Hello there!
I have been very quiet here and I can't say I've been sewing up a storm either. Life has been busy and I just haven't been sewing like I usually do.
My "Land Down Under" quilts are progressing... one by machine applique and the other by hand applique. I'm considering purchasing a new sewing machine soon..... I want a machine that has a presser bar knee lift option for my machine applique. As I'm getting older my arthritis in my fingers (especially my left hand) is making it increasingly difficult to do my hand stitching so I see much more machine applique in my future. My friend Joy (Joy of Quilting) recently posted about her machine applique using her machine with a knee lifter - click here to view the article. Since viewing this I have decided that is what I need!
Here are a few of my "Land Down Under" blocks I've been working on...........
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| Peter Possum |
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| My Spike the Kookaburra |
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| Simpson the Dingo |
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| A little girl Koala |
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| Rex the Echidna |
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| Skippy the Kangaroo |
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| Building the rows |
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I did an extra Dingo block and made a gift for the
staff at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - their
resident dingo Simpson recently passed away and I just happened
to be sewing my
Dingo block.
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My time has been taken up of late running a School Past Students Facebook Page. We held our first Get-Together in March (at Lone Pine) which was lots of fun. Sadly it poured rain the day before so our numbers were down but it was a good start.
I've been doing a few tee shirts (some by machine, some by hand)......
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| Cheeky monkey |
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| Wobbly jelly fish |
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| Machine applique tee shirts |
I'm in the middle of making two pillowcases.... one done and one to go! I love the "Burrito" method for making these... so fast!
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| Sewing on my Featherweight 222K |
Hubby took himself away on a holiday in April so I enjoyed some lounge room sewing ! I was in the middle of cleaning up my sewing room (a task still awaiting completion!!) when I found my bag of scraps from making the Op Shop shirts quilts so I immediately tipped it all out and started cutting and piecing - the pattern is a modified Arkansas Crossroads made wonky - no matching up of anything! really fast piecing which was fun as I watched all of my favourite television shows.
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| Close up of block |
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| Adding borders |
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| Pieced a backing out of leftover squares and blocks |
Something new to sew! Jar grippers! These are so quick to make and they are so useful! I found the idea here at The Happiest Camper Homestead page. I did not add a magnet but may do for future versions I make.
I recently started using these needles and I really like them. I'm using them at the moment in my Brother Quilters Edition doing machine applique and they just stitch so beautifully.
They are chrome plated and I have found they are fantastic for my machine applique through fusible webbing. No sticking, no skipped stitches! and they last a long time!
They are chrome plated and I have found they are fantastic for my machine applique through fusible webbing. No sticking, no skipped stitches! and they last a long time!
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| Machine applique on my Brother Quilters Edition (Greg Peck looking on!) |
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| A Winter sky in Brisbane |
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| Yes.... that's me! Grade 1 in 1961 |
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| I was asked what my home looked like...... so I went down on the tennis court and took this photo |
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ReplyDeleteEven though you have been busy organising a school reunion your still have lots to show.
ReplyDeleteLoving all your Down Under Blocks ..Also all the other projects.
The Chrome needles look interesting, I've never seen them ??
A magnificent home you live in Helen.
Hi Helen wow you make the most beautiful projects ,I love your blocks and your home is amazing,so good to catch up with you .
ReplyDeleteI have a new blog now and I am travelling at the moment and will be back at the end of the month lol and we have Internet at this caravan park.
I am also your newest follower and hope you will visit and follow me too,take care my friend Shez xx