Bag

I made this bag for a work friend as her partner has been diagnosed with dementia and I felt she needed something nice for herself.

I took the size and dimensions from a bag I was given when I purchased some threads.  It is the perfect size to carry a novel in so it doesn't get tatty.

Once I finished it, I didn't want to give it away but it was worth it when my friend was so thrilled with the gift.

Through the Trees

Here is "Through the Trees" finished.  I had a little bit of quilting to finish and then stitch the hanging sleeve on, which I kept putting off.  Finally finished it today.

I had a whole day to myself to sew and couldn't get in to anything.  Since I finished Lindsey's quilt, completed the backing for Cheryl's quilt and took it to be quilted, I felt lost.  Crazy really when I have so many UFO's that need attention.  I have started my next Halberg Group challenge which is using blue and white.  It won't be on the blog until after completion date of 30 Sept.

Lindsey's quilt "Peace in Waitakere"

I can put Lindsey's quilt on my blog now as it has arrived safely and she loves it.  "Peace in Waitakere"

I made this from a jellyroll using a Moda  jellyroll called Cherish Nature.  I wanted to make a lap quilt for Lindsey as she is undergoing Chemo at the moment.  Dennis and Lindsey live in Gravesend and I wasn't sure of her favourite colours.  Talking to Dennis on Skype one night, he directed me to a website with these colours on it so I then did a search of fabrics and came up with this range.  I then couldn't locate it here in NZ so ordered through the internet.

Once I had completed the top, I took it in to my local quilt shop to be told "you didn't buy that here"  as the range had come in to the shop that week.  Here was me thinking it was a range that had been out for ages and I had missed it.   I used a butterfly stencil on the blocks and free motion quilted the border.

I had a block left over so I made a cushion to match. As I didn't want to pay more postage than necessary, I sent the empty cushion cover (not quite empty as it contained peanut slabs for my brother) and apparently Lindsey was worried she would need to sew it.  It has a velcro opening on the back so no sewing required.

I wish I could pop over and see it in it's new home.  Get well soon Lindsey and enjoy the quilt.

Tapa Cloth

Last weekend the WQC workshop was "Tapa Cloth" with Hazel Foot.  It was a great class with the use of many techniques to achieve Hazel's tapa cloth effect.  There were 10 of us and everyone used different colours which made it even more interesting.  Here are the 3 blocks I made.

This is a 2 day workshop and day 2 is not until September so plenty of time to do more blocks.  I was going to use my stash for this one but discovered my stash was severely lacking in batiks so I bought a pack of blue and green fat 8ths.  I now need more so have to save my allowance.

Meanwhile I should really get back to finishing some of the items on my to do list.

Halberg Group Challenge

Here is my Halberg Group Challenge.  I set this challenge for the group which consists of 2 cousins and an Aunt.  The fairy fabric was supplied as a fat quarter and the theme was fairies in my garden.  I was scared to cut this beautiful fabric and I knew in my mind how I wanted the surround to look and was worried about my cutting calculations.  I did a mock up on EQ7 and when I wanted to check it out, my computer wouldn't boot up.  The hard drive had failed and has now been replaced but all that was on the hard drive is lost.  I have spent the day trying to load things back on to the computer.

Jenny Hunter Workshop

This months workshop at WQC was Jenny Hunter teaching "Through the Trees".  What a great day we had.  There were 17 in the class and by the end of the day we had all got most of the background completed.  It was the first time Jenny had taught this class and she wanted to see them all together.  Unfortunately no one had a camera so no photos to show the many variations.  Here is a photo of mine.  Now I need to do the quilting but that is going to have to wait as I have Agility tomorrow with my dogs and I have to go as it is my own Clubs' show.  It is bound to rain and no it is never cancelled.

Here are a couple of the blocks I completed at Kathleen's over Queens' Birthday weekend.  I still have the appliqué to do on the others.  Although I had the week off, it went very quickly and I didn't get the sewing done as planned.

On Thursday we went to choose the material for the raffle quilt.  It is gorgeous and I wish it was for me.

Sadly on Friday we were told that Betty (a very dear family friend of Stuart's) had a stroke and if we wanted to see her, best to go sooner.  So we went off to Auckland Hospital to see her.  It was very sad to see her unable to communicate and unable to move one side of her body.  Betty stepped in and helped out when 

Stuart's mother died and he has many fond memories of her.  She married Stuart and I at the Dilworth Chapel in 1987 and in March attended my 50th birthday lunch.

Queen's Birthday Weekend

Had a great weekend at my cousin Kathleen's.  We sewed for 3 days so managed to catch up with my BOM that I was getting behind on.  No photos yet as spent the day cleaning my car inside and out.  Inside covered in sand and dog hair and outside mud.  Now I intend to have a play with my EQ7