August BOM! Finally sorry about delay folks!

Hello everyone!  I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately but lots has been happening and is coming in the future.  

I will write a post with lost of lovelies in the next few days to show you a few things that have been keeping me so far away from you all.  So now let's get down to business since we are a little later than normal.

You will need two colours this time for our Block of the Month.  I decided since you have all been so patient and so many of you have been sending your loving thoughts my way we should do a friendship star block this month.

For the background please cut. 4 X 4.5" squares plus cut two squares at 4 7/8" and then cut diagonally to create 4 half square triangles

For the star cut 1 X 4.5" square and 2 X 4 7/8" squares and cut them diagonally to product 4 half square triangles

All ready to be laid out and sewn

This is how we will have the block sewn together.  So firstly sew the half square triangles together to produce four units measuring 4.5".  Press the seam to the dark side.

Next we are going to sew this block together.  I love to lay my blocks out and web them together as I sew them.  If you are new to this technique.....keep reading and I know you will just love this method.

Take the middle unit of the block and place on top of the left side of the block.  Now starting at the top sew each unit by chain piecing.  Note do not be tempted to cut the threads between these units after sewing.  Just cut it after the three units have been sewn.  See the photos below 

The first three all joined

Opened out and ready to lay the right side units on top of the middle unit of the blocks.

I pin the second and third units so that I can take it to the machine without any problems

Sewing the last of the units on in a webbing format

Before opening 

All opened, now press the outer row seams towards the background squares and the inner row towards the centre square.  This will help with the matching and locking of seams.

All pressed ready to join the rows to a block.  As this is all held with the connecting threads this is known as webbing and helps to join quilts very quickly without having to remember which way you need to lay the units for the blocks.  This is also a very good way to join blocks into rows for a quilt top also.

You can just see the connecting threads

Lay the top row onto the middle and sew together and do the same with the bottom remembering to lock in those seams to gain lovely points.  Your finished block should measure 12.5"

I really love stars so I am amazed it has taken me this long to bring this star to you!  I hop you love the friendship star like I do.

Now here are all of my machined blocks which I have pieced.  I am really enjoying this quilt coming together, I hope you are also.  Don't forget to let me know which are you favourite blocks, I'm very curious to know.

So until the next few days when I can get to let you know what has really been happening with lots of eye candy for you.  Have fun finally with your August Block of the Month!

Until next time have fun,

Wendy xxx

July BOM! Are your ready?

Hello everyone!

I hope you're all ready for this block, sorry it's a bit late.  You have had a mystery last month which has taken a little bit of time.  I still have to get a good photo of the top now that it's all together for you.

Now for the block!  This month we are doing a split 9 patch!

You will need two colours or two values.  I have only used two colours.  

So you will need to cut from each colour 

3 X 4 1/2" squares

3 X 4 7/8" triangles

This is what you will have once it is all cut out!

Then we will piece the triangles to make square units.  We can then sew the units into rows.  I have press the seams towards the full squares and not the triangle squares.

This is the block in rows ready to be sewn together!

And here is the block all sewn together!  One split nine patch.

I am behind in my hand piecing blocks but over the next couple of weeks these shall be all caught up.  How are you doing with your blocks?

Here are all of mine together, I am really loving how these are coming together.  

So be looking out for th next couple of blog posts I have some exciting things happening!  So u til then, take care and have fun with the Block of the Month!

Keep smiling and sewing,

Wendy.

Another UFO finished! Whoop whoop!

Happy weekend to everyone!  Yay it's been a TGIF and onto Saturday!

I am pleased to have finished this UFO from 2013.  It has been fun to do but was put off as it wasn't for a particular date or occasion.  In fact this is going into the car as a spare Incase we are caught out somewhere and just need a quilt.

I decided this would be a great quilt to practice my free motion quilting on!  And yes it was.  Following is a few photos for you to look at.

Here is the finished quilt ready for binding.  I am sorry about the bad lighting, but we are experiencing some very horrible weather at the moment.  Hubby is building a quilt stand for me at the moment and I may have it for next weekend which will definitely help me take photos of my quilts!  Whoop whoop!

In my stash I found some binding which wasn't quite right for another project but perfect for this one.  So to the machine I go and on it goes with a decorative stitch!

Binding on!

See the decorative stitch I used!

And here it is hanging.  This quilt just needs a few ends tied in and it will then reside in the car!  This was done as a block of the month quilt with Facebook group 'Quilting'

I will be linking to Whoop whoop it's Friday!  and TGIF with whims and fancies  and I would so love to say thanks to the hosts for providing these links it's such fun and I am glad to link with you.    Don't forget to check everyone else's work out also!

Have a great weekend!

Wendy.

Sewing Sunday Slowly Away

Happy Sunday to you all!  I hope you have had or are having a wonderful day!

Let me introduce you to my oldest UFO (unfinished object). This is Decades of Stars.  Now I will not go through all the details today as to why this has taken way too long to finish but I just want to let you see the start.  I will be posting photos of this over the next few weeks as I continue to work a little bit each day on it alongside my other projects.

Loading of the quilt onto my hand quilt frame

Ready to start quilting life into this baby

These are a couple of photos as I was loading this on the frame a couple of weeks ago!

Threads for stitching

These are the threads I had purchased several years ago, they are Superior Threads Treasure hand 

quilt thread.  

Cable for the border

This is the border as I started to work on it again.  This quilt had been on the frame a few years ago but was removed as I had more pressing deadlines.

Border complete

Border was completed during the week.

Side border started 

This is the start of the right hand side border.

Start of the main body of the quilt

After a few hours it is starting to look quite ok and I am starting to get excited for this project again.

 where I am tonight, I am loving how this is looking

And this is where I am quilting tonight. This quilt is mainly all Debbie Mumm fabrics.  It does have very special memories which I will reveal with the completed quilt as soon as possible.  So what are you stitching up this Sunday?  I will be linking this Slow Stitching Sunday and would like to thank Kathy for hosting this link up once again.  

Have you heard that I am hosting a Winter Mystery quilt along?  If you would like to join in please check out the featured post on the blog.  Plus here is Link to the clues so I hope you can join in.  

So Until later in the week take care and have a great day and remember to give a smile away! :)

Wendy.

Winter Mystery Quilt-Along 2016

Well are we ready for a bit of creativity as we start our winter to keep our souls nice and warm. Yes I am in the southern part of Australia and we are just starting our winter.  So far it hasn't been to bad, we don't get snow where I live jus lots of rain and sludge often and cold winds to chill you to your bones.  

It is at this time after completing or almost completing a lot of quilts recently that I need to sort out my scraps and what better way to sort than to sort with a quilt in mind.  Well I have one.  It will be 54" without borders.  If you want to make it a bit bigger you might just have to make a few more blocks.  So tomorrow I will start sorting my fabrics but I have got some fabric requirements ready for you to join me in this mystery! 

I hope you are excited because I certainly am.  I am planning to make mine scrappy.  

Now for the requirements:-

For your background you will need 2.5 mts (2 3/4 yds)

Now the next lot of fabrics you will require will the the opposite of this colour.  For example if you are using a light then you will need to use dark fabrics, if you are using a darks for background use a lights for this fabric and you will require 1.15 mts (11/4 yds)

And of your medium fabrics you will require  3 mts (3 1/4 yds).

Now I hope you are excited to look in your scrap heap this year and join with me.   Don't forget to put a new needle in your machine, fill your bobbins and most importantly put a new blade in the rotary cutter.  I'll be back during the weekend most likely Sunday with your first Clue. Don't stress if you don't have all of your fabrics sorted it will work out and you will be able to gather them as we go.  

Now I must go and get some sleep so that this will all fall into place.

So until the first clue is released, have a wonderful time discovering fabric you had forgotten about.

Let's warm the creative juices of the souls,

Wendy