Stay-at-Home Robin Update

Finally got a chance today to bring out my Stay-at-Home Robin blocks ready for step 3.

Step 3 was a 10"x3" strip joined either above or below the previous blocks. I have no thought of where either of these are going, they just develop each month as I dip into my scraps.

I've even had a little time for strolling in the garden. Here's some lovely 'red' blossoms.

Friday Night Sew-in

'King's Ransom'

(Sorry for my earlier error and thankyou for the reminder :-)

Don't forget that it's time again this week for Friday Night Sew-In. I have lots of things to choose from.

Also managed another flower this week but will hold off posting it till next week.

O.F.W. Spring Fever

To celebrate the first day of spring I got myself into gardening mode and managed not 1 but 2 hexies this Wednesday. My roses are also springing into bloom.

The first hexie is with my 'Peter Frankenfeld' rose.


'Just Joey' is sharing the sunlight with my second hexie.


'Blue Moon' also has a bloom soaking up the warm spring air. My white 'Iceberg' was out a few days earlier but has gone past being nice for a photo.

Some Finishes and Roses

I've been grabbing a little sewing time here and there and have managed a couple of finishes. Not NYE finishes but I am very slowly progressing on those.

Today I made another postcard for my swap. The theme was 'In the Pink' but no pic yet because it needs a little something to complete it. However it will be posted to arrive before the end of September as per the swap rules.

Last night I finished the hand stitching on the second of my PIF gifts. I'm pleased to say that they will be in Monday's post. Pics when they arrive.

Here's the mug bag and matching mug mat that I made for Veronica as part of Linda's Bag/Bucket Swap. I had a lot of fun taking part and isn't it amazing how many different styles of bags/buckets there are out there. Thanks Linda.

Sadly the quilt-as-you-go log cabin workshop that I was to attend this Thursday, had to be postponed. Talk about disappointment. Guess that means I'll make more progress on some other finishes now instead. I've packed all the fabrics etc for the log cabin in a container ready for a new date.

It's as hot as today, waiting for the storms they keep predicting. I have two weeks holidays ahead of me so hopefully that will include some good sewing time. It also has to include some bookwork and GST that uses up valuable sewing time, hmph! Housework too! I'm sure I can find an even balance between them all.

I'll leave you with some more of my roses. We had a gardening day yesterday, lots of culling and weeding to tidy things up a bit.

Double Delight

Blue Moon

Quilting Wishes

Stash Building Part 1

A few posts ago I mentioned that I was very keen to make Bonnie's mystery quilt 'Old Tobacco Road' but I had to change plans. My stash isn't really a stash, and about the same time I signed up to do a quilt-as-you-go log cabin workshop which I need to go shopping for so perhaps another time.

So now thanks to the wonderful Jane at five minutes of fame who had a giveaway, I have some rich christmas squares to create, I'm thinking, a wall hanging. Time to get out some magazines, a cuppa and get some ideas.

Also I've been browsing ebay and found these bright, cheery squares to make an I Spy quilt but I didn't stop there. I have three more packs coming my way as well. I also won a couple of lots with half metre pieces to help start building a stash and to go towards the log cabin.

So I have plenty to get on with for the moment, especially with finishing my four WIP projects by New Years Eve. I have made a little progress with two so far.

I leave you with a photo of 'King's Ransom' in my garden.

Quilting Wishes

Time for Show and Tell

What a busy week. I've only just managed to keep up with my favourite blogs and went to bed early last night exhausted. Now the weekend is here and I have a fresh start, I'd like to share some goodies that I have either received, purchased or grown.

Firstly I received my first fabric postcard in the mail yesterday. This is the first in the swap I joined and I'm loving it. Butterflies are on my favourites list.

Next are some fabrics purchased to compliment some stash fabrics. These will go towards three different projects. They are not specifically grouped so if I don't point out which fabrics are which, then no one will be any the wiser, hey Kerry.

I've had making another kaleidoscope on my mind and when I saw this fabric I had to have it, and of course the book to go along with the project. Iwill be strong and not start this quilt until I have a couple of finishes first.

Yesterday at patchwork I took along my queen bed quilt and did some more work on it. It's so close to being finished, if I knuckle down I plan to complete the top within the next three weeks. Then I'll decide if I'll tackle the quilting myself or save some pennies and send it away to be quilted.

Lastly my pour neglected roses are real troopers. They practically grow themselves. Here is Peter Frankenfeld (pink) and Just Joey (apricot) with the most delicious scents.

Off to do some sewing now. My bag for Linda's swap is almost finished and I've cut out a little something to go with it.

Quilting Wishes

Bright Spots in an Overcast Day

Where do I start? The house to myself for awhile .... jobs to be done ... sewing to be done .... hmmmmm!

A quick visit to blogland to keep up to date with what everyone is doing. Visit here at Debbie's Quilts and More for a fantastic giveaway.

I also had to take a photo of the one rose in my garden.




And while I was outside my two girls came out to join me. Soon to be curled up inside somewhere for the day. Usually on something they shouldn't be.

Here is the backing I purchased last week for 'project 1'. I'm hoping to get it pin basted today ready for quilting.

The summer swap quilt is almost finished. Just a little more quilting and then the binding. End of July is looming and there's still my chenille bag to do. Nothing like a bit of pressure to get you moving. Atleast the GST and Tax are basically done.

So ... a quick cuppa ... a quick routine job .... and sewing. This Friday is Patchwork day so roll on Friday!!

Quilting Wishes

Smell the Roses

I had arrived home after dark three days in a row this week. On the fourth morning, my stay at home day, I had a lovely surprise when I went out to let the chickens out. Most of my roses had blooms to share. And the fragances are amazing. Just thought I'd share my delight with you.

I'm supposed to be completing a bag for a gift so this will be a short but fragrant blog.

'Peter Frankenfeld' is proving to be nice purchase.

'King's Ransom' is also shaping up to be good bloomer.

This is 'Just Joey's' first bloom, approximately 15cm or 6" diameter and lovely apricot colour.

And this is the 'Peace' rose with tints of lemon and pale pink.

And then a quick check of my favourite blogs to keep in touch with the wonderful ladies whom I'm so glad to have found. I love catching up with their lives and being inspired by their beautiful quilts and ideas. I am totaly amazed that I can be sitting here in my home sweet home in Australia while regulary visiting places in America, UK, Canada and NZ to name a few.

Now back to the sewing.

No Red Yet

I'm still waiting for the red rose to open up but here are the next two.

A friend of mine who grows beautiful roses suggested I buy a 'Peter Frankenfeld'. I'm very happy that I did. I didn't have a pink rose.

I also decided to try a different yellow this time and found 'King's Ransom'. Another satisfied sigh.

This is the view from our verandah last Thursday morning at 6.30am. Yesterday visibility while driving to work was almost nil and again this morning there was a heavy fog.

I'm hoping to get the borders sewn around three wall hangings today so that I can be sandwiching them tomorrow when our small quilters group get together. Fingers crossed.

Roses are Red

Well one of my roses is red but for now these are the first to bloom. I just had to plant roses at our new place and couldn't wait till they were in. I've given hubby credit for preparing the bed because they've been no time at all and here are the first three. This top one is 'Blue Moon'.

I tried a different white this time. This one is 'Mount Shasta'. A large rose with quite a lovely scent. It was actually planted 3 weeks after the others and the first to open up.

And I couldn't go past 'Double Delight' again. My mum's favourite. You know the saying that you should take the time to stop and smell the roses. Maybe this will be my new motto.