September 30th and Oh So Close!

Well today is the Angels Story Club's 1st deadline - Quilt top completed - and I'm so close, if only I didn't have to come to work I'd have had it done. Just got the outer border to put on and a little stitching on some angels. Here it is, almost complete.

Stina I tried so hard, I really did, but by 11pm last night I could try no more, I was cold and tired. Good luck to the rest of the club members, I'll be checking out your sites to see your completed tops!

Shrinky Pins

Pop over to If Only I Had Chocolate and Sarah will show you how to make these gorgeous little pins

Punchneedle Tool Holder

Remember those valdani threads I showed in the previous post, well I've used them to create this great punchneedle tool holder a design by Annie Downs.

I usually use DMC Pearl 8's for punchneedle but I love the effect the variagations produce, here's a close up.

Photo doesn't do them any justice, they look much better in real life!

Well I'm off this computer now, need to focus back on my Angel's Story Quilt, 30th September deadline is looming for the quilt top to be finished.

....and this is what I bought at the Gathering

.....lots of hand dyed wools, (perfect for Annie Downs' xmas baubles), rusty bells, valdani threads, ric-rac and some pretty fabric to make a punchneedle holder.

Here's a close up of the valdani threads, they're hand dyed and perfect for punchneedle embroidery.

aren't they just delicious!!!

......and here's the patterns I bought

No idea when I'll get to make these as I've got patterns from the last gathering still to do!!

The Quilted Crow's Xmas Gathering 2008

What a fantastic day I had yesterday, it was The Quilted Crow's Xmas Gathering! I stitched, chatted, caught up with friends, made new friends and even met up with some Tassie Bloggers thus making more new friends. My Mum accompanied me on this trip, she enjoyed herself and wants to come along to the next one. So here's some pics from the event.

First Up is the group of Tassie Bloogers, apart from one,Harmony Junkie, who was taking the pic. Left to right (Back) Me, Hugs n' Kisses, Stitchin School Girl, My Beautiful Girls, Lizzie's Page, (Front) Auntie's Quaint Quilts, Highland Quilter and If only I had chocolate. Check out their blogs for more great photos.

Guest tutors for the day were Annie Downs of Hatched and Patched and Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse(no Blog but I worked on her!) Some great projects were on offer, with all the chit-chat, shopping and eating I really didn't get much done. These are a few of the projects we could choose from

Bag by Annie Downs

Wool Felt Xmas Baubles by Annie Downs

Wool Felt Cones by Leonnie (Quilted Crow)

Xmas Trio by Natalie Bird

The Shop, where I bought lots of goodies but I'll post about them next time!

Iwas really tired afterwards but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Some of us bloggers arranged our own little swap doing 6 of one design of the xmas baubles so we'll all end up with a full set.

And last but not least, here's a pic of the original Angel's Story Quilt made by Annie Downs, it was great to see how it was quilted. Did you know that Annie prefers to do all her quilting by hand, it is so beautiful and her stitching is perfect. I took along my blocks and showed Annie, she loved the colours I chose and I have to send her a photo of the completed quilt.

Need at least 10 more hours in the day....

.....at least so I can finish more projects. Last night I finished Lynette Anderson's Scissor Keep "Here's Kitty", I'm not so happy with my herringbone stitch though, it's not very neat, I need more practice.

I've also completed the stitchery for May Britt's little bag and pieced together the last 6 angels for my Angel's Story quilt, all I need now it time! There's also gifts to make for Chookyblue's SSCS 2008 + finish off a couple my Stitcher's Angel projects for my secret partner. Hmmm must be time for another clue, she loves to cook!

Anyway enough wasting time on this computer back to needle and thread!

Cute Fabric Baskets

Have you seen these little cuties popping up over blogland? The tutorial is available on Pink Penguin's blog. They are so simple to make and make great gifts. This one is for someone special and I'll fill it with lots of goodies!

And the Winners are......

Yes you heard me "winners", I decided in the end to give away two little parcels and the lucky ones are........

Julia from Little Girl Quilts

and

Ann J from Enbellefrance

Congratulations! Julia please email me your postal address, Ann I have yours from the PIF.

Thank-you everyone for reading my blog, your support and encouragement means so much to me, as I tell all my friends "Blogging is good for my soul!"

50th post, blog award, shopping and 2 giveaways

Julie has bestowed an award upon me, the Tim Tam balls did their magic and made her believe I'm a great quilter when actually I haven't made many quilts at all, lots of dolls and bags yes but I haven't made many quilts. The ones I have made have been cot size or knee rug size, I'm only just starting on the bigger stuff now. Actually An Angel Story will be the first big one I've done. My ambition is to do The Dear Jane one day. Oh and back to the award I'm supposed to pick some other bloggers but I can't choose I have so many favourites. So to all those blogs I've read and left comments on this award is for you too, keep doing what you're doing cause I love it!! I'm progressing on those angel blocks, finished another 4, only have 6 to go. Stina not sure if I'll be able to make the September deadline but I'm aiming for fully quilted by January.

We drove to Launceston on the weekend to visit some friends, I got a chance to pop upto Exeter to check out Calico Crossroads, run by Pauline and her DH. I couldn't help myself and bought some lush fabrics, Pauline's DH was ever so helpful in Pauline's absence.

I suppose you're wondering when I'm going to get to the giveaways, well firstly bloghop you're way over to Kerry Gillespie of "My Favourite Things", she wants to know if you've ever found any friends or relatives over the internet.

Secondly because this is my 50th post, I'm going to giveaway some Xmassy bits and pieces, so leave a comment on this post only, I'll be drawing it on Friday at 7:30pm Aussie time......Good Luck to all!!!!

Lunchtime Surprise

I sometimes pop home for lunch to get a break from work and today was well worth it, look what had arrived........it's from Julie. Julie and I had arranged a private swap, she sent me some great goodies. Sweets.....
Beautiful fabric and tape..... These Bobbin Bikinis, never heard of these before so here's the instructions for anyone else wondering what they're for.... and of course what we were really swapping..... Magazine!! This mag I was especially after because Annie Downs from Hatched and Patched has a project in it but it has other great projects too, lots to keep me busy!! Thank-you so much Julie, it was a fun swap!!
Pop on over to Julie's blog to see what I sent her.