Flowers and Stars

I have finished all my Christmas shopping, just have to wrap presents, then I'm done. I have family staying from overseas and my daughter arrives on Tuesday. Its been a few years since the whole family celebrated Christmas together. Looking forward to it.

I am still making stars. I only made 3 in this size.

2" papers

These are my Downton Abbey hexies... lol. that is the only time I make them and I cant wait for the new season to start in January.

Oh, and I have pin basted the Wish quilt but still have not started the quilting.

                               These are small stars 1" papers

 

This is the pattern I am using. Its from the Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine Vol 9 No 4
An ongoing project, and I am using fabric from my scrap basket

 

                                14 stars and 26 hexies per strip     

 

 I crocheted a blanket for my girls, Suzi and Sasha, and made two blankets.

A GREAT ICON AND LEGEND

I am deeply saddened by the passing of the Father of our nation, Nelson Mandela. My prayers and sincere condolences to his wife Graca, and his family.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

 YOUR LEGACY LIVES ON IN ALL OF US.

GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE TATA MADIBA,

 HAMBA KAHLE!

Its good to be home

I have been in the Western Cape since September, for my sons 21st Birthday party. Nice long break but had to be home for a family wedding tomorrow. I finished the happy scrappy spring top before I left for CT just did not have the time to post pics.

I quickly prepared a take along project - English paper piecing

There is always time for sewing!

I have bags to unpack, a funeral to attend this afternoon and tomorrow, the hairdresser and wedding. Sunday we are invited to a family braai - lamb on the spit. Phew! what a busy week!

Time flies when you're having fun...

This month just flew by. Daughter has been and gone, we did lots of fun stuff together. I miss her! The weather has been beautiful  this past week with 31/32C days, too lovely to be indoors, except yesterday was windy with light rain so I decided to spend the day sewing and managed to get 6 checkerboard strips done. Also finished the 5th row of the scrappy spring quilt and added some of the applique elements. I still have to cut out the bunnies. Hopefully I can get them done this week. 

My Winter Garden

Although it's mid winter here, Saturday was 27C. We are so lucky to have mild sunny winters and its no wonder our winter slogan is " Durban, the warmest place to be "
My daughter arrives today for two weeks, so excited! There won't be much sewing being done.

 

chillies drying in the sun

 

I am off to the airport to fetch my daughter,  yaaay!!

Happy Scrappy Spring

Yesterday I sewed the 3rd and 4th rows. There are still two more weeks to go before the fifth row of the pattern is released - cant wait for the 1st of August!   I suppose I could start on the checkerboard sashing and applique in the meantime. I have to use fabric for the applique as non of our local quilting shops stock wool.

Update on Happy Scrappy Spring

I have pieced the first two rows and completed the stitching on four of the five blocks on the third row.

The strips measure 58"

I'm now stitching the basket block

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Happy Scrappy Spring

I am doing Kaaren's Happy Scrappy Spring quilt and I have finished the first and second rows of stitching.

Hoping to find time to sew the pieced blocks this weekend. My sister has had a major operation and I have been driving to her home everyday, taking her lunch and spending time with her. My son is also home on a months holiday. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in a day. I have traced out the third row and I have started stitching the wreath block, its a 161/2 by 161/2 inch block - really enjoying this BOM.
The button and link to this BOM is in my sidebar.

Wordless Wednesday

Barnyard Plaids

Telkom!! GRRRrrrrrrr
After telephone calls to Telkom on Saturday, I still could not get Internet, I don't know if it was the heavy rain or what. In frustration, I switched the computer off. I hope all Moms had a fabulous Mothers Day. 
I wonder if winter has arrived early. We've had a freezing cold spell. I had to get out my winter slippers and jerseys.
I have bought another one of Beth Broodryk's patterns. I love her miniature designs.They are all  paper foundation piecing. I also bought a pack of plaids.

                                 blocks completed

 

I used fabric from my stash for the borders. Ready for quilting.

Have you seen Kaaren's new BOM, Happy Scrappy Spring?  It's a six month row along and ends 6th September, just in time for Spring here.......I'm so tempted, I love scrap busting projects.
 
Sadly, my father in law passed away peacefully on the 30th April. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and we miss him already. R.I.P.  John Alfred Wright Ellis   10 September 1923  -  30 April 2013

Copper Thieves

We have been without internet access since the 18th March. Our service provider had several main cables stolen.  After lodging a complaint, we eventually received a sms message from Telkom.

No internet = more time to quilt. I finished my Raggedy quilt top in 2011, now finally, its quilted and bound. Also finished quilting a  table runner and, mini whirlwind quilt.

 Quilted different designs in each block, I even tried feathers

  machine quilted the centre and outlined the flowers with invisible thread 

 hand quilted

Yay! so happy to be back online.

Clutter Quilting Peppadews

Inspired by the book Clear your Clutter by Karen Kingston I started the year off by clearing out cupboards. Its amazing how much stuff we collect/hoard over the years. 12 bags of paper went into recycling, boxes of books and magazines,clothes,crockery etc went to the charity shop. Why do I need 15 vases?! I kept one. As I was clearing, I found things I had forgotten about and clothes still with the price tags attached that I had never worn. Now, when I open the cupboards I can see/find everything. No more surprises!
It feels like 40C today- no energy!

Several tops need quilting . I moved my machine to the dining table, its a spacious 8 seater, much more comfortable than at the small table in my sewing room, and started on the raggedy quilt, doing a little quilting every morning. By 9am its too hot and humid to quilt. I just have the border to quilt and the binding to sew on then I will have 6 tops left to quilt.

                                                                 
Peppadews growing wild in my garden, they are everywhere. Delicious stuffed with cream cheese, on sandwiches, pizza, in salads. I have preserved enough and left the rest to dry on the plants, there's just too much.

Books I have enjoyed,
Secret son - Melissa Dien
The lollipop shoes - Joanne Harris
The Partisans Daughter - Louis De Bernieres
Talking to Heaven - James Van Praagh
Inner Tranquility - Darren Main
Clear you Clutter - Karen Kingston
The Next Always - Nora Roberts -Book One of the Inn at Boonsboro Trilogy

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013.