Miss M Quilts

In a previous post, I mentioned that Miss M was making a quilt! *very excited mama here*

Well, I was excited and then........ I wasn't.....WHY? She wanted to make a LONE STAR quilt.  Ehhhhh, not my favourite quilt design and I have never made one (even though my quilting group all made one years ago).  I don't know what it is about the LONE STAR, but it has NEVER appealed to me.

Anyway, I personally thought an easier design would be better for a first quilt. Miss M scoured the internet again and the CHEVRON idea was born.*excited again*

As most Aussie quilters will agree, quilting fabrics are very dear over here.  Quilt Shops charge $22 to $25/m. Alright for me as I love the choice I get from LQSs but a bit much for a student who only earns enough for food and a few essentials.  Luckily we have a shop called East Coast Fabrics which isn't very far away from where we live. Most fabrics are $7.95 and some special fabrics are $9.95/m.  You can see the difference that running your shop from an industrial warehouse with no AC can do for your customers even though it makes for a very unpleasant shopping experience in the heat of Summer.  I buy all my wide, backing fabric here at $15/m.  Even Spotlight can't match these prices.

With no pattern (who needs one for a Chevron really) she bought 2 contrast colours and began to put her quilt together.

   It is interesting to note that I spotted the pink fabric at the FQS, last time I was there browsing.

 

She was really busy yesterday and pieced together 5 rows.  I think she is doing a fabulous job! What do you reckon?

Grab a Cuppa, it's that time of the week...Again!

I just love Tuesdays. I love to chat. I love to read what others have  answered to the questions. So what questions has Patrice asked this week.

Is there a room in your home that you'd like to redecorate or remodel?
Can I pick more than one....please! I would actually like to paint the whole house.  I really wanted to put more windows in our living room and hubby was on board....until we decided we were only going to be in this house for another 3 years and then he changed his mind.  I still think a paint job would lift the whole place.

 
Did you watch the Oscars? No, I was at work when it was on and I missed the highlights later. I'm not fussed although I do like to see the dresses.

   How many pair of blue jeans do you own? About 5 or 6, they are my standard outfit for Winter. I might have to buy a few new pairs this year as I have lost about 10kg since last winter and doubt  mine will fit anymore. *insert big smiley face here*       What was your favorite toy as a child?
I always loved dolls. Baby dolls, barbie dolls, paper dolls....you name it. I got a baby doll for Christmas when I was five and she was my favourite.  She was a Tiny Tears doll and you could feed her a bottle of water and she magically cried "real" tears.....oh and wet her nappy!  She still lives here somewhere (in a box.) 


 
If you could visit a country in Europe, which would you choose? I travel to the UK (almost) every year because my mum lives there and I can't pass up an opportunity to visit with her. I am really missing her at the moment and can't wait to go again.  Hopefully some time this year. I visited Paris two years ago and LOVED it there so France would be on the list too.  

 
 Thanks Patrice, loved chatting on the porch this week.  If you want to Chat on the Farmhouse Porch, visit Patrice at Everyday Ruralty. Say hello to Wendell while you are there.
 

Chevron vs Chevron

Well, my February goals are not taking shape as much as I had hoped but I already have plans for March. My son, Red, bought me a layer cake for Christmas...

..... and I have been thinking what to make with it as I don't want it languising on the shelf for the next three years!

Miss M is making a CHEVRON quilt and I thought I would do the same as it would work really well with a Layer Cake......as usual, I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.

Initially I didn't want to do one exactly like Miss M's (which I will show you later) so I picked out two that I liked.

 I picked up a copy of Fons&Porter - Quick Quilting, and would you believe it, there was a superb chevron quilt in the colours I wanted to use.  On closer inspection, the fabrics were exactly the same as my layer cake!!

THIS IS IT.....I am slotting this Ombre Chevron quilt onto my March Goals!

 Have you got any plans for March?

 

Blooming Beauty

This weeks Blooming Beauty are photos taken after a rain shower. We were really hoping that the rain would hold off just long enough so we could take the dogs for their walk but it started raining about 20 minutes before the designated time.  Just when we thought it was not going to happen, there was a break in the weather so off we went.

Australian Callistemon, more often referred to as Bottle Brush - This one is such a lovely pink!

and found something a little different

and home just in time before the next round of storms arrive

 My girls enjoyed their walk. Look at Callie's eye though.  A result of puppy play gone a bit far.  It is just a surface scratch and doesn't need stitches but it looks so ouchy!

 

Picking Daisies

Daisies in my mums English garden

I have decided on a crochet project.  I posted a couple of weekends ago about my Pinterest inspiration to crochet a blanket.  I was really taken by the colours in the DAISY pattern

So I have got (some of) my supplies.  The yellow for the centre, the white for the petals and a blue for the first border around the daisy. I will have to source one more blue as another suitable one couldn't be found on my rounds of the shops.

tillie tulip has a tutorial for this quilt with photographs but for someone who doesn't even now what a dc is, it was going to be tricky. It doesn't matter as there are so many tutorials on YouTube and I am sure I can fudge my way through it.  I followed one YouTube tutorial and created this yellow centre just to get into the swing of it..

After more perseverence, I eventually finished up with a crocheted square. I hope this looks ok! I have been struggling with my tension.  Holding the yarn does not come naturally to me.  I feel like I have all thumbs. LOL.  This is my fourth (or fifth) attempt.

I just wish I didn't feel that I need to achieve perfection everytime I start something new.  I have to accept that perfection comes with practice.

Daisies in my Australian Garden

 

TeDDy BeaR uPDaTe

A little update on my Teddy Bear Tea Party. I have come to the decision that it has to be pulled apart, yep, the ripper is going to be put into action.  I just can't bring myself to do it atm.

see, it is a cute look and at this stage I am pleased with the outcome. This was the first set of sashing, sewn alongside the piping.

It does look pretty, but the problems started when I started adding the longer side sashings, some of which didn't sew alongside the piping.

Yep, not pretty at all.  As we say over here in Australia......"NOT HAPPY, Jan!" so my decision is (as suggested by many of you).....IS TO KEEP CALM AND USE THE SEAM RIPPER

So this will not be crossed off my February Goal list.

Lovely day for a Chat

 Believe it or not, it is time for:

This week Patrice askes the following questions and I have anwered in pink.  Why don't you join in!


What's your favorite fruit?
I love the look of berries and always buy them but end up not enjoying them as much as I want to.  I have to say mangoes and bananas are my very favourite fruits. It might be interesting to note that until about 4 years ago I could not even stand the smell of mangoes in the house.....now I love them.


Wendell would like to know if you've ever been horseback riding.
I have always loved horses. My favourite book as a child was Black Beauty although it always made me cry.  I rode my first real horse when I was 7 at a family friends farm.  It bolted with me and I was terrified.  When I was 11, I went for horse riding lessons on an ex racehorse....he was gigantic! then my dad bought me a cantankerous old pony but I could just not win him over so in the end I gave up, he got sold on and I got a cute puppy dog instead. I love Wendell and would love to give owning a pony another go. My dream would be to give a rescue home to old horses.



 Do you carry a small purse, a big one, or just a wallet?
I think your "purse" means handbag in my language....so yes. I have two handbags.  One which I take to work and I make sure I have my name tag/swipe on card and locker key permanently in it with a pair of reading glasses.  My other bag is lighter in colour and I take it with me everywhere else.  It is bigger so has plenty of room if I want to slip my camera inside. Then all I have to remember is to swap my "purse" (in aussie.....receptacle for keeping money/credit cards) into which ever bag I am using for the day.  Up to now I have only forgotten my money purse at home once.  

If you could travel to one state for a day (all expense paid), where would you go? If you're not in the US, where would you like to travel within your country?
I live in Australia so definitely to Tasmania.  Hubby and I are planning on retiring there in a few years time.   I am dying to head there and start looking for a place to settle.  I have already set aside an itinerary for a 6 day road trip - (Well it is a long way, might as well make the most of it).


 What was your first car?

I have never owned my own car.  I only learnt to drive when I was 23 and I was already married then so we shared a car until my kids were in school and then we got a second car so I guess that was "mine". It was a fire engine red Ford Telstar and even though it was second hand, it was brand new to me and I found my independence by having my own car to drive.

 

Not Happy.....Not Happy at all

Infact I would say I am at an impasse. I need to decide how to continue or I am going to lose my sewing mojo and not meet my goal for February.

So the question is.........TO.............KEEP CALM AND SEW ON

...................................... OR.................KEEP CALM AND GET THE SEAM RIPPER

I wish to goodness I had not gone with this fancy pants piping idea that I had.  It has caused endless problems sewing my quilt together.

It seemed to be going well but adding the inbetween row sashing hasn't worked a treat and I am unhappy with the results so do I keep going and hope that when I quilt it all, everything will work out....OR.....unpick all the sashing (I will need the strips to finish), take off the piping and DISCARD then just use a easy peasy little peeper.

 I am leaning towards the ripper but right now I am too despondent to do either!

 

Wednesday sewing with friends

Today was the day that I got to sew with three other lovely ladies that I really adore. Lorraine, Marilyn and Zita.

Lets see what everyone was up to

Zita is working on a Millamac design which will end up being a cushion cover.  Marilyn has made this cushion and I also have it as a kit to start on at some stage.

Marilyn is also working on a Millamac design.  These gorgeous chooks are standing on each other to check it there is any mail in the mail box.  PS.....we are the official Millamac fan club!!

Lorraine was sewing the binding onto this gorgeous shaggy quilt.  All done in black, white and red. It is just lovely.

While they were all sewing on these sweet projects, I was finishing off block 8a of Edwardian House (which you are probably all very bored with now!)

Today was extra special as we got to meet this little guy who is as yet known as no name Wilson.  A 6 week old maccaw. Sorry about my photo.....it is shocking as I was shaking a fair bit for these snaps.

Isn't he just beautiful.  He is being hand raised and if it wasn't for how much they cost, I might be tempted to want one too.

 
PS....Have you heard about my 12 part give-away. Just click on the Giveaway link on my sidebar to learn more and best of luck.

And a little bit more

One of the reasons I had to put Spaghetti Junction away for awhile (at least till the rest of my fabric arrives) was because one of my other goals this month was to piece together Teddlywinks Tea Party.

And that is something else I started on this weekend just gone.

 Instead of a peeper, I decided to try adding piping to this little quilt before adding the sashing......mmmm.....not sure if this was the best idea I have ever had.  I think the piping is a little small to have the effect I was hoping for.  Still, I will continue and today I got all the piping onto the blocks.

I ran out of time to cut and sew the sashing on so that will have to wait till another day but I think this is totally achievable as a February Goal.

I am also getting stuck into my Edwardian House blocks of an evening while I watch some tv.  So far, February is looking good.

 

 PS - Have you heard of my 12 part giveaway? Click on the "GiveAway" button on the side bar to find out how....you don't want to miss out!

I can't wait to chat.....

Here in Australia, Tuesday is quite a few hours ahead of where Patrice lives in the US and I am so eager to see what the topics are this week for Chats on the Front Porch. Guess I will have to be patient and get on with some sewing in the meantime. Teddlywinks Tea Party is coming together easier than I thought and looking good.

Are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day? 
Nope!  Hubby is not big on Valentines Day but in saying that he did get me a card one year (many, many years ago), it was very special and I still have it in a very safe place.



When you attend something that isn't totally casual, are you likely to wear dress pants or a dress?
 Not dress pants.....I can never make them work.  Not a dress......hard for me to find one I like enough (on me).  Generally, I wear a skirt and top ensemble.

 Do you use a regular toothbrush or one of the battery run kind?
Ahhhh, yes, I have a battery run toothbrush and I looooooove it but on a recent dental visit, my dentist told me to ditch the battery toothbrush and start using an ultra soft toothbrush in order to save my tooth enamel. Not liking it very much so I am going to use the battery one a couple of times a week just to get that deep clean feel.

 Did you have valentines in school when you were a child?
Not something that stands out in my memory.  I don't think I ever received a valentines message when at school. I longed for one every year.....but no such luck!

 If you could learn a new craft tomorrow, what would it be?

To crochet.  Just today I bought a quilt mag and there was a crocheted baby blanket in it made out of colourful granny squares. I would love to give it a go.  My mum was an accomplished crocheter which is probably why I never gave it a go. Why would I when I had all the crocheted doilies/tablecloths/bedspreads I could possibly need. My mum, however, never made anything that wasn't in white cotten thread.


 
  

A little weekend sewing

The good news is that I have sourced the Michael Miller Pindot Garden fabric for Spaghetti Junction from the FQS.  It is winging its way to me right now as I write this post.

With this excellent turnaround in the creation of Spaghetti Junction, I was able to make the decision of which fabric to use for block B.....and I am going with that luscious, rich, one tone fabric.  I set to cutting out the fabric for this.  Now, if you read my previous post relating to this quilt, you will remember that the layer cake I am using was not exactly 10in so I am having to adapt the pattern so everything will fit.  No easy feat! I thought I had better do a test run with my new measurements.

I ended up with this dud.....think I miss read the instructions somewhere so gave it another go...

 this one worked out ever so well and when pieced with a block A, I found that the junctions match up better than before

So for now and until the rest of the fabric arrives, I am just doing what I set out to do in my February Goals, to cut out the fabric for piecing.

I thought the fabric scraps made an interesting photo.

Goal One complete!

 
 PS - Have you heard of my 12 part giveaway? Click on the "GiveAway" button on the side bar to find out how....you don't want to miss out!