EQ7 and warm things....

One of my goals for this year was to become more familiar with EQ7 and use it more. I have been 'pulling it out' from time to time, using it for the odd block here and there but was delighted and excited when the EQ7 blog site (Behind The Mouse) said they were going to do a 'summer drawing series'. And lucky me, I didn't have to wait to do it in summer - I could do it now, in winter!! (hehe).
At the start of each month they post a lesson, showing how to draw a particular block. We have the month to do the lesson, draw the block and then sew it up. At the end of each month is show and tell.
Here is this month's block (Block 2), drawn using the Patchdraw function. It was foundation pieced.

I absolutely love this block!! Now I am thinking to myself, what would a whole quilt with this block look like?! I can see (one day) I will be back to EQ7 to have a play and see what else I can do with it!
Last month's block was drawn using Easydraw. I had it done in time to do a photo link up but not write a post with it in.

Think I will change that centre square but you get the idea.

I like how both blocks have used totally different skills and aspects of the programme.  I have resized my blocks to 9" rather than the 12" drawn in class. Mid-month there have been further mini lessons with variations of that month's block... I have saved these but not done them yet.
Those of you with EQ7, their blog really is a wealth of information, techniques and tips. I didn't really realise how good it was until recently.

For OPAM this month, I made sure I sat down and properly finished off the wrap/scarf I completed in the car recently.... yes, those wool ends were still waiting to be sewn in; without OPAM they possibly would still be waiting, but now it's done! (I have to update my list but I think I am up to anbout 5 finishes this month- woohoo).

Many of you who know me know I love to play.... I spent some time yesterday trying to get the 'perfect' shot of the wrap...
OK.... but a little boring....

 ....the shots of it artisticly draped around various objects were also a little undramatic... but I did like this picture of it around my neck - these uncontrollable curls come in handy sometimes!

I kept it on after the photo shoot... we've had
a few frosts lately!

One thing I like about blogging, is the accountability... I've said out loud I'm going to do something... so I had actually better do it! Following up on my intention to make some hottie covers at my sewing group the other night, yes, I did get some made for the Hottie project. Today they are popping themselves in the post and starting their journey to Christchurch. Good on Kerry too who took the pattern home and made the snuggly red ones.

So now it is time to get to the post office. Maybe a little sewing later on this evening.
Happy stitching,

Some nearly dones!

One of the things I like about sewing samples for my local and most wonderful (he he, yes, I am biased) quilt shop is the deadlines to get them done! None of this dip in and out of a project like I am good at....yes, I know, all quilts are sewn for different reasons, for me, a finish, is not always the reason!! (I just love DOING them!!) However when you know you need a sample for an approaching class, you know you really need to focus and finish....
This Buggy Barn quilt is one of those - ok, so it's not quite finished but it is nearly presentable for taking in so I am sharing it now :-)

'Big Dipper'

The Buggy Barn quilts are known for the slice-shuffle-sew process and I must say I really enjoyed how beautifully this one came together... and it is always exciting seeing which colour/fabric is next on the pile for sewing.
It was a challenge for me sewing without my customary cream fabrics in the quilt... but that was fun too!
Quilting was fairly basic, straight lines everywhere.

Cindy Needham advises us to ditch-stitch ESS (every single seam aka every sodding seam)... I had good intentions but with the walking foot I got very 'tired' of it so it was NESS (nearly every sodding seam) instead. I know ditch-stitching can be done with a darning foot but there's a thing called a skill level that needs to be a little higher than my current one!! Out of interest, how much stitch-ditching does everyone else do?

 Another nearly done but not really, is my piece for One Christmas Item a month... Narelle, of Pins and Whiskers is hosting this - a great way to encourage us to do a bit Chirstmas sewing throughout the year.  I have stalled on the thread for my ribbon, but I am sure it will be completed for next month's show and tell!!

This is a Nicky Tervo design, it has some cute
buttons to go with it.

Tonight I have a sewing session with some friends. I am taking the opportunity to sew up a couple (hopefully) of hottie covers for the Hottie Project, making hot water bottle covers for chilly children in Christchurch. The deadline to get them posted off is next week, and if there are any other NZers out there who have a spare hour or so, you may be able to help out by making one.  The link for the Hottie Project is here. Contact Lisa via the link to get a copy of the templates used.

Well, that's about it for now, I have a busy day today, so I will see you all later.
Have a great day, and thank you for visiting,

One of those days...

Ever had one of those days when you say to yourself, "I'll just do this quick bit of sewing before I do what I really should be doing"?? You know the reasoning, it tidies up the last of a sewing job, or a friendship block is made and can be mailed off...etc....etc
That was me this morning - an hour of indulgence before starting another chore.
Here are the results -

Beautiful hour glass blocks....

...except it was pinwheels that I really needed to make!! My brain slipped out of gear somewhere at the start of that exercise!!

Never mind, pinwheels (finally) done, then onto the next "little bit of sewing" before starting the chore....

Spot the error - brain out of gear AGAIN!!

Didn't take as long to fix this error!

These blocks are off to Erin, vesuviusmama, who will assemble them into quilts for people who have lost belongings and home due to Hurricane Sandy.
One of the exciting side benefits from making donation or gift blocks is the chance to try out new blocks. I'd never made one of these before (and hadn't been remotely interested in them!) but now I can see they are great blocks. I can see lots of potential in them - lots of fun. But because I still need to catch up and keep up, I'll put those ideas into my idea folder and shut the book - for now...!
Maybe those pinwheel blocks went wrong as I was too excited trying out my new little ruler from Friday's Quilt Show - one of those ones where you draw either side of the ruler to sew half square triangles. I think it helped to keep those seams more accurate.
Here it is with some other purchases that day-

Just a few bits, some William Morris fabric I quite liked and some quilting thread
to play with.

I finally did get to those 'chores' - just a bit later than I planned :-)
Happy creating everyone, thanks for stopping by,

(PS Does anyone need some hour glass blocks - I have some to spare!!)

My Town Quiltshop..and more....

This week I was pleased to finish my second block of the Homespun magazine BOM; The Quilt Shop.

Eager quilters waiting for their class to start



All quilt shops should have a bored husbands chair like this!!



I'm just loving these blocks - they are such fun 'pictures'. [To see more blocks check out the My Town blog - see the link on my sidebar.]
A while ago I showed a block I had done for the charity quilt our Round Robin group is doing. At our get together the other day, we just had to stitch the binding on....

Looking good!

Many hands make light work. Great team effort girls!

Last weekend we converted the horse stable/spare calf pen to a shearing quarters and got the flock in for shearing.

One down.....one to go....

Both girls free of their winter coat.(Apologies to any sheep farmers
out there - they are rather large to be called proper sheep!)

And back out to graze with Mr Piggy.

 And speaking of pigs... here is a Thursday Treasure that makes me smile whenever I see it... When I was about 17 I wagged school for an afternnoon and went with the lady I boarded with to 'Craft' at her church group.... we made pottery 'figures'... the salt pig, still in use at Mum and Dad's is the result.

{It was one of the few times I ever missed school like that...but some of us will do anything for  our craft fix won't we?!}

He is actually more handsome than he appears here....

...and perfectly functional too!

Thanks for visiting, I hope your week is going well, and,

Happy Stitching

Thank you and Round Robin Year Three!

Putting my money where my mouth is - 
A big thank you to everyone who generously commented on my last post - there were 50 comments (!! :-)!!) so together we raised $50... your kind words and thoughts were appreciated and made the exercise a fun, rewarding affair.  Tomorrow morning a cheque will be winging its way to the NZ Cancer Society; I was told a posted cheque with a note saying WHERE I wanted the money directed to would mean I could dictate what happened to it - so that's $50 towards Brain Cancer research. Thank you again everyone for helping me celebrate my blogging birthday this way.

Tonight we have this year's first meeting for our Round Robin group. I have spent the weekend working on my block for it. Now that it is finished I can relax and look forward to seeing everyone again.
This year we decided to choose a saying, motto or verse to use as a theme for our work. We all make the first block, which we will show tonight. Someone else will take our block and bag of fabric home to do a second block .... and we won't see our own one again for another 9 (I think) months.
So it will be farewell Sunbonnet Sue, I'm sure she will have a lovely time exploring every-one else's sewing room.

Can you guess -
I'll be asking for sewing themed blocks.

I adapted a Sue from Betty Alderman's 'Precious Sunbonnet Quilts', such a lovely book. I have needleturned her - once I finished that I ironed some Parlan on the back and did the stitchery. It has given the block a nice textured look. I was pretty pleased with how the red quilt turned out; I made it 3-dimensional by draping and playing with the fabric.

If you want to look, here are some previous posts about my round robin quilts from the last two years - 2010 and 2009.
Happy sewing everyone, have a great week - in the heat or the snow, where-ever you may be!

Blog Birthday - Help me celebrate!

One year ago, my blog  came to life — 12 months of blogging!! 12 months of fun and friendship, caring and sharing around the world!!
Thank you everyone for helping to make this an exciting new area of my life, by visiting, commenting, emailing, and sharing through your own blogs. So many ideas out there, so much inspiration, so many friendly, passionate people!!! (So many links to blog-hop to!!)
Now, to the relevance of the 'cow' photo!!! Since the flooding over the weekend, I have been spending a bit of time in the cowshed, while the MOML repairs fences, waterlines, races and and so on. And cowshed time is good thinking time -  'the girls' have helped me decide how to celebrate my blogging birthday!!!
NO gimmicks!!! For every comment I have in response to this post, I will donate $1 towards brain tumour (cancer) research.
Those of you who regularly follow my blog will know that my father is suffering from brain tumours; please help me to donate towards this area to help give families more hope in the future.
As I said there are no gimmicks, I don't care if you are a follower or not, and you are welcome to spread the word (gulp - within reason!!) - and one comment each please!
Thanking you in advance :-) bloggy hugs to you all.
(and I hope you are getting more chances to sew than I am!!).
 

Organising myself

This week I took a bit of time to have a bit of re-organisation in my sewing cave. First step was to buy a bunch of skirt hangers for my flimsies. Second step was to find somewhere to hang them....a simple plastic hook that hangs over the top of the door was the solution. I very rarely shut this door so they will be tucked away out of the way (and the sun) but still visible enough to remind me that they are there waiting for attention!

Please note I bought 5 hangers but have only
used 4!!! Grin.

The third  step was to tidy up the storage on top of my (Grandmother's) sewing cabinet. A small bookcase (2 for $25) was a perfect solution.

I even coped with having to assemble it...

Perfect!!

Having a sense of organisation cleared my mind for sorting out my UFO list for my committment to the 'Sew It's Finished' blog.

Here goes - 

1. Breast of Friends - Homespun magazine project 2009 - 5 blocks completed

2. Flirting with Flowers - BOM by Toss's Corner (now the Pickledish Patch) - 6 blocks completed, only 3 to go (I think)

3. Crumbs quilt - this is at flimsy stage so just needs quilting

4. Klosjes quilt - make it up as I go - i.e.my own design (!) want to do at least one more border of spools

5. Reproduction jellyroll quilt - this was intended for the MOML for Christmas - Dad's illness stopped work on this one - just have the last border to do plus the quilting etc.

There now - I have it in print!! Now this doesn't mean I won't be starting or working on other projects but these are some that I REALLY WANT TO COMPLETE!~!!!

See what I mean - another wee project started - this is the start of the stitching for my New Beginnings kit for one of the many crafters who have suffered from the Queensland floods.

Happy stitching every-one, and thanks for visiting,

Ups and Downs

What a week it has been; full of ups and downs.

The down side of course has been listening, watching, waiting for news of the 29 miners trapped down the Pike River mine, near Greymouth in NZ's South Island. Unfortunately a rescue was not possible and after several more large explosions, we are now mourning their deaths.

Shirley of dyeing2design of Rangiora has put the call out for heart blocks to make into quilts for the affected families. Up here in Northland, Leeanne has suggested that we put a quilt together to send down to Shirley... so....calling all Northlanders (or anyone else who is interested)...please send a block to either myself or Leeanne. Please email one of us for our address details.
Please make your blocks to the following dimensions - 

• Cream background (calico is fine)
• 6 1/2 " unfinished size (They will be 6" finished)
• Pieced or appliquéd hearts - any colours or patterns

The Ups of my week have been my fabulous visit to Melbourne. More details on that later.

Slow progress

I'm feeling like I'm spending a lot of time getting nowhere at the moment!! However, after the excitement of joining up for the Friendship Stitching Round the Block over the weekend I have knuckled down and got a bit of sewing done.
Trailing down the garden path is a picture of what my 9-patch will look like - all 144 blocks are framed and trimmed to size, which took a lot longer than I expected but now I am able to start joining them.

A couple of those blocks look positively white but I assure you, they're not!

I took this one below to show how big it will be - 12 squares x 12 squares makes a HUGE quilt - I'm starting to worry about quilting one this size, and it's not long until The Exhibition when I want to have it done by!!

I lie when I say I haven't got much done, as I have made these blocks below for the Quilts for Christchurch Kids - Cat sent me some fabric she'd been given, so I made a few more to send back to her.

:-) Actually, they look fairly impressive laid out like this!!

 And on a totally different note, YD went fishing in The Bay Of Islands this weekend ---- this is one of what she came home with - Yum - but I'm not sure if I like that eye staring at me!!

This was the biggest of the snapper, but even the littler ones tasted good!

Happy stitching everyone!!

End of month tidy-up

After my last post, my feet are now firmly on the ground; now its just a case of playing the waiting game :-). For now, its time to have an end-of-month tidy-up and show what's been happening in my cave lately.
This is for Marco —

oops

That's better!

Needs a good iron, I see!

I found a panel in my cupboard and decided it would make a perfect pillowcase for my 6 year old nephew. Of course it wasn't the right size so a bit of creative patchwork was needed!! They are a beach-y fishing family so I'm hoping it will go down well.

One question though - I sewed French (enclosed) seams on the main edges so it wouldn't fray etc...however, of course where I did patchworking stuff there were a whole lot of exposed seams - I topstitched to try and pin them down and prevent too much fraying - but I was wondering what other people do in this situation?? I would love it to be used and used without falling apart!!

I need to post the pillowcase off today as Marco's birthday was last week (you're a bit slow this year, Aunty Raewyn!) Also going into the post today will be these blocks to Cat for The Quilts for Christchurch Kids - a couple of stars and some pinwheels. Fun to make and going to a good cause.

And last but not least here are the latest Catalicious blocks (months 7 and 8), which I've finished this month. I understand there's just one month to go of these. They've also been great fun to do and I'm looking forward to getting them all together.

  Realised I hadn't shown month 6 so here it is with the other 2.

So that's my sidebar for September finishes updated. Happy sewing everyone!!