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

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.......

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

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......

...My Kind of Wonderful....

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!!

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

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.......

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

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.

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

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.