A hoot of a day

I spent a good deal of time sewing today - YAY,   and managed to get Melody's Owl block completed as well as an Owl softie (pics of the softie on my blog). I hope Melody likes her block.

From Cathy C to me

This is the block Cathy C sent to me. She also included a little gift of two embroidery threads. Thanks Cathy, your owl is very cute.

Tarnyias block for Maria

Lucky Maria will be receiving this stunning block from Tarnyia in the mail any day soon.

Pats block to me

Sorry Pat, I had thought I had popped this on the blog when I received it, but I only got as far as taking the photo.  This is the lovely shabby chic star that Pat made me for October,  It will go well with my collection of stars that are patiently waiting to be made into a girly quilt - for me of course.

NOVEMBER PARTNERS ASSIGNED

Hi everyone, just to let you know that I have emailed off the swap partners for November,  We have a total of 38 members swapping this month, which is our biggest swap ever.

If you have not received an email from me with details of who you are swapping with please let me know.  You do not need to email me if you have received everything ok, unless you have any questions.

Also, a quick reminder that with Christmas fast approaching if you plan to take a break in December or January please let me know asap as I start planning the swaps a month in advance and assigning partners.

HAVE A FABULOUS NOVEMBER

and don't let the ghouls get to you on October 31st "Trick or Treat"

Melody's block to CathyC

Cathy has received my block so I can show it to everyone now. She has an autumnal theme so I made some autumn leaves blowing in the breeze. This is my very first swap so I'm looking forward to seeing what the postie brings me.

From CathyC to Melody

The block I made for Melody, my October swap partner for Aussie Quilt Block Swap is in the hands of Australia Post ;-)

Here is a snippet of the block

 

Farewell to Linden

A big farewell to Linden and thank you for her time as part of our little swapping group.  Linden has recently gone back to work and has been finding it hard to keep up with the swaps,.  She will of course honour her October swaps and Christmas swap for November.

Perhaps in time she may be able to do the odd one off swap with us, please join me in wishing her well in her quilting and life journey.  xx

My block to Leona

Leona's request for her block was "flying geese".. after finding out from Leona if she wanted the actual Flying Geese block, or something with flying geese in it, I played with my fabric and "sort of" followed a pattern and came up with this block.



Leona has received this block now, so I am able to post a photo of it.... it turned out so cute that I am now thinking of making a heap of blocks for myself to make a quilt.

Cheers...Jewells

Visitors map- calling our 5th Nation.

Just for interest sake, I popped a visitors map at the very bottom of the blog so if you are interested scroll down and take a look,.  Basically its a world map and it shows the international visits to the blog on a daily basis.  Its interesting to see that we have had some European views as well as some UK and Asian- so if any of you ladies in these countries are reading this why not join up and be our 5th country to be represented

So far we have :
Australian - 24
American - 7
Canadian - 4
New Zealand - 2

Hugs from Canada

I just received this beautiful block from my friend Crafty Pug in Australia. It is all I had hoped for. I love it to bits! Thanks, Crafty, and I hope we will be partnered again real soon. Brigitte

Putting a Smile on My face!

If this happy block doesn't make you smile, nothing will ! Thanks Sue for my lovely Wonky Star block!

Welcome another 2 members+ block from Minette

A warm welcome to Silvia from NSW and Sue from South Australia. 

 Sue's blog is http://country-blossoms.blogspot.com/

Both ladies will be doing their first swaps with us in November.

Also, I received this stunning blue and white china star block today from Minette - I love the china plate fabric that Minette used in this block - very striking indeed.  Thank you Minette.

Larrain's Block to Mary in California

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Larrain did a fabulous job on this Sunbonnet Sue block for our Californian Mary.  I am sure Mary will be delighted to receive this Larrain, well done !

Welcome member 37 Robyn- and important notes.

Welcome to member 37 Robyn from New South Wales.  Robyn just managed to join up before the mid month cut off point, so I did the swap with her. 

 Robyn requested Sarah's choice from the quilters cache in light green, baby pink and Crimson.  I had some beautiful carnation print that I think works well in this design with the other colours, I hope you like your block Robyn.  The green does not show in the photo but its a lovely soft spearmint colour.

Note: any new members that join from the 15th (or thereabouts) in the month has to wait until the following month to do their first swap. This is to stop any partners being under pressure to complete the swaps.  (and to give me time to work out and assign the swap partners for the following month).

Swap partners for the group 1 Christmas swap are sent out at the end of the 3rd week of the month (next weekend) followed a few days later by swap partners in the standard Swap.

Leonas October give away

As always, the very generous Leona is having a fabulous Christmas goodies give away.,  Visit her blog for details of how to enter

http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/2010/10/bloggy-giveaway-lets-get-ready-for.html

Good luck everyone

Kangaroo's New Roommate

Cheryll's kangaroo has been eagerly awaited by Sue's koala, so they are busy making friends and settling in together. :o)

Fabulous blocks, ladies. Thank you sooo much!

What a hoot - Cheryll is looking for spring and I just finished my first cup of hot chocolate for the fall!

October Swap to SaNDi

I just received an email stating that my Aussie block to Sandi has arrived in the USA.
GoOd JoB Mr Postman !


He must be VeRy tired.. hopping to the US.



The kangaroo has found another home now.. so I wish him and Sandi

"Good LuCk".

Purrrrrfect block

Rosemary very kindly offered to do an extra swap with me when she saw that I was saving blue and white china blocks as she had the purrrrfect fabric for a block.  I sent Rosemary a log cabin in chocolate's and creams but forgot to photograph it before it hit the mailbox.

More shabby chic stars

A big thank you and quilted hug to Sandi for her two gorgeous stars that arrived in the post today.  I am so lucky to receive 2 blocks - thank you so much Sandi.  The photo does not show it well but one if the fabrics used is the most gorgeous soft pink and green floral - just my cup of tea !!

Special gift from Crafty Pugs

I would like to thank Crafty pugs for this gorgeous blue and white china star that she made for me as a special thank you.  Its gorgeous and perfect - I  love it.  Thank you xxxxx

Bobbies blocks

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Teenas block for Bobbie

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Bobbies block for Teena



Bobbie has asked me to share these two lovely blocks with you.  The first one is a block she has made for Teena, and the second one is the block she has received from Teena.  I think you will all agree that both blocks are superb !



October blocks received from Brigitte!

lucky lucky me! this is what was waiting me in the post box today!

i love the colours, i love the piecing, i love the designs - thanks so much Brigitte!

pugs and kisses
xx

October Block for Tarnyia

My October block for Tarnyia will be on the way tomorrow! It is a postal holiday today (Columbus Day in the US) This is a sneak preview of the colors used in the block she requested.

My October Swap Block

On Friday I received my swap block from Mary Chow ,Canada.

Thank you for my lovely block and the extra 4 patches Mary. Sorry I did not post sooner. I have been very busy with family and friends who come to Dongara for our groups Quilt Hanging.

Will be making my swap blocks this week and have them in the mail by Friday.

A Block From Cathy

Friday I received my first block from the swap.  Cathy sent me a beautiful block in the Blazing Arrows block I selected.  Isn't it pretty?!?  Cathy also included a wonderful postcard.  I hope Cathy receives my block soon.  I forgot to take a picture of it before I sent it off to her so I will have to wait until she receives it to share it with you.

Thanks, Cathy!  I love the block!!

Rosemary's Block from Mary

Mary in California sent Rosemary this lovely fresh blue and white log cabin block that she asked me to share with you all.

Tarnyia's October blocks and welcome member # 36

Welcome to Melody from Victoria, quilting block swaps Australia's 36th member. 

Her blog is 

http://thehouseonthesideofthehill.blogspot.com/

Also featured are two lovely blocks made by Tarnyia.

 

 Both blocks have a journey ahead of them

 The first one is Flying Geese for Leona in Florida

Leonas Flying Geese from Tarnyia

And the second one

A gorgeous Star will be winging its way to Canada to join new member Shauna.

Shauna's Star from Tarnyia



Another member from across the Tasman

Join me in welcoming Nicole, a fellow Aussie residing in New Zealand.  Nicole found us through a friend on facebook, so the arms are stretching far and wide to greet new members. 

Nicole has been a quilter for 5 years and sent in a couple of pics of some amazing Art quilts that she has created and sold to the Papua New Guinea high commission.

 

Her newly created blog is:   http://quilt-craftextravaganza.blogspot.com

 

Thank You!

I would like to thank Cathy, Sue, Maria, Cheryll, Larain, Beth and of course Crafty Pug who I suspect was the instigator of the most wonderful "Quilted Hug" which arrived at my door this morning!

I posted all about it on my blog but I'm sure you ladies are all dying to share your blocks and I'm really looking forward to hearing all about the making process.  The course of quiltmaking rarely runs smooth and I love all the stories that go with the blocks (and hugs) that you lovely ladies so thoughtfully sent to me.

OK so now that the secret is out...go for it!!

BTW I just realised I've not taken any painkillers today.  What a very powerful quilt!! 

Perhaps my surgeon should should take up quilting instead?  He's already familiar with hand sewing at the very least...;-P

blocks received from Irene

i received these lovely blocks from irene in the mail today

she said that because she was late in sending them, she had sent two. i say, feel free to be late anytime irene!! they are both beautiful!

pugs and kisses
xx

My first block for my blue & white "china" quilt

I love the freshness and crispness of blue and white, so when my churn dash quilt had enough blocks I had to think of something new.  So I chose 2 themes and will leave it up to my swap member each month to pick what they will make for me.  One of them I stole the idea from Beth, after seeing all the gorgeous Shabby chic blocks she was receiving.  The other is for my love of blue and white china.  I have a very small collection of this, and liked the idea of a blue and white quilt - with the theme based on looking like blue and white china.  I would like to thank Anne from Canada for her wonderful interpretation of this style - you certainly hit the nail on the head with this block.  So now I am on my way.  Thank you Anne.

sneak peek of oct block

here is a sneak peek of my october block for Brigitte.

she asked for a log cabin block in red, black and white.  ill post it tomorrow so it can start its long journey to Canada!!

pugs and kisses
xx

Another 2 members to welcome

A big welcome to Leanne from NSW
 Leannes blog is http://leanneharvey.blogspot.com/  Leanne has Mt Vincent Quilts.

and an Aussie welcome to Shauna from Canada who has also joined up to swap with us this month.
Shauna's blog is http://www.hobbieswithalittlebiteoflife.blogspot.com/

Thanks ladies for offering to share the extra swaps with new members, takes the pressure off me

To Australia with love

This is the block I made for my new friend Crafty Pug in Australia. It is winging its way there as I type. I hope she likes it. Please don't tell her I've posted it as I want it to be a surprise for her. Sue kindly let me write this on her blog today. I thank you, Sue. This was my first swap since entering the blogosphere and I had a ball. Brigitte from Canada.

My first ever give away (from Sue )

Hi there,  pop onto my personal blog (quilted hugs and other nonsense) to see my first ever quilting tutorial with my first ever blog give away.  You gotta be in it to win it.

Love Christmas?

wish you could get in on the christmas swap fun? well, now you can!!!

head over to christmasquiltingblockswapsaustralia.blogspot.com for all the info!

APOLOGIES to those who followed Sue's earlier post to my incredible badly named blog 'christmasQUITINGblockswapsaustralia' 

i know none of us want to QUIT swapping!!! so i have changed the name of the blog - but if you became a follower or commented you will need to re-join etc

BIG HUMBLE PUGS AND KISSES for the error 

see you over there soon to join the swapping fun

crafty

xx

Leena's Christmas block for Anne

Our very talented Leena has just emailed me Anne's Christmas block and asked me to pop it onto the blog for her.  So the lucky Anne can keep a look out for this one in the mail any day soon.  Its a real beauty.

Busy weekend- My October swaps done.

I have been enjoying the Labour Day long weekend and have got lots of sewing and blogging done, and so it seems have other members from the emails I have been receiving.

A new member Bobbie has given me details of  her blog.  Bobbie has only just started this blog called ... Http://itsallaboutme-Bobbie.blogspot.com/   so pop on over and take a look and say hello.

Pats fall colours 9 patch

 

I have managed to complete the blocks for my two partners this month, A 9 patch for Pat in Oregon USA in fall (autumn) colours and a wonky star in bright fun colours for Minette.  I have to say I really enjoyed making the wonky star from the tutorial, very easy fun block to make.  Members will be emailed the link as they are partnered with Minette, but email me if you want to make this block, I am happy to pass it on.




Minette's wonky star



As well as these two blocks I have managed to get my second eye spy jigsaw quilt well underway. 

I am photographing the production of that in stages and will pop it on my own blog in a tutorial format

http://quiltedhugsandothernonsense.blogspot.com/

I have had a number of members wanting to know how to make this quilt.  So stay tuned for that one.  The Original pattern is from Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine Vol 17 #4.  But I have modified this slightly to suit me,



Sneak peek of my Christmas block for Rosemary

Hi Friends

I finished this at 9.00pm so I just scraped home by the skin of my teeth! :-) It will be posted this weekend so Rosemary should receive it early next week. And to my October partners - I hope not to keep you waiting until the end of the month for yours....

Rosemary, I hope you enjoy it; let me know when you receive it and I can post the full picture.

Happy weekends everyone, especially those of you who have a long weekend. :-)