Simply Chic,Pretty Please !

More Bags !

2009-06-25T16:56:00.001+10:00

Here are some more bags the other girls at the retreat made.

These are the Big Zippered Carry Bags .

Lots of Charm Square Totes.

Hope they are not all travelling together.!

Update on my Sewing and Quilting

2009-06-25T16:47:00.001+10:00

Well another reason for non blogging was I organised a retreat, which has now been and gone.! but it was very productive for all who went. We made bags and more bags and several lovely jelly roll quilt tops were finished. This is a lovely big bag made from charm squares, we also used a stiffer wadding, which gives the bag good stability. I now have this for sale.! the wadding that is.!

This is My jelly roll quilt I used Moda Natures Chorus and added borders. I will quilt this in a week or so when My visitors go home.!

My visit to New Zealand....

2009-06-25T16:33:00.001+10:00

I'm Back.!!!!!!!!!

Well has it really been nearly 2 months since I did a blog post, Oh dear where has time go .?? Well I went to New Zealand so here are a couple of photos of a lovely autumn spent there. Beautiful Colours of the Leaves on the trees

Mandarin's on My Mum's tree

Dahlia's in the Garden

Lemon and Paeroa, a yummy Lemon flavoured soft drink

Mum lives in Paeroa in the North Island the home of L & P as we called it when kid's.

STILL STITCHING

2009-04-26T11:47:00.001+10:00

At least you can still sew when it's raining .!!

Ive shown my sister how to make these little zippered bags, I sew the zip in by hand but she managed to come up with a way to put it in by machine. Susan made this one !

Yellow and blue a nice combinationPretty in Pink I think it's an Amy Butler.

The Bag on the left is a Hum Bug shape quite cute, I was sent a little one in a secret sister swap and worked out how to make it. Thanks Sue.!

Hello From NZ.

2009-04-19T10:04:00.001+10:00

Hello I'm in New Zealand.!! Ohhhh its a bit colder here than at home.!

Am visiting My Mum , and My sister Susan is here too. Chris has gone to Hamilton to the V8 Super cars. I have found a cute Patchwork shop right here in town.!

OOh Yumm Mum's yummy Cream Puffs ..!! Chris is getting spoiled Bacon and eggs for breakfast and this was dessert last night. I told him not to get used to it cause it won't happen at home.!!

Big Carry Bag

2009-04-06T21:10:00.001+10:00

My weekly group The Sewing Sisters Had a Bag Day Last week. Most of us started making this Lovely big zippered carry bag. I finished mine today. The fabric is Barefoot Roses by Tanya Whelan for Grand Revival. Again it is the same range of the quilt I am doing, I just love it and its taken me a long time to actually cut into it.!

It's oh so Shabby Chic , My favourite colours and style. The zipper I used is 22 inch so that will give you some idea of size Its a pattern by Cindy taylor - Oates Easy to make Totes with zippers.

It Has a Pocket on the side and one on the end, I think the next one I will use a firmer wadding. A nice bag to take a quilt in, when you go off on retreat.

QUILT BLOCKS ALL DONE.

These are the blocks from Zu Zu's Petals quilt , Just need to join them together and decide on the borders. It is supposed to have a row of the little half square triangle right around but I don't think i have enough of the fabrics to do that. Will have to think about it.

Mum can you make me a ......

2009-04-06T20:47:00.001+10:00

My oldest Daughter came around on Sunday and asked for a Bag to put her Lap Top in. The one I gave her had no padding so she said why don't you make me a quilted thingy to cushion it so.......off I went to the sewing room an hour or so later this is what I came up with. The Lap top slips in then it goes inside the bag. I put a button and loop on to hold it closed. I also used double wadding. It is made from scraps from the quilt I am making. She thought I could just use a couple of the blocks cause they were already done. I don't think so.!! Might have to make another one for me now. !

Retreat Fun. !!!

2009-03-25T21:15:00.001+10:00

Well aren't I the lucky one I was invited to attend a Retreat at Coolum with a bunch Of Fun Crazy ladies from Riverhead near Hervey Bay.!

I have started another quilt called Zu Zu's Petals from Aunt Rosies Autumn Quilts book. I have actually used some of my HolyRoses Fabric's! A range called Barefoot Roses.By Tanya Whelan.Look at all these little 1/2 square triangles 256 1/2 square triangles " Now thats one way to wear them !

We found a couple of Patchwork shops , and a really nice studio that sells mostly Jelly Rolls and Cakes and charms. Well worth a visit. Have a look on line at www.fabricpatch.com.au

I'm up to 23 !!

2009-03-21T08:12:00.001+10:00

I have now done 23 blocks on my Jane Journey, I still like the foundation paper pieced ones the best, although I sometimes have to twist and turn all those bits to get the block back in the right place.! This one is D 8 Dee Dee's Delight all hand appliqued I am slowly learning how to get those points neater......

K 11 Columbine this one was foundation paper. Real colour is much brighter. These are both from my lovely swap fabrics. This one is A1 , a Nice green.! No I am not doing my blocks row by row, and I am not picking out all the easy ones either.

Next Post I will show you what I have been working on this week. I'ts nearly finished !!

Look what The Postman bought me !!

2009-03-09T14:28:00.001+10:00

I have had 2 nice parcels . A week or so ago I recieved a neat package from My Secret Pal, This is a swap on The Dear Jane list I am on. Every month for a year our Pal sends us a package of goddies. I send one back to mine. I can't say where she is as she may read my blog.! This month I got these really nice D J Fabrics

I told my Pal I didn't like Icky greens, so she sent me greens so I could see not all greens are Icky, I love them and have already made 2 blocks with them.!

Today I recieved a package from Marianna B I sent Marianna a package of all the purples and pinks I started off my D J with, and now she has sent me back a wonderful package of Pinks

Reds and browns and a few purples

Gorgeous Yellow's and orange to rusts....

Some Cheater pieces, So cute, I will make a little bag with these.!

I love them all and can't wait to make D J blocks with them .!! Thank you So much Marianna.!!

Kyle's Quilt. !!

2009-03-09T11:56:00.001+10:00

At last I have finished Kyle's quilt, I made this at least 2 yrs ago.!!

I put it on the Next Generation Frame and quilted it with an allover design and some quilting to look like flames...... I am pretty pleased with how it has turned out.

Kyle's Motorbike quilt

A close up of the quilting. I bought this fabric while on holiday in hawaii over 3 yrs ago.!!

More Dear Jane.!! And Bush Fire Quilts !!

2009-03-05T23:40:00.001+10:00

I have now done 21 Dear Jane Blocks, and am still enjoying it. As long as I do 1- 2 a week I am happy.

Some of these were much harder than others, I think My applique is improving.

I've also been busy with making blocks for quilts for the Bushfire Appeal.

I showed the ladies in one of my groups how to do the quilt as you go blocks and they are starting to come back to me now.

BUSH FIRE QUILT BLOCKS

These are all the lovely quilt as you go Blocks . I'll post these off and then I'll have time to do the quilting on the top's.

I will be posting off 2 big parcels tomorrow.

I have also had donations of fabrics for backings. Thanks Lisa (Megelles) and I have 1 quilt from Chris at Sew Crazy, and another from Gail McKenzie that I have to quilt and bind.

I also sewed up 20 blocks this afternoon from a bunch of I spy blocks I have had in the cupboard for a while.

The Baptisim

2009-02-16T23:24:00.001+10:00

Well some of it anyway.! Photo's of the children after the baptism. We had the Baptism and then had a lunch back at our house, It was a great day. Talula outside the church.

Happy Snap's Cute as can be !! Do you like the ribbon granma put in my hair.!!

Bush Fire Quilts.!

2009-02-15T18:42:00.001+10:00

After hearing of the terrible fires down south several Lists I am on have started groups making quilts to be given to the family's that have lost everything. I am acting as a drop off point to collect quilts and blocks to be sent to Victoria. A couple of sewing groups I am in have decided to make blocks or quilts. I started the other day by taking wadding squares and fabrics to Sewing group and several ladies there are doing blocks to. Quilt as you go blocks

Lots of blocks

Reverse of quilt as you go blocks

These blocks have been trimmed to 11 inches and once joined together will make nice bright quilts .easy to do and fast.

I have also offered to do simple quilting of tops on my frame, so if you have any tops you would like to donate or would like to make blocks, please email me at pamchris55@gmail.com and I can send you postal details. You can also send blocks direct to Janmac

This is Jan's blog for the quilts htpp://ozcomfortquilts.blogspot.com

I will be sewing blocks all day tomorrow !!

I have visitors !!!

2009-02-10T20:44:00.001+10:00

Look who has come to stay, a little princess.

Talula after her Baptisim on Sunday 8.5 months old now full of smiles and always happy.!!Dylan with his new Mug Dylan with Kyle, number 1 grandson.

What is this ????

2009-01-24T16:32:00.001+10:00

Can anyone tell me what this is ?

Oh I remember It's a cutting table, I haven't seen it for a while......I spent the morning putting things away, tossing stuff that is just put on it because...folded down one of the flaps turned it sideways, put 3 of those 4 drawer plastic draw sets along the wall and can now get to the cutting table easier to the right of it is the quilt frame so it will be much easier to use it now.

There was still room to pack a couple of tubs, and my mailing envelopes and boxes underneath.

Should be much better.!

It's Friday and the biscuit tin is empty so

2009-01-23T22:41:00.001+10:00

I made my other halfs favourite slice .

Chocolate Fudge , Its a no bake recipie so nice and easy.

Take 125 gms butter Icing Icing sugar spoon of butter

125 gms sugar 2 Tblsp Cocoa a little boiling water to

2 tablespoons Cocoa mix. Mix together spread on slice.

and melt together in a saucepan on the stove.

Crush one packet of plain sweet biscuits, pour melted mix over and combine, add one beaten egg, and press into slice tin lined with baking paper. Ice with chocolate icing and cut while warm, then place in fridge to set..

Enjoy!! Before icing

After Icing

A MOUNTAIN OF SCRAPS !!!

2009-01-23T22:30:00.001+10:00

Oh Where did all this fabric come from, I think it must be breeding, from tiny little squares and bigger pieces and lots of strips,where do you start. This is just a fraction of it . But wait there's more !!

More Florals

Iv'e sorted into types and colours . This lot is very bitty so will take to the Op Shop.

There is good fabric in there but I am sure someone needs it more than me.!!

Talk about Tricky

2009-01-19T16:15:00.001+10:00

I did the BOW (block of the week) for the dear jane list that I am on. This one is L 10 Nan's Naird's , Oh my gosh there are over 50 tiny little pieces in this one, I'ts not perfect but it will do, Took ages....and my trusty snips got a little use when I did it wrong.!!

Now for an easy one !!

Dear Jane Again.!

2009-01-17T18:30:00.001+10:00

Here are another few Dear Jane blocks D 3 Jason's Jacks

B1 Batchelor's Buttons

E9 Quilt Jail

A 1 One Two Buckle My Shoe

Some of them take a little while to do, and I have been doing other projects too.! I have another couple I am appliqueing while watching T.V with himself of a night.!

And working in the Garden.......That's what happen's when you bring home 7 big boxes of plant's. I finished up a couple of Swap blocks this week,almost 3 months ahead of time, I know mine are soon to be on their way home to me, Butterflies applique in 1930's prints .

More Dear Jane Blocks

2009-01-09T18:45:00.001+10:00

I have finally had time to sit down with the Dear Jane Software and figure out how to print blocks and patterns . I just made 2 blocks an easy one and a fairly fiddly foundation pieced . I am so pleased I can do it.! This one is A6 Uncle Homer

This is A4 Courtney's Stethoscope

I showed my Husband and told him how many blocks I had to make and he said "Can't you just buy them " !!! Do I have to look at them all.? Now to decide which one I'll do next !!

Beach Holiday

2009-01-08T12:36:00.001+10:00

This Is Moore Park Beach It's near Bundaberg in Queensland, We just spent 12 days there over Christmas in our new caravan. It is one of few parks that let you take dogs so Thats why we go there also friends from the 4x4 club go there every year too. The Caravan Fun On the sand Blo Carts ! The view from the Van.

Sophie Dog Checking out the sandhills.

Christmas Sales and Holidays !!

2009-01-06T15:12:00.001+10:00

Post Christmas Sales seem to be everywhere, Well I found a few Goodies today when I took Kyle To spend his birthday money At Westfield. He bought a huge Lego set. I found a Lovely notebook, fabric covered too, also a matching 12 part file and a document box. Now what is she going to keep up with, the paper work, NO WAY.!!

I am going to use the book for my Dear Jane Journal, and the folder and the box for templates and FINISHED BLOCKS.!! Its very pretty and only cost $ 23.00 for the 3 items .!! So I hope to keep track of My Dear Jane Journey.

Here are is the set of three. Look the Journal even has coloured and lined pages .

Talula's Christmas Dress

2008-12-21T23:08:00.000+10:00

I made this little shirred dress for Talula to wear on Christmas day,It's so cute I have posted it, Overnight express which will still take 2 days to get to Port Hedland in W.A. Better than 10 days or more by normal post. I hope to get a picture back of her wearing it.!
Merry Christmas Talula !

Christmas Lunch Sew Sisters

2008-12-21T22:59:00.000+10:00

Here we all are having a nice time ! Merry Christmas !!!