Surprise Spring Dolls Quilt Swap

Last year I took part in a Dolls Quilt Swap for the first time and you may remember I made a Peacock Quilt.  Well this year in among a lot of assignments and study and christmas present making and business marketing I signed up for another.

This one is being run slightly differently in that we all send off a Spring themed dolls quilt and we get one sent back to us.  It is completely random this year and we don't have one specific person to make for.  I loved this idea as it meant I could whip something up quite quickly.  A must given I had 7 assignments to complete in November.  The deadline was 30 Nov and mine went into the post on the 28th Nov.

Anyway, because I don't have to wait for my recipient to receive their parcel this year I can reveal it now.

I used scarps from Jots quilt (which was meant to be for her birthday and will now be lucky if she gets it for Christmas) as when I think of Spring I think of Rainbows.  I originally had grand plans to do appliqué and piecing and then I returned from holiday to find a study crisis and a lot of work to be done.  My elaborate plan went out the window and still using the same scraps I went very simple.  And I love it.

Hopefully whoever gets it out of the hat will also love it.

Hello

Yes I know that over a month has past since my last post.  I did warn you all that with study and the new business this blog would probably get a little neglected :)

So what have I need up to in the crafty arena.  The answer is unfortunately not much.

The big finish in time for winter (just) was the Mondrian Quilt.  This was part of a quilt bee (run by MMQG) that I took part in in 2011 and has taken me two years to complete.  I can safely say it was worth the wait.  I absolutely love it and it keeps us very warm on the couch each night.  I ended up hand quilting each colour block in coordinating thread.  This has depicted a lovely pattern on the back.

I also whipped up this quilt top for a family who are going through a tough time with a sick baby right now and I am in the middle of hand quilting this with flowers and the families names so they are all included.  It is taking some time but I have plenty of study dvds to watch while I quilt.

I must quilt Jot cousins quilt in the next two weeks as well but this one I am going to do by machine.

Oh and I need to find time to whip up a couple of birthday presents as well.  I just wish I knew what I was going to make :)

I need to go now and get working on an assessment but this evening I will be back with the hand quilting.  Its a great way to wind down after the day.

My first quilt for the year

I am so proud of myself to have started and finished a quilt less than half way through January.  Ok so it is only about 21in square but still it is complete.  I am so going to add and keep updated a tally on the blog as I think this could be a great year.

This little beauty is made from random pink strips that I was given recently and hand quilted with flowers.  The backing is the last of my Sunkissed by Sweetwater.  The binding is also random from my stash and it was attached by machine - I am starting to really get the hang of machine binding (now to get the hang of machine quilting)

It was gifted today to a friend of CT on her first birthday.  She wasn't fussed but it went down very well with her mum.

Excuse the photos it was late when I took them.

Hope you have had a good weekend.  I have a post planned for tomorrow with another finish (I know its crazy) but right now I have to crack on and write a business plan.

Jelly Roll Race

One of my online quilting buddies came across this link not long ago and threw out the challenge for us to race each other.

I had a jelly roll of Sew Stichy by Aneela Hooey that I had been eyeing up for a while but not sure what to make with it :)  I also have a niece who is due a quilt.  I missed her 5th birthday so she will be getting it for her 6th birthday in July 2013.

Anyway I signed up.  The idea was to make another 24 hour quilt over Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th December.  However I had far too much to do in this last week to complete a whole quilt in 24 hours.  So I raced but have completed my challenge with the flimsy.  Timing begins after the initial joining of the strips.  I actually did straight joins as I really don't like those pointy bits in my quilt.

It took me over an hour in fact 1 hour 28 mins and I was definitely the slowest of the group BUT in my defence CT gave me very little sleep the night before and I was a little worried about sewing through my fingers.  Yes my level of concentration was that low.

Anyway at the end of that hour and a half I have this gorgeous top to show for it.

I do have to admit that it is my second race I have done although last time I raced myself.  I used the same technique to whip up a quilt for one of Jots childcare workers who has been looking after her since January.  The first time in 4 years that she has had one carer for the whole year.  I quilted it on my machine and came to the decision I HATE machine quilting.  Give me hand quilting any day.  I also added the binding by machine usually something I also loathe doing but yesterday it all worked perfectly.  I think it might have had something to do with the fact I cut the binding wider that usual so there was plenty of edge under the sewing foot.

Here is the finished quilt (complete with photo bomber). 

I love the batiks and have decided to so a similar quilt for Jot for her 5th birthday in September.  She said that it looked like the sea.  I already have a Bali Pop that we have chosen which has much more pink in it for a girly quilt for her I do need to find a good backing for it :)

Right I have 30 childcare lolly bags to complete and some binding to do and a class to listen to :) so I will see you later.

Dolls Quilt Reveal

Yay I can finally reveal what I created for the Essential Quilters Dolls Quilt Swap 2012 (DQS).  My partner was Helen (who also made for me and you can see that beauty here)

I am very proud of this as I tried new techniques in its creation.  I used a Dresden plate template to make the feathers and appliquéd it one.  Both things I hadn't done before.  Add some raw edge appliqué for the body and head and the top was done.

I waited a while to start to quilt it but I knew what I wanted to do until my machine spat the dummy (it really must go in for a service).  Rather than have to keep unpicking I decided to try yet another new technique and hand quilt it.  My stitches are not very small (or for that matter very even) but I am really pleased with the results.

The Peacock

Front

The back

Close up of the hand quilting

Dolls Quilt Received

This is the beautiful dolls quilt I received from Helen of Patchwork of Mini Grey.  I love the pinks and purples.

With hindsight I should have opened it without Jot present as as soon as it was open she claimed it and was thanking 'Mummy's friend' for making it for her.  I managed to steal it back for a quick photo but I am surprised that you can't see her hovering in the photo she was so intent that I wouldn't keep it.

We had to put the 'babies to bed' with it that moment.  Which of course meant we needed a bed for 'babies'.   A quick cardboard box butcher and voila one bed.  

Rosie and Sleeping Beauty love their new quilt and slept all night through.  Wish Jot had followed suit.

Thanks Helen I can see a long life for 'babies' quilt ahead. 

I can't show you pictures of the one I sent yet as my recipient still hasn't received it.  I sent it on Monday and am now starting to get a little worried.  I know it had a fair distance to go but still it should have been there by now.  Fingers crossed it arrives on Monday so I can show it off.  I'm really proud of it.

{ELEVEN} Blogtoberfest

There has been plenty of sewing done this week.  Not quite everyday as the kids have been a wee bit difficult but I got probably 6 hours in total so far.

My Dolls Quilt Swap (DQS) quilt has stalled as the design I choose just isn't working.  I might tweak it a bit and start again with a different background which I think might be the problem.  Anyway I put it aside to think about and got out a couple of other items from my To Do list to finish up.

Firstly I did two aprons for 4th birthday presents (they are exactly the same).  I ran out of the fabric to make matching hats so I will doing a quick trip to Kmart tomorrow for kid sized kitchen utensils to add to the present.

I also finished off the first of 4 Santa Sacks.  I just love this fabric it is so happy.  There reverse of the bag has Jots name appliquéd on.  The other three are waiting for colour coordinating threads which I think I will be off to spotlight for tomorrow.

Finally I finished a quilt top for Baby Boy B who is due in January.  Now I just need to sort my machine out so I can quilt it myself.

I am hoping to get more time to sew this week too so you may get another post of completed items later over the weekend.

Now I am off to collect Jot from childcare.

{TWO} Blogtoberfest

I have a fantastically supportive online quilting group who are all so far ahead of me when it comes to quilting that I am always in total awe of their wonderful creations.  I have been part of it for about 4 years now (probably slightly less) and have watched each year as they run a Dolls Quilt Swap (DQS).  This year I decided it was time to join in.  I just really hope that my partner is not disappointed by my attempt as I am no where near the same skill level.

I have stalked my partners blog and have come up with a few designs but wasn't really sure about fabric choices.  I have so much lovely stuff in my stash but wanted something different than the palate I usually use of creams and muted colours.  

Here is a sneak peak of the fabrics I have potentially chosen along with the first page of possible designs in my mind.

The designs are all simple as they will then bring out the fabric and only require straight line quilting (for some reason I can't get the tension right on my machine for FMQ).

I have to put this in the post before 4 November so I am going to have a bit more of a think this week.  Make my decision at the weekend and then make a start next week.  There may be more sneak peaks throughout the month as I get closer to finishing it.

I am really excited about this as it is a real challenge for me and I really hope that my swap partner likes it.

24 hour quilt

My very supportive online quilt group of quilters from around Australia had a challenge over Anzac day to complete a quilt (or another project) in 24 hours. I wasn't able to take part on the day due to a number of reasons so the following week after a frustrating walk with CT I decided to see if I could rise to the challenge.
And so my personal 24 hour quilt challenge was born.

CT has a habit of kicking off his blankets in the pushchair and after rescuing or from a puddle for the third time in an hour I knew what to make. A pram quilt that can be tied on to the pram.

I made it in 22 hours (it would have been less but R decided I was being antisocial) from start to finish.

Jot likes it so much she wants one for her car seat. So that has become my next project.

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 :)

Awfuls and Beautifuls

As part of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy I am undertaking to address my Antenatal Depression I have been asked to fit more beautifuls (things I enjoy doing) into my day to balance out the awfuls (those things I have to do).

While I was working I struggle to do this although I think I read more than I have done in years.  Now I am maternity leave I am finding it easier to squeeze them in as well as finding pleasure in more things. 

Unsurprisingly the main one I have tried to get back to (and mostly succeeded) is the sewing and quilting.  Although I am still quite limited in the fact that the sewing machine has to share desk space with my computer until February and therefore I have no storage for any fabric or notions so if I need anything I have to get them from the garage, I have been able to get back into it.

I have finished the last Oh Beehave Quilting Bee Block for Kirsty (was meant to be sent in September).

I have also finished my Nephew J birthday quilt (his brithday was about 2 weeks ago) but stupidly didn't remember to take a photo of it complete before I sent it to NZ so hopefully my sister will take one for me when it arrives.

I have also finished the MIL quilt for her Christmas present (well still need to attach the label but it is virtually complete) but no photos of that until after she has opened it - not that I think she knows about the blog but I would rather err on the side of caution.

Finally Jots childcare is having a red and green day tomorrow to celebrate the start of the festive season (Jot keeps asking if we are going to have a tree and where Santa lives - they seem to be linked in her mind).  And having had this fabric in mind for a festive skirt for her for over a year I decided to pull my finger out and finished it about 15 minutes ago  All ready in good time.  I just adore the tassles.  I used the Oliver & S Lazy Days Skirt free pattern which can be found on their blog.  One I have used a dozen or so times in the last tow years.

Now I am going to whip up a Oliver & S Popover Dress for her to wear this summer (another free pattern from their blog).  I have some great Anna Maria Horner Little Folks Voile that I have been sitting on for a while.  Time to cut into it.

Anyway, I am finding it rather easy to balance my awfuls with my beautifuls at the moment (I am not going to detail all the things I have to do here) and it is really helping me to keep some focus.  Now I really need to find a way to keep it up once the baby arrives.  I wonder if I can sew with the baby in a sling.  Worth trying maybe.

Fandango - Progress

Well the blocks are finished and the layout decided now thanks to some rather dodgy cutting on my behalf which resulted in this block

I need to trim them all down before sashing.  Now just to work out what size they are going to end up.  Something for another day I think.  I am about to start playing with my MIL quilt design which I am really excited about.  I really hope she likes it :)

Jots Mum

Whoops - I have been busy :)

Whoops I can't believe it is nearly a month since I last posted.  I guess working 4 days a week really makes time fly.  It is still exhausting and in fact I have been off sick for the last week and a half which of course I am blaming on the 4 day week :).  I have shingles and for those of you who haven't had it before it hurts!!!  I am due back to work on Monday (really have to go back as I don't have any more sick leave left) but I am still incredibly tired and in a fair amount of pain.

But all that aside I have been busy crafting.

I have finished 2 quilt tops

for a baby due August 2011

for my nephew J bday in November (the applique was needed as Jot took to the quilt top with a pair of scissors)

Finished off J&T Wedding Quilt (still need to put on the label)

Front

Back

MMQG Oh Beehave blocks for Rachel

Burp cloths for numerous new babies.

 

And lastly I have knitted two hats for Jot.  I am not going to show a picture of the first as it is about two inches too short and it really badly made (but in my defence I was knitting while feeling my worst)

I am in the middle of my last 5 Fandango blocks and although I would like to get the top finished this month realistically I won't really get the chance in the next week (I will try though). 

I was meant to make my big sis bday and xmas gifts this month too but the materials needed haven't arrived from the US yet.  So I have been focusing on quilt tops this month and will focus on birthdays and christmas for both my big sis and my niece (for whom I think I have everything) in April.

I also designed my MIL quilt for her Christmas present as they will be with us at Christmas and I would love to see her face when she opens it and have also been working on a design for a quilt for my parents ruby wedding anniversary (which is in two days - I was convinced it was next year so have talked my parents into waiting for their present :) )  Not sure if I am going to go with something I design myself or some sort of an Irish chain.  Lots to think about.

For now though I am think I might curl up in front of the TV and attempt to make Jot some mittens to match the hat. This could be amusing :)

Have a good weekend

Jots Mum

January reckoning

Well here is the end of the first month of the year and already one of my goals has been pushed back.

However my creativity has been flowing and I am so excited about all the new quilt blocks I tried this month that I am not upset that my sampler quilt block hasn't been done.

So January is looking like this:

January

SIL - B'day and Christmas gift - Done - Christmas gift will be finished tonight.

Sampler BOM - Hole in the Barn Door - Not done but have decided to follow Quilt Dads Block-a-palooza instead from 1 Feb

MMQG Block - Done

Finish left over items from 2010 (x2) - 1 done

Bind Jot Dolls Quilt - not done but have at least attached the binding now.

* Fandango Quilt - Cut and Piece - 5 blocks down 11 to go

* Quilts for Queensland Blocks x10 (4 log cabin, 3 disappearing nine patch and 3 stars - not quite sure of their exact name) - complete and will be sent to Corrie at the end of next week

* Sunhat for Jot - done

* Childcare Sheet Bag for Jot - done

* August MMQG Block - The first of my two sample blocks have been made and I am now really excited about this quilt.  I will do the other one next week but you may have to wait till I get my blocks back in August before I show it off :).

The starred items were not on my original list for January so I have done well.

So as off tonight my February list looks like this:

February

BIL1 & Dad - B'day and Christmas gifts

Sampler BOM - Block-a-palooza  at least two blocks

MMQG Block February

MMQG August Sample Block No2

Fandango Quilt - Piece at least 5 more blocks

Bind J&T Wedding quilt this one depends on when it comes back from the quilter.

Bind Jots Doll Quilt

Finish last leftover item from 2010

Lets see how I go and what else I get distracted with.

Have a good week everyone.

Creative Juices are flowing

I have managed 3 more blocks for Retromummy and Quilts for Queensland which brings me up to 7 so far.  I am going to try for three more which will be 10 but as my Mum arrives on Saturday and I am working for the next two days I am not certain if I will manage it.

Sorry the pictures aren't that great.
I also finished up a bag for Jots sleep sheet at childcare.  Now I see it I realise I should have used a simpler pattern for the letters and a more complicated pattern for the bag.  Oh well you live and learn and Jot likes it so that is all that counts.

And a close up of the applique (my machine is having some tension troubles so I decided to hand applique the letters and I am really happy with how my even(ish) my stitches came out.

So now I am off to purchase some fabric for my month of the MMQG Oh Beehave and try to figure decide what to make my SIL for Christmas as I only have 10 days left of January to finish it in.
Take care
Jots Mum

No Technology Evenings

As part of my 'big' Goal for 2011 I decided to limit my use of the tv and internet and wow it has made a huge difference to my productivity at the sewing machine.  I will show the results shortly.
In addition to time spent at the sewing machine I have a knitting project on the go and have read 5 books!  Yes you read that right 5 books (nearly 6) in 2 weeks.  I will admit they are all books I have read before but we finally got round to unpacking our books at Christmas (only 50 weeks after we moved in) and it has been great to rediscover them.  I am reading the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and am now on Book 6 of 11 'Faith of the Fallen'.  I will also admit to getting so engrossed that I have forgotten to eat dinner a couple of times and been up well past my normal bedtime most nights.  I think that I need to pace myself a bit better.
At the Sewing table I have:
Completed my MMQG Oh Beehave Block for Anna

Create 4 blocks for Quilts for Queensland run by Retromummy

Started on my 'Fandango Quilt' one block complete and 2 partially finished but wanted to get the Q4Q blocks finished before I went back to it

One Sun Hat for Jot for Childcare (she refused to model it for me but she does like it as she chose the fabrics)
 
And I made my SIL birthday present (now I just need to figure out her Christmas one)

I think that is it :).  I have also made up a Kids Tool Belt for my nephew O (who has a Jan birthday) but was in such a rush to get it in the mail to NZ that I forgot to take a photo of it.
I just hope the creativity continues as it makes me feel good about myself and more importantly keeps me away from the chocolate.
Take care
Jots Mum

Quilts for Queensland

It was suggested on my previous post that I use my leftover Fandango squares to make a 'Quilt for Queensland' as run by RetroMummy.  Unfortunately due to the time frame and a lot of things already planned for the next couple of months I think a full quilt is beyond me.  Instead I am going to do up some quilt blocks and send those off so I can still do my bit.

To all of you up in Qld or in the Victiorian towns that have been hit overnight.  Stay safe and we are praying for you all.

Jots Mum

I'm feeling stupid ...

Want to know why?

In my lunch break yesterday I carefully worked out how many 5 inch squares I need for my 'FANDANGO' quilt.  I need 108.

So why am I feeling stupid - you ask?

I just cut 180!!!

So do I:

1. make more blocks with the extra squares and make my quilt much larger
2. use the extra squares for a small lap quilt
3. use the squares for something else completely random.

Jotsmum

Jots Quilt

I mentioned last month that I have actually finished Jots quilt that I started in October 2009.

I had been struggling to find decent weather (in fact I still haven't had a nice day here with not much wind) to take a photo so the other day I gave in and photographed it on our sofa.  Please forgive the photos they really don't do it justice.


I gave it to Jot at Christmas and she loves it even asking for it at bed time so I think it is a hit.

My very first completed quilt.  The first of many more to come.