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...

Block it Out

My 'Fussy Fairytales' hand quilting continues at a slow pace. It may take me many weeks to finish it. But it is kind of relaxing to sit and sew in a comfortable chair watching a movie.

At the moment my husband and I are watching the first series of Game of Thones. I am not liking it very much - must be the sexist storyline and the fact that only one of the characters has anything that I admire (Jon Snow - and I am expecting him to have some huge flaw emerge in the next few episodes). I  bought my father the book series last year for Father's Day but I am not sure if he has read them all. The other series I am watching as I hand quilt is called 'Barabarians' by the History Channel. It is informative but not gripping me either. Maybe I just don't ruffians in general.

QCA Bee Hive #1 - May 

It's was kind of nice to get the tutorial from Bev - a scrappy Disappearing 9 Patch - as it is was nice to have an achievable project to do today.


Craftsy BOM - May Log Cabin and Wonky Log Cabin

I skipped last month's blocks but it was nice to get back to Amy's tutorials and put together my first improvisational blocks. And for some reason the 2nd photo has loaded wonky! Not intentional I can assure you...but very appropriate.

How my Craftsy blocks look together so far

A Special Gift

Today my husband dropped off this quilt to a cafe in Woodburn. It was the February quilt made by the QCA Bee Hive #1. It is s bright and colourful scrappy log cabin quilt that we are giving to special local mum of two, Kayla. 

Kayla is currently in her second battle with Leukemia and has to be away from her kids in Brisbane while she undergoes aggressive treatment in the hospital. It must be very difficult for her and we all hope and pray for her healing. Meanwhile we are glad to give her a lovely bright quilt to take with her as she has to sit with tubes in her arms.

I wanted the quilt to be easy for her to carry and so I cut a up-cycled pillow case in half and made it into a drawstring bag.

The good news this week, Dani (her best friend) tells me, is that Kayla is doing so well that not only is she able to keep food down and keep her doctors very happy but that she is strong enough to have her kids come and visit her as a special treat.

Thankfully I can (technically) link up this week with TGIFF...this week at Quokka Quilts...

The TGIFFriday Party Is HERE!

I can't tell you how hard it has been for me to get set up for hosting TGIFF this week. Not because it is difficult but because I am technically challenged and always have been! I've had to  join inlinkz and compose a thumbnail link for this post and I am hoping beyond hope that this actually works.

Also I have been challenged to have a finished quilt for this post too! Last week was a sewing write-off as I had the Big Tidy Up happening and then an 8 year old party to organise. Then this week was spent getting x-rays, nursing a broken toe, helping the 8 yo prepare a talk on wallabies and attending two important meetings to support the boys with schooling and socialisation.

So I really worked hard to get the Gelato Log Cabin basted, quilted and bound by today. I feel like I deserve a gelato myself!

'Gelato' scrappy log cabin. Blocks by Quilt Club Australia Beehive#1
Piecing and quilting by me.

Block size 8.5" Finished quilt 40" x 56"

Binding in reverse grey polkadot

This quilt is to be donated as a fundraiser for a local Broadwater/Woodburn mother of two, Kayla, undergoing treatment for leukemia in SE Queensland. Proceeds will go to pay for her accommodation for herself and the 2 children as she is in outpatient services. 

There is a HUGE Fun Day planned in April/May to raise more money. This is where the quilt will be auctioned off.

Thank you to my fellow Quilt Club Australia worker bees for the blocks and even extra fabric that they contributed to this delicious scrappy quilt - Erin, Marieka, Kristy, Beverley, Kate, Jane, Laura, Jodie, Kay, Shirley and Lara. 


Linking Up

So how did you go this week? Any finishes? starts? throw it under the bed failures? Don't be afraid to vent, preen or sob. We are all human here. Do please stop by each other's blogs to comment and encourage.

Cancelled Relief

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday will be HERE in 2 days! So don't forget to come back once you have turned your WiPs (Work in Progress) into TGIFFs. Hehehe!


A 'No Show'


It seems that I have been given a reprieve from my impossibly busy week by the cancellation of the HTTYD 'How to Train Your Dragon' performance in Brisbane tonight. It seems that the dragons had not been behaving themselves...or more likely the vikings. I have been able to reschedule at a discounted rate for Saturday afternoon instead. Phew! That has given me back time today and all of tomorrow to continue working on my 'Gelato' quilt.

WiP - 'Gelato' Scrappy Log Cabin QCA Bee Quilt
I had about 3 hours today, before my SAS meeting, to get quilting on this project.

 So I zig zagged around the edge first.

Then began shadowing the ditch around the blocks.

I am using white thread for the first time ever.

So far I have done the verticals and horizontals.

And I have taped the diagonals ready to quilt for tomorrow (which I have now got back from the dragons!).

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

Currently in progress   - 'Gelato' log cabin quilt - basted and now straight line quilting.
                                               -  'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales' quilt to baste and quilt 

New projects - 0 (but April starts on the weekend and this list # will jump up dramatically)

I am linking up with....

and also entering this quilt into the Festival Of Scrappiness competition at 'Stitched in Color' but I am #264 on the list so I don't like my chances. Imagine the job of judging that one!

The Big Tidy Up #3

Well today was HUGE! 


I thought that I might get a snippet of time to try and baste my 'Gelato Log Cabin', but the man with the pressure cleaner was able to come and do the outside windows, screens and eaves this morning. So as he blasted away, I was on the inside wiping up the water that found it's way in - and in some cases it was a flood. You should never get this done if you are out!

Anyway, the window frames and sills are all cleaned on the inside now. The outside looks amazing! And I also scrubbed the back verandah and tidied up a bit. 

Tristan's Room


I was able to set the other bedrooms into order earlier in the week.The boys both sleep in here.

Duncan's Room/Office


Duncan's clothes are kept in here and he uses the bottom bunk for rest time and the desk for homework but most of time it is a spare/play/now office room.

Fran's Room


Always lots of books and soft toys to wrangle in here. It's hard to get her to clean up without doing it with her at the moment. 

I am linking up with...


                                  



WiP Gelato Quilt Top

 Take one log cabin block and 'nest' the seams to join it to the next block.

Do the same with the 2 block sewn on the row below.

 Keep working down the end of the column matching and nesting the horizontal seams.

 Top half of the quilt...

Top pieced together...

This week's stats:
Completed projects - Little Dolly Quilt A and B

Currently in progress   - 'Gelato' log cabin quilt - quilt top sewn together and ready to be basted.
                                               -  'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales' quilt to baste and quilt 

New projects - the whole HOUSE declutter and clean!!!! That's why no crafting since last Friday.

I'm linking up with....