I Won

Big surprise when I looked at Melly's blog the other day and saw my name listed as a winner of one of her new patterns - thrilled to bits today when the pattern for the hobby horse arrived.

Thank you  Melly.

"Oh come with us and gallop, and gallop, and gallop ..."  Takes me back to when Elizabeth was a little girl and John made her a hobby horse to ride when she watched "Romper Room".

Getting There

On Sunday I quilted the Bright Scrappy Spiderweb quilt - this is a view of a little part of the backing.  The thread is actually variegated blue.  Just waiting for some more of the binding fabric to arrive and I can finish the quilt - will post a photo of the whole quilt then (hopefully an in focus photo - I've been using John's digital slr camera and haven't worked it out properly yet).

Another "Sweet Pea's Quilt" block is finished.

And this is what I started last night -  "Poky Little Puppy" - just so cute.  The pattern is a freebie available here.  I came across this pattern and the fabrics a couple of months ago and showed my dear friend, Barbara, who became a great-auntie in August.  Turns out this story was the all-time favourite of the baby's dad and Barbara asked me to buy some fabrics and make the quilt for the new baby.  As the baby is a little girl we decided to change some of the colours/fabrics to make it a little prettier.

John had a wonderful time on his weekend away - 30 motorbikes riding through the Snowy Mountains into Victoria, ever-changing weather conditions, over 2,000 kms.  On Friday night Mum and I went to see "The Time Traveller's Wife" - I've had this book beside my bed for over a year now and just haven't been able to concentrate enough to read it (in fact I've read very little this year).  We both enjoyed the movie and I'm hoping that I'll read the book over the holidays.

Scrappy Spiderwebs

Quick (dark) photo of the finished scrappy spiderweb blocks ready to be sewn together - 56 all up.

John is planning to go on a 3-day motorbike ride to the Snowy Mtns this weekend, so I'm looking forward to at least one day at home alone quilting this quilt.  Would be fantastic if it's together and quilted by Sunday night. Think I'm going Christmas shopping with a girlfriend on Saturday.

Next up Poky Little Puppy quilt (for girlfriend's niece) and some Christmas-present sewing.

Stitching Again

Not much to show for the last couple of weeks - still sewing scrappy spiderwebs - 39.5 blocks down, 16.5 to go and then the quilt can be put together. I work better with a deadline looming (12 December) and I'm hoping to have a weekend at home alone soon, which will give me a chance to really get on with this quilt.

Finally felt like doing some hand-stitching and have completed one "Sweet Pea's Quilt" block. It looks nice in all red/white/cream (the mother-to-be's favourite colour is red). I'm using DMC 115 variegated garnet for the stitcheries and 304 for the appliques - the flower is chenille and I'm thinking about using chenille for one of the outer borders.


Still lots of machine embroidery happening - love the elf and have a few more in this set of designs - tea towels, placemats, serviettes.


Our baby girl has 7 days of prac teaching to go after which she will be finished uni for good and able to be registered with the Dept of Education to apply for a real job. Graduation for her Dip Ed is in December - will have to come up with a pretty good present I think.

Catch Up

Nothing new to show this week - lots of machine embroidery happening for Christmas presents but no photos taken yet, zooming away on scrappy spiderweb blocks and lots of cutting out. Not in the mood for hand-stitching lately - can't remember the last time I stitched at lunchtime; so I'm hoping that will remedy itself soon. I wrote up a "Christmas Sewing" list the other day - now that's a bit scary.

To add a bit of colour to this post, a of photo from pre-blogging days: "Gentle Arts" embroidered pail designed by Lesley McConnell of "Faeries in my Garden"