Jane! Get yourself over to this giveaway.

and anyone else that reads this blog, of course. Let me know if you win.

Your going to love this one.

If I win a pillow, I'll give it to you for one of your girls. Let's get the pattern, one is for beginners! I'd love to do one for my niece. I have boys, they won't appreciate such pretty things. Yes I would love it, but you know what will happen to it in my house. Dogs, say no more.

I know, I've not felt this girly for quite some time. Probably since I was a girl, and then those moments were few and far between. I've started to ramble and digress, so I'll hop off now.
But before I go I'll just mention the Blog this giveaway is from (ahem).

Don't Look Now

LOVE THOSE LADYBIRDS

Fun Swap

I decided to do another swap.
A bit more adventurous this time though.
This time I actually have to make something!

The swap piece needs to have a Spring theme and include the colours red and yellow. You can add other colours, but need to make sure red and yellow are in there somewhere. The finished piece must measure exactly 8" x 10" and be suitable for framing, although no mat or frame should be included.

Doesn't it sound a cool idea. It's stretching me creatively, I'm out of my comfort zone, but that's a good thing. I've picked my fabric pieces and I've a few idea's. But I'll wait to see who I'll be sending to before I start.

If you'd like you'd join in, click here before noon, EST (US), Monday, April 6th.

Last of the blocks for the Quilt-Along

Woo hoo

blocks E & F finished!

I love them

It did concern me at times, that the Large Rose print wouldn't work well with these blocks. But in the end, after trying to get as much colour contrast as I could (without not seeing the print!), I'm happy with the balance.
Tomorrow it's time to cut out the sashing, and to lay the blocks out on my bed to see the overall pattern. I will lay them out as Elizabeth did and take photo's, I find I can make placement decisions quicker, and easier, if I take photo's. Plus we'll be able to go to bed tomorrow night, ha!
The green solid that the blocks are on, is the smaller backing piece. The larger backing piece will be a cool grey, several shades darker than the grey of the blocks. I've a thread that is almost exactly it's colour, and was wondering if that would look okay for the quilting. The sashing for the front is a darkish aqua and the binding is a light aqua. If any one has any idea's on a good thread colour choice, I'd be very happy to hear it. This will be my first time at stipple quilting. I'm pretty nervous, but determined. I can't afford to get the quilting done professionally, and it's part of the Quilt-along to do, and therefore also learn stipple quilting from Elizabeth. And believe me I do want to learn, I just want to do a good job. Because I have so enjoyed this experience, I love this fabric and I want the best possible outcome to show that. Don't we always though.

Elizabeth has really done an excellent tutorial, minute detail has gone into every step she has posted. She has encountered a little finger wagging along the way, which has astounded, and completely baffled me. Her philosophy is, do it the way it works for you! At the beginning of her first Quilt-along post she says, "Before we start, I want to be clear that I do not consider my techniques to be the one right way to quilt. I'm just explaining what works for me, as developed through years of trial and error". Gee, it makes me so cross when people that give their expertise freely, like Elizabeth, are not fully appreciated.

Anyhoo, that's the end of my diatribe. Lastly, take a look at the flickr group for the 'Mod Sampler' quilt, every person has stamped their own personality on this pattern, the different fabric colour and pattern combinations are really fascinating!

Cheerio for now people

Quilt Show

Airing of the Quilts - Katoomba - 21st & 22nd March 2009

One of my favourite's, below middle. I loved these stars.

There was some amazing quilting on this entrant

and this one had some gorgeous applique. Love the spotty background, which was very refreshing.

The complimentary stitching on the flowers was just the right amount.
In my opinion, of course.

I'm quite nervous posting these pictures. As I know of some other bloggers who have received grief from people, in regards to posting pics of other peoples quilts. We were allowed to take pictures at this show! I have specifically taken pictures that I hope means that the whole quilt cannot be replicated from. I am in no way claiming to have made these quilts or even designed them. I go to quilt shows to be inspired, and in posting these pictures I hope to pass on that inspiration.

Did I cover everything, probably not. Email me if you must.

Blocks C and D for Quilt-Along

This is block C

This is block D

The grey solid that the blocks are on will be part of the back of the quilt. I'm happy with it, I think it sits very nicely with all the other colours.

I've just been searching around Flickr and found Elizabeth has an Etsy shop! Where she sells her Mixtape pattern, among other items. Ho hum, oh dear. It's very reasonable at US $10, arrives within 24hrs and incurs no postage costs. Are you interested Jane?

Speaking of the lovely Jane, she's taking me to Katoomba tomorrow (all of 10 mins away) to a Quilt Show. Not any old Quilt Show though, but an 'Airing of the Quilts'. It was on today as well, but being a Football Mum, I was otherwise engaged. I will take my camera and make a post as I'm sure quilts in the sunshine and blowing in the breeze will look enchanting. It's on at the Carrington Hotel, which is a grand old Hotel that was restored some years ago, with fantastic results. We actually stayed there, before kiddies arrived, on one particular visit to the Mountains. I've also had a Birthday Afternoon Tea there, which was very special, as my Mum and Sister were visiting from England, and Jamie was just 6 weeks old. I do so love old Hotels, especially ones with an air of Art Nouveau to them.

Anyhow, back to those blocks. I've started on the E & F blocks. I really want to finish them by the end of the weekend. I'm in the mood to sew, sew, sew, so into the night sewing I go.

second Quilt-along update

This is my final selection for the Quilt-along. I took out the lovely scrolly pink and supplemented it with a dot, the white on pink. I was also a little worried about it being a print with such a heavy directional pattern. I think the other dot evened out the blocks, I now have 6 large sized prints, 2 medium and 4 dots (2 white background and 2 coloured). These make me happy.



All carded and ready for sewing. I must say that these cards have been invaluable in keeping everything under control, block wise. I shall definitely use this system again, in fact I think you need to if your cutting out the whole quilt before a stitch is sewn. Especially a sampler quilt.

3 B blocks & 3 A blocks

the other 3 B blocks & 3 A blocks

Block C has just been blogged so I'm off to do that one. Take a look at the flickr quilt-along pool, I'm finding it fascinating to see everybody's fabric choices. The discussions are quite lively too!

My fabric choice for the Oh, Fransson quilt-along

Here are my 12 fat quarters

Here they are on the sashing

And this picture shows the binding colour (r)

The moment I set eyes upon this fabric online, AVA ROSE by Tanya Whelan, I knew I had to have some. I couldn't wait for one of the 3 fabric/patchwork shops closest to me to get some, so I purchased a pack of 15 fat quarters from Hancocks of Paducah in the US. My local 3 shops STILL do not carry this gorgeous range. Ho hum. What more can I say.

Okay, back to cutting. I want to get the blocks cut before Elizabeth's next post, which hopefully will be about assembling the blocks. Yippee!!!!!!

Charms Squares from Kylie's Stitch 'n Sew Giveaway

These are the 7" squares that I won on Kylie's Stitch 'n Sew Giveaway. I was blown away with the quantity, just under a 100! I'll definitely be making a quilt for the Bushfire Appeal with some of them.

These are my two favourite's. Although I am loving the purples a lot, and teaming them with some hot pink sashing, and black binding could be amazing.


















































But then again, I could do a rainbow quilt similar to a Mod Sampler option shown on Oh, Fransson!!
Oh dear, decisions, decisions.

But that's not all, as there were 5" squares as well. I think these are destined to be a quilt as you go bag. I really did enjoy making that bag, 'In The Pink' by JoyPatch. And I do have some Birthday bags to make. Sorted. Thank you so much Kylie. Be sure to go and visit her here.

International Women's Day Swap Parcel

Here are the fat quarters that Julie sent me in the post. Arn't they great. I soooooo LOVE the bottom fabric, yes, yes, the one with Aqua in it.


I haven't quite decided what to make with them yet. Bags, of course, are my thing. But I'm not sure. I hope Julie got her parcel in time, I was a little late in sending. I had my 4 fat 1/4's ready to send, but delayed sending. I then realised I just wasn't happy with the selection. Once I'd established that, I was quick to remedy it. Oh I do hope it's arrived.

Thank you Kelly. And of course thank you Julie.

This was wonderful way of remembering International Women's Day.

Quilt-Along Update

Here it is, the quilt we'll be making with Oh, Fransson.

Isn't it a beauty. Hop over to Oh, Fransson to see the timetable.

THAT Pointer Sister's song has engulfed my brain. You know the one, I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it, ohh yeah. See, I knew you knew it.

Check out this blog!

Dang, I'm not to be a lucky recipient. The odds were rather large at 700+ comments!!!! Sincere congratulations to the winners.
Love V's blog though and I shall continue to visit, she sure is one funny lady.
Just found this blog, V and Co. I can't remember where the blog link trail started, it probably was Crazy Mom Quilts, because I visit there quite a lot! Most days in fact. No, no I'm wrong the blog trail started at Bloom. Anyhoo, Vanessa is giving away some Honey buns to celebrate having a tutorial featured on Moda Bakehouse. Think I'll have to check that site out soon. And really fab honey buns at that, Moda's 'Sweet' and 'Swanky'.
Leave her a comment by Thursday to enter. Good Luck.