Button Counters "A Winning Battle in the War of the UFO's"

This blogger "Button Counter" has posted a great idea on diminishing that huge pile of UFO's. Sounds like something I can manage. I have the 5 subject book, I have the containers to store the planned 4 UFO's in, of course, I have the UFO's (I am not going to mention how many - that would be swearing!!) but I haven't quite finished organising the sewing area but it is not far off.

My favourite book of the moment is this gorgeous one by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched.

Out of which my No.1 project for the Battle of the UFO's is this. I probably cannot call it a UFO because I have only been doing it for a month!

And I have bought a couple of kits of this. Can you believe that I have started my Chrissie shopping.

Beautiful designs aren't they.

I think my No.3 & No. 4 projects will be putting the binding onto my Nundle funky quilt and backing and quilting and binding my Chocolate Chenille Quilt. I have only picked those because they will be easy to complete.

Thought it may be a good opportunity to add a couple from history.

I would probably consider this my first ever quilt. I had been a cross stitcher until the day Ivisited a quilt show at Merriwa with my mother. I had an unfinished hexagon quilt at home but wasn't really inspired.
Until MERRIWA.

A lovely lady, not sure, but I think her name was Elaine was showing a beautiful Nosegay quilt. I admired it and to cut a long story short she posted it into me. I did everything possible wrong. Used furnishing fabric, started hand piecing and had a go at quilt as you go. After a lot of trials and tribulations and a lot of help from my expert machine sewer mum I was hooked and so was she.

So this is the one that started my journey and passion. I think it was about 1991.

The following was started at one of my annual quilting retreats with Maitland Patchwork and Quilters. This was my second year and the tutor was Brigitte Giblin. The same one as the first year where I did the Birds in My Garden Quilt that I have shown in a previous post.

I hadn't done a great deal of quilting and as you can see some of the piecing is a bit rough!

I think (hope) I have come a long way since 1999!

My Finishes for July

I know some of you folk out there in blogland have been busily finishing 5 in July. Unfortunately I cannot seem to find that much extra time.

I did manage to fit in a couple of finishes. This is "The Path Less Travelled" by Lori Smith. I have done this as a BOM from Homestead Hearth. I cannot say enough good things about this shop. I have been doing 2 BOM's from this place. The fabrics are always beautiful. Many which were never available in Australia.
The service is fantastic. The parcels were beautifully packaged and were easy to seperate and use. Lots of little stickers. Can't do better than that.
I am very happy with how this turned out. I just need to get the last 2 borders on the other BOM and you might see it here soon.

This one was from Hatched & Patched. I have not seen a pattern from this designer that I have not liked. This one was rolled up in the bottom of the wardrobe for a couple of years and now looks a bit wonky. I probably should have repinned it but I was keen to get it done. I am pretty sure it will wash Ok.
This is a very apt pattern. It's called "How to Grow Angels" and since there are three of them in the applique and since I have three daughters what more do I need to say. Not sure where it will be hung but the three of them have put their hand up.

It must have been hard work helping mum with all the photos. Just playing possum!

Last but not least the full quilt.

A Start

Block number 1 completed out of 225.

H4 - Abbeys Eyes

I hand pieced this one because I am not so good at the intricate machine piecing.

Day 2 and 3 of leave - Starting JANE!!

About 18 months ago (OMG where did the time go) mum and I bought our background fabric from A Quilters Hive at Georgetown (Newcastle) NSW in preparation for this magnificent quilt. I am sure it does not need an introduction but anyway. It is the famous Dear Jane quilt by Jane A Stickle. Made in 1863.
We have decided to make (START!) this at our yearly trip to Tocal with Maitland Patchwork and Quilters retreat. So since I was off work we thought we would take the opportunity to get the fabric cut and ready so we can just sew, sew, sew in a fortnight. Mum came in for a sleepover (since she lives 45mins away) and we kept the cooking to a minimum. Leftover Minestrone Soup for lunch and a quick baked Chicken Rissotto and freeform apple pie for dinner. I had a great time especially being able to spend the time with Mum which I don't really get to do so much anymore.

Luckily we also had the Electric Quilt Dear Jane software and that made everything much easier and quicker.

In mum's hands below are the 2 times 33 blocks that are ready to go. Did I say we are doing one each! Of course homework is to try and get some of the applique blocks done in the meantime.
My additional homework is to try and get ready the 8 more blocks we want to take with us.
I think that we are being a bit optimistic to expect to get 2 x 41 blocks completed in 2 days. But much better to have too many than not enough.

Now I need to go and do some of the house jobs I have ignored for the last 3 days.

Hourglass Medallion

Yes I am on leave from work at the moment. I have taken on a new pretty full on job plus with 3 kids and everything else on the plate I have very little time (or inclination) to quilt. Mark has gone on a boys trip this week to Central NSW and while we all miss him I am enjoying having a weeks leave to just spend at home and do me things. The plans are quilt, quilt, spend time with friends and mum (quilting), have a facial, quilt, do the mothers day lunch at school and quilt. DID I SAY QUILT!!!

Today was a great day spent with my Monday night friends. Susans hubby went with Mark so we had a full day of it. Way too much food, lots and lots of laughs and lots of sewing. I had a success with finishing the top of my Hourglass Medallion quilt. This is one that I worked out for myself. Inspiration was the last border I put on my Roebuck Chintz. This was an hourglass block with a thin strip of quilters muslin between them. So of course I had to make it into a quilt. Plus I borrowed a piece of toile from Mum that she bought when we were in the US. From the Painted Pony I think. Anway Day 1 is now over. A great start.

Finished Legacy

As you can see I have finally finished my version of Tallula Gilbert Bottoms quilt.

It was quilted by Louise Baker of Thornton. She has done 4 or 5 quilts for me now and does a fantastic job. This was an all over pattern - lots of circles. Of course it was quickly claimed for Shelbys bed.