After quite a while I have finally got some pictures to share. This is the finished quilt made from swap FQs at my local group. Each block contains a piece from everyone in the swap plus some extras from my scrap boxes. This photo is slightly distorted as my camera is playing up. Colours were better on block shown previously.

I have been organising a couple of new projects and hope to get some photos up soon. Also I have just added a new header to by blog. It is from http://alliebrownslayouts.blogspot.com/. She has lots of blog pages and headers free for general use and very easy instructions. If I can follow them anyone can!!

This quilt was made in a class with Jan Preston and was an excellent study in colours and their values.

I have decided to upload a few photos of quilts I have done in the past as I am a bit slow finishing off current projects. This is a charm quilt made a few years ago, but still one of my favourites. Over the next few days I hope to add some more

I haven't had a chance to add to this blog for a few weeks and wow has the weather turned cold during that time. I have to admit we did spent a week on the Murray River the first week in July where the weather was much warmer.
I have been busy adding to my pineapple blocks made from FQ swap fabrics which my local group swapped in 2007. Not my normal colours so quite a trial for me to work in these colours (and only these colours) no additions except for a few in the same colour range from my scrap stash. When finished it will go to my local aged care hostel where everyone who is a resident receives a quilt of their choice. (We try and have at least 3 or 4 for them to choose from).
This challenge was supposed to be colour co-ordinated but only to the previous one, but I'm sure almost everyone cheated and had a look at previous months FQs. This year we are doing much the same thing except that only the previous one is on displayed and all previous must be sealed in a paper bag. Goodness knows what we will end up with!!!!!!!!! Next weekend I am off to a weekend retreat to Bacchus Marsh where I hope to get most of these blocks finished ready to put together and quilt.

These are my butterfly ATCS to be swapped with members of SCQATC group.
Hope they like them.

I have spent the last week catching up on my ATC swaps. Firstly 'Purple People Eater' and secondly 'Butterflies'.
Yesterday was 'Lonsdale Lights' which was a really good day with only Liz not able to make it. Merrilyn demonstrated 'New York Beauty' offering quite a few tips for the ladies wanting to take up the challenge in the future.

I sold my Horn sewing cabinet today as I have had two tables made for my sewing room to fit in an L shape. One benefit is that I will be able to swing the shorter one around in front of the other and make a good deep area for quilting. Now all I have to do is get some drawers to fit underneath.

April skipped by without a posting. I have made ATCs for 'In the Pink' SCQATC and have received some in return (see photo). I also received my ATCs from the 'Cheer me Up' Swap and so have added to my collection of great cards. This months square of fabric at Lonsdale Lights was a very nice blue in a William Morris type design, have made two more kaleidascope blocks with it. I finally made two more pineapple blocks using the fabric from 2007 FQ swap at 'Lights' but a very long way to go with these, there is a lot of sewing in each one but I think I will be pleased with the result, it is also letting me use up a lot of my own scrap. Finally we are having rain this weekend, 17 mil so far, its been a long time coming. Just a couple of cold days and my tulips have poked their noses through.

Its been a very big couple of weeks. Had a farewell lunch with Zoe and Maureen from work on Wed before Easter then finished at The Blanket Box the next day. Good Friday was spent quietly then birthday celebrations began on Sat (my actual birthday). Firstly Sophie cooked lunch (exceptionally nice baked potatoes which she had learnt to do at school) for me as well as John, Leesa and Spencer. Sat evening was a family dinner at the Carlton Hotel in Geelong which had a limited menu but oh boy was what they did excellent. Sunday was once again a bit of a food feast with Matt firing up his new BBQ, cooking a large piece of pork and we ate the last Christmas pudding. Monday was spent working on Pineapple blocks my monthly Kaleidascope block for Lonsdale Lights and a bit more to my Bendigo Retreat quilt. On Tuesday 25th I had 8 guests for lunch. Three from Mahjong, four quilters and Leesa. They mixed really well and I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves. During all this food and drinking I have been walking religiously every day to try and keep the weight under control and I think I have done that. More work to be done though. Today I am off for my first day of voluntary work at the Historical Museum in Queenscliff. It entails listening to Joyce Stewart talk about Queenscliff during the Second World War. Another chapter begins!

I have had a busy couple of days sewing. First time I have really felt like it in a while. I have decided the stash must be decreased!! To this end I have done 3 pineapple blocks using the FQs from Lonsdale Lights 2007 exchange. When I can figure out how to put photographs onto this site I will post a picture, I'm extremely happy with them. By way of a change, today I have spent cutting and sewing the oriental charm squares swapped at the Southern Cross Quilters Bendigo Retreat in 2007. After a lot of trials finally decided to do chinese coin design. Guess what? A lot of designs were directional and I cut them all wrong. Can't have people birds etc on their sides so must come up with a new design. Instead of chinese coins running horizontal they will now run vertically and I will sash them in blocks instead of columns. This will make it easier to quilt anyway.

Work and etcs have been taking time so I haven't been doing much sewing apart blocks using my groups fabric swap. Unfortunately I made an error in cutting and have totally messed up the two blocks I am to do this month. I am hoping Glenys and June might have a bit more fabric that I can purchase from them to redo. Initially I hand pieced a kaleidescope block by hand except for the last join which I did by machine for more strength. It went together like a breeze. However every one I have tried since just will not go together with matching seams so I have given up and am doing them totally by hand.

February is here and hopefully it means more sewing time. I made a start yesterday on cutting strips for a pineapple block quilt I intend making from FQ swap at my friendship group. I have also finally made a decision finally on what to do with the 130 6 inch oriental squares swapped at the Bendigo SCQ retreat in 2007. I am going to make lanterns on a light background with navy and gold trim.

My First Post

This is my first attempt at setting up a blog and posting. I'm sure I won't be updating anymore than weekly at this stage but retirement is imminent and who knows I may become adept at this when I have more time.