Geese in the Forest BOM

I think I have finally convinced myself to start the Geese in the Forest block of the month. It looks like lots of work but the Over The River BOM that I have signed up for won't start until August or September, by which time the last block of the GITF should be out. This BOM uses 100 freezer paper foundation pieced blocks of triangles to make a 60" x 60" quilt.

I have decided to do the coloured version with a white background. I have brought and washed the white fabric for the quilt and have ordered this fabric for the triangles. I'm already 3 months behind, that's 33 blocks to catch up on... oh yeah and I have never done paper piecing.

I have had the past three days off work prior to working 5 days over Easter. Have been busy making whirlygig quilt for my niece. The top is pieced except for the borders, and I have found the perfect co-ordinating flannel for the backing.

It is getting cold now and the autumn leaves are everywhere, but it's nice sitting in front of the fire quilting...

Amazing giveaway...

But you are not allowed to enter or I might miss out and I really really want to win

These fabulous pillows from Kellie are her latest creations.

I love reading her Don't Look Now blog as she is so creative and still manages to be a stay at home mum to four kids, throw amazing birthday parties and make a bunches of sock monkeys.

Ive got part one of her rainbow lollipops quilt pattern, need to get the second part and then I can start building a stash of fabric to get creative with.

It would be nice if this was my first giveaway win... just keep dreaming and hoping

Joy

Here is block 3 JOY from the Christmas wish Have also found some more BOMs that I have been stashing away the instructions for

Sophia stitchery

Village Garden

Geese in the Forest

Once upon a time

Verandah view

Quilt Along

BOM photos plus holiday pics

I have been on holiday for the past week up in the Abel Tasman having a lovely time exploring this beautiful National Park. I walked and sea kayaked for four days, took over 200 photos with my new Nikon D40 and met 5 of my new second cousins and a new cousin-in-law, and squeezed in a little bit of stitching... I also have been working on this free Christmas Wish BOM, I have stitched and added boarders to the two blocks avaliable and am using the "It's snowing" jelly roll that I order from American ages ago.

Pink Penguin Baskets

I tried out Pink Penguins tutorial for fabric baskets and they are so easy to make. I love the fact that I am much more precise with my cutting and sewing as evidenced by the matching seams. This basket I made for my friend for her birthday and is made from scraps left over from cutting out my 365 day challenge quilt pieces. She loved it. The second basket is for all the "junk" that comes home in my uniform pocket and needs to go back to work namely all this stuff. I made this basket bigger by using 2.5" squares and it made a big difference to the finished size.

It ends up going back to work eventually but it is nice to have just one place to look for my name badge, watch, ID card and pens in the morning. I love the nurses hat fabric and still have lots of it left for another special project.

Today is Waitangi Day, a public holiday in NZ. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, made New Zealand a part of the British Empire, guaranteed Māori rights to their land and gave Māori the rights of British citizens. So every year we get a long weekend in the middle of Summer when the weather is usually very settled. Today is hot and sunny, perfect for lazing around.

New Design

Found a great site today that helped me use my ever expanding stash of digital scrapbooking supplies to redesign my blog layout. Was a good way to spend the day relxaing before I start night shift tonight. I have also been working on my 364 day Challenge quilt and almost have all of the rows of fabric sewn into strips. I still have lots of writing to do but have been able to keep up with recording daily events on my laptop. It is amazing how quickly you forget the interesting little things that happen every day.

Anyone out there want to join me?

Does anyone out there want to join me in a purple fabric quilt square quilt tree swap exchange thingy? I got sent instructions for a "quilting tree" and I need two people to add to the two people I already have. You have to send ten 6inch squares of purple cotton fabric and you will get back 70 squares which will be enough to make a quilt top. Send me an email with your name and postal details and I'll send you your first two squares and the letter to post on to keep the tree expanding. You have to be fast though as I have to send the letters away this week....

Christmas Present

I am just about to head off to work but I have just figured out a way to share the tutorial for the Jelly Roll Quilt with you. It is a wet and cold Christmas day here, so much for it being Summer. Christmas Wishes

Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas from my house to yours

May you enjoy this special time of the year as you share it with family and friends

Alien Invasion

It's completed....

The Alien Invasion quilt for my nephew is finally done. It took a day of pouring rain on Saturday to get the machine quilting completed and then yesterday to sew down the binding. I have even put the label on. It is very bright and busy but the black tones it down nicely. It has been a good learning project and I can now stitch in the ditch at speed.

Now I already have finished the final details on the tutorial and converted it to a PDF I just have to figure out how to post it... a similar version of the quilt can be found here which is where my original inspiration came from.

Aren't you jealous of my washing line, it is jam packed with fat quaters drying in the sunshine (We have Christmas in the sun in NZ). Each peg is one fat quater, can you tell how many there are? These are from the Smores range that I got from Quilters Biz when they had 40% off, also tucked in there are some black and white fat quarters that I hope to make this quilt with. Still go to through the wash is some lovely white and red fabric and also 6 metres of fabric that I got on sale at Spotlight, normally would have cost me $120, but I got it for $3/m so it only cost me $20. will use it for the back of my Sister's purple quilt as it is light blue with purple flowers scatttered on it.

I have been making the most of my four days off but then it is back to work and this year I'm working both Christmas and New Year's Day, but it should be fun anyway and the weather is supposed to be hot and sunny.

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas time as you share it with family and friends.