Simple Carry Bags

Cot Quilt

I finished quilting this little quilt but am not really happy with it. It is just too lumpy! I am sticking with cotton batting for now, I just really wanted to use an old stash of thick, stretchy wool batting up. Never again! I guess at least it will be warm.

Christmas Gift Tags

Just for the sake of posting something today, here are some stitchery gift tags left over from Christmas. I can't remember the designer, but I think the pattern was in an issue of Homespun.

Sunday Afternoon

I'm working on quilting a cot quilt today. I'm not much of a quilter, so am just doing straight lines. I hope it turns out ok - I find wool batting really difficult to work with, but am out of my preferred cotton batting, so I am just working with what I have. I guess I never stretch it properly when basting, as my wool quilts never look "flat" enough for me.

Sugar's leg seems to be a lot better today, so it must be responding to the anti-inflammatories which means thank goodness she hasn't broken the replacement ligament. She's still a bit sulky though and resting a lot. And still is demanding to be lifted up onto the bed as she can't jump up.

Sugar's Reward

Here is Sugar enjoying her reward for being so good at the vet today. Sugar had to have cruciate ligament surgery on her leg a year and a half ago, and has been limping badly the last couple of days on that same leg. The vet gave her some anti-inflammatories so we have to see if that works, otherwise we'll need x-rays to find out if it is arthritis, bone injury or whether she has broken the surgical implants.

Inspiration from Caz

I've been copying Caz's idea and have started making some blocks using a Shangri-La jelly roll. Have made 10 blocks so far. 30 more to go. These are nice and quick and easy. Mine are a little different as I am using 2.5" strips instead of 3" and, to make the most of the jelly roll I've added an extra couple of "logs". And I think I might arrange mine differently so it looks a bit scrappier. My blocks finish at 8" square.

Baby blocks pieced together

Bright Baby Blocks

It seems like ages since I have posted. I have had a rotten week at work so just haven't had time to do much else. But today I am piecing these simple little blocks in cute Sweet Baby Jane fabrics.

Victorian Elegance Blocks Pieced Together

I also finally pieced together those simple square blocks. I just need to get some fabric for the borders now.

Waiting for Daddy to come home

J was bored with me since I just want to sew this weekend, so he has gone off visiting friends and family. The pups are bored with me too, so they are missing him.

This weekend's sewing

I started piecing together the Anne's Romantic Garden which was in my To Do pile this weekend. I have nearly finished half the blocks. The other half are the same but pink instead of green. They're quite fiddly and my points and seams are all over the place. Luckily the fabrics are so "busy" it isn't too noticeable.

To take a break I've been putting together some little charm square cot quilt tops.

Victorian Elegance

Today's Harvest

Raining Again

It is teeming again so Sugar is dealing with the issue by having a nap, Spice by being a bit worried.

Favourite Reading Spot

Sugar, Spice and I spend a lot of time on this old sofa in the study having our "quiet" reading time. Well, it usually is quiet for me until two 45kg dogs decide to share it with me anyhow!

(Note: the quilt on the back of the sofa is from a kit purchased from Honeysuckle Cottage a while ago - one of my few handquilting projects! I can't remember the designer. And the bottom one is a nice simple one from Rose Patchwork Cottage, one of Judy Gray's designs. There is an old Chookshed one on the chair arm and the cushions and table cover are my own designs from years ago). They're all a bit the worse for wear from constant use from the 3 of us!

Vintage Irons

Yet to be started

I'm hoping to have time to make this one soon. I bought the pattern and FQs from Fat Quarter Shop a couple months ago and was hoping to have time to make it over Christmas but didn't. This is a really pretty, sweet design.

Another WISP

Another UFO/WISP made from a Jelly Roll - the same pattern as the quilt I made for Lyn. I have some fabric for a border, but just haven't gotten around to putting it on.

In the vegie patch today

The garden has gone feral with all the rain we have been having. My tomato plants are about 10 feet tall - but since the stakes don't go that high, the ones that aren't against the wall are all flopped over. But they're still cropping. The eggplant and capsicum are still producing regularly and a patch where I ripped out lots of old rocket has self-seeded so I have lots of tender young rocket now. (In fact, somehow it seeded itself into the lawn too so I have a lawn of rocket!)

Postcard Swap

This is my first attempt at an art postcard - a little bland, I know! I was a bit nervous so didn't do much in the way of decoration at all. It is for an international swap and the instructions for this first one was "where you are from". Well, I'm not from a cockatoo, but there are a few around here so I hope it counts.

Valentine's Day Quandary

This pretty wall hanging was sent to me last year by a lovely lady in my patchwork group as part of our Valentine's swap. I am still trying to finish my project for this year's swap. Luckily the stipulations state we can send a bought present if we run out of time but I do hope to send something special.

Year of the UFO

Does everyone else start out with new year's resolutions to quilt all those quilt tops, finish those UFOs (or WISPs), use up all those fabric scraps? Here are some tops I want to get to this year.

This one just needs quilting. A cot sized quilt/ small lap sized quilt. So it shouldn't be so hard. Why do I keep putting it off?

This was a pattern for a much larger quilt but I just used the centre to make a table centrepiece. It is partially hand quilted, but will I ever finish it? It has been sitting there in this state for what seems like years.

I started this but made it an odd size by accident, so I keep getting it out, wondering where to go next with it, then deciding it is all too hard. (For some stupid reason I made one side of the inner square 1/2 inch smaller than the other, so it is a rectangle, not a square!). The original plan was for this to be the medallion centre of a much larger quilter with pieced blocks around it.

These two are part of a mystery quilt one of my patchwork group friends designed for us. One day I will finish them!

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Spice says hello!

This photo was taken a week or so ago when it was sunny. It has been raining for a couple of days now. In fact, Sugar & Spice weren't even at the gate to greet me when I got home. They spent all day asleep in their shelter, out of the rain.

Late Christmas Quilt

I started putting this quilt together a couple of weeks ago, using some country Christmas fabrics. It is a bit crumpled as it has been sitting in a heap on the table while I decide how to finish it. I probably should have ironed it before photographing! Maybe I will have it finished in time for Christmas '08!