Quilting Journals

Recently I bought this book which is all about reproduction quilts and journal entries from the 1800's. Its a beautiful book with projects to make and very interesting stories written by Lizzie the quilt maker. She talks about her life and everyday events plus her quilt making which is fascinating. This got me thinking about my quilt journals and how neglected they have been the last few months. So I decided to keep writing about the quilts I have made but also write about some things that were happening at the time. I'm going to save swatches of fabrics and write down points of history like the costs of things including fabrics and foods.

This is one quilt I made a couple of years ago, I wrote why I made the quilt and what the fabrics costs. I also wrote the cost of our mortgage at that time and the price of petrol. Its amazing that in just a few years how much the cost of living has increased.

I'm hoping that one day some one will come across my journals (thats if the boys haven't thrown them out) and read about my life and the quilts I made.

Do you have any suggestions as to what else I could include in my journal, I thought I could put in the odd pattern and lots of photos of my quilts and swatches of fabrics.. What else would make it interesting? If you keep a journal of your quilting I'd love to hear about it and the things you put in it.

Biscuits and blossoms

Our weather has been beautiful the last few days, last night was the first time we didn't light the fire for months. We are looking foreward to some warmer days after such a cold winter.
Last night Nicky and I made biscuits, they were so easy that I thought I would share the recipe with you. Do you see the rolling pin in the back ground? My friend Kim from the UK sent it to me for my birthday, its so cute and has some kitchen rules on it that definately apply in my house. Cherry biscuits recipe is as follows...
125g of butter
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of golden syrup
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
1 level teaspoon of baking powder
few drops of vanilla essence
60g of glace cherries, chopped

Preheat oven to 180 degrees, melt butter, sugar and golden syrup together in a saucepan. Sift the flour and baking powder.
Pour the melted mixture while hot into the dry ingredients and mix quickly. Add vanilla and cherry pieces and form into small balls.
Place on baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack,

Enjoy.

I had to show you a picture of our crab apple tree in blossom, its the highlight of our back garden right now, the scent is beautiful and the flowers are so pretty, I wish it stayed like this all year round.

Wrapped in Paisley

Kansas troubles fabrics are my most favourite fabrics, I have quite a few of the ranges now and I try to make something with each new range, here is my latest creation, its called Wrapped in paisley, its only a smallish quilt as I only had 2 charm packs to play with and a metre of border fabric. I thought it turned out nice.
I haven't done much sewing this week as Lillian had the week off so I ran the shop each day. It was a good week, I managed really well with no problems at all. I slept well each night I can tell you. Being on your feet all day wears you out. Now the weekend is here and its time to get my brand new machine out of the cupboard. I have missed it all week. I'm ready to sew.
Do you have a favourite range of fabrics? I'd love to hear about it.

Lucky me

Its taken a long time but I finally have the sewing machine of my dreams. On Friday I picked up my Janome Memory Craft 5200. Its beautiful to sew on, fully computerised and even comes with an extension table. This is why my wonderful family gave me money for my birthday. As you can imagine I have had a full on sewing weekend. I still need to sit down and learn how to use all the new stitches, there are so many to choose from. Its going to be such fun.
Until next time...... happy sewing.

Look what I made...

I have had a lovely week. Its the first week of school holidays for my boys so I have had the week off with them. Mostly I have been painting our new games room that my husband and I renovated, I really shouldn't say I as I didn't do much at all except paint the inside and make coffees. In between painting I have been sewing. I had to get a little bit done each done each day to keep me happy. This quilt is my most favourite so far, I was proud of myself to be able to do such a busy quilt. I usually stick to simple patterns. I used my favourite Kansas troubles fabrics in this quilt, a bit of Garden Inspirations and Bound to the Prairie. When this quilt is all quilted I plan to hang it in my bedroom. The borders really make this quilt, don't you think. They were fun to do. I can't wait to quilt it now.

Now I have finished one project its time to move onto another. I had a couple of 1930s charm packs so I decided to use them and make a quilt , The blocks come together really quickly. After working with such dark fabrics in my last quilt its fun to play with some pretty ones. I hope you found some sewing time today.

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my birthday, I had a wonderful day. It was full of many phone calls from family and friends. My son made me this card and I just had to share it with you. I am saving up for something very special so I asked my husband for money for my birthday which I got. Well Nicky knew I wanted money so he kindly gave me 20 cents from his money box to put towards my collection, I can't tell you just yet what I'm getting as its on order so when I get it home all will be revealed. My wonderful in-laws sent me these beautiful gifts, Dawn you always know what I love. Thank you.

Lillian at work gave me the Farmers Wife cookie book, its full of beautiful recipes and my lovely friend Marina gave me these fabrics. She knows me so well and knows just the fabrics I would love to have.

My friends in Stitching group sent me these wonderful fabrics and pattern to make the 9 patch dolls quilt, the fabrics are beautiful, thankyou Jan. I will have fun playing with all my new fabrics.

Its almost Spring

Yesterday as I was hanging out my washing I looked at the mountains that we can see from our back garden and to my surprise it was covered in snow, It was so pretty, my photo really doesn't do it justice. The wind was icy but it was a nice day. My bulbs are doing well, only some have flowered so far, we have jonquils every where in the yard.

Hyacinths look so pretty.

And the daffodils just make you smile.

Yesterday and today I spent my time putting my basket quilt together, its nearly there, only 6 baskets to go. I hope you found some sewing time today.

Another block down

I have finished another block of Remember When quilt for the shop, this one was fun to do with the school bus as the main feature. The fabrics are so beautiful its hard to cut them up. Here is a close up of the school house, does it bring back memories?

I also received my paper bag swap goodies for my on-line stitching group, how this exchange works is the person I'm making for sends me 2 fat quarters, some buttons and trim and I have to make something for her using all the things that were in the bag then I send the finished gift back to her. There was also a yummy chocolate bar in the bag but that got eaten before I took the photo. I hope you found some sewing time this week.

Rainy days

Yesterday was such a typical winters day, rainy and cold so I stayed inside and sewed and baked goodies for my boys lunch box. These cookies were so yummy, they are kind of like a yo yo with rainbow choc chips inside. While the cookies were baking I whipped up my first basket block for this quilt pattern, I really don't know if I'll make it like the pattern but I'll do a few more baskets and take it from there.

I am making a nine patch on point quilt so I made a few blocks. I need 99 altogether. I'm using all my scraps so far. What do you do with your scraps? I hope you found some sewing time today.

Nicky's quilt

Look at my little boy, doesn't he look pleased with his new quilt. I made this quilt from Fig tree fabrics called Whimsy, it is so nice. I did a few Annie Downs stitcheries and scattered them in the squares. The quilting I did a couple of weeks ago, the pattern is called Frisky feathers, It is a beautiful design to do. I think I'm just as happy with this quilt as Nicky is.

A new look

It was time for a change in the boys room, I bought them new doona covers yesterday. The old ones were blue and quite plain so I thought I would get something a bit brighter, Now their quilts don't really match so what a better excuse to start thinking of new ones I can make for them. Red and brown are my favourite colours so it will be fun shopping for new fabrics. Did you notice the Puma cushion on the bed, Daniel made that in sewing at school. He wasn't impressed when he discovered sewing was a compulsory subject but then they could design their own cushion cover so he was happy to do that. He didn't do a bad job. This is bedroom 2. My two younger sons share a room. Their room looks nice and bright now.

Today I woke up with a shocking sore throat so I haven't done much sewing today. I had a play with these blocks and sewed the borders on and traced the designs. Its a Natalie Bird project with very sweet sayings on each block.

I got this block ready to stitch now for "Remember when" quilt. Its such a nice quilt to work on. When I have finished this will go on display in the shop. Its so popular with our customers, there are quite a few ladies working on this one. I hope you found some sewing time today.

Remember when part 4

I have had a very good sewing weekend, I finished part 4 of Remember when quilt, there is so much work in each block, they do look lovely though when you sit back and look at what you have achieved. These little sun flowers were fun to do.

I have made myself a new block keeper, I bought some light foam board from the office works store and it works a treat. It holds everything neatly and in place.

I sewed a piece of polyester wadding to the inside to hold my blocks, they stick quite well,

Today I had a play with my paper piecing project, its coming together beautifully, now I just need to make a few more leaves to complete each block. I hope you found some sewing time today.

Cute as a button

Look at these buttons. Aren't they adorable, I bought them online at Theodoroa Cleave website, this lady makes them herself, I first saw them at Evandale when we had our sewing day, they were on some of Marg Lowe's designs. Now I need to think of something to make with them. This basket block was supposed to be in the centre of my basket blocks quilt but I just didn't like it so I decided to make it a quilt on its own. It doesn't look to bad.

Last week I had to make some Road trip themed postcards, this is what I came up with. They are on their way to USA now. I hope you found some sewing time today.

A weekend getaway

We have just come back from a lovely weekend away in Hobart. We went as it was my husbands birthday and as luck would have it the craft fair was on as well so I was happy.
We stayed at Discovery holiday park and it was in a beautiful bush setting. The boys had fun running around, they weren't outside for long as it was too cold.
Nicky bought a remote control car so he was happily entertaining himself. These are some of the cabins, they are quite nice inside and have a self contained kitchen.

I had to take a photo of one of my quilts hanging up in the exhibition, it was my first time entering so I was quite proud to see my quilts with everyone else's.

These were my purchases for the day, I was a little disappointed there wasn't alot to buy but its not like I need anymore fabric. I bought this cute little caddy for my sewing goodies.

Some stickers for my quilt journal and a charm pack. Now we are home its back to normal and time to get stuck into my sewing projects, I hope you found some sewing time today.

A sewing gathering part 3

I had a few more photos I wanted to share with you of my day at Evandale on Saturday. Below are a few photos of Pauline's crafty corner. Pauline is the owner of Calico crossroads here in Tassie. This is a lovely quilt by Rose Johnson, the fabrics are my favourite Kansas Troubles. Its amazing how Pauline can fit all these goodies in her car. I love the iron quilt rack.

Look at all these yummy fat quarters.

I couldn't leave these ones in the box, so they came home with me.

This is my project I started on the day. As you can see I didn't get much stitching done, I was too busy shopping and of course talking.

Yesterday I had a few hours of sewing so I made these little blocks, I think I will make more of these and make a mini quilt, The little squares are an inch big and so cute.

I also made a few more of these baskets and had a play with some back ground fabric. I think I will go with this layout but I can't decide whether to use the red or a brown. Decisions, decisions, what do you think. Maybe I need to post a picture of the blocks on the brown fabric and you can tell me what looks better. Until next time, happy sewing.