Two finishes!

I finally got this Fishy cot panel quilt finished.  Well the binding had been stitched for a little while, but the hold up was washing - I had to wait for the house to be free of clothes airing, so there was room to dry it flat inside...which took awhile!  I dont normally wash quilts after I finish them, 

but this one needed to be, as a fellow quilter, got stabbed with a pin in the pinning process and a drop of blood ended up on the inner border.  

I waited until I had finished the quilting and binding, then  I gave it a rub with Sard soap in cold water on the affected spot and it came out no worries, phew!  Then I machine washed the whole quilt - on a gentle wool wash cycle, with a wool detergent.  Thats how I always wash my quilts and I put these washing instructions on my labels....do you including washing instructions when you give away a quilt?

Another Aussie Hero quilt, finished and in the post to a serving soldier.  I started this top last year when we lived in Adelaide.  Most of it was pieced with the other ladies I meet, who also made quilts for Aussie Hero quilts and lived near me.  It brings back fond memories.  I found it recently and realised it was 75% done, only had to make a couple of extra blocks - it had gone into a box because I needed a non directional Aussie theme print - the kangaroo paw flowers saved the day!  I like the way the different greens make it sparkle a bit, as the darker animal fabrics are a bit dull, still I like them.  And the Spotlight bargain platypus fabric made a great backing fabric, so I think I covered Australiana as a theme quite well!

Happy quilting, Sue.

Two tops ready for pinning

One cot panel and a few minutes between domestic chores to stitch on borders.

Equal one charity quilt top ready to be pinned.  Its not very big, approx 38"x40" but I had the perfect snuggly fox themed flannel for a backing and some wadding left overs to fit.

 This is my next Aussie Hero Quilt top.  I had to piece the backing (platypus fabric, bargain priced at Spotlight, so appropriate for this quilt) so I could pin it.  But alas its too big to have any left over wadding in my cupboard, so its down to the shop to buy some more before I can start pinning.  Some days I do wonder if I shouldn't buy a whole roll of batting!  But then other days I curse the left over pieces of wadding taking up a box in the linen press and Im glad I dont have a whole roll to house!
Happy quilting, Sue.

Green and Gold

Its the last weekend in May and the last chance for green blocks in the Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.

 I found these blocks yesterday, when I was looking for borders for something else.  Its not a good sign when you find a UFO that you had forgotten about!  So I set about to sew the unfinished blocks and then sew it all together.  Now I am back to looking for border fabric!  This quilt is for Aussie Hero's, hence the Australian animals and green and gold combination.

Happy quilting, Sue.

Go the mighty Hawks

I hadn't made a Aussie Hero Quilt for a long time (busy buying, selling, moving house!) but now I am settled and the kids are back at school I decided it was time to get back to work!

When the request list came out, one chap nominated his preferred theme as the AFL (Australian Football League)  team, Hawthorn Hawks.

I have only made one laundry bag before and I struggled with it.  But this one was whipped up in no time.  In hindsight I wish I had used gold on top, but I will remember for next time.  

 I made the quilt top in an afternoon...not hard to sew big strips together!  The words were quick too.  But it was a bit boring!

 My patchwork group have purchased a Brother Scan and Cut.  It was put to work....not by me, but Barbara kindly operated it for me.  I must say it does impressive work but for a little machine it was very complicated to use.  I have since satin stitched the design down, so it will survive a trip or six through a commercial washing machine.  

Because I hadn't planned this quilt in advance to have a logo, it got appliqued on sideways like the words.  A bit of simple quilting and I was done!

.Mr 8 has put in a request for one.  DH's comment was "Wow"...that is the nicest thing he has ever said about any of my quilts!  Did I mention I live in a house with three Hawthorn supporters?  That is the real reason we had to move back to Victoria....Mr 6 was talking about changing alliances and supporting an Adelaide based footy team...DH was not having it!!
Happy quilting, Sue.

I stuck to the plan, Stan!

Having a short term goal to achieve really worked for me over the weekend and a few nights after work this week.
I have stayed focused.  I have the slow burning desire to start a new project, but I haven't, cos I need to finish these ones first!

The Bittersweet Briar wall hanging now has all the leaves and stems machine appliqued down, plus a few berries and flowers.  The two big flowers are still pinned.  I am stumped on the colour for the fourth flower....still tempted to buy more fabric!  How did I ever develop this addiction for fabric?  Sew glad there is no cure!

The two cot quilts have binding machine stitched one, and hand sewing half done.  I will take photos when I can get some better light, so they don't look gloomy like this one!

This is my finished Scrappy Four Patch quilt, label and binding all done.  I have to make a laundry bag and then it is ready to send to a Aussie Hero serving in our defence forces overseas.  Not the best photo, but it was not outside weather.  Do you like our rocking horse?   My father made him for our boys, a very special gift, made with love.  The kids come in to see me when I am hand stitching in the lounge, and ride the horse while they are telling me something about their day...or dobbing on their sibling....or asking for a snack!

Happy quilting Sue SA

I have a plan to put into action

Lots of excuses for my blogging slow down; computers/Internet that would not co-operate, visitors, boys birthday parties and generally life gets busy!  So with school holidays coming up, additional days of paid work, more visitors and a road trip to fit into the next three weeks, I need to fit some sewing in this weekend!  And I need to make some finishing progress on some projects, so I can pack up the sewing room for the visitors due next weekend.  So I have set myself some goals.

 I have been steadily making this wall hanging.  I had not progressed enough to take a picture before now.  The applique is all by machine, using a technique that is new to me.  I am loving the speed, but having my head down staring at tiny zig zag stitches gives me a neck and headache.  So I had taken a break.  Also I needed time to decide on flower colours.  My decisions have been hindered by a lack of colour choice.  More fabric has been purchased, but still doesn't excite me.   I am thinking more fabric purchases are likely to be justified ; )  However this weekend I am going to try and stitch down the vines (they are just basted at present) and as many of the leaves as I can.

 In a moment of sunshine last week I rushed outdoors to spray baste a couple of cot quilts.  It was windy.  I ran out of basting spray.  I then had to wait until the kids were at school and I could clear off the kitchen table (of its Lego constructions) and pin baste the second last cot quilt.  The last kids quilt is too big to be a cot quilt and too big for my table.  The likelihood of the floor been cleared and clean this weekend is remote.

This is my second Aussie Hero's quilt made from scrappy four patches.  My friend Elaine basted it for me with her long arm and returned it to me yesterday.  The basting has made the quilting infinitely easier for me...remember it was a bit wavy on the ends?  So the plan is to finish quilting this quilt and two cot quilts.  Getting binding attached on all three would be ideal, but perhaps too optimistic.  I would like binding on one, so I have some hand stitching to do in the evenings this week. 

 So that's the plan Stan.  We will see how it goes! 

Happy quilting, Sue SA.