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.

A Blog Catch-up........

Here I am at last. Where has time gone, you ask?............. Quilting, stitching, painting, babysitting (although my grandsons would not like me using the word baby), a little housework , some plant repotting and that's about it!! Whew ....... I feel tired just reading that.

I have finally finished my Punch Needle Holder. My first WISP for June. I am quite pleased with it as I really like doing punch needle. Have one of Rosalie Quinlan's designs from a Stitchers Dream Day Out I went to in Toowoomba a couple of years ago, so will have to find the pattern and maybe use it for my next project .

The first photo above is of the Verandah Views Blocks, 4, 5 & 6, to which I have added the sashings. The next photo is of the 6 blocks I have done so far. I am using 3 Sisters Aviary fabric. The blocks are arranged where they will sit in the finished hanging.
On the stitching front, I have been busy working on my Paper Bag Swap. Almost finished the stitcheries then all I need to do is put it together. Have already cut out the pieces so am hoping to have it finished and posted by next week. I have enjoyed reading some of the other blog updates on the Paper Bag Swap site and would like to thank Maree for hosting the swap.
On the babysitting front, I had the boys over whilst their parents had a well earned break at the movies and my grandson Thomas stayed with me on Saturday while his brother was at a football carnival. Tom gets a bit bored if it is a long day at footy and Grandma seemed like a better alternative. We played lots of board and computer games, as well spending time in the yard in between downpours. He enjoyed helping me pot some cacti I had been given and eating most of the food in the pantry so in all, we had a great day together. They grow so fast so its good when you can spend time with them and all those extra hugs you get can't be too bad either.

Parcel Arrives !!!!!

I have been stalking the letter box for the last couple of days waiting for my Paper Bag swap parcel to arrive from New Zealand. Well today, it did just that and I couldn't wait to open it. I was not sure what I would make with the materials until I received them. They are just lovely and I straight away thought they would look nice made into a ................. Will just have to wait until it is delivered to my swap partner to see how it turns out and I can share a photo.

The above photos are of the next blocks in the Verandah Views BOM and A Christmas Wish by Gail Pan. Both Block 6. I managed to get them done quite quickly and am now working on block 6 of a Tisket a Tasket.

Last week our quilt group went on an outing to Cleveland to visit some quilt shops as well as having lunch on the waterfront. It was the second anniversary of the group I am in and we wanted to mark the occasion by doing something together. I was very lucky as I had run out of the purple material I am using for Kym's quilt and didn't have enough for the last border. I was going to use some black I had in my stash but found the very same purple material whilst we were at one of the shops. How good was that!!! Now I can finish the quilt as I had originally planned.

Paper Bag Swap

Yesterday, I posted my parcel to New Zealand for the Paper Bag Swap. Above is a photo of what I sent minus the chocy bar which was added just before posting. Looking forward to receiving mine so I can get started.

In the mean time, I am working on a few projects including a bag which I might use as my challenge project for a camp I am attending at the end of August at Tamborine Mountain put on by The Beaudesert Quilters. The theme for this camp is 'Think Pink Cancer Awareness Retreat' and the challenge project they have set is an item you have created that must fit the theme of the camp which is pink. I have a couple of other ideas so am going to see what I can get done before then. I am a little nervous about attending this camp as I feel I am a bit of a novice but am sure I will learn heaps of things over the course of the weekend which will make it enjoyable and rewarding. Just have to come up with something to wear on Saturday night for the dress-up dinner. 'Think Pink'