Shiralee Stitches

Counting down!!

2012-02-06T13:28:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone...

You will see that I've followed Chookyblues clever instructions and added the countdown gadget to my blog.......I am counting down to Kerry's Girls Day in the Country at Nundle in March!!.....Oh, I am so excited to be going again this year, and taking Mum with me too (she had a ball too last year), and also taking Jenny, a friend from our local craft group.

.....here is a photo of all the lovely ladies at our table....4 of whom I keep in bloggy contact with now....

.......one of the girls having lessons from the ever-so-talented Anni Downs, our tutor for the day......

.....one of the projects for the day......lots of girls on the day began this lovely purse, and some even completed it!!!!!......

........and one girl amongst us (using her time to socialise!!!) managed to complete this little number on the day........this caused great laughter on the day, yet at least it IS A FINISH!!!.....and without the social skills of this wonderful lady, our weekend would be lacking......you will be pleased to know that she has now completed one of the projects from the 2011 Girls Day in the Country...I have seen it on her blog....

....so all in all, considering all the fun I had last year, and the special friends I happened to meet, and have seen since, this year is set to be doubly as much fun......

I am busy, busy, busy finishing a quilt of Sue Daley's, this year's tutor, ready to take to Nundle. I would like to share piccies, but techno probs with the camera means there'll be a slight delay!!!....

I hope you are all keeping the needles busy, and planning fun times for yourself.......

I have twins!!!

2012-01-21T08:27:00.000+11:00

Well now I have your attention, I must confess these twins are not of the human variety!!!

...........Check out these little treasures.....

Mrs Willy Wagtail has made her nest right on my washing line!!!

If I am hanging washing out quietly on my own, she is quite happy to sit on her nest with me nearby.

The babies are so cute and growing very fast. Here's Mum......

....and even happy amongst the flapping washing......

The nest is so exposed, I am worried as we have lots of Kookaburras around. So....fingers crossed these babies will fly from the nest soon.......

........isn't nature wonderful?.......

.....I'll have some sewing to show you soon.....

Hello.......I'm home......and back in the sewing room........

2012-01-15T13:24:00.000+11:00

Oh wow, what a lovely family beach holiday we've just returned from. My time at our caravan at Evan's Head worked out to be one day short of 4 weeks!!!!!.....so I was well ready to get back to my sewing.......I always plan to stitch while I'm away and usually bring it all home untouched, and that's what happened this time too. I find I never feel clean enough....too much sand and sunscreen......and we're flat-out busy all the time....swimming, sunning, bike riding, walks, shops, talking, a few drinkies and major socialising, not to mention the bowling club is just over the grass from our van!!!!!!!!

Here are a couple of piccies so you see where we've been.

The river on the left and surf on the right, so there's loads of swimming choices. My mum and my daughter on the breakwall.

Looking upriver at very high tide towards the camping area.

.......and now what's happening in the sewing room, I hear you ask!!??.......

Remember my English Paper Piecing rings , well I am finished all 16 rings for the central part of the quilt, and am adding the applique to the centres.

Oops, meant to crop this, and get rid of the thready edges....must have forgotten!!!!!

Next job is to whip stitch a scalloped design just inside the rings with a decorative thread......this should be interesting as I've never done whip stitch before.

Here's an image of where I'm headed.....the whole quilt......I would love to have this completed before I head off to Kerry's Girl's Day in the Country at Nundle in March, as Sue Daley, the designer of this quilt will be the guest tutor for the weekend......so I'd better get those fingers working fast......

....and to all my bloggy buddies, it's been a long absence and I have missed the contact with you all, so expect me to be leaving you a comment or 2 very soon.........

My lovely SSCS gift....

2011-12-28T17:04:00.000+11:00

What a lovely time I had on Christmas Day opening my SSCS gift. Kaaren had made these gorgeous pillow cases for me with beautiful redwork stitcheries and a crocheted trim......really pretty. I will need to find a special time to use these. Here is a closer look at Kaaren's super-neat stitching......just so perfectly worked....

I just love this gift, Kaaren, and I thank you heaps......also thanks to the Chookyblue Christmas Elf for organising the swap in her usual super-dooper organising fashion......this was my very first Christmas swap....so much fun.....how many days till next year????....lol....

My family and I are on holidays at the beach at the moment and I have some lovely photos off my son's new camera (Xmas pressie)....needless to say we have every moment of Xmas on record...well what else happens when you give a 10yo boy a camera!!!!!!

So I will have some photos to share when I work out how to transfer them to the daughters laptop!!!.....I am posting this from her laptop so I am crossing fingers as I hit the 'post' button right now!!!...lol.....hope you are all enjoying the holiday season......

Secret Santa Christmas Swap.........

2011-12-09T15:43:00.000+11:00

.........I was doing a big happy dance yesterday when I popped into the PO on the way home..........

..........How exciting to see a parcel from Canada!!!!!.....My SSCS parcel had arrived.........

Trying hard not to poke and press this one too much, as I am NOT ALLOWED to open this one till Christmas Day!!!!!.....what torture, but I will look forward to this special surprise as I don't often get too many surprises for myself.........

I was however ALLOWED by the Chookyblue Elf (she's the special elf who has organised this swap and set the rules!!) to open the accompanying gift, or should I say gift S......thankyou Kaaren, you have spoilt me with many gifts, and I love them all........look at this absolutely stunning ornament for the tree......so cleverly folded....

.......but wait there's more!!!!!....check it all out.........chocolate from Canada....yum!!!...gotta hide this from the 11yo son!!!!!.........and a lovely pen which I am closely guarding so the 15yo daughter doesn't take off with it!!!......a really cute bobbin decoration , and a needle holder purse made from lovely red/black fabric....

Aren't I the lucky one......I love them all, Kaaren, thanks so much.....

I hope everyone out there is getting festive in spirit, and planning some special times with family and friends this season.......

A Secret Santa Christmas Swap............

2011-11-25T08:10:00.000+11:00

I was delighted to post off this special little gift today. I joined in Chookyblue's fun of a Secret Santa swap this year, my very first swap like this........I post to someone overseas, and someone else from overseas posts to me!!!!.........

............Soooooo...........I wonder where this is going?????????...........and who is to get to open it on Xmas Day???????????......That's right......it must sit under the Chrissy Tree till THE day!!!!....such temptation!!!....

.........Oh, and I nearly forgot, this parcel has a littler friend...........

........and inside is a little Christmas something that can be opened as soon as the parcel arrives.....phew!!!.....that may satisfy the 'pressie opening' urge for a time!!!!

I hope you are enjoying the start of the Christmas Season at your home.

Our family will spend this Christmas in real Aussie style, at our caravan at the beach, BBQing, surfing, canoeing, beach walking, reading, socialising, etc, etc

How will you spend your Christmas?

There's been a lot of talk about thread..........

2011-11-08T20:36:00.000+11:00

As all the Stitch-Along ladies begin their needleturn blocks for the latest quilt, Some Kind of Wonderful, there's beeen a bit of debate over the thread to use and why..........

I have enjoyed doing needleturn applique for some time now, and was always an avid Guterman cotton only woman, mainly because of the old argument that the thread type (cotton) should match the fabric type for similar wear and tear qualities. I did find though that cotton thread is not as strong as I would have liked and I did learn of an alternative, which I reluctantly tried (I say reluctantly because it is a polyester thread and it didn't match my cotton theory!!!) But one try and I was in love with it..........I justify allowing a polyester thread on my needleturn quilts this way..

1..... a needleturn quilt of mine won't hit the washing machine on a weekly basis, so I'm not so worried about the fabrics wearing at varying rates

2......the stitches are completely invisible, and my work in turn looks more professional 3..... the thread is strong and does not fray to nothing as I work with it

4......it is cheaper as the thread is sold as bobbins so I can have many smaller amounts of lots of colours for variety, which is really essential for applique

........so you may ask what is it called??????.......

It is from the Superior Threads range, more particularly their Bottomline Polyester thread......a 60weight thread (fine), and you can buy it like this..........

....it's called a Superbobs Donut....how cool is that???????.........

......every colour to suit.................................

Just ask me in the comments and I can let you know where I got mine and how much I payed.......as the saying goes....."I think it's the best thing since sliced bread!!!!!!".

Oh and I have made a start on my first block, the patty cakes.....here's the proof.........

Anyway, I hope this may be of help to some of you as you gather everyone's ideas in order to make your own decision on the issue of thread............

I hope you are all keeping your hands busy with fabric........

Another new project........and some secret sewing...sshh!!!.....

2011-10-28T18:51:00.000+11:00

Having just finished my lovely Christmas quilt Tis the Season by Natalie Bird with heaps of other sewers as a Stitch-a-long, I have decided to join in again. It was so much fun to see how everyone kitted up their quilts, and added their own little touches to theirs....I learnt so much.......

Well the quilt we're all embarking on this time is by my all-time favourite designer, Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched, so I am extremely excited to be involved in this one. We are making My Favourite Things from Anni's latest book Some Kind of Wonderful (SKofW). At this stage lots of ladies are showing their fabric choices, and I find it so much fun to see all the variations of choice.....see all the fun here....

I have recently hopped on a bus trip to the Craft Fair in Brisbane for the day armed with my wish list, and highest on the list was to choose my fabrics for this quilt.........

...........of course when in doubt, just buy them all, and decide later!!!!!!!.............that's the theory I applied anyway!!!!........

...........I had pulled a few creams and beiges from my stash for the backgrounds, so I only grabbed a couple of newys whilst shopping.......here they are all laid out......I love playing with fabric bundles!!!......

I am now keen to begin but I have a higher priority at present which is also very exciting.....but it is a secret affair.....sshh......can't show yet.....I have joined Chookyblues Christmas swap, and it's a Secret Santa so I have been sworn to secrecy........what I can tell you is that my gift will be sent to someone in another country, and I should receive a present from another country!!!!.....how exciting.....and we can't open them till Xmas day!!!!!..........delightful surprise it will be.......

...NOT a kit this time....woo hoo....

2011-09-29T09:02:00.000+10:00

I so often see a quilt I love and lack the confidence to think I can choose the fabrics to have the same effect as the one I admire so much, but recently inspired by Bec's Butterfly Garden, and a local friends progress on hers (yes you, Trish!!!), I wanted to make it myself. I decided I would take the plunge and buy the fabrics, resisting purchasing a kit. .....So.....in Sydney at the Craft Fair, with Mum's help we picked out

(or more like agonised over!!!!) a range of fabrics.........

......here's the result when I had a play with them yesterday, and laid out the first block..........

...............I am extremely pleased with the result...........

.......what do you think???..........so soft and pretty with the butterflies standing out.....just as I pictured it....

You wouldn't believe how looong it took me 'playing' to choose the fabrics etc.....but what fun it was......

I have my templates all ready, bags made up for all 9 blocks with some fabrics already slotted into them to provide some balance across the quilt....
...........soo much fun.........I can see lots more of this fabric play from my sewing room....I'm turning my back on the kit idea I think....
.....I CAN do it......yey........
Have you been playing with fabric in your sewing space???????

I'm still here!!!....and I have some sewing to show you.....

2011-09-11T15:41:00.000+10:00

It has been too long since I was here last sending you sewing updates from my farm....I was struck down with yet another virussy thing....bring on summer is all I can say.........

I have been busy working on several projects......and ......wait for it......

I have a FINISH !!!!!.......Yes it's true, and here's the piccie proof...........

........My Tis The Season Christmas quilt by Natalie Bird is ready for the silly season ..........I have made this quilt along with many other ladies in a stitch-a-long organised by my good friend, Chookyblue.

......I hand quilted in perle thread around the darker borders, and I'm thrilled with the effect.......

....but wait there's more........My stack of paper pieced circles of thimbles is growing, and I've appliqued a few to the background fabric. I am loving the relaxing nature of this hand sewing......

Oh, and recently I had an amazing weekend in Nundle at a retreat with the lovely Kerry at Cottage on the Hill........It was a blast, loads of laughs etc, but we were also very productive....
I chose a more complex quilt top (typical me!!!!), and so I brought mine home for homework. Well this week I got it out and had fun on the machine piecing some more rows.

It is coming along nicely, but rather slow going for a "perfect points" lady such as I am!!!! There are lots of star points to get right, and I might add that a little of the reverse sewing has occurred in a few spots to make sure I can live with it!!!!.......But you must agree, Kerry's design is lovely and hers was the fabric choice too....I saw it, loved it and that became my weekend project......

This quilt will be gifted to my Mum, lucky she doesn't blog, so I can keep it a surprise.....she loves repro fabrics, and these colours are 'just her'.

Lots on my plate at present......I am going for an accreditation at work, and the process is doing my head in....also making preparations for overseas family visiting shortly..........but amongst it all I find my sewing is a must to keep me grounded, and I always make time to fit it in....it provides a balance and makes the rest cruise better....

I hope you are busy at your craft........

A start on Paper Piecing......

2011-08-22T16:00:00.000+10:00

You may remember that I kind-of brought home everything (and I mean everything!! lol), that a girl needs to start some English paper piecing when I was at the craft fair in Sydney in June...

Well I had purchased a pattern, and decided recently to embark into these unknown waters.

As the hexxie bug hit the sewing world, everyone warned me I'd get hooked, and I have only one thing to say to all those well-meaning ladies..."you jinxed me" !!!!....'cause I am DEFINITELY hooked, but not on hexagons....I'm hooked on thimbles, and here's the proof......

....aren't they sweet????.....

.........I just so love fabric, and this is really a lovely relaxing way to play with fabric yumminess........

I'll show you what these circles will become in a little while, although anyone into paper piecing will already have guessed I'm sure!!!

Well all new projects need a way to transport and store them, so I had a play with some lovely linen-like fabrics I picked up in Sydney, and created a project bag from Anni's newest book, Some Kind of Wonderful.

........and then I quickly filled it with all the paper piecing necessities...........

.........Just perfect.......

I hope you have all been busy with your crafty projects.........

Sewing Room Makeover

2011-08-13T11:23:00.000+10:00

I am so very blessed this last week to have had a few lovely cupboards fitted in my sewing room (also used for scrapbooking, and the household office).

...........Here are the before and after piccies....

..............................BEFORE...................................

How messy is that! Really just a mish-mash of whatever furniture was left over from the rest of the house.....
...............................NOW...............Ta-Da..................... THE AFTER...............................

....................and after a little bit of 'playing' the insides of the cupboards look like THIS....................

.............well for a day or so, until I actually use them!!!!! Ha Ha................

Now I have a place for all my 'stuff' and it is a real dream..........and I have plenty of workable workspace too. I will have my sewing machine on a table on the other side of the room.......I'l have piccies of that when I finally get around to making some sense out or the sheer mess on the other side of the room!!!!

So I have been a busy girl, emptying out the room in readiness for the kitchen man. Now I still have stuff in piles around the house that I don't want to clutter my new room with!!!! Aarghh....there's always too much gear when you're a hoarder like me!!!! So, I now need to sort out other cupboards in the house to fit the overflow.....it's like the domino effect; one job leads to another......so I'd better keep moving on it, so I can find the time to use my new room for some creativity.......

Oh, and I think I need some curtains and pretty things around, so that's a new project to add to the list...

I hope you're having a lovely weekend........

So Very Generous...

2011-07-31T12:05:00.000+10:00

Recently I admired some gorgeous key fobs here, and asked Peg if she would share with me how to make one

.......and this was her reply........

Aren't they just lovely. I have only met Peg once, at Girls Day in The Country at Nundle earlier in the year, and we have been communicating via our blogs since then.

Thankyou Peg, I love them both, and now I'll think of you each time I dive into my bag for my keys......

Don't you love the gorgeous fabric wrapping 'paper', all tied with a bow....this is MY kind of mail!!!...

Hugs and kisses to you Peg, hope you're having a lovely weekend....

Retreat weekend.....

2011-07-30T17:59:00.001+10:00

Oh wow!!!. I am just landing back on this earth (after a whole week!!) following an absolutely fun and fantastic time, as well as productive too (of course), at a 2 day retreat hosted by the lovely Kerry at Cottage on the Hill at Nundle NSW last weekend.

.................busy girls.........sew, sew, sewing away...........

.........Kerry's lovely shop in the background....it was like sewing in heaven.......lol......

This is my first ever sewing retreat, and only one of very few times I have taken my Pfaff to sew outside my home, and I am hooked now....nothing like some company while you sew, and Kerry is the Queen of help and shortcuts. I learnt so many tricks....thankyou Kerry.

.......Kerry at the cutting board.....what an amazing lady.....she cuts all your fabric and you are left to spend your time sewing........you get very spoilt here.........

After visiting Kerry's shop on Friday and choosing our quilts and fabrics, Kerry turns it all into this pile of yumminess overnight....like the "Fabric Fairy" she is...lol....

.......this is what awaited me on Sat morning.........

........During the weekend, the piles became these flying geese units and 4 patch blocks.....

....and eventually, I joined some together to create these stars, the beginning of Kerry's own design called 1800's Star Quilt, with these lovely Civil War fabrics.

....and here's some of the other quilts created by the other girls over the weekend.....all so varied and in various stages of development.......enjoy........

.......there's a couple of ladies missing from these piccies...there were 11 of us all together.......

....and of course, we had to eat!!!!....and consume beverages!!!!....lol........

.......evenings went something like this.....happy hour at our cabins, a short stroll to the hotel for dinner (extremely chilly dash really!!!), a lovely meal, loads of laughs, great stories, a few drinkies, and then a very brisk stroll back to the cabins for some sewing........

Please don't ask me to confess what culinary delights Kerry created for us during the day.....there was cheesecake, scones, chocolatey delicious something....etc, etc.....Tuscan meatballs, spinach and fetta rolls, cous cous salad......oh dear, I did ask you not to tell....I really broke the diet....!!!

All in all it was a fantastic time, a year's dose of laughter therapy in one weekend, and I have now made some very special friends, and enjoyed the further company of some special ladies who had already found a place in my heart from earlier meeting times. I remain forever grateful to the wonderful friendliness of Chookyblue who extended the invite for me to join her for the weekend.....an amazing lady....

.....speaking of amazing ladies.........I am off to take some piccies of a very special parcel that came home from the PO Box with me yesterday....handmade gift from a very generous someone....

.......

I hope you are having a great weekend, enjoying some special times.....

A Lovely Doll Quilt

2011-07-18T20:57:00.000+10:00

I have recently been involved in a fun doll quilt swap organised by Christine. I was partnered with a lady called Bonnie in America, which made the swap kind of exciting to know my little quilt would be flying all the way to the U.S., and I would receive a quilt in the mail from there........

.......Well the mail arrived.......

.......A gorgeous doll quilt, and Bonnie added some extra treats for me......

Her hand quilting is so lovely.....thankyou Bonnie....I love it.........

Machine Piecing......and a new sewing friend....

2011-07-16T12:24:00.000+10:00

The sewing machine has been beckoning me. I love to stitch by hand, but every now and again it's nice to give the machine a 'whirl'.......

When at the Girls Day in the Country at Nundle, Mum and I both picked the same prize out of the basket, when we were drawn in the raffle.....a charm pack of Martinique fabric......Mum donated hers to me, and this is what has been happening to them........

....little brown squares onto each corner.....

....some antique white sashing.......and more little squares at each junction.......

....and voila.....the quilt that will look like this once a lot more piecing has been done........

....the pattern comes from Anni's new book, Some Kind of Wonderful......

.....and my new sewing friend helps to care for my pins....his name is Larry the Lamb, also hatched from Hatched and Patched.......I loved making him....the wool is lovely to sew with, like sewing butter..........

He is filled with silica sand, which I am told will sharpen the pins too, so watch out my 10yo son, when he tries to distract me from my sewing he could be fought off with much sharper pins now!!!! haha....

I hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend, enjoying some sunshine (we are cold and overcast here), and happy doing something you enjoy......

Funky Scissors and a Finish from the sewing room.....

2011-07-11T12:03:00.000+10:00

While I was at the Sydney Craft Fair, I was treated with the joy of meeting Michelle Hill, the very talented lady who designs quilts based on her passion of all things related to William Morris.........

.....Michelle is as beautiful on the inside as she looks on the outside......

Here is a closer look at the delightful quilt she has designed on the wall behind us.....

The 'P' in no way means that Michelle is only newly licensed!!! ....haha....that is the p for Pfaff, which is the stand hosting Michelle's visit at the fair....believe me, Michelle Hill is very well experienced at driving those Pfaff machines, and I came away tempted to upgrade!!!!....of course!!!!....lol...This is what she was sewing on at the fair to demonstrate.........

I am keen to have a go at some of these lovely projects, and you may remember a few posts back I assembled a couple of blocks ready for stitching.........well after all the tiny intricate cutting of the little pieces I had 2 numb fingers on the right hand for 2 weeks!!!!!!.....Michelle put me onto these scissors as a solution....BIG handles, weeny points..........

Aren't they weird looking?....but they are fantastic for fiddly cutting.....no more cutting RSI for me...thanks Michelle.......they are Fiskars brand...I got mine at Spotlight......

I have been busy in my absence from blogland.....busy in the sewing room....and sewing at the beach this last weekend.......ta da ......My Garden is finished.....

All machine quilted in the ditch so as not to detract from the little stitcheries.......

Now I think I might move on to a project in Anni's new book, Some Kind of Wonderful........

I hope you are enjoying some sewing time in your corner of the world........

My Craft Fair Goodies!!!!

2011-07-03T16:17:00.000+10:00

...........The list of things I want to make just got a whole lot longer......hehe

I could have brought the whole fair home with me, I loved so much stuff!!!....lol....

But this little lot managed to fit in the suitcase and with only 1kg left on the scales at the airport, I was wiping my brow.........!!!!!....

......Sue Daley was demonstrating her English Paper Piecing, so I kind of bought ALL the things a girl needs to get started.......

Some patterns I fell in love with, along with a lovely piece of felted wool for one of the pattern bags.

Did I say I could have brought EVERYTHING home....well if I could have brought one stall home to live with me it would be Hatched and Patched......I wanted it all!!!!......I fell in love with some silk fabric...great texture.....what colour???....couldn't decide....bought all 3 bundles!!!!!......and a few patterns........

These pretty fabrics I went looking for all over the fair.....they will become Leanne Beasley's Butterfly Garden....have a look at Bec's, she's responsible for this little bundle of fabrics!!!!!....her quilt inspired me to make one....and behind the fabric, 2 hand quilting thread spools....hard to get locally...

.....and a personally signed copy of this beautiful Hardanger book........a new challenge for me......have done some Hardanger years ago, and need reminding.....

I absolutely loved my few days at the Fair, and the extra socialising in between. I had been to the Fair in Brisbane before, but this one was so much bigger. I feel all inspired now...this is the best kind of retail therapy in the world for me........

So you will understand if I sign off now.....I have to get busy, busy, busy!!!!!!! soooooo much to do...lol...

Craft Fair Fun

2011-07-01T10:26:00.000+10:00

Whilst I have been absent for a short time from blogging, I have been having the BEST time on a little trip to our capital city of Sydney with my Mum to attend the BIG Quilt Fair there for the very first time....

OH WOW!!!!!

It is huge, and I wasn't disappointed.....such a lot of exhibitors, quilts on display, and workshops and demos to watch........

No time to waste....after our flight in the morning we were here at 1pm.....this is Mum....ready to head in......

.....and within half an hour we'd met up with this bunch of amazing bloggy friends.......

Lea, Mum, myself, Cardygirl, Chookyblue, and Sandy N...............then the shopping onslaught began ........(piccies of purchases to come, when I finally rest from work this week to explore all the goodies!)

Every opportunity was taken to catch up with the online sewing community........here we are at a blog meet Chookyblue had arranged.....some of these faces familiar to me and some I had the joy of meeting in person for the first time.....so lovely to put names to blogs, and also have a peek inside their bags and see what they had found to buy at the fair.......

As you know shopping is exhausting and a girl needs a girly night out every so often..........

Meeting up for dinner........Rileys Ramblings, Heavens to Bettsy, This Old Aunt Quilts, Lyn, On My Verandah, Leah, and Chookyblue......of course they have real names but this will get you to their blogs.......

This is where we ended up....waterfront restaurant.......very special for this farm girl who rarely gets to the BIG smoke....lol......

........Here we all are......

Beautiful Darling Harbour in the background..........

......and the evening wouldn't be complete without it's fair share of laughs and silly behaviour!!!!!!!.......

.....I shall not name these normally well behaved larrikans!!!.......

.....needless to say we had a ball...(well I did anyway!!!).........

My life has definitely been enriched by making the plunge into blogging.......to meet and socialise with like-minded sewing ladies is priceless, and something that's only just begun for me..........

....more photos of the Fair and the must-have(??????) goodies that came home with me soon........

Sewing is the BEST medicine.....

2011-06-16T16:16:00.000+10:00

The winter ills took hold of me this week, but it takes a lot to keep me from sewing....I wasn't too sick for that!! Hehe.........Here's what I've been doing...........

My Garden by Lynette Anderson

I'm still at various stages throughout the blocks, but here's the close-ups of those I've finished so far....

These little applique and stitcheries are a sheer delight to stitch up....and I love the murky, misty colours...I think the range is Evening Mist....can you spot the cute hand painted buttons?

The lovely Peg is responsible for me embarking on this project (thanks Peg), and I know she will be surprised at my progress, but I haven't been able to put them down for long....a bit like a good book!!!....do you ever become besotted with your sewing projects like that, or am I the only obsessive one around!!!....lol...

But wait there's more..........

My Stitch-a-long blocks for June too....I have been a busy gal since last I blogged......

I think he is the cutest Santa......

I am gearing up for a very indulgent trip to Sydney to go to the Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour (that's if the volcanic ash stays in far parts!!). This will be my first time to a Sydney Fair, having only been to a Brisbane one before....I am busy preparing a 'wish list', and, Oh Gee, A4 paper is so short isn't it???? He he....

I hope you're having a great week......

...My Kind of Wonderful....

2011-06-07T17:49:00.000+10:00

I'm in heaven......

Look what arrived in my mailbox......

I have loved Anni's designs since as long as I've been in love with sewing and quilting and all things to do with fabric. This book is as beautiful as ever.....definitely more than a one cuppa kind of book for me!!!

I already want to make everything!!

Quilt Washing....and a Sneeky Peeky!...

2011-06-05T10:41:00.000+10:00

I am getting very forgetful....I took these photos of my quilt washing episode last week, and totally forgot to show you.....

These 2 warm and snuggly flannel quilts live draped over my beige lounge....easy to wash.....they went into the machine on gentle and came out fresh and lovely....all ready for the 10yr old son to flop on!!!....

............the left one is a shaggy quilt.......I made these a few years ago...

I have been busy making a little dolly quilt....my first ever doll quilt......this will be travelling all the way to the USA to Bonnie as part of a swap I joined organised by Christine. I can only show you a sneeky peeky so as not to spoil Bonnie's surprise......Ta Da......

.....I hope Bonnie likes it....she tells me she likes red so I made sure there was red in it!......

As my weekend has unfolded, I have been thinking about my new bloggy friends gettting together for a fabulous fun weekend of sewing, and socialising. ....(well they told me it was a weekend of being really busy on the sewing scene, but I think they may have been a little wayward!!!...lol...)

Check out what really went on here........these girls really know how to have fun while they work......

I'd love to know how, and when you enjoy your craft....with friends, alone in front of the telly, at craft days.....let me know....

I hope you're enjoying your craft right now........

Oops!!!

2011-05-27T11:31:00.000+10:00

Oh Dear....sorry ....forgot to put the links onto the last post.... (clearly more training required, Chooky!! lol)

Here's where you'll find the lovely shop Homespun and Beautiful where I bought the kit.

And here's where you'll find the lovely Peg with her finished block from the quilt......but beware.....this blog is loaded with just beautiful stuff you'll want to add to your wish list!!!.....Happy in Quilting.....

Oh and for anyone who hasn't yet met Chookyblue online and are wondering who I'm talking about you can find her here. Chookyblue provided the support to get me up and blogging, and to her I owe a lot...she's amazing with her blogging....and an even more amazing person "in the real"....

Be happy.......

Just Couldn't Resist!.......

2011-05-27T11:10:00.000+10:00

Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me, and also provided me with loads more temptations.....

I have recently admired a little quilt kit Peg has just begun, and after a lovely phone chat with Tess at Homespun and Beautiful.......

.......this arrived in the mail......

......beautifully wrapped in a fat quarter.....had to stop and wonder if it was my birthday and I'd clean forgot..lol..

and tied with ribbon....made me feel very special.....looked at it for a while over a cuppa before heading for the camera to take the important bloggy photo (still in training from Chookyblue on making sure I keep the camera handy!!!)...and then this was inside......yummy.....

......"My Garden" by Lynette Anderson.....and a gorgeous kit assembled by Tess herself....

....my favourite blocks......

....check out the cute buttons......

.....and pop over to Peg's blog Happy in Quilting and have a look at her completed block...just lovely...

I've been busy preparing these blocks ready for some blanket stitch. Remember the books and fabric I showed you in my last post?....well here's a start......

I hope you've had a great week, and an even better weekend planned....Our closest town, Casino NSW is having the annual BEEF WEEK this weekend. We have a family day planned, and my 10yr old son is competing in the whipcracking competition.....the day culminates in a parade of floats....should be fun....

Tis the Season and ...a new project !

2011-05-22T12:50:00.000+10:00

Oh boy! I can't believe I've been absent from blogging for soooo long. Just been busy with life in general.

I have been keeping the sewing fingers busy with the fun little Stitch-a-long blocks and so here's a peek at my May blocks.....

These are a joy to stitch being one colour thread to worry about.

....and aren't they just too cute!!.......

I was a little naughty a while back and bought a couple of books that I'd been admiring for a while.....

....and then I confess I was even more naughty and visited an online shop to order this bit of yumminess so I could make something from the book...well, I needed it didn't I ???? How can I use the book without the fabric??!!

After looking longingly through the books I've decided on a small project to start me off......how does this look......

It will go perfectly on the wall in my old home.

Now I'm off to the tracing table.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend spending time doing what you love.

Raining here today (trying to send some to Chookyblue.....got it Chooky?) so perfect sewing weather......

First Yo-Yos now Hexies....

2011-05-06T14:10:00.000+10:00

As the hexagon craze hits our craft, I am reminded of a few years ago when yo-yos were all in vogue.....

So I thought I'd show you what I did with (just a few!!!) yo-yos....

They go all around the small quilt......heaps of them...

This quilt hangs on the same wrought iron quilt stand as The Angels Story from last post. I think it will be a lovely quilt for a first grand-daughter....ooh....maybe I should put it in mothballs...haha...daughter is 14!!!!

Hope you're enjoying my little trips down Quilt Memory Lane with me...it will be a long journey, but we'll travel slowly....

Have a lovely weekend.......and Happy Mothers Day to all Mums on Sunday...

I Promised an Angel......or 2....of the fabric kind.....

2011-05-01T11:03:00.000+10:00

After all the inspiration given by Anni Downs at the Girls day in the Country at Nundle earlier this year, Bec tells me she went home to begin her 'An Angels Story' quilt designed by Anni years ago. She asked me to post some photos of my version of this lovely quilt so her inspiration could be further fuelled......I took this quilt to Nundle to share it with Anni, so some of you have seen it.

I made this years ago for my daughter who had it on her bed for a long time until she outgrew it. Anni published this quilt in a book with other matching projects.....hence the cushions to match.

All the Angels have names......Pot Plant Penelope.....Millicent the Magnificent Mum......

Best Friends Zoe and Prudence....Fran's Flying School......

Hettie at the Hat Shop..........Tillie the Tea Lady.........

I just loved bringing all the Angels to life.....

I actually hand quilted this whole quilt, just like Anni's original.....now that I have practised machine quilting more now, I'm not sure I would embark on that huge job if I was quilting it today....

This quilt now hangs over a wrought iron stand in my bedroom, along with other quilts I've made.

Thanks for sharing my angels with me.....it's fun to take a trip down memory lane......I'll drag out some more "oldies" soon.......if you want to see them.......

Tis the Season progress....

2011-04-29T12:13:00.000+10:00

Life is back to normal routines here after a lovely Easter break....

Before I get totally consumed with Royal Wedding watching ( I have a big session of stitching and watching and maybe a little glass of wine or 2!), I thought I'd better show you all that I have been busy during this month catching up with my Stitch-a-long blocks..............

Feels a bit funny stitching Xmas at this time of year....am I early for this year, or very late from last year?

Here's a piccie of all my completed blocks so far....I love them all together......

Can you spot the problem?......... I have only just noticed that my little birds are floating....oh dear I forgot their perch....not to worry....I can fix that very soon......

It is a beautiful day here today, after lots of rain....got to do some washing now........I'm trying to send the rain to Chookyblue, and I'm hoping since it's fine here that my plans worked????? So....is it raining for you Chooky??

Back to Normal Tomorrow

2011-04-26T17:20:00.000+10:00

Well it's been a wonderful Easter break, and now tomorrow sees the kids and myself back to work as usual.

Easter Sunday was spent with family.....and we were very naughty.....

Fresh raspberries atop homemade pancakes.....yum

Not much sewing happening, although I have 2 more blocks for the Tis the Season quilt completed....must take some piccies.

The other project taking up my time is a secret, I'm sorry to say....all shall be revealed soon.

I hope you and your families enjoyed some happy moments over Easter.

You were right.....It IS a bag......

2011-04-16T16:05:00.000+10:00

Most of you clever ladies know your Aussie designers very well, and almost all guessed correctly....this....

.....was to become........this......

A beautiful design of Anni from Hatched and Patched.

Here's a clearer piccie with a plain background.

Check out the stitchery/applique pocket.

I bought some locally handmade buttons at a craft stall last year and I was keen to use them..

This is the base of the bag...kind of barrel shaped.

Anni's designs are always well written and easy to follow. That makes them a joy to make.

I think I have enough bags for a while now, so I'd better get on and make something different.

I hope you're having a productive weekend.

I've Been Busy in the Sewing Room....

2011-04-13T16:06:00.000+10:00

I've had a blissful few days at home looking after the farm while all the 'boys' (hubby and son) have been camping and mustering cattle, and the DD has been staying at her friends. So...there's no prizes for guessing what I've been doing .........

This will soon be a shaggy flannel quilt. I have enough fabric for 2 lap quilts so one will go to the reffle for our local Cancer Council Morning Tea later in the year.

I've been making Lynette Anderson's My Home Or Yours quilt for too long now.....do you know that feeling??....Like it's gone on for too long so " better get your skates on" !!?? Did a bit on that....lovely English Paper Pieced borders....

And a new start........bought a pattern in Nundle....one of Anni's.....can you guess what this will become....come on all you "Nundle Girls" you must know?????

I have used a charm pack called Evening Mist for this. I really love the mix of colours all misty-like.
Tomorrow I will reveal my completed candlewick quilt at my local craft group.....not too many quilters amongst the ladies but it's always good to share, so I'm looking forward to that.
I hope you're all managing some time to sew........

It's Great to Stitch-a-Long with others.....................

2011-04-10T09:36:00.000+10:00

As soon as I heard about a group of ladies stitching a quilt together, their own, but at the same time, I was keen....Chookyblue signed me up ( thanks Chooky!),and I set off to buy the book, gather fabrics and get stitchin' to catch up !!!!

Here's the results so far.......I have completed the set plan for March........3 little stitcheries (there are 12 in the whole quilt).....

Oh, and I've added the borders too.....Here are some closer piccies........

I love checking out the blog to see all the various fabric choices and 'twists' on the original. Someone has posted this months blocks already.....cripes, I'd better get moving.....I've heard that Chooky cracks the whip if you slow up too much !!!! lol....I'm off to stitch........

A New Bag....For Sewing ...

2011-04-03T16:24:00.000+10:00

I was so inspired when I met Anni Downs at GDITC, that I decided I needed to get busy and finish this bag that I started some time ago.

It is called "Sewing Store", and this is a close-up of the applique and stitchery....

I chose this ticking fabric as the lining....

I plan to use this bag to cart all my sewing treasures to and from craft group on Thursdays, and also to load all my purchases in when I visit the craft shows.

A Finished Quilt...

2011-04-01T12:48:00.000+11:00

I am doing a "Happy Dance", as the long journey of making a candlewicked quilt comes to a close. It's been going on for a few years now....and here it is...

It is quite a large quilt so it fits nicely on our queen sized bed......I love the texture created with the knots, and then added to with quilting motifs.....some close-ups....

I'm not sure that the photos do the quilt justice....but you get the idea, I guess....

Now, after a quick tidy up of all the quilting gear, and a reset of the machine back to normal stitching, just what will I go on to next........Hmmmmmm.....let me go and see........

Some Quilting Therapy........

2011-03-28T12:25:00.000+11:00

I have been sewing some candlewicked blocks for years now, and finally have finished the 25 blocks, joined them etc and begun the quilting journey.

I decided to quilt a feather motif in each corner of each block (25 x 4 = 100)!!!!!! Needless to say it has been a mammoth job, but I love the result, and it is great fun to drop the feed dogs on the machine and just "go for it".

Onto the borders now....I use "quilt and tear" paper.........don't quite trust myself yet without that guidance.

I'm really happy with the little feather motifs that frame each design........

Here's a bit of a view of the overall effect, but it looks a bit crinkly on the table......better one to follow when I finish.......

Better get back to it.................

The Finished Purse from GDITC....Ta Da.......

2011-03-26T08:48:00.000+11:00

This is the beautiful project I started in Nundle at Kerry's Girls Day in the Country last weekend.. Anni's design, and gorgeous hand dyed felted wool...so lovely to sew with...like sewing butter.....FINISHED......I love it

I was so pleased at how easy the frame went on...never done one before, so was a little nervous to start with....

There was a great swap of little items from Anni's designs. This was great fun....here is my swap pressie.....made by Kylie.......the scissor fob sits proudly on my little embroidery scissors now.........love it....thanks Kylie.....

I took my Mum with me to Kerry's day and we sat at table with all wonderful ladies. The very persuasive "bloggy queen" who established me into blogland worked her charms on 2 of the ladies at my table.....AND....now they have started blogging too...woo hoo....great work girls....here's a link to visit them both..... here and here.....................

P.S. for anyone interested, the quilt behind my purse photo is the project at my sewing machine at the moment....a candlewicked quilt I've been working on for years.....quilting it now....photos soon.....

More on Nundle....

2011-03-25T09:11:00.000+11:00

I brought home some special things .....

I fell in love with the wool felt...hand dyed by Anni's husband...great job Pete...it's really yummy...

Some of Anni's latest designs...just "had to have"....you know that feeling when confronted with such loveliness and you know you won't have this chance again for a long time.....

Kerry's book....What a beautiful treasure trove the Cottage on the Hill is....WOW....I was in heaven...and Kerry is such a lovely person, had to take a little of her home (via her book!)

Kerry had some FANTASTIC lucky door prizes...and guess what ! I won one...this lovely charm pack....think I'll make one of Kerry's quilts from her book with this one...

Stay close by...after I return all these goodies to their cupboard, I will photograph my finished project from the workshop....did you hear that Chookyblue ??? FINISHED ! Your favourite word on Saturday ....LOL
Pop here to see what Chookyblue finished on Saturday at GDITC.......Then come back here real soon to see mine finally done...

What a Weekend!

2011-03-21T08:13:00.000+11:00

Just got home last night from Girls Day in the Country at Nundle NSW, hosted by the ever-lovely Kerry Swain.

But wait there's more...the ever-talented Anni Downs from here was the guest tutor.

This is what greeted us on arrival...after saying 'Hi' to Kerry first of course! There was such a 'buzz all round the room...I felt like a school kid at their first birthday party!

Anni soon got us started on our choice of 3 specially designed projects for the day...I chose this one...yummy wool felt...we got the whole kit to complete this project in our goody bags. (This is Anni's...mine isn't finished yet...haha....too much talking!!! )

Some of Annis designs on display...it was great to see all the items I've admired on patterns and in her books actually 'in the real'....could touch and feel them....I was in HEAVEN.....I just looove Anni's work.

Check out the setting....those beautiful quilts hanging up in the background are some that last year's group completed as a pledge to make Anni's Gardeners Journal quilt, and have it completed by this year's GDITC....great job, girls. Pop over here and get a closer look at them.

And this was just the actual 'Day', the weekend was also full of dinners, meeting bloggy friends for the first time, special show and tell with the girls....you know who you are....and I might add that these special ladies who rock up each year to Kerrys GDITC are a fab bunch...made me feel so totally welcome....thankyou, thankyou, thankyou....

Special thanks to the bloggy Queen, she knows who she is, who made the link into blogland happen for me, and enabled these new exciting doors to open.......

Better go finish the purse now.....

My First Post

2011-03-15T18:23:00.000+11:00

Well... I am now the proud owner of my own blog, with lots of thanks to www.chookyblue.blogspot.com (hope the link works, Chookyblue!!) who has encouraged me and offered so much help, that the dream became a reality. Thankyou chookyblue. (She actually set it all up, and then spent xxxamount on the phone to me to talk me thru using it!!).
I have been a blog follower for ages now, getting lots of enjoyment from looking at sewing that others have completed, gaining tips and ideas, and becoming inspired....so it's my turn now to give a little back....
So.... let me introduce myself to you. I am a 40+ Mum to 2 children, a 14 yr old daughter, and a 10 yr old son. We live on a property "Shiralee" (hence the name of my blog) where we graze hereford cattle and I do a little teaching on the side. I am passionate about all things sewing, including patching, quilting, embroidery, stitchery...etc, etc...I will show lots as we progress through coming posts.Here's a little piccie of our farm so you can imagine the setting.

(Can't tell you how pleased I am that the photo turned up IN the blog, right where it should have...Chooky's a good teacher!)
This is a week of milestones, and "firsts", and hopefully making lots of new friends in stitching...not only have I I begun blogging, but I am getting packed to attend Kerry's Girls Day in the Country in Nundle on the weekend...this is a first for me too. I am so excited, especially to meet Chookyblue in person, and be able to meet all her "Gang". Is anyone else reading this going too? I am a lover of all designs by Anni Downs and she is the tutor for the workshop.I'd better go and finish packing my bags..... Hope you have agood weekend whatever you're up to...