Another Month almost over

Can you believe it the first month of Spring half way through. We certainly have had some very hot days so far hate to think what Summer is going to be like.
This is my Grand Daughter Kaitlyn. Last week at school she had a book review morning and they had to dress as a character from their favourite book and she chose Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. I am not at all into dress making but made the attempt to make the outfit for her. What would probably take a professional only a day or two... not me... took me almost 2 weeks. ( I don't do zips which was my biggest problem but survived it okay) Kaitlyn was thrilled and I was pleased at how she looked Had the hair curled for the occassion. Don't you love Toto in the basket.

Even painted and glittered the shoes. (the glitter doesn't show up too well in the photo) I even had to paint the socks the right colour blue. Everything looked just perfect

Have been busy with my BOM's wanting to get them finished early this month. Gail Pan has finished her collection and I am so thrilled with how these look when they are all put together. Gail has put up how to finish the quilt and her quilt looks stunning. Thanks Gail I really enjoyed doing these each month. Thank you also for your generosity in sharing these with everyone who has participated.
All of my nine blocks completed

The blocks from Bunny Hill designs are coming along as well still have three more from her to complete and her completed quilt is just as stunning. (What we can see at least).

Three more blocks to be added

I have loved doing Ellies Quiltplace calendar blocks although I will wait until I have them all completed for the months to be added
Nine of the twelve blocks. Not quite sure how I will put these together. I have a few plans floating around in my head.

Finally a new Computer

Seems such a long time since I have posted but with patience I waited for DH to come to the rescue and get me a new computer only took a month not too long in the scheme of things. So starting from yesterday Fathers Day I will work backwards to the end of or rather beginning of the last month. Love this photo we took Dad/Gregdad to Wisemans ferry for a picnic lunch it was an absolutley beautiful day. Here is DD Sheree, Gregdad and Granson Ryan.... I think they are trying to find a frog or something Had Grandparents Day at GD Kaitlyns School last Friday we had a lovely time together shared a cream bun for morning tea and then lunch after visiting her classroom.
The weekend before DH and I had to attend a funeral at Forster. This is the road we travelled.

That same weekend we took DH's little Standard 10 to an all British Day at Kingschool. He is very proud of his little car the only one of its' kind on the day. Sometimes I feel we are the reject as we sit on our own but there certainly is a lot of interest which makes DH very happy

I did get all of my last months Block of the Month blocks finished well before the end August but have not been able to post them for obvious reasons. Thanks to these talented craftspeople

This block from Gail Pan Designs

This block from Bunny Hill Designs

Lastly this block from Ellies Quilt Place

I posted a sneak peak of this tablerunner a little while back well now it is finished and my DD now has it. I made this for her as a Christmas tablerunner her Christmas decorations are blue, white and silver. I think it will look great on her lovely white dining table or dresser.

I made this little embroidery for a friend in England. She has not been very well so I thought a little Angel might lift her spirits

Some new projects

I have been working on some new projects these past few weeks even though I know deep down I should be finishing of the WIP I have in various boxes. Oh well what will another few weeks matter.
I made these really cute owls from a pattern I purchased on etsy from www.daisyquilts.etsy.com They are just so easy to make took me no time at all. These applique blocks are part of a 5 block quilt I have been working on since March. I am not a great fan of applique to do myself I find it a bit slow. Originally I was only going to do the 3 blocks shown in the photo but have decided to do the last 2 blocks. This needs to be finished before next years Quilt Camp.

Can't show this project just a sneak peek as I am making this for my eldest daughter Danielle. I hope she will like the finished article.

BOM's and a Monkey

A quick post today. Firstly I have to show the cute little sock monkey I made on the weekend. I was very happy with how it turned out thanks to the tutorial on "Don't Look Now" blog. The instructions were ever so easy to follow and my Grand daughter Kaitlyn has adopted her.I have finished this months BOM's and am very happy that I have been keeping up with these. They are fun to do and i thank these talented crafts people for sharing their patterns.
First block from Bunny Hills Designs.
Second block from Gail Pan Designs

Third Block from Ellies Quilt Place.

Paper Bag Swap

Teresa has now opened her gift from me so I can share what I made for her with the beautiful fabrics and goodies in her bag. I am so glad she liked everything that I had made. This swap was so much fun I hope there is another organised again someday.

A good week

This week I have been working on another project that has been hanging on my design wall for a few weeks now. I only have to put the top and bottom borders on and it is ready for putting together for quilting. I am going to quilt this one myself. Today I have made these little gifts, a pencil roll and colouring in book tote bag for a special little girls 7th birthday. Happy birthday Monique. These gifts will be travelling down to Victoria on Thursday with Kaitlyn & Sheree.

Now for something special. The "Paper Bag" swap. I have had this parcel sitting next to my sewing machine for almost 2 weeks and have been so tempted many times to open, but have been very good and only opened it today.

Inside the parcel was the cutest handmade wallhanging as you can see below. I am just blown away the stitching is so perfect... how did she know I love bears as well

Also included was a beautiful needle case complete with some needles and a panel of little quilt tags all with little bears.

A lovely letter from Teresa accompanied all these goodies. Thank you Teresa. You have totally spoilt me. I just love everything and will now have to find the right place to hang the wallhanging. This has been a really great swap thanks to Maree of "On my Verandah".

Postie has delivered.

This week I have recieved two lovely surprises in the mail. My long awaited "Pin Cushion" swap parcel arrived all the way from Bettina in Blue Springs Missouri USA. What a wonderful package to open. This little box was filled with not only a beautifully made pin cushion but lots of goodies as well.
This is the pin cushion in the shape of a pear complete with the cutest pins.

The other goodies in the little box were 2 strings of really cute buttons, a tape measure, a sissor keeper, some beaded ribbon, a hank of pearl thread and 2 stamps and a lovely letter. How spoilt was I. Thank you so much Bettina and also Sandra for organising this swap.

Also in the mail this week was a letter from my "Pin Cushion" swap partner Jenny, also in the USA. Below is the beautiful card she sent with a quilt on the front and the pattern and instructions on the inside and back of the card. The letter was very touching and I appreciated getting such a wonderful thank you. It makes swapping that much more fun. Thank you Jenny.

Computer hiccups

I have been without my computer for over a week now. I had to wait for my daughter to fix up the problems so now I have to catch up on my photos this being the very end of the month.
All my Blocks of the month are finished and I am really happy with how they are turning out.
The first is Gail Pan

The second from Bunny Hill The third one is from Ellies Quilt Place.

Recently I participated in a "Pin Cushion" swap and now that my partner Jenny has received her parcel I can now show what I made for her.

I have also participated in "The Paper Bag " swap and I have received this parcel from Teresa.

We can't open them as yet not sure if I can wait.

Paper bag swap

A quick post today. I have completed my paper bag swap for Teresa and here is a sneak peak.
I will be wrapping and putting in the post early next week so keep an eye out for your postie Teresa and I hope you like my parcel.

Another project finished

In September 2008 I started this wall hanging "Blooming" in a class at Country Pickens at the Corner in Dural with Amanda Daley. Little did I know how long it would take me just to do all the turn backs on each flower petal weeks and weeks with lots of breaks in between. Finally I can say it is finished and ready to hang in my dining room.

Each flower and leaves had 4 petals on each to turn back and stitch. The centres were then padded to give a 3D look and beads were added to the flower centres as can be shown in the photo below. Don't think I will be doing another one of these in the near future.

I have joined in on Maree's Paper bag swap and these are the goodies I am sending to my partner. I hope she enjoys working with my little lot.

Woops

This photo somehow got missed in my last post. Block of the Month from Ellies Place

Another Month Passes

I think I am a seriously bad blogger. When I think I have a bit of time to spare and catch up I find something else gets in the way. I really envy those bloggers that update every day and have loads of interesting things to show and wonderful dialogues. I am not one for prattling on but do love to read blogs that really interest me.

The month of May was interesting. Mother's Day was not really the best for me this year with an uncalled for family outburst on my brothers side. Not a day we would like to revisit but my immediate family, my 2 wonderful daughters helped make the day a little better and a phone call from my son in Victoria finished the day on a nicer note.


Enough of the doom and gloom. At a friends home the other day she had been having a clean out and found this really cute little cotton spool holder. On the bottom it says Walkers Sewing Tidee and was made in England. Inside there are 5 spools of Sylko cotton threads. The lid on the top even has a lever to lock the lid in place. Pat said it belonged to her Mother. I am so glad she saved it for me. It is just so cute and looks great sitting in one of my old sewing machines that I have.

All my Blocks of the month are completed. I have really enjoyed these and look forward to seeing what the next ones will be. There certainly are some very talented people in blogland.

A few weeks ago I did another bit of knitting. I am not the best knitter in the world but a simple pattern suits me well. I knitted these 2 little shawls only took me a night to knit each one talk about easy....... My daughter and grand daughter are modeling the shawls.


Kaitlyn thought it would look good as a hat as well.