Few days at home

I have had a few days at home. No work, its been wonderful. I got busy working on a few UFOs

First I had to have a brush up on my curves. Pulled out a lot of my greens & grey fabrics to work with. This is the start of the quilt Iam working on. I will be teaching this class in Dalby later this year. I am looking forward to teaching in Dalby.

For my 50th birthday family & friends made me all these little 5" friendship blocks for me.
Just have to build on to the outside now. I have lots of ideas but this is as far as I got this week. It was nice to sit down and read all the comets again. Maybe that why I didn't get much sewing done.

Made two floor pillows. Megan was very taken with them. She has put in a order for one or two

Decided she had better rade my stash to pick out the fabric for me to make the next floor cushion

While on the job she also picked out the fabric for me to make up the Harem cushion.

                                                  These are the fabrics she picked. Yellow and blue.
The Harem cushion this a class I teach

 

When Bev & I had the shop, this class run a few times. It was always a lot of fun.


Sorry about the photos. Iam having lots of trouble with my photos. There fine on the camera and the computer but as soon as I put them on the blog they go all fuzzy, Why I do not know. Is it me ? Or something Iam doing, or maybe its time for a new computer.
 May be all of the above.
Hopefully next time the photos will be better, fingers crossed

Beginners Class

Two weeks ago I started a Beginners Patchwork Class at Peter Taylor's Sewing Centre.
This is the sample quilt the Lady's will be making.
 The first lesson was learning to use a rotary cutter & sew a 1/4"seam. The Lady's were a bit scared to start but in no time they were having lots of fun.
The Lady's in the class have also learnt to speak a hole new language ( patchwork terminology).Its exciting & a great pleasures to welcome new people in to the world of  Patchwork & Quilting.
Our second lesson was sewing bias seams or triangles. With a little care and concentrating this block went together well.
Next was the Chun Dash block. The Lady's are becoming a lot more confident now.
The next lesson will be an introduction to drawing up there own block on 1/4"graph paper & how to make templates from there drawing.

 If any one would like to join the class now is a good time. The class is on every Thursday,
Starts at 9.30 & goes until 3.oo

I also have two lady's that are working on there own projects. Its always lovely to sew with a group. You seem to  get lots of impressions and ideas from one another.

Two of the Lady's busy in class.  Working very hard on their blocks.                                                                       

Black & White with a little colour

When I was in the shop I started making 3" black & white 9 patch's. The idea was to have a swap or a changle. But the shop closed and nothing happened.
 The other day while ratting through my cupboard I found the box full of the little 9 patch's, so decided to put them together.
It was fun designing this quilt. I do like to work in black & white.
I'm just showing you snippets of the quilt. Once the quilt is finished I will show the hole thing. I am very pleased with how its coming together.

 Put the final boards on my "Headen Wells" quilt. This is the quilt I made at Sandy's retreat. I did plan to put 6" outside boarders on it but it seem to swallow the hole quilt ,so cut it back to 3". Looks a lot better.
Sorry about the photos, I must of had a blurry day.

 

 My friend Bev has just arrived home from Japan. She went over to the
Tokyo International Quilt Festival. Had the best time & cant wait to go again. But!!! Next time I will be going with her! I received a wonderful bag of goodies from Japan. Fabric to make a knot bag, paper, sweets, lollies, trendy stockings for my daughter & a great book. Thank you very much Bev.
 Click here if you want to look at Bev's blog
 This is a hexagon quilt my Auntie Jill made many years ago. When I was about 15 my Gran started to make hexagon quilts.(long before I new any thing about quilting) Once Gran started she got us all going. I know Mum, Auntie Marry, Auntie Jill & myself all made one or two quilts each. Jill's daugther Dice now has her mum's quilts .They were never finished so Dice passed that job on to me. I didn't have any idea what to do. They sat here for a few years before I decided. I didn't want to change any thing that Auntie Jill had done so I had them quilted on to a background fabric. My very lovely friend Evol did the quilting for me. One down & one still to go. I think Dice will be pleased with this one. Its a wonderful memory to have of Gran & Auntie Jill.

In the last month we have had lots of rain. (Too much rain really). Because of all the rain the garden is looking beautiful, lush & green. Plus over grown & full of weeds. Now the weather is nice. Not to hot or not to wet, I thougth it would be a good time to go out & do a bit of work.
Wrong!!!!!!
Walking around taking those photos was very hard.
The sand flys & mossies almost carried me away. I was getting eaten alive.
Sorry to say but the garden can wait for another day.

 The lawn has never looked so good. Doug has been on the mower non stop since the rain, now I know why he is out there after dark. The Sand flys have gone to bed. Lucky the new mowers come with lights.

Our 4 Geese.
You wouldn't believe the mischief these fellas can get up to. I had to put the fence around the garden behind them because they were eating every thing in it. Only this garden bed, they leave all the others alone. Del the dog is suppose to keep them under control but she is very slack in her Guard Dog duties. They do what ever they like & at the moment it is hanging around the back door. They like to be able to see or hear us for some reason.
   Well i had better go, more sewing to finish, like always.