Mug Rug Swap

Back in the game.

Quilting Gallery and The Stitching Cow have teamed up 

for this charming mug rug swap. Registrations close

September 18th if you're interested. (Click here.)

Santa's Rising Sun Quilt by Victoriana Quilting Designs

The image above has been available as a jigsaw puzzle for many years.

Recently, I came across a post at Victoriana Quilting Designs featuring this quilt.

It appears there was Facebook interest in the block and Benita at VQD 

did some investigating and found that it was similar to a rising sun block. 

Benita has drafted a pattern and written a lovely tutorial so we

can all make "Santa's Rising Sun" quilt. Please pop over and

take a look, and also enjoy all the other lovely things at this site.

This quilt is being added to my already too-long bucket list.

No sewing going on... lots of the day job...

Hopefully needle in hand over the Easter break.

The Modern Quilter of 1933

This beauty was made by Edith Morrow Matthews for the 

1933 World's Fair - Sears competition.

I found it on The Quilt Index here, 

but you will also find it here.

I think it's totally awesome and very in the

spirit of the modern quilts we are seeing today.

You've all probably seen it already,

but it's new to me.

(I'll show you my sewing soon.)

SSCS 2013 What I sent away...

This is what I sent to Melinda.

The leafy sea dragon is native to the waters of the

south west of Western Australia.

 detail

For some of the quilting I repeated shapes of the

elements of the pattern. I used freezer paper templates.

I enjoyed making this art quilt for Melinda.

I also made this little owl ornament for her.

Disappearing Pinwheel Churndash Block

The Missouri Star Quilt Company has this great tutorial for this block.

It starts with a giant pinwheel.

Go have a look.

(I found this image on the web.)

Two of my favourite blocks combined.

I think I'll grab the remnants of a layer cake

and try a few blocks. I love these Missouri Star tutorials.

In Recess

***

This blog is in recess until February -

unless of course something interesting comes up.

Hope you are having a good summer!

(or winter for the Northerners.)

Greetings 2014 - A Year of Yes & No

The DH and I do not celebrate New Year's Eve.
We watch a few of the 'year that was' programs
and go to bed at the usual time.
There is nothing wrong with boring.
This year we greeted the New Year
with an early morning picnic.
This spit of land in the Swan River is
exposed at a very low tide.
(Point Walter for those who want to know.)
 

We met friends around 7am and walked out.

There were a couple of stretches of shallow water to wade through.

The pelicans and other birds were mostly not interested in us.
 

Looking back towards the shore.
We had the place to ourselves. 

 

The small island is a sanctuary during nesting season.
This is not nesting season.
 

There are no trees on the island.

One large bush and then low scrub like this.

From the island you can see Perth's most
expensive real estate. The one that looks like a
resort is one compound with guest houses and a
couple of pools. It set a record in Australia for
private real estate sales. You can see other early
risers in the canoes. It was a beautiful, still morning.
 

Perth's expensive toys.
 

We had a lovely picnic of fruit and yoghurt when we got back to shore.
We boiled a kettle on a little gas stove for a hot drink.
And totally enjoyed the company of our dear friends.
***
My mother always said 'start as you mean to go on'.
This was a great start to the year, and hopefully sets
the standard of what's to come. More special times like these.
***
 My goal for 2014 is to say 'yes' to activities with family and friends.
Yes to de-cluttering (use it or lose it) and yes to 'me' time.
No to swaps and buying fabric. I'm also going to step back from
volunteering positions as they come up for renewal.
Yes to assessing my goals and prioritising.
Yes to giving myself permission to say 'No.'