Humour alert needed

Have you ever had one of those moments when you read something and it just makes you cry with laughing, well that's the case with Barbs blog post that I just read. If you click HERE you too can go read what just caused me to sound like a pack of hyenas crossed with Mutley. How funny....and as per my post subject line, it really should've come with a warning shouldn't it?  Well you can't really answer that until you've read the post....let me know if it made you laugh too....I'll wait for you to go read it.....lol

Aussie Hero Quilt #1

There's a slight chance I haven't mentioned my prior disgust at this quilt on the blog, but oh did it give me the irits when my planned 'quick strippy' quilt as you go quilt didn't go according to plan.  I shot it all in a pile in another room when I hit a hurdle with the construction.

What's a gal to do when none of the squares lined up when I tried to join them via the video tutorial instructions....I trimmed all the squares (Thanks to Sharina for stopping me setting fire to them!) and they've now been joined a different way altogether.  I think the original layout was different, but I don't think it looks too bad the way it's ended up looking.

Here's a close up pic of one of the particular blocks....check out the fabric I managed to utilise in the quilt....this was one of many fabrics donated to me a while back from a Facebook Friend, as were a few of the other ones in this quilt.  How fitting is the wording on that one??? 

Here's a pic of the back of the quilt, showing the label I made for it.  Every time I tried to snap a pic of the back, the breeze picked up and blew the bottom of the quilt a bit....I gave up trying to get one of it just hanging nicely lol  Oh and introducing my own personal quilt police...Blackie the cat!  I'm not quite sure what he turned to look at, but he could've at least stayed gazing up at the quilt, which is what he was doing before I snapped the photo!

And a close up of the label, you may need to click on the pic to see it a bit clearer.

Now, this quilt is off to an undisclosed destination, however I can let you know it's going to a Naval officer.

I made use of an Aussie Flag panel on the front of the laundry bag, and popped his initials on the back...so that he can easily identify his 'washing' no matter which way his bag is facing!  I have a pic of the back, but won't share that just yet....not that I expect he reads my blog, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to or not, so will play safe and not show it.

A little birdie told us that he's getting engaged soon, so I've popped an Engagement Card in the box with the quilt etc, from all at Aussie Hero Quilts.  Hopefully we'll hear back when the box arrives, and I can share a pic or a link to a pic over at the AHQ website of him receiving his package, which his 'boss' has organised for him.

If there was any room in the box (which there won't be unfortunately), I would squish in a beanie that I've crocheted, but I may save those for the Christmas Welfare mailing, as mentioned on the AHQ blog last night.

Don't forget, if you want to help out, or just read more about what everyone else is up to, then please scoot on over to the AHQ blog...don't forget to tell Jan-Maree that I sent you!

Measly results of FNSI

As pathetic as it seems, this was all I managed for FNSI, even though I was awake ALL night!  I did however plot plan several secret projects that are for future swaps, so they will be revealed at a later date!

 I managed to make a few siggy blocks for a swap I'm hosting on Facebook....we have over 70 members now, although a few have left the swap due to them having enough blocks for their projects.  One had chosen Christmas themed fabrics, and is going to make a Christmas table cloth with her siggy blocks...how fun is that?  It'll certainly be a talking point in her family for years to come hey?

I know you're probably all shocked to see what I choose as my centre adornment right? lol  Of course it's an owl...and it's a cute one hey?  Wish I could say I drew it, but it was off a quilt pattern and I just reduced its size till it was the right size for the siggies.  I add the heart though!

Aussie Heroes

Some of you already know that I have a close working relationship with my wonderful online friend Jan Maree, the "matriarch" so to speak, behind Aussie Hero Quilts & Laundry Bags, and that's because you do too. But for those of you who haven't heard of us....we're a bunch of quilters/sewists, mainly from all over Australia, who are making quilts and laundry bags for our Soldiers (whether they are Air Force, Army or Navy) serving overseas, whether that is Afghanistan, East Timor, in fact anywhere where we (Australia) have a 'presence' is where we'll send quilts to them.

The quilts are theirs to keep, even after they return home, but in order to spread the word, we need YOU!  If you know anyone within the armed forces serving overseas, or about to, please ask them if they've heard of Aussie Heroes and if they haven't, send them a link to the blog  or a link for the group on Facebook (Jan-Maree is looking for 9 more likers before the end of this weekend....go on, you know you want to lol)

Us friends of Aussie Heroes, do what we do with love, respect and most importantly, gratitude for our Aussie Heroes efforts.  We're all about the people, not the politics or the mission.

If you have time and the ability to make a quilt or a laundry bag, you can find all the info at the top of the blog page.  There's also an option to donate fabric (100% quilters cotton please), cotton batting or a donation into the bank account to allow batting etc to be bought and shared amongst those Friends of Aussie Heroes who need it.

For anyone just hearing about Aussie Hero Quilts (AHQ) for the first time, here's a brief run down on what's been achieved by AHQ since inception about 10 or so months ago.  Well over 300 quilts have either been mailed to Aussie Soldiers around the world, or are being geared up for mailing in the coming weeks.  Countless Laundry bags have been sent and numerous care packages (Tim Tams etc - listed here)

I've snuck out from my hidey hole

OMG, you must be thinking I'm so rude....over a month with no post....must be a world record for me...ok so not quite, but pretty darn close....I can't keep my mouth shut this long in real life so I don't see why the blog should be any different. I won't bore you with long drawn out excuses....suffice to say, two things, the flu and a sore big toe! So I bet you're wondering what's dragged me out of silence, right?

Friday night sew in.....it's on again tonight...well for us in the Southern Hemisphere it's tonight, but for those in the Northern Hemisphere it's on tomorrow night....you can still click below and head on over to sign up.  I'm in, will you be????

WOO HOO, it's finally on again!

Yes, it's soooo exciting, Khristina is hosting her annual F-R-I-E-N-D-S swap again.  I look forward to this swap every year, and have been sending Khristina reminders every few weeks or so about putting this on again....and YAY for Khristina, it's on again.  Sign ups close on 19th June Australian time, with your parcel to be sent to your partner no later than 6th August.....full rules are over on her blog, which you can reach by clicking on the pic above.  Hope to see you there.

Any takers???

For a siggy block swap????  I'm in several 'quilty' groups on Facebook, one being Just Us Quilters or JUQ as some of refer to it.  Well I'm hosting a siggy block swap on that group, using the tutorial found here and we've all found this to be a relatively easy block to make, once the two corners are taken off of two of the triangles (I know I personally found this confusing at first, but now I can do them easy peasy!) which you'll understand if you go view the tutorial.

Currently there's 28 people in the swap, but the dilemma we're having, is we've all already swapped blocks with each other, so we're on the prowl for new people to add to the group...You don't necessarily have to have a Facebook account, but it would help!

Here's some of the blocks I've received so far:

And I'd really love to get enough together to make a quilt, and 4 isn't quite enough!

One of the swappers, was lucky enough to buy some siggy blocks at a garage sale and amongst them found she had some well known peoples blocks in there....so if you're 'famous' please don't let that deter you from joining in with us...we're happy to have some of the more well known people as we're also happy to have people just like you and me too *winks*

You can be as creative or as basic as you feel able, and this swap doesn't have a time limit on it....so if at any time you wish to stop participating, you just let me know and I'll remove your name from the list.

If you wish to join in, then please either leave a comment here, or add me on Facebook (Naomi Vela) and let me know you want in on the Siggy Block Swap....we even have our own private group on there lol

Hope to have you join us soon.

Needlecase Workshop

Today, Polly and I went to the Lake Bonney Quilters group, as we have been doing for the last few weeks.  Some of the women noticed my needlecase, that I made myself a while back, using Khristina's tutorial, and asked if I'd do a workshop on how to make them.  So I emailed Khristina to make sure she didn't mind me printing it off for the ladies to use, and of course, being her usual generous self, Khristina was happy for me to do the workshop.

I printed off copies of the tutorial, and using some 'recycled' cardboard (from cereal packets and cat food packets!) Polly & I traced off the templates for the quilters.

Well, I must say, it was a fun day.....everyone who wanted to make themselves a needlecase managed to make them up....all before lunchtime....which apparently is a bit of a novelty, as they usually have to take workshop projects home, and finish them later.

Here's a pic of most of the ones that were sewn today.....I think a couple of the ladies, one in particular, made more than one, but I only photographed their 'firsts' lol

One of the ladies bought along some buttons to share out (thanks Julie) and her needlecase is the dark green one on the right hand side with the pink bow button.....not happy with the straight stitching on her case, she decided to do some fancy stitching along the sew lines, and here's a close up of it now.

Didn't they all do a fantastic job?  Only 2 fabrics repeated....which is the light green and yellow one on the back right....it's also in the inside of the green multi striped fabric that's roughly in the centre of the top pic....otherwise, no repeats!  My favourite (I know, teachers shouldn't play favourites) is the purple (that looks like fuschia pink in the photo) on the far left, and is the near the top.....hmmmm go figure that I'd pick the purple one.....talking of which, I have competition for 'purple' love at Lake Bonney Quilters....gonna have to watch them girls!

A big thank you to Polly for being Teachers Assistant today....and whilst I'm passing out gratitude, thanks Khristina for providing such a great tutorial....the girls all want to know next, so am thinking of doing Khristinas' tote bag, but with a zippered top....I love how they turn out...and I reckon they'd all be able to make them in the one day too.....stay tuned to find out lol

If you have a tutorial you wouldn't mind me sharing with the girls (at a workshop) at quilting, they're hungry for 'fresh' meat so to speak, so please leave me a message and I'll be in touch soon.

Fabric Donations received

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, check out all the fabrics I recently got for use in Aussie Hero Quilts for our Aussie Soldiers serving overseas, in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq etc.  If you know of any troops, currently overseas, that haven't heard of Aussie Hero Quilts, and the fact that they can contact Jan-Maree and ask for quilts to be sent to them, please put them in touch with the blog or Jan-Maree....the more that know about it, the better.

The first 5 pics are fabrics that I went and picked up at Berri Uniting Church "Refresh & Bloom" group last Wednesday.  I spoke with Helen a week or so before then at my regular quilting group and asked if they would be interested in making some quilts for the soldiers.  (The last charity quilts they did, were for the Queensland flood victims last year)  Helen took the information I had printed off (I can be quite the good little girl scout when I want to be!) and mentioned to me that she'd purchased a whole bunch of fabrics, and that there were plaids amongst it if I could use some?  Me, need 'blokey' fabric....heck yes please.....so I made arrangements to go pick it up.  She also had some fabric for sale, but that's not what this post is about.

 Look at all those great plaids, won't they look great in quilts for our guys???  At the bottom of that pile, is a dark pink check and also pale grey fabrics (see below)

I plan on using the grey for binding guy quilts (and if I use it all, Helen has kindly said I can go get more of the grey....if there's any left!) and the check fabric, I plan to use for some QAYG 'girlie' quilts.  There's a few metres of the grey but heaps and heaps, in fact almost a full bolt of the pink check.

The bottom fabric in the above pic, black and white spot is quite a large piece also, which teamed with some solid fabrics, such as red or green or blue will make nice cheery quilts don't you think?

 This "Paris" fabric will be great on 'girly' quilts don't ya think?

 And I couldn't resist grabbing the veggie fabric, it'll make a great quilt for someone who's missing his vegie patch at home hey? lol

I also want to say a big thank you to Marion B in WA who very kindly sent me the fq you see above, with the Aussie wildlife on it...which will be utilised in a few different quilts so it goes further.

A while ago, I purchased some fabric for use in AHQ projects, and after discussion with the seller (Linda F) she very kindly crammed the flat rate envelope with fabrics for me to use....as her donation to our service men and women....wasn't that kind of her?  Here's a couple of pics of the bag she sent, and also the fabrics laid out on my cutting mat.  Thanks heaps Linda xxx

FNSI - Friday Night Sew In

I have been trying to get the pics of what I got sewn uploaded, but for the last week, my computer has been having several 'moments' and I thought that my USB ports had died, but low and behold, today, they're working.  I struck while the iron was hot, so to speak, and here's what I managed to get sewn on Friday Night Sew In.....I had sooooo many plans, but as usual, my plans change from moment to moment!

 I've made one of these bags before, and when I made this one I took a series of pics to write a tutorial in English (as all the others I've seen, have been in another language and google translate seems to not like converting it into full English and is very confusing to follow!)....and I will get around to doing that.....although I vaguely remember saying way back when, that I wouldn't use Pellon or batting in any others I made, but I went ahead and used batting in this one anyway....lol  It makes them hard to draw the string as it doesn't bunch up too well.  I still have to put an embellishment over the joins front and back, and am thinking I might pop Yo Yo's on it....what do you think???

This is a side on view, to show off the pockets that are formed at each end of the bag/pouch.

This is a simple quilted pouch.  I had to reverse sew some of the quilting as I was too stubborn lazy to put the walking foot on, but I ended up doing that and it's turned out quite nice I think.  It's for a swap gift, so hopefully the recipient doesn't work out who they are!

I even managed to remember to attach one of my labels I made for myself!

Ding A Ling A Ling A ling

That was the sound of the alarm bell going off......lol

Click the link below to sign in for the Santa Sack/Stocking swap.  There's limited spaces to be filled, so don't delay or you could miss out.  You have to become a follower of that blog, as that's the only place that any notifications or updates will be posted this year.  I've already entered....coz I wouldn't want you all to beat me off with a stick and get my spot!

*Santa Sack Swap*: Let's BeGiN: Time has finally rolled around again this year to get the Santa Sack/Stocking Swap up and running. You will notice (swappers from last...

Hope to see you there, you'll have heaps of fun, I know I did last year, and was thoroughly spoilt by my swap partner, Annie. 

Mothers Day

Last week, I had a surprise 'flying' visit from my daughter and her partner, "Kotter".  They were going to a nearby town and thought they'd drop in my Mothers Day pressie a week early....yep, I've been holding out on you all!

Here's what they bought me.....a lovely bunch of coconuts flowers, a wash mitt (think they're trying to tell me something??? lol), a notebook AND the pretty bouquet of homemade ferrero rocher in a box.  Thank you so much Hayley and Nic xxx

  

FNSI - Friday Night Sew In

I know I said a month or so ago that I was doing this, and believe it or not, I did, but I couldn't post any pics on my blog at the time, so didn't exactly finish it to the rules! I've worked out the new blogspot changes somewhat now, and I've signed up again.

You can sign up and join in on the fun too, by clicking the button below to read more about it.




Sign ups can be done by clicking HERE which will take you to Bobbi's blog.  She has a linky on that post that really makes it a simple task to sign up.

So in under a week, I'll be sharing pics of what I've made, but a little heads up, I'm going to be making as much as I can towards two quilts for Aussie Hero Quilts & Laundry Bags, which you can read about HERE and I'm going to be using the method that I shared a video for HERE.

What are you going to sew?  I hope to see you there.

I spy with my little eye....oh wait, that's not it....if you click on the sparkly mermaid below, you can go enter a giveaway for a surprise package that sounds like ANYONE would love to win, including me!  Good luck.  The other day I could link to a pic and now I can't, so it's actually the link beside the pic that you need to click on. 

http://welovequilting.com/may-give-a-way-5/

Lots of things

Well, albeit a few days late, I opened my cushion cover swap gift from over at the Craft Forum, and hoot hoot, it's got an owl on it!  Seeeeeeeeeeee!

And check out the 'wrapping paper' Jeanette used

Yep, fabric, tied up with ribbon, both of which will end up being recycled.  Thanks for my cute cushion cover Jeanette, I love it.

Talking of swaps, I've joined in on Ally's (ala Quilting Mumma) Mug Rug Swap, and here's the mug rug I'm sending off to.....oh wait, ssssssh it's a secret who this is going to be sent to, which, unfortunately won't happen till Monday now....sorry mystery new owner, but I've had car woes again this week, but even if I have to catch a taxi, I'll get it to the Post Office on Monday.

 You can find the tutorial for this mug rug here.

See my little label?  I printed a whole bunch of the off a while ago, and had buried them on my craft table, but recently I re-discovered them, and decided to start using them up, as I want to make myself some that are a bit bigger, and a bit more user friendly!


I've also been messing around with HST's and here's some of the layouts I discovered so far:

 The gap in the middle in the one above, would be where you would insert a stitchery or a completely different block!

Of all the different ones I tried, this is my favourite layout of them I think, not sure if it has a name, but I like it....do you know if it has a name????  My absolute favourite block to use the HST's on is Annies Choice and here's a couple of examples of ones I've made for a Birthday Block Swap I'm in on a Facebook Group.

Moving along......

I'm super excited, there's only 11 more sleeps until sign ups start for this years Santa Sack Swap, hosted by the awesome Cheryll from Gone Stitchin.  This year, she's limiting the amount of participants, so if you think you might like to join, make sure you mark the 15th May down in your diary, or else you might miss out.  You'll be kicking yourself if you miss it, I did it last year, and it was a blast!  Cheryll also hosts several other great swaps throughout the year, so be sure to visit her blog to see what's on the schedule at the moment.

Back tracking slightly, as well as messing around with the HST's, I've also been finding heaps of tutorials, one of them being the D9P Variation, which you can find here and the pics of the ones that Polly made with my fabric (whilst I was busy making some D9P's of my own!) are shown below.  Sometimes, well usually, Polly usually brings her own projects with her (she lives next door so it's handy to have a crafty neighbour hey? lol) but when she doesn't and she's starting to look like she's going to spontaneously combust if I don't put her to work, I of course have to oblige!  That night was one of those times muhahahaha, well she does call me the Evil One!

Chock-A-Block really is chockers with some great blocks and I highly recommend going there for a squizz....grab a cuppa first, you'll be a while!

And below are the pics of the D9P blocks I was working on.  The bottom pic is a close up of the prints, although the green one is still a wee bit hard to see....they are little meeces on the green background.  I bought a few packs of 4" charm squares a while ago (read a couple of years or more ago!) and have finally used them.  I have a few of the fish ones left, but I've used all the kitty cats and mice squares and they will make a great quilt.  I just have to decide whether to make two cot quilts with sashing and borders, or to make a single bed sized one with sashing and borders. I think either will look great and I'll use the remaining fish ones in as corner stones.

 Well, that should have kept you busy a while, so I'll say ciao for now, don't forget to mark the Santa Sack Swap in your diary, and if you miss out, don't be blaming me, I've made sure you know where it's at, when it's at and have even put the button up on my side bar, should this post get buried under new posts before the 15th.