christmas in july swap

Christmas in July swap

 June is almost over and at the end of July we are moving 1000 km south to Melbourne, where Steve will have already started his new job. These are for the Christmas in July swap I am part of, 3 gifts made from the letters of Christmas , a mouse on tote bag, stars on a mug rug and an angel to watch over pins. They will be wrapped in pretty paper and sent on 15th July to there new owner.

QCA bee#2 blocks

January to June

April

May

June

I spent yesterday sewing, I made April, May and June blocks for my sampler quilt. Each month I am making a block to send to a new owner and a block out of Denyse Schmidt and grey as my plain fabric to have at the end of the year as a reminder of the bee. April block is still my least favourite so far, I like the look but my brain has trouble with the putting it together.

Sydney Quilt and Craft show

Kathy Doughty in masterclass

Wendy Williams in masterclass

 Clare and I went to the Sydney Craft and Quilt show last Thursday, we booked into the Masterclass with Kathy Doughty and Wendy Williams at 10am. We wandered around that end of the hall looking at various stalls, fondling fabric, looking at wonderful patterns, notions and being inspired.

my goodies from the show

We bought stuff, the bag below is a Monica Poole pattern bought at Rosehill earlier this year, the pattern also has a spring loaded frame which I bought so I can make another bag, I heart patchwork was on $5 from Keith Ainsworth books, stitch is one of my favourite USA magazines but to buy at my local newsagent cost $26.95, uniquestitching were selling them for $13 each, some superior topstitch needles and thread from Punch with Judy. There is some easy threading needles, some wonderfil thread and a panel of Christmas fabric for the Christmas in July swap I am in.

New bag with a Monica Poole badge

I showed Monica my bag made from her pattern and received the pretty pink badge from her, it is a great bag, enough pockets and the really useful thing was putting an open ended zip in it, as per instructions.

Mothers day present arrived

Chris asked what I wanted for mothers day, yes I know it was a month ago but he had to wait for payday and then forgot and had to wait for the next one and me remind him to order from book depository, long story short it arrive Thursday and was at my front door when I got home from the city. I am not allowed to start anything new until some of the tops are turned into quilts, I have done the girls, got my been in oz ready to quilt. With moving in the next 6 weeks or so to Melbourne I will be packing up my sewing room soon as well as the rest of the house as Steve starts his new job 8th July but we are still looking at where to live.

Bee in Oz top finished

finished, now to baste and quilt

signature blocks for the back

Nothing like a move to get the I got to get it finished happening. Having finished the girls quilts this was the next one that I want finished. The blocks were made in 2011 by a flickr bee group, Bee in Oz.

Last one finished and a win

Violet and Lily

stitched in yellow cotton perle

backing "It's a HOOT" by MoMo

Lily's quilt had the binding sewn on yesterday and was finished for her to take home last night. There was no way I was going to be allowed to wrap it and give to her on her on her birthday on the weekend, just as well grandma has Lego ready to wrap for her special day.

my winnings

Amy of And Sew We Craft had a a giveaway back at the end of April and I won these lovely charm packs all 6 of them, there are 2 of each set. The parcel had to travel from one side of Australia to the other and took a while, it arrived on Tuesday when I was at Clare's sewing. Aren't they lovely, I have already been asked by Kate what I plan to do with them, the Reunion will go with the small amount of yardage that is in my stash, the Twirl and Hullabaloo I will dwell on for a while as I am in a finish up the WIP at the moment. The next thing to be finished is my Bee in Oz quilt from 2011, final borders need to be attached and then quilt it.