Some finishes

I haven't felt much like blogging lately and I haven't been doing as much sewing as I did a few months ago, so there hasn't been that much to blog.

I have finished a few things recently though, including the quilt I was making for my friend.

I had intended to do the white quilting by hand and the rest by machine, but my piecing and sandwiching wasn't great so, after outlining each of the flower blocks in white, I was worried that machine quilting would produce puckers.  Plus I was enjoying sitting on the couch in the evenings with my husband watching TV, so I decided to hand quilt through all the squares.  It was a lot quicker than I had expected!  I machine quilted the border and hand sewed sashiko style flowers on the corners.

All in all I'm very pleased, even though it was a bit of a rush job and not my finest work, and the recipient appreciated it greatly, which was the main point!

Next I think I should finish my Birdie Stitches quilt and work out what I'm going to do with my Civil War blocks before I embark on any new quilts.

Also in the week since I finished that quilt, I have caught up on my (very late) January and February hexagons.

Back in January I received some more hexagons too, but appear to have forgotten to post about them

My current sewing project is going back to garment making for a little while.  We're having a birthday party next month and the theme is Steampunk so some costumes have to be made.  My husband's and my birthdays are a few weeks apart and this year is a divisible-by-five-year (I don't know that I'd call it a milestone, and I can't call it a round number) so we decided to do something a bit fun!  Of course I have to go all out so I need to make a jacket, skirt and bustier.  My husband is a bit more willing to work with what he's got so he only needs a pair of trousers.  I've left it up to him to make all the 'gadgets'.

Hexagon flowers everywhere!

After posting yesterday that I had received my December Hexie Flowers, I found an envelope on the kitchen table today and discovered THEY were my December flowers, and the others where November.

So here are my lovely DECEMBER flowers to add to my garden

I've finally decided on a colour theme for my flowers and that pink one will go perfectly with the idea I have!  All the other flowers will come in handy somewhere I'm sure....

Two birds with one stone (or needle?)

Thanks to my bright idea of moving my floor lamp into the front lounge room, I've been able to enjoy my recent habit of watching TV with hubby AND make progress on some of my hand sewing.  That's how I caught up with my hexagons the other week.

So the last few days I've been concentrating on my Birdie Stitches blocks.  I've now finished October and December.

I haven't done November as it is based around Thanksgiving, and being an Australian, this means nothing to me.  I've also rearranged the block order because a lot of them match up with the Northern Hemisphere seasons and I want them to match ours.  This means that my 'missing' month may not be November.  Hoping that I can work with hubby to design an extra block and then it will be all ready to put together.  I had decided that I wanted to finish these blocks (minus November) this year, and I put the star on the tree last night!

I'm not planning on starting any BOMs next year, but I have signed up for the Free Motion Quilt Challenge, which is a once a month task, so that should be enough to keep me busy.  I've still got all those Civil War blocks to catch up on too!!!

Last week I received my December hexies, I just kept forgetting to photograph them.  I love the cute little owls, and the sunflowers actually remind me of some underwear I used to own, would you believe!!  LOL

October Hexies

Whoops, I forgot to post yesterday for Blogtoberfest.  I'd been planning my post all day, but once I got the baby to bed and had dinner it slipped my mind.

Anyway, here are the hexagon flowers I'll be sending out this month for the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.

Crossing things off my list

At the beginning of the month I made a list of things to catch up on.  And this is where I'm up to:

The pattern that was supposed to be finished at the end of July is all done!  (but it's a surprise still)

My Retro Nine Patch quilt is finished in time for Lyn's showcase.  She said we can post pictures if we want, but I think I'll wait till then to show you all.  In the mean time, here is a silly sneak peek.  Since it is destined to be a doll quilt for my daughter I figured I'd better try it out with a doll!

My hexagons for August have been posted off and here are my September ones ready to go sometime next week.

My Block Lotto is all up to date, I even remembered to email my sneak peek block pictures to Sophie (but obviously I can't show you yet...)

I'm still a bit behind with the Civil War blocks, but since I've made five blocks this month I'm not so far behind as I was before.

I've finished another whole Birdie Stitches block.  For the sunflower centre and the birdie chest I decided to use a lattice stitch I'd seen in a magazine a few months ago.  You make really long straight stitches across the whole area, and then do tiny cross stitches over all the intersections.  I love the effect it gives, seems to jump out at you more than back-stitch does.  I think I'll try and use this stitch again some time.  I might have to design an embroidery pattern specially!

That leaves just one more Birdie Stitches block to finish in order to be up to date, and I'm halfway through that already.  Can I finish it in two days?

And lastly was my Wee Folk quilt, which I posted about earlier in the month, but here is another photo just because.

This is now hanging on the back of a chair in my sewing room because it doesn't have an end purpose.  I have a feeling I'm going to end up with a room full of things hanging over the backs of chairs!

Block lotto and hexies

Been doing a little bit of stuff to catch up recently, including getting some blocks done for this month's Block Lotto:

And my August hexie flowers for the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap

I also finished the '1/2' Birdie Stitches block (1/2 because I already had it half done when I wrote my to-do list), but I have to press it and take photos yet.

So that's one, and two half things off my to-do list for August.  Not doing too bad.  I also have a few more Civil War blocks cut out, and one of the Desperate Housewife's blocks (which I forgot to include in my to-do list).

Just got enough time before bed tonight to do a few more things in the sewing room....

On the subject of forgetting.....

Here is the welcome hexie I received from Quilt Jane as part of the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap, including the packet of papers from Possum Blossom Patchwork.

And Lyn from Bluebird Quilts sent me some hexies too.  She told me she was going to send some 'spare' ones.  I was expecting a few.  She send me a whole wad of them!!!  And some 3/4" papers.

I have no clue what I'm going to do with them, but isn't that half the fun of getting supplies?

So thanks so much Jane and Lyn.  It's lovely getting things in the mail.

Catching up - Blocks

Starting to catch up on my blogging.. Here are some blocks I've made in the last two weeks.

First up the next two Barbara Brackman Civil War Blocks (I'm only 2 behind now)
25 Calico Puzzle

My photography on this one was a little to wonky to crop it down neatly as I normally do).  The fabrics for this one are from the June Block Lotto entry, and the tea bag wallet I made to go with my mug rug.

26 Barbara Frietchie Star

Another nice bright cheery one!  The fabrics are from the July Block Lotto (which I cut out with the sneak peek) and the pink is one I used on Lyn's cherry blossoms.

WOW, I've patchworked my way through half a year!

Speaking of Block Lotto, here is this month's block, a liberated checkerboard.  I think it has 'liberated' my brain, because everything has been a bit wonky lately.

I was going to make 3 pairs of blocks, but had a bit of a "oops" moment with the next two.

I still think they look rather funky, now I just have to find something to do with them....

While I'm catching up on blog posts... I had some more goodies come in the mail.  There was a bit of a mix up with hexies this month (due to an updated list being circulated).  Turns out the ones I got the other week I wasn't supposed to get till September, and today my real July ones turned up, all the way from Denmark.  The photo doesn't really do them justice, the colours are so much prettier than they appear here.

And now that I'm doing some paid work, I treated myself by signing up to Pink Chalk Fabric's Monthly Solids Club.  The first delivery arrived on Monday, which also included a May bundle I was able to order because they had some left.  I'm just disappointed that I couldn't sign up in the beginning because I'm sure I've missed some pretty bundles.  The May bundle is called "Pocket Full of Posies" (the purples/greys) and the July bundle is called "Cabana"

The purples already have a purpose.... I've volunteered to design a block for Jane's Desperate Housewife's Quilt.

My block is coming up in a few weeks, so I'd best get busy and make it!!

Phew! That ended up being a longer post that I'd planned....

Missing in Action

I've been away from my blog for a while, and not spending so much time in my sewing room either.  A combination of having my parents visit for a fortnight, and doing some paid work for my employer (even though I'm still officially on maternity leave), plus being a mum to a 9 month old.  So I've got lots of catching up to do and lots of things to share.  I even found a blog post I started a few weeks ago and never finished.

I'll start with what Mr Postman has been up to around these parts.
I took part in the Mug Rug Swap Adventure II (remember the first one?) and this is what I sent to my partner

The little wallet up the back is to keep tea bags in for carrying around with you

Lyn from Blue Bird Quilts has not been feeling the best lately, so I sent her a few cherry blossoms to remind her that Spring is not far away.  Those are 1/2" hexagons.  I really like that size and think I might do more of them for myself.  There is a project brewing in the back of my mind.

On the receiving end..... my first hexies as part of the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap arrived.  I love the colours of them, and the left hand one looks sort of like christmas holly.  I need to get busy and finish making mine to send out.

Also my mug rug from the swap arrived.  I love the colours in this too.  Very similar to my Retro Nine Patch quilt.  Plus I got a pile of charm squares with the most delightful images on them; butterflies, fish and I can't remember what else.  Unfortunately they sender send me her real name, but no indication of her blog or Flickr account if she has then, so I don't know who she is online.

That's enough catching up for one night, but I've got lots more to share soon.

My first hexie!

I've been following the fun at The Inchy Hexagon Swap and seeing all the pretty hexagon flowers that people make.  I especially like some of the fussy cut ones that are created (but don't we all?).  I would love to get  involved in a hexie swap but felt I needed some experience first.  So here it is, my first hexie:

I used freezer paper as templates and I have to say I love that method! (although I'm yet to try any others).  With freezer paper, you trace your hexagon onto the matte side of the paper, without seam allowance, then cut it out and iron it onto the wrong side of the fabric.  It stitches in place so you can cut out your hexagon with approx 1/4" seam allowance, then fold the seam allowance over the edge of the freezer paper and baste them to each other at all the corners (but not through the paper).  All the while your little piece of paper stays in place!  Then you sew your hexagons together.  When you're done, you unpick the basting stitches, lift the edge of the freezer paper with your fingernail and pull it out gently.

Voila!  You have a hexagon flower.

Maybe when I've had a bit more experience I'll do a proper tutorial.