A bit of this and a bit of that

Sorry about the long wait between posts. It seems that life gets on the way sometimes. I am thinking about setting up a Facebook page linked to this blog so that I can quickly put up a couple of words as  I think of things I want to share with you.
First up a couple of projects to share.

Kaye has finished her Graceful Air, Land and Sea BOM quilt. Remember that this BOM was run in conjunction with the birthday design set that BFC Creations released last year. I am anxiously waiting to see what their anniversary set will be for this year and what I  can do with it. 

Kay's Graceful Air, Land and Sea BOM Quilt

Elizabeth has made a fantastic table runner using my new Pole Twist Table runner pattern.

If you are looking for some patterns to make into charity quilts etc then it is worth taking  a minute to have at look at Shannon Fabrics free patterns.
They have some lovely patterns to use up your stash and with a bit of creative thought you can adapt them to using machine embroidered block inclusions as well.

I hope to get my Polka Dot giraffe quilt completely finished over the weekend so we shall see how I go. For those who have not purchased the designs as yet they are very heavily reduced on the Embroidery Delight website for a few days. I have been doing too much standing and cutting out and my feet are paying for it now as I do not wear support shoes inside the house but think that now has to change. Old age!

We had a lovely day on Saturday as we met for my mother in law's 80th birthday lunch. My Mum and I did the flowers for the tables and think we did a pretty good job seeing that we used only flowers from our two gardens and not a penny was spent. We had a lovely day with friends and family.

80th Birthday table flowers

Quilt tops finished

This week has flown by so quickly. Monday was a trip to the dentist and then the little quilting/embroidery group that usually meets at my house on Tuesday afternoons met on Monday this week. Anna and I delivered the 19  Bridie's Blossoms packages to the hospital in Launceston on Tuesday. The midwife in charge of their items for angel babies is one of my former students from 32 years ago and even though we have been in contact she did not tell me who she was until Tuesday so that was a big surprise. I knew who she was straight away when she told me I used to teach her. She also gave me some lovely feedback on my outfits and I am working on a sleeve modification for the little dresses to make them even easier for the midwives to use. They welcomed the addition of the new Dad hankies we have included as keepsake items in our packages. 

Wednesday and today have been spent full steam ahead on two of my BOM's and those quilt tops are now finished. 

The Polka Dot Giraffe quilt was embroidered with just the one size of design and only 10 designs so that was a bit of a challenge but I think I got there. I will be sending out the instructions to a couple more of these blocks later on tonight. It would make a great sized quilt for a baby to use to snuggle in or perhaps even with a hanging sleeve would look wonderful on a wall in the nursery.

Polka Dot Giraffe BOM quilt top

The HIA Stack'Ems quilt top has the same border that the Forest Owls BOM will have. It is the perfect size quilt for  a little girl to have on her bed

HIA Stack Em BOM quilt top

The HIA Forest Owls is now the only one I am yet to complete as a quilt top so that will be my focus over the next week or so.

My week of sewing

You may remember that a fortnight ago the major hospital for the north of our state requested 19 Bridie's Blossoms packages to replace ones the had used and to have on hand should the unthinkable happen for a family and they are needed for their angel baby.

I have now completed those packages and will deliver them on Tuesday. I have made another design of dress, a little different fort he raglan sleeved bishop style dress I have been making and also added a new keepsake item to the packages.

The angel baby hanger is made in the hoop. I used the generous free download of the ITH Heart Sachet from Kreative Kiwi  .  I changed the text inside the heart and hooped the satin and thin batting to do the stitching. I then added the hanging ribbon before adding the back and finishing the stitching.

I was making a little stockpile of these this morning and all was going very well until I remembered that I had not added the hanging ribbon before I added the backing so a little bit of unpicking has been happening while I try to put the ribbon back through.

Angel Baby Hangers

the packages ready to be packed and boxed up are in the photos following

Bridie's Blossoms Packs 0-25 weeks for little girl angel babies

Bridie's Blossoms Packs 26-35 weeks for little girl angel babies

Bridie's Blossoms Packs 0-25 weeks for little boy angel babies



Bridie's Blossoms Packs 26-35 weeks for little boy angel babies

On Saturday, Anna, her mother in law Paulette and I attended the White Butterfly Memorial service for Infant and Pregnancy Loss. We had our Bridie's Blossoms packages on display and gave out our signature keepsake hankies to those people who wished to take one. We had some very positive feedback with many commenting on how they liked the new Angel Baby keepsake hangers especially to hang on the tree with Christmas approaching. The service was very well presented and the balloon release was particularly poignant and moving as the white balloons quickly moved up into the low lying clouds

Brisie's Blossoms at the White Butterfly Memorial Service

Saturday night last week we had this glorious sunset at Lillico Beach

This week I hope it will be back to doing our BOM's.



A Pole Twist Table Runner and 12 Hours of the Moon

Pat has sent me a pic of her finished Pole Twist Table runner. This is the pattern that I released on Sunday for free download. You can find my original version and download link on this page

Pat's Pole Twist Table Runner

Last night was just perfect for viewing the moon and the lunar eclipse. I managed to take some pics throughout the night finishing up with one of the moon when I got up around 5.00 am this morning. Most of them I took through the window of the sewing room as I did not relish the thought of rounding up an escapee fur baby in the dark.

Moon just before the eclipse 1

Moon just before the eclipse 2

Moon just before the eclipse 3

Shadow just starting to move across the moon

If you look careful you can se the red tinges starting to appear at the bottom of the moon rather like threads of saffron

Moon is nearly fully red in colour and became much harder to photograph

Moon at 5.00 am this morning

A little after 5.00 am with  a white ring around the moon. The white ring is produced by ice crystals associated with high level cloud and is also said by folklore to be sign of bad weather approaching. 

This could be the reason for the very colourful sunrise again this morning.

The sewing and embroidery machines are working overtime

Bridie's Blossoms packs underway

I was working on our BOM when I had an email from the major regional hospital requesting 19 Bridie's Blossoms packs and only 1 of them is the smaller 0-16 gestational age pack. At the time of writing this blog post  at around 2.00 pm Wednesday lunchtime I have finished all 19 flannelette backed quilt/blankets and their accompanying keepsake smaller quilts and have put them in their correctly named packets ready for me to start making the rest of the items to go in them.

I think that there will not be a BOM update for around two weeks but I am sure you all have projects to go on with.

We had a gorgeous sunrise on Monday morning in terms of colours and true enough there was rough weather ahead throughout the day on Monday and again Monday night. I hope that I have clear skies tonight to see the eclipse.

We had a delightful night on Saturday night at the Lillico penguins and we were lucky enough that a penguin decided to show itself before dark. I met a lovely young gentleman named Luke from Sydney who has been in Devonport working for a couple of weeks.He took these two photos below and sent them to me so that I could share them with you.

Little Penguin at Lillico 1

Little Penguin at Lillico 2

BOM updates

Today the sewing machine and computer keyboard have been running hot as I have sent a new block out for each of the three BOMs I am running. It has been an upside day, always seems to be with the first day of daylight saving.


Block 5 of Polka Dot giraffes has gone out

along with Block 8 of Stack'Ems

and Block 3 of Forest Owls

I have also stitched Blocks 1-3 of the Forest Owls BOM together.

Pole Twist Table Runner-Free Tutorial uploaded

Pole Twist Table Runner

I have just uploaded the tutorial for my new table runner that I have called the  Pole Twist Table Runner. I have used Christmas fabrics but of course it is a great pattern to use with any fabrics. The table runner is made with half square triangles and I have provided detailed instructions on the three main ways of making these so it is great for a beginner.

The runner measures 49 inches x 17 1/2 inches

This table runner is quick to piece in fact it took more time for me to write the tutorial than completely finish the runner. If making them for gift you could easily complete two in a day.

You need to email me for the pattern 

We are just about to leave to go and do our penguin guiding for the night but it is very cold so will need to rug up. Daylight saving also starts tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow it is back to doing some BOM blocks.

New Christmas Table Runner Sneek Peek

centre of new table runner

I have had this idea for a Christmas table runner for a while so decided to do it when I got out of bed this morning about 2 hours ago. It is going to be an easy and quick to put together runner. The centre section is below and I hope to have it finished with the tutorial posted either late this afternoon or early tomorrow. I know I should be doing the BOM blocks but we need to get our Christmas sewing underway as i read somewhere that it is only 15 Saturdays until Christmas. 

Plus sign quilt

A couple of weeks ago Jade one of my friends  asked me how to easily make a plus sign quilt. We came up with a cutting chart etc. using 4 1/2 inch squares and 12 1/2 inch x 4 1/2 inch rectangles. Jade made her first quilt over a weekend and this is another she has made

Jade's Plus quilt

Jenny from Missouri Star Quilt Co has come up with a video tutorial using charm squares. It is a great way to use scraps as well.

If you wish to make a scrappy plus sign quilt using 4 1/2 inch strips you will need for each plus sign
 two (2)     4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches squares and 
one (1)     12 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch rectangle of the same scrap fabric 

If you want to make one using 3 1/2 inch strips you will need for each plus sign
 two (2)     3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch squares and 
  one(1)     9 1/2 inch x 3 1/2 inch rectangle from the same scrap fabric 

We are adding another item to our Bridie's Blossoms packs and that is an embroidered hankie for fathers to have as their own keepsake. The word Dad will be embroidered as shown in either pink. blue or variegated thread for very early gestational size packs. I have managed to source some very reasonable cotton hankies from an overseas online auction site.

What a week!

When I look back over the past week it has gone in a blur.

Last Monday we started replacing the carpet and vinyl in the main living areas of the house. The last of the vinyl was replaced on Friday. All of those cabinets and nits were full and had to packed up, moved and unpacked again.

Lounge before

Lounge after

Saturday night was the first night of the new Lillico Little Penguins guiding season. It was cold but very enjoyable as we saw quite a few penguins emerging for the water. I took the pics below of the sunset

and seaweed on the beach.l I thought these two pieces of sponge looked like the indents in a human brain.

I have been meaning to take a pic looking through this bush to the beach for a while and although this one is good I will continue to take more.

On Sunday Anna( Bridie's Mum) and I had an information stall at the first Tasmanian Pregnancy Loss walkathon. Parents and friends came to walk in memory of their angel babies. It was a very windy day and my lovely satin table skirt would not hold so we had to use unflattering safety pins. We handed out quite a few of our keepsake hankies.

I must say a heartfelt thanks to Rachel who has generously sent these lovely lace angels to be included in future Bridie's Blossom's packs.

I have also finished lining the remaining nine little wooden boxes for the Gateway Church Heavens' Care program. One of our local businesses Jan's Discount Fabrics has generously provided the satin fabric wadding etc to complete these boxes over the last couple of years and continues to do so .

It is probably no surprise that yesterday was spent in my jamas and on the couch. I seem to have picked up an infection and had the chills in bed last night but things are much better today although I am still a bit under the weather. I hope to have the next lots of blocks out in our quilt BOM over the weekend .