UFO Thursday

I totally forgot that yesterday was UFO Thursday ... oops!  I was busy running around town between appointments and had to wait for a freight train crossing not once but twice in my day.

So without further waffle ... I am very proud to present my Log Cabin Quilt-as-you-Go King Size Quilt.

Commenced in July 2009 this is one UFO that I am over the moon to have finished. I've also checked it off my PhD list only one month late. It's already on the bed keeping us toasty through the winter nights.

No shortage of UFO's to work on next ... deciding which is the first step.

UFO Thursday

Finally found the time to take a photo for today's UFO report. Last night while watching the State of Origin Rugby League I put the last stitches in the back of the log cabin...at last it is a whole quilt.

Can't wait till this one is on the bed!

Productive Weekend

I have been very lucky indeed ... a peaceful and productive weekend!

Yesterday while doing some serious blog catching up, I came across a 'Stay at Home Robin' on Kate's blog. Today I get to share my July block ... not just one but two of them. I decided to try and make two blocks each month so that I can have two finished wall hangings at the end of the journey.

Considering I've managed to piece the two blocks only the day after deciding to take part, I'm hoping that's a good sign that I can manage this twin project.

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Remember this poor little log cabin block? Well actually there's 36 of them 14 1/2" x 14 1/2" and they recently came out of storage and are turning into .....

....... PAIRS! The front seems are machine sewn, the wadding whip stitched and the backing stitched by hand.

I have plenty of hand sewing to keep my hands busy at night.

Progress, A Finish and Buys

Well I made it out to work last Thursday and then we had a shopping day Friday. Putting my time stuck at home to good use, I managed to complete the blocks for our log cabin quilt and after much changing around, DH and I decided on the final layout.

Now for joining the blocks. Then I need to add a border to the sides and bottom.

My attention span is often quite short so I had a play with a couple of other projects as well. Jenny has a challenge for March to use a charm pack (maximum of 20 squares only) so I grabbed 'Aunt Purdy's Parlor' by Moda and came up with this Shaggy Bag.

Just the one bag with a view of each side.

With the remaining 5" squares I made a small table runner but it's only at the top stage.

I did manage some retail therapy while in town Friday. The red fabric is to back my fishpond quilt and some matching thread. The goldy leaf fabric kept catching my eye so I bought it home too. I'll use some to back the table runner along with the varigated sandtone thread.

The yo-yo maker is to replace the one I bought last year, used once and has never been found since. My guess is the first one will turn up now.

Now that I have a new bulb for my lamp, I can get back into some night time stitching. I've been itching to start on the 'catalicious' stitchery from Red Brolly and I picked up this varigated thread for the job. Would you believe that as I walked past with thread in hand, this fabric jumped right out and offered to sash the stitcheries for me. I couldn't refuse, could I?

The weather is extremely windy today, perfect for staying indoors and stitching or sewing so off I go.

If you haven't heard already, the girls from Among the Gum Trees are giving away 5 fabric kits to make the Baseco bag in aid of Dawn's quest. Take a look at their lovely bags too.

Rolling Along

Make hay while the sun shines .... or .... Strike while the iron is hot.

Either proverb describes my sewing at the moment. I'm on a roll and managed to add the second chocolate lattice strip to all 36 blocks yesterday. This may seem a simple job, but I get distracted easily.


I also cut some 2 1/2" strips, stitched them together in 3's and cut them again in 2 1/2" pieces ready to make some 9 patches today for another of my PhD's.

Look who was keeping me company in the sewing room yesterday ... and she's in that same spot already this morning.



Off to do some morning jobs and then back to the sewing machine.

My PhD's

That would be PhD for Projects Half Done and I have quite a few of those ... surprise, surprise!!

Myra has challenged herself to finish her PhD's and we're invited to keep her company ... sooooo ...


I've set myself 3 projects to finish off by June 30.

In no particular order ~

Quilt-as-you-go Log Cabin for my King Bed (36 blocks - all at this stage)


Fish Pond Wall Hanging (This is how a saw it last - top half)

Wonky Houses Wall Hanging (Sashing strips cut ready)

Of course I have more PhD's but I'm trying to be realistic and any more finishes before the deadline will be a bonus!

What I've Been Up To

I think I lost the month of July to everything being hectic at once. Combine that with a dodgy internet and I haven't been here as often as I'd like. So while all is good and quiet, may I share what I have managed to squeeze in.
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This is a pattern I purchased from Tazzie Quilts and I've been wanting to make up for a while so I made two. Pink for me . . .

Blue for my lovely FRIENDS Swapee, Marina.

I also finished off joining the strips for the month of June and embroidered the name of each month on each first strip from January to June.

Then I got stuck into July and finished with a week up my sleeve. To see more colourful calendar quilts, click on my sidebar link. You can also read where some of my fabrics come from as my stash isn't plentiful enough to cover 365 days of the year.

At our last patchwork day I managed to cut all the strips and backing squares, ready to make a start on our king bed quilt. Currently I have 36 x 6.5" blocks ready for the next step.

There are two fabric postcards awaiting my attention today so I may have more to share later on.

Surprise! Surprise!

Saturday was full of surprises. The first being that I finished the T-block quilt. I've named it 'Double Choc' as it reminds me of a block of white chocolate with milk chocolate swirls.



Of course put a quilt down and a cat will always appear .
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Next is a close-up of the two cream fabrics used.

This log cabin quilt I finished in early March is 'Toffee Bon Bon'.

Both quilts were gifted last night at my brothers surprise "Big O" birthday party, and a big surprise it was too. He had no idea. 'Toffee Bon Bon' is his and 'Double Choc' is for my SIL who also celebrated her "Big O" with a surprise party earlier in the year. So I was able to deliver his and hers gifts.

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These pelicans winged their way to me for our April 'At the beach' Postcard Swap. So clever and well done. I'm loving them.

In keeping with surprises, my May postcard has also arrived. The theme for May is 'Stitchery' or 'Red Work'. Isn't it the cutest little quilt draped over a post and rail fence.

I'm tracing some designs today ready for lots of stitching at night. And next quilt off the starting blocks will be another log cabin, this time for our bed. Off to find the fabrics, I think I still need to purchase one more so need to sort that out.

Happy Stitching

Cats Rule!

Do cats rule at your house? They certainly do at mine. I only left these pants on the ironing board for 2 minutes and when I came back . . .

Jayne thought they'd make a comfy spot to soak up some morning sun.


Fleur is still soaking up the morning sun in her spot under the ironing board.



Jane also shares her home and blog with a very spoilt moggie. Please pay them a visit and while you're there, enter her giveaway for a chance to win a lovely bag.

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Thankyou ladies for your lovely comments on my log cabin. I thought I'd try and take a close up of the light fabric as it looks white in the photo.

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While you're here, you may have noticed that my PIF on my side bar is still looking for two more names. If you've been thinking about it then now's the time to join. Leave your comment here but click back here for the rules. If I'm still short then that's OK, I'll choose someone who I'd like to make a little something for and surprise them.

Happy Sewing

Back with Photos

Everything is back to normal, in the computer department anyway. All it needed was a good clean on the insides apparently so hope it's all good from here on.

So now I can upload pics from the camera again, here is the lovely Autumn Wall Hanging I received from Janey.

In her parcel she included some sweet fabrics . . .

some sweet chickens - marshmellow, yummm . . .

a sweet kitty notepad and a copy of American Patchwork & Quilting. Of course I've already picked out a couple of patterns from the magazine to add to my to do list.

Thankyou Janey for a wonderful treat and thankyou to Margaret for once again organizing an excellent swap.

And here is a finish from me. This log cabin quilt was finished last Saturday but between sick computers and a hectic lifestyle at the moment, I've only now got the time to show it off.

Now off to the sewing machine while I have a spare moment.

Happy Sewing

Tennis, Cricket and McLeod's Daughters

What do you think these three things could have in common? My hand stitching progress of course. I've never been a big tennis or cricket fan but this year I'm enjoying watching both which is tricky when you have the men's tennis singles finals on one channel and a close cricket match on the other.

I did a lot of switching between channels while watching the tennis and cricket last night. Saturday night was tennis and then McLeods. I also made good progress on the log cabin quilt. I've now done the hand stitching part of joining the blocks so that they are in four strips of four blocks. Just three x 56" long seams to go and then the binding. I'm a slow hand stitcher so I'm really happy with my progress. I'd share a photo of the strips but I think my camera just passed on.

Off to town today which includes a visit to the local fabric shop. I need backing and wadding for the T-block quilt and also some backing for my nephew's quilt which is due by the 13th of this month and where is it . . . still in the UFO pile. I see a busy busy week ahead as it's also GST (Goods and Services Tax) time for this little procrastinator.

Happy Sewing

Sewing, Sewing and More Sewing

I've been having a sewing good time! Every day last week I managed to get some sewing done. Yesterday and today have been more of the same. My machine is set up with the ironing board close by and I just keep sewing . . . with a few household jobs inbetween.

I'm getting as much sewing time in as possible before I head back to a work routine this Thursday, so sadly, 'ample' sewing time is coming to an end. Then it will be back to squeezing the sewing in.

So, what have I achieved.

This log cabin quilt I'm doing as a quilt-as-you-go. I'm just about to start joining the blocks.



I finally made a start on Red Delicious. Here's block one all ironed on, ready for hand blanket stitching with some embroidery on the bird tails and cherries.



And for this T-Block quilt, I used fabrics that I'd originally bought for the log cabin but I had twice as much fabric as I needed. For more pics of the steps to this quilt, see here.

Of course this means I've added more projects to my WIP list but I do have a time frame for these two quilts so hopefully they will soon be moved to the Completed 2009 list.

So it's back to the sewing machine for me, perhaps with a cup of coffee.

Happy Sewing Days