Hello out there..... is anybody still there?

Hello anybody who is left reading this blog.

I have no idea where the last 5 months have gone.  Well I do but it is boring, mundane and possibly linked to joining Facebook.

I have not be idle however, just not posting anything.

This may be random, but it will be posted.  I apologies for sideways photos. They just happened that way.

A name for our home made from wool stencils, horseshoe and a timber slab

 progress on my Springtime Quilt

 Loving it.

 With full borders attached

 and a scrappy backing

 overnight bag

 bag 2

 bag 3

 a new key fob for me

 quilting on my 'cake mix' quilt

 3 key fobs for the school teachers for International Teacher's Day

 a horse key fob (1st for craft fair)

 quilting with the kids at school.  This is my E, it is his class who are quilting

 Brisbane Craft and Quilt Show with my Mum.  A did a fabric dyeing class

 Mum and I at the end of a long day.

 Fabric drying on the line

 Our local quilt show "Showing of the Quilts".  My completed Springtime was on show.

 another overnight bag

 more springtime quilt

And we had a 2 week school holiday trip down south, the usual school 'stuff'.  I will try to fill in some of the blanks soon, but I am still here.

"Springtime" Stitcheries Complete

Well, now.  Let me introduce you to blocks 8 & 9 of "Springtime".

I am very excited all my stitcheries are done for this quilt.  Now I get to start playing with the piecing and hopefully a finish won't be too far away.

This is block 8 "In A Twirl" (sitiched backwards by me) designed by Vicki Tueck of  The Pickledish Patch (formerly Tozz's Corner)  this cute twirl has a spider's web and spider hanging out in it.

 And block 9 is "Spring Has Sprung" by Fiona Ransley of Designs by Fee (formerly Mother's Cupboard).  I love the little rabbit in the front of this design.

 Now that is 9 stitcheries and 9 verses complete and one lovely label sent to me to put on the back of the quilt.  Now I just have to do that piecing.

I am really liking this quilt.

Springtime is getting closer.....

Oh yes it is.  He in Australia we are only 1 month off Spring and if you believe the locals here in Roma, we are in for an early spring.  I am not so sure about that as we are still having minus temperatures, but if that happens, it happens.

"Springtime" is getting closer in my house however as I have finished more blocks in my "Springtime" Quilt.

This is Block 4 "Honey Bees" designed by Judith Tetley of Creative Studio.  

I love this block as it is a 'real' bee hive.  Cecily one of my UFO Craft ladies 'grows' bees and said it is nice to see a hive like we use in Australia, not a curvy American bush bee hive.

 Block 5 designed by Elizabeth Reynolds (daughter of Jenny of Elefantz).  

I am particularly partial to this block as I have always had a thing for bird houses/cages.

 Block 6 "Catching the View" designed by Dawn Hay of As sweet as cinnamon. This block reminds me to relax. (I really should do something about putting a park bench into my front yard so I can sew while the kids ride.)

 Block 7 "Good Morning Butterfly" designed by Joy Coey of Joypatch. Doesn't that little caterpillar make you smile?

So 7 of 9 blocks are stitched and number 8 is well on it's way thanks to a 2 hour wait in the doctor's surgery on Wednesday.  Not much stitching to go and I will begin piecing.

To make my "Springtime" experience complete look what arrived in the mail the other week.

This is the lovely bespoke label promised by Vikki of Sew Useful Designs when I won the auction earlier this year.  Each of the Gumtree Designers  signed a block that Vikki stitched up into this lovely label.  It is so nice I told hubby that I should put it on the front of the quilt not the back.

 

Receiving this label was a little bittersweet as it is a sign of a time that was.  The Gumtree Designers (the group of ladies who designed this quilt) are no more. They disbanded earlier this year to go their own 'creative' ways. They are all still working and designing, just not together.  I feel really special to have received such a thoughtful piece.

And remember, I can feel it in the air, Springtime is on it's way.

More Springtime

Well I am so super excited, I have made more progress on my "Springtime" quilt stitcheries.  It is amazing how quickly they come together when all the prep work is done.

I have a block in my handbag with thread, scissors etc all ready to go.  It is surprising how many stitches you can complete in 5 minutes and how many people stop to ask what you are making.

This is block 2 called "Sunshine Frolic" and was designed by Cheryl Goss of Willowberry Designs

 Block 3 called "Sharing" by the lovely Vikki  Collumbine of Sew Useful Designs

 and the remaining 4 'verse' blocks that flow throughout the quilt.

Progress is great and I feel really good getting into the hand sewing, it is really relaxing and portable.

"Springtime" stitchery progress

You may recall back in February I blogged about winning these "Fresh Hope" Patterns in a flood relief auction.  These lovely stitchery designs are by a group of Australian Designers who call themselves the "Gum Tree Designers" and the pattern is called Springtime.

 Well after a few doctor's appointments, a State of Origin game on telly and waiting around in various places I have finished block one "Raindrops" by Jenny Reynolds of Jenny of Elefantz

There are 9 blocks in the quilt and each block is accompanied by a phrase.  Well a couple of nights watching TV and I have stitched 5 phrases.  I am really excited as to how my stitching is going.  It is really improving and being red work means the choice of thread colour is really easy.

So at least we have progress.  I have all the blocks traced off ready to stitch, so they will be ready for the waiting room at the hospital when my youngest goes to have his tonsils out.

Give me a cheer for progress  YEAH!!

I am so lucky

When I ventured to the mail box this week I found a very exciting parcel waiting for me.  It contained this beautiful card & wonderfully wrapped goodies from Vikki of Sew Useful Designs.

 

Inside were the wonderful goodies I won in the Flood relief raffle & Auction that I posted about here .

The travel sewing caddy complete with scissors & thread fits on the sun visor of the car so I can sew while driving (well being the passenger actually).  I will have to get P to photograph me stitching in the car. The wonderful patterns are the Springtime Block of the month that I won in the auction.  I can't wait to trace off the beautiful stitcheries and start stitching.

 

Many thanks again Vikki for your generous prizes.  

I LOVE THEM.

More good luck

As I mentioned in my last post, there were many craft blogs working to raise money for flood victims.  Well the wonderful Vikki from Sew Useful Designs decided to Auction a set of "Springtime" patterns by Gum Tree Designers for Fresh Hope Patterns.

(photo from Sew Useful Designs)

These lovely patterns are now winging their way to my house.  As an Auction, Vikki had asked that the winning bid be paid directly to the Premier's Flood appeal and the receipt sent to Vikki as proof.  So that is what happened.  I got the patterns I was going to buy any way and due to Vikki's generosity, the money went to the flood appeal.

I am excited and looking forward to beginning to stitch these "Springtime Designs".