Let's Celebrate gifts. OPAM finishes.

This month for Lets Celebrate exchange, we made a traditional block to send to our partner. This is the block I sent to Kali. I chose the log cabin block because the first quilt I made consisted of this block and I have been hooked on quilting ever since. Fabrics used are from an old Three Sisters range. I also sent some fabric, ric rac, a small charm and a tissue holder.

Kali sent me the block below. I love the colours she has used. The little pattern is very cute and I can see myself making some of these very soon.   Thank you Kali, as always a wonderful exchange of gifts.

We now have to decide how to use the block and I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head already as does Kali.  Will be interesting to see how they turn out.
Thank you to Karen from Mrs Martins Quilt Shop for hosting Lets Celebrate. Kali and I have got to know each other quite well over the year and I'm sure we will continue to keep in touch when Lets Celebrate comes to an end in December. Only one more gift to make...... now what will that be I wonder?

As it is the end of the month, it is time to show my OPAM finishes for this month.
Today, I finished off the last of the bonbons I had started at retreat.

I also made a mug rug and table runner for Wendy.

This Gail Pan thread holder was made for Kali's birthday and the small tissue holder below for the block exchange.

In all I have 8 finishes this month.
Well, that's all from me tonight, am going to try to get some stitching done, so much to do and so little time. Christmas will be here before we know it.  Happy Stitching everyone...............
  

Back from Retreat.

I have been pretty tired since returning from retreat so today I just tidied up my sewing room and put everything away. I finished a couple of things but can't show them as they are swap gifts. I did start to make some fabric bonbons (Thankyou Cheryll from Gone Stitchin for the free pattern). One finished and three almost there , one each for my 4 grandchildren. Will be making more of these as they are so cute.

I did a bit of stitching as I have a few ornaments to make for Xmas. I also pinned a quilt which I will show when I finish it.

Below are just a few photos from the retreat.

It was very dry  and brown up there.

Our usual visitors. Lots of Mum's and babies.

The group at Happy Hour on Friday night.

Cindy and Nancy rocking to music. They both love Ronan Keating so heard him quite a bit over the weekend.

Cindy provided us with our own supply of lollies and chocolates and gave us all a needlecase ,a stitchery and thread. Thank you Cindy.

We had a wonderful weekend but happy to get home on Sunday to catch up on some sleep.
In closing, I would like to THANK everyone who commented on my last post. I appreciate that you took the time to send all those well wishes for the retreat.
Till next time......   Happy Stitching..........

Boonah Quilting Retreat.

This morning I'm heading off with two of my friends to my quilting group's second retreat of the year. Have packed and sorted out lots of things to do on the weekend, but probably like most retreats I never really get as much done as I would like. It is always a fun weekend with much laughing. eating and late nights so I will be back on Monday to give you an update on what I managed to do.

A bit of this will be happening.

Our accommodation.

Maybe a visit from these guys.

Be back next week........  Have a great weekend everyone as I'm sure I will.
Happy Stitching..........

Birthday Boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest grandson JACOB,10 today.

We had a Freddo Frog ice-cream cake to celebrate on Saturday night with the family and today after school I am taking him out to choose a birthday gift and for some afternoon tea, probably in that order.
Now for some sewing before it's pick-up time.
Hope everyone is having a great day................

A4A QAL, PIF gift and a few purchases.

Today I managed to get my quilt top together and start to cut out some of the border squares before my son and grandsons came over for a swim.

Next step, the borders.

Earlier in the year I received a Pay It Forward gift from Terry in the USA. It was then my turn to ask three people if they would like a gift from me within the next year, to leave their names on my blog post. They had to be willing to then forward on three gifts to three other recipients after receiving my gift.  The three people who left their names on my post were Wendy, Cheryll and Terry. Last week I sent my first gift to Wendy in New Zealand and she has received it so I can now post a photo. I have borrowed the photos from Wendy's blog as mine were deleted by mistake so thank you Wendy.

I sent a table runner, a mug rug with Wendy's initial , a 2014 Friendship Calendar, some chocolates  and as I know by reading her blog, Wendy loves French General fabrics, I popped in a La Belle Fleur charm pack.
The fabric in the table runner is Vintage Modern and is a Dawn Hay design. The stitchery is by Michelle Ridgeway from Rag Tag Stitchin .
So one down with the next two almost ready to go, will be touch soon Cheryll and Terry.
To finish I will show a few purchases I made at the quilt show last week.

Natalie Bird purchases : wool felt, In My Garden book,  labels, pattern.

Wire hangers, ric racs, threads, buttons, scissors & felt.

Fabric and panel for Jake's quilt.

I couldn't resist this pattern as I have a Kasuri Jellyroll in my stash. Am going to add some sashiko stitching to the borders so bought a metre of the pre-printed fabric and some thread.

As we were walking out the door, my friend saw some of these and as I love owls I decided to buy this one.
I bought a few more fabrics , patterns and my friend and I are going to make a chenille bag so will show them later.
Till next time Happy Stitching.  

FNSI results.

Today the computer hasn't been behaving itself so have left my post until now when it seems to be running a bit faster. Last night I managed to get some more done on my A4A Quilt. Section B is now together.  This needs to be joined to the top section for the centre to be complete ready for the borders. I would have started on them last night except I had to do a bit of unpicking on one of the filler blocks as it was a little too long. I definitely don't enjoy reverse sewing so next time I won't forget to measure as I go.

 In the end I was happy to get this much done. Thank you Wendy for hosting again. You can check out what everyone else got up to by heading over to here.
Will be back tomorrow to show some goodies I purchased from the Quilt Show I went to this week.
Till then Happy Stitching............

    

Friday Night Sew In.

Time to sign up again for FNSI so come and join me and many other bloggers stitching together tonight. I'll put on the kettle and you can come over and join me for a coffee or tea, now I have been at the Brisbane Quilt Show for the last two days so only packet biscuits this time.........

To sign up click on the FNSI sign in my sidebar and it will take you over to Wendy's.
See you tonight......
Hugs Noela.

Let's Celebrate Gift for Kali, Brisbane Craft Show.

I had an email from Kali to say she has opened her Birthday parcel so here are some photos of what I sent.

Top:  Lindt choccies, Paris charm and notebook, Nancy Halvorsen Charm pack, Cottage Gardens thread and scissors. Middle: Gail Pan Thread Holder, Bottom: Inside of  holder, can hold 24 threads.

Thank you Karen from Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop for running the Let's Celebrate Swap. I have enjoyed getting to know Kali and look forward to a continued friendship after the swap is over.

Today I went to the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Show.  Had a wonderful day with my friend Jan. Bought some lovely goodies which I will show you tomorrow after I spend my second day there. Checked out the  stalls today but am looking forward to viewing all the display quilts tomorrow and maybe a few more purchases as well., but don't tell hubby.
Also, while I was there, I met up with a few blogger friends. Below is a photo borrowed from Teresa's blog as my photos weren't very good. I owe you one Teresa (thanks).

From the left, front row.... Val, Teresa, Tatyana, Sandi, Marilyn, and me.
Standing behind... Lynda, Susan, Michelle and Fiona.
Thank you all so much for your company at morning tea, it was lovely to catch up if only for a short while.
Well, must go as it is getting late and a girl needs her sleep to be able to do it all again tomorrow.......
 

Aiming for Accuracy Blocks 13 & 14, Let's Celebrate a Birthday

Just a quick post. So much secret sewing going on but will be able to reveal a couple of things next week I hope.
Still working on by A4A QAL blocks. Here is a photo of block 13 (the checkered strip along the bottom) attached to the rest of the blocks that make up Section A.

 Now to work on Block 14 and join Section B together.
Also this week I  finished my birthday gift for Kali, my partner in Mrs Martin's Let's Celebrate swap.
This is the wrapped parcel that I posted last Thursday so hopefully it will arrive by Tuesday the 15th which is Kali's birthday.  Will post a photo of what I made and sent then.

I did the above draft this morning but since then,  Kali sent me an email and she has received the parcel but is going to wait until her birthday to open it so won't put up any photos till then.
Also I have been working on my Block 14 and am pleased to say it is now finished and Section B is together and attached to Section A.

Filler blocks added

Section A and B together.

I am so happy, it is coming together very nicely.
Must close now as the computer is doing funny things.  Hope everyone is having a great week-end.
Till next time...... Happy Stitching...........

FNWF results.

Well I had a great night sewing last night and managed to get the quilting completed on a project which I can't show just yet. I took a photo of the back but because the fabric is white, you can't really see the rows of quilting that well.  Just some straight line stitching with a bit of zig zag down the middle.
My neck was a bit sore after that so left the binding to do until today.

The binding will be the same as the backing on the other small  project I am working on.

I then cut out some fabrics for a stitchery bag and traced out this design to go on the front. Managed a tiny bit of stitching before calling it a night.

Thought I would close with a photo of my Oct mini hanging. Only remembered yesterday to put it out.

Thank you Cheryll for hosting FNWF and even though I can't show much, I am pleased with what I was able to get done.
Now to check out what everyone else did last night.  See you next time...........      

Friday Night with Friends.

It is that time again, FNWF is on tonight so if you would like to join in the fun, pop over to our host Cheryll's blog and sign up. I'll share a cuppa and a plate of Anzac biscuits with you, so hope to see you there.

I'm going to quilt a secret project and add the binding so it may be a long night.
Will look forward to checking out your blogs tomorrow to see what you got up to.
Have a great night everyone........................