Barn Dance

 The top is finished! 

                                  72" x 72"  (180 x 180 cm )

I am seriously considering attempting to hand quilt it.  I have tried before on a smaller quilt and eventually gave up as I find a hoop uncomfortable. I am thinking of trying Suzanne Marshall's method of hoop-less quilting or big stitch.
Hmm will see. I will probably end up machine quilting it.

Barn Dance Update

Friday 10th March 2017

I thought I'd never finish!  forty four, six inch needle turn blocks for the final border all done. I hope to put these together and finish the top this coming week.

As much as I love summer, the heat has been too much,...hard to do anything. Yesterday we had lovely rain and a heavenly cool breeze and its cool again today so I am going to do a bit of weeding, much easier to weed after soaking rain.
I have been waiting for my guavas to ripen. Early morning a troop of monkeys arrived, we had not seen them in ages.What a noisy commotion. My husband went out and shooed them away, then returned indoors and said," here, they left you one"

 sharing is caring... 😊

STITCHING

With all the Christmas prep done, I had time to enjoy a little stitching.

                            A cute pattern from KathySchmitz

And its all done ready to hang for Christmas

I am experiencing problems with outlook...I cannot send emails and will ask my son to fix it. Excited to have my children home tonight, cant wait!

CATCHING UP

Gosh, I can not believe its December. The year has gone by too fast.
My Circa top is done and ready for quilting.

Circa 2016 Sew along was fun. Thanks to Sheryl Johnson from Temecula Quilt Company

Barn Dance - applique panels are all done.

 I am working on these applique blocks. I have to make 40 - 6 inch blocks.

And, I did some charity knitting

Barn Dance

I am home after six weeks in the western cape looking after my daughters dog while she was away on business. Suzi was happy to see Bella again. They had fun on their daily walks to the dog park. My sons graduation ceremony was postponed from December last year to June due to two months of student protests about fees at UCT. Finally its all over. Then we all went to the George Benson concert. We love his music, everyone dancing and singing along. It was great!

Before I left, I prepared three applique blocks and pieces, popped them into plastic bags. So much easier when its all prepped. Then everyday sitting in the sun, sewing away. 

four of these

 Yesterday,I used a sponge and water to remove the blue marking and this happened. I quickly put it in the machine with a Dylon colour catcher and chucked the sponge never to be used again..
I think it was the rubbing motion instead of dabbing that caused it to bleed. In future I will just soak the whole block in cold water.

 I am doing Barn Dance by Robyn Falloon of Bon Bon Designs

 Those circles drove me round the bend ...I have since seen a lovely tutorial on Quiltsalott blog. This pattern has lots of circles. Forty more to make for the first border.

Despite all the circles I am enjoying this project

I have two more 30" blocks to prep and several weeks of Circa blocks to catch up on.

CIRCA 2016

I am doing Circa 2016 by Temecula Quilt Co. These cute 3 1/2 inch little blocks are such fun to make and I have finally caught up.

I have also made 89, 2 inch HST. 31 more to make.

I look forward to Fridays when new blocks are posted.

My Granadilla vine is growing rampant and strangling my shrub. When the fruit has ripened its going to get a good pruning. They are delicious, high in Vitamin C and potassium.

Back Online

 I have a new computer. The old one crashed. It was old and not worth repairing.
December and January visited my children and now that my husband has retired there is no need to rush back home and we always take Suzi with. Its just a short two hour flight.
Summer is always extremely hot so I have mostly spent more time reading.
We had a  severe hail storm a few weeks back causing a lot of damage. Heavy rain, strong winds and hail like I have never seen before - it was very scary, and... we had an earth tremor 3.1 the same day as the earthquake in Taiwan...hmm strange. My son is home for three weeks holiday. I cant believe Easter has come and gone. This year is going by too fast for my liking.

Some small items that I have made.

                                     lunch bag. Tutorial from Ayumills blog

                               microwave bowl holders - these are so handy

         Cell phone armband case with window and a pocket for earphones or house key, for when I walk the dog. And four snack bags.
                 

secret luggage tag and handle wrap

                                               cable holders

             Tablet holder for my sister

The above links can be found on my Pinterest project board here

and a warm jacket - pattern from the book Stylish Doggywear by Annien Toukes and Joke Kahler

A pet throw, from Sew4Home..link here

Guild members were asked to make a paper pieced Protea block - here is my block.

Top is Done!

                                                 222cm by 216cm


The top is finished and its big, 87 1/2" by 85". I will quilt this next year.

This morning I cut more fabric for EPP - still working on the stars as and when I have the time. I have 18 more to make. I need a total of 203 stars.

Can you believe there are only 7 more weeks to Christmas. My sister arrives on Tuesday for a whole month, so happy!

Progress

Part four is done - one more border to go....prairie points!

I am so glad I set the alarm for 3am on September 28 to see the lunar eclipse. I drew open the curtains, sat on the edge of the bed and watched the show. From big and bright, to red, was amazing. The next time we get to see another supermoon total lunar eclipse will be in October 2033.
 Did you get to see it?



Mounted orchids

Its Spring!

 Both my children came home in August. Its always nice to have them home. This week I have been trying to catch up with the mystery quilt along, I managed to get part two done and the flying geese strips.

                                               part two is done.

                                           flying geese done.

I made this cushion for my daughter - she has a brown miniature dachshund named Bella. When I saw this pattern I had to make it for her. I used a faux suede.

I love this shrub, I have several in the garden and they are flowering at the moment - Mackaya bella. Its also known as the forest bell bush. Its a larval host plant for the Blue Pansy butterfly.

 I have four dresden plate cornerstones and four french braid strips to make - lots of cutting.