April Projects Finished

I can't believe its the end of April already so after polishing off my April UFO project I snapped some photos to share!

My project this month was to make some cardholders for Christmas presents.  I wanted to make some to match the bags I made a couple of months back and then made some extras for other people!

Here they are all together:

and this is what they look like inside (in the same order):

I used a pattern from Nancy's Couture blog here.  I just need to add the closures and they're done!

While I was away my block from my April swap partner Robyn arrived. Its lovely!  Only one more to go before I can pop them all together.

Robyn asked for a block with teacups/teapots/coffee mugs in any colours.  I had some teacup fabric so I appliqued a teapot onto the fabric and fussy cut some cups and appliqued them too. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo in my rush to get it in the mail before the end of the month! Rats!

Anyway, that's pretty much it for this month.  Really pleased that I've managed to complete my April UFO project as well as my No. 13 project (read about it here). Bring on May I say!

Thanks for reading my blog today!

April Getaway Wrap Up!

April seems to have flown by but probably more so as I was on annual leave for two weeks and we spent a week at Pine Point on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.  Nothing fancy, we hired a shack right opposite the beach and just chilled out.  My hubby loved that he could just walk across the road and around 10 metres to the beach and fish at high tide and at low tide he could go crabbing.  Only down side was that the tides were only really good for 3 or 4 days as they were leading into a dodge tide later in the week but he enjoyed it while he could!

 I loved being able to just wander over the road and see what was happening on the beach. The weather was great, low 20's almost every day and although sometimes it was cloudy, most of the time it was sunny and so nice to be able to enjoy the sun without frying in the heat as we have for the last few months here in South Australia!

I love the way the clouds look in this photo. Not sure if you'll be able to see it but there are two specks on the horizon on the right hand side and that is my hubby and son out crabbing!

 The beach looks totally different with the tide in as you can see in the next shot. Its taken from up on a cliff behind where we were staying and our shack was to the right of the second power pole in the photo. Not far to walk to the beach!

 We spent a day down the bottom of Yorke Peninsula at Innes National Park.  It turned out to be the most amazing, sunny day so made for glorious photos of the sea and I could bore you with many but I'll control myself!

First stop was Stenhouse Bay, which had been a gypsum mine for a long time. The colour of the water was just gorgeous!

After a walk around a trail off to the right with beautiful views in all directions we headed off to find somewhere for lunch.  This was the view from our picnic table while we were having lunch - hard to take don't you think?

 Not far away was this amazing beach, the size of which is hard to convey in the photograph, it was enormous and not a footprint to be seen! Way at the back on the horizon, behind the smaller island, is Kangaroo Island.

There was actually a family fishing on the beach, tucked away on the far right end of the beach and they looked tiny they were so far away!  Can you see them in this shot?

Further along we stopped for a rest break at a campsite and happened along on some of the locals:

I'm sure this one had a joey in the pouch, although I think it was at a very young stage as she was doing a lot of pouch maintenance while we were there.  There were quite a few others around us among the bushes.  My husband is mad keen on birdlife so we spent a lot of time peering at the treetops but unfortunately no photos to share!

We stopped on our way home to have a coffee at Marion Bay, a nearby town and my hubby spotted a little runaround boat he thought would be handy if only we had a towbar on the car!

Think we might need a bigger car for that one!  We also called in at Minlaton to say hi to these emus (there were also kangaroos and wallabies) on the way back to the shack.

The rest of the holiday was spent in chill out mode and on the night before we were due to come home I said it could rain now that I'd had my holiday. Sure enough I woke up during the night to hear steady rain falling - the first we've had here in Adelaide for sooooooo long. It rained all night and all the next day as well - steady, soaking rain and we were so overdue for it, the soil just drank it all up. Here's hoping for a bit more to top it up!

So that's where I've been lately. An update on my April projects coming soon!

Stars Aligned - An April Finish!

 Last year I started making some star blocks with no real goal in mind and over time they developed into an 'all star' quilt which I decided was going to be mine.  Really, after quilting for 6+ years you would think I would have made myself a quilt by now but alas I had not. A couple of wallhangings but nothing I could snuggle under. This one is a generous lap size one as the blocks are 12" blocks.

I started by using some of the blocks from Solstice Stars tutorials on the Fresh Lemons blog and then chose some starry blocks from her Summer Sampler Series as well.  Then I had a bit of a search on Quilters Cache and finished it off.  I just love the dark blue fabric in the sashing and binding.  It is a batik I found at Spotlight on clearance and it has large daisy like shapes all over it.  Yesterday when it came time to bind I was a bit worried that I wouldn't have enough but in the end I had plenty.

I used this quilt to practice some FMQ designs I have been trying out.  There's nothing like using them on a real quilt to get you into the swing of it.  I have never been able to stipple as I always end up doing loops instead but I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.  (That's not to say that there aren't some very non-stipply shapes in there!)

I really like this spiral design:

I've even had a crack at pebbling.  My pebbles are a bit crumbly at times but I love the effect of them.

The block at the top left of this photo is my absolute favourite on the quilt!

Its called 'New Star' and it was one I found at Quilters Cache. I love the snail shell spiral pattern on the top right block too.  I quite like doing spirals now, might have to try a few more designs.  Haven't yet discovered a skill or liking for feathers but that will be on my 'to learn' list this year I think!

For the back I was just a tiny bit short of the blue fabric so I threw all my leftover bits and pieces together, along with an orphan block I had from another project.

I like the way the sun shone through this block!  It made the gold thread sparkle but you can't really see it too well here!

I decided to do an all machine stitched binding and tried out a different fancy stitch on my machine.  My Janome is pretty old-tech so it only has 4 to choose from!  Its diamonds all connected together.

This project is my No. 13 bonus project for the 13 UFO's in 2013 over at Marti's 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks blog.  Now I just need to do my actual project for April!  We're heading away for a week's holiday on Saturday though so it won't get done for a week or so!  Looking forward to a week of chilling out at Pine Point on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.  I'll be sure to take some photos!

One final block photo for good measure!

Now I just need the weather to get cool enough here to use my lovely new quilt.  I'm so sick of nice weather, I can't tell you, bring on some rain and storms I say!

Thanks for reading my blog today,

See you in a week or so!

And Sew On - April's Block

Well another month has rolled around and for April in the And Sew On BOM we are making 'Snip it Real Good' or the alternate title ' Not for Paper'!  What trusty quilter would be without their scissors?

Here is my version:

It doesn't look like it in the photo but the blades are actually a very, very light blue/white pattern.  Its a fat quarter that was one of the very first I bought when I was toying with the idea of starting quilting and GoLo was clearing out what they had.  I never had found a use for this particular one but it seemed right for the blades in this block.  I chose the colour of the fabric for the cotton reel by matching the embroidery thread I had on hand to do the loosed thread!  I so love that background fabric and really wish I had more of it.  Its called Soul Garden and I also have it in pink (well had, I think I've used most of that too!).

Anyway here are the blocks I've done so far all cosied up together.  I'm very happy with the way they're coming together and can't wait to see them all stitched up and hanging on the wall!

Sorry, its a bit fuzzy and washed out compared to the actual colours.  Funny how it always looks okay in the camera.  The yellows are much brighter than they appear.  

Hopefully if I can get to it I will have photos of a quilt finish tomorrow!  Watch this space!

Thanks for dropping by,

Progress on 2013 Goals

Seeing we're a quarter of the way through the year I thought I'd better re-visit my goals for the year and see how I'm going:

1. Make curtains for Auntie Betty before end of January when she comes back from WA!Done!
2. Native wildflower quilt/wallhanging (partly quilted)- finish quilting and bind Done!
3. Rainbow quilt with rainbow charms from Quilt Club Australia charm swap - by end of March?
4. Star Quilt - sandwich, quilt, bind and use! (This quilt is for me - the first one I've made especially for me so I want it done before next winter!) Nearly, nearly done - quilted, just needs a label and binding!
5. Continue piecing hand stitched blue Cathedral Ceiling quilt - long term project for our room - no rush on this one! Lots of progess on this one, so happy with the way its progressing!
6. Pillow for Kieran using leftover Chinese symbol to go with his dragon quilt.
7. Pillow for Simon using penguin fabric I bought online too long ago.
8. Doggy quilts for Molly before old blanket falls apart. Done!
   
9. Bag each for Kerry and Sue - preferably for Christmas this year but unlikely so maybe for next year! Done!
10. Make some more card wallets for Christmas presents to match bags for Kerry and Sue. These are April's project!
11. Bag or other project for Vanessa using Union Jack made to test Molli Sparkles' tutorial. - Perhaps in time for her birthday in September?
12. Crumb Quilt from tiny scraps -maybe on sewing retreat in March?
13. Rainbow string blocks -maybe on sewing retreat in March?
14. Quilt for Auntie Betty - tube quilt? - for birthday in October - I have the fabric, just have to make it!
15. Mariner's Compass quilt using ruler set bought in 2011! Maybe for my brother Kym?
16. Shadow Trapunto Quilt from Geta Grama's book
17. Scrap quilt using mixed charms from swaps and my scrap squares
18. Native floral table runner - maybe to send overseas(?) 
19. I Spy quilt
20. Christmas Charms - project to use them on - placemats?
21. Baby quilt using Peter Rabbit squares - just because they're there and need using. Donate somewhere?

As well as these I have also completed a sew along with the Something New Sampler and have the top all put together, waiting to be quilted by Christmas for Vanessa. Guess that will become No. 22! I've also been doing a BOM over at Quiet Play called And Sew On so that's another project for the list I guess!  Of course I also do my monthly block swap at Quilting Block Swap Australia!

Well I don't think that's too bad so far. I must say I'm impressed with myself!  I think the difference has been joining in with a UFO-along with Marti at 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks.  Its meant I can focus on just one project each month and not stress about the others, knowing that they will get their turn.  Also if the project for the month is done early like last month I can work on one of the other UFO's and get a head start for when its number comes up.