Keeping busy. New projects and WIP.

I was excited when I read late last year that Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts was going to have a Block of the Month this year. Blogger Girls Block of the Month will run for 6 months and there are also 6 other bloggers involved. On the 1st of each month 2 blocks are shown. Both are the same design, but by using different fabrics they can look very different. You can choose to make 12 blocks or just 6 blocks.

I have had stashed away for a while a fat quarter pack of Olde World Style, which was designed by Monique. I will be using these fabrics for my blocks. Below is my first block.

In my last post I wrote about a win from Monica.

Here is the first finish! A little pincushion :)

I used a layer cake of Wiscasset (by Minick and Simpson for Moda) which I have had for some time.

Wiscasset is also my fabric for my next start...

Lots more of these little blocks to go!

My next new project is to once again join Lori's annual Quiltalong. This time her little quilt is called Abundance. The first installment of instructions are on Lori's blog today.
I have started choosing fabrics.

Looking at them in the photo I am considering changing a couple. I think I need a brighter pink in there.


And not forgetting any of my current projects....

I have to have a hand stitching project to work on in the evenings.

My 6th block for the Chester County Criswell quilt is coming along nicely. Just the centre red piece to stitch now.

When this block is finished I will go back to another of my (many!) hand stitching projects.


I have also been working on last year's Bloggers BOM quilts. All the setting pieces for the bright quilt have been cut and laid out ready to sew together.

Looking forward to some cooler weather and lots of sewing! :)

Have a great week everyone!


PS. Recently my inbox has been bombarded with "junk mail" trying to sell "who knows what" , so,  instead of going back to having every commenter try to copy an often indecipherable code, I have enabled comment moderation. Keeping in mind I am in a different time zone to many of my readers it may take a few hours before comments appear on my blog.

Blogger's BOM catching up.

Finally, I have caught up and have finished blocks 12 and 13 of Blogger's block of the Month.

Thank you Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works for organising such a great Quilt Along! For the last 13 months we have had a different block designed by a different blogger. At the beginning I couldn't decide on which fabrics to use, so I ended up making 2 blocks every month: one bright and one with repro fabrics.
Block 12 comes from Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side and the lucky last, block 13,  is from Sarah Fielke of The Last Piece.

Blocks 12 and 13  in bright fabrics....

...and in repros.

Here are all my blocks together!!

Now to decide on fabrics for settings.



A couple more holiday photos from Honfleur..

This carousel is more than 110 years old.

An interesting door that I will use for quilt inspiration.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend Everyone! :)

New Block of the Month.

For quite some time I have been admiring lots of red and green quilts I have seen on blogs and the Internet in general.

Recently I have been drawn to one in particular. Partly because the patterns are coming out as a block of the month, partly because it is an appliqued quilt, but mostly because of the story behind the original quilt.  The Chester County Criswell Quilt was made in the 1850s in Pennsylvania as a wedding quilt. The blocks on this friendship quilt were all made by different people and all are appliqued signature blocks. The quilt now is in Australia and lives with the Great Great Grand daughter of the bride who the quilt was made for. (click on the link above and scroll down to read more about the quilt's history) Sharon is going to share photos of completed blocks on her blog.

I completed the first block last night.

The fabric in this block is from the Friendship collection. I used needleturn applique to stitch the block.

I plan to use different backgrounds for each block.



For the sake of completeness ( and my perfectionist tendencies!!), I remade one of my Blogger's BOM blocks. Thank you to Debbie for pointing out my "blooper"!!! I didn't notice until you pointed it out.
Here is the block with everything the right way around!

The sun is shining here. Spring is on its way!

Have a great day everyone!

Lots of sewing!

The last week or 2 has been very productive, sewing wise. Plenty of progress on current projects, some new things, an old project being brought back to life and even a little finish!

Firstly, I completed my 2 Blogger's BOM blocks for July. The Split Ohio Star block comes from Victoria of Bumble Beans.

Bright block...

Repro block...

Only one more block to come now and we have all 12!

I have prepared some leaves ready to applique on my Liberty and linen quilt.

The current Roseville Album block is coming along well.

Last night I finished appliqueing the flower in the top left corner, so the next set of pieces have to be attached before I can progress on this block.

Last week I went to the Melbourne Quilt and Craft Show where I took 2 classes. I had never made socks before or made a clasp purse. Yesterday I put my new skills into practice and made this little purse.

The inside is lined with shot cotton.

You may recall the 2 fabrics from this post when I went to Amitie a few weeks ago.
 

The socks are still a work in progress. They are being made on circular needles, another first for me. :)

There was a wonderful show of quilts to see, including a special exhibition of 16 quilts, several of which were made by ladies who attend the same Friday sewing group as I do. You can see the Mrs Billings Coverlets and read more about them here, here and photos of them all here.




I have started another purse. This one will be made from lots of hexagons. I have about half of the 200 I need to prepare done. Here are a few.

Yes, more hexagons!! This time they are 1/2 inch.

The fabric I am using is the small pieces I had left over from the Morrell Quilt BOM.

The Morrell Quilt will be making more appearances on my blog because I have started to hand quilt it!

 

Hand quilting the Morrell quilt is going to be a marathon effort! It is my project for watching Games. (A huge thank you to Karen for squeezing in basting my quilt so quickly!)  Do you have a special project to work on while watching the Olympic Games on TV?
I have made a start on the centre and I can't wait to get out to some of the more interesting blocks.  The quilting thread I am using is Aurifil 28 and the batting is a wool blend. I have mostly used YLI quilting thread before and so far I am happy with the Aurifil. The hoop has a lap stand so I can quilt while comfortably seated on the couch!

Have a great week!

Blogger's Block of the Month and a Giveaway.

I finished my Blogger's BOM blocks this morning. Our designer for June is Pam from Pam Kitty Morning. Once again we have been given a lovely block and great instructions.

My repro block....

...and the bright one.

Now for the giveaway!


I bought 2 of these panels, so I could share one with one of my readers.

The panel is from this collection. (Virginia Quilt Museum - Chintz Medallion by Quilting Treasures)
It measures approx 21" w x 22.75" h.

 Some close ups....

If you would like to win the panel, simply leave a comment and I will randomly choose one winner next Monday, July 9th.

Good Luck!! :)

Blogger's Block of the Month and more.

We are up to month 9 of Bloggers BOM and this month the block was designed by my friend Cathy of Cabbage Quilts.

Cathy created a jewel box block.

Here are my 2 blocks. The first in repro style fabrics.....

....and the second in brights.

It has been a while since I photographed all my blocks together, so here they are.

If you would like to see the blocks that other bloggers have been making there is a flickr group here with lots of great photos.


While I was sick I started crocheting a cowl for my DD. I has been a very long till since I did any crochet and it is amazing how quickly everything came back. Here is a photo of my progress. It will be a little wider and I will add more edging to the other side as well.

 Currently I am working on a Friends of Baltimore block. Today I plan to start adding buds to this block.

It is the second day of winter here. It was a cool start this morning. Now the sun is shining and it is looking like a beautiful day in Melbourne. 
Have a great weekend. :)

Secret sewing revealed and Blogger's BOM

During the last few weeks I ave been working on some gifts. Two have been finished and are now in the hands of their new owners.

The first is another Hari-Kuyo needlebook.  This time I embellished the front cover by back stitching around two of the flowers. The bird has a bead for his eye.

The book's ties are made the same way as each of the other 2 books I have made.

This time I stitched some French ribbon down the spine of the book to cover the stitches made when sewing in the pages.

The second gift was a camera pouch made with a pattern from here.

The instructions were very clear, comprehensive and easy to follow.
I made the largest size: approx 17 cm wide, 11 cm high and 9 cm deep (approx 7"  W, 4" H and 3.5" D)

For the external fabric I used a Lecien fabric by Yoko Saito from her Collection Etoffe Imprevue.  I like the subtle print and the texture created by an interesting weave.

When the front flap is opened the contents of the bag are still held securely with an extra closure secured by an elastic drawstring.

The lining is a matching grey plain cotton.

Blogger's BOM is up to month 8 and this time the block was presented by Amy Lobsiger of Mrs Schmenkman Quilts. Amy gave very clear instructions and also some ideas for different fabric colour choices to make the block look quite different.

Here are my 2 blocks:

A very dear friend of mine is facing a battle with her health. If you are so inclined, some prayers for her would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Blogger's BOM, little houses and secret sewing

Already it is the 7th month of Blogger's BOM and the latest block comes from Allison Harris from Cluck Cluck Sew.  Here are my 2 blocks.

My housing construction is coming along slowly, but steadily. Below are my five recent completions.

All over the world there are hundreds of ladies making these little houses from scraps. Each house block is just 3 inches square. To see what everyone else has been making go here. Some very industrious ladies have   finished their quilts already!

Now for the secret sewing. :)  It was my sister's birthday last week so I decided to make her a needlebook. She reads my blog, so I couldn't post the photos until she received the package.

I followed the same design as Susan's Hari Kuyo needlebook. The pages are wool felt and all the other fabrics are from old kimonos.

These needlebooks are lots of fun to make. I have started my third one! :)

The last few weeks I have had less time to read and comment on  blogs. I hope to be able to get back into my blogging routine soon.
Thank you for everyone who has visited and especially to those who have left comments. I love comments! ......and replying to them. :)