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!!)

So inspiring...!

Yes, I know I should be catching up and keeping up but I just wanted to tell you about the fabulous day I had yesterday!! Some lovely friends and I drove down to Auckland for the Auckland Guild's annual quilt show. In the past it was called Calico Christmas but it has been renamed "Auckland Festival of Quilts" and golly it really was a festival of quilts.
(Warning - quite a few photos but I have reduced their size so I hope this hasn't taken too long to load!)
This was the Best of Show Quilt. Stunning.

Phantasia by Ansa Breytenbach

Look at this edging!!

Just lovely.

Below is another of this lady's quilts - she showed 3 altogether and all were exquisite in their design, detail and execution. I seem to remember she won Best of Show last year as well.

Rose Feather by Ansa Breytenbach.

All her quilting is done on a domestic sewing machine.

As I look back on my photos I see that I took them of quilts that had interesting (to me) features; a technique or design. Some I just zoomed in on the quilting and took a photo of that. I started to take note of who made which quilt but couldn't keep it up. [If any of the 'locals' see one they would like credit for, please email me].
I didn't necessarily take photos of my absolute favourites. I hope you enjoy a bit of a browse through these. (There were over 250 quilts so my photos really are a drop in the bucket!)

The judges usually have a small display of some of their work,
of which this was one.....

...A close up of the same wall hanging reveals how it was made.

"Graffitti'. Another one that intrigued me...
See close up below.

All the bricks are appliquéd on.

Yes, I loved the colours - but also love the quilting.
Apart from the cream background, there was only one fabric used in this quilt.

Very vibrant.....

...and look at this detail. Luxurious! 

Another beauty....

...see the chain stitch embroidered down the feather spines.

This is one of the Elm Creek quilts.
 (Is it Sylvia's wedding quilt?). 

This was one of the few primitive style quilts with felt applique.
Beautifully done.

A number of quilts were embellished with small beads.

On this large-ish quilt every intersection of the cross hatching (more than
are shown in this photo) had a bead stitched onto it!!

As you came down the stairs towards the exit, was this display of challenge quilts. Participants had to use either turquoise, orange or purple fabrics with black or white for their entry.

The colours made for an eye catching display.

I have lots more photos but won't take up more of your day (or mine) just now. I hope you've enjoyed a look at my fascinating time at the Festival of Quilts.
[I've just noticed Leeann was there yesterday as well. Go to her blog to see a few more photos.]
If you would like to help out some of those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, you could go and visit Erin at vesuviusmama and offer to make a block or two :-)

Catching Up and Keeping Up...

I have this very strong urge to start everything I see, telling myself that if it's only one block a week/month, and no worries!, I can keep up. Sadly this doesn't always happen and mounds of fabric collect around my cave. Happily today I can report on two sewalongs that I have been making progress with lately.
First, the Catching Up project; I fell in love with Hannah and Harrington the minute Michelle of Raspberry Rabbits started talking about them, and it didn't take me long to decide to do this one. Now that I no longer have my hand appliqué (Hop To It) to do at nights, I have pulled this project out. It's been the first time that I've done anything  much with wool felt and I am really loving it. The blocks use running stitch on the wool and simple stitchery for the embroidered bits.

Block 4

Oops I've just realised that these bunnies are missing their eyes!!

Block 3

The next 2 blocks are ones I completed earlier on but I'll re-show them so you can see what fabrics I am using.

Block 1

Block 2

As you can see I have labelled them Block 1-2-3-4 instead of January-February, etc - It makes me feel that I'm not so far behind!! If you are interested in this project, Michelle still has all the patterns on her website.
Now the Keeping Up project; Tomorrow when I get up Joanne will have Block 7 of the Threadhead Quiltalong on her blog ...and guess what...I've done up to Block 6!! Once again if anyone is interested in joining in with the sewalong she still has all the block patterns up on her blog....and her instructions are REALLY clear so they are perfect if you are newer to quilt making. (In fact they are some of the clearest instructions that I have seen in blogland).

Bear's Paw

Ohio Star

Frayed Four Patch

Whirlwind

 Here they all are together.

Bottom Bear's Paw may yet replaced, not happy with this one!

And to finish with....here's a little tale...

Four baby birds squawking for their mum, hidden behind the whiteboard in my calf shed,

"Mum oh Mum, where are you?" they say,

"Be still, my babies, I'm not coming in while there's a cat up there."

Sorry folks, sometimes I get a bit carried away when I have my camera!

Have a great day everyone, thank you for visiting,

Happy creating,