First Scrap Quilt Finished.

My first + and X quilt is finished and backed and bound!

I am very pleased with how it turned out!

It uses scrap fabrics, and old floral sheet as backing, and an old blanket cut up as the batting! Talk about stashbusting!!

It is quite warm and cosy - large enough to cuddle under which is all I needed.

Doesn't she look cute?

 These are some of my favourite blocks from her

Old sheet for backing.

I think she turned out great!
Now for the next scrapbusting pattern........

Saturdays Snapshots

Well finally  I am back with  Saturdays Snapshots !

All garden snaps of course, even though today I finished the top for my + and X quilt, I won't show it until it is backed and ready to go! Hopefully tomorrow!

Now, where was I:

We are very truly into Autumn now, and the garden is beginning to settle in for the Winter:-

Have taken the opportunity to do some work along the back of the house

You can see how the garden has grown in the background!  And the poor fish are still not back in there home under the fountain it still needs some paintwork and then they may have a chance to go home

The Bali Whirl frangipani is desperately trying to open its flowers before the winter cold hits

The succulents are settling down

Frangipanis in pots are out in the garden beds

the ferns are looking really great

The large ferns on the palms can barely be seen - time to chop back some fronds.

Hope you enjoyed Saturdays Snapshots - perhaps you would like to join in.  Just click below and lets share

ANZAC Day 2013

Today we remember all the men and women who fought for our freedom, both in the past and today.

Lest We Forget

More Stashbusting

Here are a couple of other block designs I have tried, and what I think of them!

Tumblers - I hate them for scraps like i have - they never seem to fit right and just look stupid.  I decided that after just these three!

These little pinwheels are simply fabulous!! They are so easy, and really, you could make them any size you liked.  These ones are about 4 1/2 inches.  So simple:

I used 2 x 2 1/2 inch strips, sewed them together along their long edge, and then ironed and cut them using my 6 1/2 inch Easy Angle rule rwith the 90 degree angle.  Cut all the strips, and then join them in this manner, and you end up with these adorable little pinwheels!

So if you can get 2 1/2 inch strips out of the fabrics, they are great fun and fast!

Quilting Block Swaps Australia for April 2013

I received my block from my partner , Sharryn, from Victoria today.  As well as this lovely star block, Sharryn sent me some very nice tape to use, I just forgot to take a picture of that.
Here is the star block anyhows
:

Sharryn asked for any block in black and white, so I sent her this one: (it's been sitting here for a week - haven't got to the post office yet, but please don't tell her that!).  I promise it will leave tomorrow - I feel so guilty!!

I also sent Sharryn some black and white scraps, some strips and some cute little half square triangles also in black and white

I do hope she likes what I have done, I am very happy with my star.

We're Ba-aack!!

First up, I would really like to say thank you to all my friends who sent their best wishes to us regarding our dear Penelope.  She is home now (or at least her ashes are) and she is in the spot that she loved so much, so we are happy about that and life goes on.

We did appreciate all your wishes and thank you for caring.

On another note, like i said previously I am stashbusting.  Here are just a few of the blocks i have done so far - wonderful mindless sewing and just relaxing and enjoying!

Have a closer look by clicking on each image and enjoy! I'm sorry, some of my +'s look very wrinkled but they aren't really. Must have been the photographer!
 Now that we are back to normal, I'll be back tomorrow with more! See you then!

Sad Days

I must apologise for my intermittent postings lately, you see, our darling old Penelope cat has been  very very ill.

She did finally pass away on Thursday , around 3.00 pm.  At 17 years of age, she simply had nothing left to give.

 

Rest in Peace Ms Penelope Superfoot

1996 - 2013

 

I will be back once i have processed this and come to terms with it.

 

 

 

Year of the Scrap

I have decided to name 2013 the Year of the Scrap.

I have been cleaning out my sewing room and was shocked by the sheer amount of scrap fabric I have accumulated.  When I have finished the big clean up, I will show you what I mean, I'm sure you will be just as shocked!

Warning;
Fabric scraps multiply exponentially when placed in the dark! Be Warned!

I have decided on a particular pattern, the + and X quilt.  May has a tutorial on her blog Badskirt, Here

Her is the block:

 I have done a 12" and an 8" block here -= I think I will start with a 12" block, then follow it up with an 8" block quilt.  

Believe it or not, I'm wondering if that will use enough of the scraps to leave a dent - I have my doubts. Yes, that IS how many scraps I have!

So now I am on the lookout for simple scrap quilts. Do you have a favourite you could share with me?

All patterns gratefully accepted!!

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The Fat Quarter Gypsy Bag

Told you I would show you how it turned out - I didn't really find much bling to go onto it, but here it is!

On Easter Sunday, I loaded it up with chocolate Easter eggs to take to visit,  and it certainly holds tons of stuff!

I'm quite chuffed though, because both Jessica (my grand daughter) and her mother would like me to make one for each of them.  Seems they both need a nice big bag like it, so I'd best start looking for some batiks to use for them...

Easter Fun

I do hope that everyone had a lovely and safe Easter break.

My grandson turned 13 on Easter Saturday, so on Easter Sunday we went over to their house to have lunch and eat chocolate eggs and all that...

I'm afraid that Aaron was so full of chocolate eggs that he could eat no lunch!

Such a serious look!

A cheeky grin

my grand daughter, Jessica, is most upset, as Aaron is now taller than her!  I tell her that the day will come that she will be thankful he is so big and protective of her, but she's not too sure I think!

We had a lovely afternoon there, and it all ended too soon, of course!

Bat Plants aka Triffids

These flowers just get better and better as the days go by!

Above is the second flower - you can see the true flowers quite well

The first flower to open is going well - all of its true flowers appear to be open now

The third and smallest flower is just cute!

and all three of them together make a stunning display!