My blocks and the label

Check out this gorgeous label made by Jane! Perfect for the quilt don't you think?!


And, these are my blocks. Seems like SO long ago I made them!



'The best place to be is in a loving family':

Lately, I have been stitching, mainly for myself even though I have swaps due soon! But, I do have some bits traced out so it is a start on those lol!

Friendship warms the heart

Yesterday, Roseanne and Myself headed off to Burnie to meet Christine for our secret mission!! You see, our dear friend Vicki and her Hubby have had a bit of a rough trot with the dreaded 'C' = cancer, and our online stitching Group (Friends In Stitching) decided to make them a friendship quilt. So, this past week, I have been 'sussing' out our Vicki, trying to find out if Glenn was going to be home so that we could surprise them both together with the quilt. I must say, she was not very informative!! We took the chance! I informed her we were coming up that way to Spotlight. We do however have a Spotlight in Launceston, but really, it doesn't compare to the Burnie one! Burnie is much tidier, and has nicer stuff! When she said 'great, I will meet you there, and I will ring Christine to see if she can come too!'.... We had already planned to meet Christine there lol.

OK, with coffee, then Spotlight, it was off to Vicki's place for lunch where she made us the most BEAUTIFUL Risotto! Really, really lovely! And, we were quite pleased as Glenn came home for lunch too!

So, it was the perfect time to share our secret..... The card sums up our friendship, and what we did:

Here is Roseanne presenting their gift to the very shocked couple:

The stitcheries we used were from Natalie Bird's From The Heart an Sweet Sentiments books.

Checking over it:

Perfect colours too as they both are Navy lovers!

There were 22 girls involved in making this quilt from Qld, NSW, Vic and Tassie! We all did a stitchery and a plain block, sent to NSW for Lynda to construct, then sent to me to quit. It was fun playing with block placements as I had not done it before! Then Roseanne did the binding and Jane made the label! Such an amazing job don't you think?! I have some other pics to show, some close ups that I will share tomorrow!

Whats on the Gammill......

Whats on the Gammill now? This Teddy Quilt. It looks like he is tucked up in bed! Very, very cute!

Had a BIG day today! Spent with some dear friends..... Lots to share! I will pop back tomorrow and share!

Birthday Gift

One of the secret squirrel projects I was working on was a Birthday gift for my lovey friend Kristy! Kristy WAS a quilter/crafter, but just has lost her mojo for quite some time now. I got thinking of what to make her.... Being a lover of books, and reads in her lunch hour, I decided to make Marg Low's For The Book Lover. A great little bag/pouch to stick her book in and take to work:

I really love the stitchery on the flap:

I decided on a red and pink theme:

And it fits a box of chocolates in nicely too!

And, this little beauty is big enough to put your iPad in too! I am going to have to make myself one too! I really enjoyed making it up! lol

I have now traced off a heap of other things to keep me occupied at night (and work lunch times!).... Some 'me' things and some 'secret' things! Might show you later :=)

Prize

I realised that I had not shown you a prize I won from the show! I won some cash, a craft shop voucher and this little BEAUTY! A mini suitcase with a sewing machine on the front! This was the first prize for the Diary/Book cover:

Sorry about the grainy pic... Not sure what happened there!

Attached to the handle is a cute matching measuring tape:

Pretty cute don't you think?!

It measures approx 13"W x 5 1/4"D x 11 3/4"H which is a good size to stick a fair bit of craft bits in! I have a friend eyeing it off to put her paper piecing gear in..... It even fits her Sue Daley rotating cutting mat too! I have to watch it when she is around lol!

Kindly donated by Sewknit Launceston! And, I hear they have more in stock.... and other styles and sizes too! One with scissors and thread and another with an older lady sewing at a sewing machine..... Great Christmas gift ideas!

x Sarah

What's on the Gammill Friday:

I have been quite busy this past week, mainly stitching secret stuff.... SO, today I thought I would share with you all 'What's on the Gammill Friday':

Girls Day Out by Libby Richardson. Pretty isn't it?!

'Stitch by stitch, patch by patch, the joy you feel when fabrics match':

Fine details and just gorgeous stitching:

Made by Jill! I hope to get this finished tomorrow evening!

I hope you all enjoyed your Friday xx

Oh sweet Ruby!

It has been an exciting few days here at my place..... Our Ruby has arrived! Talk about GORGEOUS! I cant stop looking at it..... You know what I mean?? Dennis was not too impressed when he got home to find these HUGE boxes full taking over our Dining Room (there was not enough room in my quilting room for them!).....



I have now cut up our This Goes With That club from this range (there are a few spots left if you are interested)........ I am sure this paper piecing project will look so cheerful and fresh......

So, I still have quite a huge amount left over...... If you pop over to my website you will find it going out at only $15 per mtr until Monday! Min purchase is 1/2mtr. I also have pre-cuts too..........

***edit*** I have had some emails regarding This Goes With That without the Ruby fabrics. I do offer the club without, so you make it from your own stash. Click here for details.

Launceston Show

Yesterday was the Launceston Show Day public holiday. I dragged Dennis with me to check out the Cottage Industries section as I had entered a few of my bits.....

Right down the very back, my Tis The Season hanging on the wall with a BLUE 'first' ticket on it! It was entered in the hand quilted section. WOW!! Pretty pleased with that.....


I had also put in a book cover (in the book cover section) which I made a couple of years ago. It is a Janelle Wind pattern, with a Red Brolly stitchery...... Took us ages to find it, but we found it in a cabinet near the door. I got a 1st for that too! Prize for this is a gift donated by Sewknit, Launceston.... Wonder what it is?!



I had planned to make a doll (cloth doll, not a toy section), one I have had on my 'to do list' for SO long, but just didn't get time. So, as I had already entered a 'Christmas Doll', I went through my box of handmade Christmas goodies and found this Santa which was made about 2 or 3 years ago! I purchased this as a kit a long while ago, and as most of my kits do.... sit in the cupboard for SO long until I decide to make it up! Anyway....... I got a first for that too! WooHoo!

My other entry, a 'Christmas Tree Ornie' never got a placing. And, it is a finish for this month too and I have not taken a pic! I will when I get it back!

TTS finished!

Finished last night, Tis The Season! While in bed last night, I realised I forgot to take some pics and blog!

Anyway, I am pretty happy with it, actually LOVE it!

Here is a close up of my hand quilting. I really enjoy this part! Dennis says I am mad.... I have a long arm, and I choose to hand quilt lol!

I quilted in the centre of each border surrounding the stitchery, and 1/4" from each edge of the border:

I really like the feel of a hand quited quilt, it felt quite snugly while binding it the other night!

Thanks to all the SAL girls for their inspiration..... If you have not gone and seen some of these quilts, I suggest you do. There is some amazing quilts made!

x Sarah