Stash It

I've started up a new blog http://stashwrapped.blogspot.co.nz/  check it out.  I am going to try to keep it for tutorials and useful stuff.

Toni

Name Game Swap

Here is the mini quilt that I received from Ullhärvan you can visit her blog here http://ullhrvan.blogspot.se/2012/03/name-game-swap_26.html

I just adore this mini quilt.  I love all the time and effort that goes into receiving a gift like this.  Thanks so much Ullhärvan  and sorry it took so long to blog about it,  I've been in a blog funk.


Take Toni

Swooning

I really taken a liking to the Swoon block.  I sure most of you would have seen a lot of them floating about in blog land.  I had been admiring the blocks for a while and couldn't resist any longer.  Here are my first five blocks and what I love about these blocks is how large they are, only 9 blocks makes a 80x80" quilt.

Take Care Toni

Absent

I have been extremely absent this year,  I knew it had been a while but I didn't realise I hadn't posted this year at all.  Anyway although I have been absent I haven't been idle.  I will however just start showing you he more interesting things I have been up too.  I'll be posting all week, fingers crossed.

Name Game Swap, this is the mini quilt I did for Sabine in Austria, I still don't know if she ever received it but this is want I sent.  I can't find the photo of the one I received but I'll post about it later.

Take care Toni

Shopping, Shopping and more Shopping

I'm not generally a big shopper but I do have binges  every  now and then,  I thought I would share with you some of my after Christmas Shopping Bargains!
First off are some Cookie Cutters Originally $6.99 reduced to $3.50 reduced again to $1 each wow  I am ready for a cookie cutter swap anyone ? lol

Then  some Christmas Ribbon marked down to .68c per roll.

 Then these lovely packets of  tone on tone white fat quarters.  Originally $26.99 per packet then reduce to $9.00 then take off another 30%   makes it $6.30 per packet.  There were 8 fat qaurters in each packet.

Then I got these 9 fat flats for .70c each (marked down from $3.99)

Next up is this cute little Christmas fat quarter pack $27.99 down to $9.70,  isn't that bird just the cutest.

I couldn't resist these 12 days of christmas vintage style fabrics,  all 1/2 metre cuts $2.80 each

Same again with these prints 1/2 metre for $2.80 each

Then I couldn't resist these dots and stripes metre cuts $4.55 each

and just because I can these 3 1/2 metre cuts for $2.80 each 

and not to forget some non Christmas fabric that I love the colour 1 metre cuts of $4.00 each

and just for good measure I got these just before Christmas and really wish I hadn't because I only 30% off the full price lol

All together I have over 20 metres of fabric,   enough to make a project or two.   My shopping spree  is now over and because I have to do some serious saving.

I need to do some serious saving because I have decided to go to the AQC next year in Melbourne and I was hoping to get any tips and advise from anyone that has been before where to stay etc...  I will be travelling by myself so any help will be gratefully accepted.

Talk to you all again next year.

Opening my Santa Sack Presents

This was the first Santa Sack Swap that I joined.  Cheryl gave us the go ahead to open up today,  so I got the kids and away we went.  

 This is the lovely Sack that Michelle made busting full with presents.

 

 Aren't these scissors so cute,  they will be so handy in my needle book (when I make it)

 These ornaments look so cool on my tree.

 Some yummy fabric

 Some inspirational tools.

 Some delicious drinks and eats.

A very cute musical box with a Christmas Mug as well.

and my favourite babushka manicure set.

Thanks so much Michelle, and also thanks to Cheryl for organising this swap.

SewCalGal's Christmas Quilt Show Entry

I've entered the SewCalGal's Christmas Quilt Show.  Click here to see all the other lovely entries.

Of course I love Christmas and it wouldn't without making something new for the occasion,  well several things actually.  Firstly I have my scrappy wall hanging.  I used all my Christmas scraps from years past and a few from this year and I just kept sewing and sewing until it all came together.

 This table runner below what definitely a scrappy piece as well.  I think I work my best when I am not following a patter.

Merry Christmas everyone. 

EQ7

I am busting to get me this software,   but it is not near the top of any list of mine at the moment.  So the next best thing would be to win it,  so for that reason if feels like a double edge sword sharing this information.  If I share I get a extra entry yay,  and if I share there is more competition.  That's  just the  way I roll lol  read the review and get your entry in.
http://www.genxquilters.com/2011/11/electric-quilt-7-review-and-software.html

Christmas Sewing

A selection of table runners that I have made or am still making for presents and order for christmas.

What a Disaster

just a quick note to share my absolute horror in what has happened in our City of Tauranga.  These are the beaches that my family and thousands of other swim in.  Lucky I know we are so lucky.

These are photos of my family enjoying the gorgeous views of the beach at Mt Maunganui at a recent family reunion.  The beach coast goes on for miles and miles and if you were to drive it it would take about an hour.
Then came Rena and this is our beach a week after she arrived and landed on a reef some 7 kilometres from where my family stands in these photo's.

Go figure I'm having trouble loading up all the horrific photos of our beach now and the boat that is causing all this.  I hope that our city can turn this disaster around and quickly.

I'll post some better photos when blogger lets me lol.  Toni

I've been reading

and if you get a chance I suggest you take a look at some of these books

Modern Log Cabin quilting by Susan Beal.  I immediately spotted one project (the very last in the book)  and decided to make it straight away.   I just love when books inspire you instantly.  Here is my take on the "Red Cross Bag".    Apart from my obvious joy in my new handbag, it was the first time I had ever tried a log cabin block.  I was pleasantly suprised at how I like going around and around.  This book covers a broad range of techniques and I highly recommend it as a bookshelf keeper.

The next book I have been reading is the ever popular Block Party Book.   I have always admired the cover, so it was a no brainer for me to take a look at it.  I have found a different type of inspiration in this book,  the kind that make me look at a project and think i could do that,  and then get a whole stream of ideas that float through, it definitely appeals to my modern aesthetic.

There are 3 other books that I won't review today but I will say that they all have ideas in them that i will be adopting in some way or other in the near future.  

A is for Apron by Nathalie  Mornu

Dare to be Square Quilting by Boo Davis

The Essential Sampler Quilt Book by Lynne Edwards

Now don't get me wrong,  there is also a lot of good good free information out on blog land,  but sometimes it can be hard to pin point where you saw it so its nice to have book too.

Take care ,  I'm  off to sit in front of the Tele and watch the All Blacks play Canada.

Toni