A new design wall!

I have requested a design wall for the last three Christmas' .
Well today after a week at home lying low after a hit on the head with a golf ball my husband has made me a fantastic design wall....
I have many projects on the go, but decided to wait till the Bernina 820 is back in my hands so I can start to use it for machine quilting, so what did I do- I started a new project! I have a large box or 2 of scraps, not big enough for anything but a small appliqued flower or so, although some are larger pieces. I have cut some into strips and am making a string quilt, a rectangular A5 size block.
Its really easy, does not require too much brain power, I need to get up and press occasionally, so I am not sitting or long periods of time! and its growing fast, AND most of all I am remembering the lovely fabric and why I initially purchased it and what I use it for, or who gave it to me.
A lovely way to spend an afternoon.
I did finish a piece for an exhibition later in the year and have done some preliminary work on  another project.

scraps ironed and stripped

scraps waiting for ironing

half sewn blocks

hooray! new design wall, needs to be put in final resting place, but this is good enough for now!

Excellent reading, so much eye candy and great blog references. might even buy this one!

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.