Table Runner Swap ..............

This is the table runner that I made for a swap in Quilting Block Swaps Australia. We were to make our runner from a charm pack - this is Cider Mill Road. It is in the mail to my partner, and I am keenly waiting for mine to arrive. Don't know yet who has stitched for me.

Christmas in July gifts .......................

Merry Christmas everyone,

I have received a lovely parcel from Sue Palmer - 3 special gifts, and some chocolate - chocolate is really special too!

From Sue -

a gorgeous embroidery,

 a wall hanging with the most amazing gold quilting,

a bright and cheery table runner.

Thank you so much Sue for these beautiful gifts.

My gifts went to Jo Butterfield -

Santa's gift bag,

quilted star cushion cover,

and a Christmas Tree table runner.

Hope you are pleased Jo, Merry Christmas everyone, 

thank you Cheryll for organising this swap. Jan

July blocks ..................

This has been a very busy month for quilting swaps.

6 inch 3D pinwheels -

Christmas star in  Christmas colours -

any star, black and white and red -

BOM 5, friendship star - fabric from my stash [including pink]. This is recycled from an old pair of hippie pants from earlier days.

I still have paper piecing blocks to sew, and my table runner swap to work on - decide on arrangement of blocks, quilting etc.

There were also two angel blocks and my postcard swap. Love it all!

Wonderful weekend .............

Last weekend was spent with two of my daughters and their families - full house, lots of beds, lots of food and fun.
We walked on the beach and explored rock pools at low tide, we coloured and cut tesselating lizard shapes, we made beautiful coloured felt [and then a felt doll as a birthday gift].
The older grandies played violin and guitar - exams this week - and my eldest granddaughter recited "The Highwayman" and had us in tears. So proud of all of them.

After arriving home on Sunday pm I realised I'd left my camera behind. All my weekend pictures! How could I photograph my quilting blocks and post them on face book? It should arrive in tomorrow's mail. Hope so!

Christmas block swap ..............

This is the beautiful block from Jen Dickson - I asked for Dutchman's Puzzle in the colours of summer fruit. Delicious fruit in this block, lovely fabrics and colours, and look at the 'finish' - perfect! Thank you so much Jen.

I am so busy for the next five days, I can't get back to sewing until next week.

Two of my daughters ran in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon last weekend, and both achieved their goals. What amazing young women. I am so proud.

Christmas in July ....................

My gifts for this swap are completed - I love what I have made and hope my partner does too. They go into the mail in the next day or so.

Santa and his bag of goodies -

Star - quilted pillow cover -

Tree - pp tree table runner.

I am also looking forward to my parcel arriving, of course.

June Swap Blocks ...................

These are the blocks I made and sent to my swap partners this month - 

leaves in autumn colours for Donna -

log cabin - green and red - for Jen,

purple starflower for Amanda.

I have registered for QBSA Table Runner Swap - should know my partner before the weekend.

Also, I am celebrating Christmas in July. My third gift is almost finished and will be mailed in a couple of days.

Nights are getting cold, days are cool and sunny. We are past the solstice and the hens are still laying stacks of eggs.

Christmas blocks .................

missing for a while,
Christmas was found
in the grandchildren's room

Christmas celebrations have returned with much enthusiasm as the grandies grow from babies to children.
I am not into northern themes that are not relevant to an Australian Christmas - reindeer, snowmen, snow, Coca Cola Santa.
In my swap block group I have chosen the Dutchman's Puzzle block in colours of summer fruit - here are the blocks I have received so far -

Christmas Sewing, in April ..........................

Just before last Christmas I stitched most of my swap blocks into table runners. Two went into raffles - one for the Croquet Club, and one for the Dragon Boat Club - and one was for me.

 

Last weekend I stitched two left over blocks into cushion covers. They are framed in red/gold fabric, quilted with batting onto a backing to make lovely, soft covers, then backed with a simple pillow case opening. Binding is the same red/gold fabric - too much gold is never enough.

 



A few Catch-Ups .........................

 I was out of action for a while after my knee replacement in March. However, I discovered how to use the sewing machine without the foot pedal, and I kept up with all my swap commitments.

It's been so long ................

About time I caught up. An awful lot has happened since my last post.

Let's start with QBSA -
these are recent blocks I made and sent to my partners,

 
and these are some recent blocks I received in return -

 I've also started a BOM with QBSA - stash busting, no new fabrics - here are my blocks 1 and 2 plus variations.

They will all be connected by 'pink' in each block.