabric:   

1. Doll dresses fabric range in orange, blue and yellow. 
2. White solid homespun for the background.  
3. Robert Kaufman spot fabric in orange for the binding.
4. RJR Fabric Back to Basics in orange with white spots for the backing.

Pattern: 36 Patch Quilt Along hosted by Crazy Mom Quilts. I didn't actually participate in the Quilt Along but loved the basic design of the pattern.

Quilting: Cross Hatched with straight line quilting

Made for: The birth of Master 'Fox Theo' born 30th November 2011. 
Completed: January 2012

W.I.P Wednesday #1 for 2012

I can't believe how quick time has flown by since Christmas and welcoming in the New Year. 

It's time again to catch up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and join her for another W.I.P Wednesday.

I thought that I would focus my efforts on my 2012 goals for January. I am really happy with my achievements so far.

1. I have been working on the wedding quilt for my sister in law. It is being made in flannels. The ironic thing is that we have been experiencing weather over 40 degrees. Not a good time to be working with flannel at all. So far I have completed 128 four patch units and 32 middle units for Block B. I have also sewn together 32 units for Block A. The quilt consists of two blocks. 

If everything goes well, I hope to have a finished quilt top before mid January. So far the piecing has gone quickly.

2. I managed to piece together backing, quilt and bind the checkered baby quilt. The last thing to finish off is to hand sew the binding down. I love this part of the process as it adds closure for me. 

3. I also managed to sew a couple of background hexagons to my coloured quilt using Kona solids. 

I plan to take this away with me on our belated family Christmas trip in January. I hope that I get to finish it off as I should have lots of time to sew in the evening. I can also sew in the car, so its great on long trips. Lots of basting time.

4. My new project for 2012. It going to be cushion covers. I want to get these sewn together before I go away as I plan to do some hand quilting on them. It's a present for a friend and her recent engagement.

Seeing that its only the 4th January. Not a bad start to the year.

Part one

I finished the backing today for the checkered baby quilt. I really like how it turn out.

Now to baste and quilt. That will be my task for tomorrow.

I'm on task to completing my January goals.