Friday, July 31, 2009

Wish us luck!!

Were off to the mini comps tomorrow! Car is loaded with costumes, camera batteries on charge, Cate's asleep and I am going to bed shortly. I am so not looking forward to the 5am start, its going to be freezing. After tomorrow's comp we have our family concert and then state comps then it's onto solos and duos and then exams in November!! Cate and Hayley are planning there duo together, and Cate wants to do a solo as well, I need a second job ;-)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Happy Unpicking

Well, I am not really happy about it but I am happy I have made the decision to unpick it. I have looked at the quilt for a few weeks, and with the off tension and the 4 different styles of stipple stitching from myself, my sister, my mum and my 4 year old niece, it just doesn't look right!I really wanted to give this one to Oliver's teacher, she will be leaving at the end of the term so I do have time to join in the second quilt along or make another top, will see how this one looks when it's unpicked and redone.A great project for sitting in front of the TV.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Trip away, and now back again.

Were back from our 2 day stay in Perth. Some quick photos, the biggest storm of the year about to hit so I need to unplug my computer!
6 metres of wadding (pic for Emma)Happy JackQuilting along
Mateos Pizza for dinner (I took the olives off)Stage PracticeCate is still in Perth, I am going to pick her up tomorrow morning and take her winter clothes shopping, the boys declined my generous offer!!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Quick Strip Pieced Top

Quickly finishing this top, a simple strip pieced quilt in pretty florals. It was a UFO, I got the top fixed up and completed in under 30 minutes, have sandwiched and started quilting it in simple lines, hopefully to be completed this weekend! I am off quilting for the weekend, Cate has stage practice in Perth so I am taking the kids up fpr the last 3 days of the holidays. Lots of quilting to be done on the Happy Jack, I need to complete some tops!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Quilting Along

I am really loving my machine, like really really loving!! The walking foot quilts like a dream, and the stitches so perfect and precise, and to make it even easier it came with an extention sewing table, and to think I thought I'd never use it!!I used to avoid the quiting part, just stitching in the ditch as quick as I could, but with a new needle in and some veregated thread, I am happy to meander through and take my time.Little Cat used to think it was a great joke to sit on my desk and pluck pins from my pincushion and drop them on the floor, Kipper has a similar sense of humour and will hide in the folds and then play fight you as your hands go underneath to move the quilt around, cheeky thing.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Another Purple Patch

Because I made my last quilt smaller than originally planned (and I was a tad over zealous in my cutting), I had quite a few left over 9 patch blocks and little purple 2.5" squares waiting to be used, so another Purple Patch has been made. I am kinda over purple, but like how I am stash devouring / completing projects and I think this pattern looks great, different to my first purple quilt, but just as lovely.Measuring 49" square, using my walking foot, I am going to quilt it on the diagonal using my machine. I am not sure who this will be for, maybe Cate's dance teacher, or Stuarts Year 2 teacher, or perhaps Oliver's homework tutor or maybe even for Cate's dance coach, did I mention she's now having private Cali lessons? Either way, I am sure I can find a new home for it. Next up, working on my Twiggy, this one will be for keeps.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Purple 9 Patch - top completed

and I love it! A huge 67" square, I can't wait till it's quilted, I got the nicest veregated purple thread. Not sure on backing and binding yet, I have a few purples to choose from but none suit so will need to scource some more or maybe go with a white homespun backing with a purple strip down one side? Sorry for the bad pics, the light was fading fast, more rain and the chance of a thuderstorm forecast for tomorrow.

Friday, July 3, 2009

2009 School Concert

School concert time, each class performed an item on stage with props and music and lots of dance. Cate's year 1 class danced to Angelica Cat's, she really got into it, very dramatic with toes pointed and her character face on, what a star! Mere Cats Cat's on the Town, Georgina and CateStuart's class danced the hula to Lilo and Stitch, 2 hula hoops!!And Oliver was Pugsley from the Addams Family (he practiced his finger clicks all week!)Such a fun night, the kids loved it!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

1st July

Half the year has gone!! Last year, looking at all the Flickr mosaic badges showing each finished quilt, I thought right, I will get into that for next year. 6 months later, and I have completed one cat quilt. Chop Chop.