Friday, 31 January 2014

National Mug Rug Day

Wow who would have thought that these things would have their own day!

My dislike for them is much like Shez's  (Hi Shez )


I do however have one on display in my own home. 
I've told it that it needs to pretend it is something much more "me" 
so it's now known by its new name
"Mini Quilt"! :o)

See it, it is just above the red and purple scrap containers.
It was made for me by Anorina. Looks just perfect up there :o)

Now you may be wondering the purpose of this post today. 
Well it is a little "disclosure" if you to like by many bloggers this morning to our dear
friend Shez.  Sorry Shez. A plan was hatched. Many of your blogging friends
have been mailing you Mug Rugs and as you do your blog surfing today you might just see
who sent you what :o)

I do come clean though.  I did make you two but just could not bring myself to
mail them!  My dislike for these farbic creations, as artful as they can be, are just not me.

So all in good fun.
Looking forward to seeing what you do with your collection of mug rugs Shez.
And NO you are not sending them to me! lol
I hope that you have not been converted my dear friend as you have been
sighted recently making some of your own...... oh what it the world coming too.......


OK, I'm off to see who is owning up to sending Shez her Mugrugs.
hugs Sharon

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

I survived ...... twice!

First Survival ....one of the first quilts I ever made has never been washed!
Why?
Because it was made from Bonnie and Camilles "Ruby" line.
In other words ...... red fabric!

I was too scared and up until 5 minutes ago I was regretting my decision to wash it.

but I am now pleased to say, all is good.

As you can see, the colour catchers are a nice crisp white, well there were before the wash.


If I didn't put them in with this quilt all that colour would have been over all that crisp white and the light blue back.  What made my heart beat even faster was whilst this quilt was going around in the washing machine I read over on Christine's Blog that a beautiful quilt she has just washed ran :(  does anyone have any remedies to help Christine get the colour out?  If so please pop on over and let her know.

I will never wash a quilt now without a few of these being in there with the quilt.

My second survival?
Miss Lily's first day of school.

 

So big yet still so little.
Feeling a little sentimental I have been back to the beginning of my blog and found theses pictures.
Some of the first ones I ever posted of my baby girl back in July 2011.

        

They really do grow up way to quickly.

hugs Sharon xx

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Lucy Boston Pt. 2

"Patchwork of the Crosses"

These blocks are proving to be a little addictive.
At last a project that is holding my attention for more than a week!
Here is my next lot of blocks.

Block 5


Block 6


Block 7


Block 8


Block 9


A group shot of the first 9.



and I have started planning the next couple.


Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by.
Hugs Sharon

Sunday, 26 January 2014

Sew Together Bag


"Sew Together Bag"

......... have you seen it before?
It has a little bit of a reputation and for that reason the Pattern has been sitting
on my cutting table tormenting me for a couple of weeks.
Well yesterday I decided it was that day that I would give it a go and I am
glade I did.



I am loving the blue Liberty fabrics.



 I am slowly getting over my fear of zips.


If you are interested in the Pattern it can be purchased HERE
I see another in my future as soon as I decided on my fabrics.

Hope you find time to do something you love today.
hugs Sharon



Friday, 24 January 2014

Fabriholics Anonymous - update

January Update

FabAnon

OK it's time to see how the first month is going.
Not too bad I think.

I am allowed to buy book, patterns, notions etc. 
Here are my little indulgences for the last two weeks.


I destashed a LOT of stuff yesterday on Instagram in the
#greataussiedestash
and feel very pleased that I was able to let stuff go to new homes
where I am sure it will be loved and well played with :o)

But, I did buy................

  
Yardage of these but that's allowed as they are backing
 to finish 2 quilts  :)

I also purchased these and they are "my exception to the rule" as they are Bonnie and Camille.

  

There was also this purchase which is also OK as they are for my "Lucy Boston"
oh the fussy cutting potential :o)  
 

that was not an exception to the rule was these .... 

I may have also taken part in last weeks #greatusdestash and look what I got ......


Hello pretty "Ruby FQ Bundle"  If this is not heaven in fabric then I don't know what is :o)
So looking forward to its arrival so it can take pride of place in my "little" Bonnie and Camille Stash.

OK so rounding up, yes a few purchases but only one fell outside of my guidelines.
Not a bad month. Now time to stalk the postie .......

hugs Sharon

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Best Friends Forever Progress

I have eventually got around to framing the next lot of stitched hexies for this project


Which meant it was time for me to add them to this slowly growing project.
I only have two of the stitched hexies to do from Installment 4 and I will be half way!
Here is my progress so far. I think its going to be very long so I might add another row or two to the side.



I've decided that it is too pretty of a WIP to be put away so I have left it out on display for a while whilst I think about working on it again.


Pick the Aussie Designers in that pic :)

Miss Lily gave m a run for my money Sunday night.

  

She stood on some broken glass and needed a trip to the hospital to make sure that there was no glass in her foot.  Lucky for her there was not.  Just a bit of a wash out, some panadol and a bandage. Thankfully not this one that the Triage nurse put on!.

Hope you find some time for you to do something you love,
hugs Sharon

Monday, 20 January 2014

Scatter Brain

 Yes that is me at the moment and I feel that it is well and truly reflected in my crafting as
I am jumping from one project to another.  But lets start with a little win I had on Facebook.


Three new spools of Twine have come to live with me. Great to add to my little growing collection,

Last post I showed you that I had dragged out my Lancaster Quilt again.
I am slowly getting row 4 of 5, of the clam shells attached.  Think I might change out that last border
though as it's not talking to me at the moment.


I got to spend Saturday afternoon at my LQS with a great group of ladies who are all working on
one (or more) Quiltwork Patterns.  I did a little last minute stitching and pinning to get this little 
sample block partly pieced to share.  You just need to imagine that all the arches go from light in the center to dark on the outside.  What do you think?


I've also done a little more work on the Weekender Bag that I am making for Barb in our one on one swap.
Sorry Barb but I just couldn't get the colours to come out in this pic! lol


I have something else I want to share, maybe tomorrow.

Hope you get to spend some of the day doing something you love.
hugs Sharon

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Lancaster Quilt

It has been a long time since I worked on this one.

"Lancaster Quilt"

I cleaned out my sewing space a couple of days ago and found myself drawn back to it 
so I left the box on my cutting table. Then late yesterday, when like many others I am sure, I found myself laying under the Air Conditioner doing nothing. Well I don't do the "doing nothing " to well. It makes my grumpy!
So I went and grabbed the box.  
Playing with small bits of fabric aren't going to make me any hotter are they :o)


I have a weather App on my Ipad so snapped this pic with it and posted to Instagram.
Hot ...... damm hot!


By 11pm, I was on the floor (still under the Air conditioner vent) laying out my clam shells.
Tennis is good for keeping me company this time of year as everyone else was in bed.

They are still all over the floor this morning so with the Tennis on again and another hot day predicted, you know when you will find me :o)

Also ........  I have been getting things ready for Miss Lily to start school.
So yesterday morning I turned her boring black reader bag and Art smock from this  ..... to this.


No mistaking who they belong to now.

Oh and my new toy.


Never thought an Iron could make me so happy but this one does.

Hope you find time today to do something that makes you happy.
hugs Sharon.

Monday, 13 January 2014

Lucy Boston

"Patchwork of the Crosses"
I have been drawn to this quilt for some time.

Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses

Lucy Boston was born in England in 1892, and lived to be 98 years old. 
She designed and made at least twenty amazing patchworks in her long
life, but she is more famous as the author of the 
Green Knowe children's books, for her ancient manor house 
and garden near Cambridge in England, and for her long, creative old age.

Lucy Boston published her first books when she was in her sixties, and she continued to write, sew, and garden when she was in her nineties. She was an extraordinary person, and still inspires affection and admiration today.

 Then on our recent holiday I saw this in the window of Periwinkle Patchwork.


On my first visit I purchased the pattern and some papers. I found myself reading the history and pattern over and over again that night so I returned to the shop the net day and asked for a starter kit.  
21 F8's later and I was ready to go.


Not my usual fabric choices and I did consider using modern fabrics over the Civil War Reproduction Fabrics but decided to stick with what attracted me to this quilt in the first place.

So since being home I have been playing with my blocks and fussy cutting.
After looking online I obviously have a lot to learn and to be inspired by when it comes to fussy cutting.

These are my first 4 blocks






This will be another long term project for me as I don't have any Civil War fabrics in my stash.

I am also thinking about using lots of different light tone on tone fabrics and shirting fabrics for the next ring around these blocks


It's now time to restock the papers as I've run out already!

hugs Sharon