Productive!

Sunday dawned grey and wet in Melbourne....

What better opportunity to get stuck into all that sewing on my list!

First up, I finished the pinnie for the Scrappy Pincushion Swap on Flick'r.

So these pieces were sewn together, just don't ask to see the inside which is a mass of threads, ends and hand stitching to close up some holes!

And here it is in all 'puffed-stuffed' glory!

It is a little on the wonky side but I didn't notice that until it was finished!

But I am happy with it overall!

Here's the other side......

That right hand corner is the one that bothers me!

But I think I'm just going to live with it....

Hopefully the receiver overlooks its imperfections and loves it anyway!

Hope you don't mind all the photos!

I was experimenting with the way I photographed my work, using some hints from Jodi at Pleasant Home.

And, I must admit, they do look more clean with the sheets of white paper I used in the background.

I also basted my doll quilt and finished one other project which I'll share next time!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

So much to do... So little time!

I kinda scared myself in my last post when I realised that I had 7 'projects' on the go at the moment!

And these are just the ones I want to think about.

I don't count quilt tops which are waiting to be quilted either!

(Shhh! There are 6 of those!)

So over the last few days I have made a list....

And prioritized according to whether it had a deadline AND if it was machine or hand sewn.

Finished the binding on this placemat.....

It doesn't have a home yet.

 Started my pincushion for the Flick'r swap......

And as I've already received mine, thought it was about time!

I am pretty happy with this little pair of scissors I designed and embroidered!

Stippled/Meandered the border of my pram quilt....

Gosh, I make my stippling CLOSE together!

I like the effect, but, boy, it takes ages!

And I made a few more of these.....

So now they are "Works in Progress"....

Rather than "Works Stagnating!"

Humpty Dumpty looks pretty happy about that...

He's wishing you a Happy Weekend AND Happy Sewing!

SUZ

A timely arrival!

I have 7, yes 7 projects on the go at the moment!

Am I over committed or not?

But I don't really have anything ready to share, just yet.

So here is what arrived in the mail yesterday....

My pretty little scrappy pincushion from Cat in New Zealand.

(She is safe in the northern part of the country, but we are all thinking of her and all those involved in that dreadful disaster.)

I love the tape measure around the middle!

And Cat included a tissue cover and some Minties!

Who doesn't love Minties!

Thanks Cat.

We are thinking of you all!

Happy sewing

SUZ

Another Swap, Another Treasure!

Isn't this the cutest little owl you've ever seen?

It arrived at my home recently, all the way from Monika in Germany, as part of the Flick'r 

Mug Rug Swap!

It arrived in the most amazing envelope...

With lots of goodies wrapped up and waiting expectantly to be opened!

And inside was a handmade card, calendar and some scraps of adorable owl fabric!

And of course the mug rug!

I already have a plan for one of those scraps!

Thank you Monika, you are very generous!

Happy sewing,

SUZ

A Little bit of This, and a Little bit of That!

This is a little of what I've been working on over the last couple of days.

A red one...

and an orange one...

And a blue one, pink one and purple one all cut out!

And there might even be 2 green ones!

But what will they become?

And this is my THIRD attempt at quilting my pram quilt!

(lots of unpicking and re-pinning!)

And it is far from perfect, but that's okay!

I have learnt a great deal from this exercise, so I figure I can only get better!

Come back soon to see a little bit more of this and that!

Happy sewing,

SUZ

Place Mat Swap

Isn't this great!

It's one of my new place mats, received from Tanya as part of a Flick'r swap!

I think it's based on one of Oh Fransson's Mod Mosaic!

Great fabrics too!

And the second one has a cross design with the cutest bird in the centre!

With lovely linen!

Thank you Tanya-

I love my new place mats!

I'm in love!

...with this fabric!

It's a LakeHouse Dry Goods by Holly Holderman seen here!

When I saw this in my LQS (Patchwork House in Hawthorn),  I knew it had to come home with me!

Of course, it reminds me of Paris with its Eiffel Tower... 

and tea cups.....  

and French words like bonbons and ...

patisserie...

And it's such a pretty color!

It's almost like being there...

Now I just need to decide what to make from it!

Suggestions?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Hexagon Park

Lynne over at Lily's Quilt's......

Is having a giveaway!

To celebrate her debut on Moda Bake Shop!

Well done girl!

Here's a flower bouquet I wish I could give you!

(Besides, I don't do posts without photos!)

Get on over there and check out her great blog and lovely quilt!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Help is on it's way!

At last I'm going to get some professional help....

With my quilting, that is! (LOL)

My LQS is running a workshop over two evenings, with plenty of time in between to practise.

And practise is what I need!

Before our first class next week, all class members were required to purchase this kit of fabric-

There are some of my favorite colors and designers here, so I was pretty chuffed!

Fandango by Kate Spain.....

After some simple cutting and piecing this is what I will be practising on!

It is a pram blanket.....

Just not sure what I will do with it yet?

I might have to keep it in the family!

What are you working on this weekend??

Happy Sewing!

SUZ

From My Library

Not much sewing happening in my corner of the world at the moment-

Life has got in the way; mainly work, of course!

So I thought I'd share a couple of my recent craft book purchases.

I had a gift voucher from a local bookshop and as I borrow all the novels I read from the library, I bought  

this.

The quilt designs are quite simple .

It was the beautiful photography and design that I loved about this book-

Love the colors in this shot!

So I may not make any quilts from this book but it will continue to inspire me-

And this is one I bought when my husband bought me a Material Obsessions which I already owned-

[and had made a quilt from! ;-) ]

There are many ideas in this one-

I love both the colors and design of this one.....

And the stitching....

Although I don't know whether the grasshopper is something I will be adding to my next mini quilt!

Or is it a cricket?

Do you have a favorite crafting book?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

My Favourite Mug Rug

Madame Samm had a little secret contest running on Flick'r!

So I couldn't show you one of my recent creations-

But its over now so here it is!

It features little fussy cut fabric bits of some of my favourite things- 

bikes, and cherries, butterflies and owls, poppies and ladybugs!

And of course Paris had to get a look in there somewhere....

...on the back!

(I love this fabric!)

But I can honestly say I probably have enough mug rugs now!

But what are some of your favourite things?

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Andromeda Strain!

I am working on a quilt for a secret swap-

But I have cast caution to the wind!

I need to share it with my 28 followers and those who "saw the light on, thought I'd drop in" visitors!

My partner (aka Mp) is not a frequent visitor to Flickr and I seriously doubt she believes I even exist so

I'm risking posting here because I need some feed back!

Hence the 'strain' in my title!

Firstly, inspiration for my quilt came from here-

Mp had a Feathered Star in her inspiration mosaic so when I saw this magazine cover I was immediately

drawn to it.

I then made a practice piece-

and got some great feedback on Flick'r!

I decided I needed to purchase some more fabric and bought a new-to-me bamboo/cotton solid dark

grey, nearly black at my LQS.

And traced new foundation pieces and sewed and cut and sewed some more.

(and did lots of unpicking!)

And made some color changes-

And this is what I have come up with as the centre!

It is far from perfect but I'm still pretty happy with it-

It even looks good in the photo!

So where to now???

I'm thinking of placing it on point and setting HST around it, like this, (thanks for the inspiration Lynne!)

if I can work out the maths.

Or adding Flying Geese in a circle- again if I can find a way to get my head around it!

Or maybe I could make it into an octagon shape ?

If you have any other suggestions I would LOVE to hear them!

And should I post a picture on Flick'r in the hope, or not, that Mp sees it?

Maybe in black and white?

What if Mp hates it?

Oh, the strain!

Happy sewing 

SUZ

PS -  Have you worked out why I have called this quilt "Andromeda Strain"?


(PPS- Guess what, today Mp made a return to Flick'r after an absence of 2weeks and made a rather standard comment and suggestion!)

PPPS- I'm entering this into the Quiltstory Block Party!