Oops

I forgot to say what my mistake was with my giveaway post :(

Most people were correct in that I changed from stem stitch to back stitch when I turned the corner at the tail. I just experienced brain fade and when I realised, I couldn't be bothered going back and fixing it. I'll think of it as my Amish moment (not the only one!).

And the Winner is....

Hubby drew the number 8. comment for last week's giveaway so TLC is the winner of the 'Green Tea and Sweet Beans' quilt pattern. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Please let me know your mail address so that I can post it to you.

This week I have started the CCCQ #4 block- 'Nancy Smith' . I decided to try the Hawaiian needle-turn method that Sharon described in her last post. I followed Sharon's instructions directly from my laptop:

  

Pin pattern to fabric that is folded into four

Cut out around the pattern and through the slits.

Fold in half again to cut the middle slits

Open out the fabric and tack to the background

Then needle turn

This was a very quick way to prepare the block.

This week I also finished another keystone block for my 12 days of Christmas quilt.

 I've done three now, only one more of these needed.

It's a public holiday here on Monday for Australia Day so to all the Aussies - have a great long weekend!

Stacks of Fun

Last weekend I started on a new quilt, Leanne Beasley's 'The Comfort Quilt'. I wanted a summer quilt for our bed that would use fabrics from my travels in New Zealand and Japan. I was inspired by pics of stacks of fabric for this quilt so I decided to try and stack my own fabrics. My attempts weren't very neat as I have odd bits and pieces....

Grey/blues

Olive/browns

Greens

Then I put them altogether (inside a box lid). I found this a really worthwhile excercise to assess and sort the fabrics that I had. I thought I needed more fabrics before I did this sorting so I didn't need to buy any more (famous last words).

This is the key fabric that I centred my choices around. I love blue and green together and there will be a piece of this fabric in each block.

 I tea dyed some fabrics to dull the bright white.

Each block is made up of 8 different mini blocks, this is one of them...

Each block is the same pattern which is then rotated to give a random overall look. I've had a fun creative weekend completing these first three blocks.

Block #1

Block #2

Block #3

I will be entering this in the Quilting Gallery's 'Show and Tell' as this week's theme is 'New Beginnings'

The pattern for the Comfort Quilt quilt is in Leanne's #3 Vignette magazine.

If you haven't already, please check out the giveaway on my previous blog.

Cheers

Carole

Green Tea and Sweet Beans Giveaway

Back to work and on the buses this week and so to hand stitching. I have completed the first and almost finished the second of the 4 keystone blocks for my 12 Days of Christmas quilt. I have enjoyed using a range of stitches on these small 5" blocks - running, stem, satin, open lazy daisy and colonial knots (I always choose a colonial knot, rather than a french knot, as I find they practically always have a neat finish).

Can you spot my mistake on the blue bird? Click on the pic below for a close-up.

Leave me a comment or send me an email as to what you think the error is and I will randomly select a correct answer to win a 'Green Tea and Sweet Beans' pattern. This quilt by Jen Kingwell of Amitie Textiles was inspired by one of her many trips to Japan. A friend gave me this pattern when it first came out, it's gorgeous but I just don't think I'll ever make it myself.

I'll draw a winner next Thursday 24th Jan and I will post overseas.

Good luck!!

Last block finished

I've finished the last of the centre blocks for my '12 Days of Christmas' quilt. I just need to put these together and then do the two borders. 'Just' however is no small job as the borders have a lot of hand embroidery and and more machine applique - luckily there's 11 months til next Christmas!

This block had a mini quilt on it. I machine pieced the the borders and then machine appliqued it to the block.

The original pattern had snowmen faces for the decorations on the ground but I just can't cope with the thought of snow and snowmen for Christmas in Australia so I changed it to swirls. It's meant to be a scorcher today - stay cool fellow Aussies.

2013 - the list

Hi, back from a wonderful holiday in beautiful NZ - but unfortunately to the heat and horrors of the bushfires in Australia. We are lucky that our area of Victoria has been spared to date and it is cool and raining in Warrandyte today. I hope people, particularly in Tasmania and New South Wales, can keep safe and cool.

My new header pic is the pohutukawa, a native New Zealand plant that we saw in bloom everywhere.

Whilst I was away I didn't sew one stitch. The final centre block of '12 Days of Christmas' stayed tucked up in its travel pack the whole time.

 In the last couple of days since being home I have done some more hand embroidery on it. This is one quilt that I would like finished in time for next Christmas! 

I did make sure manage to visit some shops and purchase some fabrics. 

Queenstown

Kaikoura

Fabrics for a new 2013 start 'The Comfort Quilt' pattern by Leanne Beasley

Some fabric for my Morrell quilt.

I bought a quilt kit  and other fabrics from Betty at Twaddle at Needle 'n Thread in Geraldine.

Geraldine

More fabric for 'The Comfort Quilt'

I was in Summer holiday irrational mode, was umming and ahing, hubby was encouraging and  I thought it would be a good memento of our trip. The clincher was that it had been  raw edged appliqued by machine. I have enjoyed this technique on the 12 Days of Christmas so I bought it.

The version I will be doing doesn't have all the squares in the sashings, instead it has a burgundy Maori print.

Lots of people in blogland have been compiling lists for 2013 and I like lists so thought I would do a wish list too. If you haven't already realised I have an eclectic taste.

2013 Finishes
12 Days of Christmas
There's No Place Like Home
The Morrell Quilt

2013 New Starts
Koru of Pacifica
Aunt Green's Quilt
The Comfort Quilt - by Leanne Beasley

2013 Keep up with
The Chester County Criswell Quilt

2013 Possibilities
Repro quilt of own design
'Tribute to Mrs Williams' quilt (red & white version as seen in 2012 Quilts in the Barn)
Red & white mini quilts (ditto)
'A Gardener's Alphabet' - crabapple hill studio
Storm at Sea quilt with Japanese fabrics
Hawaiian style quilt in cheddar & white featuring pineapples 

Crumbs - where do I start??? I want to start the NZ quilt while still in holiday mode, need to catch up on a CCCQ block and as ever the Morrell looms large...???

All the best for 2013
Carole