Phase Two

Thank goodness the knee held up. 

I was a machine today. 

1. One quilt top completed. 

2. Pieced backing achieved with leftovers of course. 

3. Binding ready to go. 

4. Go and rest the knee. Basting and quilting commences tomorrow. I will be spray basting and straight line quilting. 

Super excited to be this far. 

Layer Cake Lemonade

I've caught the bug. I decided to road test my knee and hit the sewing machine.

So I had a spare layer cake that was sitting around in my stash for a while. It's Hullabaloo by Urban Chiks for Moda. 

It has a great range of dark and lights for the free quilt pattern Layer Cake Lemonade. I love the pattern, the easy to follow  instructions and Kimberley's video tutorial. Thank you Fat Quarter Shop for a fun afternoon.

The knee held up enough to get my rows completed and put the quilt up on the design wall. I will be back tomorrow to sew the rows together. 

Fingers crossed

Day four

It's day 4. I had an Arthroscope last Thursday and have been on rest and pain killers. Yuck!!

Some nice things about having to be on forced rest, EPP and kittens. 

I'm working with some EPP apple cores. Rows will be 11 x 11. I'm using Flirt by Sandy Gervais. I followed the You Tube tutorial by Sue Daly designs episode 7. I have one row done. 

Next we have a new family addition. Introducing Miss Peppa. She is 6 weeks and full of personality. 

Now back to some stitching. I hope to try out the layer cake lemonade quilt pattern by the Fat Quarter Shop later in the week. I can drive my machine with my right (good) leg. I just need my carer to do some heavy lifting. Fingers crossed. 

Wake Up to Kona Blog Hop

This is my first blog hop. Since is 2014 and a start to the New Year I thought that I would join in.

The best part...its all about Kona and colours and I happen to a jelly roll that just fits right in. So here I go. I'm committed to start 2014 with a bang!!!

I'm signing up and joining in.

Candy Stripes

Hi ladies. To say the least I've been busy. Moving, unpacking, setting up my new sewing room, settling my son into the new house, (That has been a task by itself) and very early mornings. Just to say, my master of mayhem was awake by 4:10am and up for the day. It's still dark darling!!! I'm never planning to move with an Autistic child every again!!! And I knew that the change would be difficult but its no fun!!!

So prior to my move, I started the chevron quilt. The tutorial was designed by Kitchen Table Quilting. It was fun and a challenge. 

I managed to get my rows completed but had not had the chance to finish the quilt top due to the move and being unable to locate my various quilting projects in the packing. (we packed as we went to minimise disruption).

Anyhow...my little big girl had been invited to a birthday party this weekend. What do you give a child that gets everything bought for her? A quilt of course!!

So its made and waiting to be wrapped.

Introducing Candy Stripes

I used Candy Bloom fabric range by an Australian designer Rosalie Quinlan. It is gorgeous and when the quilt was made it reminded me of candy stripes hence the name. I just complemented the fabric with a white solid.

My binding is part of the range and my backing was a solid green homespun called Apple. It just is beautiful with the fabric.

I quilted it myself with straight-line quilting echoing the seams. It quilted together quickly thank goodness. I used Aurifil thread (2425) in NE 28 weight which I tend to use for all of my quilting as I like the thickness. I love the photo of the quilting on the back as it just stands out. I just used the same colour for both sides. What little girl doesn't like pink!!

The finished size is 52" by 70". Just lovely for a single bed (twin bed).

Chevrons

I loved this quilt top when I spotted the tutorial by Kitchen Table Quilting. The tutorial was called Striped Chevrons. Best thing, it uses jelly roll strips. 

I still need to sew my rows together. I also had a crash course in off set seams. It's been interesting and my unpicker has had a workout!!

Stay tuned for the finish 

Playing..

I have started to play again. Oh how I have missed you.

I have also been in discussions with DH about my new sewing room. I can't wait!! 13 sleeps until we get the keys to our new house. 

Scraps

I have to admit that I'm not a great scrap collector. My scraps are usually bagged up and sent off to school or day care for the kids to play. 

For some reason I kept some triangles from some snowball blocks. I then used them to make this wall hanging

It's my entry into Nellie's Country Flair Internet challenge. I have to say it was nice playing with my scraps. Will have go hoard more soon. 

Squaring Up

I've spent my Sunday afternoon squaring up 164 HSTs. Lucky me. Just to say my sore knee and bung foot didn't enjoy standing. :( 

But to say the least I wasn't idle.

Here are some of my recent achievements. Sorry ladies, life has been hectic at home and at work. The best news at this time is we bought a new house. We move next month. I can't wait and I even scored a sewing room. 

Merry Xmas to Me

I was lucky to get an Amazon gift voucher for Christmas from my sister last year. 

I finally spent it. 

Merry Xmas to me!!!

Progress

I've been making progress on the next stitchery block. I think that it is the largest block to date. 

I've also been busy making items to sell at our trading table for my local quilt exhibition. Of course my contribution is some hexagons

Stitching - part 2

I have managed to complete two blocks of my Scandinavian Rose BOM. I'm still contemplating adding the satin stitch to the blocks. I just remain undecided.

Block one

Block two

Still here

My friends are horrified that I haven't been adding to my blog. I don't know where May has gone. For me it went a bit like this...

My little man was diagnosed with Autism. We are now waiting for him to be assessed.

I came down with tonsillitis. Yuck!!! Not a good week for me. (Or two)

My highlight was my first weekend away by myself since my Son was 18 months.

I've been making items for one of my quilting groups as we are having a trading table at our local exhibition in August.

I have been working hard. It's been six months since I returned to work and I'm still adjusting to my different hats and have found I've not had the energy to sew much at all.

But in all of this here are some of my achievements

Speak soon

Basting

1/2" hexagons. 1.5" squares. My idea of a fun Saturday night

Stitching

I have not been around much but I have been taking time out of my of my hectic schedule to get some stitching time.

I feel very privileged that in Australia we have some very talented designers. I joined up to do a BOM called Scandinavian Rose by Rosalie Quinlan. I am really enjoying the stitching.

Hexagoning

So I've been busy or should I say putting my feet up with some more hexagons.

So it's now time to add to the quilt.

And I'm a proud Mummy this week. My big girl received her first Student of the Week Award. Not bad for her first full week at school. Just had to brag..

Hexagon Progress

I just realized from a fellow blogger that I haven't shown off my progress on my hexagon diamond quilt for a while.

Well I now have nearly one side and the beginning of a corner.

Oh and my Friday night helper blends in too. Just had to be in the photo.

My Friday Finish

Another big week here at my house. We had some new beginnings this week as well. Firstly, my big girl started her first day of Primary School. She has been so excited to start and was exhausted by the end of the week. 

Master muscles started Child Care this week. We wanted him to have more social contact with children his own age to encourage his speech and social development. Fingers crossed. First day went ok. I picked him up smiling and happy to be going home after leaving him in tears.

So being the first Friday of the month, I joined Cheryll once again. I was exhausted but I did achieve my goal for the evening. I completed my next hexagon diamond. I don't know how many I have finished, I probably should count them again. 

I started the evening with this...

And ended with this....

And my special helper along the way. He decided that he needed a warm lap. 

Friday Night Sew In with Friends

I can't believe its already the first Friday of the month already. Time flies. DH is working nights on this weekend. The kids will be in bed at 7pm. I'm planning to sewing some hexagons. 

Come and join me and a bunch of other like minded ladies. Cheryll has the right idea.

Wednesday Catch Up

I thought that I would take some time out of my schedule to catch up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for W.I.P. Wednesday.

Its been a while since I have shown off some of my projects lately. At the moment I've been focusing on some EPP and have been attacking the Rose Stars. 

I have 8 stars completed and 3 more cut out and ready to baste. I am loving the color combinations. I have some Kona snow solid arriving for the background.

So head over to visit Lee and see what others have been up to over the past week.

Rose Stars

I have started plugging away at my rose star blocks.

I have finished 2 blocks. I have 7 in total

Still lots to go. I need to cut more fabric.