SEVEN

Block # 7 that is!   Here is my A4A #7 block...

# 7  Aiming For Accuracy quilt-along

Batik # 7

We were given a much easier block this week !  still Quarter Square Triangles involved but now we pretty much have those down pat!  especially with our wonderful ruler!

All sewn on my Singer 201K but the first block (blue/brown) was pieced using the recently purchased 1/4" foot and the Batik block was sewn using the old Singer foot with the screw on seam guide.

I had a few issues with my points on the blue/brown block but the Batik block went together perfectly first time!  I think I prefer the old foot and guide as it seems to be much easier to keep the scant 1/4" seam straight and I can see what I'm doing much better.  

I was going to make these blocks last night but the machine was sewing a bit weird so I oiled her and cleaned out the shuttle area and then let her soak everything up overnight.  Today she was sewing like a dream!  These old machines require fairly frequent oiling, something I will have to remember!

I tried out the Coles Iron-Aid (not starch)  today - using it instead of Crisp - and I think I prefer it.  I sprayed the fabrics prior to cutting and then again when I was joining the units and then again at the end once the block was made.  My blocks did not finish up all stiff like they have been when I used Crisp.  I'll be adding a bottle of Best Press (like they use in the U.S.A.) to my Craft Show shopping list as I really want to try it.  It goes without saying that all of June Tailor's rulers will also be on that list :-)

Other sewing ....    I managed to get all of the rows together for the baby quilt I'm making, now adding the borders.  The Aussie Log Cabin has its first border on, just waiting on the last border.

Suddenly our Winter has disappeared and it feels like Summer!  quite hot today and same expected for tomorrow so Fred and I will head off down to the Gold Coast for a swim and a coffee:-)   and don't think there will be no sewing for me tomorrow....... I always take my embroidery bag with me everywhere!

Happy Sewing!!

Helen

FABRICS USED IN THIS BLOCK:-

BROWN CONTRAST FABRIC -  "MONOCHROMATIX" BY PATRICK LOSE FOR ROBERT KAUFMAN

ORANGE - RAINFOREST COLLECTION BY  CORAL TREE FABRICS "SUMMER RAIN"

YELLOW -   PEBBLES YELLOW, BROOK BY CP DESIGNS FOR STUDIOFABRICS.COM

BLUE/BROWN/MUSTARD SWIRL - NANCY MIMS FOR MODGREENPOD   ROBERT KAUFMAN

Note: I'm not listing the Batik fabrics as most are unknown  (been in the stash for a very long time)

KEEP INSIDE THE LINES!

Like to make your own?   free tutorial at LBG Studio

I used up some leftover fabrics from the Toy Twist quilt
I made for our little Maisy plus some jungle fabric I must
have had for ages!

Hello!

The weather here in Brisbane has been so hot and humid again that sewing is the LAST thing one wants to do!!    but today I just had to get this little gift made as Fred and I are off to the little girls birthday party tomorrow!   I chose the Mini Colouring Caddy, a free tutorial at LBG Studio.   I had to make mine a little larger to take the books I had purchased and somewhere along the way I still did not make it quite wide enough!  anyway, I'm sure the little birthday girl will like it.  I have included Jumbo Crayons, suitable for Age 3 plus two great books which are beautifully printed and educational as well!

I'm afraid that no other sewing has been achieved lately although I did get some things made for the Mini Easter Sales Table my craft group had a couple of weeks ago, but didn't get any photos!  Plus, I made a new bag to take to the Stitches & Craft Show last Friday but that's another project yet to be photographed!

As we have the Easter long weekend stretching in front of us, surely I might get in to the sewing room and get something QUILTY done!!!   I have a few projects to choose from!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Helen

Latest news on Fred:.....  recently had a ct scan to check on everything and it's all good!! 
Latest news on Matt:.... got the all clear from the hospital regarding his brain injury and it appears he got 100% in his test this week at College. 

ONCE UPON A TIME.......

THERE WERE FIVE BEARS....

Okay, I know there were only three but in my story there are five!  okay?

and here is the first bear ...

THE BEARY BUNCH
Pattern by Toni Alexander
The Red Boot Quilt Company
link HERE
Poor little thing looks a bit washed out in this pic but in reality he is quite a bright bear!

I have previously made two of these quilts,  both in boy colours:-

This is the quilt I donated to Blair's Wish Foundation

I don't have a photo of the other quilt as it is only a flimsy at present, waiting to be quilted.

So who will be on the receiving end of this quilt you might just ask????     Our beautiful little Maisy of course!   Hey, I'm Aunty Hen and I can make as many quilts as I like for the little darling!  You may recall, Maisy already has three quilts from me (Royal Critters, Lullaby in the Night Sky and just lately the bright orange Toy Twist quilt -Hey Diddle Diddle) plus a stack of little pram quilts I whipped up in a hurry one day, terrible photo ..

Pram quilts (two fat quarters layered, quilted and bound-
great for practicing free motion quilting)

This quilt will be ready for Christmas I hope.

I tried something different with the Applique method this time - I used the "soft or window applique" technique.   This makes for a much softer feel to the applique therefore making it so much easier to blanket stitch the parts where there are lots of layers.  I cut the teddy head and body using the soft window method and I have found that it is certainly much easier to stitch through all of the layers.  It feels kind of strange holding the block as I stitch, as I am used to it feeling much firmer, but I'm getting used to it now.  A good test for this method was the eyes and nose of the teddy -  lots of layers but it was so easy to stitch without the fusible web being behind every piece.  I could have used the soft method on the muzzle too, might try that on the next bear I build.

UPDATE ON FRED:-          He started back on chemo last Monday (same as last time, plugged in for three days - wears the device home).  It seems to be having more of an effect on him this time but that's to be expected following a major surgery I guess.  He's feeling a little woozy and off colour.    The chemo will go on for 12 weeks so we will be having a low key Christmas.

Cheers for now,

Happy Sewing,

Helen

IT'S ALL ABOUT TWISTING!

Hello!

It's definitely time I did a catch up post...  little bits of sewing happening here in Aunty Henny land... 

First up is a 'Lil Twister mini quilt I made for my friends birthday back in September.  I love using the 'lil twister ruler, the finished quilt always looks much more complicated than it is:-)

'LIL TWISTER - GIFT FOR A FRIEND

Next up is another version of the Hey Diddle Diddle quilt, which I call my Toy Twist quilt.  This one is for my new great-niece Maisy who was born in February.  This one is larger than the first two I made, you can see those HERE.  The original pattern (by Karen DuMont of KariePatch Designs)  has the twist block in the middle of the quilt but I always leave that area clear so baby has somewhere to actually lie on the quilt!  

Once again I used a favourite binding method - the Wide Binding Method as seen HERE.  This "totally by machine method" is great for kids quilts - stands up to lots of washing and cuddling!

TOY TWIST QUILT FOR LITTLE MAISY

CLOSE UP OF TOY TWIST BLOCK

I USED MY FAVOURITE BINDING METHOD!

I never did show you a photo of the finished Lullaby in the Night Sky quilt I made for little Maisy.  It is such a BIG quilt!  I had fun with the free motion quilting  -  did some stars and fish scales and lots of "waves" in the ocean - so much fun and good practice for me!  I put a hanging sleeve on this one, so it can be hung on the wall until Maisy has a bed big enough for it:-)

Lullaby in the Night Sky
for Maisy

Currently on the go is a quilt for my Aunty Jean.  I recently moved sewing rooms (from a very small room into my son's old bedroom) and during the move I found a stash of fabric I must have had for YEARS........  I immediately starting cutting and piecing and now have a lovely big quilt almost ready to deliver.  I'm just hand sewing the binding down (yes, I do sometimes attach binding using the traditional method!)  Photo soon.

I'm loving my new sewing space....  it has a walk-in wardrobe which I managed to fill with no trouble! ....  room for my cutting/pinning table which used to be outside on my verandah and my Horn sewing cabinet plus two plastic fabric drawer units.  I put up a new black felt design wall (love it - the black felt works so well!).  I'm still setting everything up, but when it's done I will take some pics and show you how wonderful it all is!

Update on Fred.....     

All goes well!  Fred had the liver operation of October 18th, came home from hospital October 25th (yes, he is a good patient!) and is recovering really well.  He is improving each day.  Eating better now and back to light exercise (walking around our tennis court).  Another round of chemo begins in a week or two.  It will be the same as last time, every second Monday for three days.   This should finish around February 2013.  After that, he has to have scans and check-ups every year but the outlook is very positive!  

Thanks for all of your emails and prayers, I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends supporting me and of course Fred and yes, Matt too!  (Matt is still working, will commence back at college in February).


Oh dear....  this is a big post!  I had better get back to sorting the new sewing room!

Happy Sewing!!
Cheers from Helen

BABY PLAY MATS

Thought I should check in!  I have been busy in the sewing room with all manner of projects.....

I have just finished the second of the Baby Play Mats that I am making for my friend.  Both quilts are now washed and ready to deliver.  The twist blocks were quite easy to put together, but I did learn one thing.....  to cut the squares which make up the twist piece at least 1" larger than the square that the twist is attached to.  The pattern suggest 5-1/4" squares for the twist and 4-1/2" square for the base, but on the quilt with the red centre squares I made the twist squares 5-1/2"  and it did make it much easier to attach them.

The photos make the quilts look all crinkly, but in reality they are not!  It was quite windy outside when I took the photos:-)

So what else have I been up to???    Well, I have been very busy putting together my Christmas gifts for my stitching friends, but as they do read my blog..... I can't show you what I am making!!!   (Sorry girls! you will just have to wait until Friday)

My next project will be the Dolly Baskets for the little girls in my family.  I will use the same pattern that was used in the Quilted Basket Swap on the Quilting Gallery earlier this year.

Now to dig out all of that PINK fabric I bought to make the baskets.......

Happy Stitching!!

BABY TWIST

Close up of the "twist block"

Baby size "Hey Diddle Diddle" floor quilt

I was asked by a friend if I would make two baby quilts for her.  Usually I decline, as I have enough of my own quilts to be busy with.... but as I wanted to make the "Hey Diddle Diddle" floor quilt for my Niece who is expecting in February, I thought that I would do a test run on the "twist" block in this pattern.  It's a bit tricky working with this block and now that I've made four of them and pieced them into this little top, I will be making a few changes to the next quilt I make with this twist block.  This Pattern is from Quilt Almanac 2011,  designed by:  Karen DuMont of KariePatch Designs.  As my friend needs two quilts, I will make another one using different fabrics and see how my twist blocks turn out.   My baby size version of this quilt is much smaller than the one in the pattern.  I thought this size would be great to use as a change mat and play mat and by making it this size, it will fit into the nappy bag with no trouble!

I worked on this quilt over the weekend.......  gave myself a few days off on the Civil War quilt but will get back into it soon as I still have a couple of blocks to make to catch up.

My son returned to school today (I know, you can hear the loud screams of delight and applause from where you live!!!)... only seven weeks of school left and it's all over for me at least...  he will, of course, continue with study at Uni or College (fingers crossed!).  

This coming Wednesday my friends and I are going on a bus trip to some quilt shops on the Bayside of Brisbane....  might just have to make a new handbag to take along.....

Happy Sewing!!

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