my favourite things stitching

row 2

and the rest

I didn't mention in the sewing together of row 1 that I cut 129 cream and 129 coloured 1.5" squares and made 4 patches and 2 patches out of them. I also had to cut 2.5" squares of the cream. I'm now doing the hand stitching of row 3.
On Thursday 6th March, Clare and I went to the Stitches and Craft show at Rosehill Racecourse, she came away want a "Sweet 16" quilting machine after spending some time playing on the one there. I knew that sitting down at it would be fatal as I also would love one but at $8000 not in either of our budgets. I went looking for thread, special thread, Aurifil made in Italy and wonderful to sew with.
Friday morning I checked my emails, I had one that said I had chosen the winning name for the pink in their new colours, Fairy Floss, you can read about it here. They arrived today all 18 pretty cottons ready for me to play with.

Lots of stitching happening

first 3 sewn together

and the rest of the strip done

the next row started

Sewing is happening at a great rate, hand stitching now sitting on the couch at Clares (no blog) after spending the day opshop shopping and sewing the first of my strips together. The reason I'm here instead of Melbourne is Steve is in the Southern Highlands teaching at Capenwray bible school today to Friday.  We will then catch up with family and friends before heading back on Monday (Monday is a public holiday in Melbourne).

For all those going to weekend stitching of let's get stitched Melbourne have a great time, I was going to come but other thing got in the way, like the opportunity to see my granddaughters and sew to my hearts content with Clare for 3 days. 

Stitch Along

In 2012 I joined Chookyblue's stitchalong  making the "My Favourite Things" quilt from the Anni Downs book Some Kind of Wonderful, but somewhere along the way I waylaid. I started the first five blocks with great intentions. Last weekend I bought a A4 light box from Spotlight on special for $49. I then spent the rest of the weekend tracing the rest of the blocks out, cutting fabric getting them ready to stitch. I have finished the first 5 and I have now started on the next row, stitching the chocolates and daisy yesterday at Mill Rose. I changed the cat to a dog as we had a dog a pet not a cat and most of the blocks the fabric used is by Kate Spain. 

my new lightbox

3 blocks ready to stitch

Millrosie day out

Red Swap

and the other half

Yesterday I spent the day here, with 20 other bloggers, for the Mill Rosie Friends get together. Our swap theme for this get together was something red, I made a Spice of Life bag out red scraps bought from Sarah Fielke through the great instagram destash. I borrowed the photo's from Barb, go look at the wonderful bag that Sharon made her for a one on one swap.

Riley Blake MQG challenge

Interlocking Seasons

This is the quilt I made for the MQG Riley Blake challenge as a member of  WMQG. The block is found here, when I made it I doubled the size of the strips from one and quarter inches to two and half inches. The quilt finishes at 24" square

my parcels arrived

from Marcia

from Tania

My parcels arrive Monday and Tuesday  while I was out. Marcia's on Monday while I was out at the doctors, I've had the same doctor for the last 10 years but with moving to Melbourne we have had to find a new doctor. Tania's on Tuesday which is the day I spend at Etihad Stadium volunteering at Sports Chaplaincy Australia (SCA) national office, this is where Steve works and the reason we moved here. 

Secret sewing and National Mug Rug Day

Valentines swap mini quilts

wrapped and ready to send 

 I joined two Valentines swaps one run by Anorina and one run by Cheryl these two swaps needed to sent by tomorrow, they went yesterday to there new owners.

my collection of mug rugs

some sent to a friend

Since moving south I have joined a wonderful bunch of ladies that are the millrosie friends and this group of ladies have been sending Shez without her knowing where they have been coming from lovely mug rugs.Now Shez is a great fan of these wonderful little creations - not and it has been fun watching her receive them and not know what is going on. Now mine maybe a little late in arriving as I changed my mind a dozen times as to what to make, I finally decided on selvedges and made two and sent them the other day. So Shez they should be there today I hope