BLOGGERS QUILT FESTIVAL

I know I have been a very irregular blogger lately but I always try to have an entry for the Bloggers Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side.

I have made a few quilts this year so far but I am going to blog one that I made late last year for a lovely and very talented quilter in a swap.  I was terrified when I found out my swap partner as she is AMAZING at both piecing and quilting but I settled on an idea, a theme, some fabric and went for it.

I used the basic pattern from Ricky Timms Convergance quilts book and it was so much fun.
My Theme was snow as every year Emma and her famliy take trips to the Snowy Mountains and I love to look at the photo's.  I machine embroidered some snowflakes and did a Free Motion swirly all over quilting.
On the back was a butterfly fabric that I used in honour of her son who loves having his face painted with butterflies.

Prizes, Pincushions & More

I had a wonderful month in October.

I won this

I entered a competition on the Crafty Mama's blog I was astounded to get the envelope and find not 1 but 5 different lengths of Farbenmix ribbon inside it.

I am truly grateful for this lovely little prize and I suggest you keep an eye on the Crafty Mama's Blog they are always having great giveaways and have some great tips and sewing information.

And this

I have a yearly subscription to a wonderful new e-zine called

Fat Quarterly

They have an excellent blog that you can have a look at and then purchase either single issues or a yearly subscription to the magazine.

Every issue is jam packed with great patterns, interviews and some fantastic giveaway's. I have been a subscriber since issue 1 and always enter the competitions, I was totally blown away to get an e-mail telling me I had won this book from a giveaway in their 2nd issue.

I highly reccommend having a look at their blog even if you don't decide to get the magazine. There is a quilt-a-long that happened a while ago that you can still get the instructions for. They have great interviews, there was one with Denyse Schmidt the other day and regular features with other quilters and designers.

They also gave a free Holiday Special Edition to all subscribers recently which was great.

As for the book that I won, what is not to like. By the wonderful Australian team behind the "Prints Charming" Store it is full of easy lessons and tips on printing your own fabric and then super projects to showcase your or someone else's lovely printed fabric. Over 40 sewing and printing projects that you can do at home.

I received this

I joined in a swap on Flickr. A Mug Rug Swap. I had never heard of one before but it's basically between a coaster and a placemat and is about big enough for a Mug and a small plate.

Things have taken off for the Mug Rug movement since this first swap and you can go and join the group as there will be plenty more swaps I am sure.

This lovely creation was sent to me by the lovely Jodie from the USA, I don't have her blog address handy but it's so cute, it has 3 little cups spelling out the word tea, some extra bits of fabric and a very nice recipe for some almond cookies that my family just loves.

And this

A Pin cushion swap that I joined. It was run by Ellie I was terrified after I signed up for 2 but then I found the funnest pattern that I sent away and I got this very cute little chicken in the mail from Penny at Back Valley Seasons she even included the cute little hand beaded heart that you see pinned to the side of the chook. I have had to hide it from my Mother in law as she is a chook nut.

She included a lovely card that has a Gelatin Mono-print feature on the front which is very clever.

AND this

How cute is this little fellow. A little beetle from the amazing

Diana Trout. He is cute as a button and nice and small, it fits in the palm of my hand. I am using him when I am moving around a bit and need something portable.

I will do a separate post with my offerings later on this week.

I have also just cut a a lovely Bali Pop to make up into the Quilt a long quilt from the Fat Quarterly blog so I will show you that too.

September Catch Up

OMG as they say, I can't believe that it has been 6 weeks since I did a blog post.

I don't know where time has gone either, that's scary.

I have been super busy though. We had to go to Sydney for DH to have another operation on his eye, hopefully this is the last one though. It's very frustrating for him.


I have been doing some sewing and this is my finished projects for the month.


This is a little cushion that I made for my cousin's baby who was born in January.






This is the other side of the cushion. The stitchery reads "I don't mind being sweet and small, one day I'll wake up big and tall". It's so appropriate as my cousin is 6'4" tall and very big and strong. I got the stitchery from this wonderful blog: Mrs Moen
she has lots of lovely free patterns and stuff.

This is a little "Mug Rug" that I have made to send away for a swap. I made a different one first but I can't find the picture.




Now to make matters worse I have signed up for 4 more swaps, something I said I wouldn't do this year after overloading at the start of the year.

I have also been getting plenty of new fabric so have a look here, I should have it all loaded up by tomorrow.

January Finishes

Only 2 this month but more to come next month.
This was for the Quilting Gallery Fall Quilt Swap, it went to france. It measures 16" square and is hand embroidered in a simple backstitch on Linen then 2 borders. The outer border is some really nice fabric with faint leaves on it, I have done some Free Motion leaves on top of this one and it looks really good.

This one was a Swap Till You Drop swap for January, the them..."Rainbow" of course. it's a small stitcher about 10" x 9" and is done in back stitch and daisy stitch on muslin and then I have quilted around the green border with one of the fancy stitches on my machine.

Ho Ho Ho, Christmas Swap time

I have been a very lucky girl.
I have been participating in 2 Christmas swaps.
This first one is one from the Essential Baby Crafty Folks.

My lovely partner is ANNA who has the lovely little TillyTom Store on Made it.
She sent me the most amazing parcel containing the following:

Some lovely handmade coasters, a lovely roll of 2.5 inch strips in the Moda Cherry Fabrics, and this next bit is the best, some of her handmade hairclips, a lovley fabric covered button and one of her handmade drawing wallets they are really cute and only measure about 5 x 7 inches when closed up.
You can see here the drawing wallet is opened up and it has a little plain notepad and some lovely twistable crayons in it. You can get them at her store they would make a wonderful gift, it's not too late...

THIS NEXT BIT IS ALSO VERY EXCITING...

For the past 21 days I have been opening presents from my Avent Swap that was so thoughfully organised by Fiona.

My swap partner was the lovely Valentina from Italy and she has sent me the most wonderful box of goodies.

Here is a photo of SOME of them, I say some because the chocolates are all in the fridge as they would be melted if they weren't but they are the good ones. My husband is just beside himself, he loves chocolate and I have had to have stern words with him about not touching them.

Some lovely fat quarters of fabric. Some with bears and squares, some with holly for christmas, just lovley Some very cute star stickers that Sam is just aching to try out and some yummy drinking chocolate that I am keeping until Winter because I love a Hot Choc in the Winter, this pic also has the latest batch of gormet chocolates, I swear she must think i need fattening up...

This is a misture of a lovley pencil for tracing onto fabric, A gorgeous rubber stamp, some quilling paper, and the little flower basket thing actually opens up to have some sewing needles inside would you believe, very cute.
Next we have some very cute gingham ribbon, some embroidery thread in a very pretty peach colour and some cute as can be wooden pegs with sheep and flowers on them.This is a little bell that is painted green and has white snowflakes on it. Sam and Jess just love it, we don't have a tree this year but it will definately be on one next year. And last for today the most enormous tea towel I have ever seen. That is sam holding it up for me, he did a wonderful job, he is only 2 1/2 and is about 3ft 2in and had to hold it above his head. It is a map of Italy and has all the different pasta's all over it in the regions that they come from. It also has some yummy looking pasta sauce recipes on it that I will make once I have translated them. I will be back in a few days with the rest of the presents.

Finished in November

I actually remembered to take some photos of my finished projects this month, well I missed a couple but here is the ones I have.
A little purse that I had been asked to make some time ago.

Another little purse for another person

And another purse just for the sake of it, it's quicker to make them in a production line.

2 little doll quilts that measure about 13" x 20" that I made for a doll quilt swap for 2 little girls.

A little quilt that I made for a swap that I made and sent the clock mechanism to go with it.

I hope I am not too late posting this entry.

Doll quilt swap for Jess

I was lucky enough to receive a parcel in the mail this week and today (Saturday) was opening day.

The lovely TINA (sorry can't find her blog addy ATM) made this little Doll Quilt for Jess. It is so very cute with pinks, browns and greens that are put together so well. There is a Matroyshka doll that is puffed up a little and the detail on the doll is quilted. There is also some quilting on the background that has a flower and a heart.

I got some wonderful extra's with a new un-picker (needed), some buttons, ribbon, a very cute little pin cushion and 2 panels with such funny sayings on them.

Jess loves it already as you can see by the photo, Sam got one 2 years ago and now they both have a lovely little quilt for the toys.



I would show you a picture of the one that I made and sent away but as per usual I forgot to take one, so hopefully I can get one off the person when it is opened.
As per usualy my postie stuffed me up and didn't take it when it was in our box so it won't get there until Monday and I am highly embarrassed but thank goodness it went on Friday, now it just has to not get lost.

Swaps and Wins October was good to me...

This first quilt is an absolute work of art. It was sent to me from the USA.
It depicts the ocean and a sunrise in Carolina. She based it on a photo that a friend of hers took. You can see a copy of the photo in the 2nd picture that she put on the label on the back of the quilt.


This quilt is a little swap received from The Netherlands. It is really cute with 4 little mushrooms. It also had a lovely piece of paisley fabric and some Ric Rac and some little pegs with cute birds on them. I love the whole thing...

This is also sooo cute. It is from Sandy in Buenos Aires. She put a lovely little applique bird on a branch in some very accurate squares. There is also a lovley piece of butterly fabric and some ribbon, I am too lucky.

This last picture is of 2 things that I won in October, the item on the left is a little Techie bag, well it's actually bigger than I thought it would be. It's so beautifully made and would carry a camera and some extra items or some toiletries for a night away. It is a lovley giveaway that I won during the Bloggers Autumn Quilt Festival and it comes from Terri at Patchwork Trails on Etsy.

The 2nd item is the red thing on the top right. It's a handcarved stamp by Ruthie Powers at Next Signal Designs/ She had a giveaway on her blog that I was lucky enough to win.

Swapping & Thrifty goodness

First off today we will start with the thrifty goodnes I found while in town on Monday.
A rare trip to Albury with Sam staying home with my lovely Mother in law and Jess having a nice sleep in the pram mean that I got time to look around a couple of thrift shops.
Who would have thought that one of them was having a $2 sale, not per item but per bag. The lady even packed it for me way better than I would have.
So I got some great pillowcases, some lovely fabric with circles on it (already in use for a new quilt), and the pink thing on the right is a really cute tablecloth.
The second photo is also stuff that she managed to fit in the bag, 3 100% wool jumpers. The one on the far right is 100% Alpaca...soooooo soft.... and the striped one is lambswool.
It was just my lucky day I guess.

The next 2 quilts are of swap quilts I have just received.

The first one is tiny, only about 12" big, it is from Swap Till You Drop in Flickr

The theme for August was buildings or houses, mine is on it's way to Dave and Suzi today.

It's so cute there are 2 little tents and outside them is a Doll and a rabbit, it's just lovely.

This next one is truly a work of art.

It was from the Quilting GallerySpring Blooms Swap my partner was Lilliana.
It is a full size mini at 24". I don't know if you can see it in the photo but the top right hand corner is a blue winged butterfly, it is 3D with the body of the butterfly being stuffed and squishy. The bottom left hand corner has a lovely yellow flower that is also dimensional and a bit puffy. The centre is cut out with a beaded lattice running through it with butterflies fussy cut and stuck onto the lattice.

These next 2 are from me to 2 other people. One of them is for Suzi who sent me the lovely little tent one above from the Swap till you drop flickr group, the other one is for a lovely lady called Ana from Portugal who is my partner in the Crafternoon Tea swap flickr group for September.

This one is 2 little houses that are only about 6" and a little pouch/purse
The next one is a little house that is about 12" square.
I had so much fun making these little houses. I found them in a book that I bought, it's Japanese but the diagrams are really easy to understand and all I have to do is trace out the templace and go from there.

Not too much else is happening. Busy on the farm with shearing coming up in the next few weeks if we can get some shearers, they are pretty scarce these days even though the money is really good if you can do a good job.

We have had some horrible winds with 100km/hr and over, luckily none of our trees have come down and our new house and verandah are still standing.

Our boys play in the preliminary final Aussie Rules football this Saturday so we will all have our fingers crossed to be going to a Grand Final game next weekend, it will be the first one in mega-years and will probably be husbands last chance at a 1st grade final game so keep the boys in your thoughts.

Bye for now.

Swap Quilt complte

I actually finished this the other day but have not had time to blog it.
It is a mini quilt measuring 20 x 21 inches, that I did for an international swap and it is currently winging its way to the USA. The theme was "Spring Blooms" and I found a lovely free pattern here: Dontlooknow
and thought that i would use it for my quilt. I am not very good at making up my own patterns yet but I did change it a little by adding a couple of tulips and my quilting is just basic contour quilting following some of the lines and patterns made by the applique.

She makes the loveliest patterns and some ladies I know are lucky enough to be going to a workshop with her soon, I don't live close enough but I will be keeping my eye out for one in the future near me.

Anyway, I howe my recipient likes this little offering. My swapee is a wonderful quilter and this is not up to her standard by any means but I made it with love and I had a wonderful time doing some techniques that I have only learnt this last year, I think it looks great so hopefully she does too.

SEWN GIVEAWAY WINNER

It's over finally, the SEWN giveaway is finished and I have used the ever so popular random number generator to pick a winner who is
....
....
....

Becanne


CONGRATULATIONS.

Thank you to everyone who visited and entered, I have had a wonderful time visiting all the other blogs and my blog following list is just getting ridiculous.

Don't forget I am participating in a Pay It Forward and I have one space left to make something for someone just click here: PAY IT FORWARD

Paying it Forward

I am jumping on the bandwagon and doing something nice for strangers.

I found my idea here: Marianne's Art Blog

I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment and then commit to do the same on their blog.
Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. I am willing to post overseas (I am in Australia), but remember you must committ on your blog to do the same to others.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUT there is no guarantees.
Bec

I am a very lucky girl

I have been very remiss in not blogging this before today but things have been getting on top of me as I try to prepare for this new baby this is about to arrive.

Back on about the 6 Feb I was notified that I was the lucky winner of a giveaway at
Selina's Blog. Selina was generous enough to take part in "The Great Stash Busting Giveaway" organised by I'm a Ginger Monkdy. I couldn't believe my luck when I got an e-mail from Selina saying I had won her giveaway. I was a totally random winner but that makes it all the more lucky because as you can see from the picture below I am now the proud owner of some lovely vintage Chenille and some cute flannel and cupcake fabric. If I have a baby girl it will be used for her, otherwise maybe for me???









Then, would you believe it, I get an e-mail from Kristen at Sewmammasew saying I had won one of their fabric packs. I don't even remember entering any of the competitions there but I must have because they arrived today. I couldn't believe it that I have won a green FQ pack. Green is my favourite colour and they will make a lovely quilt when I can find the perfect project. I have never made myself a quilt, everyone else has one but I think these fabrics will be just right for one for me.










So I have lots of lovely fabric just waiting to be used. A huge thank you to Selina and the Sewmamasew crew for my lovely prizes.
I am now officially on a fabric ban. My poor husband just looks in the spare room and shakes his head. I don't have as much as some people but our spare room is not very big and I really have to get it organised this month before my mum comes to stay.

Ending Procrastination

Yes I admit it, I am a procrastinator in alot of things that I need to do every day.
I don't usually make a New Year's resolution but thins year I am making one.
I will make a very concerted effort to end my procrastination. To do this I am putting in place a number of projects.

1. Last year I bought and read this book: "Speed Cleaning" by
Shannon Lush. She has a number of books out and I have found them all quite interesting and helpful. I am doing my best to follow a routine based around her theory and am finding that it is very helpful and I am having to spend less time on the housework. I promised myself that I would do this as we have moved into our new house and it will be hopefully easier to maintain a new house if I keep up with my routine. I also love the way she uses alot of natural alternatives in her books.

2. I have joined a group of bloggers that will hopefully help me get in a little more creativity each month. It is very low stress with no real deadlines except that I want to get at least 1 project finished each month. It can me as small or large as I like and I really believe that I can do this. Information can be found here: Monthly Challenge
I have added a picture link on my sidebar to remind me and let everyone know that I am taking this very seriously.

Now I am also hoping that these 2 things will help me feel a bit more organised after I come out of hospital from having our next baby at the end of March.

So ,yes, as a friend told me recently, I do like to keep busy. I do also have my soap business that is going really well but I am trying to get heaps of stock built up so that I can have a few months off once bub comes along.

Now all I have to do is figure out which one of the many UFO's I am going to do for January. Probably Sam's quilt as I want it finished to put in the local show at Jingellic and Tumbarumba.

Doll quilt swap

The quilt that I made for the Essential Baby Doll Quilt Swap #2 has finally arrived at its destination.

So... now I can put up a picture of it for everyone to see.

The quilt was made for Adds who is a very talented quilter. She requested something to put on the wall next to her sewing machine. I hope that this met her colour requirements also. The embroidered words read: "Choosing & Cutting, Piecing & Stitching, Tacking & Quilting, Binding & Dreaming". It measures approx 16" square and has some pretty ribbon to use to hang it.

Doll Quilt Swap

I am sooooo lucky, I was allowed to open my parcel this morning for my
Essential Baby Quilters Doll Quilt Swap #2 and inside was this lovely creation from the very talented AJ . By the way this picture does not do it justice at all.


















It also included 2 pieces of fabric from the Amy Butler collection. I have never owned a piece of Amy Butler but have always looked and admired from afar so I feel like christmas has come early today.
The quilt has a beautiful folded fabric effect in the centre of the squares and the quilting is lovely curves to match the folding. The Fabrics are a bit more green that can be seen in the picture and the colours are just perfect.
I cannot thank AJ enough for all the hard work that must have gone into this quilt.





Now that it is Friday I would love to show a picture of the one that I sent to Adds but I am not sure if she has recieved it yet so I will wait until I am sure she has.

Sneak Peak

This is a quick look at a project that will be in the post by Friday.

I have been working on it for about a month and only have to quilt and bind it then post it to the (hopefully) happy receiver.

I also still have to give it a wash to get rid of the pencil marks.

I know I am not the best blogger but I am just so busy at the moment with heaps of soap orders and looking after a very active toddler. I will try to be better, I truly will but with another baby due on 25 March I may also just stay the same...

Table Runner Swap received

I just got this most beautiful creation in the mail. I am a very lucky girl.

Thank you to the very talented Kylie for this lovely Table Runner, the colours a so soft and pretty and will go very nicely on the timber table that we will be using when we get into our new house, and the Prarie Points are very cute. It is beautifully madea and it will be on our new table all the time.

Late Birthday Fat Quarter Swap Picture

I am lucky enough to be part of an online quilting group on the EB Website. About 15 of us have organised a Fat Quarter swap this year and what happens is that on your birthday you get 1 fat quarter from each of the others. We had the opportunity to give suggestions as to what fabric we would like and some people are generous enough to throw in a few extras as well.

Here is a picture of my lovely loot. It is a bit late, my birthday was on 5 June but they didn't all come in time and we went on holdays a few days after that anyway.


Thank you to all the lovely girls. If you wish to know more about the lovely ladies, please visit their blogs, you will find they are a very kind and talented bunch.
http://joystitch.blogspot.com/
http://the-humming-cat.blogspot.com/
http://sampaguitaquilts.blogspot.com/
http://www.gomama-sewing.blogspot.com/
http://patchwork-of-mini-grey.blogspot.com/
http://pugglelogic.blogspot.com/
http://www.waterfallcascade.blogspot.com/
http://craftedbykylie.blogspot.com/
http://kyliesstitchnsew.blogspot.com/
http://ajsantics.blogspot.com/
http://www.snailblazer.blogspot.com/
http://xenabonjovi.blogspot.com/
http://mandsnest.blogspot.com/
There is also 1 more, Cylie. I can't seem to locate her blog at the moment but will update when I do.