I'm back!

Hi Everyone,

I know it has been ages since I last blogged... and there are plenty of reasons why but I won't bore you with them now. Thanks for staying connected and waiting me out!

I have become obsessed with patchwork and it is my new craft of choice! Here are a few things I have made recently (and now gifted so I can show you):

This one is a wall hanging quilt using the logo of the College where I work. It is hanging on the wall in my library. 

This is the finished product of the Stack of Critters stocking stitched for my friend Judith's second grandson, Torvald. I really like the backing fabric I got from a closing down fabric store a few months ago. It really pops.

 These two small bags were what I made for my nieces' birthdays. One niece is into pink and dancing so the dancing pink fabric was perfect and the other niece is into purple and gymnastics so the girl doing cartwheels was a perfect fabric find. I hope they liked them as much as I enjoyed making them.

This oriental silk bag is something I made for my sister's birthday. It has handy pockets and is easy to carry over your shoulder. I made myself one and use it all the time.

I have also made a few other things but they haven't been given yet, so you'll have to wait and see for those...

We recently also went on a 2 week European River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam and while there, I managed to locate little fabric stores in many of the towns. I now have a number of metres of fabric from the trip that I hope to make into a number of special things.

These are the fabrics I bought and whatever I make will remind me of a fantastic holiday! I'm hoping to learn English Paper Piecing on the weekend as I'm thinking of a design using that technique for one set of the fabrics above...
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Stack of Critters Stocking #16

Yay - it is finished, except for the outline of the stocking which I will do in white so it is not noticeable. Then I can go looking for a backing fabric and sew it together. I am very happy with how it has turned out and it was a super easy stocking to stitch - lots of fun.

 

Now, what to do next?

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Stack of Critters Stocking #15

Well, as far as an update goes, this isn't really one as I haven't touched the stocking for a couple of weeks. I've been working on my secret sewing project and it is coming along fantastically. Unfortunately, I can't post any pics yet in case the person it is for sees this. It will be worth the wait, I assure you.

On news related to the Stack of Critters stocking - the baby it is for has been born, early at 33 weeks. He is making good progress but will be in hospital for some time yet so if you can spare a prayer, please pray for his continued improvement. His name is Torvald.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Stack of Critters Stocking #14

Last critter almost done!
Plenty of secret-sewing also going on lately - very exciting to see the project coming together! 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Stack of Critters Stocking #13

 

The toe of the stocking is now done, back-stitching and all. Just one more critter on the top and that's about it until the baby is born and named! Got some more sewing done as well, working on my secret project.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #12

 

Got some back-stitching done and finished up the stocking toe last night - yay!
I am also doing about 30mins per night on my latest secret sewing project which will be an awesome gift for someone lucky! Can't give too many details as it is a surprise for them.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #11

The toe of the stocking is almost done!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Update

Hi Everyone,

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your family and friends!

I have been busy over the last few weeks and have plenty to show for it, but since they are gifts for people who may read this blog, I can't upload the photos just yet...

I have finished 2 lap quits - a fantastic car themed one for my nephew's 6th birthday in May and another for a birthday or Christmas present later in the year. I am super pleased with how they have turned out and will gladly upload some pics once they have been given.

I am about to start out on my next patch working project - a surprise gift for someone who will love it - again I can't give too much away in case they read this but updates will be provided once they get the gift in a few months time.

I can provide an update on Stack of Critters Stocking:

I have also made and filled a peg board in my sewing room and I am super pleased with it as well! It is now much fuller than when I took the photo.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #9

I am really enjoying this stocking design. It is just too cute!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #8

Very happy with my progress over the weekend. These guys are just so cute!
I also bought a walking foot for my sewing machine and some basting spray to do my next quilting project, but I'm waiting until after Christmas to get started as I don't finish work until Friday and I'll need plenty of time to take it slowly and not stuff it up!
Hope you all have a great last week before Christmas!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters #7

These little guys are just So cute! This is a joy to stitch.
Hope you all have a productive weekend! I'm off to buy a walking foot for my sewing machine so I can do some quilting on gifts for next year's Christmas! I'm getting in really early!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #6

I managed to get a little stitching done last night. Hopefully more will follow tonight...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #7

Filled in the face last night...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters #6 and lots of sewing

I had a very productive weekend which I am very pleased about. I got a little cross-stitching done and heaps of sewing...

A peg bag to replace the one that is falling apart. It took me 4 peg bags to get it right, but eventually I got this one exactly the way I wanted it. This will be for my sister who is moving into a new home in the next few weeks. I've got slightly more dodgy ones for me and a friend and one spare as well. The bias binding around the hole took a bit of work but going slow is the key (for me anyway)...

And this I am really pleased with - it is the Believe You Can Quilt panel that I got from the Quilter's Closet. I sewed it up all in one afternoon, and my corners all match as well - very pleased with myself! It is such a sweet pattern and just so cute. I've sewn it as a gift but I am oh so tempted to keep it for myself! I have some beautiful pale grey minky blanket fabric to put on the back so it will be a lovely knee rug for the recipient.

I also pinned the Fast Track panel for my nephew which I am going to make into a knee rug for him to use when watching the Cars dvds. I hope to quilt it together over the next few nights. It will also have soft minky blanket fabric on the back making it nice and cosy!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters #5

The next critter is starting to take shape...
Big weather warning for Melbourne this weekend with 3 months worth of rain expected in the next 2-3 days! I think our house should be OK, but I do have some concerns for my library at work as it has flooded before... We'll be keeping a close watch today! Hopefully the drains can cope with the expected amount of water. Only time will tell. It could be a soggy Monday if things don't go well...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters #4

 

These little critters are just so cute!
My fabric delivery will arrive tomorrow - super excited about starting my new patchwork/quilting projects.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters #3

I'm trying to get in as much cross-stitching as I can because I know once my new patchwork project fabric arrives, that's all I will want to be doing...

This little guy is just so cute!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Stack of Critters Stocking #2 & Doona Covers - Done!

Got some cross-stitching time over the weekend to just about finish one of the critters on the stocking. So cute!

The rest of the weekend was taken up finishing the last of my book print doona covers. Woo hoo! This is is definitely my favourite - it is a mix'n'match of the 5 book fabrics and I just love it. Now I'm over doona covers and don't think I'll do any more for some time! This is the only one out of the 6 that is exactly as it should be without any [major] mistakes (or 'customisations' as I like to call them!)

Now I'm just waiting for the supplies for my next project... I've got 3 projects lined up to do that have staggered end dates (they are for gifts). One must be done by June next year, one by May and one by Christmas next year so obviously it will be the May one I start first! You'll just have to wait and see what they are...😀 I've definitely got the patchwork bug!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

 

Stitch'n'Sew Day & Stack of Critters Stocking #1

Well, Saturday's "Stitch'n'Sew" day was great. There were about 50 ladies, lots of great conversations and wonderful food. I started on another Christmas stocking and was pretty happy with my progress:

 

 This next design is another Dimensions stocking and it is called Stack of Critters.

Pretty happy with my progress over 1 day... I hope the organisers will hold more of these 'Stitch'n'Sew" days as it was great fun.

Then on Sunday, I started sewing on my final book print doona cover. I think I've said this each time, but this one is my new favourite! The 'plain' fabric is from the Shadowplay range so it is not fully plain, there is a slight wave of colour going through it and I think it really picks up the beige pages of the books in the print. I managed to sew half the doona top on Sunday, so, again, I'm pretty pleased with my progress!

I only had to pull out 1 row of stitching when I mistakenly put two blocks the same next to each other. Otherwise, I love it, unfortunately the photo doesn't do the colours justice. In real life they just pop.
I hope your weekends were as productive as mine...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie