Baa!

After a cool start to summer, we've finally hit some hot weather here in Melbourne. Unfortunately that puts a stop to quilting, as least for me, as I have a really bad tolerance for heat. We had a cool change earlier today, but my house is a 1950's weatherboard with no air-conditioning, so its still hot inside, even with all the doors and windows open.

However, a blog with no new posts is a very dull blog, so I have some progress to show. I've been working on the aplique for the sheep quilt for C's bub, and its coming along quite well. All I need to do is finish the blanket stitch around the sheeps legs and heads (the purple one is done), and it will be ready for borders and quilting.

A pic of the finished quilt (one I made last year) can be seen here. The only difference to this one is the background fabric.

Also, for fans of Camille/Cotton Blossoms, she is featured in the latest issue of Australian Homespun magazine, just out this week. There is a lovely Cotton Blossoms quilt, which looks quick and easy to whip up. If I hadn't just finished Wallflower, and have Sassafras ready to go, I'd probably jump straight onto this one. Its made using a layer cake.

Day One

Just a quick post to say that I survived my first day of proper employment. Mostly just organisational stuff today, as well as ordering new equipment for the lab, and making a few phone calls regarding stuff.... Hopefully can delve into the actual lab work tomorrow...fingers crossed it all works!

So...

...I've been a bit quiet on here, I know...but I have been doing stuff, I promise! I finished the flying geese earlier in the week, and on Wednesday I finished all the large 9-patches.

I'm about to start the smaller 9-patches. And I made labels for two finished quilts; Crabapple and Wallflower. Yes, I did finish Crabapple all the way back in November, but I'm a bit slack when it comes to labels. And I haven't actually put them on yet, but I'll get there!

I've also been down the beach a couple of days, visiting my Grandma. That always keeps me on my toes. Fortunately the dogs got to come with us, so we got to take them walking on the beach. It's funny though; Jack loves swimming, and Millie can't get out of the water fast enough.

Bella is finding new and unusual places to sleep, like on the tv with her nose on the cable (Foxtel) box.... we think she likes the heat from the lamp.

And my big news? I start my new, first-ever proper job on Monday! Ok, so it's in the same lab that I did my PhD, but it's a proper, paying job, and on a completely differerent project. And the good part is I'm working 4 days a week, which leaves an extra day for quilting!

Oh My!

When I decided to make the 4OT quilt, I didn't realise just how many pieces I was going to have to cut out! So many that it's taken me several hours over two days, and resulted in a very sore shoulder from holding the ruler down.

Ive got big squares, bigger squares, little squares and even smaller squares, anda few rectangles just for good measure!

But most of the cutting is done now, and I've started piecing the flying geese. It's a different method from what I've used before, but so much easier!

Today I got a special package in the mail; a giveaway that I won on Bec's blog just before Christmas! I've never done a stitchery before, so this will be a good chance to learn.

Thanks Bec!

Catching Up

I got back from my holiday yesterday, and have finally packed everything away and settled back into a normal routine. Which means time to share!

I spent a week in Beechworth, which is a country town in northern Victoria. The region is noted for its wineries (many of which I visited), and for its produce (much of which I ate). One of the wineries I went to had a beautiful view across the vineyards towards Mt Buffalo in the background. We managed to sample quite a few of the local wines, and purchased quite a bit of fruit direct from the growers. It tastes so much better than the stuff you buy in your local shops! I don't think I've ever eaten quite so many cherries in one sitting.

We did a fair bit of driving around, visiting other towns. We came across a Vienna Patisserie out in the middle of nowhere!

We also had some cute visitors where we were staying (sorry the photo is a bit dark; the bird on the left is a bub).

To make up for a bit of over-indulging over christmas, we hopped on our bikes to ride some of the rail trail (an old train line converted to a bike path). On the way we rode past the Hops Gardens, and stopped at one of the old train stations. I'd forgotten how sore the bike seat makes the tush!

I also visited a few quilt shops: the Beechworth Quilters Cottage which I always drop in to when I'm up that way, and then I stumbled upon a shop in Bright by the name of Homespun Memories (I think). They had a lovely range of more traditional fabrics, jelly rolls, quilt kits, and heaps of patterns. I snagged a jelly roll book while I was there, to make headway on that pile of jelly rolls I seem to be accumulating...

While I was away, I finished the binding on both B's baby quilt, and my Wallflower quilt.

And of course, Miss Bella was very happy that we collected her on the way home yesterday; she hasn't let us out of her sight!

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry christmas. I hope everyone has a fabulous day filled with friends, family, food and lots of lovely goodies under the tree. In the new year I'm sure there will be lots of new quilting projects, and l look forward to seeing what everyone is up to.

I'm going away tomorrow, so there probably won't be much going on here for the next week.

All the best,

Kate

Three days to go...

Is anyone else mildly freaked out that Christmas in only three days away? At least the weather is finally looking more like summer than winter (34 here today!).

I handed in my thesis today; thats one less thing to worry about. Plus I finished quilting Wallflower...just have the binding to go.

And I had some new jelly rolls arrive in the post. The Fat Quarter Shop has been having a fantastic Christmas sale, with 50% off different selected items each day, and I managed to snag the two jellies for $15 each!

Recess:

American Primer:

And Miss Rosie's 4OT quilt pattern which I plan to make next year (among a million other things!)

Now, I recently added a visitor counter to my blog, and I know I'm getting up to 40 hits a day, but very few comments. So to all you lurkers out there, please say hello; I like to know who is visiting here so that I can in turn visit your blog. Plus I'm just greedy, I like getting lots of comments, it makes me feel loved!