A Finish! YAY!!

Hey Mum! I finally finished sewing down the binding on this one!!

It's my Old Red Barn Co. Flickr (round 5) Pinwheel quilt-along quilt. It measures 72" x 54" and is the largest quilt I have ever finished!!!

Un.be.lieveable!

This is the back, there's a piece of every print from the front and some old Philip Jacobs fabric I had plenty of yardage of.

I love this photo of it!

I've decided to tackle my Mod Sampler top next. All I have to do is piece the back, quilt and bind. lol. I think I'll quilt it straight across the width, about an 1" apart.

Well, that's yer lot! I need to take out of the oven the newest addition to our fave snacks, spring rolls! And before anyone kindly asks for the recipe, they came out of a box!!

Cheerio for now,

x Mandy

my list of WIP quilt shame....

I do not have a quilt in my home that I have finished!! There, it's out!

True, my ORBC big pinwheels quilt just requires binding, and I will finish that before my Mum arrives, so it can go on her bed while she's here. But the rest on the list over on the right, are ALL uncompleted!!

So, this is what I've decided to do to remedy it. The 1st 6 months of next year I am going to concentrate on getting them finished. I WILL not be starting a new top until from Jan 1 throught to July 1 2011, oh, except for Dee's ORBC quilt-along, I can't miss a quilt-along by a flickr mate. Plus, it was originally going to start this year. BUT, that's the only one. I cannot truly call myself a quilter, until I have done more quilting!! I want to quilt them, I want quilts I have made scattered throughout my home...

Join me if you'd like, I know I'm not the only one with quilt tops hanging around, I'm just the one with the most!!!

Some photo's of the quilts in waiting....











Cheerio for now,
x Mandy

Catch up!

I've been away from my Blog so long, I can't remember if I have shared some of these photo's! I don't think I have, but my apologies if I repeated myself.


This is the DQS8 quilt that I sent to my partner, The Sometimes Crafter. I really enjoyed using the grey to highlight some of my fave big floral prints. And the variegated grey DMC thread was perfect for some simple running stitches. I wanted to try and emphasize the weave effect of the floral fabrics. I was pretty pleased with the outcome!


This one also has some running stitches! More along the Sashiko line though. The Sashiko panels are also my own work. The cushion size panel comes from Japan, it has pre-printed lines to follow. I found the hand sewing to be very relaxing. But decided to cut up the panel to make this Wall Hanging. The indigo fabrics are from my first Jelly Roll purchase. I just couldn't resist all those different Indigo 2 1/2' strips. I really enjoyed making this one, I gave it to a good friend for her Birthday.


This is a tiny Coin quilt! I sent this along as part of a fabric swap. Ack! I can't remember which one!


Ahhhh, this one is quite recent. I called it 'Amy Butler Sorbet', I am sure all these colours could be found at a Gelato bar. It went to Melanie, and was a DQS Angel quilt. Poor Melanie waited a long time to get her quilt. I hope this made up for it. Me and my monochromatic prints, I do so love them!


Look!!! I've finally pieced another big quilt, I've even quilted it, just trying to decide if I've quilted it enough though. Each pinwheel is about 18", yes huge! It is a ORBC quilt-along quilt. I'm really quite pleased I've started to use some of my yardage. I've definitely got over my 'cutting fabric' hesitation! 'The Old Red Barn Co.' Flickr group is like a second home to me, along with the 'Doll Quilt Swap' group and the 'Mini QT Swap' group.

I've found I have more conversations with people in these three groups. It feels so good to talk to like minded quilting/fabric peeps. I don't really get to chat to people, about my obsession, in my daily life.


I've got more to share, more Bee blocks, a Mini QT Swap quilt (sent and received). Plus some adorable 3 1/2 " blocks from 2 swaps. Oh and DQS9 sign ups are happening again. I love swaps!


Cheerio for now
x Mandy

DQS7 Top Finished

Now ALL I have to do is quilt it! I've decided to hand quilt on the orange solid only, Therefore hoping the small triangles and center with plump up!! Although I also might follow a few of the fruit lines in the center as well. Not sure. And I've decided to follow the star shape, in ever increasing circles. Well that's the plan in my head, will have to see if it's achievable.

Also been doing a bit of this. The blocks are sewn into 7 rows, I now have to finalize their arrangement. I did have them numbered, but have noticed that a couple of the same block ,are too close to each other. Not a big deal, just that my eye goes to them instantly every time I look at it. I'm liking the colours together, I'm liking it a lot actually. But I'll probably offer it for sale at my children's School 'Falls Art Fest' in October.



Back into the garden for me now, it's too nice to be inside today.
X Mandy

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.