My hand quilting update

I thought I should share some updates on my hand quilting for the Anniversary quilt:

So far, I have only completed this block:

There is SO much to do still...................... I 'WILL' get there lol!! Of course I am using my thimble - it makes it so much quicker!!

Looks like the 'Breast of Friends' will have to wait a little longer - though I have finally finished Block 1 stitchery, I just have to add the borders...... I might try to finish that this weekend!!

x Sarah

The top is done:

On Saturday night, both Roseanne and Myself put the top of the Anniversary quilt top together. It is now basted and ready to be quilted - which is my job!!
Here is some pics:

If you would like to see more pics, pop over to Roseanne's blog, she will be posting some more soon!!

x Sarah

A new found family member!!

I have probably said before, but my Nan (Mum's mum) went for a trip to the UK to spend Christmas with her family. She had come to Australia when she was about 20 years old and had only gone back afew times for holidays. Well, she returned a week ago and got quite sick with a flu....... Today she popped around to see me with a couple of gifts and a couple from my cousin!! When I opened the little purple packages, these were revealed, a lovely set of PRETTY fq's:

The other package was these BEAUTIFUL brown and teal fq's!! Oh how I LOVE these colours!! Yummy Yummy!!
The funny thing is, when I opened the little card she had given me her email AND her Blog addy!! OMG she is a blogger WooHoo!!


So, Andrea if you are reading this...... THANKYOU SO MUCH!! I just LOVE these fabrics......... They were a pleasant surprise!! I wonder what I will make!

x Sarah

Paper Craft

My SIL Judy invited Roseanne and Myself to a Stampin' Up party last night!! We checked out all the products and Martyn giving us heaps of demos!! It was a great leaving with a little handmade Birthday card:

And, a BIG thankyou to Kerry for sending me the Kaiser Workshop Booklet No.3 - the one I have been after!! If you LOVE Beyond The Page stuff then these free booklets are just FANTASTIC!! Most Scrapbooking stores have these available, even Spotlight - though no-one had the No.3!! Kerry, I will be sending you out a little 'thankyou' gift shortly ;+)

I have LOTS to share, so I will be popping back soon,

Have a great weekend

x Sarah

The Applique is done.........

Yes, thats right..... MY applique for the photo quilt is completed!! I found this in one of Annie Downs book - A Family Gathering..... The verse around the edge says "The love of a family goes round and round and round" -how appropriate for a 'family' quilt don't you think??

Once Roseanne has done her block (we decided to make sure that they were done by this weekend) we can finish putting the quilt top together, add the borders and then I can get stuck into quilting it (Roseanne is doing the binding :+).

Now that that is done, I can get back to 'Breast of Friends'...... I am STILL yet to finish the first block :+(

x Sarah

Progress on the Anniversary Quilt......

The past couple of days/nights have been filled with sewing!!
We had 2 Allspice Tapestry Jelly Rolls along with 4 meters of co-ordinating fabrics and some cotton sheets that you print on (these are just FANTASTIC!!).......... We printed out 17 Photos on these sheets.

Here is a wedding pic of my MIL and FIL - nearly 50 years ago:

Here is my Mother In Law on her wedding day:

And, Father In Law as a young man:

Here is a pic of the quilt - nearly sewed together. Roseanne and Myself decided it 'needed something', and have decided that we are going to do a 'Family Heart' Applique for the top in-between the top pic!! We have planned to do that this week so that we can finish putting it together next weekend..........


I had initially made a pattern from graph paper, but in the end we decided to just 'do it' our way. It all came together without any problems at all!!

I hope you are all having a creative day

x Sarah

Updates and a new blogger friend:

There has not bee to much sewing going this past week, but I did manage to finish off the verse on the 'Breast Of Friends' quilt - I was very lucky that I had just enough thread to do it too!! I will give it an iron when it is all done!!

Now, people who know me well, know that I just cant stitch using a hoop....... I find it too slow, well, look here............. I found that stitching the swirls on this block without the hoop made it pucker too much, so I had to unpick some of what I had done and re-do it WITH the hoop!! It does look heaps better too I must say!! But, still slow lol

Looks like I am already behind lol!! I received my latest Homespun mag yesterday!! There is another 2 blocks in this issue - one by Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse..... isn't this block just lovely??!!

And, a block from Rosalie Quinlan:

This weekend I will be sewing up a storm - hopefully!! It will be my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary in March and Roseanne and Myself will be making them a surprise photo quilt (I know we have not got long and we have not even started)!! So stay tuned and I might be able to share some pics tomorrow maybe.........

Another thing - I have stumbled on a 'new blogger' - Kerry. She is in Victoria, very near the fires and she has been sharing some pics....... pop over and say 'hi' here

Ok, I must get going. I will be back over the weekend to share pics of our progress.

x Sarah

Progress of Breast Of Friends

Today I thought I would show you my progress on my Breast Of Friends BOM. I have half done the verse - I sat down and watched Billy Elliot last night and stitched away, I have not started the swirls as yet:


I had a surprise visit from a friends Mum today, she had recently been to Melbourne and while out shopping she found the 'perfect gift' for me........ a Schnauzer 2009 Diary!!

How thoughtful!! It is just SO cute!

Just before I sign off, spare a thought to those in Vic facing the devastation of bush fires..... some deliberately lit I might add!! So far, there has been 65 lives lost and many, many homes!! My thoughts are with you all!!

x Sarah

Breast of Friends

I thought I would show you a pic of my needle turn on the Breast of Friends BOM! This is only the second time I have done it (the first time was last Feb in a workshop and I was lucky enough to be taught by the lovely Gail Pan!!) and I think it has turned out ok!!

I have just finished tracing off the stitchery and will be working on this as my night time project until this block is completed................... well that is the plan anyway LOL

I hope you all are having a great weekend
x Sarah

PS: I am after a Kaisercraft 'Beyond The Page' booklet - Workshop Issue Number 3....... does anyone know where I can get one or maybe could do an exchange?? These booklets are full of ideas and tips. I have number 1 through to number 14 but missing number 3!

Tassie Bound FINISHED

YAY!! It is finished and I am just SO happy with it!! Here is my version of 'Tassie Bound' designed by Kerry Swain for the Calico Crossroads Workshop held in December last year!!

That green suits it perfectly and I am SO glad that Pauline and Kerry swapped what I had chosen! I know I have said that before, but I am such a 'green' gal!!

And, am happy I chose the green and plum borders:

I thought you might like to have a look at my quilting on the back. I used a variegated thread. I quilted swirls:

Now, which project can I work on now....... a new one or a WISP

x Sarah

Quilting frame pics:

I just thought I would show you some pics of the project I have been working on for the last couple of weeks on and off. I was telling Jules about my quilt frame and she wanted to see some pics:

This is the quilt on my quilt frame:

It only took me afew hours to quilt this quilt.

I quilted swirls, which I think looks good:

Just binding left....................

x Sarah

And the blocks are done:

I am still here!! Thankyou for the lovely comments and emails regarding my free pattern. It has been great, I do hope you get a chance to make it! I will put the link in my side bar.......

Well, I have finished the last block of Truly Scrumptious 10 part - BOM!! YAY!! Now, to the 'putting together'. With the weather SO hot here and the air-con on, you just don't feel like going outside - a great excuse to just sit inside and stitch away! Here is Elizabeth's Dream:


I would like to that Julie for this beautiful Bloggers Award! The Spreader of Love! Now, I am supposed to give it to 5 people, but I find it SOOOO hard to choose my 5 favourites from the MANY blogs I lurk so if you are a reader of my blog and have not received this, consider it yours :=)

I will pop back tomorrow with some pics of another project I have been working on........
x Sarah