April is purple

It took me half way through April to get stuck into Purple for the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.  The main reason was school holidays and finishing projects for our up and coming exhibition.  

I started with some nine patches.

Once I started I realised the biggest problem I had was the fact that I had cheated and added purple into the pink patches in February.  So I unpicked the offending purple patches and replaced them with pink.  I found a bit more pink scrap in my stash (I really need to do a bit resort of my stash) and also unearthed some more purple. 

And then I decided I had better make a pink and a purple star, because I had more fabric!  

They are not the same type of star so I am still hoping to make each colour in the other style.  

I don't have any yellow star blocks because I ran out of yellow scrap in March - but I did make a blue one in January.  I plan to go through all my boxes of fabric and tidy them up as the different colours have been spread here and there....after my local quilt show is over!  Then hopefully I can tackle May's colour (and catch up the missing stars) whatever it is, with a lot more ease.

Happy quilting Sue.

Quilt Convention

I didn't quite know what to expect when we headed off to see my first Quilt Convention.  But I really enjoyed it! Just took a few photos of favourite quilts, some were modern....

Opal Essence by Lorena Uriarte

 Misdirection by Jess Frost

Don't mess with my rainbow by Michelle Law

and others were contemporary....

 Pointy Plates by Vicki Jenkin

Follywood by Susanne Cody

Boston Rhapsody by Janet Holland

and one favourite reproduction/traditional.....

Robins Nest by Karen Styles.

And of course we shopped til we dropped...well I did, my Mum was more restrained!

 And then we drove home, and I started sewing to finish the last few things for our local exhibition!

Happy quilting, Sue. 

Framed Nine Patch Dolls Quilt

One of the tasks I have been busy with is making a sign to go on an A frame board, for my groups exhibition in early May.  I have made two of these "quilts" which was a great way to use up excess yellow homespun (from Hawthorn footy quilt) and more scrap wadding!  This just needs binding...I have done a lot of binding lately!

The framed nine patch dolls quilt (pattern from Quiltmania) has been finished....again I finished this a few weeks back but forgot to show you!  

I quilted it and quilted it and quilted some more!  It is 16.25" square and I attempted my first feather border.  They are very lame looking feathers, but practise makes perfect!  I would like to make this quilt again...but perhaps in less vibrant colours!

the Log Cabin finish

I cannot believe that I forgot to post pictures of my completed Log Cabin!  It has been sitting around waiting for the binding to be hand stitched down for so long, that once I had, I just got use to seeing it sitting around!  Oh and then I had to stitch a sleeve on it...because my new group are having an exhibition in two weeks, so this baby is going on show very soon!

Here it is close up, so you can see the wonderful quilting Vicki Jenkins did.  I do love a baptist fan!

The colours are a bit darker here then in real life as I took this inside at night.  Life has been busy working towards finishing projects for the exhibition and school holidays.  The kids are back at school this week and we are slowly getting into routine.  I am off to Quilt Convention for a weekend of quilty fun with my Mum and meeting friends there.  I have never been before so I am really looking forward to see everything and perhaps doing some shopping, like I need more fabric!

Happy quilting Sue.

Easter surprises

Surprise No. 1

DS1 wanted to do some sewing....DH is inspecting his work.

Surprise No. 2 

Good Friday afternoon I managed to finish five Rosalie Quinlan bunnies...I was aiming for three, but the boys both wanted to make one and I couldn't say no!  I had to sew their faces, and put them together, but the kids did the stuffing, machine sewing and pattern tracing.

Surprise No. 3

Lovely gifts from my friend Lisa...a cute bunny pin cushion (put to immediate use as I was sewing bunnies!), a sweet 2.5" charm square pack and some yummy chocolate!

Happy Easter, Sue

Money was made round for rolling

I have been spreading the love around our local rural quilting shops...eg spending money!

I brought some reds for more little baskets in Warracknabeal.

And some reproductions for my stash in Warrnambool, 

along with some modern prints and patterns.

Wool and linen from each store plus a pattern from Horsham.  

And the left over fabric from Geelong...

....is patiently waiting for me to stop driving around the countryside long enough to stay home and quilt!

Happy Easter, I hope your enjoying some family and stitching time, 

Sue.