Smell the Roses for FiS Bag Swap

This is the bag I made for Jan in the Friends in Stitching bag swap.

Smell the Roses by Anni Downs/Hatched and Patched in the Gardeners Journal book.

I really enjoyed doing the stitchery; and added in a small red butterfly just above the roses.

I hope Jan likes it. I loved making it; except for pressing the handles, it seemed like no matter what I did I couldn't get the handle lining fabric out of sight - very dissapointing, sorry Jan.

Top and bottom of the stitchery is some gorgeous cotton lace that I was saving for a special project. Love the effect it has on the rich red background.

Rebekah Amy for my Nan

This quilt went to Sydney last week to my Nan via my Mum. A week before that Mum said she was going down to visit my Nan and my Sister. I had planned to make this quilt for my Nan for Christmas and her birthday but decided to go all in and try and get it done for Mum to take it to her to use THIS winter. It would be oh so lovely to recieve a quilt for a Christmas present but here in Australia that is NOT the time of year to snuggle with a quilt!

Saturday night I did the cutting up.

Sunday and Monday I spent a little time piecing.

Tuesday afternoon I basted.
Wednesday I did some quilting.
Thursday was a no power day (Country Energy doing some linework in the area) therefore no quilting could be done that day; but this actually worked in my favour. The night before no power I machine stitched the binding on so I was able to spend the powerless day handstitching down the binding; something that normally takes me 2-3 nights.
I spent some time Thursday night quilting and finished the last bit of quilting Friday morning.

I ditched the quilt. Originally I had plans to do more quilting than ditching but with our normal jobs, schooling etc etc and my time frame ditching the basics was all I had time for.
oh, and the thread. Because I decided to do this quilt on the spur of themoment and in such a short time frame I had NO matching thread and wasn't able to do mail order or go anywhere to get some. LUCKILY I found some cream similar to the cream in the fabrics and this ended up looking fine on the back, though it was in contrast to the backing fabric.


Here I am Friday morning stitching the label on that I had time to make before heading to meet Mum in town.

The finished quilt.

Started Saturday night and completely finished before lunch on the following Friday; a mind boggling experience for me to start AND finish a QUILT in such a short time! Very empowering too; though I haven't done much since, LOL, must have sewed myself a bit out....

Every quilt needs a label. I like to use leftovers from making the quilt.

This quilt was very appropriate for me to make for my Nan.

Rosalie Quinlan named the pattern 'Rebekah Amy'.

I am Rebecca and my Nan is Amy.

I bought this quilt as a kit from Kerry at Cottage on the Hill, the border isn't part of the original pattern and is about 8 inches wide with mitered corners. This was my first time donig mitered corners and I was pretty happy with how they came out and that doing them wasn't as bad as I thought!

The fabrics are Maywood Studios...'He Loves Me' by Jackie Robinson I think...

Anyway, they are just simply gorgeous - thanks Kerry for such a beautiful kit!

Thanks Kim for the lovely backing fabric!

You know, Mr Busy liked them...that has to say something!

My Nan rang a few nights ago; very excited about her quilt. I was so pleased she liked it!
Then I told her it was second hand. LOL She didn't know what to say! I told her that when I quilt quilts they live on my bed in between quilting time as I have no where else to keep them flat and nice. Mr Busy has gotten used to sleeping with safety pins on his bed! LOL.

Where do your quilts stay while they are being quilted, if you quilt your own???

Mail, Shopping and Other Bits

Look at what came today! Can't wait to sit down and watch this dvd of Deb's.

It comes free with this months Australian Quilters Companion magazine, so if your interested in free motion quilting - head to your nearest newsagent to see if they have it.

Mr Busy did this last week. We now have a 'midget' doorway between our house and the extension. It's great not to have to walk all the way around the house to go between the two; though as the eaves aren't done yet (and winter is fast approaching here in AU) it is a bit chilly...

oh, mending pile is on the left and ironing pile is on the right. The ironing pile has a pulse by the way.....

Looking through the 'midget' doorway into the extension - family/dining room and kitchen further down. The children and I have been doing bookwork for school here, in the lovely morning sun coming through the stacka sliding door. The mess is stored stuff that I am sorting through. What's being kept is less than half - now that is a load off my mind!

Had a parcel in the mail today from Kerry. We are in an online stitching group together, Friends in Stitching. Kerry made a bag for me in the recent bag swap. I made a bag for Jan (who made my christmas present from this group). Jan's bag is finished but I can't show you yet! and I can't show what Kerry sent me because it's not time to open it yet ...... though I did open the card to read.

(Don't worry Kerry, I haven't seen inside the book you said you made the bag from so I have no idea what is going to surprise me on opening night)

Fabric buying (and spending) has come along way with me, for ages it was 'gotta have gotta have'. Now I have learnt to be more choosy about what I do buy.

Recently I found a fantastic site in the US that sells mostly reproduction fabrics (a favourite of mine) AutumnRoseQuilting. I was so tempted to purchase a number of FQ packs. I spent a number of weeks pondering over this purchase and decided I didn't need to spend the money to have most of the fabrics collect dust here when I already have so much to sew. Instead of purchasing the FQs and other bits I chose three fabrics and ordered 1-1.5 yards of each. I did not purchase these from ARQ this time as I had a partial order from another shop at the time and combined it to help with postage.

The rest of the order included these two Nicey Jane fabrics that I have been eyeing off for simply ages, to make two market bags for my girls - like their brothers.

and, this piece of DolyDresses3 - to go with my little Dolly Dresses stash that I am using to make the Friends in Stitching BOM (taking turns to pick a 12 inch pieced block each month). This was my favourite fabric in that range. Just adore the blue and pinks in it.....

This is the Friends in Stitching block for May for the BOM.

Dawnie picked me to choose this months (she did last months).

I thought it was going to take me ages to pick one but the first one I clicked on to look at (liked the name) I loved, so it was easy!

This block is Colorado Beauty and is made up of 16 half squares in two fabrics. You could use a third fabric to replace the 'orange' in the central pinwheel too.

You will have to excuse the long post, and the long absence. Things have been hectic here to say the least.

Soccer, soccer training, dh home for the weekend and RDOs, starting AND finishing a quilt in less than a week (more on that soon!) and the other night I happened to run the kids Jack Russell puppy over coming home. So yesterday JessieGirl spent all day crying. DS 9yrs had to bury Goofy twice, to his dismay as DS4yrs old dug up Goofy to see where he had gone.....(not being naughty but curious as to what happened to the dog after it was buried). and I am attending a leadlighting course tomorrow with one of my closest friends! So sometime between dinner, ironing clothes and organising food for tomorrow and bedtime I am hoping to watch Deb's new dvd on freemotion quilting!

PS.

I have been trying to look at a number of blogs this afternoon but keep having trouble (slow connection this time of day??? not sure) so I AM thinking of you and will get to your blogs as soon as I can. looking forward to seeing what you have all been up to! Bec xxx

First Birthday Present

EDITED UPDATE

My neice loves her doll, especially the eyes....LOL eyes are so fascinating at that age!

My niece will be one soon.

Her mother bought my daughter a baby doll for her first birthday so we have done the same.

With the baby I have made a FQ whole cloth quilt that is reversible.

Done in fabrics to match the Sophies Stars quilt that I made to celebrate her birth last year.


A great present for a little one just starting to be getting about; and about to become a big sister!

Aster Manor Canvas Bag

This gorgeous bag was part of my mum's belated birthday present.

I saw a similar one in a local gift with a high price tag so searched online and found some similar fabrics. I used a canvas from FatQuarterShop and it is very soft and was lovely to work with; and for the bag top and inner handles I used a pretty yellow print from the Aster Manor range. The handles are a bit wide but by the time I realised I was out of time to redo them, so I hope they go ok mum.

Farm Market Bag

This a Leanne Beasley market bag with adjustments. I made this for my eldest son recently so he would be able to carry a book, a drink bottle and other bits while we are out and about.

The strap is shortened to suit. I made the flap narrower, to fit between the handles so it all fits nicely; and I also shortened the flap for something different.

DS was given a choice of closures and he choose to have two velcro fastenings.

Don't forget to have a look at my Clean Out Sale in the previous post.

I wasn't sure what prices to put on somethings so just email me if you want to make an offer on something as I need to clear some room here but can't really give it all away.