Second Distraction flimsy complete!

As most of you are aware there are so many wonderful distractions going on in blogland at the moment, they are hard to resist and are so darn cute!!!!

I have allowed myself a few distractions, around four - first was the 12 Days of Christmas by Temecula Quilt Co, - flimsy completed!  http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/  You can see it on a prevous post!

Then Lori's QAL, just couldn't pass that one up!  Sat up late last night and completed the top, I'm pretty pleased with how it looks!!  Here are the details:  http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilt-longs-part-1.html

I will be taking this to my local longarm quilter, can't wait to have it hanging on my wall, I love the colours!!!!

My third distraction is Kathy Tracy's 'Crosses Mourning Quilt' from her book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts".  Kathy is challenging us to make one small quilt per month, this is the first one for 2012.   So far I have completed the nine blocks, next I have to sort out sashing, and already have the border fabric!!!
You can visit her here: http://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/

I only had a couple of black reproduction fabrics in my stash, but I soon sorted that out when I went to Brisbane recently and bought some more for this quilt!!  Not the greatest photo, it shows a little darker than they actually are, hopefully when the top is completed the next time I post, it will look a little better!

My fourth distraction was actually my first LOL, those tiny teeny little house blocks that Jeanneke has encouraged us all to make!  I decided to use the Foundation Paper pieced method and drew it up on EQ, this was my first effort!  You can find out about them here:  http://www.jeanneke.com/#home

I sent this one to Kaaren, from The Painted Quilt, (http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com/) as she is new to FPP and is a visual learner so what better way to try and figure it out than to have it in your hands to see how things go together!!!  I will definitely be making more of these, but not 365 LOL, probably enough for a small quilt to hang on the wall or as a table-topper!!!  I have a little box of odd small scraps which will be perfect to use for these tiny lovelies!!!

I don't know what you all listen to/watch when you are in the sewing room as a background.  I usually listen to the radio, ABC Radio National (news, current affairs, arts etc) or ABC Classic FM.   I love to read generally, but when it comes to what gets my spare time it is usually my sewing that wins out, so books don't get read.

I decided to give audio-books a try, I mean to say, we girls can do two things at once right!!!?  I am on to my second audio-book now and it is working out wonderfully.  The quality of the audio is excellent these days, and it's amazing what you take in even when you are concentrating on cutting, stitching etc.

I'm currently listening to a Geraldine Brooks' historical novel called 'Caleb's Crossing'.  It is 12 1/4 hrs listening time (10 discs), so you can imagine the size of the book, it would have taken me forever, this way it is easy peasy!

I use a small portable DVD/CD player which doesn't take up too much room!  I now have a list of books I want to (read) - listen to LOL!!!!   What do you listen to/watch when you are in your sewing room?

This past week I received an email from Barbara Brackman (http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/).  She wants to feature 3 of my blocks from her CW BOW project in her new upcoming book!  I must say I was quite amazed that any of my blocks would warrant that sort of attention!!! 

From what I can gather she has asked a few contributors to the flickr group (http://flickr.com/groups/civilwarquilts.2011/) if they would mind if she used their blocks as examples.  So here are the blocks she wants to feature!

 #41   Red, White & Blue Pieced Star

# 42   H for Hospital

#48   West Virginia

It's amazing what other people see when they look at your work!  I wouldn't have thought these blocks were particularly interesting at all, but I guess we all see different things!!!  I'm just pleased to have been asked, it is quite an honour to feature in her book, I'm actually quite chuffed!!!!

Hope you are all having a safe and productive weekend.  

Take it easy,
Merilyn

Giveaway Winners

Thankyou all who participated in my first giveaway!!! 

I'm only sorry I couldn't make each of you a winner, but there are two lucky ladies!

Each of you were numbered as your comments came in!

I had the help of a friend to do the drawing!

First winner Number 5

Second draw:

Second Winner No. 30

Congratulations to

First:  O'faigh - Australia

Second: Vivian - USA

Would you please email me your postal addresses and I will get your giveaways sent out to you as soon as possible.

Again thankyou all for being such good sports and being a part of this!   It is my way of saying thankyou to all of you who have made this past year so much fun!

Take it easy!

Merilyn

Giveaway Closed

Just to let you all know that the GIVEAWAY is now CLOSED!

The winner will be announced soon!

Thankyou to all who have participated!

Best of luck! 

Merilyn

One Year In!

I have thoroughly enjoyed putting together the second installment of Lori's QAL mini quilt!
These pieces are the half blocks (10 are needed) and include the plaids!  I don't have a stash of plaids at all, but these ones are a start and I love them!  If you are wanting to do Lori's Quilt-a-long check it out here:
http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2012/-1/quilt-longs-part-1.html

I also decided to use a slightly different pink print for the plaid blocks just to add a bit of interest!

This week has seen my first blog-iversary!!  It was a big step to jump into blogland, but it has been very enjoyable and I've met some lovely people in the past year!

So to celebrate I am having my first give-away!  In fact I have two give-aways, so when you leave a comment please indicate whether you would like Option A or Option B.

All comments/participants will be numbered as they come in and on Thursday 19th January I will put the numbers (on a folded up bit of paper) in a big container and pick out one, the first draw will get the Option they have asked for and the second draw will get the Option that is left!   Not being too computer savvy I have no idea how to do the computer generated number thingy, so will opt for the old fashioned way of doing things LOL!!!


Here is Option A

This pack contains a Charm Pack, 'Little Gatherings' by Primative Gatherings for Moda. A pattern with ruler again my Primitive Gatherings 'Primitive Pinwheels' for small quilt 11"x 12 3/4", some reproduction fat quarters and tape measure!


Here is Option B

This pack consists of a Charm Pack "Cattails & Clover" by Kansas Troubles Quilters for Moda.
A Quick-unpick with a handmade wooden handle made from Australian 'Myrtle' timber.  A pack of five English sewing needles for Embroidery/Redwork by Jeana Kimball, some Reproduction Fat Quarters and tape measure.

There will be a couple of extra inclusions too, but they will be a surprise!!!  Good luck to everyone!
I will ask for the winners mail address (anywhere in the world!) once the draw has been done!!!

The draw will close at 12 noon, Thursday 19th January, Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time.

This week has been extremely hot and one afternoon I went out to the back verandah and caught Miss Mini meditating very comfortably in a plastic tub, she looked awful cute so I managed to get a photo of her before I disturbed her!

Then she saw me!, it wasn't long before she jumped out for a cuddle and some food!!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend, it certainly is a lot cooler here today!!

Take it easy!!

Merilyn

Two New Distractions!

Over the past three days I have managed to steal some time in the sewing room in between chores and get a start on a couple of distractions that I simply couldn't resist!!

Firstly the '12 Days of Christmas' project put out by the Temecula Quilt Company.  I had bought a small pack of 16th's in blues which I used, and added borders from my stash!  It looks a bit monochrome but that's ok too! 

I would love to do this again using Christmas fabrics, ummmm! another distraction........

I will use left over lengths of the different blues in the binding! 

Another wonderful distraction I worked on yesterday and into the night and early this morning was Lori's QAL, which you can find here:  http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilt-longs-part-1.html

I just loved the colour mix of the original little doll quilt, so I am staying as close to the original as I can!

So far this is Part 1 of her instructions, I used a Barbara Brackman pink, the red, navy and brown are from my stash!  The cheddar will be the background or alternate blocks.   Eagerly awaiting the next step!!!!

Maybe some housework might be in order now LOL!  Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Take it easy,

Merilyn

New Year Projects

We are well into the New Year now and there is a buzz in blogland with so many new projects to tempt one at every turn!!  The thing really is to focus on what you want to finish up or start, because if you are anything like me there are many unfinished projects/quilts looking quite forlorn and feeling very left out at this time as we allow ourselves to get caught up in all the new stuff!!!    I have caved in to a couple of 'small' projects LOL, a little indulgence is all good don't you think!!

Our final Barbara Brackman CW BOW has been put together. 
# 53 Union Shield.

The block Barbara gave us had the shield take up all of the 8"x 8" block, and like the Spool block some time ago it had rather large dimensions compared to all the other blocks, so I played around with it on EQ and reduced the size.  The shield part is 4 1/2"x 4 1/2", with a 1/2" blue border and 1 1/4" in the shirting fabric.

I am a lot happier with this arrangement, it should fit in nicely with all the other blocks.

As I am probably going to do a straight set,  8 rows of 7 blocks (56 blocks in all) I still have a few more to make, plus there were a few rather ugly ones in there too (from the beginning)  LOL, they'll need replacing, so I'm guessing I'm in for at least another 6 blocks before I start arranging them and cutting out sashing and cornerstones.

The border will have to be a well considered choice and that'll probably mean a trip to the quilt shop and a few hours there too !!!!  Not that I mind of course, any excuse to while away several hours surrounded by gorgeous fabrics!

You've probably noticed I have changed by header photo!  Time for a change and to include a few of my favourite things.  Firstly is a photo of one of my matenal great grandmothers, love her corsetted dress!

I also included some crochet my maternal grandmother did, hanging over the photo frame.   The tapestry is a project my mother started well over 50 or closer to 60 years ago, there are some unfinished patches of the background yet to do, I guess I have that job now huh!!!

The other little crochet doiley is something I made in my 20's, probably while I was on night duty as a young nurse tryng to stay awake, still have quite a few pieces like that, and yes I do use them!!!

The other little treasure in there is my little toy Singer sewing machine, I bought it on ebay a few years ago, but it doesn't  have a manual or a clamp - still looking!!!  I've included some little needle keeps and sewing cases, pincushion, favourite scissors and my unusual sewing/darning eggs.

As I said earlier I have caved in and have bought fabric for at least two new smallish projects.  The first one was way too cute to ignore!  It is called the '12 Days of Christmas' by the Temecula Quit Company.
See here if you are interested:  http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/
I couldn't decide on fabrics so I opted for a no brainer and bought a little sixteenth pack of blues.

Each piece is around 10"x 10" and more than adequate for 12 little 3"x 3" blocks.  This project started over 10 days ago, so today I washed and ironed my fabric and completed 11 blocks.  The 12th one hasn't yet been posted.

It's supposed to be a mystery with a block per day, so we'll see what tomorrow brings with the final block and the layout!  It's been fun putting these tiny blocks together and satisfied the 'new project urge' I had!!!!

The next little project has been put together by Lori over at Humble Quilts, check it out here:
http://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilt-longs-part-1.html

I have always wanted to make a quilt with cheddar and pink and this little doll quilt really caught my attention, just perfect!  It also contains some plaids, and I have not one plaid in my collection of fabrics, so I fixed that up right away by starting with four plaids.  The rest of the quilts' requirements will come out of my stash!

Lori hasn't given the instructions yet, but they are on their way!  I'm quite looking forward to putting this one together!

What a whirlwind for the beginning of the year, I hope it doesn't keep this pace, but I have a feeling............

Until next time,

Take it easy,
Merilyn