Oliver's Antics

Last night I got out this redwork tablerunner to baste but Oliver had other ideas! First, he just sat on it with his 'why aren't you feeding me' face.



Then he decided it was washing time. I'm glad he's so clean but really!. There's a time and a place!



Then it was playtime .. naughty boy! By this stage, I was 'not happy Jan'. (He's out of focus due to all the wriggling about.)



After all the excitement it was time for a snooze and I could finally get to work.



I did finally get it all basted. This is the fabric I'm using for the back ... Roman Holiday by 3 Sisters. Sorry about the horrible photos - this fabric is actually white though you'd never guess it. Had hoped to quilt it today but rearranged the kitchen instead .. as you do!



Lastly, Sylvia asked for the name of the pattern for the table runner in my last post. Sylvia, it is called Crossroads Table Runner and is from a book called Charmed and Dangerous by Heather Mulder Peterson. The book is published by Anka's Treasures.

A Holiday Makeover

They say a change is as good as holiday and seeing I'm on holidays I thought I'd try a different background. It is a free one from Cutest Blog on the Block. Thanks for the hint, Stina. Couldn't resist this one with ric rac and toile. Hope you like it.
I've been stitching away but unfortunately it's not anything I can show just yet. So here are a couple more photos I took at my sisters earlier this week. This is a redwork stitchery I gave her as a gift - can't remember whether it was Christmas or birthday. I do know it is from the book Simply Red, a collection of stitcheries by Bronwyn Hayes for Country Friends.



And here is the tablerunner I gave her for her birthday being put to good use. My Mum has put in an order for her birthday in September. She wants one in pink, brown and green tones.



And for all the cat lovers, the obligatory photo of Oliver looking cute. I think this might be his koala impression!



If you haven't checked out Chookyblue's blog today, go and have a look at the really cool slide show she has put together of a quilt show she went to. If you look closely you'll even see some of her own work.

My Sewing Angel

Went up to my sisters on Monday. While the kids vacuumed and washed my car, I did some reverse sewing for her. Unpicking your own stuff is horrible, but when it's someone elses 'disaster' you're trying to rescue it's not so bad.

This is one of Kathy's stitcheries I thought you might like to see.

We think it is one of Lynette Anderson's designs. I have an unfinished one lying around somewhere ... just needs to sew the buttons on. Will have to do something about that.

Before I go, here is a photo of George. As a kitten, George lived with my Mum and Dad. He stayed with us when they went on holiday once and never went home! We still had George when Oliver was a kitten ... they used to wash each other. Unfortunately, George didn't hit it off with one of our neighbours so he went to live with Kathy and the kids. As you can see, he is now very contented and comfortable.

PS. The kids did an OK job cleaning the car, so we took them to see Prince Caspian at the movies yesterday.

Naughty Pussy Cat!

Today I worked on Stina's Pay It Forward gift and I'm pleased with how it's coming along. Oliver was on hand to assist. As you can see, he got quite naughty at one stage





Thankfully he remembered his manners eventually. Stitching is so exhausting!



I have decided I will make different gifts for my three girls. There are several reasons for this:
1. I can send them off to their new homes as soon as they're completed and won't have to wait 'til all three are done.
2. I'm quite slow getting stuff finished! Just as well it's a 365 day PIF! (Actually, it's the getting started that's often the slow part - checking through 400 magazines and patterns can be time consuming!)
3. I like to try new projects.

I have had fun catching up on blog reading today. So far checked out all my favourite Aussie and European blogs. Heading to North America, Japan and the UK tomorrow. Found a gorgeous new blog called Kathrine's Quilte Stue in Oslo, Norway. Full of lots of lovely pictures of pretty fabrics and projects by Norwegian designers. The text is in Norwegian and English. I was enchanted.

Also discovered that Bernadette from The Quilting Bee is celebrating 100 posts with a very generous giveaway. You might like to check it out yourself.

This little pile is some fabric I was auditioning today for a secret swap project. Can't say any more than that! It's not my usual palette, but I have some ideas in mind.

Mini Shop Hop

Had a fun day visiting three local quilt shops. Probably took home more than I should have .... but most of my purchases were on my list. I have been looking for some nice cream/light fabric for stitcheries for quite a while and found these two at Cranberry Crafts in Ulverstone. The one on the left is called Heirloom Romance by Crabapple Hill Studio. They look much nicer than this photo shows. I'm finding it harder to take good photos as winter approaches - the light is definitely different to when I started blogging over summer.



Next are some red fabrics by Judie Rothermel. I found Spirit of the Season (left) at Cranberry Crafts and Rocky Mountain Quilts 2 (right) at Picture Patchwork in Latrobe. The reds are much deeper in real life.



I need them to back and bind this tablerunner - just a little peek.



And couldn't resist these two fat quarters - again by Judie Rothermel and from The Merrimack Collection. Divine.



While at Picture Patchwork, I signed up for a quilt-as-you-go log cabin class on July 5th. Have done log cabins before - there is a queen size foundation pieced log cabin flimsy in a box under my bed! - but never quilt-as-you-go. Sure it will be lots of fun. The sample on display in the shop is done in nice reproductions and shirtings ... Gorgeous. I have plenty of similar fabrics in my stash - can't wait to start. Hope you had time for some stitching today.

Stitching Goals

Yippee! Today was the last day of term and I am on holidays for the next sixteen days. Having only managed 4 posts this month, I am determined to get back my blogging and stitching motivation again during this time.

This afternoon I tidied up my sewing room so there is no excuse for not getting stuck into some serious stitching tomorrow. Oliver decided to supervise my tidying from the top of one of my stash cupboards - I know its a yucky old picture (terrible light) but it was this or nothing!



Moments after this photo was taken, he suddenly jumped down, using my head as a step between the cupboard and the floor - ouch! The plastic crate full of wadding, which he is sitting on, followed him to the floor - just missing me! (and the camera!) Just as well he's so cute!

My stitching priorities for the holidays are as follows:

1. Work on my Pay It Forward Gifts for Stina, Peg and Catherine.

2. Complete a Christmas tree ornament for Kimberly. (A while ago I joined a Christmas in July Ornament Swap at Sarah's Crafty Nook.)

3. Work on my Material Girls Christmas in July swap project.

4. Quilt and bind my redwork version of Rose's tablerunner.

Will keep you posted as to my progress - any will be an improvement on the last couple of weeks! Have a mini quilt shop hop planned for tomorrow morning - will let you know what I get up to soon.

Autumn Gathering Part 4

I didn't have time to stitch much over the weekend so here are some more pictures from the Autumn Gathering I went to in April. Seems like months ago now. The Quilted Crow had a lovely display on the stage of the old hall.



Somehow the pattern for this quilt called Simpy Shabby Chic made it's way home with me!





Isn't the cowboy outfit cute?





This is part of another gorgeous quilt from Kerry Gillespie called Snowball Season. I love all the different snowman stitcheries .....



and I adore the brown and blue fabrics together. These are the colours I want to use for my Capricorn Quilts BOM - which reminds me I need to get a wriggle on with the May block.



This quilt was near Kerry's display too. I'm not sure if it's one of hers or not. Very nice though.



Hope you enjoyed the picture show. Off to the Eisteddfod again tomorrow. Little Tali came second in the Under 8 Vocal solo today.

Crossroads Table Runner

I do occasionally finish something! This is a tablerunner made from charm squares which I gave to my sister for her birthday this week.



The charm squares were from Blackbird Designs Nell's Flower Shop range. I'm not so keen on the orange but a small amount is okay!



I found the backing and binding fabric in my stash - it is from the Porch Swing range by Brannock and Patek.



The pattern is called Crossroads Table Runner and it is from this book, Charmed and Dangerous by Heather Mulder Thompson.



After watching Deborah Louie's Machine Quilting DVD which came with an issue of Australian Quilter's Companion, I finished the table runner with simple quilting in the ditch and through the larger squares.



Until next time,

Stitched Heart

On Thursday the latest issue of Australian Country Threads arrived in the mail. As you can see it is a special stitchery edition.

There are lots of lovely projects but I was especially taken with these hearts designed by Kate Hampson and Jo Hercus.

This one only took a few hours to stitch and I gave it to my Mum today as part of her Mothers Day gift. I love quick and easy projects like this and can see myself making many more in the future.

Pay It Forward Gift

Yes, I'm still here! After a couple of weeks of not feeling very motivated about blogging or stitching, not to mention some computer problems, I got a big boost yesterday when I received my Pay It Forward gift from Sarah. Isn't it amazing? I love it.



Sarah said the pattern was in an issue of Australian Country Threads. She has been very busy as she made one for Cathy as well. No excuse for a mess when I'm stitching in front of the telly anymore.



I love the little bear stitchery and am delighted to have another pincushion to add to my collection. Which reminds me - I guess I really should put the Easter tree and all its pincushion decorations away!



After receiving such a lovely gift, I now feel rather guilty that I haven't even started making mine yet! Just as well this challenge was a 365 day one. The next few weeks will be very busy at work with final preparations for and performing at an eisteddfod, so I have decided to make my PIF gifts my main projects to work on in the school holidays in June.

Will post again soon. Still haven't shown all my Autumn Gathering pictures and have a few things that I've been pottering along with to show as well. Thanks to everyone who has visited and left comments lately. Sorry if I haven't replied yet - will try to catch up soon.