Singer Trading Cards

A few weeks ago I won third prize on Kyle's blogging anniversary give away; 2 Singer trading cards and 2 trading cards from Coats and Clark. 

I hadn't seen trading cards before and think they are lovely. I am thinking I will frame them to hang in my sewing room. 

 More then a few weeks ago I finished sewing this mini quilt, which is hanging in my sewing room.

 

A week and a half ago Elaine (friend and long arm quilter) returned my blue n white twister quilt. 

This is the all over pattern she used, viewed from the back.  I still haven't trimmed it or made the binding.  I am lacking motivation to sew today after quilting three child size charity quilts yesterday.  I am off to enjoy the garden instead, happy quilting Sue SA.

Nature nurtures

This is one of the views of the Grampians from my families farm. Please ignore the canola, my brother claims it is his worst crop...he wont be pleased I put it on display! ; )

There is something comfortable and familiar to see the bright yellow paddocks as you travel down the highway.  There were no oilseed crops on our farm or in the district that I remember from my childhood.  But now they are a common sight.

 My brother tells me that they only had 2 inches of rain for the first five months of the year and then in the last three months they had nine inches.  Sometimes I think you need to be a gambler to be a farmer.  Fingers crossed for a cool spring so they sail into a good harvest.  Pray for rain in Queensland and parts of NSW who are drought declared.

 I have a small point and shoot digital camera.  These small birds were very "chatty" and quick.

They loved the rotary clothes line and were hopping around madly, all the while "talking", while I tried to stalk them for a good shot.

 When I asked my father he thought they would be Spotted Pardalotes, I checked on the web (where would we be without Google?) and think they are Striated Pardalotes but my photos are not really clear or close enough to tell, unless the Pardalotes just all hang together! 

This metal Blue Wren is a new addition to our garden that I brought it at the Royal Adelaide Show from Hassles Garden Works.  This is a link to the Facebook page which highlights some of the items for sale and then there is a  Manning Sculptures website, as it seems the whole family is very creative!  The website has photos of public sculptures they have made which are amazing and I especially love the kelpie!

Have a great week, happy quilting, Sue SA.

 

Pink and Green Zig Zag

I finished the Spools Quilt (lap size) before I started a new project...I promise!  The way I see it is there are three things you can do when your stressed/angry/upset....a) eat b) housework c) sew or d) shop.  And because I ate last week (chocolate that is) and I cleaned the house on Monday, I decided to SEW!

Now I tried several times to take a good picture of this Pink n Green zig zag cot quilt but it was too dark inside and too sunny outside.  This is the only half decent shot I got, after I spray basted it.  This is intended for a friend who is expecting her first baby in the summer.  Please note I brought a solid and then I used it!! Mint green might never been on my shopping list previously, but right now I am loving it and craving spearmint leaf lollies! 

And it would be too weird to not go shopping right, retail therapy is a girls best friend after all!  So I grabbed a friend and went to the SA Quilters Guild market day.   There were lots of quilty bargains to be had, but we arrived in the latter part of the day, so I only took home two bargains - this sewing themed hanger - for my sewing room obviously. 

And to help organise me, a sewing caddy for next to my armchair in the lounge room.  I am hoping to be able to hid all sharp implements in the draw and keep a selection of thread on the spools, to save me walking the 5 metres to my sewing room!
Sew now I am off to the sewing room to commence quilting - either the new cot quilt OR the modern quilt that I also spray basted today...a girl has to fill in election/footy night somehow and this seemed like a cheap and non fattening option.  A wise woman once said, "the worst thing about voting is you always end up with a politician"!

Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Zig Zag and Spray basting

 I finally got the Zig Zag quilt bound this week, still no label, but that will happen.  I am immensely pleased with this quilt!  THANK YOU LISA! Not only for the pattern but also the fabric.  I am definitely making another one, just debating colours.

Spring has finally sprung in Adelaide and glorious weather this weekend prompted me to run with the idea that came from Leanne.  Leanne said that she spray bastes all her quilts, and while I have done this in the past for little quilts, I hadn't done it on anything large.  Trying to heft the bigger quilts through my domestic machine, all with the added weight of pins, made me think "Why not spray baste!".

So I cut a few strips, added them tot the side of this Maisy panel and then spray basted it!  Too easy! 

So then I dug out the Spool quilt and spray basted that as well!

 So then with two basted quilts I started quilting AND FINISHED BOTH!  Spray basting ROCKS!

This is the groovy binding I made for the Maisy cot quilt, I am definitely going back to buy more of this gorgeous fabric, perfect from all and any kids quilts in my future.

So now I have two more quilts to bind, but I am sitting in the sun, eating ice cream in a cone and reading a book...it is the first day of spring after all! 

Happy Fathers Day to all your Dads, young and old, past and present.

Happy quilting Sue SA.