A finished quilt!

Another bit of a break between posts (I'll try not to say that at the beginning of EVERY post though) but I have a good reason! The battery in my laptop died a few weeks ago (may have been a few months, actually, have lost track). It was around that same time as a few other things broke, so a new battery wasn't high on the list of priorities. So I decided to leave it plugged in and use with the charger...fast forward to the charger dying! A week and a bit to order a new one...lets just say, nice to have it back!

I've been working a bit more the last few weeks too, my colleague going on leave meant I was able to do 4 weeks of full time work! Eeek! Could I do it? Turns out- not very well! maybe for other little black ducks, but not this one! Keeping things running at home was a lot harder, and my time to 'look after myself' (usually by doing chores on my spare days the kiddo is at school, so we can spend the weekend together) was gone! So happily, due to work being quiet, the last 2 Fridays were cut off and I could breeeaatthheee!

I also got asked to do a custom quilt in the middle of all this! Of course, I said yes! It was for the sibling of the girl who got this quilt; and I was allowed to pick the pattern and fabrics! (had some colours to guide me).

I chose this pattern, and am really glad I did!  Easy to follow and accurate, I'm really hoping to try a few more of Allison's patterns, and get a copy of her book. Only problem is deciding which on to make first!

The fabrics were picked from GJ's Fabrics, during one of the Sit n Sew days of the MMQG. I had a few helpers thankfully, as picking fabrics is not my forte!

 

 (Sewing is a lot more fun with sparkly nails I've decided!)

 lots of trimming!

  

and finally came putting it all together. A rockin' Saturday night that was!

I planned it to be finished by this weekend coming- but I got absolutely motivated at the sit n Sew day on last Saturday with the Guild, and got it basted, quilted and nearly bound in one day! I finished the binding that night. Then went to bed and died of back pain haha.

  Yummy binding!

  I'm happy to say it was all worth it! I didn't get much time in the old grey weather for good pics, as it was picked up quick smart- so some indoor shots to show the quilting, and outdoor for the colours.

I'm going to miss working on this beauty!

Blogtoberfest Day 25

You need no introduction....the weather wasn't great, but at least I got some ok pics!!

*sigh* I hope it makes the couple very happy!!

All the deets here

Blogtoberfest day 23 & 24

It's done! 

I tried a new thing with the binding, as learnt by Rita at our MMQG day;It works well, helps it sit nice and flat, I think.

I snapped these tonight after a final once over; I'll take it to work tomorrow and get some outdoor daylight shots! I only have it 1 more night and I hand it over! Eeeek!

Phew!!

Blogtoberfest Day 21

Turn away now if you're squeamish!

Don't say I didn't warn you....

So I had a lovely relaxing day, with the kid out for most of it, while I knuckled down to get this finished! The sunshine beckoned, but I was determined...

I even ran out of thread last night, so I made an early morning trip to Spotlight to restock- I got the jumbo, as I love this combo- a lighter grey thread for the grey and white fabric. I plan to use lots more grey obviously!

 Nearly there...

 and then...it happened. A right of passage I'm sure. The girl got home, and after a break for cuddles and chats, I sat down to do about the last 1/8th of the quilting, and looked up as the foot went down- it was so quick I didn't realise it had happened! The needle snapped, but luckily not off into my finger!

I warned you about the squeamish factor, right?

 But I'm a nurse, so I had to look...and share. Once I knew what to do! And yep, I went a bit pale, the girl wasn't sure what to make of me for a minute, she got a bit of a fright! And despite being a nurse, I had no idea what to do- I never worked in ER, I only remember it from the TV show. And this didn't bleed! What you see is all there is. Thanks for the calm advice, Curlypops!

A couple of hours later it still looked OK. After the initial shock, I decided the bastard wouldn't beat me- YES, the quilt is finished, thanks to trusty Elastoplast! 

I also washed the floors, and folded/ironed 3 baskets of washing- kicking a few goals today, and sewing though my finger!

What a day....

PS I did not purposely sew through my finger to have something cool to post for Blogtoberfest heehee

Blogtoberfest Day 13 and 14

I'm not apologising today for running the 2 days together- cos i feel it was a whole weekend's worth! And today's jobs of lots of washing aren't blog worthy, really! So back to  yesterday...

Our Spring Sewing Retreat at GJ's fabrics was fan-bloody-tastic! a great bunch of people, excellent organisation, and a great guest speaker! Not to mention the day ran from 9am until 10pm! 

Rita was a great guest speaker, it was such a thrill to meet her, and I was definitely a little star struck! Especially when she wanted to watch me do some quilting! Eeek! She gave us a chat about how she started, and some show and tell of her amazing quilts.

She'd even made a little quilt up to show us her binding technique. We all wanted to absorb that technique and skill I think!

Eye candy galore!

there was also food. And plenty of it! I'm a bit puzzled that I wasn't very hungry, I managed a good serve of lunch, some snacking at arvo tea, then yummy gourmet pizza's for dinner, with salad- there was a lot left over too! Next time I'll take a doggy bag container....

Someone went snuck off and got some bubbles too, which def kept us giggling and stitching along!

I managed a quarter of my custom quilt quilting... 

and took my Dresden quilt along to pick the centre flower fabric. I'm pretty happy with it!

Back tomorrow with more pics from the day!

Still going....

Still going on the custom quilt, it's getting to the pointy end!

I layed it out the other night; 

after trimming them all and admiring :)

I was admiring the yummy scraps that came off too! So bright and cherry in the bin.

  

after the borders, I layed it out and check the fit. I was going for about a king size, and my bed is queen, so I'm pretty happy! 

The hardest thing about a custom order is keeping the balance! Creatively, I like lots of different projects on the hop, for different moods, or dependant on whether I can get off the couch or not at the end of the day!

I have been looking at these gorgeous bag patterns for a while, having followed Anna's blog for a while. I have tried a few of her tutorials and liked them, so I splurged on the weekend and bought her bag patterns 241 and Sidekick.

I started with the 241 pattern the other night. So quick- a 2hr movie on the laptop (the amazing Aussie movie Beautiful Kate) and it was printed, cut out and half finished! The rest done this morning.

I used denim, some DS Quilts print from Spotlight, and some of my fave honeycomb red spot. Vintage floral lining.

 And the denim? Chopped from a pair of my sister's old jeans! They came from my bad habit of looking through her bag of stuff for the op shop I had in the car boot! Hmmm, I'll add them to the pile! and they were very handy!

For the side panels I used the bottoms of the legs, and for the strap the upper part. So they are different shades as well. Which I think looks really nice!

Hmm, now to decide whether to keep or sell! It's pretty cute....