Where has October gone?

I lost my sewing mojo weeks ago.  The last sewing I did was wool applique while on holidays and dont even have a picture to share.  However on Friday, crunch time had to happen, because there is a deadline looming.

I started working on this photo quilt for a friends MIL.  It was not what I expected, but working with what we have. Luckily sewing friends pointed out that using Quilt as you go method would assist overcome some of the hurdles.  

I have brought the backing only to find I cannot get basting spray :( because the shop was closed Saturday - so no further progress made, waiting until Monday when the shop is open.

 Lisa asked me what happened to my Temecula Mini?  

So a little bit of sewing was eventually achieved Saturday.  Well unpicking and resewing.  Not just on this (sashing was wonky), but also on a backing.  But that is it for me.  Mojo still missing, but working on some motivation.

Like this great quilt top Kaye finished on Friday.  

Cute kit for a grandchild she brought some time ago.  Bit hard to see, but fabric is perfect for the beach theme, fish,water and seaweed fabric!

 Two new purchases, which will hopefully inspire some sewing action in near future.  I am hoping the triangle tool will make flying geese easier to piece and more accurate....fingers crossed!

I have been enjoying the riot of colour spring brings.  Once a upon a time I thought owning a a carefully laid out blue and white garden would be lovely....now I crave masses of colour all jammed in together!

But the reality is I am starting to run out of room for more flowers

Happy quilting Sue.

In September we enjoyed a weeks holiday in Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

 The view from our self contained apartment showcased the river one side and the beach the other.
 We visited a wildlife park and did a tree top walk in the rainforest, both of which were lovely.

 Possibly the most exciting (and exhausting) was visiting Sea World, which was very busy but had

lots to see and do.  

The kids only wanted to go to this theme park.  They really wanted to see the new

polar bear cub. It took four visits to his enclosure and we finally struck him awake, creating havoc with a ball, bashing into the trees and having glorious destructive, only a toddler could fathom type fun. 

There was also plenty of time to relax on the beach, watch someone elses kids teach yours to body surf while they made friends, play beach cricket and dig holes in the sand.

Then the lovely week came to an end.  

There was some stitching (but far more reading) but its hard to see the progress on wool applique, trust me, it doesn't warrant a photo!

Happy quilting, Sue

Pretty in Pink

In March I made all the baskets for another Jo Morton mini quilt from her book "Jo's Little Favorites" and then sewed the top up.  I was contemplating fabric options for borders, all the time acknowledging that I wasnt happy.

So I started unpicking.  I unpicked all the basket blocks (checked my cutting was accurate) and re sewed them, pressing the seams open.  It made no difference.  I unpicked again and resewed with a finer thread.  By this stage my pieces were fraying and stretched.  They looked fine as blocks but as soon as I sewed the top together too many points were missing :(

I stuck it all in a box and left it to fester in the back of my brain.  Then a couple of weeks ago I was in need of a project for a days sewing with friends.  I didnt want to take hand piecing, so I grabbed one brown, one background and a bunch of different pinks and this pattern.

To my surprise I managed to get all the blocks cut and sewn.  But I waited to put them together fearing a repeat of last time.  However the major difference was thread...I used a finer thread, pressed open my seams where possible, and the blocks turned out beautifully. 

I normally use Gutermann thread, as it does not shred, is affordable and most importantly (to me) I can buy it locally in the town I live in.  However I know that  on my Bernina I have to move my needle over one space, when using Gutermann, to ensure a accurate quarter inch seam.  But on the mini quilts this is not enough,

When I use  Aurifil 40 weight thread, I get a better accuracy and I don't have to move the needle....which is important, because as soon as I turn off my machine the needle re centres itself...and sure as eggs, the next time I sit down to sew I forget to reposition it! 

Now off to link up to Rainbow Scrappy Challenge as October is pink.  This project is not from scrap, but there are now eight basket blocks about to become scrap!

After all that I think I deserve some retail therapy to find the perfect border fabric ;)

Happy quilting Sue.

Autumn log cabin blocks

I needed a no brainer sewing project.  And the log cabin I made last year using scrap red and green 2.5" strips was really quick, so I was easily lured into a new project.

The main problem I have is a lack of distinct colours left in my stash of pre cut strips and a very deleted supply of neutrals.  I didnt want to make blocks for no reason.  So chose autumn tones, as that is what I had and I could use them for a friends mothers quilt (her prefered palette they assure me) if needed.  I agreed to sew up blocks made by the family, to celebrate a special birthday.  But the deadline for blocks hasn't arrived yet. However as nobody in the family is a quilter, these blocks are my back up plan, in case I only get sent a few blocks!

I can see one strip that I considered neutral, is reading as dark in this photo.  Might need to do some unpicking...we will wait and see!