WOW!

Thanks to everyone who commented on my log cabin post .... I am amazed that so many people were interested. I have tried to reply to everyone ... some of you are still set up as 'no-reply' ... but I did my best to visit your blogs. Haven't had a chance to do any more to the quilt, but I think I'll go with this version ...

The Christmas decorations are gradually coming out so this sampler came down on Saturday. It is from the days when I did lots of cross-stitch and is still one of my favourites.

Of course, as soon as the camera came out, so did Oliver!

This Christmas cross-stitch is going up in the spot where the sampler was. It is a Debbie Mumm design.

They're not very good photos ... I kept getting reflections in the glass ...

these are the best of a bad lot!

On Saturday I am heading down to Ross for the Tassie bloggers Christmas get-together. Looking forward to meeting up with everyone again. I guess one of the advantages of living on a smallish island is we can meet up like this fairly easily.

Decisions, Decisions!

Back in July, I did a Quilt-as-You-Go Log Cabin class at Picture Patchwork in Latrobe. At the time I think I managed to completed 4 blocks, which then got put aside while I worked on other projects. (I'm sure you can relate to that!)

Well, the last couple of weekends I have been busy trying to complete the rest of the blocks. As I now have 25 done, today I lay them out on the kitchen floor to try and decide what setting I'll use. My original plan was to do a barn-raising setting but as you can see I'll have to make another 11 blocks for it to look any good.

While I had the blocks out I tried a few other options. I quite like this one ....

and this is okay too.

Then again, what about this ...

or this. Do you have a preference? (or another option to confuse me even more!)

This is what Oliver was doing when all this experimenting was happening. What a life!

I know I'm biased, but he is rather cute.

Yummy Fabrics

Today I've got a little fabric yumminess to share. I picked up the fabrics below at Cranberry Crafts in Ulverstone on Friday. They were having a Birthday Sale so it was a good time to splurge.

From the top, we have 2 fat quarters of 3 Sisters Faded Memories ... these were $2.00 each. Next is 1/2 metre of Sweet Romance by Blackbird Designs .... this is earmarked for Anni Downs' Christmas Story Quilt and was 40% off. At the bottom are 2 metres of Cinnamon Stars by Figtree Quilts ... at 60% off I just had to have this!

This is an At Water's Edge by Blackbird Designs jellyroll I found very cheap on the internet before the Australian dollar plummeted. At least the dismal dollar has curbed my overseas fabric purchases for a while. There is already enough in my stash to keep me busy for a very, very long time!

Don't you love the swirly pattern the strips make?

Block 5 of Truly Scrumptious is finished, with block 6 about 1/2 completed.

Couldn't resist a close-up of this pretty lady.

A few people have queried why it is a long weekend in Tasmania. Well, it's actually only the north of the state that have the long weekend as the south have a holiday in February for the Hobart Regatta. Tomorrow's holiday is just to even things up. I am busy sewing log cabins blocks today. Will take some pictures tomorrow if the weather is better .. very grey today.

Quilt Shop Delights

Just for a change from Truly Scrumptious, here are some photos I took of the shop area at The Quilted Crow's Christmas Gathering in September.

If you're anything like me, you like to see lots of samples when you visit a quilt shop. The Quilted Crow is very inspirational in this respect.

I love the way they use old furniture, suitcases and bric-a-brac to display their wares.

These quilts hanging on the wall made a fabulous backdrop to the shop area.



Some Natalie Bird patterns and comptatible fabrics.

Hope you enjoyed these piccies. It is a holiday on Monday in Northern Tasmania. As I don't work tomorrow, that makes four days off. Hoping to do some serious stitching.

It's also nearly time for the Christmas decorating to start! I like to start in early November ... it's always exciting unpacking each box ... takes me about two weeks ... usually do a mini spring clean at the same time.

More Truly Scrumptious

Tempting as it is, I am trying hard not to start any new projects at the moment, so the only thing I can show is another Truly Scrumptious block. This is the fourth of nine ... number 5 is nearly done - maybe a photo tomorrow.

Still working on PIF and SSCS gifts ... would love to show you, but that would spoil the surprise for the recipients.

That's all for today.

Some Very Nice Mail

Yippee! My internet connection is working again. I've been offline since last Friday ... all very annoying ... but it's fixed now.

I was fortunate to win a giveway on Joy's blog. The prize was this lovely bag pattern. Thanks Joy.



Some other very exciting mail recently arrived from Spain. A while again, I helped Margaret from A Sampler of Stitches get a copy of one of our great Australian craft magazines. She very kindly said she would make me something in return so I was very intrigued and excited when these little packages appeared in my mailbox.



I have admired Margaret's lovely cross-stitching ever since I discovered blogland last year. Just look at the beautiful needlework set she has made me.



Oliver is impressed too.



Here are some close-ups of Margarets exquisite work. I love the colours she used.







I have always been in awe of the beautiful way Margaret finishes her cross-stitch pieces. The cord and edging on this piece are very good examples.



As if this wasn't enough, I also received this lovely Gutermann tin filled with very handy threads. Thanks Margaret ... you were very generous.



I like this picture of Oliver ... actually didn't spot his reflection until after I'd taken the picture. Rather cute!

A Scrumptious Update

Just a couple of things to share tonight. I've finished stitching my third Truly Scrumptious block.



These are so much fun to stitch ... a good project to work on when 'watching' TV.




Don't you love those knobbly knees!



And here is a sneaky peak of another project I've been working on lately. You will have to wait a bit longer to see what it is.



Finally pop over to my sister Kathy's blog and have a look at her shabby loo makeover. I think you will be impressed.

Happy Birthday Mum

I finally finished the Crossroads tablerunner, made from Hemming House fabrics, for Mum's birthday ... it was a week late but she didn't mind. She has put in an order for another one!

Quite pleased with my machine quilting ... even though it's still all straight lines. I'd love to be able to do swirls and stippling but I'm always scared of ruining the project.

I love Heather Mulder Peterson's patterns and was pleased to discover recently that she has a blog called Trends and Traditions. Definitely worth a visit ... lots of beautiful quilts and fabrics to see and her quilting studio is amazing.