Machine frenzy

I'm determined to give my new machine a good workout to make sure everything is ok...I didn't have much luck with my last :( So I've continued with the blocks I started last weekend for my Gossip in the Garden Quilt...

...and while the kids were out partying and the hubby was listening to the football I thought I'd keep on going with the machine.  I've been making one of Leanne Beazley's block of the month for a while now. Actually, I completed a lot of the hand work ages ago but didn't seem to get to the piecing side of things (sounds like a common theme with my projects!!). Anyway, I found the fabric I had put aside and worked like a demon, and now I have all my little checkerboards ready to go...

Wow..this blogging thing is really motivating...I seem to be doing more, and more regularly, than ever before...love looking at all your posts.  Thanks for taking the time to look at mine.

FNSI

Well it's been a while since I've sat at my machine piecing little squares and half square triangles, as I've had constant problems with my sewing machine.  So what's a girl to do...buy a new one of course!

I picked up my new machine yesterday so I had to give it a whirl...

I've been working on Anni Down's Gossip in the Garden since she released it ( yes I know, it's been a while!!), and I've really enjoyed the handwork but have successfully avoided every single bit of machine work...until now.

I started with this one

Then this

And I'm ready to go on a few more

I'm loving this quilt even more as it comes together. I'll post some pics of more blocks soon...the machine is calling! 

Friday Night Sew In

I'm a late starter tonight as I watched my son's soccer semi final first...but I was keen to get home as I just picked up my new machine...so I'll be putting my hand sewing aside and give it good workout...

Having fun with hexies

I've managed to sew a few of those hexies together after deciding to make a pencil case to match a few items I  made earlier this year.

This bag was built around my first needleturn project I did in classes with Debbie Donegan at Everything Country...all my favourite colours.

(front)

 (back)

With the scraps, I decided to make Anni Downes' cute turtle pincushion and pencil case from her book The Simple Life.  These were really fun to make and a great distraction from the quilt I'm making...

  

So why not make another pencil case?  This time for my cutters.  I'm planning for the hexies to be the back and I'm waiting for some inspiration to come my way for a design on the front.

I could be waiting a long time...and I really need to get back to my quilt!!!!

FNwF

My first FNwF and I managed to do some finishing touches to a pincushion I've been making from Anni Down's book, Some Kind of Wonderful.

I knew I had a weekend of hospital visits ahead of me so spent the rest of my time preparing some hexagons from my scrap bag...

I'm loving the rotating cutting mat...which I was sure I would never use!

and now I'm ready to play

I have no idea what I'm going to make with these...I'm hoping it will come to me...soon!

Thanks for having me...

Helloooo

After enjoying your blogs for a while I thought I'd enter the blogging world and join you.  I've been patchworking for a number of years now, but to be honest, it's the cups of tea, the cakes and the 'sisterhood' that I like the most.  

Thank you Chooky for your encouragement and help in getting me stared...here goes...

We've had a new addition to the family, so I had a great excuse to spend many hours in my sewing room.  I sketched a design (it was very sketchy!!!!) and was lucky to have my talented daughter home who drew it all to the scale I needed.

I decided to give raw edge applique another go...it had been a long time since I'd tried this but the excitement of the new baby made me fearless!!!...the owl theme was pretty strong in the nursery so a mumma and baby owl seemed perfect...and the bunting....well that's her name!! Simple I know, but I'm really happy with it.

Here's a closer look at the applique...

...and here's the christening....

...yep...she took one look at the owl...and pewked!!!!