The good and the not-so-good.....

I recently picked up a charm pack from a second-hand 

store for $5!

Then Moda had a Charm Square Challenge and this 

was 

the free pattern they provided.

It finished at 32". 

Over on Instagram, I mentioned my desire to make it 

larger!

And what should arrive in the mail but all these lovely 

'scraps'....

And two new charm packs to play with!

Thank you Rose @somethingrosemade! 

You are a sweet and valued friend!

I think I showed you this at the end of last year.....

                   Finally, it has begun!

It has been a bit of a conundrum...for two reasons!

The fabrics supplied with the kit were not labelled and

 many did not resemble the photograph of the final 

quilt.

I even added one of my own fabric because the one 

provided didn't fit well.

And nowhere in the book was there a colour 

photograph or diagram of this version of the design.

The coloured versions were all in reverse! 

Boy, did that play games with my old brain! 

Now that I am this far into the piecing 

(I'm hand stitching for accuracy) 

I have it sorted!

I'm really looking forward to piecing the blossoms in 

those pretty pinks and reds!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

The stars aligned...

for us to ride The Eagle!

A local radio station was giving away free rides on 

the new 'chairlift ride' at Arthur's Seat,

here on the Mornington Peninsula.

My sister Helen sent them these photos of us on the 

original chairlift when it 

first opened, in 1960!

And we got selected to be two of the thirty available!

 As I am on leave, and Helen had a three-hour 

window in her work schedule....

we went and rode The Eagle!

To give you a better idea of how its changed,

I found this video of it back in the 60's

A Cadbury Carmamello Advertisement!

The view however is still as beautiful as ever!

I might need to take a quilt up here to photograph!

I hope this becomes a popular tourist attraction for 

the Peninsula!

I know one family who will be getting tickets for 

Christmas!

Happy days!

SUZ

Recent Acquisitions ...

Would you like to see what I have added to my 

stash 

over the last few days?

Firstly what I bought on my Tassie Trek...

I love this cute "Thicket" panel by Moda!
from Esme's Patchwork in Launceston

I didn't realise one of these was a Cotton & Steel!
from Wells Crafts in Latrobe

Where I had a lovely chat with Jess
from Frangipani Fabrics in Hobart

from Patchwork Plus in Georgetown

I bought the tin because I loved it. I was happy to have it filled with fudge though....

from Fabric Parcel in Wynyard

I won a fabulous giveaway from Red Pepper quilts some time back....

from Little Crafty Shop, so I stocked up in some 

neutrals.

But I have saved the best til last!

My sweet friend Elizabeth sent me this surprise 

package...

I am joining her in a new bee next year, called the 

Gridsters! 

I guess I'd better get sewing, because I have just been to a destash sale.....

You should see what I got there!

Happy days!

SUZ

A Rose by any other name...

I had admired this quilt....

Rail Fence Quilt by Rose

and this one.....

Another of Rose's quilts!

on Pinterest recently, (one link is here),

to find that Rose, the maker, was offering her 

leftovers to me! 

Blocks Rose didn't have a use for!

After a friendly email exchange with Rose...

these beauties recently landed in my post box.

And heaps of 'scraps'!

 I haven't decided what I will do with them but there 

are plans being made!

I gathered up my meagre stash of

 Cotton and Steele... 

shopped for more at The Quilt Shop, in Eltham

with a couple of pretty fat quarters thrown in!

where they were having an amazing sale!

all playing nicely together!

So I guess I have another WIP or two to add to my 

never-ending list!

But the story doesn't end there....

Rose also included these pretty vintage circles,

which I am going to make into a mini 'quilt'....

of sorts, for my sister.

I am now making a couple of gifts to send back to 

Rose as a thank-you!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

So and sew! ✂︎

So...

a mini Sew- Together Bag,

following Elizabeth's 'recipe' here

for a friend,

who is going to live in Seattle!

Including Melbourne prints such as 

 Melbourne trams, 

magpies and some of our suburbs named!

And this spotted fabric is meant to mimic the old 

tram tickets from days gone by, I think!

I hope Allison thinks of Melbourne when she uses it.

Happy days! 

SUZ

Persuasion!

I don't exactly know how it happened...

but when my friend Elizabeth, who blogs at 

Occasional Piece , 

suggested joining the Quilt Along for the 

Chuck Nohara blocks,

I didn't need my arm twisted!

I was able to purchase my book locally, with my 

winnings from a recent Cup sweep!

So we have jumped in and started making these 

adorable 6" blocks!

We are sort of following along on IG...

but we are also picking a couple to do each month,

to keep us moving forward!

I may not have any real life sewing friends,

but it does make me feel closer to people on the 

other side of the world....

which seems kind of important today.

Thank you Elizabeth for suggesting this fun project!

My applique skills are (hopefully) improving too...

Happy sewing!

SUZ

WIPs Wednesday...

I can't remember the last time I wrote a WIP's post!

(In fact it has been a whole two weeks 

since I last posted at all!)

So this is what I have been up to 

(despite masses of end-of-semester schoolwork!)

MCM bee blocks are 'winging' their way to Carla....

+ and x Friendship blocks for the other Carla....

Just a sneaky peek....

hand quilting a secret project....

which I hope to share soon!

And hand quilting this long term project too.

My Museum Medallion

AND I may have just started a new quilt!

Shelburne Falls by Denyse Schmidt...

gifted to me in 2013 by my friend Mary!

Before long June will be here.....

Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced!

Happy sewing!

SUZ