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

Gift Envelopes

Have you started your Christmas shopping or 

sewing yet?

I have!

I 'pinned' this idea for gifting money which 

I want to use this year.

My son and daughter-in-law are going on a belated honeymoon to New York in mid-December, and I wanted to give them some spending money!

I changed the pattern a little for my own purposes 

which I show here... 

I found an envelope that "fit the bill', teased it open

and traced around it.

I marked the section where it would remain 

unstitched for turning through...

(I know I often forget this and just keep sewing!)

I found it easier to sew the button on before 

stitching the side panels closed.

It's fun finding ribbon and buttons to match!

It's also perfect for a special piece 

of costume jewellery!

Sorted!

As Kate said on IG, wouldn't it be lovely if all our 

mail looked like this?

Happy days!

SUZ

Pinks Charming

is my latest quilt finish.

I saw this quilt on the CrazyMom blog and decided 


this was the perfect use for these 'charming' fabrics

I started with a mini charm pack of

"Color Me Happy"...

adding strips of a Lecien solid in pale mint green.

I then put it aside until I knew whether it would 

go to a girl or boy. 

And now it is finished...

with Gum Leaves from Terra Australis 2

and bound in 

Spinning Gum from Terra Australis 1

Backing was in my stash;

it came from I know not where?

And quilted with my favourite wavy line!

Final measurements:
 35" x 48" approx

Happy days!

SUZ

A struggle...

Today is the day to reveal the last of the Four-In-Art 

"Literature" quilts for 2015.

I admit, I struggled with this one....

A sneaky look at the back...

I had few ideas and nothing seemed to work.

I chose to represent two of my all-time favourite 

books-

"To Kill a Mockingbird" 

and 

"Great Expectations"

And I'll leave it at that...

I'm sure there are some wonderful "Four-in-Art" 

minis for your viewing pleasure here:

Betty

Elizabeth

Jennifer

Nancy

Rachel

Simone

Just click on each name to take in the rest of  

the Art Show!

I guess all artist struggle with inspiration 

sometimes...

SUZ

Finishing...

Here in Australia the year isn't the only thing that 

finishes in December... 

The school year does too.

So I have been busy with all that entails....

But I do have some small finishes to share.

my "Pretty Potent" hand quilted cushion.

my new blouse,

and this baby quilt,

which deserves a post of its own,

when I get some better photos soon.

Because I don't have as much sewing time as I 

would like...

these blocks have been calling me!

It probably takes longer to find the pretty fabric 

combinations,

than it does to cut and sew one together!

And I am closing in on a finish of my hexie garden,

with only two more to applique.

 Then I can think 

about an arrangement for them all.

What has been keeping you busy?

Happy days!

SUZ

Better busy, than bored!

Don't you think?

I have been a busy girl...

making a pin cushion from this 'new-to-me' book.

I started my blouse over the weekend....

At night I hand quilt...

this is going to be a cushion cover.

I have also put together the backing for my 

Christmas table runner...

just need to buy some batting!

And finally more 'square in a square' blocks...

starting with a 6.5" block and adding 2" borders.

This is my favourite one so far!

Never any chance of ME being bored!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Equinox Star!

I saw this picture on IG...

and followed the trail to the Moda Love Quilt,

(more details here!)

The original quilt was just one big block made with a 

layer cake.

But I wanted to make an 18" block for the 

X-Factor Pillow Swap on Flick'r.

My fabric selections...

A bit of Tula, a bit of Denyse Schmidt, some Lecien 

and Jenni Baker thrown in for good measure.

So I did some of my own calculations, cutting the 

squares at 2.5", making HSTs of 2.5" and 

adding a 1" border.

I call it "Equinox Star" as I finished it around the time 

of the Equinox.

I quilted it in a simple cross hatch.

I added a navy and white striped piping, which is 

attached just like the binding on a quilt.

It is now on its way to its new owner!

The most fun is waiting to see which one I will 

receive...

Happy days!

SUZ

Ooops! I forgot...

to add this quilt to my recent 'to-do' list!

But I'm pleased to say its finished now!

I used a free pattern found here...

at Cloud 9 Fabrics if you'd like to make one of your 

own!

I don't like many traditional Christmas fabrics, 

(We don't get much snow in Australia at Christmas, 

you know!)

so I'm happy with the understated look of these.

I hand quilted with a green Anchor perle thread I 

picked up @ Lazy Daisy recently!

And bound it with a matching green fabric I found in 

my stash!

The backing is, of course, from my stash too.

Finished size 22.5" X 28" 

I'll pop this "Christmas Present" quilt away for a 

couple of months, and then 

hang it on my wall for Christmas!

Happy sewing!

SUZ