Multi skilled

The theme this week is multi skilled! I have been doing a number of little things, mostly trying to finish and get myself organised.

Dish cloths being the fad of the week- I have nearly finished my second one, its quite therapeutic to knit! 

My almost 21 year old son wants to knit himself a jumper, so its off to the wool shop this week.

These are cotton and fun.

 A few years ago, my friends and I made some birds to display at Warwick on  a tree. One of us works at a kindergarten and took the stray leftovers to work. the children love them, so in the tidying process a few days ago I found the fabric I had painted and also a great lot of wadding trimming I was loathe to throw out- which made excellent filling. These are a  few, maybe when I get my head in order I will make some more.

 This is Cactus silk- well maybe polyester... a sneak peek at a piece I am working on.

Lying low over the long weekend, I actually have it off as I am doing day work for 4 weeks. My lovely husband has a golf injury- so we are at home - oh- I might be quilting all weekend as he is in no fit state to paint as planned.

A challenge and a new machine

A random selection of happenings this week.

Last week saw Queensland Quilters launch its 30th birthday Challenge, 2 of my friends won prizes! there was a good selection of small 30 cm  x 30 cm quilts. Mine is below, a fun and bright little number, a lot inspired by the very noisy parakeets that are fed each morning by our neighbours, the birds fly very quickly and very close if you happen to be near.

challenge quilt

New threads that came in the post -

 

A close up of my current project- a cot quilt- I was a little afraid of the Frixion iron off pens but am happy so far......

Another close up showing more quilting after ironing off the Frixion pen!

 It was with much sadness and heavy hearts that we farewelled Peter's aunt this week, following a very sudden illness, she was more a friend and big sister and almost mother figure to both of us, especially after we moved to Queensland 8 years ago. She will be sadly missed by our family.
 Dianne did the most wonderful and precise hand embroidery and applique, her sense of colour and attention to detail was quite amazing.
The Bernina belonged to Dianne. It is now mine.
I am about to read the instructions and hopefully get a lesson or 2 and do some serious sewing. My 20 year old son was even impressed and though he could learnt to sew too!

a family day

A day with some extended family from far and wide.
A long drive. Sharing a meal.
Listening to calming waves of the ocean at night.

New quilting design inspiration

I bought 2 lovely old silver spoons recently, once polished they have some great designs, I did some preliminary drawings, not great drawings- but you get the idea, they can be tweaked , and added to. A little fun. Double lines and simple fills are easy, great for modern quilts and even traditional ones too!

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 You cant really see the designs on the spoons in the pictures, but they are there, and inviting me to do some more drawings. I even enjoyed - in a  strange way polishing the silver- the designs became more evident the more I polished.

 Some new fabrics, a project I am working on, just need to start cutting- today is the day. I wasn't convinced about the paler pink, but my daughter said- "that's perfect" so in it goes. Might have to get some more oft he teal- hmmm I bought it on holiday- might have to go back.....

On a roll!

 Ok I am on a roll, feeling better, went to work yesterday at my second job, had a lovely night there. Extra pocket money for my October trip to Australian Machine Quilters Festival!

On a quilty note, have quilted and bound a quilt for a friend in need, have finished 2 cushions for a project and bound my small quilt for that project.. Also have done a mountain of unpicking and then requilted a Modern quilt, sewn the binding on, now just need to hand stitch it on.
Also making my Art quilt! at the last minute of course, the blocks are ones I started in a Gwen Marston class last year. Just playing with how to put them together.

Then in my energy filled state I went to the gym for the first time in a month, then came home and baked 2 slices- one for a work party tomorrow.- as my daughter said earlier this week- I am on fire!
Oh and Uni starts this week for one and next week for the other child, so life will change a lot, more study- I hope, and less lying around and watching TV or playing computer games - as they both juggle work and study.

block in progress

fabric choices- all solids

another block in progress, such fun and so liberating!

a block ready to be put together

A trial layout- hmmm

Why use cream thread?

When you can use pink! I did some unquilting as I was not happy, with plenty of time on my hands as I have been unwell, but lying in bed all day is no fun. So I unpicked then started pink thread! What fun!  So much better. 
A deadline has spurred me into action- again, I must learn to say no!

So much fun to stitch

my new phone, now to type in all the contact numbers as both my tech heads here can't work out how to do it!

Some drawing, well, scribbling that helps with machine quilting, its fun to draw a shape then fill it like the 2 small rectangles upper left.

some more doodling, I bought a zen doodle book while on holidays, a lot of fun, then of course had to buy new fine pens. Luckily I have a great little book with thick good quality pages as the build up of ink doesn't go through the pages.

Post holiday doldrums

After a lovely holiday I have landed with a thud! a parasite infection/infestation has left me pathetic and sick. Lots of antibiotics and rest, no alcohol- so how can I not lose any weight? and no appetite too.

I was pulled out of my sick bed by my friend Kate this week, actually it  was just what I needed. I am finishing quilting a quilt for her, that is right up my alley, anything else and I would still be languishing in my bed.

Kate's quilt, sleepless nights and an early morning has spurred me on to tidying up my sewing room a little, and also to finish my own projects, several which have deadlines coming up soon.

I did do a little holiday purchase of fabric- below - a large print was required, and this is a beauty, a few coordinating fabrics accidentally found their way into the bag , but maybe I didn't buy enough! the red is perfect, not sure of the pale teal - in fact it is so wrong! will keep looking.

 A gift certificate from number one son saw me getting a lovely parcel of fabric from Sew Modern, a little different, but I am looking forward to playing with these. I chose from a vast range this is only the tip of the iceberg where modern fabric is concerned. Such a change after buying quilting or even cotton fabric in the early 80's! and even the 90's! I chose fabric that I would not normally buy- right out of my comfort zone.

Last post saw my daughter starting knitting a scarf, it is coming along really well, she is keen to knit a jumper. However the discounted wool was $ 7 per ball! we need 9 or 10, may as well buy one already knitted. Will keep an eye out for wool that she likes that will not be a passing fancy.