Oh "PIGS"

Projects In Grocery Sacks.
It would seem that at the moment ALL my projects fit into this category!

In my last post I wrote that my DD & her DH had received the keys to their new home and for the last month we have been packing up almost 30 years of 'trash and treasures' and moving it all to her place!
What an interesting time capsule was enclosed in her room (It actually included a 'Time Capsule' shoebox she and her brothers put together many years ago!).

Then there is my fabric/sewing room - originally located in the Bungalow at the bottom of the garden
 - it was packed up and moved into the house (See post) last December. The bookshelves had to be returned to the Bungalow which is now a dedicated Storeroom and my entire stash is once again stuffed into shopping bags and boxes just waiting for a new home.

On top of all of this .... I have another Wedding Cake to make! No not DS#2.  This one is for my D-DIL's sister.
AND a 30th Birthday Cake with a special theme.
Looks like I had better stop getting distracted and get baking!

Happy Homeowners

After 4 months and just one delay

the keys are finally in their hands

which just left one thing to do ...

and just so their family would be complete

enter 500 grams of  Pure Trouble!

of course this is the PURFECT place to take a nap 

while 'Mum & Dad' are trying to move furniture!

Cookies ....

Not totally sure what happened on Friday.
One minute I was happily sitting at my sewing machine and the next I was baking cookies!
Perhaps it went something like this..

"Good that is that part of the Quilt done - time to have a Cuppa and a Cookie - yes I'd like a cookie with that cuppa tea".
No cookies in the jar only crumbs of broken shop bought biscuits.

While the Kettle was boiling I found myself flipping through the pages of the old recipe book.

About 2 hours later I found myself taking the 12th tray  of cookies (Yes, you read right TWELVE) out of the oven.
The thing that amazed me the most was, not that I baked 12 trays of cookies but - I discovered  I actually own 11 cookie trays, and by using every single one of them, I was able to create an assembly line which involved wiping down and putting away the cold trays while there were still cookies baking.

I ended up taking the last batch out of the oven just as DH walked through the door - into a CLEAN kitchen!

HE put the Kettle on
and I FINALLY
got that Cuppa ...
and a Cookie!

Shattered...

Anyone who has ever gone beyond this page of my blog and wandered around the static pages would have read the story entitled "A Quilt with No Name".  

April 22nd, 2010 was the defining moment in this quilt's design. 

It was the day our world 'hit a brick wall' and shattered, irreparably - forever.

I felt this quilt had a powerful message to tell 

- so I entered in it Quilt Showcase.

It is dedicated in Memory of my Nephew Mark (26)

and to every family who have lost loved ones
as the result of a workplace accident.

Quilt Showcase 2014

April 6, 2011

.... if this is your first attempt at appliqué I’m looking forward to seeing your appliqué quilts in shows in a few years time....

Little did I realise when the above comment was left on my Yahoo photo album that I would be writing this post.  
"A few years time" - that's a long way down the track and a lot of learning, maybe one or two more applique quilts into the future. 

The power of encouragement is AWESOME! 
Without it I would not have finished the quilt and without it I would not have entered it into a quilt show.

But here it is ... 

Quilt Showcase 2014 

(Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre) 

Heart's Desire 
(My Heart is Blue)

Thank you to EVERYONE

PS: - That is a "Highly Commended" Ribbon attached to it !

A closer look at my ribbon (It is the first I have ever won for anything!)

Thank you to the Award Sponsor :- PK Fabrics NSW (Aust)

for the prize of two Moda Fabric packs.

Harvest Moon Kansas Troubles Quilters Layer Cake

and

Get a Clue with Nancy Drew 22 pce pack

Mariner's Compass - Update

It seems to me that this is becoming a trend ...
Once again I cannot credit that it has been 3 months since I posted on my Mariner's Compass.
I have been thoroughly enjoying making this quilt -

So - Where am I up to? 

Chapter 1 - Spokes.
These are the Compass Points and the feature of the quilt's design so it was important to get these right. The initial choice of fabric didn't quite sit with the 'feel' that I am wanting to achieve for the quilt.

So - I made them again!

Chapter 2 - Compass Flower.
These pieces fit between the Spokes forming the first ring of the Compass.
They went together easily and I am very happy with my decision to fussy-cut the central Burgundy spear.

Chapter 3 - Feathered Star.
This is another block that my original choice of fabric and colour didn't sit well on.
As you can see, these pieces lock the design together. I decided to hold off on making these until I was sure of my colour combination - so these will be the next section to make.

Chapter 4 - Sails.
Another Imposing feature!
These will loop their way around the outside of the Compass, locking the spokes in place.
The Foundation Paper Piecing method of making this quilt gives perfect points, and these blocks went together beautifully, with the exception of the last piece where the fabric could have been a little wider to comfortably accommodate the point of the sail.

Chapter 5 - Compass Rose.
The Central HUB of the Compass.
This beautiful star went together in a day!
The first pieces I can actually place together as they will be in the finished quilt.  I am very pleased with my choice of the exquisite marbled fabric from the Stonehenge Range from Northcott.

Looking forward to next month's installment.
In the meantime - I have enough scraps to 'stuff a cushion' with!
Some are just rubbish and some are very usable pieces - especially for applique.
So for now it will be trying to determine which is which!

Today . . .

7:00 am - L Plates on and  hit the road.

8:20 am - Arrive at RFT (reason for trip), drop off DS#2

8:21 am - Decide where to go next...

9:36 am - 2nd Breakfast! 

Venue: Baked in Sorrento

Verdict: Best ever Vanilla Slice and Coffee from award winning Bakery.

11:00 am Sorrento Surf Beach

12:30 - Can't walk any further

No - really, this is the end of the line

the last stretch of sand on Port Phillip Bay. 

From here on it is just rocks until 

,

You get to the other side

but then you are not on the bay but Bass Strait

This is Point Nepean

Point Nepean has a fascinating history, 

from Quarantine Station to the drowning of a Prime Minister 

It was a lot of walking to get here.

We decided we had already walked off our Morning tea.

2:31 pm - A Mini Kitchen

Rye Victoria

How could we resist when the directions were

"It's new, I haven't been, 

but it's painted all White and with Yellow umbrellas out the front - 

It looks Pretty and it is always full."

Strong Coffee, Apple Crumble Pie and a Lime/Lavender Friand

Verdict:  When can we come back?

When can we do this again?

4:30 pm Home again.

What an awesome day