Slow and Steady progress.....

The first 3 rows of the Morrell Quilt are together.....










I have finished 3 or 4 more blocks as well as the centre medallion, so the next section won't take as long to finish.

The last section is another 24 blocks.

Its finished!!

Here is the laptop bag all finished.


I took the bag outside to photograph the inside. It is a wonderful, sunny day here and there are lots of flowers out. It took longer than I anticipated to finish the bag because of the binding on all the inside seams. One side is machined, but I handstitched the second side down.

The pattern I used is Simplicity 3889. There are 2 style of bag and a slip cover pattern included.
My husband would like me to make him one now.....just not in bright pink!!!



With a deal of trepidation, I recently made my first ever purchase on the Internet. Of course it was fabric!! Look what arrived in the mail...............



It only took 10 days to travel from America to Australia and I was much relieved when it arrived safely!
Theses Rouenneries fabrics are going to be used in a class I am taking with Sue Daley next month. We will be making Sue's Waterloo quilt. I can't wait!!


I am still very much supporting our local quilt shops with my fabric purchases. I loved the pink polished cotton so much I went back to get some more. I discovered a couple more colourways and another spotted design as well.


I have found a new project where some of these fabrics will be used. This morning I signed up for this! Kellie's Quilt Along looks like lots of fun. I always love learning new techniques too!



On Friday I met my sister in the city. She came from the countryside for a day of chatting, window shopping and looking at architecture. We tried the new Lindt chocolate cafe......yum!!!, did lots of walking...........and talking, taking photographs and a little shopping.

Below is one corner of St Paul's Cathedral.


The last 2 photographs were taken in Royal Arcade. (Another chocolate cafe there on the left!!!....next time maybe!!) The clock on the right strikes every hour and is guarded by Gog and Magog, 2 mythical giants.

Just a Peek.......

......at a laptop bag I am making for my daughter. It is almost finished!!

I used the polished cotton I bought recently for the lining. The other 2 fabrics are from my stash.

Another cool, wet day expected here today. Spring is predicted to return next week. :)

Where those Le Moyne stars went.....

Today I finally got all the Le Moyne Stars on my Antique Quilt!!! As the Janiacs say, its not perfect, but its done! A good press will help and some of the mismatched points may still bug me enough for me to unpick the stitching and do them again. Excuse the toes at the bottom of the photo!




Yesterday I made Pumpkin Spice Cake. The recipe came from here. I had never cooked pumpkin as a sweet before. Thank you Kim, for a yummy recipe!!

Progress

The next Morrell block is complete!!! There are 128 pieces in that border! I procrastinated over this block for ages. I was intimidated by the number of tiny pieces. Then I figured if I could sew Dear Jane's Nan's Naiad I could sew anything!

Now I have all the blocks for the first 3 rows complete. I want to join them together before I start any more new blocks. I can't wait to see what they look like together!!


While my fingers were recouperating from all that hand sewing I started a new project on my machine. The fabric is from a Hanamomen line I bought when we were in Tokyo 2 or 3 years ago. More pictures coming...

Today I got the next border sewn on the Antique quilt and I have 2 rows of stars sewn together! I hope it all fits together properly!


A few weeks ago I posted a photo of 2 black swans I saw while I was out walking.

Well, today I walked in the same place and


.......Mr and Mrs Black Swan are now the proud parents of 3 fluffy little cygnets!!!

Finished!!!

They're finished!! Yay!! 28 Le Moyne stars for the AQ are all done.

The next step will be much quicker because I will be machining on the border fabric and machining all the stars together, I can't wait to see what the quilt looks like when the stars are on. I love watching quilts grow. I have the instructions for the next round already, so I have to get a move on! Most of the fabric in this quilt is from the Dargate Lavender and Mints range and I love the designs. Great fabric makes my heart sing!


I recently joined a blog group with this shop. Every few months they send out a little surprise package for you to create something with. I received this tea cup fabric and the card of buttons. The buttons look like mother of pearl. I'm not sure what I will make yet. Any suggestions???


I have been fabric shopping again! More brights. The pink spot fabric is a polished cotton. The purple with butterflies I will be using with something for my daughter; she loves purple and butterflies! The four fabrics at the bottom of the photo are Kaffe Fassett shot cottons. (the little bundle on the left is actually a lilac colour) They are quite a different texture to his prints. They are more loosely woven.

I am planning to use the polished cotton with some other fabrics to make a lap top bag.

I am almost finished the next MQ block. I am taking a days break from hand sewing because I have a sore finger. I think I might have some kind of allergy to something in the fabrics. I usually don't wash my fabric before I sew with it. (........too impatient to get sewing!!) I think I should start washing with my next projects and see what happens.

Below are some irises from my garden. The rose bush behind has single flowers that last only a day. It flowers for many months and almost always has several blooms. The flowers vary from a deep pink to an apricot/pink colour. All the spring flowering bulbs are almost finished now and the rose bushes have grown and are all in bud. Lots of native plants are in flower now too.
When I walk around our neighbourhood the most predominant perfume is Jasmine. We don't have a plant now, but it seems there are several on every street.


Have a great weekend everyone. :)

New specs!!!

I picked up my new spectacles today. Its the first time I have had multifocals, so it is going to take some time to get used to them. The difference for mid and long distance is amazing! Everything is so clear!! It is going to take a while to get used to close up work. There is a little spot I have to find where every thread is clear.......I keep moving my head and losing it!!
It could be I am just tired. How are all my fellow Aussies on the East coast coping with the beginning of Daylight Saving?? I always feel a little jet lagged for a few days after losing an hour of sleep!

The fabric the glasses are resting on is a new find for me today. It is called quilter's sateen. It has a glorious sheen. The colour is a soft, creamy white, rather than a stark white. There were other soft colours available too. I found it here.


The block below is my latest finish for the Morrell Quilt: Devil's Claws.


The MQ block I am working on at the moment has over 100 pieces in the border. 3 sides done, 1 side and 4 corners to go. Then I can join together the first 3 rows!!!!

Only 3 more stars to make for the AQ and then I can start joining them together too.

Fingers crossed I have something significant for my next post!

Happy sewing everyone! :)

Non quilting sewing

Over the years I have made lots of different things. Since I haven't got anything quilty to show for the moment I thought I would post photos of thing I have made in the past.

About 5 years ago I did some millinery classes. The lady who ran the classes was very talented and had been making hats for many years. The hat above was the first one I made. The flower I made from silk ribbon.
My daughter has worn this fascinator several times.



This pillow was made during another class on ribbon embriodery.


A close up of some of the embroidery.



I didn't learn smocking when I was as school and it was something I always wanted to learn. My first 2 children were sons, so it was a wasn't till after I had my daughter I had someone to make smocked dresses for. I kind of got addicted to smocking. lol My daughter had smocked dresses for every occasion! I only stopped making them when she declared she was getting too old for smocking!!

Here are a few of my daughter's dresses from when she was young.


This photo shows the back of a dress with pearl buttons and loops for a closure. The collar is from wide broderie anglais.

This is one of my favourite dresses. It is from Liberty fabric. I just love sewing on liberty!

This dress is from pique with trim from the Liberty fabric left from the previous dress.


A drop waist dress from blue batiste with insertion lace, ribbon beading and embroidery.


This dress is from a wool fabric.


This dress was one of my daughter's favourites. White batiste with silk thread smocking and embroidery. The sleeves have pintucks and a lace trim. The square collar has insertion lace.

The only smocking I do now is the occasional night gown for a new born baby. I hope, one day, I have a grand daughter to make smocked dresses for!



By far the most difficult thing I have every tried to make is a tutu! My daughter took dancing classes for many years and I made many costumes for her. Leotards were pretty simple to make. After years of gymnastics classes for all my children I could almost make a leotard with my eyes closed! lol I tried to make tutus several times. It was like wrestling a rhinoceros!!!!! I did manage a half tutu, with not many layers of netting, once. We ended up buying her tutus and I decorated them. I love sewing on lace, sequins and beads.



A park near were we live, yesterday afternoon.

Another parcel.

I have entered some of the giveaways I have seen since I started blogging, and a couple of weeks ago I had my first win. :) Here is the little purse I won from Lena. Lena sent this parcel from Norway all the way to Australia. Thank you so much Lena. The sewing on this purse is exquisite and I love the butterfly fabric. Beautiful, Lena!!! :)


When I opened the purse, this is what I found inside! Lots of yummy goodies (have I mentioned before I love chocolate???) Those heart buttons are so gorgeous and they will be going on something special.
The Le Moyne stars for the AQ are coming along. I finished another one this morning, so there are 16 now; 12 more to go.
I finished this MQ block last night. I have finished 24 blocks now and have 4 more prepared ready to sew.


These azaleas are by my front door and this photo was taken early this morning. The plant in the foreground is called "Gretel" and it is my favourite azalea. There are several more plants that have darker red flowers in bud at the moment.

Friends.....

.......are like rainbows after dark clouds.




Since I started blogging a few months ago I have been privileged to meet online lots of friendly and talented people. One lady in particular has become a great friend. She has shared her knowledge and has been very generously helping me make the Antique Quilt. Thank you Ranette. I found a package at my door this morning from Ranette! All the way from the otherside of the world!!! Here is what I found inside.



An envelope and several wrapped parcels.




Goodness me!!!! As soon I have finished posting I am going to try that thread with those needles. I have never seen Presencia thread here in Australia before. The fabric is very me; all flowers, paisley, pink, green and cream! Aren't I lucky???? Isn't that tape measure cute? Lovely roses on the box and notepaper and a beautiful card! Thank you Ranette!



Some sewing has been happening here, but nothing is finished.

I have more ideas for using that Kaffe Fassett fabric in my previous post. I am trying to be very good and finish something before I start yet another project!!! However, the temptation to cut and sew that fabric is very difficult to resist!!!






A view from the Mornington Peninsula, not far from here.



Lastly, a thank you to Chookyblue for the tutorial on how to include links in posts.