Camp : Here I Come!!!

Well, here I am getting ready for my quilting camp at Tamborine Mountain starting on Thursday. Where did last week go? I had intended to be sooooo organised for this camp but here I am at the last minute trying to get everything done. Still need to finish cutting out the quilt tops I intend to take to sew (nearly there) and still stitching a table runner which I may not finish in time (for the challenge project). I have the pink bag I made but thought this might fit the theme a bit better. The picture above is the place mat I have completed to match the cup, saucer and plate which I will use for our High Tea on Saturday afternoon. I have had the light pink material used for the background for about 30 odd years. I used to make fabric picture frames for gifts way back when and I bought the fabric for that. Little did I know that I would use it again so many years later and that it would match the tea set perfectly. Luckily I was a bit of a fabric junkie back then although not quite as bad as I am now. I am starting to get quite excited about the camp now and am looking forward to a few days of uninterrupted sewing. Hoping I can get at least one quilt top done and pick up some helpful tips from other quilters along the way. The camp has lots of things happening over the 4 days so if I want a break from the machine there will be other things to see and do. Well, must get going or I'll never get finished. Will take lots of photos to show when I get back. Cheers for now..........

Ekka Trip & BOM's Nearly There!

Above Verandah Views. Below A Christmas Wish with 1 block to go. The red fabric on top is for the last block.

Block 8 completed.

Here are a couple of photos of A Christmas Wish BOM and Verandah Views BOM. I have the sashing on all the blocks and are up to date. Only 1 more month of blocks then borders and they will be finished. Looking really good even if I do say so myself. I have used Aviary material for VV's and Holly Go Lightly for A Christmas Wish. It will be lovely to see these when they are completed.

Here is Jake in the animal nursery with a calf who looks like he's trying to get away from him. This was taken yesterday when I went with my son and grandsons to the Brisbane Ekka. We went in by train which worked out quite well. The boys started eating the minute we hit the station with Jake tucking into a chocolate chip cookie purchased from the vending machine. We all had a great day enjoying a variety of foods including a dagwood dog and a strawberry icecream which are usual Ekka fare. The boys had some rides including the chairlift which is to be dismantled later this year due to the area being redeveloped. They played some games and won the usual stuffed toys. They checked out the animal nursery and of course bought some sample bags to take home. As everyone was quite tired by days end, we decided to forgo the fireworks and head on home before dark. Boy, did I sleep well last night with no waking up till morning.

Here we are at the train. Oh, I really hate photos. I looked tired even before we got there!

Below, the boys on their way to sideshow alley.

Tomorrow, Chris is off to the Nostalgic Drags at Willowbank and I am going to have a quilting day. Need to get my projects for the quilting camp ready as only 2 weeks to go............

And still more BOM finishes

Well here I am again with 2 more block finishes. Block 8 of Verandah Views and Block 8 of A Tisket A Tasket. Just have to add borders to Verandah Views Blocks 7 and 8 and will be up to date with both these ones. The stitching on Block 8 A Christmas Wish is also nearly completed and then I will be really up to date with these three BOM's.

Last week my Giggle Button Club pattern and buttons arrived and it is a very pretty stitchery. This time Sonya included a transfer of the pattern so it was great to be able to use that instead of having to trace the pattern onto my fabric. I have used my Derwent pencils to colour some of the flowers and sealed them with some fabric medium. It is already to stitch but I must admit, I still haven't got around to stitching the needlecase one I received in June so a bit of work to do there.

I also started to stitch the borders on Kym's quilt and had put the first one on when my machine decided to play up. When I turned it on to do the second side, it decided to start on its own and stitch really fast. Before I could quickly turn it off, the needle had broken. I gave it a good clean but it still did the same thing afterwards so I will have to take it to be looked at. Luckily I have another machine, a Bernina, but have not used it much as I tend to stick with my old familiar one so will have to get out my book and do a bit of practise as I have the 'Think Pink' camp coming up in a few weeks and plan to do a fair bit of machine work while I am there.

Anyway must go now as my hubby has the day off today (for show day holiday here in Brisbane) and he and I are going to spend some time together by going out for lunch. Our first date for a while. How exciting!!!!!!!

Catching Up Slowly!

Above are 2 more blocks of my BOM's finished. A Christmas Wish Block 7 and Verandah Views Block 7. I have almost completed Block 8 of VV as well. I am slowly catching up but still have a way to go. While watching TV the other night, my hubby asked me if I was back to doing the ordinary stuff now? It made me have a bit of a laugh as most nights when I look over at him he is sitting beside me having a snooze so I guess he does take notice of what I am doing sometimes. I suppose I was a bit stressed when I was trying to get Deb's quilt done and he is just happy to have things (me in particular) back to normal till the next time.

Yesterday was my group day. A wonderful day as always catching up with some lovely ladies who have become great friends. We are all working on a Stained Glass window block to put into a quilt. The blocks all contain Australian native flowers. My block is Sturt's Desert Pea. I have traced the design on my background and now have to add the fabric, then the black bias. Robyn, one of our ladies, has done a class so is helping us through the ins and outs of how to apply the bias tape to the block. We are all enjoying learning this new technique.

I was lucky enough to win a pattern from Gail Pan on her blog last week. It arrived in the post yesterday. The pattern is called Buttons and Bows. How exciting is that? Thanks Gail.......

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.