Giggle Button Club

I thought I would do a quick post now as Chris is off to the Nostalgia Drags at Willowbank today and I need to download my photos before he goes. He will be taking the hotrod but as I am on baby sitting duties tonight, I won't be going with him. I must admit that I am not as keen on the drags and am looking forward to the 'High Altitude Rod Run' next weekend at Toowoomba. We have attended for the last few years and we always have a great time catching up with other rodders.

Last night I finally put the finishing touches to my Giggle Button project called Butterfly Magic by adding the lovely flower buttons. It's a small bag to hold my stitcheries in progress or my coffee mug when I head off to my quilting group. I have enjoyed making this bag as it has different techniques I have not used before. Below is a photo of the project.

Another February WISP

Today, I had a lovely day catching up with some work-friends. We had a nice lunch at a cafe near where I used to work. The cafe is right next door to Homespun and Beautiful, my local patchwork shop. The shop is beautifully decorated and it's always a delight to go and visit and see all the wonderful things Tereasa, the owner, has displayed. If you are ever in Jimboomba, it is definitely worth a visit. I was very good though and didn't buy anything this time although I am always tempted to do so!

I have finally finished my Merry & Bright table runner. I completed stitching the label and binding on Tuesday. Lately I have been stitching the labels rather than using a permanent pen. I think they look nicer but of course it means it takes longer to complete. I have been thinking I might try to make some on the computer so that I can add more information to the quilts I make for family and friends. I have some fabric sheets I bought a while ago, so will experiment with them and see how they look.

Busy Week, Family / Quilting

This week has flown but I have managed to get quite a few things done. I also caught up with my sister who I haven't seen for a few weeks. We went to the first of a concert series of 5 put on by the Logan City Council. It was called a Tribute to Frank Spencer and was really enjoyable with some comedy as well as singing thrown in. The next one in March will be a Tribute to Julie Andrews. Afterwards Sue and I went for lunch to the Coffee Club and caught up on what we have been doing since we last saw each other.

I have been busy stitching this week and have completed Block 2 of the Christmas Wish BOM by Gail Pan (see photo above). Also finished stitching Block 9 of my Sunshine Frolics quilt. The border fabrics have arrived so now I will check the blocks are square, stitch them together and put the borders on. This quilt has a scalloped edge so should be interesting as I have not done this before.

I also made good progress with my Giggle Button project. I finished the butterfly stitchery and stitched the bag pieces together so I could attach the stitchery to the bag front. Not much to go to finish it off, just add the handles, lining and buttons of course. I changed the thread colours a little bit to better match the materials I am using. I am pleased with the way it is coming together.

I added some hand quilting to my Merry and Bright table runner and machine sewed the binding today ready for hand stitching next week. Then I can add another WISP to my monthly list. The final border has been sewn onto my Mystery quilt. I was very lucky as I thought I may not have enough material but just scraped in with the tiniest bit leftover. See photos below. That's me holding the quilt up for a better view. I even combed my hair for the occasion unfortunately Chris couldn't get both the quilt and me in the photo so a headless version of me will have to do. So now all that's left for me to do, is to quilt it. Helen (Hugs from Helen) explained how she quilted hers on her blog, so this will help as I find the quilting or what design to use, is the hardest part for me. I have just set up, with Chris's help, a John Watts quilting frame, so will attempt to learn how to use it over the next few weeks, months, years and hopefully get all the quilt tops I have completed, finished. Won't that be great!!!!

Better go as I have lots more to do today. Tomorrow we are going to Warwick to see a friend race his Mustang, here's hoping it's a good day. Not too hot or raining or too many flies (Aeroguard is already packed).

Update on Projects

I have a couple of photos to show. Have put the first borders on my Mystery Quilt and also finished Verandah Views stitchery Block 2 so here they are :-

Fires and Floods

Well it has really been hard to concentrate on any thing else as like most people, I have been glued to the television in utter disbelief at the destruction and devastation that has occurred in our country. Mother nature at her worst. Terrible fires and loss of life in the south and floods in the north. I can not imagine how you would deal with it, to lose everything, but I guess possessions are material things and they can be replaced, not so our loved ones. We are lucky to have such a wonderful support system in this country like The Red Cross, Salvation Army and many other organisations who have rallied so quickly to help. I know many people have contributed financial support as the appeal tally rises higher by the hour. The danger of the fires has not passed yet so we can only pray that they will be out soon and also that the floods up north abate quickly so that the victims of both these terrible events will be able to start to come to terms with all that has happened and begin the long journey to recovery.

First WISP for February

I have finished my first wisp for February. It is a small wallhanging I started about 12 months ago for a present and didn't get it finished in time so put it in my to do basket. It is a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery and I have done it in bluework. I am still working on my Merry and Bright runner which needs a bit of hand quilting on some of the blocks , the binding and of course a label. I have pinned the first borders on the Mystery quilt according to Helen's instructions and they are looking good but have not had a chance to sew them as today I went to the Tamborine Markets in the morning and then the whole family came over for lunch and a cooling swim as it was quite hot. It was nice to catch up and hear how school is going for the grandkids and what the big kids are up to as well.

As well as the WISP photo, I am posting a photo of my first Verandah Views Block with the second one nearly finished. I also have a photo of the fabrics I am using in my Giggle Buttons project. I am making steady progress on all my stitcheries so hopefully I will be able to keep up to date and not fall behind.

Giggle Button Club Project

My Giggle Button project arrived Monday. It is a pieced bag with a lovely stitched butterfly on the front. I spent today cutting out the background and tracing the butterfly ready to stitch. I bought some new threads for the stitchery part yesterday so I am ready to start. Just have to complete another stitchery first : Verandah Views. I have also sorted out what fabrics I will use. Will take a photo of them tomorrow and post. I also received my last block, Block 9 of Sunshine Frolics so got that ready to stitch as well. I think I am going to be very busy stitching over the next couple of weeks.

I was very excited yesterday because when I arrived home from shopping (my least favourite task), a parcel from Express Publications was in the letterbox and it contained Sonya's (Giggle Buttons) Granma's Quilt Book. I forgot I had entered the competition in Handmade sometime back and I was lucky enough to win one. I will have to put this on the back-burner for a little while though as I have lots on the go at present. The quilt is really lovely and has an olde world feel about it. I will have to drop a few hints to hubby about the buttons that go with it. It's a shame I've just had my birthday, they would make the perfect present. Are you reading this Chris!