A JANUARY FLIMSY & SOMETHING FOR BUB

A long time ago in a sewing room far far away.......     well, not that far away really - it's just down the end of the hallway!

I started THIS quilt.  and then I didn't touch it until last weekend and now it looks like THIS!.....

KEEP MOVIN' -  DESIGNER:  KAREN DUMONT (click HERE)
PATTERN PUBLISHED:  QUICK QUILTS   SUMMER 2010

yep.. it's only January and I've already got a flimsy to show off!!    Our friends' little grandson turned two recently, so this one will be for him.  I made the Brights Baby Quilt for him in 2010 .......

I forgot to show you something else I made for the little baby due in February (my Niece Lauren's first)...

I purchased a wash bag which already had a pink zip! and
then I added the ribbon and the fabric trim!  too easy!

Lauren was really pleased with it and said it was such
a great idea....   but I can't claim it as my own...
THANK YOU... NOODLEHEAD (click HERE)  honestly, that
girl must never sleep... her blog always has such great ideas, tutorials
and patterns!

Love this baby fabric - so retro!

It feels good to have something ticked off my "to do" list!   Now, where are all those other PHD's lurking??????

Happy Sewing,
Helen

BRIGHTS BABY QUILT - QUILTING GALLERY WEEKLY CONTEST - VOTING NOW OPEN!

BRIGHTS BABY QUILT

HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE'S MADE USING THE WONDER CUT RULER

I MADE THIS QUILT FOR A FRIEND'S BABY.  APPARENTLY BABIES CAN SEE VERY BRIGHT COLOURS AND BLACK / WHITE.

Hi everyone!

I have entered my BRIGHTS BABY QUILT in this weeks WEEKLY THEMED CONTEST at Quilting Gallery.  

Voting is now open!

Thanks!!!

I decided to make a List-taker to go with the Market Bag!

Inside List-taker - Aussie pen and notebook

List-taker Pattern by Jennifer Casa JChandmade.typepad.com

MH and I went to visit with friends today.  I have given their two little girls quilts ... today they sent me this photo...

Brights Baby Quilt

Happy Sewing!

FAST INTERNET RETURNS!! NOW, WHERE WAS I?

Disappearing 9 patch - oh dear, where to begin!! I decided to have a go at quilting this one with a new thread purchased at a craft show last year. It was 12wt, very thick! Not a good idea!! I also decided to have a go at quilting a "sort of flower" - it appears that I can only do a three petal flower!! Anyway.... the thread kept breaking, shredding and generally I had a terrible time with it which eventually mucked up the tension on my machine (which you have already heard about!). There are starts and stops all over this quilt, something I usually don't do (I like to start in one corner and finish at the other, no stops, joins or anything!!!)

I finished the quilting with my smaller Brother machine which had no trouble with the thread but I might add that I did move up to a much larger needle (100/16).

So.... lessons learnt on this project -

1. Thread this thick (12wt) really needs the big eye needle

2. You have to quilt quite slowly with this thread too - something I don't like to do - I usually go like mad!

3. In the end, it is after all "just a quilt" and now that I look at it (and I am using it) I really don't notice all those yucky bits!!

O.K. now to backtrack just a bit.....

Brights Baby Quilt # 2 .....you may recall that I reported that there was a lesson in this one too!! Well, when attaching the binding I decided to try something different!

Many of you who read my blog will know that I usually do the binding on children's quilts totally by machine using a 4" width of cut binding, well that's O.K...... I did that but decided that I would really like the binding to be wider on the front of the quilt as well as the back .... now, how to achieve that? -- without losing any of the border width? I always do a line of tacking all the way around my quilt prior to attaching the binding and then trim the quilt batting and backing even with the quilt top.... this time I decided to leave a 1/4" of batting and backing extending past the quilt top. Now, this is fine if I had only remembered about it when I was folding and turning for my mitered corners. Instead of taking the fold right up to the top of the quilt wadding/backing, I folded and turned at the quilt front top edge (force of habit!) which unfortunately made turning over to the back a real headache!!! Took me ages of looking at the darn thing before I realised what I had done --- now, as there are only four corners to a quilt, I decided that it would have to stay this way and see what happens! I washed the finished quilt and dried it in the dryer and now it has nice "rounded" corners - quite acceptable and actually they really suit the quilt!

This is a rough sample I made today, to show you what I mean!

Corners after washing and drying - looks o.k. now!

So, that's the catch up news!

Our internet came back "up to speed" on Thursday, but I've been down with a cold for a few days, that's why I'm a tad late getting this post done!

The flannel Peter Rabbit quilt is just about finished (photo soon) .... I'm just hand sewing the corners down now (binding once again done all by machine).

Looks like we might be getting some rain tomorrow..... how lovely--- a cool, damp day .... just perfect to stay home and SEW!

Happy Sewing!

WEDNESDAY WEIGH IN

I sent out my email yesterday.... no weight loss but some inches lost from waist, hips, thighs and tummy..... so I'm happy with that! Oh okay, it was 2" off each measurement! I thought I saw a waistline in there!!

Thanks to a certain teenager who lives in our home (hmmm, who could that be?) we are on a slow speed with our internet! I cannot believe he did it, but our son used almost all of our allowance in one day!!! So, if I'm a little quiet on the posting front, it's because everything takes soooooo loooooong to load!

I finished the binding on the Brights Baby Quilt #2..... and there is a lesson with this one too! I'll tell you about it later! It involves NEVER CHANGING how you do something if there is nothing wrong with the way you do it!!!!!

Happy Sewing!

SEWING REPORT

Quilting the Brights Baby Quilt

Where is all the "stuff" which is usually on my sewing table you ask??????

Over on the ironing board of course!!!!

Quilting now finished, just putting the binding on this one and it will be a finish for July!

As I had so much material left over from the first set of teddies, I'm building another set! This time with a yellow check background.

Here's a sneak peek at my version of Flea Market Boxes - not in any particular order, just the blocks I have completed so far.

Today we have woken up to quite a cold day, so I'm planning to spend most of the day in the sewing room. This is, of course, after we have been out for coffee - thank goodness I have more teddy blocks and siggy blocks to embroider!

Happy Sewing!

PUT YOUR SUNGLASSES ON!!

Here is the second Brights Baby Quilt I'm making for our friends little grandson. My aim was to use up all of the bright fabrics leftover from the first quilt! I think I have achieved that!!! There are just enough scraps to eek out a binding, I think! I will need to purchase backing fabric.. will pop out tomorrow and see what I can find!

What else have I been up to???? (apart from entering competitions I hear you ask!!!)

I've joined the SEW-A-LONG with Kelly Rachel - click on the button at the bottom r/h side of page MAKE A BAG SEW-A-LONG... here is a pic of how far I've gone (I'm way behind on this project).

SIGGIES......... I received two lovely siggy blocks this past week, thank you Mia and Beth - you can see the siggies if you click on their names up on the r/h top under INTERNATIONAL SIGGY SWAP.

WEDNESDAY WEIGH IN....... I did not post about this last week but reported a small weight loss (2 pounds) but this week I was a good girl, went to the gym and weighed myself and I'm very happy to report another loss..... almost 3 pounds!!! I must add that MH and I have been extremely good this past week - trying very hard to stay away from snacks and "heavy" food!!

So, my goal now...... X - 14.5 pounds ---- woohoo!! Thank you Stephanie and all the team - without you guys I don't think I would be reporting any loss!!! You all keep me so motivated!!

After the gym we always go for coffee and I always have my hand sewing with me but today I didn't have a thing to take ---- I've finished all the hand work on the 5 Teddies (this will be the next top I put together). Anyways... I actually have enough of all the fabrics leftover from the first five teddies that I can make another quilt top so I'll be working on getting the teddy applique pieces ironed on tonight - it's always handy to have a spare quilt on hand and the teddies are just so cute!

The machine I quilt on had to go in for service, so I still have the D9P to finish quilting. I was almost done when the machine decided it did not like the thread I was using and basically the tension went crazy and the machine needed to go to the doctor! I have it back now but wanted to keep going on the Brights quilt, so the D9P had to wait. Lesson learned ----- it appears I should have had a net over the reel of thread I was using, it was 12wt - quite thick and was twisting itself as it came off the spool which then caused it to shred itself up at the needle! I really have so many starts and stops on the D9P, but it's been a good lesson!!!

O.K. time for a glass of wine!

Happy Sewing!

HELLO DOLLY!

I have made another Rag Doll - this one is for our darling little B.B. I also made the dolly a little quilt. Last week I needed a sample quilt to show how to do the machine method that I absolutely LOVE (link removed June 2012, site problems), so I put two fat quarters together with a scrap of wadding and voila.... one dolly quilt! Look who dropped in when I was taking the photos!! Our pet kookaburra.... I say pet, as he now comes every day and is very friendly. We only give him a very small morsel of meat, but he seems to be content to just sit out on the deck with us - MH reading the paper, me stitching and Spike (as we call him - he used to have spiky feathers on the top of his head) keeping an eye out for any birds that should not be near our property--according to him!!

Other sewing involves finally putting the borders on my disappearing nine patch quilt (boy is this quilt ever a UFO - from forever ago!!), piecing the blocks for another Brights Baby Quilt - using lessons learned from the first one..... especially pressing the seams OPEN! I'm using up all of the leftover fabrics from the first quilt and will set the blocks a little differently to the one I made for our friends Baby - at least the quilts won't be exactly the same! Photos soon!!

Happy Sewing!

SHE'S JUST A .... RAG DOLL, OH YES.. A RAG DOLL.......

This little doll is a design by Toni Alexander, it was published in Patchwork & Stitching Vol 10, No 11. I haven't made a doll for many years (last softie I made was the pig!) I'm so very happy with how she turned out!! Toni's pattern was very easy to follow and a great way to make a doll. All of the stuffing was done AFTER the doll was stitched and if you have ever made a doll or softie where the parts are stuffed before construction, you will know what I mean when I say Toni's method is just so much easier!!

Here she is all ready to go in the mail along with the Bright Baby Quilt. I meant to say in my last post about this quilt.... the pattern is from Fons & Porter's Easy Quilts magazine, Summer 2008. The designer is Linda Bowlin and the original name of the quilt was "Black & White and Fun All Over" Thanks Linda for such a fun pattern!

I'm making another one of these dolls for our darling little B.B.

Happy Sewing!!

LET THE PINNING BEGIN!!

Here I am, out on the verandah again!!! Pinning the Brights Baby Quilt. Today is quite overcast, rain coming perhaps, so I'll get this done quickly and try and get in some quilting in the afternoon. My plan is to ditch quilt across the centres and border, then meander all over the star blocks with white thread. The pieced border will get its quilting when I put the binding on - once again using the machine method here. I just LOVE doing the binding this way, especially for quilts which will be washed many times.

I'll be back later to show you a pic of the pinned quilt - the back will be quilted with black cotton and you will see why when I show you a picture!!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely day!

Happy Sewing!

BRIGHT BORDERS AND BABUSHKA DOLLS!

The borders are on the Brights Baby Quilt - it has turned out o.k. Next comes the quilting and binding.... wait until you see the backing fabric!!!

Mother's Day downunder is May 9th.. I've made up these coffee cup with coaster sets... I just adore the Babushka fabric! I can't believe I found this at Spotlight!! The craft group I belong to holds a "Mother's Day Sale" next Tuesday, so I thought these might be o.k. to sell on the day, and if they don't sell they will make nice gifts for friends. (yes 4 Friday friends - you just might receive one of these sets next Xmas!!!) In the photos you can see two are finished and two are in the process of being folded and stitched. I have four cups to make up four sets. I might also make some needle-cases and pincushions with the Babushka fabric.

Happy Sewing!

SPINNING STARS

Well, that's how I feel when I look at it!!! Although still "under the weather" I managed to get the rows joined today. I'll sort out some borders for it tomorrow. I've learnt a couple of things during the process of making this quilt..... I think all of the seams should be pressed open -- there is a lot of bulk at every join -- and I should have had three blocks of the same colour star, as the top would look more balanced ..... or I should have made more blocks with other fabrics.

My sister put on a lovely lunch today. Mum seemed to enjoy herself. One of our nephews came too, it was his 20th birthday today so my sister had done a cake for him... so all in all a very pleasant day.

Happy Sewing!

TOMORROW IS ANZAC DAY

Thinking of my Dad and all those who served......

Our Mum was also in the Navy. She turns 90 this July. We will spend time with her tomorrow, my big sister is doing a lunch.

This blog has the most beautiful poem, take a read, it's just so moving.

In my sewing world I have managed to piece the rows together of the Brights Baby Quilt. Tomorrow I will get the rows joined into a top, then decide about borders. I'm feeling a little better with my cold, but still a little in "blurry land". I took a photo of the rows with my computer...

I know, terrible pic, tomorrow once it's all pieced I will take a photo with the camera. Right now I'm ready for a glass of red and some tele!

Happy Sewing!

STILL SEWING AND SOME NEW SIGGIES

Hello there!

Still sewing the baby quilt. I've added a few new siggies to the side bar..... thanks Mary, Linda, Willie and Alessandra!!

Happy Sewing!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WISH ON A STAR?

Ah yes, the song titles keep coming!! as do the star blocks.........

Another two blocks done! There are now 20 blocks, I think that will be enough. I have plenty of fabric for the borders so will get onto those today. Will play around with the layout first, as no matter how closely you look, somehow it always happens that there are two blocks alike right next to each other!!!!

It's raining here today, lovely sewing weather. MH and I have already been to the gym, had coffee and sorted some paperwork here at home. I need to go to Bunnings Hardware (lawn grubs have invaded our grass) and Spotlight (need some 630 fusible pellon - I'm preparing to make another Farm Quilt!!) but after that I'll have the afternoon to sew.

Happy Sewing!

I'M SEEING STARS!!!!

My day's work!! These little stars are taking so long to put together, but I'm happy with the end result:-) This lot makes my total count 12, only 18 more to go:-(

Happy Sewing!

BRIGHT AND SHINY!

All goes well with the Brights baby quilt.... these are some of the blocks I have completed. I'm using my Wonder Cut ruler and I do think it makes the HST's much easier. These HST's are

2 1/2" and still require a little trimming but still it's much easier to make them this way than it would be using other methods.

I received two siggies before I went to the Gold Coast, thanks Marcel and Judy. If you click on their names in the side bar, you will see the Siggy!

AND AWAY WE GO.......

We have just returned home from a short break at the Gold Coast. The weather was lovely, we went swimming every morning and took long walks on the beach. I managed a little hand sewing when we went out for coffee (nothing unusual there!!) but basically just relaxed - very nice!!

My friends and I went to a Craft Show last week. As usual, many dollars were spent by yours truly but as I always say "I don't drink (much) and don't go out with wild men (married one)" so I'm allowed this one extravagance! Nothing too exciting to report, but I did buy a new ruler (I'm the ruler queen!!) - this one is for large tumblers - it's called FAT CATS by Darlene Zimmerman.

We have just received news from our friends that a new baby girl has come into their world, so I will have to get a wriggle on with the brights baby quilt. I have had this in the "to do" box for quite some time and now suddenly the little baby is here!! I'm using the Wonder-Cut Ruler to make the HST's so hopefully the quilt will go together quickly.

Happy Sewing AND H A P P Y E A S T E R !!!!