First top done!

Here is the first of the four tops I need to do.
At least that's my attempt at an arty shot of it! I was quite pleased with how quickly it came together - took just over 2 hours sewing time, a little longer when you factor in the getting up to put washing on the line and make kids lunch.

I'm thinking it may need another, slightly thicker border is a single solid colour to frame it. What do you think? Any colour suggestions??
I'm thinking of trying to set one on point too - but it won't be until I near the end and I know I have time to stuff around!

I also sewed the nine patches for the second one

and started the nine patches for the third.
(They're the messy pile of chain pieced fabric near the machine!)

All in all, a most productive day!

This is...

what 324 3.5in squares look like divided into 4 piles!

(Sorry about the crappy photo, not good light here today!) Don't you love that bug fabric on the top? I think it's my favourite. Now to sew them together!

Fussy Cutting Frenzy

First of all, a big thank you for all the positive comments. You have all made my day and given me a bit of confidence to believe I can actually pull this off!

So, I was suppose to get up at 4.45 this morning to go paddling the outrigger, but when I woke, the clock said 5.08! Oops! Set the alarm - didn't turn it on! Felt so guilty, I couldn't go back to sleep so decided to get up and do some cutting. My morning start looked like this

A cup of tea, and fabric to cut! I need 4 x 3.5in squares from 81 different fabrics for these quilts. That makes a grand total of 324 squares! The other day I cut 16 fabrics, this morning 14. 30 fabrics down, 51 to go. 120 squares down, 204 to go. The title "Fussy Cutting Frenzy" came to me while I was, surprisingly, fussy cutting several of the fabrics. While I didn't have to fussy cut all the fabrics, it was needed on several. Slows down the process significantly, but worth the effort.

I actually managed to get close to an hours peace. The rule in this house is children are not allowed out of their rooms until 6am. Luke can tell the time on his digital clock and Kira knows not to come out until Luke does. At 6 on the dot, they both came tumbling down the stairs, spied my cup of tea and immediately asked for one.

What a perfect way to start the morning!

BTW - had an idea for something while I was cutting this morning - stay tuned and I'll let you know more when I work out if it can actually work.

It will either be and great success or a huge failure!

I don't know if you have noticed, but lately my sewing motivation seems to have packed up and gone. Not sure where, but I wouldn't be surprised if the half dozen people who read my blog have gone with it! I have no real excuses for my lack of motivation, life is no busier than usual, no major upheavals to be dealt with, just a feeling of lethargy when it comes to sewing. So, I have made a decision - I either give up or try and sew my way out of it! As the title says, it will either be a great success or a huge failure! First step was to finally set up a table in a corner and put my sewing machine on it. The idea being an easily accessible machine will hopefully inspire me to actually use it!

It doesn't look much and the cover is not off the machine, but it's a start. The window gives lovely natural light (although not so obvious today with it being cloudy!) and it's at least somewhere in the house that I can call mine.

The second was to decide on a project. The obvious one was to finish the back that is a front quilt, but despite the brilliant ideas from some lovely readers I'm just not feeling the love for it at the moment. So I've decided to go big! It's time to try and knock out a couple of quilts for teachers and carers! I've decided on eye spy quilts. I need three. I'm going to attempt 4. The challenge, to have it done in time for last day of school - Friday December 11. Can I do it? I hope so!! The quilts will all be the same design so hopefully that will make it easier. A start has been made. Fabrics have been chosen, design settled on and cutting has commenced. This is what my dining room table currently looks like.


I'm starting to feel interested, excited even! I want to blog about this on a very regular basis so I stay accountable in some way. Would love some feedback to cheer me on! I'll even come up with a giveaway at the end to thank those who keep my spirits bolstered! An entry for every time you make a comment, and it will be drawn on December 14 regardless of whether I have finished or not. In return, I promise to start making more comments on your blogs. Are you ready?? I hope I am!

Currently reading...

Once again, due to my slack blogging skills, I am playing catch up! Two books for you today.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. Having read the first one, the OCD in me now insists I read the rest. I put this on order at the library thinking as number thirty something in line it would take ages to get to me. Took less than 2 weeks! Given it's popularity, it's a short loan book (2 weeks instead of 4) and not renewable (funnily enough) so I picked it up as soon as I finished my last book. Didn't take me long to read and I will put the next one on hold when I'm at the library next.

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer. This is the next book for our book group. It took me awhile to get into it, but am quite enjoying it now.

This brings my total of books finished to 49. Geoff will be number 50! My break down is:

Kids books - 13
Young adults - 2
Adult - 34.

Although looking at the list I can't find Twilight, so maybe it should be 50 read, 3 of them young adult. I'd like to get as close to 34 adult books as I can. The high kids books number was mainly due to the Harry Potter series and The Series of Unfortunate Events.

Currently reading...

Prince of Darkness by Sharon Kay Penman

One of those authors whose back catalogue I've been working my way through. This is the second last of hers. Will be sad when it's over, I quite like they way she writes. Back here
I said I didn't enjoy her mystery fiction as much as her pure historical fiction. Later on I said I was enjoying them more. This one I am positively devouring!

Sampaguita Quilts Giveaway!

If you have never checked out Emma's blog, Sampaguita Quilts, I suggest you do so right now! She is one ultra talented woman and she has just opened her own etsy shop! To celebrate, she is hosting a giveaway with the kit for this quilt as the prize.

Not only that, she gives you the chance to have more than one entry simply by posting on your blog or buying one of her quilts! What I want to know though, if I win and make the quilt top, will she quilt it for me???

Meanwhile, Xena has posted a meme I thought I'd have a go at. Answers are suppose to be one word! Not sure if I can limit myself!

1. Where is your mobile phone? bag.

2. Your hair? needs a cut (broken the one workd thing already!)

3. Your mother? Canberra

4. Your father? hmmm....

5. Your favourite food? pasta

6. Your dream last night? no idea!

7. Your favourite drink? Champagne

8. Your dream/goal? Happy healthy kids

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? sewing

11. Your fear? blindness

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where were you last night? friends

14. Something that you aren’t? skinny!

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? hmmm, where to start

17. Where did you grow up? Canberra

18. Last thing you did? Took Luke to nippers

19. What are you wearing? Shorts and Coochiemudlo Island Surf Life Saving Club T-shirt

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pet? Odo the lizard and Grassy the budgie

22. Friends? plentiful

23. Your life? fantastic

24. Your mood? bit tired, but apart from that good!

25. Missing someone? Mates in Canberra

26. Vehicle? two

27. Something you’re not wearing? makeup

28. Your favorite store? Ikea

29. Your favorite color? red

30. When was the last time you laughed? last night

31. Last time you cried? after my eye surgery

32. Your best friend?Jo

33. One place that I go to over and over? the mainland

34. One person who emails me regularly? Megan

35. Favorite place to eat? Anywhere I don't have to cook!