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Mini Quilts

Lovely rain and a few cooler days, I managed to get some sewing done. I enjoyed sewing these paper pieced blocks, a bit fiddly to start and I messed up on the first two but finally got it right, ready for quilting and binding.


                                                                    2-1/2 " blocks

also finished these fun blocks. Pattern, 12 days of Christmas from Temecula Quilt Co -
have to decide on sashing and borders.

                                                           3-1/2 " blocks

I have wanted these rulers for ages. Next on my list is the dresdan ruler.

 My wrist pincushion that I have used for years was looking drab - so I used my Go! cutter and felt.

                                                              from this

                                                                    to this
                                                                      

I love  The Quilt Show.   They allowed  free access to their shows on the weekend and I really enjoyed the ones I saw- lots of good tips. I especially enjoyed Sue Nickels and Sue Garman's work - gorgeous quilts and wonderful inspiration.
I've just seen the weather report for tomorrow - 32C hot and humid. Luckily its a public holiday so its off to the beach I go!  

I can't believe its Autumn

Despite the unbearable heat and humidity that has sapped my energy, I have been busy removing the applique paper  tearaway stabilizer from this quilt top that has been sitting on the shelf far too long. This was a BOM by Cotton Tale Fabrics in Hillcrest. It's going to be a challenge quilting all that cream background.

                                        88" x 88"

I have started a miniature snail trail, paper foundation piecing. I am using charm squares from my stash. Each block is 2 1/2 inches. I have completed 6 blocks - 8 more to go.

    
and I have completed the last Red Brolly stitchery.

                                           reading this book

 Some lovely free BOM's in blog land - click on the buttons in my sidebar. So many that I would love to do.

Happy New Year!

Christmas and New Year with my family in the Western Cape was wonderful. Now I am trying to get back into the swing of things but this heat wave is not helping.  I started stitching the final Red Brolly Christmas stitchery and I have several tops that I want to baste and quilt but that will have to wait for cooler weather. So today I have my stash of ice lollies, lots of blog reading to catch up on and I am looking forward to all the new happenings in blog land.

 May you all enjoy good health, peace and happiness in 2012….and quilting! 

 Hi and welcome to new followers :))

Funky Flowers

                                                            77"  square                                                                                      

                                                                                          

A quick post to show my quilt. I have been so busy there is hardly any time to blog as I have been trying to finish this quilt - at last it is done and ready to give to someone special ( not mentioning names) ;)).
I'm off on holiday until the 9th of Jan.
Warm wishes for a peaceful and blessed Christmas!

Durban Hosts COP17

What  a violent storm we had on Sunday night with heavy rain that caused flooding and extreme damage to hundreds of homes, several people where killed when their houses collapsed. Not normal weather for this time of year.  More than 20,000 delegates from 190 countries have arrived in Durban for COP 17, the 17th session of climate talks. Everyone is trying to catch a glimpse of famous people like Angelina Jolie, Leonardo di Caprio, U2's Bono, Al Gore, Richard Branson and Prince Albert. I'm staying home and avoiding the crowds.
My sewing machine died in the middle of quilting my funky flowers quilt - will have to take it in for a service tomorrow.

Finished these two stitcheries from Red Brolly and Bronwyn has posted the final stitchery on her blog - button on my sidebar.

October/November is fete season.  I found this lovely bright bag at our local fete. Its fully lined and perfect for my take along projects like my stitching and knitting.

I couldn't make this for R4.00 = spacious 15x19"

I was given a new knitting pattern- jumpers for aids babies.

Very easy pattern, its knitted all in one and I have 7 ready to go.Families are so poor their babies are sent home wrapped in newspaper.

Books I have read lately..
Bruno Chief of Police - Martin Walker
Fault Lines - Nancy Huston
The French Gardener - Sante Montfiore
The Soul Connection - Anne Jones
La Cucina - Lily Prior
Angels in my Hair - Lorna Byrne

Late Season - Christobel Kent - read by Karen Cass
A Handful of Honey - Annie Hawes - read by Rula Lenska

Stitching...

Weekend rain and cool weather, perfect for sewing. I have finished my shweshwe top.

 
I've been stitching a lovely design by Bronwyn from Red Brolly Designs - click on the button in my sidebar for this free pattern

And I made the cutest little thread catcher, just what I needed for those thread tails.

  Lisa from Primitive Gatherings shared this lovely project on the Moda Country Fair blog hop.

That time of year again.

Fireworks, heatwave, snakes, afternoon storms. Diwali, and the fireworks sound louder this year - my poor dogs ears. My neighbour sent over delicious sweetmeats. While talking to my gardener on Monday I felt a light movement on my foot, it was an adder. I just flicked it off, it disappeared among the plants - that's the third snake Ive seen already and its only spring but very hot. Recently, at midday it went completely dark, then lightening, thunder and heavy rain. Suzi, Sasha and I dived under my quilt, sweating and praying. What a terrible storm. I don't like lightening.
I've taken a break from blanket stitching my funky flowers. I wanted to do a bit of piecing and to use the pack of shweshwe squares that I bought more than a year ago. I cut 3 1/2 inch strips and sewed them to the 5" squares in a log cabin style.

                           each square has a different design

                                            All done - 49 blocks

A loud hoot at the gate. It was the post office van delivering  this wonderful package.

                                            Thank you so much Anne!                         
  

               A gorgeous jelly roll from Anne at Bunny Hill Designs

                                           Puttin On The Ritz

I had such fun on the Moda Country Fair blog hop, I won this gorgeous jelly roll on Anne's giveaway day. My very first jelly roll, so beautiful I love the colours.  I love her fabric and designs and I love reading her blog. 
Go and take a look at Anne's new fabric line"Ooh La La",  its fabulous and her new baby quilt designs are adorable and I just love her new block of the month Merry Merry Snowmen-love red.

Congratulations Elzaan! you have won the My Memories Suite digital software. You are going to love this package. Look out for my email :-))

GIVEAWAY - MY MEMORIES SUITE

My Memories Suite is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer. Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece. Downloading the software was super easy.

I have had such fun creating albums of my projects. Here are two pages that I have made using one of the many design templates  

                                       

     Now I am reminded where to find the pattern.

                               

I loved adding the embellishments, such fun.

What a great way to reference my quilts and projects

My Memories suite  is so easy to use, the whole family will love it. A fun way to create scrapbook layouts, photobooks, cards, calendars, gifts, and so much more. The software's design tools will help you to build entire albums effortlessly using one of the many installed templates or design your own pages from scratch. A full suite of sharing options turns your scrapbook album into a movie to watch on DVD or view on an IPod. What a wonderful way to keep and share memories! No wonder it is rated the # 1 scrapbooking software.by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews. I absolutely love this software!

Watch this video for everything you need to know about My Memories Suite

                                

Wasn't that wonderful and inspiring! I'd like to create a book of the quilts I have made and I love the idea of a recipe book of favourite family recipes with photos of family get togethers. My family would love that. It will make a lovely gift.

Follow their blog for wonderful tutorials and inspiration.

Like their facebook page  for their fabulous friday freebies.

                                     GIVEAWAY

My Memories is giving away the My Memories Suite to a lucky reader plus $10.00 to spend in their store. All you have to do to win, is visit their site, check out their cool stuff, choose your favourite digital kit, come back here and leave a comment telling me your favourite - that simple!

Everyone is welcome to enter - any where in the world. 

A winner will be announced on October 26. Good luck!!

                                     

My Memories is also offering all readers of my blog a $10.00 off discount coupon when you purchase the My Memories Suite software. Copy and paste this code STMMMS96869 at checkout PLUS they are giving you a further $10.00 off to spend in their store. Enjoy!!

A Little Peek

Love my GO! Baby.!! The pattern that came with my funky flowers die is 38" square, I wanted to make it bigger so I cut 169 black and white 6.5" squares and sewed them together. Then I backed my fabric pieces for the flowers with fusible web and cut 4 layers at a time, so fast and accurate - love it - 35 flowers with centers in a flash. Incredible! 


                                      backed with fusible web

No waste - I used the left over pieces and cut leaves and smaller flowers using my Rose of Sharon die and  because they are already fused, they are on hand and ready to use at anytime.
Isn't that wonderful! I wish everyone had a Go! cutter.

Next step is to blanket stitch around all those flowers and then decide on the quilting.

                                           fused into position

                                              79" square (201cm)

Enjoyed some stitching - just have to make up the pillow/cushion


                                          a sewing room sampler

 A Jolly Halloween stitchery pillow

                              measures 7 3/4"  square design by Shirley Hudson


These two lovely patterns are free at We Love French Knots -  click on the button in my sidebar.

And finally finished the stitching on Noah's Ark.

  Noah's Ark design by Lynette Anderson Designs                                     


 I'm off  to have fun on the Moda Country Fair blog hop.