My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Weekend Sewing

We spent Friday battening down the hatches in preparation for Cyclone Lusi which was bearing down on New Zealand. As we are in drought conditions we were excited about getting some rain and we were happy to put up with the strong winds if we were going to get a good downpour. Sadly we got some rain (and a fair bit of wind) but not nearly the amount predicted....
....However it was 'stormy' enough to stay inside and sew!!
First up, I got the final borders on this quilt for hubby! As he has been waiting patiently for this for a few years and as March is his birthday month, this one has gone to the top of my quilting pile!! (I thought I had it to the flimsy stage a while ago but decided I wanted the extra size created by the borders.)
This is a Cozy Quilt Designs pattern using a Reproductions Jelly Roll.
Then I finished up this little cutie for a friend - I love the little hanger! The stitcheries are from the Anni Downs book called Simple Pleasures.
Isn't my calendar a great backdrop for
this photo?!
Last post I said I was putting 'Goodnight Irene' back into leader-ender status; however I got a little hooked on her and on Sunday afternoon she took over my life and I have got her to this stage. I am now caught up - I am sewing this one with Terry of Terry's Treasure - she has a linky on her side bar so everyone can share their progress. And it's not too late to join in if you want to use up some scraps too!
This photo is a little murky actually but you get the idea.
I have decided not to join the rows yet just in case I need to do some colour re-balancing at a later stage. I'm tempted to make it a little wider but I will see how my scraps go and decide later on.

As this is quite a photo-light post (odd for me!), I just had a quick look through my camera and have realised that I had nearly forgotten to share one other sample I made for The Country Yard for our New Year's launch.
This is a Crabapple design and is mounted in a picture frame for something a little different; isn't it lovely? (No quilting needed!) The doiley is an old one which I trimmed up and tea-dyed.
That's another two finishes for this month - how exciting!!
I hope everyone else had a productive weekend as well, thank you for visiting,
Happy stitching, have a great day!

33 comments:

  1. What lovely pieces, Raewyn-- (my DH's b-day is in March, too!!); great to finish up things so well, hugs, Julierose

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  2. Dear Raewyn,
    lovely finishes and lovely projects. My brother met "Lusi", he is on holiday in New Zealand and visited Tonga where his son is working for a while as a dentist...
    Our kids are really "global players" ;-))
    Hugs from germany
    sigisart

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  3. Wow, you are off to a great start this year! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do for the quilting on the Goodnight Irene quilt. I have a real fondness for scrap quilts because that's all my mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had to work with. I can't imagine what they would think about buying coordinated fabrics specifically for a quilt!

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  4. love your scrappy quilts great fabrics and colors! Your stitchery is wonderful.

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  5. You have made excellent progress. Sorry you didn't get your share of the rain!

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  6. Good thing for bad weather, you got a lot done.

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  7. Some great finishes there Raewyn. I agree about Lusi - she was disappointing as far as rain that we all hoped for to relieve the drought a little. I simply ADORE your little quilt on the hanger - it is just gorgeous & also love that stitchery in the frame you have done - sometimes its nice to just frame them for a change. Great progress for March Raewyn :-)

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  8. Your hubby's quoit is lovely , your Irene blocks look great too and you sure went to town :-). I love the little stitchery as well as the framed one , lovely work as always .

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  9. Oh my goodness! Love all your projects! Hubby's quilt is wonderful and I especially love your framed stitchery...it is so special with your embellishments.

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  10. You've been very productive! I love the little stitchery, and the embellishments make it very special. Hubby's quilt is very nice, and your Irene is coming along nicely. Keep up the good work.

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  11. glad you made it through the cyclone even though you would have liked more rain.
    lovely projects you are working on. Love the sewing machine art!

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  12. Well, your'e beating me hands down on finishes. I've never considered making a quilt for my hubby. Is that weird? He's never asked...maybe I should ask him if he wants one?

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  13. I really think that sometimes this blog doesn't show up in my reader, as I've missed a couple of your posts! So I had a wonderful time browsing through and savoring all the wonderful goodies that you shared!! What fabulous projects!!

    Best birthday wishes to hubby! What a wonderful quilt for him!!

    Blessings and hugs!

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  14. great stuff! Sorry you didn't get much rain, we got quite a bit over the hill!
    You have been busy, look out April I say!

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  15. That is a great design you made for DH. And what a sweet little stitchery for your friend!
    Sometimes those leader/ender projects just take on a life of their own. This is a very fun scrap quilt--one I wouldn't mind making some year! : )
    I really like the stitched piece in the frame. Nice muted palette and the added lace, buttons, doily, etc., are lovely touches!

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  16. Hope you get some more rain soon. I'm glad you didn't have a cyclone to contend with while you were sewing! Love your hubby's quilt......maybe mine needs one too!

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  17. Once more I'm amazed at just how much sewing you manage to get through Raewyn :)
    Love your little Simple Pleasures piece, what a sweet gift. The framed piece is so elegant....how could you nearly forget it~~~~~
    I'm going to have check out Goodnight Irene (all I can hear is the song in my head now LOL).

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  18. just as well DH did not hole his breath whilst you made his quilt!! Very nice it is. The Anni Downs piece is so pretty, a lot of her designs have been popping up on blogs recently, I do love her work.What immaculate squares you have in your latest quilt I find then hard to do I suppose I just need lots of practise. Very nice piece with the sewing machine on

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  19. Sorry you didn't get enough rain, Raewyn!
    Wow, you made progress, great quilt for hubby, he'll stay warm this winter. I love the 'Terry' quilt, and the Anni Downs stitchery is so cute! But most of all i love the stitchery with the frame, the colors are so beautiful and the finish is superb!

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  20. Dear Raewyn,

    lovely finishes and lovely projects....I like it.

    Greetings from Germany,
    (◔‿◔) * Klaudia * (◔‿◔)

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  21. Raewyn, I love how you finished off your Crabapple Hill stitchery. I have that one to do and have wondered what to do with it but you have given me some ideas now. I hope you don't mind if I "borrow" some, I love the wee pearl buttons.

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  22. Lovely finishes!
    Anni's hanging is so cute (I have this book and dream to stitch something from it some day :) )

    Hugs,
    Tatyana

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  23. Everything looks great! I love your Irene blocks! :0)

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  24. Goodness you are finishing lots of goodies all lovely. I sure like your Crabapple design.

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  25. you have been busy! Sure makes me hanker for some sewing time. They cyclone was a fizzer down here but we got rain a few nights ago which was much needed hope you get some up there soon.

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  26. I especially specially love the stitch sample - so nice and different! The Irene progress is great and I adore the design!

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  27. Love the sewing machine stitchery... wouldn't that make a terrific tattoo?? And I've made the same sort of pattern scrap quilt as Goodnight Irene - I gave it to my MIL and she loved the bright fabrics and scraps.

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  28. Great stitching Raewyn. I am sure Hubby will get his quilt in good time. All good things come to those who wait. I adore the last bit of stitching. Love Crabapple Hill patterns.

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  29. Great that you missed any damage from the storm but disappointing about the rain.
    You have had a great time with your finishes.Lovely embroideries. And great progress with the quilts.

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  30. Where to start? Crab-apple hill are my favourite patterns and I love your sewing machine with lace, buttons and the doily-I think I would do it as a pillow! Your hubby's quilt is cool also! And love the stitchery you did for your friend, she is lucky!! Have I missed anything?
    Michelle.

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  31. You are keeping yourself busy Raewyn! Lovely progress on the GNIrene... and your hubby's quilt is looking wonderful too... I'm sure you'll do a great job of the quilting on it x

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  32. Lovely work Raewyn, I wonder how hubby's quilt is going now? The little Simple Pleasures hanging is a cutie. The Crabapple Hill piece is lovely, there's a whole lot of different techniques in there, and it looks fabulous in a frame.

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