Great Weekend !!!!!

The Red Hatters Retreat last weekend was enjoyed by all who attended. We spent the 4 days sewing, sharing quilting tips and knowledge, talking, laughing and of course eating lots of yummy food. With all the meals prepared by Nick, our chef, we could concentrate and enjoy spending uninterrupted time at our sewing machines. I managed to get a few things done as well as gather lots of wonderful ideas that I hope to make in the near future.
Here is the table runner top I made using a Patisserie charm pack.

Above is my Pinwheel quilt that I added sashing to and then the border and below is my Jelly Roll quilt. This photo is before I attached the sashing and final borders so will update a photo next time.
On Saturday night for dinner, we all dressed up in red and purple. Some of the outfits were very funny. It always amazes me the ideas some of the girls come up with. In the second photo I am in the middle with my friends Liz and Chris. Liz won best outfit of the night. She is the one on the left of the photo.

The challenge we had to make for the camp was a place mat (to be used at camp) in the colours of red/purple (if over 50) and mauve/pink (if under 50) so I combined all colours in my effort. Bronwyn Hayes stitcheries got quite a workout in lots of the place mat designs. I somehow deleted the photo of my place-mat so will add that to next post as well. Here are a few examples of other peoples work.

My friends Chris's above and Liz below.

Teresa's, very cute. The lady has been painted using acrylic paint, the lettering is stitched.

Not sure who did this one.

Sue's place mat. Sue was one of the ladies on the committee who organised the camp. They all did a great job.

Well, will add a few more photos in the next post of our show and tell session. Some truly beautiful quilts have been made by the ladies. Having a few problems loading the photos so won't try my luck with anymore just at present. Till next time........

Another finish for OPAM

One more cuddle quilt done. This time for my daughter Kym. Her favourite colour is purple so backed hers with that. She loved it when I gave it to her on the weekend. Four quilts done this month, an all time record.

Below is Block 11 of the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. Only one block to go next week. Can't wait to see how we are going to finish it off.

Well must go as hubby is waiting to look on the computer before he goes to bed. I've been on much too long, I think........ See ya......

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.....

Day out at Wintersun, Blocks 7/8 Jelly Roll Quilt

I have caught up with my Jelly Roll Quilt Along blocks. Here is Block 8 (first one) and Block 7. I am really loving these blocks and am very happy with how they look. Can't wait to see it together.

We set off yesterday morning early to travel to the coast about an hour away to go to Wintersun. It was pretty chilly with our first frost of winter still visible on the ground. Wintersun has been on each year at Coolangatta for the last 13 years but sadly this year will be the last as it is going to move to northern NSW next year. It is a car show where the cars are parked in the streets which are closed to traffic. It has a rock and roll theme with bands dotted throughout the area and rock and roll groups dancing to the music. A short parade of vehicles and trucks carrying the groups is held during the morning. Below are some photos of the day. The number of people was amazing and by lunch time, you could hardly move.

Izzy Dye and band performing on the stage.

Parade float.
Of course forgot to take photos of the group floats which were very colourful.

Above is a car my hubby liked. I asked him if he would like to restore it? No, he said, just like it the way it is. He still surprises me sometimes. Not my cup of tea though.

Lots of different cars to look at.

The crowds in the main street. Another car my hubby liked.

We liked this one. Chris is looking to get another car to work on soon. This is a 34 Ford Tudor. Has more room than the roadster which we are looking for although I still like the Ford Victoria model, it just depends what is available when we go to buy one.

Well must go now as I want to repot some plants and Chris has just come back from the shops with the potting mix. Still cool today and a bit overcast so really don't feel like going outside. Good day to stitch.

Stitch-A-Long, Jelly Roll Block, Love is

I have joined the Gardeners Journal Stitch-A-L0ng. I have had the book and the materials for several years and when I came across the site by chance a while ago, I decided it might be a way of getting this started. Due to my kitchen, I am running a little late so have only completed my first block this week (should have been done by end of April). Lots of little pieces to cut out which was time consuming but as I have now done this, construction of the later blocks should not take so long.

Block 9 of Love is......

Here are two photos of my next block for the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. With this block, we had to make the two and a half inch centre square a feature. I found this little bird lurking on one of my strips so thought he would enjoy being the centre of attention. I think he looks quite at home, don't you?

I love doing these blocks. The fabric is Blush by Basic Grey.

Well, must go, till next time, take care........

More Pinwheel Blocks, Jelly Roll Block 4

This week has been a very busy. We have been in the planning stage for a new kitchen for quite a while but as usual, unexpected things happen which delay the best made plans. Well finally, it is all happening and in two to three weeks time, our old kitchen will be replaced by a new one. Of course between now and then I have to empty every cupboard which I am not looking forward to. Guess it will give me a chance to have a good clean-out even though the new one will have more cupboard space.
With this in mind, I have tried to spend a little time in my quilting room today and so I managed to get the next four blocks done for the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt along. Only 4 blocks to go now. Have cut out 13 and 14 with the block instructions for the last two expected this week or early next week so need to get a move on to keep up and not fall behind. Blocks 9 & 10.

Below are blocks 11 and 12.

Sorry this photo is a bit dark and doesn't show the lighter coloured fabric very well.

Below is block number 4 in my Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. The block instructions were to use darks for the outer pieces and lights for the centre. As this jelly roll does not have a lot of darks in it, I decided to go with these. I think the block turned out quite well. I am really enjoying doing these blocks.

Well that is all for tonight. Will take some photos of the old kitchen and then post the new one when it is finished. Hope all goes well without too many problems.

Hotrod Weekend & Boonah Retreat

I have been quite busy of late with the last two weekends away. I also have a quilting camp on this weekend at Tamborine Mountain while my hubby goes to Tasmania for his niece's wedding so in all March is just flying by for us.
Photo below shows preparations for my placemat for the Beaudesert Quilters Amish Retreat - 25th-28th March.
The quilt camp with my quilting group this past weekend, was most enjoyable. I didn't take anything big to do, just decided as life has been a bit hectic of late, I would try to catch up on some bits and pieces that I am falling behind with. I managed to finish 2 more blocks for the Pinwheel Quilt Along and Block 2 of the Jelly Roll Sampler. I also had to make the challenge project for the camp next weekend. This time it is a placemat to be used at camp. The theme for the camp is Amish based so I have made my placemat using a block pattern called Amish Boxes. I have used tone on tone fabrics in black and blue and am quite pleased with the result. Of course, I left my black cotton at home and so it still has to be quilted and have the binding attached. I did a few other prep things for more pinwheel blocks and stitcheries but will show them later when they are finished. Usually when I go away for camp I have everything cut out ready to go but this was not the case this year so that means by the time I sorted out colours etc, it took a lot longer to get things done. I also helped a couple of other people along the way so by the end of the weekend, I felt I had accomplished quite a bit even though I don't seem to have much to show for it.


Above Pinwheel Blocks.
Below Jelly Roll Sampler Block 2.

The photos below are of our trip to Toowoomba for the High Altitude Rod Run weekend. We always have a great time catching up with our friends and joining in the activities that the Toowoomba hotrodders arrange for the weekend. This time I was asked to ride in our friend's son's car as he had to have a licensed driver with him. He doesn't have his P plates yet but even when he does get them, because the rod has a V8 motor in it, he will have to be accompanied by a fully licensed driver. A bit of a downer for a 17 year old but for safety reasons and with so many of our young people getting killed in road accidents, it probably isn't a bad thing. The car is called a Rat rod and is very basic inside, quite low to the ground and tends to bottom out when you go over bumps in the road. Quite an experience and made me appreciate our roadster which is the yellow one ( it's not quite as bright as it looks in this photo) in the other photo.

On Thursday, we also celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Where have those years gone?

Second post in two days ...........WOW!!

This is just a short post to show my final block of the Bunny Hill BOM from last year. It is the December block. I have 2 charm packs in blue which I am going to cut in 2 1/2 inch squares to sash the blocks. Not sure what I will do after that to finish it, will wait and see what it looks like then decide. Need to purchase blue buttons as well to add to the blocks so a bit of a way to go yet.
I managed to finish my Jelly Roll Sampler block today as well which was no mean feat as I was looking after my grandson who was sick and couldn't go to school. Anyway back to the block. I love the way it turned out. I am using Blush fabric by Basic Grey. Now just have to add the photo to the Flicker group.

I also had time to cut out my next blocks for the Pinwheel Sampler but just couldn't get to stitch them. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.