some updates

Here is one of the items I made on the retreat last weekend. It is an attempt at felt work  and while I like it ,there were more that were spectacular.

Here are some of the latest AHHH's from Tonya. I managed to  make the star one into the correct size so that makes me happy. The blue and yellow one was one I worked on at retreat.

This is the beautiful star block I received from Jane in the QBSA. I am in awe of her work. 

This is the quilt that I have made for my DS2's girlfriend who turns 18 tomorrow. I even quilted it myself so doing a happy dance there even though it isn't as good as it could be I tried and as she isn't a quilter I think she will like it. It was a pattern from Designs by Fee that I worked on last year.

plans for the weekend

This weekend I am off to a sewing retreat in Maldon with Kilmore Quilters and I am so looking forward to it. I have to get some sewing ready though so I have been madly cutting and sticking , using the window as a light box as mine wasn't big enough. I was lucky in getting a pattern from Marina and here is the dragon all ready to be stitched. DH's niece is expecting a baby in July so this is going to be the centre of a quilt for her baby boy. Lots of sewing but I think it will be worth it.

 Looks better in the flesh. I can see that the wings blend a bit with the background but they do stand out really. The pattern shows the wings embellished so I will do some fancy stitching on them when they are firmly stuck to the background. The tower also has a vine stitched up it so may do that as well.I am doing needleturn applique which is why it looks a bit messy and I have got pins in there as well cos I don't trust my glue!

I have also taken a photo of some more AHHH's.  I'm a bit lazy and didn't draw the star one  on the left out just followed Tonya's instructions and when it came to the outer cream triangles was a bit bemused as to why they were a bit big. I'm doing 3 inch ones and this was a 2.5 in one. That will teach me won't it? Hope you like them

The postie brought goodies

It's a dismal, wet, cold day here in Melbourne so I dropped DD2 off at uni and visited Spotlight... did I really need any more fabric? Actually only got two fat quarters for a block swap so didn't spend too much.
 I then posted some hexies off to my May partner and headed home. 3 letters in the mailbox and two for me.
The lovely Jane ( www.quiltjane.blogspot.com) had sent me 6 hexies to make up for some that have been MIA since July last year and the lovely Tonya( www.hillbillyhandiworks.blogspot.com) sent me a pack of needles that I won from her and some fabric that I can see in some AHHH's very soon. Thank you to both these gorgeous people for lifting my spirits.

20 and 21 AHHH

I have finally finished the last two of Tonya's AHHH's. No 20 was a bit uninspiring in two colours so my DD2 ( 21 yrs old) coloured it in for me in 5 colours. I think it looks pretty good but I , in hindsight, would have replaced the centre diamonds with the blue/lilac as the centre gets a bit lost. Having said that.... I ain't unpicking it or doing it again!!!

Will have to do a swift catch up of the next two as I am off to Perth, WA,on Friday, for a linedancing ball and week away so no internetand no crossWords. Yikes don't know what I will do with myself.

A quarter of Just takes 2

Here is a photo of the first quarter of the Just Takes 2 quilt that a few people are doing. Every two weeks some more patterns are posted on the site and if you are lucky you can get the blocks done before the next lot come out. Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane are the two sites to check out for the patterns and to see other peoples versions of this quilt.

So far it has been fun as there are lots of different techniques being used and some I have never done before so it is a real learning curve. So far I am very happy with the result and I might add that it is going to be a HUGE quilt. Maybe I'll just do each quarter and have 4 quilts! The slight crinkles are not bad sewing, just bad laying on the floor to photograph.

Tuesday's Treasure

On Feb 4th this year I was handed a box with a butterfly gift tag on it. As it was our wedding anniversary I thought that Hubby was giving me a gift for that. Then I realised that there were two boxes and tags the same. One for me , one for DH. When I opened mine the above pendant was in it. Tears welled when DH told me what it was. It's a bit hard to see and it is much prettier in real life but it is an impression of my son's thumbprint. As some know he passed away in November last year so you can imagine how much it means to me to have a small part of him close to my heart. DH got a dog tag shaped one as well. Thanks to my sisters-in-law ( and MIL) I carry part of Christopher with me.

Check out here to see more examples of Liv's beautiful work. Also check out the other TT at Mel's blog and have a great Tuesday. Sorry that my photography skills are non existent!

Two more of those AHHH's

I just finished putting the last stitches into the last two AHHH's and Tonya has another one up. Being dumb I can't work this one out but Tonya is going to post one in colour so I can see where I am going. I have been asked by some non sewing friends why I do them. My reply is I like the challenge!

I will post some pics later of the Just takes 2 blocks that I have just finished... a feathered star and Grandmother's compass, the latter being hand pieced. Yep nuts I know. The next set should be posted by Sentimental Stitches today.Hope they are easy.

I also have the last block of Just Plain Nuts sewn so on to the putting together. That could be a challenge!