Off shopping I will go, hi ho!

Newly purchased backing at the ready.  Opps but I have no matching fabric for a top!  
 Nope not this one...its for a tractor loving friend.
 So is this.
Definitely not this collection...destine to become a Lego quilt.
Ahhh, hmm, no plans for these two fat quarters, just liked em. 
 Oh yes this was the culprit that started it.  Nice flannel on sale...of course!
 And a new bag, that still had plenty of room for MORE new purchases!
Taking my new bag shopping today.  Need more fabric?  Of course I NEED new fabric!
Happy quilting Sue.

An organiser to get me organised!

There are just too many free tutorials and not enough days in the week!  I have decided to stop pinning so much stuff and start making instead!  So here is another great pattern, free that I had pinned and now made, yeah!   Only another 14,273 to go!
Called the Constance Organiser this free tutorial is by Bethany Herwegh  who blogs at The Glamorous Housewife.  

I thought it was easy to make until it came to the sewing together.  My main mistake was putting the catch on the wrong side - which added to the bulk, from all the pocket layers.  My Mum immediately pointed out that it would have been easier still to divert from the pattern and sew the tab into the seam.  So next time (if there is a next time) I would do that for sure.  Still I bent a needle when I was top stitching it, so I am wondering if next time I would quilt the exterior instead, add some template plastic in between to make it a bit stiffer again and then bind it.  Just a though.
All the fabric came out of my stash so it was good to finally use this quirky stamp print, which I had stuck in the ugly category up until now.  Its funny to finally use it, but it was a great decision because I got to use snippets of other fabrics I love, but have not made it to the cutting mat for the longest time!
Happy quilting Sue.

A new quilt is born!

These sweet little blocks came alive in my sewing room.  I had spent a very long day making apricot jam, my first ever solo effort!  As a reward I needed to stitch something "easy". With all the lovely books I have received lately these ones spoke to me the most....after turning my bookshelf inside out and failing to find a pattern for a basket block I loved.
 What intrigues me about this block is how different it looks depending on which way you set it.  The pattern I found (by Carol Hopkins in Civil War Legacies - quilt pattern is called Hookers Hat Patch!)  is what I would call a anvil block and it sets them in a vertical zig zag - which I love, but don't think I have ever done before. 
Working from my reproduction stash I am using red, brown and gold fabrics as suggested by the author.  It is not a combination I have used before and suddenly I feel that my past use of colour has been very repetitive and safe.  So here's to interesting and new colour combinations in 2016 using new to me layouts.
Is that a sufficient excuse to be working on a quilt that is not on my wish list...when its only January?!  Some people wait til February to break their NYE resolutions!
A dive through my sewing bin uncovered enough selvedge to make a jigsaw.  I think there are enough clues here to track down some more of the lovely shirting I have been using.  The pattern calls for 28 x 3" blocks.  so I am nearly there.  Not sure I want to stop really, even though this size will make a stunning miniature.
Madness really.  Perhaps the heat has got to me?
Happy quilting Sue.


Draw string bag

While I was making my Ellie Travel Case the other day, Lisa was making some drawstring bags.  I couldn't resist and found the free tutorial (lined-drawstring-bag-tutorial) she used by Jeni Baker (who blogs under In Colour Order) and made one for myself.  
When I was rummaging through my stashing, I found a large piece of this cute lingerie fabric.  I also found the lining and accent fabric in my stash.  There was no suitable ribbon long enough in my stash so I just followed her super easy instructions to make a matching drawstring.   
This bag is a great size for my lingerie when travelling.    I dont need more then one, so going to have to either make some as gifts or find another great pattern for this quirky cute  print...there is plenty leftovers!  
Happy Quilting Sue

A new bag, for a new hand piecing project!

Lisa came for a day of sewing.  I decided to make a bag I had pinned a few days ago, because I couldn't stop thinking about it!  
Its called the Ellie Travel Case and is a free tutorial by Heidi Staples on her blog, Fabric Mutt.   The pattern was well written and I basically made it in an afternoon, a long afternoon granted!
The only down side was the handles and I could have done something wrong.  But I decided to applique a scrap to cover up the wadding and it doesn't look too bad.
Its a nice small bag, perfect for some hand sewing - for those grab and run days where you suspect there will be down time aka stitching time!  I have unearthed a new hand applique project, so this is its new home and hopefully it won't get forgotten about now its in this super cute bag!
I have also been picking my cherry Roma tomatoes,  
 and helping Mum bottle my apricots.  She had the knowledge, I have the fruit and we both do the work.  She gets as many bottles as she wants and I take the rest!
I planted watermelons, because the kids wanted them.  They have shown zero interest in gardening since!  I went to turn this one over and it broke off the vine.  So I figured that was a sign it was ripe.  Nope!  I struggled to carry it into the house, I put the apple in the photo to give you an idea of how large it was.    
When I stuck the knife in it to cut it open, there was a big pop and it split down the middle - getting a fright when you have a large carving knife in your hand is not an experience I wish to repeat!
Very disappointed that it tasted ...hmm funny/tart/insufficiently sweet?  Either way the chooks got the lot and now I am wondering if it is worth watering the rest of the watermelons on the vine...all ten of them!  Happy to hear from experienced watermelon growers!
Happy quilting Sue.

Wacky summer sewing

I am enjoying summer holidays with the kids and to keep them entertained I bought some grey fabric and zippers to make a shark pencil case I pinned ages ago by Patchwork Posse .  DS2 enjoyed cutting with my scissors and the straight sewing, but in the end Lego was more exciting and he disappeared when it all got tricky...which was lucky as I was mumbling unlady like words, as I inserted the zip.  I wont be making another one in a hurry so was pleased DS1 wasn't interested!
I started to clean up in my sewing area and unearthed a pattern for a pieced pineapple block that Lisa had given me.  We were out sewing for the day and the cutting instructions were a bit wrong, so it got dumped in favour of something else.  But I just needed my pre cut bin of 2.5" squares and pre stitched half square triangles - and of course they were on hand now!
I already have a watermelon table runner, so a pineapple table runner was perfect for a new summer look!   Simple Love Quilts and Jackie Padesky Quilts created this pattern.
Lisa gifted me that cute caravan, I couldn't resist including it...along with some favorite cherry fabric.  And the best bit is this all came out of the stash!
In the "clean up" that became a sewing session I found the missing page of instructions on how to make thee flowers for my Scrappy Sprouts quilt.  
I decided to just get stuck into those curves and they turned out just fine!  So I must be cured of my curve piecing fear, thanks Ann!
Now I just have to finish hand sewing the tops of the flower and this UFO is back on the top of the pile....I think that qualifies it as an upgrade to WIP!
Happy quilting Sue.

2016 Wish List

The only quilt I didn't make/start on my 2015 wish list was a Delectable Mountains quilt, pattern by Bonnie Hunter.  
Even though my scrap stash is greatly depleted I would still like to make one in forest colours.
Desperate to make this mini quilt - cake stand baskets, in reproduction fabrics of course!
Then there is always room for more than one basket quilt in my life!
Curves have never been on my agenda, but the curved ruler changed the playing field rules for me.

And now I have a new pattern (urban abacus) AND a mini curved ruler with a pattern so I had better make both!
There is always room for some charity quilts, especially kids quilts.

I have plenty of novelty fabric cut into 6.5" squares to use up.  I have all the dies to make this churn dash using my Go Cutter.  I just have to buy some more background fabrics, white is a bit impractical for kids quilts!
Lisa showed me this pattern Tic Tac Toe last year and it has been on my to do list since!

The original pattern has different coloured blocks in the outside corners, but I prefer this look.
Now where to start?
Happy quilting Sue.

What a lucky quilter I am!

I have been a lucky quilter this Christmas/birthday season!
A lovely red trolley for my sewing (I did have to assemble it myself!) 
DH always buys me a quilting calendar.  He tells me they are getting harder to find, but I am glad he keeps searching : ) 
The MINI Quick Curve Ruler. Yep now I am going to be tackling mini curves...I guess Mum figured I needed a new challenge for 2016!  
 
This lovely book from Lisa is full of great projects, one spoke to me immediately... 
This is THE perfect project for my French General fabric.  
 Lisa also made me this lovely basket, which had some goodies in it.
Vicki treated me to her favorite fabrics, yum!
Yep I am a lucky quilter!
Happy quilting Sue


In 2015 I made...

  • In 2015 I made 

  • 11 mini quilts, 
  • 7 table runners,
  • 8 kids/cot quilts, 
  • 3 Aussie Hero quilts, 2 single bed quilts, 
  • 2 double bed/queen sized quilts 
  • and a bunch of little items, including needle books, pin cushions, bags and a door stop!

But I forgot to show off my favorite item that I made!  These are little pop up (twist down flat to travel with) thread catchers. I learned to make these at a craft group and they are such fun - even if they are all hand sewn!  I couldn't stop at one, so made a bunch for friends as Christmas gifts.

Happy quilting Sue.



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Kim Diehl star in a churn dash blocks

I was just popping in to read some of my favorite bloggers, after a six month absence!  Then I saw that there was this draft post, so figure...