Bits & Pieces / Punch Needle Class

This week I managed to put some of the sashing on my first 3 Verandah Views blocks. The blocks go in different parts of the hanging so I am anxious to see how it progresses as more blocks are completed. I decided to use some leftover fabrics from my stash. I love fabrics by 3 Sisters and have bought quite a few of their fabric lines over the years so will mix and match from the bits I have left from other quilts.

The photo below is of the second Fire Appeal Quilt that I have put together for our group to send down to Victoria. It is a combination of applique and stitched blocks each done by one of the ladies from our group. The detail is a bit hard to see but is lovely when you get a close look at it. I used blue and pink for the sashings. I think it turned out quite well, don't you? The room where the photo was taken is my 3rd bedroom where you can find my bear collection. You can just see the bears at the side of the quilt and my bear collector wall-hanging which I stitched some time ago on the other side.


On Thursday, I went to my local quilt shop Homespun and Beautiful for a 3 hour punchneedle class. Here are a couple of photos of my punchneedle project. When finished, it will go on the front of a pouch that holds the punchneedle and the needle threaders (Sorry forgot to include the pattern photo). I thoroughly enjoyed this class and love the look of the design as you fill in more stitches. You draw the design outline on the back of the weavers cloth and then punchneedle from the back. There is a bit of a technique to threading the needle and getting the fabric tight in the hoop but after that it is just a matter of getting a rhythm as you punch and making sure to keep your stitches even. The hoop sits in a holder which is a must have as it frees up your other hand from having to hold the hoop, allows you to turn the hoop in the holder as you work and stops you from stabbing yourself accidently with the needle.

Back side of design.

Right side of design.

I was a bit naughty when I was at the shop doing my class as I couldn't resist buying the bag pattern by Bronwyn Hayes and also the panel with shoes on it. It is by Sandy Gervais and the line is called Objects of Desire. It was our anniversary on Wednesday so I think Chris will forgive me for my extra purchases, I hope.

Catching Up with BOM's

A Christmas Wish BOM by Gail Pan. Block 3.

Verandah Views BOM. Block 3.

Here are a couple of photos of the stitcheries I have been working on. Block 3 of a Christmas Wish completed and sashing added. Verandah Views Block 3 is finished as well. This month we were given the instructions to complete the first 3 blocks so sorted out some fabric for the sashing today. Hope to get that done sometime next week.

My room isn't very tidy at present as I have a few other things in the planning stages. I always seem to be thinking of what my next project will be even before I finish the one I am working on. Is it only me that does this or there other quilters out there who do the same thing? I must say I love being able to leave projects out when I'm in the middle of something and time runs out as I can pick up where I left off when I return and save lots of time and energy. I am so enjoying my hideaway, I'm afraid housework isn't on the agenda very often these days.

We have our Retreat at Boonah, coming up in a couple of weeks time and I have been sorting out what I want to take to work on. I saw a pattern in a Country Threads magazine for bags to carry your quilting mat and quilting ruler. It uses a jelly roll so I have been working on these, hopefully will have them completed for the retreat or if not will take them along to finish. I am also hoping to start on a quilt for my daughter, Kym. It will be black, white and purple (her favourite colour), just have to work out what design I will use.

Photo update.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been putting together the above quilt. Last year, all the ladies in my group, The Jimboomba Quilters and Stitchers, stitched a block to go into a quilt which we were going to give to a hospital or charity to raffle. In the end, we had enough blocks to make 2 quilts, one for a boy and one for a girl. When we saw the devastation of the fires down south and how so many quilters were rallying to help the fire victims, it was decided by everyone to put the quilts together and send them to Victoria. I have finished the first one and am now working on the girl's quilt. I am happy with the way it has come together and hope some little boy will love it when he receives it.

I have also been doing lots of stitching over the last week and have now finished three Bunny Hill blocks. I like the way the blue variegated thread is looking although it is a bit hard to see in these photos . I am almost finished Block 3 of Verandah Views and the 3rd block of a Christmas Wish. Trying very hard to keep all these up to date and not fall behind, so far so good.

No WISPs done for March as yet but am working on a couple of things. Just need a few more hours in each day.

Missing in Action!

Here is my first post in a while. The last few days have been spent in Toowoomba at the 'High Altitude Rod Run'. We had a great time catching up with friends as this is the 4th time we have attended. The activities included going on some rod runs around Toowoomba, doing a tour of the beautifully restored Empire Theatre, built in 1911 and rebuilt in 1933 after it had been destroyed by fire, a fancy dress dinner on Saturday night and a show and shine car show in the centre of town on Sunday morning. Chris had to do some running repairs to the car early Sunday morning after he discovered a problem with one of the backwheels on Saturday night. Luckily he could fix it with a bit of help from one of the other rodders and we were back on the road pretty quickly. We managed to get home safely with no further problems.

As we had some free time on Saturday, Chris drove me out to The Village Green at Highfields to visit The Quilters Angel. It is a great shop for browsing with lots of little nic-nacs and things to look at. They even have a chair for bored husbands to sit on outside which Chris put to good use. I was very good and only bought a couple of DMC threads which I had run out of.

I have been working on the Bunny Hill BOM and have decided to do bluework stitchery instead of red. I am using a variegated blue DMC 103 and have completed Blocks 1 & 2. Will post photos next time. I have added the Bunny Hill logo to my sidebar. I am also working on Block 3 of Verandah Views and have just printed out the next blocks for Gail Pan Christmas Wish and Bunny Hill so another big stitching week ahead, I think.