Baby things

I just entered a giveaway at http://mainstreetmarketdesigns.com/blog/
Kimberly has designed some lovely baby things and if you follow the link to her facebook page, she has a few tutorial too. I have never entered a giveaway before, but a few babies due to arrive in the family at the end of the year I am looking for new and interesting things to make.

Also I been have working on Life is a Celebration BOM in Homepsun. When I discovered that the designers used quite a bit of their stash in the blocks and I had bought just enough French Hatbox to complete the quilt, I put the project on hold until we got back from Tasmania. So now I am ploughing ahead... still have to do a few more, but they are really on the cutting board and one is on the machine!
I have two more corner blocks done, and in the next day or two will update again when I get Kellie Wulfsohns block...nature, finished!

This BOM is such a learning curve... from blanket stitch applique and bias making, embroidery (which I discovered I love) to needleturn applique and free motion applique...which I am teaching myself! So far I have made a few blocks of leaves and flowers with free motion applique, which I will one day make into a knee rug...or a king size quilt, depending on how long it takes!

Catching up!!

I have been really busy catching up with the blocks I promised myself not to get behind in.

I haven't gotten behind with In Pops Garden, which I get sent from Calico Crossroads in Exeter, Tasmania each month. It was a gift from my 2 Cocker Spaniels for Mother's Day....yeah, right.

Firstly, at long last...here are the photos of In Pop's Garden, can't wait to see the next in line! This is something I am really enjoying, stitching away each night while I watch telly.

I really have to get up to date with some of my unfinished objects, or half-done things! I have almost finished the second "In Pops Garden" BOM, and then I will post a photo of both.
I also need to alter some maternity tops for my daughter as she found some real nice tops. They are lovely material, but the back hemline is really low, so she would look like Billy Connolly on tour if she wore them!
Also my partners Daughter in law asked me to knit a Bolero out of the Handmade mag. So I'll have to finish that off before summer!
As a Labour party supporter I feel drained after todays events which saw Kevin Rudd booted out. Used to take a Governor General to do the booting...now it is the next person in line! Just hope Julia does the right thing and not let the unions take over!

Home from Tasmania

Got home from 3 months travelling everywhere around Tasmania a few weeks ago, but we've been flat out since!
We had 2 other motorhomes stop at our place and so have been communal cooking ever since. Last Saturday my partner Edward turned 60, we had a party and since then I have had time to myself. So I've been doing my new BOM designed by Rose Johnson, In Pop's Garden.

The reason I even knew about this BOM is strange in itself... we were having problems with starting the generator on the motorhome, the solar wasn't getting enough sun, so we stopped at Exeter. This was purely by chance as we noticed the Stihl dealership and decided that they would have the parts needed! So Edward stopped on the main road, while I waited in the bus. Then I noticed a shop on the other side of the road called "Calico Crossroads"!! Now, having a big bus/motorhome means that it is difficult to stop at Patchwork shops so I ventured out to have a look. Lo and behold I spotted some fabrics I really will need one day and saw a very nice quilt hanging from the roof (the shop is an American Barn shape). I spoke to Pauline, the owner and she told me about the BOM, and showed me the colours of the quilt that will be used. Lovely, so my two cocker spaniels (sitting patiently in the bus) bought me an early Mothers Day present. The ironic thing is, I did a market there in Exeter when we first arrived in Tasmania 2 months earlier, and didn't even see the shop.

I have pieced the first block together, and started the stitchery last night. I'll post a pic as soon as I finish it.

Alexa's Library Bag

This is the first patchwork item I've actually designed from the ground up using EQ6, or anything else for that matter. It is the same on the back, without the name!

Alexa is a very girlie girl, loves pink, so I hope she'll like this. She is my daughter's neice by marriage, and is in her first year at school.

William

Here is a close-up of William. He looks just like his Mum at the same age here.