Follow the Leader, Barristers Block and Sickle

Trip Around the World, Snail Trail and Farmers Daughter

Road to Oklahoma, The Friendship Quilt and Lancaster Rose

As well as being a quilter I am also a stamp collector.  Obviously a hoarder, but a selective one!!!
If anyone reading this blog is a collector or knows one either in the UK, New Zealand or Canada who would like to become a penpal/stamp swapper I would love to hear from you.  I have quite a large collection of Australian stamps I would like to swap for any of the above in an ongoing exchange.  I have looked for private blogs of stamp collectors who might be up for swapping but to date haven't found any.

I haven't added photographs of my Sylvias blocks for a while so thought I had better do some catching up.  Below are another dozen done (getting there).  It feels good to be over half way now in fact I think I ONLY have about another 30 to go as I have completed some right at the bottom as part of the SBS Block of the Week I participate in.  I am going to love coming to the last row as I have already done half the row.
My completed quilt will be a bit different to the original as I have substituted blocks I don't like for some I made as a block of the month with my quilting group a couple of years ago and I wanted to include them in this quilt.  We all have favourites I'm sure and also some we dislike.  I am not fond of curved blocks eg. drunkeds path and similar so these are mainly the ones I have omitted for my friendship blocks.  I'm sure Sylvia would like it if we made it our own version.  Mine certainly will be

Dresden Plate, Duck and Ducklings and Puss in the Corner

My alternate block for Grace's Friendship, Pinwheel1, Dove in the Window

Kings Star, Odd Fellows Chain, Rolling Stone (remade)

Windblown Square, Yankee Puzzle and True Lover's Knot

Anvil, Birds in the Air and Mexican Star

Now all the fun is over I must get back to sewing.  I haven't touched my SBS for 2 weeks and that doesn't happen very often.  Before that though I want to make some christmas coasters.  I received one from a friend and now want to make some more to go with it.  So away from the computer and back to the sewing machine, although I have enjoyed reading everyone's interesting blogs this past week.

Winners

*********And the winners are **********

100 charms are going to Denmark to Maria

Xmas panel is going to Sandy in New South Wales,  Australia

All the above two ladies need to do is let me know their snail mail addys and their packages will be in their way. 
This has been great fun

I am completely overwhelmed by the number of comments I have received for the 'giveaway'.  I must rethink how I will make a selection.  My idea now is to select all the ideas then as I don't have an automatic selector on my computer I will put all names in a hat and get my granddaughter to draw one out.  There seems to be a bit of a trend in what quilters are making at the moment, eg. disappearing nine patch and twisters seem to be the most popular.  I have made a disappearing nine patch so know what that is but I am not familiar with the twister.  I have a little square ruler that I purchased at a show which I haven't used yet and I'm wondering if this is what you use.  What I have is called a 'Pinwheel Magic' but it seems by reading the instructions you join diffeent squares together then cut the centre out of where they are joined then then turn it around, is this what you call a 'twister'./

Additional Giveaway

I have decided to add a little something to my giveaway.  With christmas just around the corner, the winner will also receive a beautiful christmas panel kit, which includes the panel and backing and binding fabric.  My winner will still be my favorite use of charms.

Giveaway

Michelle Foster over at The Quilting Gallery is hosting a blog hop beginning on December 10 and ending December 17th. 
I am participating by giving away 100 charm squares of varying sizes 3 4 and 5 inch.  To win please leave a comment telling me your favourite design using charms.  I will select the winner on the 17th.
Don't forget click on the logo to pop over and find lots of links to other giveaways.

  

It has been a while since I posted and during that time we have travelled across the Nullabor Plain to Perth to visit my son and his family.  Above are some of the beautiful wildflowers which were growing along the side of the road and in paddocks.  I especially love the pink carpet under the trees which was between Perth and Kalgoolie.  The other photos were taken in Southern WA.  Lots of magnificant grevillias, bottle brushes etc.  The Nullabor itself was quite green and not as I expected, but they have had quite a bit of rain so I guess it is only natural that it should not be red dirt.

Below are the BOW blocks for the last few weeks.

I am finally over half way on my journey with this quilt.  I finally feel
as if I am getting somewhere,  it was a very daunting task in the beginning.
Now I really want to get on with it.  I have started joining the blocks together
and must decide whether or not to do quilt as you go in rows or just quilt overall
at the end.  Decisions, decisions.

Right Hand of Friendship and Pinwheel

Dogtooth Violet and `Cut Glass Dish

Card Trick and Jack in the Box

Childrens Delight and Star of the Orient

I haven't posted for a while but have been diligently working on Sylvias blocks.  The following are the next in the order I am doing them but I have also done some on a BOW on Jennifer's list.  Must say that really keeps you honest and you at least sew one a week even if you don't get around to any more. 

Mariners Compass and Autumn Leaf


Wedding Ring 2 and   Shooting Star

Chimneys and Cornerstones and Sarah's Favourite


Crown of Thorns and Dutchmans Puzzle