Mini Comps

Cate had her Calisthenics's Mini Comp last Saturday. We went to Perth on the Friday morning (taking the day off school and work), hitting Ikea hard, eating out and lots of shopping, catching up with friends and flaking by 4pm back at our hotel. Mini Comps are always fun, supposedly less stress than the state comp but all the same really. Cate is in Team 2 and is centre front for clubs, centre left for rods and aesthetic and free arm and she's in Team 1 for March. She's not lead a team before so I was super nervous for her but she pulled it off brilliantly and I am so proud of her. Results- March 1st Place; Aesthetic 3rd Place; Freearm 2nd Place; Clubs 1st Place; Rods 3rd Place. Overall we placed 2nd!! Woot!Family concert tomorrow, then 2 week's break from performing and onto State Comps. Most girls finish up then except the few who come back term 4 for solo's, duo's and exams. Netball finishes in 3 weeks as well, but we've started Rhythmic Gymnastics so that makes up for the gap, I need to take up a hand sewing project to counteract all the time I spend sitting in high school gyms.

Oliver's Orange Quilt Top completed

and I love how it looks. Love, love LOVE it!!! Fabrics from my stash that I have collected over the past few years, 3 years ago I went to Sydney to visit Cass, then I went to Victoria for a week with Bob then I went to South Australia to visit Emma, hmmm, where to this year? Maybe bush to see Helen? The Kai honeycomb spots are my fave, I am going to use them for the binding as well. I only had a FQ so purchased another metre from Amitie, I did a phone order, super easy, great shop! The mini orange spots are a fat flat from Spotlight, I found 4 more so will incorporate them into the backing.Pattern from here, I slightly modified it as I has some 30cm strips of prints I wanted to use. The large rectangles are supposed to be 7.5" long by 3.5" wide, I made mine a quarter inch smaller so 7 and a quarter long x 3.5" wide, this allowed me to cut 6 pieces from a 42" x 3.5" strip. Oliver has requested straight quilt lines, no messy wiggly bits! Hideously boring I know, but quick and easy. I stocked up on wadding at the last buy 2 metres get 1 free sale, I just have to get some orange homepun for the backing. Back to work tomorrow so will start quilting next weekend hopefully.

Stuart's Two Rail Fence

Stuart's new quilt, I finished the quilting a few nights ago, I must say I do like it, as does he so all good. Black, White and Bright Green, this pattern is called Two Rail Fence, check out Mary's website and blog for quilting inspiration, love her work.Made up mostly from my stash, but probably more has come from Emma's stash, and some greens came from from Helen and AJ, thanks guys! Single bed size, I was going to add side borders but like the look of it without. Plenty big enough, I quilted in a zig zag pattern on the black and green, love how it turned out.We walked about 300m to the beach to get some action shots, so windy today, a wild weather alert has been issued so not much luck with getting some nice flat quilt photos. But he had fun and is now curled up on the couch half asleep.

Sunday Sewing

A quick snap of Stuart's quilt.I finished the top last weekend and finally got it sandwiched today, the weather was fantastic and the trampoline is a great surface to baste on, very happy with that family Christmas present. I have quilted in the ditch to hold it together and I am now quilting little pointy rows in the green, using a veregated thread it looks great so far, it adds dimention to the green and makes it stand out more, but I might also do in the black and white blocks too. We'll see, time permitting. It's gotten cold here in my sewing room so I have spread my sewing wings and set a trestle table up next to the dining table, moved my sewing machine and doubled my sewing space! I am loving the heater and close access to the kettle, the afternoon sun is fantastic and I get to watch TV with the kids; win win!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

Welcome to my blog, thanks for stopping by!

I blogged about this quilt on my first post back here in 2006, it is still my fave quilt. I made this for Stuart's Pre Primary teacher for Christmas. I spent 10 weeks working on this quilt, at the time I was sewing on the kitchen table and I had to pack up and put away in between meals. The pattern is from an old Handmade magazine, the quilt was originally done in black and white prints, I much prefer my bright apples! I made 25 apples to symbolise each child in the class and used the class photo on the back for the label. Sewn together in Crazy Patch then machine stitch applique onto the backing piece. Green wonky log cabin strips around each apple then joined together to form the quilt top. Quilted in the ditch, this quilt is the biggest I have ever completed, it has a sleeve but can be used as a quilt or a wall hanging. This was the first quilt I gifted to one of the kids teachers, I have given away many more that you can see here, here, here and recently here. Thanks for visiting!

Perth Craft Fair 2010

That time of year again! Last year I came back under budget?? And I bought a new sewing machine! And my mum bought a Happy Jack. This year I went armed with a shopping list and I am pleased to report that I did well, spending most of my money at the $3.50 FQ Stall. I am loving all these spots, perfect for the applique quilt I have in mind for Cate's bed. I was tempted to splurge on a quilt kit or buy some new patterns, but reminded myself I bought a kit last year that is still unopened, and I have so many patterns I already want to make. I found a few of my fave prints so stocked up, I was really after orange fabric but not much to be found. Still a little sad that Amitie was not there, and I can not believe that I forgot to look at the quilts! I bought a few birthday presents too, just wrapping them now to put in the post tomorrow. All in all a great day, even if I did go on my own. I was in and out within 3 hours and had some fun shopping in Myer for kids clothes, without the kids!

Orange, Brown and Blue quilt top

A work friend is due in a few days with her fourth baby, she doesn't know the sex of her baby will be (I am leaning towards girl) so I was going to make both a boy and a girl quilt to be prepared. I love this brown and orange combo, but I don't think this quilt is boyish enough, the butterfly print is a tad girly, but it's not really girly girl so it looks like we may have to keep this one!!Fabrics include Heather Ross Lightining Bugs, Denise Schmidt Katie Jump Rope, and Amy Butler Lotus. The Heather Ross fabric was hard to stipple over, the fabric is super soft and it was like my needle couldn't get a good grip.All over stipple quilted in a pale grey thread, quilt measures 42" x 46", have thrown it in the wash and its now in the tumble drier so expect will loose another inch or so.Inspired by this quilt here, I just love it!