Strings are moving along

There was no sewing over the weekend as we were too busy with family visiting, which was nice to spend quality time with them over the ANZAC weekend. 

I received a lot of comments on my poppy for ANZAC Day which I made it last year and have been wearing lately.

Sunday saw drizzle turn to rain but before it did we managed to get in a visit to Memorial Park for a look around. I am always impressed with this fountain, it is pretty big and children play in it during the heat of the summer. While we were there a Great Dane stood and drank out of it, the smaller dog that was with the Great Dane didn't stand a chance of getting a drink.

Friday saw all of the blocks completed for the string quilt but I didn't get a chance to start sewing them together until yesterday and here is my progress.

I just have two seams to attach the traming over and the binding can go on and then this quilt is done. 

What a fantastic feeling it is getting close to a completion. Catch you later as I have some stitching to do.

Happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Some strings are happening

I have been working on some of these to bust some scraps, however it appears the more I use, the more I end up with!

I have been working on the quilting for Home Coming Lane lately but decided to work on something else over the weekend at our UFO weekend at club as I need to concentrate too much for machine quilting, especially as this quilt is going on the wall. Some easy stitching while chatting with friends was what I was after, and QAYG strings are just the ticket.

Since the weekend I have decided I need just a few more to get enough squares for a decent size throw or lap quilt. 

So I have been sewing away and the end is in sight and I am looking forward to joining these squares together.

Oops, nearly forgot these blocks weren't the only thing that I did over the weekend. I found this UFO from a class at my first ever Symposium, Auckland 2005. These were from a log cabin with attitude class with Janice Gunner from the UK where we were encouraged to cut fabric without a ruler. One square was complete while the other two just had the centres completed. I decided to get these squares completed before making a final decision as to what to do with them.

However more on that soon, but in the meantime some stitching is calling my name. 

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Progress on Home Coming Lane

Yes, there has definitely been some movement with this project. 

I don't like quilting big quilts any more, well to be honest I have never liked quilting larger quilts on the machine, my shoulders and patience really just don't cope with it at all. Quilting is supposed to be fun and if it isn't fun, then I just don't do it. 

This probably explains my reluctance to quilt anything and complete things and why I have so many UFO's lurking in my sewing room and any other place that I have been able to stash them around the house. This is exactly why the Top 5 group at club has been established, it was an idea sparked by a conversation about these UFO's and the need to tackle them. My stack of UFO's was made very public last year when I presented my quilting journey at club and showed many flimsies amongst my presentation.

Yes some of these flimsies are due to just needing some mindless sewing during semester breaks while I was studying a few years ago and others were waiting for me to up skill myself so I had the techniques and confidence to do the next step without wasting all the work that had been put into it already, nor waste the fabric. There are many reasons why our projects end up in the UFO bin.

However, I digress - last week we had our first show and tell for the first quarter of the Top 5 group and I was incredibly disappointed with myself that although I have been chipping away at this project, it wasn't completed in time for this reveal. It was very exciting seeing everyone else's completions and hearing how long they had indeed been UFO's before graduating to a completion and while I was excited for them all I couldn't go past the fact that I didn't have anything completed.

I tend to over think things and I haven't been able to decide which batting to use for this quilt, which is silly really thinking about it now. The purpose for this quilt is to hang on the wall and once I realised that either of the two choices were going to work there was no stopping me. So Tuesday saw me grab some batting and some backing and I put my sandwiches together. 

I had decided a while ago that I would 'quilt as you go' this quilt in four sections. Each block is 25" square and so I decided to just go with that. 

Yesterday I cleaned my machine - it sure doesn't take long for the lint to build up - and I couldn't put it off any more. Without thinking too much I just started, I worked out where I was going first and just did it. I decided to stitch in the ditch around the house blocks, the appliqué flower, vine and bird blocks and the pinwheels. The stitch in the ditch will give the wall hanging a good base and some definition as the quilting in the scrappy squares will be different to these areas. 

Funny isn't it how you don't notice things when you are putting the quilt top together but notice things as you are quilting them. On the second block I noticed that two leaves somehow avoided the blanket stitch brigade, yet I was so sure that I had checked and double checked everything. 

The 25" squares are working very well, they are a very good size to get through the machine while quilting and are easy to turn and roll without too much bulk, they were also a really good size to batt up on the end of the kitchen bench.

Today I will carry on, at this stage I have no idea what I am going to do next but I am sure it will come to me. Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Hexie progress

There are more hexies in this little project than what I had expected however it is very addictive!

This is the lining for my little bag although I have to say looking at it like this, it is looking bigger than I thought it would. I have checked with a completed bag and it is the right size. I am on the last row of hexies and the tips that I learnt at club last week are definitely helping. 

I have the hexies for the outside base done and just need to start sewing the rounds of hexies together for the outside and then the bag will be ready for putting together and finishing off. 

As much as I love summer, now that daylight saving has finished it is quite nice sharing the evenings with family and doing stitching by the light of the lamp and seeing some progress being made on some projects.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Some hexies are going on...

I am taking a break from my regular hexie project for the moment and are making these hexies.

I made these hexies at club yesterday and continued last night for a little project, I have more to make today until I have what I need. These little cuties are 1 inch while the hexies I am creating for my insanity quilt are 3/4 inch. 

This is how you measure hexies, across one edge

Paper piecing has become very popular at the moment amongst my quilting circles. Like a lot of things it started off with one or two people doing it and now we have a very big following in our local club.  After the official part of our meeting everyone sits around chatting while stitching which makes for a very pleasant day. It is very interesting seeing the variations that everyone is doing, the different sizes, different shapes and while some fussy cut their fabrics others are happy to just cut and sew to get the best economy out of their fabrics. 

I will try and remember to gets some photos at the next meeting to show you the variations.  We had two ladies sit with us yesterday learning the ropes and while a more experienced quilter talked them through the process, the rest of us at the table picked up a tip or two and I love how quilting gives you the opportunity to share and grow while spending quality time with our friends.

I have some more hexies to create if I am going to get this little project completed, so until next time happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

A little cultural break

Hubby and I are having a bit of a cultural break this weekend, soaking up some big city experiences. We normally just drive straight through Auckland and curse it for the traffic jams and time wasting sitting in queues so it isn't often that we come and stay in Auckland.

Some pics of where we are staying.

It is nice spending some time with hubby showing him some of the jewels of Auckland that I get to discover when I visit the big smoke with my quilty buddies. 

Need to go and get ready to head out to a concert. See you all back here soon.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Yay, block four is done!

Wow, yesterday I kept chipping away joining segments together and last night at last block four was completed.

Warm off the ironing board I placed it on the floor to get a photo and true to form Frosty the cat ran to it and sat down. What is it about fresh new blocks that makes our fur babies want to sit or lie on them?

Block four with Frosty

This quilt is one of my Top 5 and I am excited seeing the progress on this one. I have had to push myself to keep the momentum going, but I am so glad that I did. There have been times when I thought that I would never get there and these are the times that I would normally put a project aside and work on something else. I am so glad that I have persevered and I think it will be easier to push through like this on the next project too as a result of this one.

Block Four

Although life things have been going on that I have had to work around, I have tried to do some sewing every day. Having the finishing line in sight definitely helped with the last of the hand stitching and not all of the stitches are created equal but they are done. I am indeed one happy lady.

I decided a while ago that I would quilt each of these blocks individually and then join them together. Today I will endeavour to get them batted up, I can't decide which batting to use as this will be a wall hanging, so will think on that while at stitching with friends this morning.

At this stage I have no idea about the quilting for these but are working on the theory that it will come to me as I go - at least I hope so.

All four blocks arranged together

Anyway I want to get this posted and get moving as I have another busy day ahead. I have recently been taking photos on my iPad but have had some feedback as to the poor quality of them, so last night I took photos on the camera which always produces better results however I need to download them on the laptop and add them to this. Let me know if the quality is better or not.

Have an awesome day and happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Hand stitching on block four - done!

Yes the hand stitching on block four is done and dusted. Yippee!!!

Guess what I am doing today? Yes, stitching the block together. Catch you later when it is done.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

And block three is done!

Yes, I have been chipping away a little at a time and block three is indeed done. What a fantastic feeling.

The best thing is that block four is just about completed too. There is a little hand stitching to do and then putting the block together. Once that is done I can lay them out and check placement of the blocks for the colours to be evenly distributed throughout the quilt. I am going to quilt as you go each of the four blocks and then put them together.

This is one of my top 5 projects and we have our first quarter draw next week at club, however I don't think this one will be completed in time but I will try.

Happy stitching everyone, I am off to get some more stitches into block four.

Donna-Maree

Autumn is here

The temperatures are settling down and the sun is slowly getting lower in the sky as we move into autumn more. I have been enjoying more time in the garden and we have been giving it a general  tidy up and reassessment. A huge trailer load of vegetation was taken to the recycle depot last weekend and seriously you can't see where it came from. Hedges have been trimmed and are looking good but I do have to plant the vegetable seedlings that are waiting ever so patiently to be put into the ground.

Last night they got the weather forecast right for a change and we had the most amazing lightening and thunder that we have experienced for a very long time. Boy was that thunder right overhead and it was extremely loud and you felt it. I have to confess that I got such a fright and I was glad it moved on and got quieter although that was when the heavy rain started although it didn't last too long.

I have been thinking of changing my sewing room over with the guest room for a little while now and I couldn't put it off any more and have been working on that this week.  I have found several things that have been hiding from me while doing this, and I can't believe how much stuff I have - I think it is multiplying when I am not looking! The bonus is that things are getting more organised and therefore it should be easier to remember where things are so they can be found. The daylight is better in the new room and it also looks down the drive to the street and onto the roses which line the drive and I am enjoying the different perspective this room offers.

View of driveway and street from my sewing room.

This room is smaller than the previous one which is going to make it interesting as I haven't finished moving everything yet and there isn't much space left. The wardrobe is much smaller too but access to it is better and you can see in it at night which is good.

The tidy corner of the sewing room so far.

I found it interesting that one of the first things that I did in the new room was put things up on the walls and sort the little stereo that I have in my sewing room. What are your must haves in your sewing room? Share in comments below if you like.

Until next time, keep up the good work and happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

March is humming along

Progress is being made with the hand stitching for Home Coming Lane and I am still loving it.

What has been done so far for block three.

Just the house section of the block to be sewn now.

Today is our first child Kelsey's 25th birthday and the celebration of not only her life but our journey as parents. I always find our children's birthdays emotional and always get swept back to when they were born and what was happening back then. 

A quarter of a century is definitely an achievement regardless of how you look at it really. Not only that but Kelsey is an amazing mother to her own two year old daughter Scarlett and I am incredibly proud of the beautiful and strong person that she is.

The sun is shining and the temperatures are still high and there is stitching to be done, so until next time - happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Home Coming Lane, block two is complete

I am so thrilled at the progress that I am making with this

And I am loving how it is looking. Work has begun on block three and the hand stitching is progressing nicely.

Now to get back to stitching...

Donna-Maree

Summary for February

Wow March is here, where did February go?

We had some amazing beautiful and hot weather through February which brought its own challenges as to what projects to work on due to the heat. Although there was lots of other life stuff going on behind the scenes, I am pretty happy with what I achieved in February though. They include

Bunting for Scarlett - made and is now hanging in her bedroom and it looks great.

Bright strings quilt completed - this flimsy had been sitting around for quite a while and was the perfect thing to practice some free motion quilting on. So that was quilted and bound, no label yet though.

Block One of Home Coming Lane - so pleased to see a partial completion on this project and this means that a quarter of the quilt top is completed, a definite bonus. This is one of my 'Top 5'.

BOM block one for club - Baltimore to the Bay - the committee are endeavouring to have their BOM block completed before each block is revealed to the club. I thought that I had a photo of it but alas I don't and my block is at club. This needs to be batted up and quilted now as I am going to do QAYG with this project so at the end of the year the bulk of the work is done already and it just needs to be joined. I will show you a photo next week when I retrieve it from club.

Orange Crush - I have done more work on this one and the jury is still out as to what to do with it yet, so I have put it aside and are concentrating on some other things at the moment. It will be interesting to see just what I can achieve in March.

So on that note, chores and stitching are calling so until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Orange Crush Update

The setting triangles are made, yippee!

Things are getting pretty exciting as I start laying out the blocks...

These are looking great and I am loving the look of them. Then I add the other blocks

and I am not loving it. Not sure about these blocks together at all. I love both sets of blocks on their own, not so much when they are together. Feels like everything is too busy and both blocks are fighting with each other, not sitting in harmony with each other. Here are the orange and blue blocks on their own...

Just when I thought that this would be an easy job. I am wondering about using the blocks to create two completely different quilts. I also have these that I may be able to use?

I think I have some serious playing and auditioning in my future along with some serious thinking.

Stick around and check back to see how I get on with this one or maybe two quilts.

Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Another UFO?

Interesting - I thought I had completed my list of UFO's and you can imagine my surprise when I keep finding more! I have had to add a few more to my UFO list as I tidy the sewing room, but I really did think I had found them all.

I woke early this morning and spent some time straightening up in my sewing room and came across this UFO. It is Orange Crush a mystery quilt designed by Bonnie K Hunter and I had totally forgotten about it. The thing is that all of the blocks have been made and all that is waiting to be completed are the setting triangles. I have been busy this afternoon making the components for those and I am nearly there.

This isn't one of my Top 5, but it is so close to being a flimsy that I just can't help myself. It isn't going to take much more to get this one done. I have one more component to cut and then all of the components can be sewn together.

Watch this space....... Happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

Block one is complete

Block one on Home Coming Lane is completed and I am very pleased with it.

It is so good seeing some progress on this project, I can't wait to get the other three blocks done and for it to be completed and up on the wall. 

I joined the block of the month for this quilt with the intention of hanging it in our newly renovated front entrance in our house in Whangarei, not long after that my husbands current role was advertised and the decision was made to move here to Tauranga. I was devastated that this quilt would not hang where I intended it, and I just couldn't face working on this quilt for quite some time.  Now that I have somewhere in mind to hang this quilt again, I am keen to get it done and hanging on the wall and I have renewed enthusiasm. This one is one of my Top 5.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Home Coming Lane progress

I am really thrilled to have all of the hand blanket stitch completed for all components for my first block for Home Coming Lane which was a Gailpan Designs BOM through The Country Yard in Northland.

Last week I spent a whole day pushing through and getting all of the applique pieces ready for attaching. I managed to get everything ironed and this block has been waiting for the vine to be completed as it was the last thing for me to do.

Now I can sew it all together. Check back to see it all sewn together. Until then happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

February is humming along

January 2016 has been and gone and February is definitely humming along. The wild weather that we had throughout January seems to have settled and summer has returned with high temperatures most days. I can't believe it is a month since I last blogged, there has been so much going on lately and don't worry the fingers have been busy too.

There have been meetings and get togethers to start the organising for the year ahead and indications are that 2016 is indeed going to be a very busy year. 

Here is the bright strings completed and on the back of the couch. So pleased to see it done and yes it is my first completion for 2016. I made the strings using a calico foundation and I like the stability that using the calico has given this quilt. I am super proud of having one completion already for 2016.

I made some bunting for my granddaughters 2nd birthday - it was so fun and easy to make. 

My daughter didn't waste any time hanging it in Scarletts room. It really brightens up the dark corner and pulls all of the design elements together. I just love the little snuggle book reading centre that Kelsey has created for Scarlett.

I registered my Top 5 list and photo at the club meeting yesterday, it will be interesting to see how many people register for this club. We do have quite a few ladies in the club that don't have any UFO's, they only have their current WIP's and I really admire their self discipline and perseverance. I am already working on two of my top five quilts and I really can't wait to get rid of my list totally. 

I have realised that I don't want to work the way I have in the past and I have a new approach to my patchwork and quilting for any new and future projects and so I am planning not to end up with a large list of UFO's again.  I have a plan and we will see as the year progresses how I get on, but don't worry I will keep you up to date with where things are at.

I have decided on one new project for this year and I have already started this, the inspiration and incentive came out of nowhere and was a very pleasant surprise. So far I am enjoying it but I will tell you more on that a bit later when I have more to show you. When I said earlier in the post that my fingers have been busy, this is one of the things that I have been working on.

The only other thing that I am doing this year is a BOM that we are doing at club for our members. The ideas started off with us doing a Baltimore quilt but we also wanted to make it a New Zealand inspired quilt, hence the name for this project has become 'Baltimore to the Bay' due to us living in the Bay of Plenty. We also thought that if we kept it to a 9 block quilt including a border that we would get more members participating in this project. This is going to be our main project for the year instead of doing smaller projects like we did last year. I will show you the blocks for these as we go though the year, I have started working on the first block as we are wanting to show a variety of ideas and techniques when we launch this in the next few weeks and I will be able to show you mine after then.

My fingers are itching to do some more stitching and these quilts aren't going to get made sitting around, so until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Donna-Maree

What's under my needle

Just a quick post today as I am in the middle of a project and I want to get it done! 

But I wanted to update you with what is under my needle at the moment. This is a quick practice quilt to have done before I embark on mums quilt. I am glad that I have done it this way as the mistakes I have made on this one I don't really want on mums quilt.

Yes, it is taking longer to quilt than I thought it would, isn't that always the way though. Things are never as plain sailing as you think they will be, so I persevered through many obstacles and the end is in sight.

I can't wait to show you the completed quilt and YES it will be the first quilt completed in 2016.

Happy stitching everyone

Donna-Maree

Deadline looming

All of the Christmas decorations and paraphernalia are definitely down, packed up and are stored back up in the ceiling space ready for next Christmas. The house looks quite bare without it all and this coming year I must decorate the house a little earlier so we can enjoy having it all around longer than we did this year, I think it really does help to get into the spirit of it all.

Most of the businesses and companies in New Zealand are back to work today after the Christmas and New Year holiday break and what a mixed bag we have had weather wise. We did have a few days where the temperatures reached 28 degrees and we really enjoyed summer, alas last week we were supposed to be camping in a tent and the weather was not cooperative at all with wind and rain, we had to make the call to cancel that and so we did home based activities instead. 

The weather isn't much better this morning with a cyclone heading towards New Zealand, it should scoot past us but its presence will be felt with winds and heavy rains - just what every summer needs. The strawberry plants have slowed down as has most of the produce in the garden, hopefully everything will pick up again if the weather improves. 

I managed to squeeze a little bit of stitching in amongst things over the last week and have been making some oven mitts and have stitched more hexies. The hexies are a fantastic stitching activity when friends are visiting, it keeps your hands busy while chatting, is productive and sometimes your non quilting friend is so impressed with what you are doing that they leave with a hexie to start their own project.

I am meeting mum in Auckland next week for another appointment and decided that would be the deadline to have her quilt completed so she can have it with her while having treatment and I am running out of time. 

I am so undecided on how to quilt it and have had it draped over the door to my sewing room so I can ponder on it, but alas nothing is coming to mind. Any suggestions - please comment below, I need to get this beauty done.