February False starts and flimsys

February saw me starting a project I have had brewing in my brain for a while and decided I would make it because I wanted it.

No deadline or intended recipient, it would be mine.

A few years ago, I had participated in a red & white fabric swap hosted by Karen Griska of Sew Many Ways.  (I've just checked Karen's blog and it was 2011 - oh my goodness).

Anyway, I finally designed a quilt to use these gorgeous red & whites. 

 This was my design

 I sewed a million 1/2 square triangles and started to join the centre star.

 I love it.

I kept sewing and it grew.  It is gorgeous.

 The large centre star

 Pretty photos from another angle.

 Then something interrupted me and I stopped.  I was only stopping for a few days, but it would appear time got away.

Next update soon.

Debra

The waves are rolling in....

March 9 & 10 saw me holed up in the Roma Patchwork room attending a workshop with Julie Latcham of Cow Paddocks Patchwork Dulacca.

"All the Wave" was the order of the weekend.  Now for those of you that have been blogging with me for a while, you may recall I went to Injune to do this workshop a few years ago.  Well - I never quite finished it, so I thought another weekend would mean I have a quilt top (or something) to work with.

  {I have just gone through by blog history and this workshop was PRE-BLOG wow 4 years did seem to go fast.}

Now after trolling through the photos on my external hard drive, these are the only photos I can find of my progress from that weekend.

Here I have loose blocks in a possible layout

 and the group shot of the 'brave Injune ladies'

 Now Fast Forward to earlier this month.  I had made a bit more progress in the last 4 years (all off this is joined)

 A fellow 'wavy soul' Leanne, wondering why she had let me talk her into this.

(Nice shirt Leanne - great quilt design in that shirt)

 and Vera our quiet achiever of the weekend

This photo of Melanie's beautiful Batik blocks really shows the WAVE in the seams.  Cool hey?

 At the end of 2 long days, this is what we had to show for ourselves.

Cecily's blocks take on a completely different look depending on which way they are held - cool - it is a bit like a path

 Leanne's sunflower garden is almost creating a spiral effect

Melanies Beautiful under the sea batiks.

 

Vera our quiet achiever and her lovely flower garden

Me and the 4 year challenge

 A full length

 And all of us with Julie (front right) our tutor.

 

Thanks for a great weekend ladies.  

I learnt a lot, 

I laughed a lot 

and 

I finished my quilt top.  

WAAAAHOOO!!!

March is marching 2x2 hurrah, hurrah... March is marching...

My last post of work was in February and I posted "Has anyone seen February?"  I almost wanted to write that for March.  Wow the days are marching by aren't they?

I have been busy- ish.

First up, we had a young friend who turned 5 in early March and we had purchased a Pegasus toy for her, so I decided to make her a pillow case inspired by the Pegasus.  I am assured she loves both the toy and the pillow. (Yeah - happy dance here)

 

Then a week later E (my youngest) was invited to a birthday party for a friend from school.  We had found a copy of the "Cars 2" Novel, so I drew (traced) a Mater pillow case for him too.  Young Charlie wanted to know if I drew it, I was so impressed, but I did tell him I had to trace as my drawing skills are not that great.

A bit more progress on the 'care quilt' mentioned in my last post.  

However it appears it is going to be an Aussie Hero Quilt instead.

 Now this next finish is one I am very proud of.  In my UFO box was a "Jelly Roll Race" quilt from a couple of years ago,  that I just needed to quilt.  It has just sat..... and sat ..... and sat.

Until, Jan-Maree of Aussie Hero Quilts put out a request for quilts for Chaplains in Afghanistan.  The idea sprang to mind so fast I almost got a headache from the impact. 

 I thought I could applique an Australia with a cross on top of the Jelly roll race.

So I stitched black bias tape onto the quilt

 loaded it onto O-me and quilted

 And here it is

 I am so proud of this quilt.  I don't know why, it is really no different to any other Aussie Hero Quilt I have made, but it has a special place in my heart.  I hope it brings comfort to the Chaplain and his fellow soldiers.

Just a little shot of how I have spent at least 1 afternoon every week this month.  

Swimming lessons, a great time to embroider.

See you again soon.

I have a few more finishes (shock I know).

My Australia Day

I spent my Australia Day Sewing, sewing & sewing.

I started my day by quilting a Quilt for Aussie Hero Quilts & Laundry Bags

Here is a progress shot while on O-me (yes I was quilting - yes we had to get reacquainted)

 

That quilting line says "Thank You Aussie"

I bound this baby while at a pyjama party with UFO Crafters read about that here

And yes, proof that I was sewing.

 

The finished quilt

The photo doesn't really show it, but it is quilted with zig zag lines.

These 6 Laundry Bags were also finished this weekend, they are off to Aussie Heroes as well.

 And the super exciting part about it is, the quilt is one item off my UFO list (1 finish for Sew it is Finished)

And I have all 6 bags & I quilt for my OPAM list.

YEAH me!!

I did it!!!

Yeah, since my post earlier today, I have added the borders to my  "scattered tiles" quilt.

It is quite cute really.

I will have to take a closer photograph of the borders tomorrow.

I am quite excited.

Thanks for stopping by.

Debra

Progress and on my 'design floor'

 Well after craft on Tuesday night, I have made progress on my Layer Cake/Jelly roll Quilt.

I managed to border it and now it is in the 'to be quilted pile."

It nicely fits a Queen size bed and is very gender neutral.

 Even the purple is not too girly

 I love how I was able to use the 'stars' from my stash for the inner diamonds and border.

 I decided to go out to the clothes line for a full length shot - as you can see the wind decided to pick up and take my quilt for a spin.

 On the next lap around the clothes line, I managed to snap a picture of the quilt doing its best sail impersonation.  I have come around to liking this quilt.  It is not a masterpiece, but it is pleasant enough.

And on my 'design floor' is my Scattered Tiles Quilt from the workshop I did in March with Robyn Ginn.  I am determined to have this sewn together this afternoon - and then ponder borders and other embellishments etc.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Debra