French General finish

I had about 3" of binding left to sew down when I got home from work today. And now I'm finished - yay!

Based on the design Chelsea Charm, my quilt used one Rouennieres jelly roll, and two charm packs. I really enjoyed the doing the hand appliquéd petals. The blocks were machine pieced, and then hand quilted. I love the red backing.

Best get back to some secret sewing tonight........... or maybe prepare In Full Bloom for quilting.

Susan x

Long weekend

Making a mess of the front yard........

.....and sewing on the binding of my French General quilt.

We had 33mm of rain on Friday night so the garden is very happy, and our digging is a little easier.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Susan x

Tip of the day

I have a very special tip of the day to share. DO NOT iron template plastic! It smells bad, and it's no good for your iron or the template. Fortunately, it came off my iron pretty easily. It's just so darned hard to see when you leave it on the ironing board.

On a happier note, In Full Bloom is, well, blooming. First three rows sewn together. Just one last stitchery to finish.

The work of a hand quilter never ends. My FG quilt is coming along. I hate quilting really close to the edge, it's hard to get it to stay flat.

I have signed up for Chookyblue's SSCS again. I have been sneaking around my partners blog, and I think I have decided what to make. The only problem will be that if it turns out as hoped, I might need to make a second one for myself.

All this talk of Christmas is starting to make me nervous!

Susan x

WIP's

The problem with being a hand quilter is that there is always a quilt top waiting to be worked on. I am continuing my French General love affair, so thought I should pull out the top I made with precuts and get on with quilting it. Just quilting around the appliqué and along the borders, so it shouldn't take too long.

I finished the birdbath block of In Full Bloom. The last month has arrived, so only a couple more stitcheries to do before putting it all together.

Off to make some biscuits and caramel slice, then I'm going to ignore some pesky house jobs, and sew for the afternoon.

Hope you're having a lovely day, and keeping cool or warm, depending on where you are.

Susan x

iPad case

As much as I love my iPad, I thought it needed some fabric so it looks like it actually belongs in my bag. I had a look on the Internet, lots of great patterns and ideas. Decision making isn't one of my strengths - this could take a long time. Then it came to me - I could use the last little scraps of Rouennieres from my Chelsea Charm quilt. I had just enough left.

I do have a nifty black magnetic cover, but now the whole lot fits neatly into this.......

I love it when you have an idea, have the scraps, and have the time, and it all comes together quickly. It was a very productive start to the weekend.

Three games of soccer today, and another fairly quiet weekend. Hope you get to stitch this weekend.

Susan x

Getting lots done

Well I can thoroughly recommend a night at home alone - it certainly gets a lot done. I finished the top of my Chelsea Charm quilt - it just needs quilting now.

I used my "bright" fabrics, and finished the sewing case for my neice's birthday (from SKOW). I think it needs a pincushion, needlecase and a simple starter stitchery to finish it off. She will be 8 in August, so I'm well ahead of schedule with this one.

I watched "The Help" on DVD, which was really good. And "New Years Eve", which wasn't. I finished Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini. It was okay, but not her best. Hope the next book is back at Elm Creek.

I even planted five new trees along the drive (had some help digging the holes yesterday before everyone left). Lots of autumn colour to come, and five yet to plant.

Today I finished off the stitchery part of the SKOW bag, and am off to work on the bag construction now.

Back to work and reality tomorrow. Boo hoo.

Susan x

Chelsea Charm Update

I'm over halfway with the applique for Chelsea Charm. The French General range is just so beautiful to work with - every fabric is lovely (even if my photography doesn't show it today!).

Also working away on MIL wall hanging - hopefully it will be finished tonight (thank goodness).

Susan x

Plodding along

I have been quietly working away on my hand quilting - making the most of the cool weather. I wish I could hand quilt faster.

And when it's warmer, appliqueing my petals. I forgot the little round centres, so need to go back and do those.

I also have an unusual new project commissioned by my mother in law. She is a very lovely lady so even though it's really not my thing, I couldn't say no when she asked me to turn this picture into a banner for her church. We were married in the church so there is a connection. I'm off to Spotlight tomorrow to see what I can find (lots of vliesofix i think!).

Lots of emails buzzing around about GDITC - so, so exciting (only 66 more sleeps).

Happy, happy tonight, hubby is cooking dinner!

Susan x

Love Applique

I used to be scared of needleturn applique, but after quite a lot of practice I love it. In My Garden was one of my favourite projects because it had so much variety. But simple is good too, and my Chelsea Charm blocks are perfect for relaxing summer sewing.

Susan x

Chelsea Charm

So much for working on UFO's - I finally opened my jelly roll of Rouenneries this week instead. I am using it to make Chelsea Charm, a quilt by Robyn Falloon that was in APQ.

Using charm squares and a jelly roll is a bit like cheating, but so much fun.

And now I have a lovely basket of needleturn applique to do.

I also used this pattern with Garden Party fabrics to make a quilt for Mum's 80th in 2010.

And now that the weather has warmed up, I've been taking my stitching outside to keep an eye on my boys, camping and swimming in the 'backyard'.

Hope you get a chance to sew today.

Susan x

Miscellaneous

Yet another cold, wet day here - but no complaining from me. I went to Bathurst on Tuesday, and made the obligatory visit to the Home Patch. Only a small purchase this time ..... trying to be good for Santa and all that. The red crackle fabric is a glorious shade.

This jelly roll of Rounierres has been sitting in front of me for quite a few months. I bought it and the squares planning to make the Chelsea charm quilt, but it is so lovely to look at that I can't bear to cut it open. I was going to start today but I think I'll leave it a little longer.

The cool weather has made me get out my hand quilting. 21 blocks done, and only 235 to go. It might be a while.......

I have been smitten by the Irish Circles quilt that a few bloggers are working on, so am trying to track down the pattern. Patchwork on Stonleigh used to have it but they have sadly closed. If you have any ideas please help this lover of hand piecing find her new project.....

TGIF, and here's to a great weekend.
Susan x