Sunday Stash - Terra Australis

Thanks to the generosity of the Charles Parsons Group I now have my hot.little.hands on a fat quarter bundle of the fabulousness that is Terra Australis by Emma Jean Jansen (oh.my.gawd!)

I'm a very proud Aussie and love all the colours in this range ... Australia is more than just green and gold ya know!

The main floral fabric contains the beautiful Waratah, I have the Eucalyptus colour-way ... isn't she a beauty?

Fancy some fussy cutting?

The other gorgeous prints represent the Grevillea plant (I grew up with this growing wild in my backyard) ... the Harbour Bridge (looks like fireworks coming off it!) ... Spinning Gum ... and stripe and spot fabrics to blend - I'm in heaven!

For more inspiration I suggest you check out the Craft Depot under the Charles Parsons banner - they are distributors, and well if this is the stuff they are carrying - I'm not into name dropping *cough* Art Gallery Fabrics *cough* Lecien, I might just join them!

In the meantime I have plans for these pretties and I'm off to play!

Sx
Linking up with
Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash kindly hosted by Mila + Cuatro 

Sew Kitschy - February

Betsy was so pleased when her favourite Cookie Canister was released in Coral.

All her friends were going Duck-Egg-Blue but she just knew in her well.bred.bones that coral would be a collector's item in the future.

Progress chart - background image used with permission

Have you met Betsy yet?

Sx
Linking up with:
Paper Piecing Friday at Quiet Play

Quilter or Topper?

A question was posed to me about mid last year (yes, I hang on to things) ... the question, from a fellow quilting class member, was: "Are you a Quilter or a Topper?" 

... Umm ... The stupid look on my face prompted the questioner to explain what she meant.  "A Quilter pieces the top, bastes the quilt sandwich, then quilts it" ... Ok, got that ... "A Topper just enjoys the piecing/patchwork and predominately sends the quilt to a long-armer".  She then followed up saying that she's a "Topper".  She really enjoys the patchwork and man.oh.man is she good at it! 

This simple question has been mulling around in my head for a while.  I do absolutely love the patchwork side of things and get such a kick out of having points match just so, but when I see all the wonderful quilting out there I get a certain glint in my eye ... my husband doesn't like this glint ... it usually means it's going to cost him a lot of money!

My birthday and Christmas are quite close together so I asked for a joint present which I normally kick up a major stink about - but it would be different this time - because Janome was having a major sale and I was in the need of a major machine.

I'd like you all to meet my new Janome Memory Craft 8200 QC! 

Hmm might need a bigger sewing table!

Up until last week, he's been sitting, unopened, in his box ... I was too scared to use him. Finally hubby threatened to return him, so I had a strong cup of tea (*ahem*) and opened.the.box.

Sheesh!  What took me so long? - This machine is fantastic, I love it, I hope it loves me in return and we live happily ever after together (Sorry, I've been watching a lot of Frozen with my girls).

The first thing I did was drop the feed dogs, add the closed toe darning foot and let rip!  This is what I got ...

Really short stitches, ok, going too slow ... then really long stitches, ok, going too fast ... then fairly even stitches, better but still need to practise heaps!

I've found that my hands like to go round and round, loop to loop rather than meandering so that's what I did mostly.  I'll just go with the muscle flow until I have some nice even stitches then I'll stretch myself from there.

Had a go at writing my name

Ultimately I'd like to get to a stage where I'm confident to quilt this flimsy.

Jammy's Jumbo's Quilt Flimsy

I've sketched out a plan of how I would like to quilt it ... do you do that or does it just come to you as you go?  

I feel I need to plan it at this early stage of my FMQ journey.

So there you have it ... I've decided that I'm going to be a "Quilter" ... wish me luck!

Sx
Linking up with:
I Quilt at Pretty Bobbins (for the very first time)

Pillowcase Drive

*Caution this post may contain pirate phrases*

Ahoy me Hearties! (Hello friends)

Blimey! (Exhortation of surprise) ... I've just sewn something that's not pink!

These were made with lovely fabrics from Sarah Jane's 'Out to Sea' range,  I was lucky enough to hornswaggle (obtained for a steal) a few FQ's recently during the #greataussiedetash on Instagram and could.not.wait to turn them into the pillowcases that they are now!

Sarah Jane "Out To Sea"

Secret loot (treasure) can be hidden in the pockets on the front left hand side of the pillowcase.

 I purchased some pirate shaped bath mitts from Spotlight after failing miserably at making a simple pirate 'softie'.  Long story, but let's just say I suck at drawing faces.

Pirate Bath Mitts - Spotlight purchase

These Pirate Pillowcases have been made for the 2014 Handmade Cooperative 'Oncology Kids' Pillowcase Drive.

Click here to find out all the details

Make them, send them, put a smile on a little lad or lass's boat (face ... boat-race-face ... cockney slang ...savvy?).

These pillowcases are my first finish for Q1 - 2014 Finish Along and I'm feeling topgallant! (very good).

Link to original Finish Along List

Time to go and ship this loot!

Sx
Linking up with:
Sew Cute Tues at Blossom Heart Quilts
Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story

Farming

There is still plenty of 'Farming" happening around these parts.  Three more little masterpieces (even if I do say so myself).  

I call them "masterpieces" because I get such a great sense of achievement from finishing each little 6" block.  Perhaps it's because I'm hand piecing them and I get to spend a little more time with each block, quietly sewing away ... peaceful ... apart from when I'm working with these black and white stripes - pow!

Farmer's Wife Block 108 "Windmill"

Nor is it peaceful working with this orange - double pow!

Farmer's Wife Block 15 "Buzzard's Roost"

After all that action I decided it was time to give my eyes a little rest ..

Farmer's Wife Block 4 "Basket Weave"

Ah yes ... feeling much calmer now ... and that's 3 more to add to the Progress Chart.

Hope you are all having a productive week?  I'm playing with a new toy ... or rather, reading A LOT of an instruction manual at the moment, but it will be oh.so.worth.it!

Sx

Linking up with:
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced