Mugz on Monday

The Australian Football League has officially started. My daughters barrack for the Fremantle Football Club. With official colours of purple, red, green and white, who wouldn't love them? They are re-building their team after the retirement/transfer of senior players, so will be interesting to keep an eye on them.

Fabulous Fabric

I ducked in to my local quilt shop a couple of weeks ago for terracotta homespun. I came across this beauty by Michael Miller. Unfortunately it was the only fabric in the line that they carried. I love it.

No, I didn't forget the homespun...

Shari

Sculpture in the Sea

This was my favourite photo.

I re-loaded it at full size so now you

can click on it to enlarge it.

The island is more visible.

Shari

Sneak Peak

Sculpture by the Sea

On Friday my husband and I took off after work to travel through the City in peak hour to reach Cottesloe Beach to view Sculpture by the Sea. This is an amazing art display by local, national and international artists. It was a bit stormy but as the exhibition finishes on Tuesday, it was our last opportunity to have a look. It was great getting my beach fix too! I love a stormy ocean - better than any other time. So here are just a few of the fabulous sculptures along with a bit of scenery...

Mugz on Monday

This cutie was given to me by my daughters after much discussion

and shopping with their Uncle Peter.

I always call them "blossom" or "flower petal".

They are my happy little flowers. I blogged about them here.

Happy Monday!

Cheers

Shari

PS - This happens to be my 100th post. Wow.

Secret Easter Swap

I have received my package from Bush Baby Jag's Secret Easter Swap.

The lovely lady who sent me this is Jennie. Jennie lives in Illinois.

Look at those very sweet Easter stickers! I haven't seen anything like them here in Oz!

Jennie made this card! Isn't it fantastic! She is so clever!

The card says -

"May your bobbin always be full."

Way too cute Easter ribbons!!! These are fantastic!

And look at these gorgeous fabrics. It's just so springtime!

They are found in this gorgeous little quilt.

Don't you just love that striped binding!

Thank you so very much Jennie!

I love the sticker, the card, the ribbons and especially the quilt.

Hope you have a Happy Easter!

Cheers

Shari

An Angel Sent Me An Angel

Darling Terri at Purple & Paisley sent me this enchanting little Angel that is made from a rescued quilt. A lady in her town makes them.

Her name is Isobella and she's seen quite a bit of the world so she has lots of stories to tell. She's a bit shy at the moment as she's getting used to her new home, but we chat a little over cups of tea or coffee and I just know we are going to be great friends. She tells me she has lots of sisters scattered all over the place and would love to hear from them from time to time. She's says she can always feel the warm fuzzies they send her way, but words are nice sometimes too.

Thank you Terri for such a great new friend!

Super Big Hugz coming your way...

Shari and Isobella

Mini Nine Patch Tutorial

Step One: Make yourself a refreshing cold drink.

Make sure you have the star iceblocks.

I'm not really going to number these steps.

Sort through your stash and select your fabrics.

I selected blues and an off-white scattered print background.

Cut 1 1/2 inch strips from each selected fabric.

You will also need 1 1/2 inch strips from your background fabric (not shown).

I cut from WOF (FQ or LQ) as I didn't mind having leftover strips.

From each blue fabric cross-cut (2) 6 1/2 inch strips.

Cut (1) 6 1/2 inch strip from the background fabric (not shown).

From each blue fabric cut (1) 3 1/2 inch strip.

Cut (2) 3 1/2 inch strips from the background fabric (not shown).

Strips laid out for one block.

Strips laid out ready for chain piecing.

Carefully stack them next to the sewing machine.

As I chain pieced I made sure that the I carefully set aside the third strips from each set so as to keep them in order after ironing. As I cut the threads apart between the strips, I kept them in a pile so that the last one I had just sewn was on the bottom and the first sewn was on the top. Leave the stack of 'third' strips at the sewing machine and head for the ironing board.

Carefully press the strips open, being careful not to distort the seamline. I pressed to the blue fabric every time. The stack should now be being reversed in order, as the set on the top of the stack is placed on the bottom of the new stack. This will place the sets in the same order as the stack left at the sewing machine.

Back to the sewing machine to chain piece the third strip to each set. Pay attention to which side you add the strips. The long strips have the background fabric in the middle. The short strips have the background fabric on the outside with the blue fabric in the middle.

Chain piecing.

We now have our strip sets to make our nine patches.

Square up and cross-cut (4) 1 1/2 inch strips from the long set.

Square up and cross-cut (2) 1 1/2 inch strips from the sort set.

Surprise! You actually have enough little strips to make two little blocks!

Place the strips for each block in a little stack, ready for chain piecing.

I stacked them next to the machine just as I did the strip sets, ironing before adding the third strip. When sewing, ensure the seams are butted up next to each other snugly. I didn't pin these little ones and they turned out fine.

Not knowing any different, I chose to press these seams open.

Teeny Tiny Nine Patches. They will finish at 3 inches square.

I laid them out on the fabric I chose for my sashing. I used 1 inch strips for my sashing. I have not done any instructions for adding sashing. Maybe another time.

Mini quilt basted and ready to go.

I machine quilted in the ditch around each square with a thread that matched the sashing.

TA - DAH!!!

I'm not an authority. This is just how I did it.

Nine patches are just about the easiest block after squares.

Cheers!

Shari

Gadgets

The Kwik Klip is one of my favourite gadgets. I use it to open and close the curved safety pins I use for basting. If you are still opening and closing by fingers only, you have to try this out. So much less stress on the little muscles in your fingers and hands. Made a huge difference for me.

Shari

Mugz on Monday

This little beauty belongs to my daughter Jessica. She's 22 and has just moved back home while she studies at Uni.

Cheers!
Shari

Teeny Tiny Squares Quilt Swap

My Teeny Tiny Squares Quilt recipient has received her quilt so I can now show it to you. Rita (no blog) of Phoenix Arizona is delighted with her quilt. I'm so glad she likes it. It's scary making something for someone you don't know...

Each square is one inch and the sashing is 3/4.

I took photos for a tutorial which I will try to do sometime. And I have enough strips cut to make one for me, or someone else...

Hmmmmm....

Shari