Sewing frenzy

I made this needle case on a whim about two weeks ago.  I brought this book early in the year (or was it last year?) and was desperate to finally make something out of it.  Since then I haven't done much sewing, so this weekend I went mad and just started sewing....I don't accept long absences from my sewing machine very well!

This cot sized quilt top is what I made on Saturday.  The fabrics are all out of my stash...they had to be, DH was out Christmas shopping and both my boys now refuse to come into the fabric shop...besides together their behaviour doesn't make for relaxed auditioning of colours...it always ends in hasty purchases that can be regretted.  I then needed more fabric to continue (I only had left over fat quarters in these colours), so managed to purchase necessary yardage today (well it was on sale!) to start the next step. However I really wanted to wash and dry the new fabric, so I had to put this new project aside.

That prompted me to finally finish the boys version of the cot quilts I had been making...there was only two corners of binding to be hand sewn down and a label attached, its been like that for a few weeks! 

And then this project - Alphabet Sampler, only required a hanging sleeve...why do those simple jobs take so long to get around to?  This wall hanging I designed with DS1, he picked out the shapes and colours he wanted in the corners.  You probably cannot see very well from the picture but I quilted each letter of the alphabet into each square, depicting that letter.  It was very hard to find J and X fabric...J = jeep but it is a black print on blue background so not easy to pick.  I was more then happy to cheat with X after I found this skeleton fabric, I figured that would do for X-ray...I was never going to find a better substitute!  I am not hugely proud of this wall hanging it got made in a hurry and the quilting is very poor.  However the boys don't care and I suspect its "life" will be short, as they will grow out of it in a few years, so I figured finish it now, while they can enjoy it...not a time to take up hand quilting!

I cannot find the photo of the pot holders I made (quite some time back) so I had to take a new shot, which doesn't do them justice.  Downloading the pictures for this post took two days, so I will wait to see if my internet speed improves and try to squeeze in one last post before Christmas/New Year...I am nearly at 100 posts....trying to think of a way to celebrate??  In the new year I might just have to have my very own give away, stay turned!
Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Christmas Challenge

The South Australian Guild gave all those attending the December 2010 meeting a fat quarter of Christmas fabric.  There were three different prints; snowmen, angels and Christmas trees.  We were only instructed to make something, so with no rules it was great to see the results this December.

This was the wall hanging I made for the challenge...I couldn't help but use every little bit of fabric, when the squares are only 2" cut!  The pattern was from the Moda Bakeshop and is called Christmas Wreath Wall Hanging by The Calico Horse.  I had lots and lots of fun with the quilting, stippling in the white background and using a free motion teardrop echo shape over the wreath, giving it a lovely curved look.  I never appreciated how much better a wall hanging would sit flat on the wall because it was heavily quilted, this is now my favorite Christmas decoration.

I liked the snowman fabric, so did DS1 so he demanded a large piece for another project (to be included in a different post) which left me with only a few snowmen to play with.  I decided snowball blocks would be appropriate for a table runner, but things didn't quite work out that way....it was hard to avoid chopping off their heads!  The projects other ladies made were fantastic, table runners aplenty, wall hangings, as well as journal covers, pot holders, decorations, door stoppers, quilts and even a bag with working fairy lights!

And I have now finished the girls cot quilt, title to be determined.  It needs to be delivered to ACT, but after a well known SA teacher announced at our guild meeting that Australia Post had lost her 8 kg box of quilts, teaching samples, notes and books I decided I wont be risking it...apparently its the second time she has had precious work stolen out of the postal system.  I am hoping that Granny express will be happy to deliver door to door for free - I just have to get it to Granny first! 

Happy quilting, Sue SA.