Merry Month of May

May Finishes

This month has seen me:

• learn the art of handquilting. Makes for a lovely finish.
• cut into my stash of Katie Jump Rope - twice.
• continue to enjoy the projects in the Zakka Sew-Along. And make some new blog friends through it.
• almost finish my second ever bag.
• fall in love with linen.
• finally finish the 'Fussy Fairytales' Quilt.
• Give the QCA Bee#1 Scrappy Log Cabin quilt to a deserved mum.
• Start hosting my own linky called 'Sunday Stash' where folks can exhibit their latest stash additions.
• Learn how to make my own 'button'.
• Hit 100 followers - and have a small give-away to say thank you.

Viewing - 'Titanic - the mini-series', 'Downton Abbey Series 2, Game of Thrones Season 1, The Voice Australia and Silent Witness.

Reading - The Third Reich Day by Day- Christopher Ailsby, Revolutionary Parenting - George Barna and The Hungry Ocean - Linda Greenlaw.

1. 'Fussy Fairytales' - finished 30/5    2. 'Fussy Fairytales' - back    3. 'FF' block and hand-quilting detail 
4. 'FF' - binding detail    5. 'FF' hand-quilting detail    6. 'FF' hand-quilting detail
7. Zakka Style Sew- Along - Raincloud Mug Rug - finished 14/5  8. ZSSA - RMR hand-stitching detail   9. ZSSA - RMR back
10. ZSSA  Itty Bitty Magnets in charcoal - finished 8/5  11. ZSSA - IBM in natural - finished   12. Katie Jump Kites - 56 blocks sewn 30/5
13. KJK block detail   14. ZSSA Patchwork Pencil Case (back)  - finished 1/5   15. KJK PPC front detail
16. Scrappy Log Cabin - binding 4/5  17. SLC - finished 4/5    18. SLC (back)

19. Craftsy May BOM - finished 4/5   20. QCA Bee#1 Disappearing 9 Patch 4/5  21. Five long-sleeved t-shirts - 22/5

So how did you go in May? Are you also linking up with...

Wet Wednesday WiPs

The past few days we have had heavy showers followed by bright sunshine. It makes consistent laundry drying impossible but makes great sewing weather.


Stem Messenger Bag

I am up to the second last section of the bag assemblage however I do not have the necessary hardware to complete the straps. I have put in an order from the Etsy store called sewingsupplies, however I am not sure how long it will take to arrive. But then The Patchsmith came up with a clever idea of going to an op-shop and buying an old bag to re-purpose it's tri-bar slider combination. So I may get a chance to do that in the next day or so.


Fussy Fairytales

I tried so hard to get this project finished by LAST Friday but even after 5 hours of hand sewing the binding I had only reached halfway. Hopefully I can finish by this Friday.


Katy Jump Kites

Today I was able to complete the further 19 blocks and now I have the layout of the quilt on my design wall. I had to tweak a few blocks just to spread out the pattern of the fabrics, but it did come together quite smoothly.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  binding half sewn on.

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - 56 blocks sewn

                                               - Messenger Bag - lining and outer sewn.
                                               

On Hold projects   - 0

So how are you going with your WiPs this week?


I am linking up with...

100 Followers Give-Away Winner

I had hoped to post a tips tutorial today to go along with this week's Zakka Style Sew-Along project - the Messenger Bag - however, I am not quite finished it. Here's a sneak peak though.


Last week I decided not to link up with Sew Mama Sew's big Give-Away Day because I just wanted to reward all you regular followers who bother to come and visit me on regular basis. So the 100 Followers Give-Away was a low-key in-house affair. I really don't have aspirations of growing large and then pursuing sponsorship.

So the winner of the Sew-Lux mug rug kit is...#21  Sooli from South Australia. 


Congratulations and I will contact you and post this kit out this week.

Sunday Stash #15

Textured and Tweed

This week I made use of my $40 off if you spend $100 voucher at out local Spotlight store. I was on the hunt for fabrics and notions for the next few Zakka Style projects. I found some delightful new textured solids and a delicious tweed.

I still have to hunt down some specialist bag-making pieces such as metal tri-bar slider and angular loop combo and a curved metal purse frame, but I did get a metre or two of fusible interfacing in medium and light and some better fusible webbing called 'Heat and Bond'.

This book was only $7.99 at my local Lindcraft.

Thank you to Simone from Local Honey Crafts and Susan from Patchwork and Play who managed to link up last week despite the hiccups in the display on my blog. I am hoping this week that the links will work properly.  


What do you have this week that you would like to link up and share?

Flying a Kite

Fussy Fairytales

 I have been slowly working my way through tying the larger patches of un-quilted windows with flourishes of hand-quilting to highlight the features in the print. 

That's what make Heather Ross' Far Far Away prints so delightful to work with because there's always a little flower, owl or sock to embelish. 

I have only to make a few more panels secure and then I should be able to start making the binding.

Katie Jump Kites

Meanwhile I have been flying through the blocks of the 'Katie Jump Kites' top. I guess that I am just over half way now. Each block is so easy to put together with only 3 seams.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  hand quilting the larger sections

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - 37 out of 56 blocks sewn
                                               

On Hold projects   - Mystery Quilt - top pieced

How are your WiPs this week?


I am linking up with...

Mundane but Necessary

We've had a few cold mornings this past week and the flannelette sheets are now on the beds. I've also had to purchase a few winter uniform pieces and that means sewing on many name labels. I've also had to do a bit on repair work on some knees in the long trousers and track pants. All a bit mundane really.

But I did have some fun putting some cute pictures on long sleeved t-shirts for Fran.


100 Followers Give-Away


Over the weekend this blog hit 100 followers and as a thank you I want to give away little something. This is a pattern and materials for a whirlygig mug rug. I am happy to just keep the give-away to those who currently follow along - I am not looking for large numbers to join up.

So all you have to do is tell me your current town of residence in a comment below. I will post internationally too. 


Mr Random will pick one of you next Tuesday 29th May at 9pm Australian Eastern standard time. Just make sure you have an email address linked to your comment.

To Brighten Up

Kayla rugs up

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to face a disease like Leukemia and then all the painful side effects from radiation and chemotherapy designed to treat it. So when I heard that young single mother of two, Kayla, was having to spend weeks away from her family, my heart went out to her.

Kayla and best friend Dani

My online Quilting Bee and I had made a bright scrappy log cabin quilt in February and I offered it, to a local auction, to raise funds for Kayla. However, her best friend Dani, thought that keeping it for Kayla might be a better idea. It is certainly bright enough to brighten up anyone's day.

The latest news is that Kayla is doing so much better that her kids have been able to visit her in hospital. Kayla comes from a small town that raised nearly $10 000 to pay for her respite accommodation while she is in treatment. The community have been so supportive. 

Live, Love, Laugh

up-cycled pillowcase carry bag

We all pray for her recovery.

Quilt Club Australia Bee


QCA was born out of a group that made simple lap quilts for the children and elderly of the Lockyer Valley in Queensland. This, mostly farming, community was devastated by an 'inland tsunami' during the Great Queensland Floods of January 2011.

This year we began our first Bee groups. I chose February and a scrappy log cabin design. The 11 other ladies sent me their blocks and I sewed them together in March.  Considering the different machines and quilters, I only had to adjust 6 seams to make them all line up correctly. I machine quilted the diagonals and shadowed the ditch where the blocks joined.  

Through this group I have learned that quilting can make a cheerful difference to someone going through a difficult time. Our Bee has further quilts to make for causes and that makes my heart glad.

I am linking up with...

Sunday Stash #14

This week I received some swapped fabric in the form of a "Rainbow Charm Swap' run by Danielle of Threads n Mess. We had to supply 1 metre of fabric and cut it up into 56 charm squares to post off to Danielle. She did all of the hard work of sorting out and re-posting back to  us. I am really happy with what I received back. No plans for it as yet.

After making the teeny tiny magnets I also ordered the complete collection of Brambly Hedge stories from 'The Book Depository'. It came this week. So very lovely.


What's new in your stash? 

Feel free to link up. Link will stay open all week.

Fresh Air

We've had some glorious dry autumn days this week. Crisp morning starts but lots of sun and a little breeze during the day - perfect for drying the washing on the clothesline. Yesterday I had a 2 hour job of sorting out 8 baskets of dry washing, folding and then putting away. I was successful in the latter stage by only 50%. I still have my basket, the towels, the sheets and the kitchen stuff to put away. 


And then there is the other aspect of domestic chore - shopping! I had to head into town this morning to purchase some long school pants, jumpers and groceries. Another hour of packing away groceries and it was lunchtime. Settle down for a tasty fresh ham, tomato and lettuce roll and reward myself with a 'James Taylor (whenever I see his smiling face...I have to smile myself) Live in Concert' dvd.


However washing and grocery shopping weather is not conducive to sewing. 


Fussy Fairytales Update

I have nearly finished hand quilting Fussy Fairytales. I am still concerned that the larger panels have too much unbasted fabric to contend with.  As quilt designer Kate Conklin hand quilted her original version, I wanted her opinion on what to do. So I sent her a message, to which she relied that some of the panels might be too big.

The largest section is 6"x7" and so I may have to add some more stitch-work to tie the quilt sandwich together. I can't decide whether to baste these sections with some kind of invisible thread, a short little basting knot or to highlight a feature within the panel. So more hand-quilting is in store for me. I don't really mind putting in the effort to get a more satisfactory finish. Plus starting next week, there is a new linky party each Friday for hand-stitchwork.


You can find all the details at...
                                                        
Katie Jump Kites

That is what I have named this quilt, a combination of the fabric line 'Katie Jump Rope' by Denyse Schmidt and the pattern 'Kaleidoscopic Kites' by Faith @ Fresh Lemons Quilts. I finished the cutting on Monday and I got just an hour and a half of sewing time today to start the patchwork.

The blocks are all made up the same way however, different in the fabric choice so I had to keep referring to the grid reference. They came together quite quickly and to have a new project to sew is a breath of fresh air. 

This week's stats:
Completed projects - ZSSA - Rain Cloud Mug Rug

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  hand quilting the windows and peekaboo                                           squares.

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - on cutting table
                                               

On Hold projects   - Mystery Quilt - top pieced

How are your WiPs going? 


I am linking up with....