I'm back at my machine

Having decided that I just didn't have enough space to use the machine comfortably while it shared space with the computer I have comandered part of the kitchen table to get some sewing done and have made an inroads into my WIP.

Laras Quilt is finally finished.  You may remember I mentioned Lara last year when she was diagnosed at 2.5 years old with Leukemia.  I wanted to make her a quilt to take with her to the hospital.  Due to illness, morning sickness, and renovations I have had to keep putting it off but it is finally complete and ready to be gifted.  Lara is doing really well with her treatement and has even had it shortened by one cycle which is great news. 

I have also had time to start sashing my Mondrian blocks from the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild Oh Beehave quilt bee.  It is looking really good and I am very excited about this one - no idea how the quilting will work yet so it may be some time before it is actually complete.

I made two pairs of winter Pjs for Jot as the nights are starting to get quite cold.  Each one cost a total of $7 to make (not including my time) so I am really happy about being frugal especially when Kmart has Pjs for $9.

I have signed up for a Swoon along with some online quilting friends on facebook.  We are starting on 1 April so I have a couple of weeks to finish getting the fabric together.  The main block fabrics have arrived and I love them.  This quilt is destined for my parents as their Ruby Wedding Anniversary present (it will only be about 18 months late if all goes to plan).  The fabric is Redwork Renaissance by Choles Closet and it is going to look great.

and in addition to that this little guy has been sleeping well over the last couple of days.  I took this after nipping out to the bathroom for a couple of minutes and returning to find him fast asleep. 

He is currently asleep again (loving it) so I am off to  finish sashing my Mondrian blocks or maybe I will start cutting my Swoon blocks.  Decisions Decisions :)

2011 Goal 2 - Me

I struggled to narrow this group down to one goal as I had loads of ideas and things I want to do for my 'development' doing things I love.  After much consideration I decided to focus on expanding my skills in my newest hobby - Quilting.  So my 'Me' goal for 2011 is:

To complete (piece, sash, quilt and bind) a 9 block sampler quilt


I was hoping to do this as part of a class but I don't think we can fit one in in 2011 so instead I am setting it as a challenge to myself.  To make it 'SMART' I am going to do it as a Block a Month from Jan to Sept with the remaining months for the sashing, backing, quilting and binding with the goal to have it completed in time for NYE 2011.

I think this will be a great way for me to develop my piecing and quilting knowledge and combined with the MMQG Quilting Bee I think I will end 2011 with more knowledge and confidence in this very satisfying art.

I am thinking about opening this up as a quilt-a-long challenge to anyone out there so if you are interested leave a comment and I will figure out how it is going to work.  It will be a fairly simple BOM as my skills are fairly limited at the moment but I hope to choose more complicated blocks towards the end of the quilt a long.