2 OPAM Finishes & UFO Catch-up

Below is a little stitchery book I purchased from my friend Michelle Ridgway of Rag-tag Stitchin.  I have just stitched one of the drawings included in the book, into a small wall hanging for one of my friends for her birthday. The drawings can be used in gift tags, book marks, tote bags or wall hangings as I have done. 

A couple of weeks ago at my quilt group, one of my fellow quilters taught a few of us how to make a beaded chatelaine to hold our scissors.  Above is my effort but I must admit I had lots of help from my friend Robyn.   Thank-you Robyn.  I love it especially the little owl. 

I finally completed my Jimboomba Mystery BOM for March which is really just as well as next Monday we are due to stitch our block for April.  Really pleased with the way it went together, my favourite so far. I used my border fabric for the center and in the outer border.  Above are three of the other ladies's blocks completed on the day.

My block

Have been busy  over the last few days trying to get some of my UFO's closer to being finished. Below is a birthday quilt for my eldest grandson.  The top is now completed. I added to the pattern to make the quilt larger as it is to cover a king single.  The centre is made from a layer cake with the extra  fabric in the second border made up of strips from extra yardage I had.  The fabric is Authentic by Sweetwater.

Corner of Josh's Quilt

Well as usual I have taken too long doing this post so must close and get a bit more stitching done so bye for now.........

Place mat Challenge from Tamborine, OPAM Finish

Hope every-one had a great Easter.  Ours was very quiet.  Chris and I spent a couple of days in the yard cutting back the trees and 4 loads to the dump later, it looks much tidier.  Everything has certainly grown with all the wet weather of late.  Our family day on Monday was most enjoyable as we headed to the coast and spent some time on the beach  before a lovely B-B-Q dinner at my sons.  Good to see all the kids & grand-children in one place.  This week I have been looking after Jake & Tom so no sewing done but thought I would show you some of the photos of the place mats made for the challenge at the quilt camp I attended a couple of weeks ago. 

Above is the the one I made.  I found a pattern on the net which allowed me to make the tumbling blocks without using y-seams. Quite easy in the end. First finish for April OPAM.     

The red and black one on the right won the challenge .  Hollow cubes were the feature of this mat.   

The box on the left held a cup & then opened out to place mat size.  Very clever idea.

Each table held a dressed water bottle.

The next camp in August has the theme Hearts & Flowers.  It will be interesting to see what every-one comes up with.  
Cheers for now...........

March Quilting Camps

Last weekend I went to Tamborine for a 4 day camp starting on Wednesday afternoon.  I love this camp as everyone joins in the spirit of it so well & if you need some advice there are always several people willing to share their knowledge with you.  I find I always come home with lots of good hints & tips. We also had to make a place mat to use for our meals and they were all outstanding but I will leave those photos for another post as there are quite a few.   

The two quilts below were made by Sue W as were many others samples placed around the room to represent the theme of the camp, Tumbling Blocks & Hollow Cubes.  The second quilt was just beautiful with the bows adding an extra dimension to it.  

Hollow cubes sample by Sue

Above is the name badge I received and the little notebook cover made by Sue the co-ordinator of the camp.  About 30 people attended and everyone was given one, all made by Sue.  We also have a fat quarter swap and this is the one I received.

Below are photos of some of the dress-ups on Saturday night.  I am in the middle of the first photo with my friends Chris & Liz.  The colour theme of the camp was Black & White. 

Chris, me & Liz

Three bad witches and one good witch

The Ref, Flying Nun & Jail Bird

Below are some of the quilts displayed during Show & Tell on Saturday night.  Blue Tie-dyed made by Carol, Wonky Donkey by Chris & Fairy Quilt designed by Natalie Bird and made by Jenny.

My quilt group enjoyed our camp at Boonah a couple of weeks ago although as usual it always seems to go too quickly.  I took lots of projects along to do but didn't seem to achieve as much as I would have liked.  We arrived Friday lunch and I left Sunday after lunch so just 2 days to squeeze in as much sewing as I could.  I managed to get all the blocks done for my Secret Garden quilt, some blocks stitched together for my grandson's quilt and I started to cut out and stitch together the fabrics for my mystery quilt which I am doing with my friends from NSW, Chris & Liz.  We are going to have a quilt reveal in September as in all 10 people are doing this quilt.  The pattern comes from a shop in Canada owned by a relative of Chris.

Below are a few photos from the camp.  We managed to put down tools and fit in a Happy Hour on the covered deck.  Of course, we stitched into the night to make up for it as the photo below proves.

My work area.  Stitching together strips for my Mystery Quilt

These are the blocks for  my Secret Garden Quilt. A work still in progress. Fabric used is Good Fortune.

Cindy's Secret Garden

A different colour-way of Secret Garden

Lyn's Fish Quilt ready for quilting.

It is lovely to be able to go away with like-minded ladies and enjoy their company.  We always have such a great time, I am looking forward to the next one already.
Till next time............