KEEPING UP................THE BLOG !

PORT MACQUARIE
RAINFOREST CAFE

Hello there!

Yes, it's me ......  really!     Gee whizz! I last blogged in January.....where did February,March,April and May go???

Let's get up to date......

FMQ ing ON MY
SWEET SIXTEEN

STITCHING IN THE DITCH
ON MY PQ1500

My current project is the Teddy Bears Picnic quilt.... I'm up to the machine FMQing, having already stitched in the ditch on my Brother PQ1500...  The pattern "The Teddy Bears Picnic" is by Toni Alexander of The Red Boot Quilt Company. I've changed the sashing - I love using partial pieced sashing as you can cut it all the same length.  I cut the sashing for this quilt on my GO CUTTER using the 2-1/2" strip die... I had a layer cake of bright plain fabrics so my sashing is 2-1/2" wide and 10" long.  I cut the applique blocks back to 8" square.  The formula for partial piecing is block size (8") plus width of sashing (2-1/2") less 1/2".

 I'm playing with a new gadget too! I bought the VersaTool ruler  and I'm using it to go around the applique shapes.... so far so good!

By Air By Rail By Sea
Pattern by Heathers Designs
Patchwork at the Bay Window

At long last I finished my By Air By Rail By Sea quilt!  I've been doing the machine blanket stitch on this project since 2014!!!!!

Fun backing

My Brother Rob and I gifted the quilt to Amos when the family were visiting recently.   Smiles all round!  I quilted this one on my Sweet Sixteen with Aurifil 80wt thread.  This required altering the top tension to almost zero! but once I worked that out the quilting went well,  I even had a go at doing artistic shapes!   I put two planes in the sky on the by rail row and seagulls in the by sea row.  Lots of clouds all over and some trees on the rail row.  Lots of fun and a good way to learn more about my Sweet Sixteen. 

Hubby was overseas on holidays during April so I went to visit my sister in Port Macquarie..  I had made her this quilt but did not get it finished in time to take it with me but just today I've posted the parcel!  I loved making this one..... I collected shirts from Op Shops - small print cottons and I backed it with a vintage sheet. Pattern is Fat Quarter Slide   Vintage sheets and shirts make such lovely and soft quilts.  I learnt a lot making this one... for instance I've never been successful in adding the pieced border, in this case the tumbler border.  I've finally worked it out!  you construct the pieced border first, then measure it and then that is the figure you need to work out the size of the filler border between the quilt top and the pieced border!

Fat Quarter Slide

Once the Air, Rail, Sea quilt came off the sewing machine, I decided to try another machine applique pattern - this one is Citrus Sizzler.  I'm using zig zag stitch with Konfetti thread in needle and bottom line in bobbin.

        

Another current project
Citrus Sizzler

Zoe Zebra is finished!  I took the finished quilt to show my friends in "Frame Quilters" group and ask about how to quilt the four cornerstones and also if the quilt needed any further quilting.   They suggested a flower like the one in the quilt top for the cornerstones so I copied the flower and reduced it by 50% and then made a freezer paper template to use for the FMQing.   They suggested the purple flowers needed something so I did more quilting in those too.  I need to get a better photo of the finished quilt.

 

I bought a new gadget for my vintage sewing machine...... a Pinker! it attaches to the sewing machine where the foot screws on.  You either remove or unthread the needle.  To have a play I pinked the edges of the join on the backing of the Air Rail Sea quilt. Click here to see the gadget in action on the Featherweight Schoolhouse site.  What fun!!!  Takes me back to when mum made little fabric covers for jam jars !  we always pinked the edges!

Quite a few years ago I bought the Curve Master foot, so lately I've been having a play.  I attached it to my Featherweight. 

The Car Quilt I'm making for my ODIBAG stash is waiting for backing and quilting. 

We visited Esk for another Antiques Fair and on the way we stopped at Wivenhoe Dam for coffee, just lovely!

I've been playing with curved piecing too!

My car quilt almost finished
this one for my ODIBAG stash

During hubby's holiday I was in charge of feeding the Kookaburras!
This is what I woke up to one morning!!

Another Siggy for my collection

Wivenhoe Dam

Enjoyed a few days of r & r at our
Unit on the Gold Coast

New Easter shirts

The view from our balcony on the Gold Coast

PLANES, TRAINS...... AND AUTOMOBILES !

IN PREPARING MY MOST RECENT BLOG POST I FOUND THIS POST THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN TO PUBLISH!!!   SO HERE IS ANOTHER CATCH UP, IT WAS ORIGINALLY PREPARED AUGUST 1ST.  OH WELL, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.......

Hello!

August 1st already !   I've been working on a lot of different projects since my Post last month.  My sewing room is becoming quite crowded with each of my machines busy with something :-)  

I've also added to my machine collection with a gorgeous Miniature Sewing Machine by Essex.

New tee shirt for Amos 

and of course ..... one for Maisy

I joined along with the rest of the crowd..... Garlic Knot block,.......Bonnie Hunter started it!!! and now we're all making them !

I turned my Garlic Knot block in to a mini hanger - I've had the table stand for years!

and here's the back.... I keep thinking I have used up every last scrap of the sewing themed fabrics!

Reading Pillow for a little friend - he loves Ninja Turtles !

A new addition to my sewing corner..... a gorgeous Miniature Sewing Machine by Essex

Isn't she just the cutest thing?!?!

A vintage doily tote bag for a gift

Inside the tote bag.... retro '50s fabric

Apart from the hand stitching between the carriages, the train row is now done!  This is my machine blanket stitch project, I'm now working on the "by air" row.

Car quilt, gifted to our neighbour's grandson

My "Boats on the Open Sea" quilt for my ODIBAG stash
(one day I'll be a Grandmother)

I love making this quilt!

Pinwheel blocks, made a very weird way! for the "By Air, By Rail, By Sea" quilt
place two squares together, sew all the way around using 1/4" seam and then cut apart on both diagonals which gives you four HST's to make the pinwheel units.

Puppy Dog tee shirt

The "By Air" row all ironed on ready to stitch

Pillow Bed - this was fun to make!

Great for watching tele or reading

Cheers!

A NEW SIGGY BLOCK FOR MY COLLECTION

THANK YOU RIEK HENDRIKS

Hello !

I had a lovely surprise envelope in my letterbox this week.... a lovely Siggy Block from Riek Hendriks from the Netherlands.  Thank you Riek, your block is a lovely addition to my collection.

So what is new in Aunty Henny's world?    I guess the most exciting thing is my new HQ Sweet Sixteen quilting machine and table.  I purchased it at the recent Craft Show and just had it delivered this past week.

Unfortunately I am unable to have a play with my new machine as I have a slight fracture in my left wrist and I'm wearing a splint but maybe one more week will see the splint off and then I can sew!

I had finished most of my Christmas sewing prior to hurting the wrist.  Our local Spotlight had a new range of Aussie Xmas fabrics in stock so I did up a few items....

Yes, sewing with a splint!! 

I have been working away on the hand sewing for a Car Quilt to add to my ODIBAG stash (One day I'll be a grandmother) :-)   The fractured wrist did hold me back for a week or two but I'm back at it now.  

ODIBAG Car Quilt

I spent a few days in September school holidays with my Nieces, Sister, Great Nieces and Nephews.  We booked two units at Bribie Island so we could also visit with my Sister Sue.  We had a fantastic week.  I made a treasure collecting bag for the little ones to take to the beach ...

NOTHING FANCY BUT THE KIDS LOVED IT

Our little Maisy found a bag she desperately wanted in a toy shop but I told her I would make her a special bag.  I asked what fabric should I use and the answer was..... Unicorns, princesses and rainbows.... we promptly went online and found the fabric, ordered it there and then and it arrived the day I returned home from the little holiday.  I made a Ballerina Bag which was very well received.

Front of Ballerina Bag for Maisy

and the back.

Two of my Nieces were in Melbourne recently and found a little gift for me.....  thanks girls, I love it!

I already had the little tricket box on the left... now I have a cute little treadle!

Many moons ago I did the embroidery on these Elephant blocks.  They've been sitting in a box just waiting for the day to be made into a quilt.  Well, that day finally came and I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I have it all ready to quilt on my new machine :-)

ELEPHANT QUILT

FOUND THE PERFECT BACKING IN MY STASH

MY CIVIL WAR QUILT ALSO HAS ITS BORDERS, ANOTHER ONE READY TO QUILT!

Our neighbour's daughter had a new baby girl, so of course....  a little Pram quilt!  basically two fat quarters with cotton wadding in between and quilted on my Featherweight 222K.

A QUICK LITTLE PRAM QUILT FOR A NEW BABY

So as you can see, I have been sewing and keeping busy.  If only this wrist would heal quickly I would be sewing on my new Sweet Sixteen !   Oh well, not too long now!

Happy Sewing!!

Cheers from Helen