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. :-)

NEW CHRISTMAS BLOCK SWAP GROUP

Hi everyone, I am very excited to announce a new blog for those of us feeling Chrissmassy all year round.  Crafty Pug and I have teamed up to run two sister swaps, side by side.  Quilting block swaps Australia and Christmas Quilting block swaps Australia. 

Head on over to her blog at by clicking on the button on the left side bar of this blog for  for all the details. 

We will be running the swaps in groups of 12, and request that you only participate in one Christmas swap at any given time.  So those of you in the first Christmas swap will be ineligible to join (sorry) until you have swapped with all 11 other members of this first group.  Once the second group fills a third Christmas swap will commence and so on.  Members can participate in the standard group and any one of the Christmas groups. Also, if you are in the first Christmas group, please start popping your posts of the Christmas blocks only on the Christmas block swap site.  Crafty will send all members invited to post directly onto this blog.  A button is also being created to link to your blog and this one all together.

Email either me or Crafty pugs if you have any questions.  Jingle bells Jingle bells

September block to Mary from CathyC

My block to Mary in Canada has safely reached its destination - it seemed to take 'forever'  ;-)

I posted a snippet earlier, so here is the full pic

Mary requested any block in teals or neutrals (no neons or novelty)

this block is Annie's Choice and is a real pleasure to make ;-)

September Swap II

Today I got a lovely surprise in the letterbox:

 

Yes it's my lovely Baby Bunting block from Kathy!  It's gorgeous! (much nicer than my dodgy one handed photo shows!).  My quilt is going to look lovely!!

Kathy requested the Twist block in limes and a hint of aqua:

This will be my last swap for a while since I'm sitting out October.  The only sewing going on this week has been on my arm and not by me! ;-P

I look forward to seeing all the October blocks and hope to be back in full force in november!

Xmas Swap - RoUnD #2

This is to tease Cathy...just a little bit !
I mailed off her new block so hopefully it will find a home with her in SA.


Just a peek now...



 This is soooo much fun !

OCTOBER SWAP PARTNERS SENT

Hi girls
By now you should have all received your October block swap partners details.  We have 32 members participating in the swap this month with 6 for the first time.  How fabulous is that.  It took me ages to get all the emails off, and I hope I haven't mixed it all up.  Please make contact with your partner to touch base, and if you don't hear from them within a week let me know,  remember not everyone checks their emails everyday, so be patient.  And most importantly HAVE FUN.

My Block from Alex...

Here is my gorgeous block from Alex who amazingly completed my block before her hospital visit. Alex, thanks so much for the fabulous fabric choices, I just love it!

Alex, yours is finally on the way today, (after the sewing machine hiccup!)

Christmas block sent and recieved

It was lovely to get home today and find that Cathy's Christmas block had arrived in the mail.  I can see why you agonised over this Cathy, you did a simply superb job.  I absolutely love it, and especially the little felt poinsettia that you put in the centre - very sweet. 

Thank you soo much x



Cathys star for me





Marys star

I also made a Christmas star for Mary in Canada - A simple twist on the Ohio star block with a fussy cut reindeer centre.  It will be popped in the post tomorrow.

Pats block for Leena

One of our new American ladies emailed me this pic of a Christmassy block that she has made for Leena, so its on its long journey from Oregon USA to Leena in Kensington NSW Australia.  Isn't it lovely and cheerful, well done Pat !

Two Sunshine awards

I have to say I have been honoured twice in the Sunshine award.  The first nomination came from Leona earlier this month, and as I was so busy at the time I completely forgot about it. 

Leona said "I enjoy following your blogs and appreciate the opportunity to be part of the block swap"  I am so sorry Leona for not commenting on this sooner.  I truly appreciate this recognition,  Thank you.

The second award came from Alex who is currently in hospital after having surgery on her wrist.  Alex said "i love reading your blog and keeping up to date with all that is going on for you- thanks for bringing some sunshine into my life!"  Thank you so much Alex - your strength and positive attitude is an inspiration to me.