More Swap fun...

No I haven't finished my March swaps...or even posted about my feb ones but there are a few new swaps happening which are related to the original Quilting Block Swaps Group

Sue B, who runs the above group has started a second swap group for 6 inch blocks. If you'd like to join, click the button below:

The other exciting swap is run by Cathy and is an unsewn swap.  Fat Quarters are exchanged each month!  How FUN!  Click on her button below to get more info.

January Block Swaps Sent and Received

Well this is a bit late!  BUT I did need to wait til the last of my blocks were received then I lost internet access for a while.

First my group 1 swaps. This is my last month with group 1!

So...my first partner was Jolanda from Portugal.  Jolanda requested a block with squares and rectangles in pink, yellow and white so I made her the Antique Tile block:

And this is the lovely pink Baby Bunting from Jolanda:

 

My Second January partner was Debbie from Canada.  Debbie wanted any block in pink and brown.  I have really been loving Old Maid's Puzzle lately so I made it up with some delicious reproduction prints.

 

And I got another lovely Baby Bunting in blue from Debbie

 

My next swap is really exciting!  It's the very first swap from Group 2!

My partner was Lynette who requested Solomon's Star in Blues on white

 

And Lynette made me a Baby Bunting from the most beautiful peach fabric!

 

A huge thank you to all my swap partners!  I loved swapping with you!

December Swap blocks Sent and Received

I'm a little late in posting pics of my December Swap.  My partner was Larain and she requested any block in yellow and white.

This photo was taken by Larain since I forgot to take one before sending off the block!

And Larain sent me a beautiful Baby Bunting to add to my collection in PINK! (apologies for the bad photo!)

Thank You for being my swap partner, Larain!

Thank you also to my January partners whose blocks I have received.  I plan to make my January blocks tonight or tomorrow and I'll let you know when they get sent out!

Exciting news!

Sue from Quilting Block Swaps Australia has entrusted me with co-ordinating a sister group to enable new members to keep coming now that her group is at capacity!

Click on my new button for a visit!

November Quilt Block Swap

I know I'm late posting this.  the end of year stuff with a Big School Boy still has be a bit unnerved!

My November Block Swap partner was Robyn and she requested Sarah's Choice block in pink, pale green and crimson.  Here is the photo she took since I forgot to take one before I sent the block off!

 

In real life, the background fabric is less red - more of a very very dark pink.

In return Robyn sent me my first yellow Baby Bunting block!  Click on the block swap tab above to see the other blocks I have received.

 

Apologies for the dodgy photo!  The block itself is wonderful!

Robyn is a beginner quilter but I'm sure you'll all agree she did an amazing job on this block!

Quilted Hugs

I've always suspected quilters to be incredibly warm, caring and generous people.

There are many charities which donate quilts to people who need a bit of cheering up and whenever someone requests blocks for a quilt they're making for a loved one in need, they often get enough to make multiple quilts.

Little did I know my Block Swap friends were conspiring to make ME a quilt!  It's the most thoughtful and caring gesture anyone has ever done for me and I've never had a quilt before!  It's the most beautiful wonderful gorgeous quilt I have ever seen.

The love and thought and talent that went into this quilt is amazing!  I've been blubbering all morning when ever I think of it!

It's called Quilted Hugs and most definitely feels like one!

I feel so loved and so undeserving to have such incredible friends.  Thank you so much to each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

The culprits are:

Cathy
Sue
Maria
Cheryll
Larain
Beth
Crafty Pug

You sneaky things!  You've very good at keeping a surprise under wraps!  I was so confused when the postie handed me this enormous parcel!

I was sure it was one of DH's ebay purchases so my confusion increased when I saw my name on the front.

It was followed by a moment of panic - have I mastered the talent of buying fabric in my sleep?  Did I buy stuff online in my drug induced stupor upon coming home from hospital?

The sender was Crafty Pug. Of course!  Silly me!  It's a swap block!  But...I'm not swapping in October...and why is it so BIG?

I opened it and my heart skipped a few beats, I eventually remembered to breathe.  Inside...was the biggest, pinkest hug anyone has ever given me!


There were also some lovely cards inside.  I feel very blessed.  Here are the piccies.  Click to get a close up!

And just to make it all the more special, today DH and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary!

September Block Swaps

I did two swaps for September.

Nolene requested this log cabin block with a red centre and half white on back and half black on white (the first log being white).

In return Nolene sent me a lovely pale green Baby Bunting for my collection (see tab above).

Kathy was my other official swap partner.  Kathy requested the twist block in lime green with a little aqua.

Kathy also sent me a lovely Baby Bunting for my collection: (aplogies for the poor quality photo.  The block itself is magnificent!!)

 

My third swap was an unofficial one with Linden as the first block I made her (in August) didn't arrive but she has just let me know she has received the second one!  I used the Amish Diamond pattern.  To see Linden's block to me, click on the tab above!

My mojo is back!

Well mainly my Stampin' Up! and cardmaking Mojo!  I haven't made any for ages - I'd been using cards I'd made previously to send along with swap blocks but I had an idea (I know! there's a first time for everything, hey??) and made 3 cards.  They will be perfect for block swaps.

Not thrilled with some of the colour combinations but I played with some DSP that had already been pre-cut into 6" squares and it had a lot of new colours in it for which I had no co-ordinating cardstock.

I also made Nolene's log cabin block for the block swap.  I'm really pleased with it.  I was terrified it would end up too small due to the number of seams but it's fine!

I also made another block for Linden since her August one never arrived :-(  I made it different just it case it ever does turn up.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  I only have slight issue with 2 of the points.  The rest are OK and it's also the right size!

Today I'm planning to do Kathy's block.  I ran out of time yesterday since I spent the afternoon at a Chef's Toolbox party and made the recipes as soon as I got home. YUM!

I'm in two minds about posting block swap pics before they are received by the recipient.  I've been wanting to try out a poll on this blog so I'll do that!  Make sure you vote! (it's on the top left!!)

Just wanted to clarify - I'll post pics of the blocks both on my blog and the Quilt Block Swap one but my dilemma is timing.  Do I post them as soon as I've made them or wait til they have been received so as to not spoil the surprise???

Me-0 : Staph-1

I wish this post was all about how much sewing I'd been doing!

Unfortunately my greatest achievement is that I've slept more in the past 24 hours than I have in the past week!  This means I've been late in taking at least the last 2 antibiotic doses. :-(

I did manage to finish cutting fabric for my block swaps in my few waking hours yesterday but that's all!

This morning I woke up with yet another sore throat.  This sheds some light on the situation!  The stupid antibiotics are basically weakening my immune system.  Thankfully they're fairly narrow spectrum but still.  Nor are they making much headway with diminishing the lovely staph colony that has made itself comfy in my bone canal.  They are being kept off the bone but are still happily breeding on my artificial joint.

It's no wonder that since my last op on 1 March this year I've had repeated illness when normally I have a great immune system.

DH picked up my kit for Month 2 of Lizzy Mae and I lovelovelove the fabrics!!

Other than that I really need to get those blocks pieced and posted.  I'm really looking forward to doing them

Well hope to BBL with some finishes to celebrate!!

Goodbye August, Hello September!

I'm farewelling August with a little sadness since I didn't achieve my 3 UFOs before 31 Aug Challenge on About.com.

It's not all bad, though.  We've almost certainly figured out why the Nemesis is misbehaving, I've started my Lizzy Mae and done 2 block swaps.

September is going to be frightfully busy though!  I didn't realise just how many quilty commitments I have coming up!

1 Sept - Table Runner Class
1 Sept - DaChintzy Code Clue 1
14 Sept - Lizzy Mae's Medallion Class 2
15 Sept - DaChintzy Code Clue 2
17 Sept - Friday Night Sew In 
29 Sept - DaChintzy Code Clue 3


Plus I have TWO Block Swaps PLUS Gisborne Quilters every Wednesday!  YIKES!!

At least for Lizzy Mae it isn't necessary to finish the applique before going onto the next step.

I've also decided to ditch the boy version of the DaChintzy Mystery.  I really want to use more than just 3 other fabrics to bring out all the lovely colours of the guitars so that will free me up a little.  I'm very happy clues are fortnightly!

I still need to wash and cut my DaChintzy fabrics and pre-cut my table runner fabrics.  I now know what I'm doing for one block swap but not the second.


Meanwhile here is a pic of Lizzy - hasn't she grown?

Aug Quilt Block Swap II Arrived!

My second August Block Swap block has arrived!!!

Linden has sent me a magnificent block and fantastic quilty card.  I LOVE historical quilts and more importantly her block is stunning with 2 gorgeous fabrics.

Thank you for your sweet words in the card, Linden!  And don't worry about the sewline pencil - I've used biro on mine when hand piecing (not on anything to give away tho!)!  I think I even used it on the front of a needleturn applique! (gulp).  I'm sure it'll wash out!

Your points are perfect.  It's only mine I have issue with!  I honestly don't mind less than perfect piecing since I regard all blocks received as a gift and I don't look a quilt horse in the mouth so I don't want any future swap partners out there to panic!!

In other news:
I've actually been doing some quilty stuff this afternoon!  I can't remember the last time I felt well enough! Admittedly I have my first Lizzy Mae class tomorrow at Quilters Bazaar.

I've cut out all my freezer paper bits and washed my fabrics.  I learned two things:

1.  Small bits of fabric that accidentally end up in the washing maching with FQs fare surprisingly well!

2.  When this process is repeated with all remaining small applique pieces the above outcome does not apply to bias strips!!!!

I guess this means I'm making new bias strips before tomorrow!  I'm not too upset since I'd prefer brown ones anyway.

I have also traced the applique pattern onto the background fabric (more or less straight - hopefully it will square up OK) with he aid of a large north-facing window and of course micropore tape!

Leona's Blog giveaway

Leona has recently joined Australian Quilt Block Swaps.  She has posted a giveaway on her blog. 

Lots of goodies to be won!!

Aug Quilt Block Swap II Finished!

I finally finished Linden's block!  I've been working on it since the weekend but it's been slow going.

I made Aunt Dinah block from Quilter's Cache.  It turned out well enough.  I'm not 100% satisfied with my points but I never am!  I'm very fussy about perfect points and since I rarely have any myself I think it explains my UFO situation!

Unfortunately the cortisone injection I got 3 weeks ago wore off completely around the weekend and the Nemesis has gone berserk since then.

Thank goodness I see my surgeon tomorrow.  If I don't see the inside of an operating theatre by the end of the week (which is really unlikely given how busy he is) then I'm going to have a massive meltdown.

New Swap Partner for August

We have a new member joining the Quilt Block Swap and Sue has paired her up with me to do a second swap this month.

I'm really excited.  It's a great morale boost to get a "project" finished so quickly and have that feeling of satisfaction.  A single block takes about an hour only and that's with my extra slow cutting and piecing thanks to the Nemesis.

Linden is happy with any block style in bright purples and oranges.

I've gone stash diving and pulled out this lot:

Now I just have to wait for them to start talking to me.  I've heard the odd murmur but nothing intelligible just yet.

August Block Swap Received

Yesterday I got my block in the mail from Sue!  It's magnificent and SO very me!!  The photo doesn't do it justice at all.

I love that she used a tone-on-tone for the background rather than solid white.  I rarely use solids as TOTs give more interest and depth to a quilt.

Her piecing is so precise (not that I'd care if it wasn't!!) and the feature fabric is gorgeous!  Pale blue with a paisley print on it in greens, pinks and yellows and all the colours I hope to have in my quilt!

Thank you Sue!  I posted your block yesterday so it should come tomorrow!

August Block Swap sent

After some dutiful unpicking on the Handbag Quilt on Monday night, I decided to "reward" myself by making Sue's Churn Dash block for the block swap.

It didn't turn out as pretty as I would have liked since my original choice of background fabric was brown (and really pretty!) BUT since Sue has been getting quite a few brown blocks lately i thought a blue one was in order!

It's not absolutely square BUT each side does measure up at 12.5" and my points match which is (in my book) more important since it's easy to fiddle with the seam allowances when joining blocks together if one is a fraction too big or small.

Australian Block Swap

I joined up today after finding the link on Crafty Pug's blog.

The block swap is run by Sue.  Each month everyone gets a partner and makes her a block of her choice.

Sue will be my partner in August and she has requested Churn Dash blocks in brown, cream and blue.

I've decided on Marcia Hohn's Baby Bunting block (below)











I wanted a block I liked the look of and which had a meaningful name.  Some of you may know we're battling with secondary infertility.  3 years and 3 failed IVF cycles and still no sibling(s) for Maxie. 

For someone who has always wanted lots of kids it's hard.  We appreciate our little man and adore him.  We're so lucky to have him but it has also given us a taste of what we're missing.

Anyway enough depressing talk!

I'm very excited to be part of the swap and to be making some new sewing friends!!