FNSI, Boonah Retreat, Gardeners Journal Top

My retreat on the weekend went so quickly that as usual I didn't get as much done as I had hoped so have been working on my Gardener's Journal for the last few days so that I could have the top done by yesterday's finish date.  Well I am pleased to say that I made it and here is the photo to prove it.

My Gardener's Journal quilt top. Now all I have to work out is how to quilt it.

For FNSI at the retreat, I worked on the stitcheries and stitched together some of the pieces in the last block. The stitching in ' Resting in the Garden' seemed to take forever to finish.

Block I

 It was great having the girls from my group sewing along with me.  We had a wonderful time at Boonah.  I didn't get to bed until after midnight on both nights.  I worked on some journal covers, Christmas secret swap stuff which I won't be able to show and of course more stitching for my GJ block. I showed the other girls how to make my journal covers (pattern on Moda Bake Shop).

My journals made with Mama says Sew

Cindy used bright fabric and a crazy patch design

Clair's crazy patch design got everyone wanting to make one.

Jan let the fabric do the work. She quilted it by sewing with gold cotton on the diagonal lines.  It looked very effective and so quick to make as no piecing.

Beryl's journal.

They all look great, don't they?
Most of the girls were working on Secret Garden quilts so I didn't take any pictures as they are still works in progress.  I did take my friend Jan's quilt as she has been working on this for a number of years and has brought it to a few retreats.  This time she got the top finished so well done. The quilt instructions state to cut the fabric, put in containers and then randomly put the blocks together. She has put together a beautiful quilt.

Here it looked like stained glass as the light from the window reflected through it.

The red pieced border just makes the centre pop.

Here are some of us relaxing at morning tea. Lovely carrot cake, banana cake and cheesecake slice.

And above, here we are, machines at the ready.  We have quite a big area to work in which is wonderful.
Well that's about it from me tonight.  Happy Stitching till next time..............

Quilt Show, 2 Finishes OPAM, Another GJ block

Yesterday I went with my friend Jan to the Brisbane Quilt Show.  Of course I forgot to take my camera so took a few photos with my phone. They aren't great so will just show a few of the beautiful quilts that were on display.  The 2 photos below were made from the same border piece of fabric and was one of the challenges given to any quilter who wanted to enter. The face was just stunning.

Some very talented people as can be seen by the above three quilts.

Two of the red work quilts. The display of these quilts was wonderful. Of course there were lots of traditional quilts as well.  It took quite a while to view them all but was time well spent. The photo below showing the quilting on this piece is what I would like to aspire to. Wonder if I will ever get there?

Today I stitched the buttons on these little place mats made from Lucy's Crab Shack fabric by Sweetwater.  I bought the little kit from them but forgot to also buy the pattern so just made my own up.  The pockets are for holding your cutlery.  Very cute , I think.

I have completed another block in my Gardeners Journal.  Still stitching away on the last two blocks. Posted this on the Stitch-A-Long blog a couple of days ago but have been too busy to post on here until now.

Well, that's all for me tonight.   Happy Stitching till next time......

Gardeners Journal Update

My Gardeners Journal quilt has been on hold for quite a while but with urging from Chooky, co-ordinator of the Stitch-A -Long blog, I am working on it again with a view to complete the quilt top by the end of October which is the proposed deadline.
 Here are a few photos I have just posted to the Stitch-A-Long blog. The first photo is the one I have just completed. Love the bug.

In the last photo are the spaces left for the final three blocks.
Hope you have a great week-end. Be back next week with more I hope. Hugs.........

Some blocks finished & a welcome visit

Here is my grandson, Tom. He was down for the week-end visiting his Dad so he came over to see us and have a swim. His hair is getting quite long but he is not keen on getting it cut just yet. We were so happy to have him visit as we haven't seen him since the beginning of January.

A Friendship Star : Block 1

I follow a blog called Piece n Quilt. Natalia Bonner is a long-arm quilter and also a designer of beautiful quilts. She has designed a free BOM which started on 9th February. The logo is below. If you are interested, check out her blog, I really love her designs.

The following 2 blocks are from the Layer Cake Quilt A-long. Am so far behind with these blocks. I have blocks 3-7 to do with another block due tomorrow. I have found it difficult to choose fabrics as the layer cake I chose, Basic Grey's Fruitcake has lots of similar patterns. Today, I have sorted out some layer cakes for each block so now all I have to do is make them up.
Block 8 above and Block 2 below. Sorry Block 8 is a bit blurry.

This is block 5 of my Gardeners Journal Quilt. Just 4 blocks to go now before I can put the top together. Quite a bit of stitching still to go though. I am glad I joined this Stitch-A-Long group as it has meant I will eventually get this quilt made which I may not have done without the encouragement of so many lovely ladies.

Well, it is getting late and my stitching is waiting for me, so cheers for now ............

A Finish for OPAM, Gardeners Journal Block

This is a travel diary cover I made for my sister who is going on a wonderful overseas trip in April. Might buy some more fabric to make myself one as we are traveling to the USA in June and I always like to keep a diary as I tend to forget little details over time and it is good to be able to relive your trip by reading what you have written every now and again.

Below is my next Gardeners Journal Block. Have now completed 4 blocks with 6 to go.

Well back to more stitching. Until next time.......

Progressing slowly

I haven't been doing too much lately. Time is passing much too quickly. Here is another block in the Love is series. Still got a couple more to go to catch up but will get there eventually.

My Gardeners Journal blocks are going slowly but have managed to get the stitchery finished on these two blocks. I was extremely pleased when I finished the house as it took a very long time to complete. Have the next 2 blocks ready to stitch although they will not take as long I hope.

Here is my big boy's rug. Scott was a bit upset that he missed out when his two boys got there's so I made this version for him. Instead of making it square, I purchased 2 metres each of the blue and grey polar fleece to make his rug a bit longer.

It is certainly breezy here today after a couple of days rain. A nice day to catch up with some stitching I think. Hope you are having a good day too. Till next time.......

Catching Up

Yesterday I spent some time catching up on my blocks. Did some more work on my Gardeners Journal blocks but still have a bit of stitching to go before I can make up the blocks and add the photos to the Stitch-a-long blog. Sorry Chookyblue.........

I also completed my Love is block 12 and was able to finish joining the first three rows together. I like the way this is coming together, half way there now. I love the feel of French General fabrics and they are lovely to sew with as well.

I also completed my Jelly Roll block in time for the next one to be available today. This one is mainly reds and pinks as I am running out of the dark colours. Below is the photo, tell me what you think...........

Well just a short post today. Am on a mission to tidy up my computer room. It has all the kitchen stuff in it that I haven't been able to find a home for. Put a bit more shelving in here on the weekend so hopefully it will be tidy by days end.

Blocks, Stitching and A Day Out

Not too much done in the quilting department this week. My quilting group had our third birthday so we headed off to the coast on Monday to visit a quilt shop and also have a celebratory lunch. We had a great day and I managed to find some In The Pink fabric by Buggy Barn that I have been collecting to use in my Breast of Friends quilt (Homespun magazine last year) when I get around to making it.
I have been working on my stitcheries for The Gardeners Journal Stitch-a-long. Doing 2 blocks this month to try to catch up. Still have a bit to do before next week.
Block 11 of Love is......

Block 9 of my Jelly Roll Sampler. Am starting to run short of the dark colours so am glad we only have 3 more blocks to go.

I have been busy of late helping my eldest son tidy his house as he turns 40 on the 6 th of July and is having a small party to celebrate. This week I decided to clean out my grandson Jake's room. He has this hanging on his door, a birth sampler I stitched for him after he was born. I brought it home to give it a bit of a wash and iron. It's hard to believe that he will be seven at the end of the year. Perhaps its time I made him a new hanger for his door as he has well and truly outgrown this one. He keeps asking me for a quilt so will have to put that on the agenda as well.

Well, hubby wants to use the computer and is hovering in the background so I will say goodbye for now.....

Finish at last.......

I haven't had a finish in a long time so it was nice to complete one on the week-end. Lately, I have had lots of family issues happening which have had to take priority over my beloved hobby. Hopefully as time goes on, things will begin to settle down and I will again have the time to teach myself to use my quilter and finish some tops. In the meantime, I have been working on smaller projects which I have found on the net. I've managed to keep up with making the blocks and doing the stitcheries on most of these. Below is Block 10 of Love is ....... next one due out on the 10 th June so completed just in time.

I am still working on the Gardeners Journal Stitch-A-long blocks as I find I enjoy doing these whilst watching tele at night. I love doing stitcheries and seem to always gravitate to patterns that contain them. The remote control holder is my finish. I used a Joy Patch pattern which uses some honey roll strips. The fabric is called Essence by Sandy Gervais. I love the pattern and it was quite quick to do once completing the stitchery.

I took it to my quilting group today to show them and forgot to iron it again before I took the photo so sorry for the creases.

I bought the Essence panel that goes with the honey roll so am going to make some place mats with that and the rest of the roll. Place mats cut out, now all I need is more time to sew them. Well that's all from me for now. Hope to see you visiting again soon. Leave a comment if you have time, I love reading them.