Catalicious Block #1 Complete

Well, I really enjoyed the stitchery I started on Friday night . . . and just kept right on stitching over the weekend!



And the first block is finished. I always like the look of the Saw Tooth Star . . . and it goes together pretty quickly, too.



My plan is to use fabrics from my fabric club stash  . . . and the wonderful variegated embroidery threads that I have have been the inspiration for the colours . . .



I'm looking forward to next month's design from Bronywn Hayes . . . and who knows - maybe it will time nicely for next month's Sew-In. Stayed tuned . . .

February Friday Night Sew-In . . .

Well I had plans for what I was going to work on last night for the Sew-In . . . and at the last minute I changed my mind!

No, I didn't (potentially) finish the Little Pretties quilt that's been hanging around for a while.

No, I didn't make any headway with the folded circles quilt that I dragged out of the box and worked on during the week.

Instead, I decided to start ANOTHER project!

While not quite in keeping with my plans to finish what I've currently got on the go, I did use what I had on hand. That counts for something, right?

I started on the Bronywn Hayes stitchery I mentioned  here. I'm going to make a runner to go on the end of the bed, where the cat seems to spend her days. I've decided to use fabrics in my stash from the fabric club at Patchwork on Stonleigh to make Saw Tooth Star blocks, with the stitchery as the centre.

So . . . I gathered these (I just love the names of these delicious threads - I mean, who can go past Raspberry Parfait?)

and this

to make this

And then I got to work!

We didn't really feel like watching anything and, as it turned out we didn't really feel like listening to anything, so I stitched and my (passive) craft buddy for the evening (who throws in the odd stitching reference for good measure - "is that blanket stitch you're doing there Sue?")  browsed the internet. We enjoyed a very pleasant evening in companionable quiet . . .

The fruits of my evening's labour were not quite as bountiful as I might have hoped, but I made a good start . . . and I enjoyed the meditative time that seems to come with stitching.





Funnily enough, the cat that who usually comes out to play on any quilt in progress made her presence known, not by playing with the fabric (since it was such a small piece and I did happen to be holding it the whole time), but by meowing at the door with frustrating regularity to go out . .  then come in . . then go out . . then come in . . so in her own little way, she didn't miss out on the fun!

Maybe next month I'll be working on the next stitchery for this little project . . .

Hope you had a pleasant evening stitching in your world.

THE GREAT CATALICIOUS QUILT STITCH-IN!

Bronwyn Hayes of Red Brolly is very generously offering up some "Catalicious" stitcheries on her blog over the coming months and the first one is available now!

What better way to celebrate our feline quilting companions . . . so click on over to Bronywn's blog and check it out.

Table Runner Stitchery

I do like stitcheries. I find them relaxing and rewarding. And reasonably quick, mostly.

This one is a Bronwyn Hayes design, which I made up into a table runner.



I really enjoyed working on this - it's a stitchery of friends and I worked on it whilst sitting around the table with friends, sharing pots of tea, stitching and chatting . . . oh, and maybe having some cake, too.



And the fabrics are leftovers from a mystery quilt that I made at a weekend quilting retreat in Jindabyne a while back.

Ahh, the memories - good fabric, good times, good friends.

Sewing Bag

This is my little sewing bag . . .



It's a Lynette Anderson design, which I just had to do because I love, Love, LOVE  the BACK of the bag so much!





I keep the essentials in here, so if I need to do something in a hurry, it's my "go to" bag . . .



One of the things inside is a little needle case/thread catcher, so if I'm on the go with my little bag I can stitch merrily away and not have to worry about thread ends going everywhere. The needles case is made from the same fabric as the lining and has a cute little vintage button on the front to keep it all neat . . .

and on the inside I've stitched a piece of cotton wadding to hold needles and pins, and also doubles as a thread catcher in the middle.

Nice and simple. Nice and neat.

What project have you just HAD to do because you particularly loved one aspect of it?

Thread Catchers

I'm starting to have a little collection of thread catchers . . .





They're just too cute . . .

And easy to make . . .

And a lovely way to use little bits of my favourite fabrics.

These little treasures go together so quickly and are really useful as well. I've got one next to the sewing machine . . . and one in my sewing box . . . and one in my sewing bag . . .

I guess you could say I have a weakness for these thread catchers.

What little crafty weakness do you have in your world?

Making Progress . . .

We had to make an unexpected journey the other day and I knew we'd be spending time at airports, so I grabbed my little Grandmother's Flower Garden hexagons to take along.

I stitched at the airport (both ends of the journey) and I stitched on the plane . . .



I got a few flowers together. And that's the beauty of this project - no rush, no pressure - just little pieces at a time.

I hope you're finding time for stitches in your world.

Penguin Quilt

I was reminded by Sue-Anne's post about her Lynette Anderson Friends For Christmas quilt (which is beautiful, by the way) about the Penguin Quilt I made for our son for his 9th birthday. His class that year was called "The Penguins" (all the classes were named after birds and animals) and we all learned A LOT about penguins, that's for sure!

He was thrilled with the quilt . . .



When I look at it now, it's about the most technically INCORRECT bit of sewing I've done - I must have stretched the polyester wadding when I was putting it together, because now it's considerably smaller than the fabric. The only quilting on it is a huge star stitched at the top (our son had a top with stars all over it, which he wore all the time and we called him Star Boy) which you can barely see since the whole thing is so loose and floppy - so nothing really holding it all together. The machine stitching around the applique is way too big for my liking . . . but having said all that, I still like it. It makes me smile thinking back to the time it was made and who it was made for . . . and really, that's what it's all about.



So thanks, Sue-Anne for sharing your quilt and prompting me to share mine.

What oldies, but goodies do you have in your world?

Do You Document?

When I  started becoming interested in antique-style quilts, one of the things that really captured my imagination was the stories behind the quilts. Not just the quilts themselves, but the women (and men and children) who made them. What were their lives like? How did they make such beautiful creations by lamp light? When did they find the time? Who were they made for? Was it a special occasion or absolute need?

All these questions got me thinking about how anyone would know the stories of my quilts when I am gone.

So I decided to make a quilt journal!



I got a couple of folders (fantastic red fabric covered ones) . . . and started documenting!



I've got the story of my quilting journey . . .



And I've got the details of each of the quilts that I've made . . .



I have the usual details - the quilt name, the pattern name, who made it, who quilted it. I also document the block sizes, the fabrics used and when the quilt was made. I have a photo of the quilt and often some fabric samples, too.



Then the story really begins . . . the story of what inspired me - maybe a special occasion . . .  maybe an irresistible fabric . . . maybe a weekend quilt retreat . . .

Whatever the story of the quilt, no matter how special or how plain, I'd like the people who use my quilts generations from now to know a little about the quilts . . . and a little about me!



In your world, do you document your creations?

Maisy's Flowers

This is a cute little pincushion from Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched . . .



This was a kit that I picked up last year at the craft show at Darling Harbour. It was a bit of fun to make. I hadn't really worked with the felted woven wool before, but I really liked it. It was, as is says on the pattern, quick and easy!



One of the nice things about projects like this for me is that they are a welcome, achievable break from larger projects that can sometimes seem to take forever to come together.

What little projects have been welcome little interludes in your world?

The Quilt Cat . . .

Our cat, Squeaker, seems to have inbuilt tracking for when a quilt is in progress. It doesn't matter where she is, if a quilt-in-progress comes out, she comes from where ever she's been . . .

Even when she was tiny, before she progressed to actual quilts, she made a bee-line for quilting magazines!





It has been said that it's easy to tell which quilts are finished and which still have some work to be done - look for the one with the cat laying on it!



And I've tried giving her her own piece of quilty goodness, but no, she wants whatever I'm working on.







There have been times I've had to lock her OUT of the room because she's driven me nuts when I've been trying to lay out a quilt or do some piecing, but when it's all said and done, I don't think I'd be without my 'quilt cat'.

What creatures keep you company on your crafty endeavours?

Bowling

Laughter is an instant vacation.
-Milton Berle

We decided it was time to move off the Wii and into a REAL bowling alley!


So instead of our usual Monday night dinner and cards, we donned those lovely bowling shoes and took to the lanes . . . I think we should have handed out some awards . . .


Most consistent on the night . . .



Most amazing recovery from near disaster - ball into the gutter with such force that it bounced back out to make a spare!



Most sparkling style - and outfit/ball co-ordination - if you wear 2 colours, choose 2 balls - one in each colour to match your outfit!



Most willing to try moves on the lane as if you were playing the Wii - and surprisingly with some degree of success with the massive back spin!



A good night had by all (even if our scores didn't quite live up to our Wii reputations.

What do you do for a fun night out with family in your world?

Tropical Delight

This quilt, I called Tropical Delight, is a Drunkard's Path block and made in the beautiful Moda Marble Botanicals range of fabrics. There were so many gorgeous colours in the range that I had to use just about all of them. I think the mango coloured one was my favourite . . . or was it the red . . . or the luscious lime green . . .



This was a nice quilt to make. It was also my first go at curved piecing, but the blocks turned out to be quite easy to put together. This is always such a cheery quilt to use and the fabrics give it such interest up close.

What fabrics have you just had to get and what have you done with them?

Sew - a needle pulling thread

Check this out . . . it brought a smile to my face - you've just got to love the 'Sound of Music' . . .

It's worth watching all the way through - check out the smiles on the faces in the crowd . . . don't you just love the way that an expected moment can unite us in a moment of joy!



Have a great day!

My Heartstrings . . .

This little package of love arrived in the mail for me . . .



I ordered myself a necklace from Lisa Leonard and I just love it!



These three really do hold my heartstrings . . . and now I get to wear these hearts around my neck! In their own different ways these three lift me up and make my heart sing. How lucky am I?