My Giveaway for the Blog Hop 5th Birthday Party

Welcome everyone who is hopping around during the Blog Hop Party.  For those who do not know about it just click on the button over on the right on have a look around.
My giveaway is a gorgeous pattern of a replica quilt made by Mrs. Williams sometime between 1830-1850.  Inside the pattern is the story of the quilt.  The original quilt and story can be found in the book 'The American Quilt A Historty of Cloth and Conmfort 1750-1950 by Roderick Kiracof.
This version is replicated by 'Threadbear' of Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. 
To win this great pattern please leave a comment about the design and perhaps what colours you would like to made in.  I am happy to post worldwide!!

Once again it hasn been quite a while since I last posted to this blog.  During that time my husband and I have had a trip to Canada and Alaska and I know this is probably all a bit old hat to those in the northern hemisphere but from a down under Aussie living by the sea the scenery was simply spectacular as shown above.  It was all simply mind boggling.  I took some hand sewing with me but alas I don't think I even opened the folder it was in for the whole month, too much other goodies to see and do. 

I can't believe it is over three months since I posted and also finished the blocks for my Sylvias Bridal Sampler and I still haven't decided on a border!!  I haven't been idle during the three months though; have been busily working on two black and white quilts, one for my daughter and one for my grandson and yes they are both "Collingwood" supporters.  (For those non-aussies Collingwood are a 'much loved or much hated' football team.  Must admit I am over black and white and don't want to see this colour combo for a while.  My local group have decided to take over the responsibility of making quilts for a local aged care facility.  It will be a ongoing project and although most of us have plenty of fabric/scrap etc.  we are fortunate enough to be getting assistance with finance for batting and backing from a local service organization.  Very big help as we are looking at probably making between 15-20 per year.  They are only 40-42 inches scquare, just big enough for lap quilts, not too big for those in wheel chairs but big enough to put over the end of their beds for decoration.  The residents love their quilts and the staff really look after them and are generous in their praise for our efforts as they love having the rooms look great. 

Can everyone here me cheering!  I have finally finished all the blocks (well all I am doing) for my version of Sylvias Bridal Sampler.  As mentioned before I have chosen substitute some blocks for patterns that I like or patterns which have some meaning to me, eg. I have a very good school friend whose name is Suzanne, the reason I chose the Oh Susannah block.  Others were patterns in a friendship swap at my local group.  My other alteration is to make the quilt one row less. As I started joining up the rows into blocks to make sure I liked the overall look I realized just how big it is, so decided 13 rows is enough for my bed.  I can't begin to explain the feeling of satisfaction now the blocks are all done, my only wish would be that I didn't have to join all the rows together!!! Well onto it so I can finally put up a photo of my finished quilt.  I have enjoyed the journey though.

AT LAST the very last block - its a variation
on the diamond in a square which is the design in
Sylvias Bridal Quilt but this is my alternative

Weathervane, Tumbling Blocks and Log Cabin

New Mexico, Providence and Key West Beauty

Ohio Star, Goose Variation and Storm at Sea

Kansas Troubles, Contrary Wife and Clay's Choice

Mother's Favourite, Friendship Quilt, and Pineapple

As you can see I am powering along with these blocks after a slow 18 months.  I have decided now is the time to get this quilt finished and to this end am endeavouring to make one block a day!  Sometimes this just doesn't happen but that is my aim.

Gentlemans Fancy, Grandmother's Fan and My Heart
The heart is not in Jennifer's Sylvias Bridal Sampler but I have decided to change some
blocks for some of my own which have some meaning for me!

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)