Market Day and other stuff

It's been a funny old time since I last wrote, although it was only about 10 days ago I have no idea where those days have gone!
I've spent a little time finishing up my second little quilt from Pam Buda's Marketday sewalong, it started here and finished here on her Heartspun Quilts blog
When Pam offered the sewalong in two different sizes, of course I wanted to do them both! I showed the first, made with 3 inch (finished) blocks, a couple of posts back, here is the second one, made with 1 1/2 inch blocks.

For this one I used (mostly) some fabrics from one of Anni Down's ranges, I thought the tiny print would work well in a mini quilt.
I had an interesting time with the borders on this one, I had the sudden thought to insert an extra border using the same blue as in the outer corner half square triangles, acting as a sort of frame; then I couldn't decide which fabric to use as the next border. Pam suggested the same as the one we'd used in the centre block but mine was a bit dull. I decided to lighten it up a bit with a cream.
(Looking at my photos I'm sure either would have been ok, the cream actually looks better in real life, I reckon!)

 And here are the two of them together - probably the last time I will ever put them side by side as the colours don't work so well together!! {Although I do love them both, just not together :-)}
Both are still flimsies but it's great to get them to this stage nonetheless. Pam is doing a show and tell on her blog soon (about the 15th I think?) so I look forward to seeing how everyone else's ones look.

It was a rainy day when I took this photo out on the concrete - there
was a dry spot under the shelter of a tree!
The colours in these last few photos are a bit off but oh well :-)

AS well, I've been piecing a few blocks for my second red and white quilt (not to be confused with my first one, *here* which is still a work in progress!). This one I started in May at our annual retreat; I needed to do a few design alterations, which needed a little thinking, I have finally thought and now I am back to it. Love these fabrics I ended up with... they are sewing up a treat.

Unpressed but you get the idea of what I'm up to.

I feel like I have done so many small projects lately that I am really enjoying sewing a bigger quilt - and just two colours means not so much time is spent on trying to decide on fabrics!! It doesn't mean it is all plain sailing though as the photo below shows —

Where's the quick-unpic!

I've continued my evening stitching with the projects I was working on last post. I've stitched two more letters from Michelle Ridgeway's Country at Heart booklet. I was thinking of snowballing them when I put them together but then thought maybe offsetting them, one up, one down so they aren't too straightlined. We'll see.

I'm using my favourite threads, Cottage Garden Threads (from Australia) for these.

All the little critters and details are so fun, just love this mouse!

And below is Block Two completed of Let's start Christmas which Wendy of Sugarlane Quilts has designed. Lovely. Block three is released but I haven't stitched it yet, better hurry up as block four is due out on Thursday. 

Plenty in the pipeline as always, hope you're finding some creative time too,
Happy sewing!

Sewalongs progress

It's one of those glorious days when you can fling all the doors and windows open and let the sunshine and warmth filter through the house.

Lovely peaceful view from the deck today :-)

A nice day to have a quick sit out on the deck with a coffee after spending the morning moving calves around - older ones to paddocks, not-so-old ones to another barn, leaving plenty of room in the main calf shed for the youngest ones.
A nice day to take a photo of my completed top for Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilt's Market Day mystery. This was a fun sewalong, easy blocks each month- and look how they came together! Wonderful!

As you can see, I chose to mine in Christmas colours, inspired by the fabrics left over from the beautiful quilt sample Leeanne made as a BOM for The Country Yard. She chose such yummy fabrics for it that I really wanted a piece of the action :-)
You may remember that Pam offfered two sizes for this mystery sewalong; naturally I succumbed and sewed up the small sized blocks as well. They are all made but not completely joined up yet, this is how they are looking so far.

The size of these blocks is 2". Too cute.

I find the small blocks a fun little challenge and they aren't really as scary as they seem. Janet O, rogue quilter, recently did an interesting post about mini quilts where she included some tips on sewing up small blocks -- *here*
The Market Day mystery sewalong instructions are still on Pam's blog if you want to make one yourself; around September 15th she is doing a Show and Tell and I am looking forward to seeing the versions that everyone has made.

From time to time over the last few months I have alluded to a project I had shamefully started when I didn't really need a new one :-) I had figured that if I didn't mention it on my blog it didn't really count as yet another project. However I have kidded myself too long, so now I will share! Soupcon is the name of the project; a sewalong by the talented Karen of Faeries and Fibres......I began mine well after it had started and have had quite a few little breaks along the way but I am loving it so far!

The intriguing point of this one was how it began - we fussy cut a fabric and English Paper Pieced either a star or flower —

Part one and two of Soupcon.

My resulting block in no way resembled my original fabric and it threw me for a while, trying to work out what to use next! Totally different to the fabrics I had originally chosen for this project.

I"ve never fussy cut like this before and loved the effect.
Now I know why lots of people are getting hooked on Patchwork of the Crosses!

Below is my Soupcon at the moment. Partway through part Four.

It's fun how this project changes so much with each round. The flickr group for the sewalong is *here*

And that's about it for today. It may be time to get out into that sunshine again (at the washing line!).
Thank you for visiting,
Happy creating!

Sewing along(s) —

As a new weekend approaches, I am still trying to find the time to write about last weekend's sewing! I've had a week of meetings, appointments, a work day and heavy rain (flooding) so it's sped by with little sewing and blogging time.  I started last weekend with a new blade and a new needle - armed with those I felt ready to take on the world!! I spent most of Saturday thinking, planning and cutting ... I seemed to be partway through several projects, all of which had stalled because I was ready for the next step.

I had got Irene (see Terry's Treasures to learn about this sewalong) to this stage and was ready to do the outer border...calculations done.... enough fabric left to do it Terry's way —

— until I did a miscut (probably was day dreaming about the next project I want to start) - oh no, would I have to rethink the outer border, or maybe do some piecing and hope the joins were not noticeable?  I managed to hold my breathe until I got to work on Wednesday... I had taken the last of the fabric on the bolt, but was hoping there would be some precuts still left in the shop and ...lucky me... there were two bullets in the bullet jar!

And the two bullets were just what I needed!

~~<<>>~~

I made a few decisions and did a little cutting on the project I haven't officially started yet - if it's not on my blog, it's not started, right? I am loving this project but needed time/space to decide on my next fabrics. I feel confident with where I am going with this one now.

Hmmm, maybe it is officially on my blog now and maybe I'll have to 'fess up to
another started project pretty soon?

~~<<>>~~

With Irene off the design wall, I pulled out Hop To It....actually it was already out but Mum is coming next week so I needed to take it off the bed in the spare room. More decisions needed with this one, I hadn't been able to decide on the cornerstone fabric, but think that using the background fabric will be fine... my sashings are quite dark so I think it needs the calmness of the creams. Deciding on an outer border will be another path I need to go down!

(Hop To It is an Edyta Sitar quilt, some bloggy friends and I used it as a sewalong 'in the past' (I am scared to think how many years ago - two maybe?!))

~~<<>>~~

I've been wondering who else is doing Pam Buda's Market Day sewalong? I love Pam's mysteries so of course couldn't help myself :-) I also caught up on my cutting for this. (By the way, I met Pam at Pittsburg and she really is a sweetie). This is really intriguing me ... we are making a few small, simple blocks each week so is a good one to cut out and use as a leader/ender. I wonder what will happen?!

Pam is giving instructions for two sizes - I couldn't resist trying them both.
3 1/2" and 2" unfinished sized blocks.

I've started playing with possible layouts but the 'odd' number of some of the blocks are throwing me. Guess I'll have to be patient!

 (Seems the colour went a bit off in this last photo, it's the same carpet as the previous one!).

 I have a few little secret projects I need to complete this weekend, hopefully I can squeeze in a little time cutting and sewing :-)

Happy creating, and thanks for reading to the end :-)