Another Quilt Top Finished!!!!

Last night I finished the top of my version of Sue Daley's Waterloo quilt. I love it!!!
The whole quilt is sewn by hand. I used English Paper Piecing for the baskets and needle turn applique for all the applique. I started the quilt in early November, so it hasn't taken that long to finish........I do tend to have more than one project going at once! lol
Three quilt tops finished in less than 3 weeks!!!
I'm not sure how I am going to quilt it yet.
If you ever get the chance to take a class with Sue, jump at the opportunity. Sue is a great teacher and has lots of wonderful designs. (Just a happy customer, here)

Giveaway winner......................

I wrote everyone's name on pieces of paper and placed them in a bowl.

My DH did the honours of choosing a name.....





Congratulations Kathie of Inspired By Antique Quilts!! Enjoy!

Please let me know your mailing address and your parcel will be in the mail next week.



Thank you to everyone who entered. I wish I had a prize for everyone!
I have loved visiting the new to me blogs. Lots more inspiration!




I have been bitten by the "klosje" bug! Here are my first 4!

Another top finished

I have finished this quilt top for my sister. I intend to hand quilt it. There is quite a detailed design on the pattern, so it will take a while even though the top is only about 40 inches square.


While reading blogs this week I have come across lots of interesting posts.

First of all I can't say no to a good brownie!! Anna of Thimbleanna posted about a very delicious looking brownie. After scrolling down I discovered Anna had kindly included the recipe.

I made a couple of modifications. I love walnuts, so I used walnuts instead of pecans. The recipe also calls for shortening and I believe in USA this means Crisco shortening which is a solid, white product which is 100% vegetable fat. Crisco shortening (or anything similar) is not easily available here in Australia, so I substituted butter.

I can guarantee you will get an amazing brownie using all butter!!! lol





Also this week I found a post on Michele Hill"s blog about a giveaway of a quilt pattern of hers. The pattern was several years old and Michele found 3 copies she kindly offered.
Well, Michele is a very generous lady and she posted out 20 copies of this wonderful pattern!!! :)

The style of this quilt goes perfectly with another of Michele's patterns I have.



Below is a sneak peek of the last basket blocks of the Waterloo quilt. Instead of paper piecing several small squares and triangles as shown in the pattern I decided to fussy cut some of the birds from the Rouenneries bird toile fabric Ranette sent to me.


I have 2 more baskets blocks to finish, then all I have to do is sew on the last border and I will have another top finished!! Yay!


I think I have caught the "bug". Spools!! They all began with Ingrid here....and it seems the spool bug is spreading like wildfire all around the world! Ingrid has a pattern on her blog. So far she has made over 500 and there are lots of others who join her on Saturdays to sew their own spools.

The fabric below arrived last week from here. They are only small pieces of fabric, so I hope I can keep my addiction to this very small stash!




Here is a photo of the same bromeliad from a previous post opened a little more.




A white fuchsia, just for Danielle. :)




Don't forget my giveaway!! (see previous post) You have until tomorrow (Sunday) evening AEST to enter.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who have already entered and left lots of lovely comments. Good luck to all of you!


Thunder is rumbling here and I hope we get a huge downpour. We really need the rain.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

My First Giveaway!

Since I have been lucky enough to win a few giveaways recently I thought I would return the generosity of this wonderful blogging community and offer my first giveaway.

Included are 4 fat quarters from the Fancy Fabric Collection by Lecien, a pair of Scissoroo scissors, Aurifil thread, a tape measure and a notepad which includes sticky notes.


Just leave a comment and I will draw a winner randomly on Sunday night.

Good luck!


Entries are now closed.

A Floral tour

A few of the flowers that are out in my garden at the moment.








Remembering Duncan......

Cheddar Cheese and Crackers top finished.

I finished my CC and C top tonight. There are over 500 pieces in that little top! I love how it turned out. :)
It has been a great challenge for me to machine such tiny pieces....and to try to get my points to match!
Thank you Lori for your clear instructions and especially for your encouragement. :)

Lori has links for pictures of lots of other CC and C quilts here. Lori also had a giveaway where she randomly chose 2 names from that list. I was lucky enough to be chosen. Here is the collection of gorgeous fabrics from Lori that arrived today.

Cheddar Cheese and Crackers Progress

Last night I finished sewing together all the blocks for my Cheddar Cheese and Crackers.
My colour placement is quite different from the original. I am really happy with how this little quilt is coming along. I can't wait to hand quilt it. If you look at this post on Lori of Humble Quilts blog you can see lots more Cheddar Cheese and Crackers quilts.


While watching the Winter Olympics (Go Aussies!!!!) on TV I have been doing some hand sewing on my Waterloo borders. One more side to go, then lots of little circles need to be appliqued on.





On a much more serious note I found this message on the blog of Jane of Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.


Please, make your car a

My Cheddar Cheese and Crackers

I started laying out all the pieces for the Cheddar Cheese and Crackers doll quilt. It took a while to cut everything out and I still have quite a bit of the shirting background to cut out. All the rest of the fabric is ready. Most of the fabric is Moda's Civil War Homefront by Barbara Brackman. The cheddar is a Kona called school bus.

Here is my first block sewn together.



I haven't made anything this small before. Those little squares will be one inch finished! I pieced this by machine......and not one bit of unpicking......yet!!!!!




This rose transformed from a bud to a bloom as the sun shone on it this morning.

Another giveaway win!

I think I must be on a run of good luck! I won another giveaway last week and the parcel has arrived already! This wonderful giveaway was from Diana of Dented Thimble Quilting. Thank you very much, Diana for the wonderful box of goodies!
Originally there were a few more choccies in that package........you know me and chocolate!!!!
Look at those gorgeous notecards....red roses too!!
There are lots of Clover products available here, but I have never seen a Clover seam ripper.
The fabrics are beautiful and I have a project in mind for them. :)
Diana, your surprise package is perfect!!!




Diana also included in package the card above. There are some very inspiring art quilts in an exhibit at the Carnegie Centre in New Albany IN.

This afternoon I have been cutting out lots of tiny pieces of fabric to make Lori's Cheddar Cheese and Crackers quilt. I hope to have almost everything cut out tonight.
Yay....it is all cut out..........photos tomorrow!

The Waterloo quilt has half of the last border done. Progress has been slow for the last couple of weeks, but I hope to get lots more sewing done from now on.

Have a great week, everyone. :)

A giveaway win arrives

Late last year I was lucky enough to win a giveaway kindly offered by Pat of Silver Thimble Talk.
After bit of technical difficulty we finally made contact and Pat was able to post the parcel. Thank you for persevering in trying to contact me, Pat.

This morning the postman delivered a large box.

The cute Raggedy Ann is who greeted me when I opened the lid..................






Also inside is the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks publication I have seen on a few blogs. Guess who has a block in there........................congratulations Pat!!!!!!
Lots and lots of inspiration in those pages!

Pat also included a Moda layer cake......The Caroler by Mary Engelbreit. I have never seen Mary Engelbreit fabric here before and there of lots of delicious choices there! Its gorgeous fabric!!

There are Triangles On A Roll. I have seen these before either, but they came at the perfect time. :) I am about to make a HST quilt....just a small one, but these triangles will make it lots easier!!! Thank you Pat.



Last, but not least, is this wonderful tote bag! Its big and roomy and has the most delicious paisley fabric on the inside. There are lots of pockets on the outside, and below you can see the front section unbuttoned.........there are loops for holding things and 2 clear plastic, zippered pockets. Perfect for putting small things so they won't get lost!


Thank you sooo much Pat. I have already used the bag today. :)


Very little sewing has been happening here lately. Too many other things keeping me busy.
I have plans in my mind for several more small projects and I hope get get a couple of things well on the way to being finished. Another week or 2 and I will be back sewing again....I hope!