Old Red Barn quilt-along update

Don't they look pretty fluttering in the breeze.

A little closer

Being protected by, my ever faithful, Ruby.

I had started to cut the strips into the 12 1/2" squares, when I thought I should take a photo! I think I ended up with 14 sets of 6 sewn strips. And I am getting 3 x 12 1/2" squares from each sewn strip. Phew, so how many squares am I getting, no it's not a trick question, just talking out loud so to speak. Hummm, 42, yup 42 x 12 1/2" squares. BIG quilt, now how many across and how many down. Tape measure time, need to measure my bed. Opps, that'll be a tomorrow job, it's occupied, I large, and 1 small lump! Oh well, I'll content myself with just cutting the squares.

Cheerio for now
X Mandy

p.s. the other US parcel arrived, OMGosh, OMGosh, OMGosh! Alexander Henry, Phillip Jacobs, Heather Bailey & Kaffe Fassett. But I've tucked away so well, I can't find it! Falling about laughing here! I'm such a dingbat sometimes.

More Sydney Quilt Show goodies

This is one of the items I went looking for. It's not the exact one I had in mind, I couldn't find that one. But still, I am absolutely sure it will be used, and it means the ironing board doesn't have to be up as much. Guessed what it is?


Here it is open. The folder has an ironing surface on one side with a cutting mat on the other. Great for paper piecing or any project that requires only a little bit of ironing. I only have a small area to work in, which is fast filling up. I needed to put the ironing board down, because I was tending to use it like a shelf! Too messy looking, even for me!


And there's Melly's book "Kaleidoscope". I walked into the Quilt Show on Thursday, blinkers on, route to stand F34 memorised, it was my 1st purchase. It's just lovely, I HAVE to finish some WIP's before I start the "Kokeshi Friends Stitchery". I am very determined to start though. But Susi's bag has to be finished and posted to Germany (very nearly there). And my Paper Bag Swap is sitting close by, just waiting for me to start. Then there is the Old Red Barn Quilt-along strips to finish (nearly there on that one too). Thank goodness the sun is shining so I can put the washing out on the line, rather than on the inside drying rack where the remainder of the strips are still hanging.

Cheerio for now
X Mandy

one down, one to go!

This the first US order to arrive. The dots are MoMo, so excited about that. I love, love, love them. One of the swapper's in my 'Quilts for all' group requested dots, hmmm, I think I can spare an 8" square out of the 2 yards I bought, eeekk. They came from the Bee Square Fabrics closing sale, such an awfully sad decision to have had to have made. The cheeky bird fabric (which LM2 loves) is Jay McCarroll's 'Garden Party'. I adore those quirky birds, they put a smile on my face. And the dots go so wonderfully, as I had hoped. I'll have to think of something to make for LM2, any suggestions?

He's about to turn 5. Sigh, how time flies.

And then there are these two. Just too cute. I see a (very) simple cot quilt or 2 bassinet ones, in that fabric. Hopefully for my madeit shop, or this years Falls Art Fest in October. I haven't played around with it yet, it's so very darling though.

I mean, isn't that selvage so very special.

Back to Susi's bag I go

Cheerio for now
X Mandy

YAY!!!! my Swap finally arrived

40 days it took
40 long days
but
it's now with my Swap Partner
phew

This is what my Swap partner, Abby, made for me. I was so caught up with my parcel going astray, staying overnight in Sydney, the Quilt Show, being behind in sewing, children, dreary rainy days, that I kept putting off taking and therefore posting pictures.

Isn't it fab

Abby did a great job, and I love the quote.
It's something I forget sometimes.

I've learnt a lot about swaps, and swap etiquette in the past few weeks. I've also been reminded, not personally, about writing and receiving emails. I must be one of the few people left, who chooses, not to have a mobile phone. So I don't always get text-speak, and the seemingly shortness of communication. I mean it took me weeks to work out what "lol" meant! I think it might come from loving books, sooooo much. I've been transported by books ever since a could read, I get caught up and thoroughly immerse myself in a story. So, I think I love words, and putting words together. I see it as an art, rather than just communication. Hmmm, I feel a novel coming on, so I'll stop right here! lol!

Cheerio for now
X Mandy

What's this!

You'd be forgiven for thinking this was a sweetly wrapped present, or a swap parcel.

But you'd be wrong.

This is a purchase from bella & vintage chic.

Kerry must LOVE wrapping, every parcel I've had from her is like this.

And it is appreciated.

And what's inside?

some Phillip Jacobs 'garden party'

a little Alexander Henry 'starling'

and these
adorable hedgehogs





I'd seen them in a Sunday Stash on Flickr
and wanted them ever since

I ordered these before the quilt show. I have three more parcels to recieve, two from the USA, all ordered before the QS. I know, I was a bad, bad girl. I'm hoping the anticipation of the parcels will curb my desire to aquire more fabric. I hope you'll see some of my bags appearing here soon. I'm also going to attempt to put some in a madeit shop.

cheerio for now
X Mandy

Sunday Stash #6

These fabrics are from Prints Charming. Such a lovely Lady at the Sydney Quilt & Craft Show stand. Jane and I are going to share these fat quarters, and also the Christmas Ornaments kit. So cute. There was also a beautiful quilt on the wall there that I will just have to do, one day. Thank goodness for online shopping!



And these came from the Amitie stand. I don't know how long I was there? I inched from one corner around to the other. The squirrels are Kokka and the other is a sample piece. I so LOVE those squirrels.


I have more to show. This is only a fraction of what I bought. Oh dear, way too much fabric now. I going to see if I can restrain myself from buying any for a month, and concentrate on sewing!

Quilts for All - June blocks

Here are my first 3 blocks for the Flickr group 'Quilts for All'. Each block is 12 1/2" (inc 1/4" seam allowance). We are just pulling from our stash, following each others preferences. There are, in total, 15 of us, so we'll all have a nice sized top by Christmas.


I (lucky girl) will receive all my blocks in August, which I must admit, is very exciting. This is the first block group I've joined and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. These blocks are really so quick, it took no time at all.


Blocks will be criss-crossing the globe, with participants from USA, France, Germany and little ole me in Australia. It's fun to be connected to other craft minded people from so far away, I love it.

Cheerio for now,
X Mandy

Spring Swap Woe

My Spring Swap parcel to my partner in the US, has been declared officially missing.
Oh, woe, woe, woe is me.

I sent it off on the 4th May, and it still hasn't arrived. I packaged it carefully in a box sealed with masking tape, and added some extra goodies. Matilda's Own flower pins, delish smelling locally handmade soap, and some chocolate (of course). The address is correct, but it has disappeared.

I'm so sad.

I tell myself my partner doesn't think I never sent it, but the thought has crept in and I can't shake it. I will send her something else, of course I will, anyone who knows me, knows I would never say I had done something if I hadn't. I am guilty of having said I will do something and then taking a while (sometimes quite a bit) to do it. But if I say I did something, then I did.

Here's a couple of pictures of what I made.

Old Red Barn Quilt-Along PRIZE

janome_giveaway_Web_medium
Originally uploaded by oldredbarnco

I was resisting....no I was, and I was doing really well. Then I saw this weeks giveaway (17 spools of Sulky Blendables Cotton thread) and caved in instantly. Quilt-alongs are so much fun, and I have way too much fabric anyway!