Tidying up loose ends

I've spent the last week or so trying to tidy up some loose ends...ie...finish some projects before starting something new.
In my last post I was working on two test blocks I made for Juliet of Tartankiwi; a Scottie Dog and a Basset Hound. I was turning them into cushions and was up to quilting them and their backs.
I finished the Scottie Dog last week —

Can't see it? Here's a better shot —

The girls tested it out for me and decided it was fine!

It's fun playing at Ganma's!

Today I finished the Basset Hound —

As with the Scottie dog (in my *last post*) I had a good old time playing with different quilt designs for the front and back —

The flower and spiral design was inspired by Lori Kennedy's tutorial. I loved doing that one! (Quilting spirals on the stripes was extra challenging for the eyes!!) 

I really struggled with what to put in the border of the Basset, but the alternating squiggles ended up working really well.

Two fun backs :-)

And two fun finishes.

Another loose end I had to tidy up was to put buttons on Lily's cardigan.
Done, tried on and worn :-)

Rolling over to show us the back.

Well modelled I would say.

So yaay, another finish for the month :-)

I got a little distracted this week and 'whipped up' a tea towel.
Decorated some tea-towelling and hemmed it to make a tea towel, to be more accurate.
I used a washaway stabiliser for the first time and was very impressed with how easy it was to use. I traced the motif onto the stabiliser, peeled off the backing and stuck it onto the fabric, Stitch through it. Easy.

The stabiliser washes away.
The little motif is a Bird Brain design and I think he sewed up quite cute.

(Whoops I meant ot take a photo of the back to show how well I'd done keeping it neat; you'll just have to believe me with that one...!)

I'm cutting it rather fine for an end of month report but I'm nearly there, with less than an hour until the calendar turns over. I feel quite organised for once!
This weekend I'm off down to the Auckland Festival of Quilts Show. So I'd best get to bed so I can be up bright and early to pack my bags. I have one play day and one work day...it should be fun. And hopefully next post will be a report on the show :-)

'till next time,

happy stitches,