BLOCK 12 ....Last one

Well we finally made it to the last block, Block 12.  Very exciting now the fun begins..putting it all together.  We will now need to square up all the blocks and start adding the sashings and borders before we even think about quilting.  This may take another 12 months but thats what quilting for us is all about keeping us busy with our chosen hobby.

Block 12

All 12 Blocks

For the first time every we didn't have a happy hour or dinner today because Lynne was unwell but I am sure we will make up for that next time.

EXTRA QUILTING DAY

This weekend we squeezed in another quilting day.... two in a row thats always fun although my housework doesn't get done but who cares.

So on our extra day I continued with my split personality while Lynne tackled some Dear Jane.... our very very long term project.  She spent some time learning and successfully completing a piece with applique all hand done of course another learning curve for us not using the sewing machine!!

After lunch we tackled one block together which involved some very tricky curves.  This block puzzled us for quite a while until we decided to part machine piece and finish with reverse applique another lesson in hand sewing the finished result was not too bad.  "Not perfect but finished" my favourite saying when it comes to tricky Dear Jane blocks.

Lynn'e Hunters Moon

Lynnes first applique
 

Pam's Hunters Moon
 

BLOCK 11 and 5

Block 11

Well we are getting close to the end of our Mystery Block of the Month Quilt we just completed block 11 that means only 1 to go.  Then the hard work begins squaring up the blocks and adding the sashings.  Then there are all those flying geese around the outside....so its really a long way from being finished, but we have learnt a lot about cutting and piecing quilt block and keeping them square.

Block 5 Wishes Quilt

This one is a real lesson in quilting for us because each block uses a different technique that we haven't yet done so its great fun because we are learning all the time.  This time was a log cabin and it was really quite straight forward (I cannot bring myself to say easy).  I was always a bit scared of log cabins because they always looked so complicated but actually they are much quicker to complete than other squares.

Happy hour of course... there always is a happy hour and check out the beautiful scissor lanyard Lynne's daughter made her for her birthday.... a bit classy.



 



BLOCK 4 WISHES QUILT

Extra Quilting Day :-)

Well due to the extreme wet weather my sons mountain bike race was cancelled so we had a free weekend.  A quick SMS to Lynne and without a moments hesitation an extra quilting day was arranged for Sunday.

It was a lovely surprise when I arrived at her house to find her wonderful hubby had built us a new cutting table just perfect for two cutting boards with a light directly overhead (which I had requested) just below the TV so we could watch our instruction videos while cutting :-)

Our main project for the day was our Block 4 wishes quilt.  Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop demonstrated this one with half square triangle paper and during the week I had found a computer program to print your own half square triangle paper in sizes and 1 to 7 inches so we were able to print our own 3 1/2" half square triangle paper.  This made an enormous different to the making of this block.  Using the paper makes the half square triangles so much more accurate.  This one was finished with very little fuss although Lynne made a small mistake in the last join but she decided that because the joints were perfect and it really made no difference to the finished quilt she would leave it as is and put her own stamp on the quilt.

Lynne's Block

Pam's Block

After lunch we started working on a little easter bunny that Lynne had found the pattern for. These were quite fiddly and by the time I had finished I had had quite enough of stuffed bunnies. Although they turned out very cute.  Unfortunately we didn't take any photographs :-(  maybe I can add one later.

Bunnyies all done and it was time to continue with our Quilt as you Go Split peronality quilt.  So many quilts on the go at once !!!.

These are great to make and are coming together very well although we still have quite a way to go
:-)

 

 

Of course there was a  happy hour and dinner with the hubbies.  We had another great quilting especially good because it was an extra :-)

 

 



BLOCK 10 + MUCH MORE

QUILTING WEEKEND

We had a very big weekend sewing it was so much fun. 

Firstly on Saturday we attended a course at Craft Depot on Quilt As You Go - Split Personality Quilt with Meg Orr.  This was an excellent day we learnt so much. 

Although it was all a little daunting in the beggining with 8 ladies in the class only 1 we had met before and they all seemed to know each other AND the teacher and all appeared to have done some of Meg's courses in the past.  Once the day got underway we realised we know as much as the next quilter and our worries were put aside. We both finished 3 squares and joined two of them together.  It was amazing that all the materials were completely different.  Meg's courses are always good and we were very happy with our quilts or part there of :-).

Of course as soon as we got home to Lynne's we were back at it joining and finishing a couple more squares.  Unfortunately hubbies had to be fed and so we had to put it all aside until the next morning.

Split Personality first blocks

 

 

BLOCK 10 AND WISHES BLOCK 3

 

Sunday after a yummy breakfast we were back at it.

 

First job was Block 10 .  This one was different than the last 3 and we had it done by lunchtime we are getting good at these now although I got a couple of my pieces in back to front but it was easy to fix and they even measure up pretty well.

 

Block 10

 

 

After lunch we moved on the Wishes Block 3 and this involved something we had not done before.  So we watched Kimberley's video through carefully and started our Half Square Triangles made with paper.  Paper piecing is very easy and accurate so we are hoping to be able to do some more.  This method made this block quite easy to put together and we always like to learn something new.

 

Wishes Block 3

Then some more on our Split Personality quilts in the afternoon until hubbies came in looking for dinner :-(

My Split Personality blocks

Of course there is alway always happy hours :-)





 

Lynne and Pam

BLOCKS 8, 9 and 2

Block 8 Mystery Block of the Month

Well at last we got a chance to get together and work on our Blocks lots to do today we were very ambitious and thought we would get through 4 blocks in one day.  Ha not sure what we were thinking but we did quite well and did 3 blocks.

The first two blocks we attacked were our Mystery Block 8 and Block 9 which are 2 more houses so they were quite straight forward and we had them finished easily by lunch time.  We are very happy with the finished blocks.  These are slowly becoming much easier to understand and complete as we read and learn more about quilting.

Block 8

Block 9

After some lunch and time spent watching Fat Quarter Shop Video on our wishes quilt block 2, it was time to attack this one.  It took some time to get our heads around these many triangles and we watched the video a couple of time during the process, but we got there in the end. Mine was finished just in time for dinner with the hubbies and Lynne, who of course had to take time out to get dinner completed hers later in the week.  We still have one Wishes block to complete for this month so hopefully we will be able to get together before the next one is out :-)

Wishes Block 2

 

Of course there is always a happy hour :-)  I was just hoping that this one didn't add to our confusion with these triangles :-)

REPAIR NEEDED

The old girl (my mum's Bernina 740 Favorit) had a small problem several weeks ago I dropped the peddle and after a short while it stopped working :-(  My son had a look at it and found that it had a serious crack which because it's very old Bakelite it was not repairable.   Soo....  off to our trusty sewing machine repairman and the prognosis was good, he was able to find me a replacement for only $25.... BARGAIN.

I was sternly told to look after it and don't drop it as these type of peddles although available in quite good condition are getting very old and brittle..  I am now very careful how I handle this one :-)

"New" Peddle