October finishes

The boat quilt for my grandson is finished. This quilt will be for his cot.

It is quilted simply with stitch-in-the-ditch around each boat and a wave shape on each alternate block.

I used a fabric with all over boats for the backing and I even found a preprinted label with a boat.

All soft and crinkly after a wash.

This months CCCQ block looked deceptively simple....

Block 25, Sarah Stubbs' block.

All those curves took a while to stitch.

I'm looking forward to making Block 26 this month; Love the pattern of this one!


I just managed to complete my Noah and Matilda blocks on the last day of October! There were only 3 blocks this month and the first 2 didn't take me too long.

Cactus Vase.

Mexican Rose.

I procrastinated over the third block! lol

Pineapple.

Not perfect, but done.

Dawn has posted photos of her blocks for November. I'm looking forward to making these. The 3rd one looks a bit of a challenge.....but  I love a challenge!! :)

Mid month also brought my next installment of Cotton and Steel fabrics.

(only 11 fabrics here. Somehow I left one out after admiring them all!)

I've started cutting out hexies from some of these fabrics. I need about 100, so a little way to go yet. These are 2 1/4 inches. The top and bottom fabrics in the left column are Maze and Vale fabrics. I think they make perfect partners for Cotton and Steel.

Yesterday we had a visit from a dear friend who has just come back from several weeks overseas. She brought back these books she found in a small town in Sussex, England.

Perfect reading for a cold and damp Sunday.  Looks like there is lots of inspiration behind those covers. :)

Have a great Sunday, everyone! :)

I think he likes it!!!!

I finished an alphabet wall hanging for my Grandson this week. He is enchanted with all the bright colours. I bought the panel a few months ago and simply used a cotton batting, machine quilted it around each square and bound it with a red and white spot.

This morning I started quilting his boat quilt.

 I have been playing around with choosing patterns and fabrics for my next project/s!!!

I have had these patterns for a little while now, waiting for the right fabrics to come along. I won't be starting them for a while, but its is always fun to play with putting fabrics and colours together.

I haven't been ignoring my reproduction fabrics.

This week I also finished the next CCCQ block.

Block 24 Alice Richmond.

The oak leaf and reel pattern is one of the very first patterns I appliqued and it is still a favourite of mine.


After looking at some photos I took of my lone star progress I decided I wasn't happy with the colour layout. Over the last couple of weeks I have asked for opinions and played with fabric arrangements until I was happy.
This is what my lone star looks like now....

I have taken out both dark green fabrics and replaced the pink points with red.

This month's Noah and Matilda blocks are coming along. No stitching yet, but I have made all the templates and chosen the fabrics.

I am attempting to find more sewing time by spending less time on the computer.  However, I am missing the interaction with other bloggers.  Does anyone else use Instagram? (I am mjnorindr if you would like to look for me) I have found several bloggers on Instagram and I found it much quicker to post and comment than on blogs.

Spring is here in Melbourne. The weather is warmer and the days are getting longer.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Quilt top finished, Noah and Matilda and more.....

I recently finished this quilt top for my Grandson. It will be for his cot, but big enough so that it can be tucked in at the sides and end. I have chosen a backing fabric and will be basting this weekend.

I am up to date with my Noah and Matilda blocks!!!! Yay!

This is the grape block from last month with some embroidery.

And this month's 4 blocks completed.

I made a couple of modifications to the top right block. Instead of appliqueing tiny yellow circles I embroidered some french knots. The stems for 4 of the hearts are chain stitch rather than a narrow fabric stem.

Some wonderful fabrics have come in the post. You may remember I won a giveaway on Lynne's blog earlier this year. The first bundle of Cotton + Steel fat quarters arrived from Pink Castle fabrics' Cotton + Steel Club.

Earlier I  prepurchased a fat quarter bundle of all the Cotton + Steel basics. The wait was worth it!!

I have lots of ideas to use these!!!  Anyone know where I can find a few extra sewing hours??? Lol

On the hand piecing front I have completed the second section of my lone star quilt.

This is going to be a big quilt!!!!

Spring is in the air here in Melbourne. Its another delightful, sunny day. Hope it is a great day where ever in the world you are. :)

Piecing and Applique

There is not as much time spent stitching around here these days, but I am still managing to fit plenty in.

Last week we went for a long drive and I attempted, for the first time, to hand piece in the car. I can't read while the car is moving, so I was quite surprised to discover I could stitch!
The extra stitching time meant I could make lots of progress on my lone star. I finished the first diamond a couple of days ago.

Two of the rows are fussy cut from one piece of fabric.

Luckily for me there is only a tiny amount of wastage from the floral fabric.

My Noah and Matilda BOM is going well.  I have completed 3 blocks...

Those circles of fabric on the bottom right will be made in to tiny purple grapes. There are 67 of them!!! I usually use Perfect Circles to make circles, however these need an even smaller circle than the smallest I have.  I'm still trying to figure out how I will make them.

I have finally finished part 1 of Di Ford's mystery quilt for Quiltmania.

Slow progress has been made on preparing the circles for part 2.


Now, I don't really need another project to work on, but I started another little quilt for my grandson.
This one will be totally machine pieced, so won't take too long to complete. I've made 2 of 15 of the pieced blocks...

The alternating blocks are plain.

I first saw the quilt on the Instagram page of @messyjesse1. The pattern is from Quiltmag.com and search "nautical".
I will be making a smaller version.

Have a great week everyone.