Monday 18 April 2016

SECRETE SQUIRREL PROGRESS

Good news the Secrete Squirrell quilt is finished being quilted and Lynne is picking it up on Friday .....very exciting.  Hopefully we can get together soon and start on the binding.


Really looking forward to seeing this one finished.

ANOTHER NEW GIRL ON THE BLOG

Just before we let for the AQC I made the snap decision to buy a new machine.  I found a Bernina 750QE on ebay and just couldn't resist it.  So I made a bid and there was a counter bid followed by another bid from me and then a final one from the seller and I clicked accept.  This sparked some discussion about how I would get it from Melbourne.  My wonderful husband suggested we go and get it, so off we went on the Friday afternoon with an other night stay in Albury and we grabbed my purchase and headed off home.


I really love it.  I have had some small problems with tension but I am having some discussions with Bernina and they are in the process of helping me with the problem.  Other wise it is fantastic and I am looking forward to sewing lots more with it.



THE AQC

Well Lynne and I made a decision way back last year that we would like to attend the AQC and especially as we found a class with Michelle Marvig our favourite quilting teacher.  So the bookings for accommodation and flights were made and AQC registration done and paid for as well classes chosen and Gala Dinner and cocktail.  Which all means we took "the works".  We were GOLD delegates :-)


As we were virgins at the AQC we really didn't have any idea what to expect.  We have attend weekend retreats before but this was something completely different. 


We were actually blown away the organisation was amazing.  We had lunch supplied and of course were expecting the usually sangers and juice or coffee and tea but the food at this event is absolutely amazing with a Buffet lunch every day and something different every day.  In the class room we were provided with a paper bag containing something sweet as well as cheese and bicis and fruit that we could eat any time of the day with constant coffee and tea available outside the rooms.  The Gala dinner was also something else with a beautiful meal and entertainment.  There was also a song for the event which was something right up our alley they had taken the theme from Strictly ballroom and changed the words to suit the quilting theme it was great and played each time we had a lecture with everyone singing along.  Lots of fun :-)


Overall the experience was excellent and we will be back next year.


The two day class with Michelle was Kasuari and paper piecing project with as usually for a Michelle it was challenging but lots of fun.  We still have lots for squares to make but we get the idea and will concentrate on this one at our get togethers.


Pam's

Lynne's


Our second class was Arty Bags with Ro Bruhan.  This was something right outside our comfort zone.  But also lots of fun I managed to partially complete two bags and certainly learnt lots.




All good fun and we definately be back next year.


Now for the big surprise Lynne bought a Sweet Sixteen long arm quilting machine....!!!!  Wow so exciting can't wait for it to arrive and have a real go on that one.



Thursday 31 March 2016

2016 LIST OF TO DOS

2013 BOM
Secret Squirrel quilt
Midori float
Snap Shots
Wishes Quilt along
Handsewn Hexe quilt for Easter show 2017
Start and finish my King size bed quilt
Westalee quilts
AQC - Michelle's creation Kasuria
Possible memory quilt for Dad's 90th
Plan a quilt for Brenda's 70th Birthday


So lets see how we go hopefully these will all be done by 2017.


Well this is going well so far I have ticked of 4 of these two are completely finished 2013 BOM and Midori Float, Secret Squirrell and My King Size bed are just waiting on quilting and this is being done by someone else so it a waiting game.



KING SIZE QUILT

My King Size bed  Town Square quilt top  is now finished but I am at a point of indecision as to how to quilt it.  I feel it needs something all over and I am not up to doing that as yet..... Maybe some day but not on this one.  Sooo the choice is ditch stitch all the squares or have it done by someone else.


We enquired from our local quilting store and were told 10-12 weeks..... Thats way too long for me so maybe I am thinking the person who is quilting our secret squirrel quilt would be a good option..  This all means that I  have to wait for a chance to take it to them.    Patience!!!!.


TABLE TOPPER

I have been working on a new table topper, we use these everyday instead of table cloth or placemats because there is only two of use it works as one big placemat to protect the timber table.  So my husband has been asking for another one so we can rotate.


This was a opportunity to test out the Swoon pattern I purchased a while ago.  So it sat down with paper and calculator to work out the best way to use the block or maybe 4 blocks and found that the 1 block was quite big enough with a couple of borders.  It was a fun block to make with lots of skills required like half square triangles and flying geese.  I am very happy with the finished product and now I think I will start on my Swoon quilt.










I am catching up on my finished projects, I have now finished my 2013 Block of the Month and almost finished my Midori Float so maybe now is the time to start something new :-)


Tuesday 16 February 2016

KING SIZE QUILT

I have finally started on my own king size quilt for our bed.  I have had the fabric for quite some time, bought when it was on sale for a very good price.  The pattern is Town Square by Sweetwater. So I fished it out and had to think about what each piece was for but finally got underway and cut all the blocks first and I am now half through sewing the 25 blocks only 2 seams to go.....!!






TABLE TOPPER

We have a small table topper at home that we use everyday instead of placemats and we love it.  So I decided some time ago I would make one for our caravan and bought a couple of lovely peices of fabric while we were travelling along the Great Ocean road.  I finally has some time to make something for myself.  Secret Squirrel quilt is done and on its way to the quilters....Yay :-)


 I decided on a four patch pattern and bought some added fabric and... it was done the top at least I finished in 1 night... a fairly late one :-)  The next night I added some batting and backing and quilted with wavey lines which are quite easy especially on a small item.  Bound it by wrapping the backing to the front and stitched with the machine and it was virtually finished in two nights.  These small quick projects are very rewarding and I now want to do another one for our table at home.  It is certainly good practice for free motion quilting.



Friday 29 January 2016

ANOTHER BOM

Well the decision has been made and we are again doing the Fat Quarter Shop Mysery Designer Block of the Month.  Why not!!  The last one was fun even though it took two years to complete :-)  So the orders have been placed and we are now just waiting on the items to arrive. It starts in June :-)

FINISHED

I can't believe it I have finished my 2013 BOM the quilt that started my whole quilting journey.  I am very happy with it.  Although the quilting isn't really the best work but it was an exercise in free motion quilting.  I used my Westalee Ruler foot and a couple of the templates and some of the designs didn't come out exactly as I planned but it is great to have it finished.  I refused to start another project until I finished this one.  This photo is a little odd because it is sideways but you get the general idea.  I am very happy.  Now its time to move on the my king size quilt for my bed.


Wednesday 20 January 2016

MORE SECRETE SQUIRRELLING

We met up on the set day at Craft Depot with a view to buying the backing and binding fabric.  We each had different ideas about colours so I expected it to be a difficult shopping trip with lots of back and forth discussions ..... but no  we all agreed on the backing almost as soon as we walked into the shop. 


The problem then began when the shop assistant (who was extremely helpful) told us we need 20cm extra all around and the backing fabric was just not wide enough to after some discussion it was decided to put a strip of the 8 colours down the back.  An excellent idea although someone mentioned off centre and that bothered me.. a lot!!  It was then on to binding and that also was very easy it didn't take long to find a fabric matching one of the colours. 


So fabric purchased it was off home to complete the few seams left..  Afte some of us had a few problems and what with stopping for lunch this took most of the day.  We still have to finish off the backing and find a quilter.  I really didn't think that would be hard but it is a serious decision to make and time is running on we have to be finished by 4th June or before. 


The day ended with a champagne and after BJ went home dinner and a spa.  Great day!!  No photos of course because its Secret

Wednesday 6 January 2016

SECRET SQUIRREL QUILT

We had a lovely morning at Lynnes over the New Year weekend rearranging her room.  After a decision to limit my space she had much more room to spread her table out and move the cutting table to another spot which gave much more room for the ironing board.


We tested out the new space yesterday afternoon after I had finished work working on the Secret Squirrel quilt and it was good.  We currently have 3 rows each to complete and join before our next get together in two weeks when we hope to join our rows together and then shop for a backing fabric and look into quilting.  Its quite exciting to see it come together and it looks beautiful.

NEW YEAR

2016 is here and this year I am going to try to blog more about our quilting adventures.


I think I/We need a Plan for 2016   Firstly looking back we did some good work last year mainly small quilts for other people and a couple of classes. This year I would like to commit to finishing some of the large projects I have underway. Most importantly I need to finish the 2013 BOM which really started it all.  It only requires quilting and binding and the quilting is half done not necessarily well done but as my lovely daughter said Finished is better then perfect.!!!


So here we go and not necessarily in this order.




2013 BOM
Secret Squirrel quilt
Midori float
Snap Shots
Wishes Quilt along
Handsewn Hexe quilt for Easter show 2017
Start and finish my King size bed quilt
Westalee quilts
AQC - Michelle's creation Kasuria
Possible memory quilt for Dad's 90th
Plan a quilt for Brenda's 70th Birthday


So lets see how we go hopefully these will all be done by 2017.