Sew it Together - Name Tag Swap

It is a bit wonky which means I am not happy with it, but this is the name tag I made for one of the lovely ladies attending Sew it Together in Canberra next month.  It looks wonkier in this photo than it does in real life which is lucky for the recipient, not so lucky for me as a blog reference.

The name is hidden on this one as it is a surprise swap, I used the embroidery feature on my sewing machine for the first time to add the name.  I always have swappers guilt when I see how wonderful and creative some of the name tags are that get made for this event, there are some very clever crafters out there; alas I am not one of them!  I do like the Denyse Schmidt fabric I used for this tag, perfect red, white and blue to suit the colour theme set for this year.

I just have to find a broach back and sew it on so I can send it off this week.

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Edit:  Leah has now received and blogged her name tag so I can safely post a photo of the reveal.

Last year I made a name tag for Esther, but I didn't take a photo.  Or not one I can find anyway...

Swap Goodies

Last Friday I received a happy package in the mail.  I should have blogged it before now, but I may have been a tad distracted by flood water.  I signed up for another round of wash cloth swapping on Jodie's blog.  I thought it would be a good kick in the rear and force me into some recreational knitting time, something that has been lacking around here of late.

Such a perfect package to have waiting for me!  The chocolate did not last long either and the main cloth is already in use.

I love the pattern and the subtle colour change in the cotton.  I don't know who sent it to say thank you to, but I love it all and wish I did.

I posted my package off yesterday too.  This is not all of it, but I don't think this photo gives enough away to risk spoiling the surprise when it gets to it's destination..

9 Patch

This is the project that got me started in quilting.  A 9 patch block swap as organised by Sheridan.  The final mail out for these blocks was 22 months ago so as you can see I have taken my time in finishing this quilt off!

We each picked a feature fabric and sent it out in bundles to the other ladies in the swap.  They each paired it with something from their stash, sewed it into 2 different 9 patch blocks and sent it back.  I learnt so much during this fabric selection process which did add to the fun.

I then arranged the blocks, added a border, quilted it myself (finally) and have sewn the binding on.  The result speaks for itself!

The best part of this swap would have to be some of the friends I have made. 
Thanks Sheridan, Susie, Bronwyn,  Helen, Lynn, Lara, Beth, Donna, Leah, MJ, Lisa, Bec, Bianca and Louise.

Around the Block R1 ~ Wonky Log Cabins

In my last post I mentioned that I had been working on the wonky log cabin blocks from Around the Block Round 1.  I was going to wait until the quilt was finished, but that might take awhile yet so I thought I would blog the top as it is.  Also, I was too excited to wait!

Each of these 54 wonky log cabin blocks is 10 inches finished so it is a pretty good size quilt for a small boy and his single bed.  I had to stand back to try to get the whole thing in the frame for a photo and the overcast nature of the afternoon did not help show off each fabric, but the overall effect can still be seen.

I will have to get organised and finish this quilt as Blue keeps pulling it off the sewing table to point out another animal or print.  He seems very taken with the rockets and can be heard saying 'whoosh' a lot as he inspects each block.

Special thanks to Sheridan, Helen, Lara, Susie, Donna, Louise, Bronwyn, MJ, Amy, Lynn, Rita, Kate, Rachel, Jan and Annie who made up the members for this bee and collectively made 31 blocks for this quilt during the course of the bee.

Around the Block ~ AJ

The last block is now sewn for the Around the Block Round 2 quilting bee. This leaves me happy because I am finished, and sad because it is over. Well, kind of over, because I have the top to piece from Round 1 as well as the newer lot of blocks sitting in a pile from this round too. I could drag this out awhile yet I think!
 

This block was for AJ.  She wrote the tutorial which is really well done making what looks like a complicated centre into a straight forward task.  Thanks AJ, I really enjoyed this block a lot.

AJ's tutorial for the centre block can be found HERE.  AJ also did a tutorial for the Log Cabin portion here if you are interested in looking at that too.

Many thanks to Sheridan who organised this swap.  This is the third swap, or fourth perhaps that I have done with Sheridan now.  I have always enjoyed myself and have learnt a lot.  I have made some pretty great friends too.   Also a big thanks to everyone who took part this round and made it exciting to check the mail when a block came back home.

Around the Block ~ Kate

Another couple of bee blocks for Around the Block.

Kate of Two Little Banshees sent out a variety of fabric and asked for blocks that included crosses.

The two above are 6.5 inches and 10.5 inches.  I really enjoyed piecing these together and I can't wait to see the quilt when it is done.

I only have one more block to go and I am finished this bee.  I have all my blocks back already so maybe then I will have time to piece my top?  Or maybe the top from round 1? Or maybe not ;)

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In non sewing news, I did add the recipe to the Pastisio Pie post below.  I had meant to do it at the time, but Blogger was playing up and I gave up.  Sorry about that.

Around the Block

I have been sewing a bit this past week.  It feels good to be making progress.

Two blocks for Louise who asked for whirly/star blocks to make a red, blue and white quilt for her son. 

I really like the block in front, so was upset when it ended up too small.  I have sent it back as it is in the hopes Louise can use it somehow, maybe in the back or in a cushion...  Sigh.  I hope this is ok as Louise had said one block would be fine and the block to the back is ok.

I also finished the second block for Kate.  I don't know why I put this off as it was pretty quick and simple to put together.  I just had some strange idea that I should catch up with the other blocks before sewing the second/optional block together.

I now only have two lots of blocks to sew for Around the Block 2 and then I will be finished.

Around the Block ~ Rachel

Two scrappy butterfly blocks for Rachel.

Rachel has blogged the tutorial for this block if you want to give it a try.

I must confess to french knot fail on the antennae ends, and one block will require a scant 1/4 inch seam as it is slightly smaller than it should be.  Other than those two (small?) things I really like these two blocks!

Around the Block ~ Kate

I was a bit behind in my Around the Block sewing, so to avoid Sheridan having to get cross with me I whipped up this Mosaic Block for Kate using this tutorial as requested.

I really like this block and have plans to use it for myself one of these days.  Given it used 5" squares cut in half on the diagonal it would be a great scrappy quilt option to use up the small bits of everything you love.

Name tag

The countdown is on until Sew it Together which I am off to later this month.  I am looking forward to catching up with friends and meeting new ones too.

There is a huge list of fun stuff that will be happening over the get-together weekend but the fun has already started here because today I received my name tag from the swap.

This came from Fiona and it really is quiet special.  I can take the badge clip off the back later and use it as a pincushion if I like.  And I love the little snippy scissors that hang from the bottom! 

How lovely is the cross stitch detail!  Lucky me!

I can't wait to wear it :)

My Creative Space ~ SIT Swap

I am clutching at straws for this creative space and pulling this photo out of the archives to show it off.  I know the package I sent Esther has arrived so it should be safe to show the whole photo now.

This is for the Sew it Together name tag swap.  I can't wait for March when I will get to catch up with friends, and meet new ones too.  The shopping and crafty side of it is a bonus too!

I may not have been creative in the crafty sense over the last week, but I have been busy cooking, busy with the house as well as busy in the garden. 


More creative spaces here!

Quilt Blocks

Playing catch up before the end of the year on the block swaps.

For the swap the local girls started on Ravelry, some half square triangles in a 9 patch block.

For Abbe in Around the Block, who requested stacked rectangles in her green and grey fabrics.

For Sheridan, the bee leader in Around the Block, who requested Mondrian style blocks.  This is very striking and will be wonderful as a quilt top!



For the Love of Tea

When Jodie posted about a tea and washcloth swap for Christmas I started knitting.

Packages sent (just).

And received. 

Thanks Ellie!  I love the crocheted cloth, the extra Christmas decoration and the tea (which is Chai, my favourite!).  I don't know if I will be able to use this wash cloth for washing, I think it will be perfect under a vase or something pretty.

In Short.

Six pairs of Make it Perfect Little Explorer Shorts off the machine this week.  All made from gifted/op-shopped/Remnant bits of material and all great shorts for the summer play months ahead.

I modified the pattern by extending the length to leave out the contrast fabric band, and leaving off the pocket. I decided yard clothes didn't need the extra touches.

We also posted off our crafty packages for the Kids Christmas Swap :)

In short, we have been busy.

Ravelry....

....It's not just for wool craft!

Some of the girls on Ravelry wanted to try a quilting bee and make their first quilt.  I signed on for the swap as a stash busting exercise.

These are for Eryn, who sent out the green sheep fabric which I paired using stash fabrics I had here.  I am going to try very hard not to have to buy any new fabric for this swap, lets see how long that lasts...

This is the fabric I will be sending out, picked because I had enough in my stash to meet the requirements of the swap (and because I like it!).



Some Sewing!

Some quilt blocks for the Around the Block quilting bee. 

These are for Gillian and are made using this tutorial.

These were a lot more fun than the hemming and mending I have been doing of late :)

Back Home

After the big trip south we are home again, and very glad to be back!  It is now hard to believe that we drove through two States and a Territory and back again but the piles of washing to be done are a bit of a reminder.

The service was beautiful, and tragic, and I am glad we both went.

As a welcome home present there was a package from Kylie at Indigo & Quince. 

I had forgotten about the Jellywares washer swap!

I was a bit lucky, and a bit spoilt with this package which includes not only the washcloth. soap and seeds portion of the swap but also local Cobar fudge, buttons from the Jellywares shop itself, and some beautiful teas which I am looking forward to trying.

Thanks Kylie, it was wonderful to come home to such a wonderful swap gift :)

A Spiderweb Block

This block was the first completed block for Around the Block Round 2.

It is for Amy over at Badskirt and I am a little bit in love with her block choice and the fabric she sent out.

I had never made a Spiderweb style block before and I really like the end result.

The tutorial by Heather Ala Mode is fantastic and Amy's quilt is going to be wonderful when it is done.

Around The Block Round 1 ~ Wrap Up

 It feels like a very long time ago that I signed on for Chaletgirl's quilting bee Around the Block and yesterday I posted the last of the packages back so round one has finished.

I learnt so much off the girls in this group.  My sewing wasn't always as good as I would have liked but most of the time I did OK.  I loved getting blocks back in the mail during my month and I loved knowing that each month I had a part in creating something great for someone else.

July was Jan's month and she sent out precut borders and asked us to create a centre block for each of them.  This quilt will be for the 'Princess Room' at Sewjourn when it is finished. 

I hope I get to see it one day!

MJ  was last with August.  She asked for Indian Star blocks and wanted us to add in a bit of fabric from our own stash to one point as a reminder of all the girls who took part in the bee.

What a great idea :)

Round 1 is over, and I have already started on Round 2, but will leave that for another post.  It feels like a long time between finished projects these days so had better spread them out!

Circle Around

The Around the block quilting bee this month is very exciting. 

Firstly, it is my month too so I have been having so much fun watching Wonky Log Cabin inspired blocks pop up into the group pool, and now back into my mailbox!

Secondly, Annie asked for circle inspired block, yikes!

Once I had calmed down at the thought of sewing a curved line in a quilt block I used this great tutorial to create the block pictured on the left.  Then I was inspired by this raw edge circle block to create the second block for Annie. Talk about being tested, but in the end the circles were fun, even if I am not rushing off to make a whole quilt just yet!