Two quilt tops finished!!

I'm on a roll! I have finished 2 quilt tops!!

This afternoon I finished stitching all the diamonds together! (sorry the photo is sideways!) After being inspired by seeing Wanda have her top completed and Melissa (who was in the Kaffe and Brandon class too) get her quilt all finished, I decided to get my diamonds out and get them all together.
It is all machine stitched, so it didn't take long to sew up. I am quite happy with how it turned out. My favourite block is the one with the bird.
Now to choose a binding and backing fabric.

The next quilt is much smaller and has been a UFO for even longer! Remember Midnight Stars???
I started the blocks waaay back in January. I wasn't happy with my piecing (I still need lots of practice at machine piecing tiny pieces of fabric!) so I put it away.
A little later the blocks came out again. Then I procrastinated about the setting fabric!!
Finally, a couple of weeks ago it was third time lucky for this little quilt.

It is still a bit wonky, but I hope with some quilting (and not looking too closely!) it will end up OK.
I have backing and binding fabric chosen, so hopefully this little one will be a finished quilt soon.

I have started embroidering the owl corner blocks for Tailfeathers (oh it feels good to be hand stitching again! :)), so I hope to have another finished top soon!

I must admit I still prefer to hand stitch rather than piece on the machine. Hand work may be much slower, but I find it much more relaxing. (and I find I am more accurate too).
Do you prefer hand stitching or machine work?

I have another new button on my side bar. It is for Janet's  Trailing Vines Quilt Along. Janet is making a quilt inspired by Susan McCord's Vine quilt and she has kindly offered to share her pattern with anyone who is interested. The quilt has panels of vines with pieced leaves that are all appliqued. It is an amazing quilt!  Will you be joining in?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Catching up..

Midnight Stars Progress.

  I am making slow progress with Lori's Quiltalong:  Midnight Stars. Two blocks are finished and 2 need the outer sections added. All the small units have been prepared, they just need to be sewn together. I have had second thoughts over the background fabric I had chosen, so its back to the drawing board for that one!                                                       The completed blocks measure only 5 1/2 inches (unfinished). I challenged myself to make these blocks by machine, so there has been a bit of frog stitching to get them to line up properly!  I am much more used to hand sewing tiny pieces of fabric.  Some of the fabric I used in these blocks was left over from the Morrell Quilt......hmm...... still need to prepare all those triangles for the border on that one!

 One day last week I was surprised by a pink package at the door. My dear friend Ranette sent me a beautifully stitched wool pin cushion, note paper and card and seam ripper. The handle of the seam ripper was hand turned by the husband of a quilter Ranette knows! The card Ranette sent also has a great quilt design on it. Thank you Ranette!

While I was in Canberra I worked on the stitchery for this Tail Feathers block. I finished the borders yesterday. The next block is well on its way.

 I have finished 3 more blocks from Barbara Brackman's Civil War  Quilt blocks. (the wobbly stars might get stitched again!!!) I still have one more to make to catch up.

 I have also been busy preparing all the papers and fabric ready to make the little quilt pattern I won from Jeanneke. It will be all hand made using English Paper Piecing. (see previous post for a photo).
I have worked on the Folk Art Fantasy wall hanging too, and I only have the vase to do now.
Lots of projects, but only a little progress on each.

Close ups of flowers from my garden. The flower below is an agapanthus. I don't know what the other 2 are.
Does anyone know?? The top one is a bulb. The plant has thin, strappy leaves and is about 25 cm (10 inches) tall. It has bloomed amongst my spring flowering bulbs.
The last flower is from a bush that is about 150 cm (5 ft) tall.

Thinking of all my fellow Australians who have recently endured hardship due to weather extremes. In both Queensland and Victoria there have been floods, cyclones in Queensland and on the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia there have been bush fires.
Stay safe everyone.

I am using a new version of Blogger for the first time.....there are a few changes to get used to.

Is one more new project one too many????

.....not when it is Lori's new Doll Quilt Quiltalong! :) This time her quilt is called Midnight Stars and I have joined in. I have sewn the little hst squares in the first step and I am looking forward to the next set of instructions.....no photos yet.


The photo above is my latest finished blocks for Josephs Coat. These blocks were already prepared, so I just had to applique down the petals. I have lots of half square blocks to make now.



Below is North Star, the second block from Barbara Brackman's Civil War Commemoration quilt.


Edit.......I have just been told by a lovely lady my points are on upside down!! Ooopps!!!
I am un stitching as I type (well almost! lol).....new photo coming!!!


North Star the second!!!!



Now it looks like a star! Thank you Julia :)




Look what just arrived! :)






Time for a cup of tea and a quiet read.

The fabric the book is lying on is also a creation of Michele Hill's. This is her first range of fabrics and it is called The Adelaide Collection.