Still Here!!!

Gosh! its been a while since I was last here LOL!!!!  There's been a bit of a sewing drought in this neck of the woods lately!  I have been following but not sewing and everytime I think I can escape! something pops up to keep me occupied elsewhere, work is the main culprit I have to say, but without it I couldn't do what I love at the end of the day!!!!

My last CW block was #29 Railroad Crossing!  It's kinda grown on me because initially I thought the red was too much,  but in the whole scheme of things it should blend in quite nicely!!!

Then there is #28, Next Door Neighbour! 

I enjoyed putting this block together because I was able to use a couple of fabrics I had no idea how I was going to use.  They are the two blues, the pale centre blue print I thought I'd never find a home for and the mid blue with all the little icons, I loved, but couldn't imagine where it would fit!   But there you have it, they seem to like where they are and it just goes to show buying a FQ bundle can really stretch your creativity!  If I saw them on the bolt in a shop I would have just passed them by.....

A large number of people who are doing these blocks are members of the flickr group, http://www.flickr.com/groups/civilwarquilts2011/  and were given the option a little while back, of making an extra block as a gift to include in a quilt to be made for Barbara Brackman. This is a token of our appreciation for all the work she is putting into giving us these lovely patterns every week and the detailed history of the American Civil War on her blog.  One of the ladies, Becky has volunteered to collect them all, sew them together and have the quilt quilted.   The choice of which block to make is optional.  I think it is an awesome project and a wonderful momento for Barbara to keep from quilters all over the world.

While I was doing #26 Barbara Frietchie Star, I picked out some other fabrics that I thought might go well together to make for Barbara's block.  I chose a more patriotic palette for her block.

We were asked to sign our names and country of origin on the block.   I have mine ready to pack and post this week.

If you have been following my blog you will know I have a modest collection of vintage sewing machines which I am sharing with you all.   This week it is my Singer 201K.   Her birthday is 24 January 1956.  Made in Great Britain.

She comes in this wonderful old case.

This particular 201K model has a more stream lined look compared to some of the older models and is a full size machine.

She is a beautiful stitcher, but didn't come with any attachments or booklets.  I have managed to collect a little wardrobe of necessities for her.

The front cover of the manual on the left has already come adrift, but it's all original, the booklet on the right gives details about all the technical bits, like light mountings, motor stuff, wiring etc.

These are probably not all the accessories available, but what I do have are in beautiful condition. There is even a little needle threader (botton left) with a couple of spare teeny tiny hooks that fit into the eye of the needle to catch the thread.   It took me a while to work out what this ingenius little item was, I was tickled pink!!!  I have another box of extra accessories that would fit this low shank machine.  I also have a large sewing tin for most of my machines, but this one hasn't got one yet, something to get soon I think!

He decals are in pretty good condition and she fits nicely into her little case.  

Last week there was a magnificant sunset, it was great to catch because I work a lot of late shifts and generally miss them.   This was taken on the side verandah of my house overlooking the neightbours' roof.
The colours were so rich as the light filtered through the trees in my neighbours' yard I just had to capture it on my camera.

Notice the tallest tree just to the right of the photo.   This tree is a favourite of our resident koala.  A couple of years ago this is him, resting on a branch catching the early morning winter sunshine.

Isn't he wonderful!  It's nice to know he feels comfortable enough to live around us.  

I'm about to tackle the latest CW block.   It is applique, and seeing as how me and appliqued blocks don't really get along I am going to try and think of an alternative method.   One of the ladies who has posted on the flickr group has pieced a star instead, so this is looking good for me too!!!

Have a great weekend everyone, stay safe and warm if you are in Australia, and cool if you are in the US/Canada.

Take it easy!

Merilyn

Another Finish

It's so nice to be able to sit down and write another post, it seems like ages since I last put (pen to paper) finger to keyboard!!!  Life sure has a way of putting a major dent in my creative time,  nevertheless I do have another finish and it is happily lying on my bed,  finally, 4 years after it was first created!!

I really love the #27 Irish Chain block!  But I did have to have a good dig around in my stash to find the right colour green (it just had to be an Irish green LOL!), I don't have a large selection so I was pleased when I found a Jo Morton hiding in amongst my stash.  

I thought it would be too much to include it in the centre square so I tried to find another print with a deep mustard that sort of went with the flowers but I think I chose poorly this time, don't know if I'm that happy with it or not!  Oh! well a 'dog' or two in this quilt won't be all that bad I don't suppose, especially when some prettier ones will be sitting beside it in the eventual quilt!!

In my last post I made a major boo-boo!!!,  I really must not have been paying attention because I posted the wrong block, so this week I will post the one that was intended, which was #25 Calico Puzzle.

This was a such a simple little block, I loved using a few pinks in there this time!!

Back in 2007 I made a couple of quilt tops, mainly to use up scraps that I had left over from a still unfinished project!!  Funny how that works!  the initial project still languishes while the left overs have come to see the light of day first!!!  If anyone can figure that one out let me know LOL!!!!

I'll start with the the second one, because that's the one I'm most excited about LOL!  It had lain for 4 four years under lots of 'stuff', but I always knew it was there!  I got it long-arm quilted in an overall paisley design a few weeks ago and I let you all have a sneak-peek a little while back!   I used an 80% cotton/20% poly batting in this one, as it gives a lovely loft compared to the 100% cotton which gives a flatter look!!   I finally put the binding & label on and a hanging sleeve!   It is completed!!!

I've called this 'Latticed Garden' #2.   It has been folded up for a few days, but in this morning's early sunshine it doesn't look too bad, the bright light hides a few creases!

It is the simplest design 6"x 6" 9-patch blocks, with the sashing and cornerstones at 3" and 3"x 3" respectively.  7 x 9-p blocks across & down.  I found this layout in an old quilt book I now can't find!  which is a pain because I remember there were some lovely simple yet effective quilts in it!   When I'm not looking for it, I know it will definitely find it LOL!!!

The fabrics I used are reproduction except for the mustard print in the sashing and binding!  It is a 2007 RJR print called 'Little Pretties', I also have some of it in a cream colour-way!   The CW repros are quite old prints that I have had for a very long time, some of you who have been collecting for years may recognise them and have them in different colourways as well.  Here are some closeups.

It is finally where it was destined to be, on my bed!! here is another pic, which kind of shows the furrows of the quilting in the dappled morning sun light that is coming through the windows.

This is 'Latticed Garden' #1.   I made this in Jan/Feb 2007.   It is smaller (6x 9-p blocks across & down)  and I machine quilted this myself - you can tell!! because it is all straight lines LOL!!!   I used my Janome 4800.   It has 100% cotton batting.

This quilt contains a real mixture of scraps, some repros, orientals, contemporarys, a Willian Morris print etc.   But I think it does have its own charm despite this!   It is now in the washing machine getting laundered, it is a sunny but slightly windy day here so a good drying day for quilts!!!

I have seen this little book by Tara on many blogs lately and people have said such good things about it so I finally caved in and ordered it.   It certainly contains some wonderful inspiration and small quilts, that could be big quilts too!!!

Like this one!!

A dear fellow blogger Elyte from http://teafabricandotherthings.blogspot.com/ told me at the beginning of the year when I started my blog that it will grow like a garden and everyone now and again you will plant something new.   So I have planted something new and that is the list of blogs I follow featured down the Right-hand side of my blog.  

I was staggered to count the number of blogs I do follow, around 70!!!!   I must say there are some wonderful bloggers out there, so no wonder I have such a long list!  They all give me a different perspective on this wonderful pastime we all enjoy, and the inspiration from your creativity is amazing.   So thankyou all for what you do, keep on doing it!!! and thankyou to those who have chosen to follow me on this journey as well, your input and comments are much appreciated!!!!!

I hope you all are having a good productive and happy week!!!

Take it easy,

Merilyn