WIP - Farmer's Wife Blocks

Three more six inch, hand pieced, blocks for your viewing pleasure ...

Farmer's Wife Block 9 - Box

It's been quite nice sitting on the couch ... cat snuggled in ...

Instagram @sewgiving

Pieces all cut ... some random TV series playing on the box.

Farmer's Wife Block 90 - Storm Signal

Yes, this is how winter should be ...

Farmer's Wife Block 94 - Tall Pine Tree

Small works in progress, but progress at least!

Serena x

Linking up with:
Work in Progress at Freshly Pieced
Let's Bee Social with the lovely Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts

Purple Haze

Hello, my name is Serena of "Sew Giving ... Selfishly" and I don't like purple.  

AusBee June Bee Block #1

There, I've said it.  You may forward all hate mail to serena@sewgiving.com.au

The colour and I just don't get on.  

AusBee June Bee Block #2

It has magical powers and makes my machine sew any seam allowance other than 1/4".

On top of that it makes my printer not print to scale ... and in turn makes me produce a paper pieced star at 12" instead of 12.5".

Offending 12" paper pieced block

Of course it's the colours fault!  Who else's could it be? 

{tongue firmly planted in cheek}

I sent the 12" block to our Queen Bee this month, along with the others.  You never know, it may come in handy on the back .. ahem.

Serena xx

I'll be linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts

Possum Magic

Hello Possums,

Indecision is my forte ... my husband knows this well.  If he asks me to choose between two things I always say "both".  Trust me, it maybe a more expensive route - but it's definitely the quickest!

So how does one choose between a zillion fabulous designs and ideas out there to be the epicentre of what is sure to be an amazing quilt?

As time is not on my side I used Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Mo ... {rocket science does not live here}... but paper piecing does!  It just so happens that my PP mojo has decided to come home!  I didn't waste time asking it where it had been, or who it had been with - I just cleaned it up and set it to work.

Ah, yes, it's like it never left ...

Pattern used is this one - seriously, the pattern is pure genius.
Block size is 12" square
Fabrics used for Geese are scraps of AMH and background fabric is Timeless Treasures, Rain Basics, Mist colourway.

This block is off to Carla to work her 'magic' on the first border - exciting!!! 

I've added a tab at the top of my page to track our Possum Magic Quilts so you, and I, can watch them grow on their year long adventure.

Serena x

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

Sunday Stash - Kindness of Others

The additions to my stash this week come from the kindness of others ...

A little while ago I posted on Instagram (@sewgiving) that I had just bought the Gypsy Wife Pattern and that I was wanting to do mine in mostly Anna Maria Horner fabrics.  Molli Sparkles, personal fabric shopper extraordinaire, had kicked off my shopping with style - when - Jo from Riddle and Whimsy kindly offered me her scraps from her wonderful triangle quilt made from ... you guessed it ... AMH fabrics.  Um, yes please!! 

Scraps are ideal for the Gypsy Wife Quilt as (I'm told) some of the block pieces are quite small - eek!  What have I got myself into?!

There is such a lovely variety of fabrics in this pile of scraps!  I've taken rather dull photos of this pile of fabric.  I'm scared that if I take nice pictures then Jo might think twice and come knocking at my door to take them back!  Tehe ... 

Now look at these froggies!!!

Happy Froggie Fabric gifted from Gina

I've recently started playing with some blocks to create a Frog-tastic quilt for my youngest.  She's a little girl that loves frogs!  When seeing my adventures with frog fabrics, Gina from Party Of Eight Our Story, offered some froggie fabric from her own stash.  She has frog-u-lous taste, so of course I said "Yes please!"  When the package from Gina arrived, I wasn't disappointed!

Because, not only did she include the cheerful little froggie fabric, but also a wonderful taste of the fabric range Lotus Pond by Rae Hoekstra ... Gina thought it might work with the blocks I've already created and you know what?  She was right!  I've already chopped into this lot and one little 6" block is sewn up already!

My daughter laughed out loud at the sight of the frog blowing up the balloon!

Now I've come to know Gina, by reading her lovely blog, that when she sends a package there is a little treat in store for the receiver ... have a look at the divine little needle book she included!

That. Teapot. I. Die.

Jealous much??  Thank you Gina!! This little baby is going straight into my Farmer's Wife notions bag :)

So thank you VERY much ladies ... I'll leave you with this quote:

"Remember there is no such thing as a small act of kindness.  Every act creates a ripple with no logical end" - Scott Adams

Serena x

Linking up with:

Sunday Stash - kindly guest hosted by Nicholas at Quilts from the Attic ... see you over there :)

Something New, Something Borrowed ...

Hows 'bout my new banner? {something new}

It was all foggy this morning, so I was inspired by the calmness of the mist.  I tried to get a photo but the windows were all fogging up so I had to rub some condensation away to get a clear shot - light bulb moment!  A few grey hairs hours later using PicMonkey and there you have it!

So why the face lift?  Well this little quilty blogger is going to be part of the oh.so.wonderful New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop run by Beth from Plum and June.

{something borrowed}

The Blog Hop starts next week and will give you a chance to meet some fresh new faces in the quilting blogging world.  So pop on over to meet Beth from Plum and June and be sure to keep track of the up-and-coming events!  Ooooh it's going to be gooood!!

I've already had the wonderful opportunity of meeting my fellow newbies behind the scenes.  The Antipodeans of the group have decided to start a Round Robin - very improv - very cool!  We've called our little group Possum Magic.  You'll be seeing update of the quilts as they pass through my sewing machine, but in the meantime ...

{Something Bl .. oh, Green!}

... please pop over and say hello to my fellow Possums:

Alice of Blossom Quilts and Crafts
Carla of Granny Maud's Girl
Jane of Where Jane Creates
Jo of Riddle and Whimsy
Rebecca of One Wee Bird
Sharon of Motherdragon's Musings
Wendy of Wendy's Quilts and More

I'm really looking forward to seeing what quilts this Round Robin produces!

Now, that's enough techy stuff for one day ... time to go and fire up my sewing machine!

Serena x