Stitching Catch-up!

I haven't had a chance to do much else over the past few weeks but now I have finished Deb's quilt, I am trying to catch up on all my stitching BOM's before the August ones pop up on my computer. Below are the first two completed. Blocks 6 & 7 of A Tisket A Tasket, free block of the month from Bunny Hill. Block 7 had a flag with the 4th on it celebrating America's 4th of July so I decided to leave this off, although I have been thinking that as July is a big birthday month for my family( 3 birthdays- son, grandson,daughter-in-law), that maybe I might put family on the block somewhere and make my block a celebrate family one.

Now off to stitch Verandah Views and Gail Pans A Christmas Wish July blocks.

Swap Parcel Arrives / Family Memories

My Paper Bag Swap parcel arrived on Thursday. I just love the bag my swap partner Shiree from New Zealand made for me. It will be great to take to group with some stitching in. The parcel also contained some chocolates, soap and bath crystals. Thank-you Shiree. Here is the bag, isn't it lovely!!!!!

Well, it has been a very busy week with me trying to finish the quilt I was making for my DIL's 40th birthday. I came very close to completing it but not quite, just needed to add a few more buttons near the photos and handstitching of about 6 butterflies on the central panel. I was a bit stressed to say the least. I would have finished but cooking lasagne, mini quiches and making my curry dip took priority on Saturday. Needless to say no-one really noticed the missing buttons or the unquilted butterflies, so all I need is another hour (if I can get the quilt back from Deb) and it will be complete. Deb really loved the quilt and says she can't wait to show her Mum who lives in NSW so that's what making quilts is all about isn't it?

The card below was made by my friend, Nancy. I asked her if she could make one for me in black, red and white and add a butterfly on the front. I couldn't believe it when she gave me the card as I hadn't shown her the material I was using for the quilt. It matched perfectly. Thank-you so much, Nancy.

Deb with her quilt. Happy 40th.

My Paper Bag Swap Piccies

Here is my parcel last week, ready to go to the post office and be sent to Shiree in New Zealand for the Paper Bag Swap. I had some lovely materials to work with and was happy with how it turned out.
Shiree has now received the parcel and opened it so I am able to show you what I sent. Below is a photo of the front of the bag I made for my swap gift.

The next picture is of the back of the bag. It is quite big so hopefully Shiree will be able to put lots of supplies in it when she goes shopping for those quilting essentials that we quilters all need to have.

I have loved being part of this swap and must again say a big THANK-YOU to Maree for organizing it.
I am eagerly watching the post box for my swap to arrive and will post piccies when it does.

Paper Bag Swap Finish

This week I finished my paper bag swap project. I posted the parcel to New Zealand on Friday so now just have to hope it arrives at it's destination next week in time for the finish date of the 13th July. I have enjoyed doing this swap and am anxious to see what my swap partner thinks when she gets to open it. I didn't have much left over from the materials sent as I used all the ricrac, buttons, ribbon and nearly all of the fat quarters, only a couple of off-cuts left. Above is a sneak peek of the stitchery part. Can't give too much away.

Guess what I've been up to!!

Besides working on my Paper bag swap which should be finished by tomorrow, I have been trying to plan a small memory quilt for my daughter-in-law Deb. She is having her 40th birthday towards the end of July. I know, I know, should have started it months ago. I managed to get my son to finally sort out some photos but as Deb always disappears when the camera comes out, it wasn't so easy for him. Below is what I printed out the other night. I wanted them to be black and white as the quilt will be black, white and red but the older photos didn't come out very well, kinda wishy washy, so went with plan B and printed coloured ones. Hope it will look okay. I guess time will tell.

New Xmas BOM from HugsnKisses

Isn't this the cutest Xmas hanging. Go and visit Helen's blog and enter to have a chance to win a set of these patterns. It is a seven month BOM.

WOW! 3rd blog in 3 days, must be some sort of record.

Quilt Aid, Another Finish

On Monday, I received my first Quilt Aid block. It is the one by designer Majella Rush from Kookaburra Cottage. As I haven't done much needleturn applique, the first two blocks I purchased are blanket stitch applique ones. I will have to practice my needleturn before I start on the other blocks. The fabrics are very pretty so can't wait to see the block made up.

Today I finished a small bag I have been working on for a while. It is made out of Lakehouse charm squares which I bought several months ago. I have a pink challenge for the camp I am attending in August so thought this fabric might be okay to use. The rules state you need to make something (your choice) pink. I will try to make something else as well but if I don't have time then at least I have this to take. The bag takes only 16 charm squares which are laid out on the diagonal. I quilted it using Perle 8 thread and luckily found the pink buttons at my local quilt shop...... Homespun and Beautiful.