Two Brown Chickens

Two Brown Chickens designed by Leanne Beasley is my last finish for March.

Folk art paint transformed a tired old frame

 

Oliver performed his usual inspections ... what a sticky beak!

Only one more day of work before our Easter holidays start ... I'm really looking forward to the break. I  plan to work on some of my many UFOs.

Ann's New Years Eve Star Blocks

Yesterday I made this block for my Friends in Stitching block of the month quilt.

 It is called Ann's New Years Eve Star. This month it was Peg's turn to select the block  ... a great choice, Peg.

I was so pleased with my Rouenneries version that I grabbed an Aviary jelly roll and charm pack and made two more blocks.

 

A bit naughty as I have so many other things on the go but I really was inspired!

While I had the blocks outside to photograph, the 'quilt inspector' carried out his examination! He was very thorough ... checking every seam and point very closely!

I plan to piece some more blocks over Easter ... haven't really got a plan ... this will be a make it up as I go project.

There's a Cat on My Quilt!

Last week with 'help' from Oliver,  I got this quilt out to use in my Easter decorating.

While I would love to say I had made it myself that would be a big fib!! Vicki from Bloom Creek offered some of her samples for sale last year and I was lucky enough to be able to purchase this beauty.

It is called Ferndale Flora and ...

Vicki pieced and quilted it with Shangri-La fabrics from 3 Sisters.

 The applique and quilting are beautifully done ... 

and inspire me every time I look at them.

I really love this quilt and consider it a bargain ... I was able to buy  the finished quilt for less than it would have cost to buy the fabrics in Australia!

I just had a look on Vicki's website and the pattern is available here.

Block Keeper

I received this wonderful block keeper from Kerry . It was for a Friends in Stitching swap with a Leanne Beasley theme. The top is a block from Leanne's Journey of a Quilter quilt which I've always wanted to do but never got around to. Now I have my own mini version beautifully stitched by Kerry.

Kerry also sent me a cute cross-stitched hankie and a cute card featuring cows from 'Nundle'.Thanks Kerry. 

I'm using my new Block Keeper to store my FIS blocks. Hope to find some time to make the next one over the weekend.

Leanne's House Swap

The Friends in Stitching group I belong to had a Leanne's House swap. This is what I made for Tereasa.

 The sewing bag is from the Precious Things pattern ...

 

and the pincushion is one of  five published as Sarah's Pincushions.

 

Lucky for me, Tereasa's favourite colours include pink, green and red.

I enjoyed working with these fabrics from my Simplicity stash. 

Just a bit sad that I've nearly run out of the pink fabric ... it's so nice for working stitcheries on.

Our next swap will be a bag that must include a stitchery or needle turn applique and a trim such as ric rac. Sounds like fun.

A Little Bit of Stitching

This Jacob's Ladder block is the third block for my Friends in Stitiching BOM. It was Leanne's turn to choose the block this month. (Aren't the months just zipping by ... nearly Easter!!) Once again I used Rouenneries fabrics by French General ... I love the scrappiness of it.

In between finishing swap gifts, I had a play with the lovely fabrics Lynda sent me for my birthday. I decided to use the Calico Spools block ... with a slight variation. (All the spools have the pink plaid at the centre instead of the plain pink ... I like a scrappy look.)

I've made 8 spool blocks. The ninth will be the centre block and feature stitchery of some sort! The fabric with the red spot was a purchase from Quilt Fabric Delights ... it looks very cute and girly as sashings.

Here's a peek at something else I've been doing. It started out as a swap gift but I now have other plans for it.!

This afternoon I'm off to the theatre ... nephews and niece, Jesse, Micah and Tali are performing in the Burnie Musical Society's production of Oliver. They are all urchins/pickpockets in Fagin's gang. I have been treated to many renditions over the summer so it will be good to see it all come together.