February OMG

My OMG goal for February (One Monthly Goal) which I set back at the end of January (but which I think I forgot to link to the OMG linky) was to finish off Stringen Em Along.

This quilt is to be a gift for our dear little Japanese host grand daughter. In 2004 we had hosted her dad Sho for a year and became his Aussie parents. So she is our  little grand daughter. We have yet to meet her but will be seeing her in July when we visit her (and her parents of course) in Japan. I will take her this quilt when we go.

I had made the top last year whilst we were travelling in our caravan. It was one of my projects. Based on Bonnie Hunter's String X it was made entirely from my stash and the apart from the background fabric (a lavender homespun) came from my scrap drawers.

Oringinally I had intended that it would be a charity quilt but I loved it so much which I finished the top I knew I wanted it to be for someone special. I was trying to choose a pattern to make Sumi a quilt and then it came to me that I could give her this quilt. I hadn't made a backing for it at this stage and since it was to be a gift from her Aussie Grandparents I decided to make the backing from Australian fabrics. Being as how she was a child I decided that she would probably enjoy animal pictures so I fussy cut lots of pictures of Australian animals from me store of fabrics and then framed them in both bright and also Australian themed fabrics.

I quilted it on my domestic sewing machine and finally bound it in a strippy binding, that I had made originally to be another border on it but then changed my mind. It was VERY scrappy and I love the way it has turned out on the front of the quilt. It probably doesn't suit the back of the quilt quite so much but... you get that.

I have already blogged about this finish here but here are some of the photos for you to enjoy again

Linking up with the OMG February Linky party here

WIP Wednesday

Another busy week in which I got one of my WIPs finished off and made substantial progress on some others.

Stringen' Em Along. 
I got this quilt finished off in time to count it in my Stash report for the week Yay.

En Provence (Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt)
I worked steadily on this for several days and finally got the top together last night. Now to make a back for it! I ended up with heaps of the white/neutral 4 patches left over. I must have seriously miscounted. I will probably work on incorporating them into the backing.

It was only after I was showing a friend this photo I realised that I had put the top border on upside down. Oops

Surrounded by Scraps 
This Charlotte Hawks latest mystery quilt. Clue 2 was released on Feb 8th (here) in the US which was Thursday in Australia. I worked on it straight away and was pleased to get it finished Friday. Now to wait till March for the next clue to come out :)

Hexagon Quilt
Today at Patchwork a couple of friends helped me load the Hexagon quilt onto the quilting frame at our Club rooms. The idea was that I would get it set up to quilt tomorrow but I got started on it and since the others didn't mind me doing it whilst they were there I kept right on and got it finished. We had a few issues with the quilt backing - getting it to load properly - I had appliqued a strip of hexagons to the back and it meant it didn't stretch as much as the rest of it. We managed to get it relatively straight and it just meant that I had to carefully monitor it as I fed it through to make sure it was all sitting straight. I still have to trim off the excess and get the quilt squared up. The binding is all ready made and ready to go. I plan to machine it on so it won't take too long to getting it finished (hopefully by this Sunday)


I've been working away on some messenger bags for the Comic Con stall. I got 4 made yesterday and now I am out of magnetic clips so can't make any more till the ones I order arrive.

Hope you all make good progress on your WIPs this week.

Linking up with 

Sunday Stash Report

I had a finish this week! Yay so excited. Not a little finish like I have had the other weeks of this year but a quilt measuring 60" square. Its great to get it done and I have 2 more pinned and ready to quilt and have arranged with Lyndi to put one on the quilting frame at Patchwork club after our sewing day on Wednesday. As a group we have decided that we don't want people using the machine whilst we are all there sewing. Its a bit noisy and irritating when there is a group of us up there. 

Hopefully I will get at least one big one done then and maybe 2. I have my hexagon quilt, and Handwork Heritage ready to go on the frame. Stand by for some BIG usage numbers soon.

Stringen' Em Along was made from Bonnie Hunter's String X quilt pattern. I made the blocks whilst we were on our holiday last year (late September to early November). I cut an old light sheet into the required sized rectangles to be the base of my string blocks. I was able to use lots of scraps in the blocks themselves - from my strings scraps (under 1.5") as well as lots of 1.5" and 2" strips (some of which I cut down to 1.75")

The backing for the quilt was also heavily pieced - Australian animal pictures that were framed first in 1" finished strips and then wider strips to make them up to 10" blocks. So - its more like 2 quilts. 

I did my go to all over meander when I quilted it and bound it with pieced binding. Originally I was going to use it as an outer border but when I decided to give it to my Japanese Grand daughter I decided to use it as the binding instead and I am really happy with how it turned out.

A pieced back along with a pieced front uses a lot of fabric so my wonderful Fixit Guy who is very computer literate worked out another option for me on the spread sheet which caters for pieced back and pieced front. Using this option I can now say that Stringen Em Along used 5.86m

I have done a lot of sewing this week but Stringen' 'Em Along is my only finish. I have been working away on my En Provence quilt. I have put all the blocks together and am working on the sashing. Its going to be a big quilt when done.... the blocks are 15" finished and its 4 blocks by 4 blocks plus 3" sashing between each row

And its been another week of NO fabric purchased! 

Week 6 
Fabric used        5.86
Fabric added      0.00
Net usage          5.86m

Year to Date     
Fabric used       13.34
Fabric Added       9.05
Net Usage           4.29 Whooo back in BLACK

Now that I  am back in the black I am going to go buy the fabric for the sashing and border of my A to Z quilt so next week there will be some purchases.

Linking up with Patchwork Times

WIP Wednesday... lots of progress

Despite still not being 100% energy wise (but maybe that's age and heat related too) I have accomplished "Great Things" this week! I am so pleased. I haven't finished any of the WIPs but have advanced a lot.

Hexagon Quilt.

I have had the backing made for this for ages and even the batting cut but when I went to load it onto the quilting frame at Patchwork I found I had cut it too small. I finally cut it again and HOPEFULLY its the right size this time. I also made the binding for it. I blogged here about how I didn't really like it any more. I am still a bit unsure of it but its such a massive undertaking I will certainly finish it. I've arranged with my friend Lyndi to quilt this next Thursday. Woot.

Handwork Heritage

I attached the piano key borders. The centre is made from doilies that I inherited from various family members. I only cut up the ones that were stained or had holes in them, or were shop bought. These were sashed in various 1" finished pink scraps. The borders were made from the scraps left over from the centre blocks and more pink scraps. I had kept on making the piano key borders till I ran out of doily scraps. When I went to put them on I had enough to go around 1.75 times almost. Oops. They went into the backing. The leftovers I put into the backing interspersing them between strips made from vintage sheets. Having finished the backing I also made the binding (pink checked) and cut the batting.

If I get time next Thursday after I have quilted the hexagon quilt I may try to get this one loaded and quilted too.

Sparkle Sparkle

My latest baby quilt finish! There are 2 babies due this half of the year to whom I will gift a quilt. This is another adapted from Jenny Doen's Sparkle quilt pattern. I am not sure which of the bub's it will go to. The top for this one has been finished for a while. This week I made the backing, a simple affair this time. I added 2 strips to a wildly colourful width of fabric animal print to make it wide enough. I made the binding too. Today at Patchwork I got it pinned ready for me to quilt it on my domestic machine. (One of the 3 I got pinned today)

Stringen' 'Em Along.

This quilt made to Bonnie Hunter's String X pattern is for our Japanese Granddaughter (daughter of our Japanese host son) She will be just over one when we get to see her in July this year. I finished the top last year and wasn't sure who was going to get it - I made the pattern cause I fell in love with it. I hadn't gotten around to making the backing. When I decided that I loved it so much it had to go to someone special, our grand daughter was the obvious choice. 

Because the front wasn't very baby orientated I wanted the backing to have more pictures and fun stuff, and also reflect the Australian side of things. I fussy cut out heaps of Australian Animals from various fabrics I had on hand, framed the pictures with various 1" finished strips and then made them up to 10" size with an assortment of fabric including plains and Australian fabrics. A couple I framed with some Japanese fabric I had used on the year quilt I had made the year Sho was with us.

I pinned it ready for quilting today at Patchwork. It was one of 3 I pinned up there today.

Club Mystery Quilt

Last year our club ran a mystery quilt. Each month we were given instructions for a particular unit for 6 months. It was fat quarter friendly - in fact we were told to choose 6 coordinating fat quarters for it. In the end we were given a design we could use but were also invited to make up our own design which is what I did. Mine had ended up being very dark so I added some extra orange to lift it a bit. 

I had put the centre together last year but was yet to finish it off. Looking at it this past week I decided it needed more orange so put in a final border. Monday I worked on the backing for it. I wanted to use up the left over scraps of fabric and left over blocks too so I made them into strips. Then I raided my scrap drawers and pulled out all the 5" strips that were in the colour scheme of the front.

The result isn't all that striking or wonderful but I am happy with it. It took the best part of the day to put together but you get that. Now the batting for it is cut too and the binding (more orange) made. And at Patchwork today I also got it pinned. 

That makes a total of 5 quilts ready to be quilted.

En Provence

I finally got around to assembling a couple of the blocks on the design wall. I have cut all the yellow squares needed to complete them. I have yet to sew any together but at least I know what I am aiming for now

I've also worked on a few things for the Comic Con stall I will be having in September. I've now made one zipper bag and 3 satchels/messenger bags featuring Star Trek, Star Wars and skeleton cat fabric. 

I started work on another project today. Its going to be a secret project so I won't be posting any photos - but I did start work on it today.

And finally I did a bit of a clean up of my sewing area on the weekend. I spent Saturday morning cleaning up the cutting table and sewing table and then sorting through all my notions and redistributing stuff to places where they will be most useful. Its been great to be able to put my hand on various things as I have needed them as soon as I have wanted them. 4 days later and I have managed to mislay my fabric marking pen and one of my quick unpicks (seam ripper)

How have you gone with your WIPs this week?

Linking up with 

WIP.....Thursday

Running a little late with my weekly WIP report. Not that I have a lot to report this week anyway.

In Australia it is the middle of summer and summer holidays. The schools are all having their big break... 6 weeks long. Many businesses shut down between Christmas and New Year as sole traders take a bit of a break. Many companies close for a bit longer (particularly manufacturing plants etc) and the work force has their annual leave. 

We had 2 of our children home with us for Christmas, which was lovely, but a little disruptive to the usual routine (delightfully so). As well as Christmas and New Year celebrations, we have had my brother call in overnight and also Boyo celebrated his birthday.  We have had a bit of extra entertaining, some board game playing, extra cooking and .... well not as much free sewing time as I usually get.

I have done a little bit of work on my En Provence quilt. Bonnie Hunter released the last 2 clues in pretty quick succession this week but a busy weekend and early part of the week meant I didn't get much sewing time. 

I also sabotaged myself somewhat. In my last WIP Wednesday report I somewhat gleefully reported I had an empty scrap basket. I had ironed and cut and sorted my way through all my scraps till I got to the bottom. 

WELLL then in the post Christmas euphoria I decided to tidy up my fabric storage cupboards and went through all my boxes of fabric (sorted by colour) refolding fabric and getting out the odd bits, and putting them into my scrap basket. I also did a major sort out of my picture fabrics, leftovers from when I used to do year quilts (see HERE for explanation of what they are). There were lots of little bits in there that went into my scrap basket and ... in just one day by scrap basket was back to its overflowing status.

I then was determined to get it back to its pristine state and spent ages each day it seems on my feet at my cutting table once more cutting and sorting the scraps. 

I didn't need to do my ironing as the fabric wasn't too badly scrunched. Despite my determined efforts in the time I had available I wasn't able to get the basket emptied. 

Another session and I think I would have gotten to the bottom but it will have to wait now.

Yesterday at Patchwork Group I was able to get a bit of preparation done on the next 2 units. They are 2 lots of quarter square triangles. I prefer to use the 4 at a time method rather than the ruler method Bonnie outlines in her clue. (I have some of the speciality rulers but ..... not the ones she demonstrates for making the units so I decided to stick with what I knew) I got the  squares all cut that I will need - lots of greens, some yellow, some neutrals and some light purples. I got all the lines drawn and the first lot of stitching done on the green and yellow ones. Still lots to do. Then I can start to put them together. I am NOT looking forward to that as I am not happy with some of my units. They ended up a bit small and I am not convinced my fudging skills will be enough. 

Now I am away from home for a week. Today we drove to Brisbane (a 10 hour trip) and we will be here for a week. I have bought my sewing machine with me and hope to get the next 2 units of En Provence done and hopefully some piecing of the blocks. 

As well as my En Provence project I have also bought some Australian prints with me to make a backing for a quilt for the daughter of our 2004 Japanese Host son. She is the nearest thing we have to a grand daughter so she deserves a special quilt. At first I thought I would make a quilt from scratch for her but I was working on  "Stingen Em Along", my String X quilt (another Bonnie Hunter pattern) shortly after we heard of her arrival. I really liked how the quilt turned out and want to give it to someone special. The backing will be a little bit of Australia for her.


How have you gone with your WIPs this week. Have you had time to work on them or has the holiday season proved as disruptive to your schedule as it has to mine.

Linking up with 

WIP Wednesday

I've had a busy productive week, much more productive than I had thought it would be this time last week. We were planning on heading to a national park camping spot where we wouldn't have power so hence there would be no machine sewing for me. However it turned out that where we were planning on going wasn't suitable for caravans... well they wouldn't let vans go there so guess it wasn't suitable. Instead we ended up at a campsite by the lake at Yungaburra which was powered so... lots of extra bonus sewing time.

As detailed in my Sunday Stash report I had a number of finishes - 6 hand towels, 2 Christmas Stockings and a casserole cover... so they are no longer works in progress but completed works.

I got stuck into what I have been calling my doily quilt but given I am not real sure how to spell that I am instead going to call it Handwork Heritage. 

The doilies and other pieces of embroidery that I cut up to include in it came from a variety of sources. I have things that came from my Mother, my mother-in-law and my aunt. All of their "stashes" included pieces which belonged to their mothers and aunts as well. They have all become totally mixed up. The handwork I cut up was all soiled or torn. I couldn't bring myself to cut up pieces that were in good condition. I also cut up some embroidery that was machine done - factory produced items. I had no qualms about slicing into those. I had prepped the pieces before I left home to work on whilst away.

Many of the pieces had crocheted edges that I didn't want to lose so I sewed on edging strips to make a new edge (I should have taken a photo of the process as I am having trouble explaining - I put a piece of appropriate width under the lace/crochet and did a flat seam.  I did the same sort of things to make the scalloped edges straight and also to give a backing to the pieces that were more lacey. I made all the pieces 6.5" square.

The next step was to add the 1.5" strips to their edges. I used pink and purple pieces from my scrap box. I have ended up with 121 pieces that are currently 6.5" x 7.5". 

I am almost out of suitable colours. I still have to add the other edge to the blocks which will consist of another 6.5" strip and a 1.5" corner stone. 

The final project that I have been working on this week is the Bonnie Hunter String X quilt. I have called it Scrappy X and Strippy X in other blog posts I believe. Can't hold the proper name in my head.

I had previously made 59 of the string centres of this block and I was tossing up whether to make another 5 when I got home (not have suitable fabric for the foundation piecing) and make it 8 x 8 blocks, or to leave 3 blocks for the back and make it 8 x 7. When doing the Handwork Heritage blocks I found I had enough leftover fabric from the trimmed up items to make another 5 backings. So I went ahead and made 5 more blocks and trimmed them up. Then I went onto the next step in the process - cutting the ends of the strip blocks so that the strips are shaped to run diagonally across the block. Bonnie's instructions involved attaching a triangle of the appropriate size to the underside of a ruler and using that to position the ruler on the block. It worked really well and I now have all 121 boat shaped string pieces. 

I will now have to wait till I get home to finish these blocks off as I didn't bring suitable background fabric. I now also have a pile of little triangles that I will have to do something with... they look very cute - I wonder if they would make a border....

 

I've also started working on the zipper pouches I had prepped for this trip. I have put together 3 of them, all to the same pattern (can't remember where I found it ... sorry) 

I added tabs to this one ... or a little handle and a tab. I was going to add them to all of them but kept forgetting till it was too late. Ho hum you get that.

For one of them I used fabric I had put some iron on contact stuff on.. sort of laminated the fabric. It didn't work so good. The fabric looked fine whilst I sewed it but when I had to scrunch it up to turn the bag back the right way (as you do when you are sewing a lined bag) the fabric wrinkled up a lot and separated a bit from the plastic leaving it looking less than professional. 

Its a shame cause the red zip looked great with the black and white fabric. I'm wondering if I could reiron it very carefully with a cloth between the iron and the plastic... It might not be suitable for resale but Gamer Girl is a keen Pokemon girl so she might find it in her Christmas stocking.

So that is my WIPs for this week. I am happy to be making good progress on various ones. How about you? Have you made any progress on your WIPs this week?

My other big WIP is of course our travels. We are approaching the end of our 3rd week of travels in North Queensland. This last week we have left the coast and have been spending time on the beautiful Atherton Tablelands. We had 4 nights at Yungaburra and enjoyed 4 kayaking trips out on the lake (ok I had 3 and Fixit Guy went out once on his own) and saw Playtypus playing in the water.

 We had a couple of bike rides (one for me 2 for him) We visited The Malanda Markets, the Taste of the Tablelands as well as The Cathedral Fig Tree 

and the Malanda Falls. We also attended Atherton Uniting Church on Sunday.

The front of the Atherton UCA church. 

On Monday we moved on to  Herberton where we spent 2 nights and visited Herberton Historic Village which was beautifully set out and full of fascinating things. I remember going to a museum with my mum and having her exclaim at seeing things she was give as wedding presents in the museum! It was my turn this time - toys I played with as a child featured in their toy display as did books I owned as a child. How to feel old in one fell swoop.

I remember getting one of these dolls on a stick from the local show. I felt soooo spoiled.

We stayed at a really quirky caravan park in Herberton, called The Wild River Caravan park.  It had all sorts of interesting bits and pieces tucked away including a tee pee, totem poles at odd places and the most amazing seat on a verandah.

looking good for a sit

the mail box out the front

They feed the sulphur crested cockatoos in the late afternoon

After 2 nights there we have moved on to Ravenshoe this morning. After setting up the caravan we went for a drive around the district including going on Waterfall Way and visiting 5 waterfalls (and missing the turn into a 6th and deciding not to bother with a 7th)

Souita Falls

Milla Milla Falls

Elinjaa Falls

 Having been waterfall-ed out we went to Mungalli Creek Dairy and enjoyed a cheese tasting and had a Devonshire tea. Then we bought up some chocolate, cheese and yogurt and have returned to our van for a rest. (and to undo the button on our jeans)

We plan to have 2 nights here at Ravenshoe and then... not sure - perhaps Mount Garnet and then onto the brother in laws places. They live on cattle stations north of Charters Towers. We hope to have about 10 days between the two properties to catch up with family