May ... you count your blessings

I just found this post in the draft folder - better late than never!

I thought the beginning of the year was hectic, things haven't slowed down any, and we all know that the second half of the year always goes faster than the beginning. It is definitely a 'fasten your seat belts' kind of year.

Autumn has seen a lot of rain here with several cyclones in a row, however we have also had some amazing days with clear skies and sunshine which makes the outside chores more pleasurable and yes there are still a couple to complete before winter truly sets in. Choosing how many layers of clothing to wear has definitely been trial and error, although a jacket is compulsory just in case. 

We have a new member of the household and she is adjusting very well to her new surroundings, her name is Milly and we are becoming very attached already. She is just a little sweetheart and is so laid back, we were expecting sleepless nights and accidents in the house and we have had neither. We have never had an animal adjust so quickly before. We have had several cats and dogs so far and in fairness I did do a bit of prep work (like a true quilter) before she arrived and I do believe that made it easier for her to assimilate into the household. Milly is 15 weeks old and is a miniature schnauzer and after her last vaccination this coming weekend we will be able to get out and about with her more.

Although there isn't much to show for my stitching yet that I can show you, I have been making progress on several things and I am pleased with my progress.

 

Pics from when we first got Milly

Milly is nearly six months old now and she had her first puppy groom yesterday. I left an unsure puppy who was shaking and went back to a confident little girl who had made friends with everyone - dog and human. My puppy however is disappearing fast and Milly is definitely looking more like the dog she will become.

Pic taken yesterday.

Milly is a character but is also a very laid back creature who is a pleasure to have around and is very good company. You will see more of her in future posts.

Until next time everyone, happy stitching

Donna-Maree

March Stitching

This week there is definitely an autumnal feel to the late afternoon, the rains of last week seem to have taken summers heat with it as it moved on. The lower temperatures are definitely helping with getting a better nights sleep which is always a bonus.

I have been working away on some goodwill quilts for the past few weeks, both on my own and with a friend.

Work progressing on the first quilt.

Second quilt coming together.

Today we put this one together. We still have enough fabric for one more quilt. We are loving how these are coming together and we have enjoyed the Tuesday mornings that we have spent working together. 

I have been working on a couple of quilts on my own, both of them are Bonnie K Hunter patterns from her website. Check them out here

Scrappy majestic mountains, I love this pattern and this is a very good way of using scraps. I need a few more blocks for this one before I can think of putting a border on it.

Waste Not, Want Not blocks laid out on the bed. This pattern always works regardless of what scraps of fabrics that you use. I definitely have more blocks to make for this top.

We are having a stitching weekend at our local quiltimg club, watch this space to see what we get up to.

Happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Goodwill Quilt Update

At our last club meeting two completed goodwill quilts were shared in show and tell. A huge thank you to Sandra from Wise Owl Quilting for the quilting, batting, backing and binding donated for this quilt. You will remember the photo on the left from when I was putting the liberated blocks together. The photo on the right is the completed quilt. 

  

Also a big thank to Robin, who quilted and supplied the batting and binding for the above quilt. 

Here are some more quilts that have been donated for the Goodwill Quilts project.

So these are the completed goodwill quilts to date since I became the coordinator, plus we have lots of donated blocks and fabrics so there will be more to come. A very big thank you to all members who have liberated blocks and fabrics along with their time and effort for these quilts.

We have a busy quilting weekend at club this coming weekend which includes a chinese auction, Presidents Challenge reveal, a midnight madness and then a UFO weekend including a merchant on Saturday. Some members will donate some of their stitching time this weekend and stitch some blocks for more goodwill quilts. 

I will endeavour to get as many photos as I can but sometimes that is hard when you are in the middle of the action, but check back here anyway and I will post what I can.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

June Update

Wow, I can't believe that we are in to July already. Hubby and I went away over the weekend and there were serious frosts throughout much of the country and we had -2 degree in Coromandel where we were staying, it was very cold and a shock to system as the temperatures have been extremely mild especially as the shortest day has indeed passed. There will be more on our road trip in an up coming post, so check back to read all about that.

Tonight at club we have the second Top 5 show and tell for the year and I am really disappointed that I still haven't completed anything for this. I didn't think that I had achieved a lot in June until I made a list while getting ready to compile this post. On reflection I haven't done too bad at all, however none of it is for the Top 5.

This is what I have accomplished for June, I have completed the purple and green quilt - yay. I will do the label and wash it today so it is ready to go to Australia.

Purple and green quilt

I completed some blocks and then assembled two quilt tops for gifting as goodwill or charity quilts. I have also sorted through several projects that have been gifted for completion for more goodwill quilts.

Goodwill quilt top

Waste not, want not quilt top still waiting for borders

The Presidents Challenge has been handed in this month and wow what a fantastic collection of creativity we have in our club, I am so glad that I am not judging these. We have 14 entries out of 21 indications of interest and these have all gone off to the judge and all will be revealed later this month.

We had the two day Rosemary Rush class and what a fantastic class that was. All completed versions of these quilts will be displayed at our open weekend in October, more information on that will be posted here closer to the time.

I have also got a lot of tracing and organising done for another project that I have committed to this year and although the progress there is a bit slow right now, what I have done will speed up the progress on this as other projects get completed.

Bearing in mind that I have been sick throughout June and two lots of antibiotics have helped but haven't cured my ills, I don't think I have done too bad for June.

The other thing that I have done is change the direction that I was going with my hexie project. I had originally thought that I would do The Insanity Quilt and while I really like that pattern still I have decided to travel down a different path. Using what hexies I had done already for the insanity quilt I have added to them and this is my progress so far.

Hexie tranformation

All in all I am happy with June and I just hope that July can be just as productive. It is an amazing feeling completing projects and seeing the result. I feel very blessed to have a passion that helps me create beautiful works of art, are stitched with love and keep our loved ones warm and cozy. Soul food for sure.

Until next time everyone, happy stitching.

Donna-Maree

Goodwill Quilt Coordinator

It is now official - I am the Goodwill Quilt Coordinator for our club. And what is that you may well ask, well it is the 'go to' person coordinating between members who are wishing to liberate orphan blocks, partly made quilts, scraps, fabrics, threads, batting, backings - that sort of thing, with members that have the inclination, time and energy to put some of these resources together for the benefit of others in our community that have a need.

Not being a person who likes waste, I do feel that fabric needs to be liberated from rubbish bins, skips around town, and the bottom of wardrobes and drawers as it isn't their fault that their owners don't like them anymore or don't have the time, patience or perseverance to let them see the light of day. There will be a 'Liberator bin' out at club meetings where the liberated fabric etc can be placed (in paper bags if necessary) or members can contact me for collection if required. 

There is a need within our community for such a programme as there are so many people who through no fault of their own, that could do with some help and would just love to be able to wrap themselves in the deliciousness of their own quilt made by us.

Opportunities for members to gather and sew on projects together will be organised and the first one will be in July at the UFO weekend, more information soon.

So ladies, before you drop those blocks or that piece of fabric into the bin, take a minute and put it aside for the Liberator Bin. 

Donated blocks assembled and ready for quilting.

Some blocks and fabric have been donated already with one quilt having been assembled and is now ready for quilting.

My 'Waste not want not' quilt is waiting for its borders and then it too will be ready for quilting, so we are off to a good start.

Waste not, want not.

Ladies don't hesitate to let me know how you can help. Any suggestions, ideas and donations will be welcomed and accepted.

Thank you and happy stitching everyone.
Donna-Maree