Beautiful Blogger Award

The rules of accepting this award are;

1. Thank the person who gave you this award:

Dear Karen from Sewing Tales, this was a lovely surprise and a beautiful gesture. I apologies for the delay in posting about this award, but this is not a reflection of my lack of appreciation! Your blog inspires me and your advice about blogging has enabled me to become a blogger - you rock!

2. Share 7 things about yourself:

• I am addicted to fabric, my sewing machine and all things quilty.


• I aspire to have my designs published...one day.


• I owe my patchworks skills to the ladies of the Horsham Patchwork Quilters (Vic), who taught me "how to" patchwork and quilt.


• I survived a interstate move to Sydney (and a wedding and baby all within 2 years) because of the Eastwood Quilters, Hunters Hill Quilters, the Quilters Guild of NSW (and in particular the girls from Community Quilts), who provided me with patchwork friendships and hours of quilty fun.


• My ongoing sanity (as a stay at home Mum to 2 preschoolers) is thanks to the friendships and hours of quilty fun with the After Dark Quilters (SA), where I can "switch off", relax with some sewing or seek advice for my quilting problems.


• My blog title came from a friends DH who use to say she was going to "The House of Patchwork" or to see "Mother Patchwork", when she was heading out to stitch with me. At the time I was neither a mother or a wife, but I did own a house with a dedicated sewing room!


• I feel obliged to try and convert non quilters to my world. I have a few successful converts, including my mother, a former Sydney workmate of my DH and some girlfriends. I aim for a quilting sister in law if my brothers ever marry.

3. Pass the award onto five bloggers who you have recently discovered and think are fantastic!
OK I have a small issue with finding 5 new bloggers, given my recent decision to reduce blogging time, because it was impacting on my sewing (and family) time. SO I have just nominated two blogs that I have been following since I discovered blogging;

Keryn of Quilting Twin blog posts the most beautiful pictures of her quilts (including in progress shots which I love) and her customers quilts, is a prolific patchworker, plus owns up to her fabric addiction and is keeping a tally of fabric brought and used - brave lady!'

Leanne from The Stitching Room posts fantastic pictures of ... everything, her scenery shots are inspiring/gorgeous and her stitching is beautiful also!

Both of these blogs are local and include great photography, so promote the fantastic place that I now call home (South Australia) and patchworking - congratulations!

4. Contact the bloggers you have picked and let them know about the award.

Happy quilting, Sue.
PS spell checker doesnt like "quilty" but I am sure that it is a word, even if I just made it up!

What happened to March?

What happened to March? Well it disappeared in a flurry of family visits, work trips, serious sewing and kinder commitments! But at least I have some completed projects to show for it! This is the completed I Spy quilt top that I have been making for my son's kinder as a raffle quilt. I took the top with me to Horsham (Victoria) at Easter and asked Vicki Jenkins to quilt it for me on her NEW long arm quilting machine. So I had to rush off to find some backing fabric before the shops shut and then the next day delayed our departure (such is the patience of my husband) long enough to piece the backing. Vicki taught me to rotary cut and quick piece four patches many moons ago when I was a beginner quilter in Horsham. These skills fired up my enthusiasm, because at the time I was hand piecing my first quilt, a sampler. Although I finished the sampler, it was the knowledge that I could QUICKLY cut fabric and piece it that keep me going! Vicki Jenkin has steadily been building on her skills in quilting (with a domestic machine) and applique (needleturn mainly) and is now a multiple award winning quilter, who not only had a quilt accepted at Houston USA last year, but also received an honorable mention for her work. I look forward to seeing the completed quilt, but guess I am going to have to wait until our next trip, as I am definatly not trusting this to the post!

These are the make up purses I made to sell at my stall at the local kinder's market day. Well I finished five (few half made) and you can now be warned that if your having a birthday, thats what your likely to recieve, as I didnt sell one! Mind you I turned a healthy $3 profit from sale of pre loved clothes and toys so was happy to be rid of some baby items and cover the cost of my stall. Of course it was all for a good cause and it looks like the kinder reached their fund raising goal - all proceeds going towards a bike track.

I have also been making some more nappy wallets - they are great baby gifts and we have a few friends expecting. Jude did ask me what the inside looked like, after I showed you Max's wallet. I have put a nappy disposal bag and Huggies disposable change mat in one pocket so you can see that it is a pocket (made from clear tablecloth plastic) ! The wallet easily fits two nappies one side and disposable bags and a packet of wipes (pkt of 40 wipes or a Huggies travel pack) on the other. The magnetic catch is on a long strap, which I designed that way, so that I could put an extra two nappies in the fold (with two already in pocket) so that I could carry four nappies - two in different sizes for my son's. So now on my to do list is finishing writting up the instructions, so I can sell the pattern.

This is a Millamac pattern "How tall are you?", which is an applique height chart/wall hanging. I have not put the measurements in along the side, waiting to see if my friend wants them or she likes it just as is. As you can see I have attached the binding but not hand sewn it down - yet. I completed a three part machine quilting class with Lorraine Cocker in March and this has certainly helped me build some confidence and skills in free motion quilting. However I must admit that I used the walking foot for the straight lines on border and echo quilting in background. This took only took an afternoon to complete (the quilting) so I was delighted, as it has been a cupboard UFO for many years. I had not included it on my blog list because 12 months ago I gave the top to my friend (after she admired the completed one I made my own children) and told her to pay to have someone long arm quilt it for her. However the recent course fired me up to suggest she hand it back and I would finish what I started!

Happy quilting, Sue.

Finally a finish!

I made this nappy wallet as a commission, which I have never done before. The wallet is my own design and the version the lady saw was the original, which I then updated second time around. The new version had a nice (easy) machine written name label, but she wanted the original name version (with her sons name), fine but do you think I could replicate it again! Anyway I hope she likes it, as she hasnt picked it up yet. I did stress about the whole process, was the colour right, was my stitching perfect enough, will it come unpicked, blah blah blah! In the end I was pleased to be finished, so certain that I wont be making my living by selling patchwork!

Pillows for creche Dolls corner, made using excess four patches.

My favorite quilt, I love four patch and one patch combos. And the soft pink and green is nice, restful.

This blows my mind and gave me a headache when I had to quilt it. That orange is crazy on the eyes and I dont know what possessed me to buy it! Still it was the last bit in the scrap bin and I had run out of the yellow that matched the lime green. I told a lie to someone a few weeks ago, boasting about how I had stepped out of my comfort zone because I had put a orange binding on a quilt- claiming it was my first ever. Liar, liar pants on fire! I found THREE orange bindings in my left over binding box which ironically made the exact correct length for this quilt. I am not sure what to make of that other then I have a very poor memory! That and the fact that it is good to know that keeping left over binding finally came in handy!

This was the quilt for the largest dolls bed, which I started making BEFORE I measured the beds! Hence the funny combo of colours and design. You know the funny thing is that I was just SO pleased to use the last of the awful floral print in the border, I really should have just given it away. Pleased I didnt though as it saved me, as now the quilt is the right size.

Been crazy busy here, sewing my little heart out, but a lack of photos put me off blogging. That and the fact that nothing was quite finished. I made the long weekend my deadline and finally finished the three dolls quilts for the dolls corner at Mr3yo creche, plus sheets, mattress, pillows and pillow cases. I dont think that the pictures show the true colour, the purple/orange/green and pinks are vivid and make my eyes water. However I made everything out of scraps/stash and as I only have boys I didnt have any nice fairy prints, so figured brights would be fine. The nicest thing was after I delivered them (and made up the beds) there were three little girls playing with each dolls bed within ten minutes, so that is the ultimate compliment!

In the last fortnight I have completed two (out of three) nights at a machine quilting course. This has really opened my eyes up to how to free hand quilt, as I was purely a straight line and stitch in the ditch quilter. In fact I called myself a quilter, but I was really a piecer as I prefered making the tops rather then quilting them. Not anymore, which is a good thing as I have several tops that need quilting. This is important to me, as when they are done, I will then feel that I can finally tackle some of the really outstanding UFO's on my list.

In the meantime I have distracted myself trying to make some easy gift's, as our local kinder (Mr3yo started early entry) is having a market and I offered to have a stall. My one past attempt at having a stall was a failure as I didnt sell one thing! So this time I am only going to make things that I like and can use as gifts for friends and family, so if they dont sell it doesnt matter. Still I am fast running out of time, so been stitching every opportunity I can. The up side of this is that I have found some great free patterns on the internet and made some things that previously I have been putting off, in preference for focusing on the UFO list. Well thats my excuse for yet again delaying tackling the UFO list!

Happy quilting, Sue.

Sewing machine pixies

This is what I wish my life consisted of; having cups of tea (and sewing) while the kids are in bed! I am missing my weekly sewing sessions with another Mum, however she is working more(eg paid work) and hence has less sewing time. On the other hand I should have more sewing time, as the kids are just that bit older and starting to play together/self entertain. However seem to being achieving very little at present.

I have spent some time sewing sheets, mattresses, pillows, pillow cases and quilt tops for the local occasional care centre's dolls corner. I just have to make one more pillow and quilt the quilt tops. I would like to say that they are cute doll quilts, but in reality my scrap bin produced two bright/loud quilts and one pastel. The staff assure me the kids will love them, we will see.

I have unpicked and resewn some of the $5 Court house steps, so it is one row thinner and 2 blocks longer. This makes the top a generous table runner / table cloth for my sideboard and will hopefully protect the french polished surface. I coupld have had this and one cot quilt and the 3 dolls bed tops pinned if I had remembered to buy wadding before I went to quilting last week! Oh well, perhaps next fortnight.

I am keen for some machine quilting lessons, but dont seem to be able to find a class. So decided I would try and get some practise in at home instead. However this effort has been thwarted. Despite sucessfully piecing yesterday the nasty sewing machine pixies have been playing with my machine and the tension is (#*$&#(*(!!! I was trying to quilt a nappy wallet (my own design), one of the occasional care staff put an order in for. However the top tension is out and I cannot seem to fix it, well I tried but my temper got the better of me and Mr20mths needed a nap. So posting a blog seemed like a better idea (and cuppa + TimTam). I might tackle this problem tommorow, we have a 2nd birthday party to attend to this afternoon and I think I had better do some housework to work off the TimTam and my bad temper before I socialise!

May your machine tension be perfect and your points all sharp, happy quilting, Sue!

Hot glue rocks

Just sneaking in a "finish". I dug the hot glue gun out and glued the hot pink braid around my applique roll, and it looks great. That set off a roll and I glued up the kids board books (broken spine), a magnet on a train and a broken tail off an aeroplane. These were all things that the cheap super glue had failed on. So then I got cheeky and tried to glue the cutter back onto my Sew Easy ruler with built in cutter, but it didnt work. So am I still disappointed about not being able to use this piece of equipment, especially as I was hoping to start cutting strips for a log cabin and this was to be my time saving tool. Guess its down to my very clever "try to fix anything, cos I'm a farmer" Dad! Now how to persued him to drive a 10 hour round trip, with glue in hand?

Shopping frenzy

Luckily I went to quilting on Wednesday night, after missing last fortnight, because someone reminded me that there was a quilters garage sale on Thursday - as you can see I brought a few bargin priced books ($15) and a small quilt top for the grand sum of $5!!!

I am not sure what I am going to do with the Court House Steps top, as it is only 31" x 45"; too big for a table runner, perhaps a small table cloth? Or I could add more blocks to square it up and make a lap quilt, what do you think? However I am going to be good and include it on my UFO list.. even though I didnt start it! It is made with really nice fabrics, totally my favorite country colours, however I doubt I have much fabric that would match, as most fabrics are repeated in each block. Perhaps a plain border and then a pieced border in similar colours? The possiblities are endless, the time factor remains to be seen!

So BEFORE I went to the bargin garage sale, I had been to the patchwork shop (three marine prints) and had a small splurge! In my defence I didnt have a good start to Wednesday... I had to fish a toy out of the toilet... so retail therapy was required. And then we had a mobile shop visit our group, selling fat quarters (Lynette from Quilters Quarters) which I couldnt resist, as she had some more novelty fabrics. When I made the animal I Spy I lacked cats, dogs and horses. So I have now added some to my stock, but that doesnt quite explain why the fish, turtles, polar bears or frogs (bright pink they are well hidden in this pic) had to come home with me. I think I might have to make another animal quilt to justify all these new purchases. And of course spots and stars dont require explinations, i think its just compulsory to have them in your stash. Luckily DH is very understanding and doesnt seem to notice the newly washed fabric on the clothes line.

HINTS for washing fabric: Lessa Siegele told me that a quick swish and dunk of fabric in hand hot water is sufficient to tell if the fabric is going to run or not. You can just spin them dry in your machine after that and hang then out to dry as normal. This method avoids tangling fat quarters with your undies and the 10,000 loose threads that develop on the edges, resulting in less fabric for sewing. Wouldnt you know it, it has only taken me 10 years to appreciate that this method (also favored by my mother!) is superior to throwing new purchased fat quarters into my weekly wash. It just goes to show you should listen to your mother!

If you live in Adelaide Lessa is running a second Quilters Garage Sale at the All Saints Church Hall, Bedford Square, Col Light Gardens on February 18th from 10am to 3pm. If it is going to be 36C plus then it will be postponed to March 18th at the same venue. There were plenty of books, heaps of patterns and fabric left after I had found my bargins. All proceeds are going toward their Bedford Fund raising event. Lessa and Faye also run a fantastic Mystery Quilt workshop, 13th or 27th March for more information see Quilt Guild SA website.

Luca's and Rail fence quilts finished

I started this rail fence quilt top about three years ago (pre sewing room), then late last year I finally completed the rest of the quilting (I had run out of hot pink thread). At Christmas time I took it away with me, intending to hand sew the binding down. Well I had one side left to do and I left it at my parents, as the car was packed to capacity. So on my last trip home I finally sewed down the last of the binding. I hadnt been in a hurry because nobody was having a baby, but now we have a few friends expecting again, so they are in luck - so long as they have a girl!

I forgot that I hadnt shown you a completed picture of Luca's Attic windows. Mum completed the last bit of stippling on it for me. I did all the borders and three of the "windows", plus stitched all the ditches, but ran out of complimentary threads. Plus I wanted a bit of a lesson on trying to get my stippling a bit looser and larger. I am still having issues with tension, but decided I will only resolve that with a class, so I am now on the look out for some close by.

So while we are on the subject of "finishes", this is a photo of the doll carrier and quilt. Do you think I can rate it a finish if I dont hand sew the underneath binding down?

A big thank you Karen, it was fun (despite the binding, my fault for using heavy duty interfacing!) and Mr3yr + Puppy and Peachy like it just fine! And now that I think about it, DH hasnt said one word about his son carting around a pink doll carrier with his bedtime soft toys in it! Even though they all ended up in our bed this afternoon, plus every quilt, pillow and cushion the darling boy could find... all to help Mummy have a nice "sleep"... the things I do in the name of motherhood! In fact I have gotten very good at pretending to sleep, wonder if it will ever count on my resume when I want to get a paying job?