Fabric Knitting

I saw in the Sunday Morning Quilts the idea for knitting a door mat in fabric. The idea is to use up the selveges you have been saving and now don't know what to do with them.  Well It takes loads and loads of fabric so now I'm cutting up my stash and using everything, not just selveges. It's going well but did not get finished in a morning!

My Stack of Books quilt top is finished!

Hi All,
Here is my quilt top finished. I am taking it to Joanne's on Thursday and will begin the quilting there. I have no idea how I am going to quilt it yet but I am hoping for some inspiration while I am there.

I have taken an extra photo to show you a sample of the embroidering I did for each of your names.

I decided to put "by Jackie", "by Catherine" etc. as when I was telling Jason about it he said because they were meant to be books I should put "by...." which I thought was a nice idea.

Those are Jason's ankles in the photo...

I am going to be talking to Mum tonight to hear all about the trip to Westpoint. Hopefully it was a good day had by all.

Happy quilting!
Susan x

Easter is just around the corner!

Hi All

As Easter is just around the corner and I will be in the Hawkes Bay with the Farmery's I decided to put my Easter tree up early. Thought you might like to see some of the fabric  eggs I made a couple of years ago.

Can you spot the one Jason made at Primary School???

I believe a few of you are off to Westpoint on a coach early on Saturday morning for the Quilt Show.  I think Mum said that Jennie is going as well as Wendy so Mum will be able to meet Jennie. Mum is going with her friend Val who is teaching her to use a sewing machine. She will be helping Mum choose a cutting mat, cutter and ruler while they are at the show, so she will be all set to go with Jackie's block.  Have fun ladies! Wish I was there too!!!

Hopefully, over time, more of us will be able to meet one another if we haven't already met. 

My quilt blocks are coming on. I have assembled them but don't want to put up a photo just yet as I have yellow paper tabs pinned all over it so that I don't forget who made which block. I did start to embroider Joanne's name (her block is the top right-hand one) last night but then the light faded so will do more today and tomorrow during the day.

Looking forward to some pics and a debrief about Westpoint from those who went.

Susan x

PS I know Mum is not blogging but Wendy email me if you are still not able to as I don't think I have seen anything from you yet, which is not a problem, just want to make sure you can if you want to. Susan

April's block, it's on it's way!

Catherine and I have been busy today cutting fabrics and preparing the packs for April's block.  My hand is healing well but I am still having trouble with the rotary cutter so Catherine has very kindly done all the hard work today!  We've just sealed the last envelope and so I'll be off to the post office first thing in the morning.  So, job completed, and with some extra free time tomorrow, we'll be going to visit a new quilt shop in the local area.

Bye for now

Jackie x

Finished block

Karen I finished one block which needs to be trimmed to 12 x 12  and had lots of your main fabric to make another block and so the one on the right in the photo still needs calico added down one or both sides but I will leave that to you to finish, I shall post it Monday.
I also thought I would share a photo of the Christmas wreath wall hanging that I have also just finished, a project that was a few months late but will need to be put away until later in the year to quilt as my many other projects await, like the baby quilt to make for my neighbour, I had better get started on this project as baby is due beginning of June.
As for the shoes that are not showing on my photo I will let you know I was wearing my woolly slippers as the days are still cool here, maybe next time I can show the tips of a nice summer sandal as we jump into spring, sorry New Zealand that you are falling back into autumn.!!
I also look forward to seeing what turns up in my letter box for April.
Catherine

Finished block

Hi everyone,I have done my block this morning and it was strange with working with colours outside my comfort zone. I would normally not entertain oranges and greens, so my first stripes tended to use all the plummy and blue colours, but then I got a bit gungho and did a second block of strips introducing the oranges and was pleased with how well it has come out. Can't upload it until I get back to Cornwall but will send off to Karen shortly. This is what is good for me as a new quilter to work with different colour ways. Best wishes Jennie

Jackie I couldn't resist making two blocks for Karen on your behalf. Here they are. J.

p.s. Marmite update... he stayed two nights then disappeared again on Friday night. This is the fourth time!

Mum's blocks

Hi All, Here are my blocks for Mum, I also had enough to do two. However, the second one Mum, you will have to put a strip of Calico on the right hand side as the one there at the moment is not stitched on as it is too narrow, I was about an inch short. I thought about putting another strip of colour down the middle to make it enough but I didn't like the way it looked then so thought I should stop messing with it as you can add a 3 1/2 inch strip when you get it back. I thought I might of had a piece of Calico in my stash but didn't. Evne if I did they are often quite different if they come from a different bolt of fabric. Anyway, hope you like them. As Vreni said the colours in my blocks are also more virbrant in real life. The fabrics are super, can't wait to see the finished quilt!

I have planned my Easter break already, I am off to Joanne's for four days so thought I would take my blocks down with me and assemble them there. That gives me three weeks to embroider all your names somewhere on each of the blocks you sent me.

Am really looking forward to seeing a slender Marmite! Can't believe he has wondered back to the old house 3 times!!! Clever cat! 

It's been the perfect day for quilting today as it's raining on and off... the humidity is highish though... yuk! We had a family of Pukekos near the patio this morning, the babies were all fluffy and cute, but by the time we got the camera out they had run back into the bush and trees. Even thought I live only a 10 minute drive from Auckland City my home backs onto Newmarket Park so it's not at all like living near Shanghai City! We even have a Tui in the trees that sings from time to time.

I am off to practise my German with Jason now as I had a bit of a problem with the number of different ways you can tell the time in German, our teacher is going to test us in class this week so I best be prepared.

Enjoy your week all of you!
Susan x

My block is finished and I will post it out tomorrow. I notice that the blocks so far have been taken from the  Modern quilting Bee-do we all do this?

Its' arrived

Karen
Today my fabric package arrived and I saw it was posted on the 29 Feb so it has taken 7 days to get from the UK to The Netherlands.  Anyway I just love the colors but I have had to put it away as I have a very hectic next 5 days with one son involved in a swim tournament and another in a Basketball tournament.
Regards
Catherine

Karen
I am sorry to have to tell you this but I have not received my fabric for your block.
Let me know when you will send me another package so I will know that it is coming.
Lets hope none of the finished blocks go missing in the post.
By the way I love the blocks already finished and posted.
Thanks
Catherine

My block for Karen

Just in time before we're off to Switzerland for a month, the fabrics from Karen arrived.

Sorry about the quality of the photo. In real life the colours are much nicer and the block is also straight. 

Vreni x

Thanks!

Thank you all for your good wishes, the op went very well yesterday.  My hand is a little sore and swollen today, but my left hand is working well on the computer.  Jo, your blocks are great, the fabrics look even nicer made up.  Jackie

Here goes with month two

Fabric received from Karen today. A nice straight forward block for an inexperienced quilter like me, so thanks Karen! Rain forecast this weekend so ideal time to get machine out and getting creative. Hope everyone is well and enjoying this shared experience - I think it is great. Best wishes Jennie

I've been a lot quicker to get going on this months block! Had enough to make 2 and I still have Jackie's fabric pack which she will give me instructions for - I'm looking forward to making more! I sent her a photo of the fabrics so she can direct me as to how she wants her block made. I just sent her a text and she is on her way to hospital now.
I will email the photo to Karen.
It's going to be a fun 12 months of block making! J.