Panel one

Well I'm off to a flying start (or should I say a vliosofix) one the first panel of my Morning Mews set. I have finally finished cutting and 'pasting' panel one and panel two and will get organised to tackle panel three. (Panel one is shown in Wordless Wednesday and this one is actually panel three; when I looked at the designs I decided one was the hardest then three and two the easiest. OK - I know you think there is strange logic in doing the hardest first but my thought was if I could do the hardest the others would be a breeze... my brain does work in mysterious ways!)

I am very pleased with the results. The kits used the correct fabrics suggested by the designer so they are turning out well. The only down side is tying to cut around some of the little fiddly bits - some are very tiny with squiggly edges!

I decided to get the three panels all stuck down before I tackle the quilting side of things.

The designer (McKenna Ryan) suggests free motion in monofilament. She outlines each piece, with free motion, that you stick down then free motions the background however you like. Then because it is a wall hanging and not washed it is not necessary to go around every piece with satin stitch or zigzag. If you look at her high resolution views you will see what I mean.

I have often wanted to make a wall hanging from a scene but have never been quite sure ow to go about it and now that I have tackled these panels I have learnt a lot about the technique. I won't tell you how many books I have on the subject but physically doing one has taught me so much more than from the books.

I have to tell you Sheila - I did four years of Engineering back when I was a "wee slip of a gel" (oops never a wee slip) .... so it does help when you have about 30 little pieces cut out and have to reassemble back together again to end in the right shape but it doesn't help when I am trying to calculate how big to cut things. I am afraid my use of a slide rule is long forgotten!

Wordless Wednesday - Construction

WW was younger son during a birthday party held here last year.

Wordless Wednesday - how to wear a party hat

2000 Visitor's Reached.

The 2000 visitor milestone has been reached - Congratulations to Lindi from Quilty Threads and Other Things!!

Lindi can you email me with yoiur snail mail addy so I can send you a little something - haven't actually decided what to make you yet but you will receive it in the next month.

I have succumb to buying a kit - well actually it is three kits for McKenna Ryan's Morning Mews



















- http://www.pineneedles.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Assortment.asp?AssortmentID=37 I love her work and love her coffee series and the new Sea Breeze which is so pretty. I have been looking at these three panels for over a year and really like them plus I love doing applique. Decided to bite the bullet and buy them. I hope mine turn out as lovely as hers.

Actually they are ideal for me because I am restricted by how often I can get out and these will arrive on my doorstep without me ever having to leave the house!

Isn't it amazing how quickly we have taken on the internet - I often do my grocery shopping on line , I do my banking, buy and sell all sorts or goodies through Ebay. Scour the world for embroidery designs and quilting fabrics. It really has made the world a smaller place.

What about email!!

With a few keystrokes your letter is read by someone on the other side of the world before you even have a chance to close your email browser.

But what I think is the best thing about the internet is the wonderful friends you can make - you may never meet them in person but they soon become some of your closest friends!

New Glasses

Picked up my new glasses today - naturally they are purple!


Not much difference from my last few scripts but any excuse to buy a new pair seems fine to me, haven't bought a new pair for two years so figure I deserve them.


Been working on my sisters' quilts and finally have both quilt tops finished now just have to quilt them both but will hang off because I want to put all my healing hearts together and quilt the three at once. Need to go to Penrith, because there is a great patchwork fabric shop there that I like, to get some fabric for all the sashing for the hearts.

Been working on the heart blocks that I was originally going to use in the heart quilt but now decided to make a separate one. It will be for my bed as the other quilts I have for it are now too big (I use to have a queen size now have a king single).

Off to get my hair done tomorrow - the regrowth is showing and it has grown a lot since my cut and platinum change! Ben has promised to look after Philip and I have a 7.30am appointment so all I need to do now is grab a book to read and remember to get up early.

I notice that we are getting close to the magic 2000 visitors. Remember if you add a comment on the day it appears you will have a chance to receive a small hand made gift from me.

Wordless Wednesday

More new ideas for projects

A friend popped in yesterday and brought a book for me to read - damn her!!

The book was Ricky Tims Convergence Quilts. Now its not as if I haven't got enough projects on the go or enough planned. She had to bring me a book with more ideas in it!

I had seen a couple of this style of quilt over the years but not really interested until I read the book and saw some of the quilts he and his students had made - WOW!

Now I have more projects planned - I love the freedom and the curves and colours. Now I am going to spend the morning going through the fabrics in my stash and see what 'speaks' to me.

I haven't tackled curved seams yet but he suggests a way that seems simple so I will give it a go.

Of course I still have the two quilts I am making for my sisters for Christmas on the go. I have finished one top and have only the final border to do on the other before they are completed and ready for quilting. I figured I can get that done easily!

I have a Can-Quilt quilting frame but won't do the quilting yet. I like to get a few tops done then quilt them all at once. Good reason to experiment with a new technique! Will keep you posted on how I go.

An update on my Healing Hearts - I have ended up with an amazing 85 hearts! Decided not to use the embroidered blocks in the quilt because I have so many blocks. Will probably either put the whole lot together or put them in groups of 12 or 14 and sash them together to break them up a little. Have been spreading them on the floor to get an idea of the colours together.

Magic Number - I notice I have had over 1800 visitors to my site so I think I should celebrate my 2000th guest! Will keep watching and when I reach the magic number I will send a little something to the person who posts a comment that coincides with the magic number. May have to send a couple because it may be hard to pinpoint the exact comment but you get the idea. So keep watching this space (as they say) and don't forget to leave a comment, especially when that magic number is getting close. Beside what blogger doesn't love receiving comments!

I note this lady who usually had her Mum and a friend or two read her blog - she then posted an item on ebay with a funny story attached and had over 300 comments left and over 597100 hits!! Gee I get excited when there are more than 3 comments left on mine - imagine over 300!