Long time no blog...

So, after almost a year out of the blogging world I amazingly had some spare time this evening and rediscovered my page! What a year it's been, too much for one post, but I can leave you with some little snippets of what has been happening in my neck of the woods. Most significantly, I had a baby, Harry, who is already six months old! This is him below about three months ago. He is such a happy baby, I feel very lucky.

 Brigi loves him (phew!) and he is a big strapping thing, much to my relief. In the photo above you can see some of a divine cathedral window quilt that I made for him, finishing it about a week before he arrived. Amazingly I can't find a whole photo of the quilt, promise to post it next time. Thank heavens he was overdue, that's all I can say. It was worth the effort though, I think it's one of my favourites.

And last but not least, Brigi has been going so well we get to stop her fortnightly hospital visits for three months and see how she goes. This is her saying goodbye to "her" ward! Clever girl. I hope you have had a good year, next time I find a spare few minutes I'll hope to pop over to your pages. Bec x

Beehive quilt finished!

Phew! This quilt, although relatively simple design, turned into a bit of a monster from its sheer size, and the number of nine patch squares around the edges. White linen was used for the backing, just in case my mother in law needs a break from the colour.

Thanks to all the girls from the Beehive, I don't think it would have been finished for my mother in law in time for Christmas if it wasn't for your sewing capabilities! She loves it and it takes pride of place on her bed in her holiday house by the sea.

I hope everyone had a good break over the Christmas / New Year period, and I look forward to catching up on all the latest in the quilting world. Bye for now, Bec x

Where on earth have I been???

Before I answer that question, below is the final Beehive block for Karlyn. It was due for October, but I have been a little preoccupied...

I loved making this block, mainly because it looks so spectacular and was easy peasy. So, what have I been up to these last three months? Well, it just so happens that I'm pregnant... 20 weeks to be exact. While I have been lucky this time around with no nausea, I have been tired and wondering where on earth this little one is going to fit in our apartment. So the study is no more, actually it's a no man's land, and we are trying to prepare Brigi for having a little brother. I have been furiously trying to tie up projects (hopefully a post for next week), and find some down time amongst the chaos.

More news... my girl is having her gastrostomy button removed in two days. No more tube feeding. Big relief but I'm a bit scared, it's been a lifeline for so long. So a big week this week, just in time for Christmas. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us on Wednesday, it's going to be a looooonnnnng day! Bye for now, Bec xoxo

Tom's quilt

A friend of ours has just given birth to a little boy, Thomas, and I made him this quilt to keep him warm. Unfortunately the photos were really washed out so this is the only half decent one to post. In a nutshell it was strips of white and assorted prints charming fabrics, with a multitude of prints charming on the back. Very cute for the little one! My sewing machine is still in for a service and is still quite ill so I have been twitching around trying to find something else to channel my energy with but to no avail. Hopefully it will be ready in another couple of weeks. xoxo

Beehive May & June

To make up for my hectic last couple of months I had a Beehive weekend and caught up on my blocks and amazingly, I am back on track. Above is the block for Julie for May, and below is a block for Amy for June.

Hope you like them ladies! Bec x

Beehive block for April

This is my very belated block for the April Beehive- the instructions were to make a block using circles. This for some reason provided a mental barrier for me, and when I finally bit the bullet Vliesofix became my new BFF.

In case you're wondering, it's an elephant going for a walk with some balloons, wrapped around its trunk. No, I was not on medication when I came up with this but I think it looks pretty quirky and cute!

Hope you like it Tanya! Bye for now, Bec xo

Beehive March

Yes, that is right, March. I have a reason though, I only received my fabrics from Katrina last week. The poor thing had a run in with Canadian post office people and half her fabrics were returned to her! Worth the wait though, the fabrics were gorgeous and the block looks beautiful.
I am very pleased with this one, although so many squares and triangles have sent me a little crazy. Time to get a coffee and some chocolate...

Lucy's quilt

Remember the quilt I made AGES ago here, well this was given to little Lucy. And you know when you make a present for someone and you know how much effort you put into it and then you wonder if it is ever going to be used or just left in the cupboard??? Well I never realised until Lucy's Christening last week that her mother (and my oldest friend) Marie uses the quilt all the time, so I am totally stoked!!


This is Lucy trialling "tummy time"! Dear thing, grand old age of almost 2 months and she can fall asleep anywhere (now that is what we all aim for!).

Beehive on its way

What a weekend I have had- madly cutting pieces of fabric to post to everyone in The Beehive. February is my month so I have spent January finding fabrics and practising a few different types of blocks. Just as well, as my poor Janome is a bit sick. I ran over a needle and she just hasn't been the same. Might have to check her in to rehab.

As you can see, my assistant was tremendously industrious in helping with fabric choices.

Sunday Stash #16

So I wonder what on earth I am going to put up for my next Sunday Stash and lo and behold there are still piles of fabric to see me through at least another month! This stash is going towards what will be my quilt for The Beehive- it's to be a beachy one for my parents-in-law who have a house on the South Australian coastline (Goolwa). If you are freezing cold in the northern hemisphere you may be wondering why such cool colours for such a festive time of year?? To tell you the truth, it's pretty hot in Australia right now and so for me a beach inspired quilt sounds entirely normal! Goolwa can be 35-40 degrees (100 degrees farenheit) in the shade and freezing cold in the water, they get the southern swell from Antarctica. There is some Amy Butler, Denyse Schmidt and Jennifer Paganelli in that little bundle.

A birthday worth mentioning & December Beehive

So, I hit home with a crashing thud and what do I do to relieve the everydayness of not being on holidays?? Buy HEAPS of fabric and start sewing in a frenzied manner. But first, I forgot to let y'all kow that Brigi turned 3 last week, clever chicken. This is her at Taronga Zoo in awe of a giant sized koala. Amy, you know how EXHAUSTED we were, but it was heaps of fun and a very memorable day!

And THIS amazing creation has been what I have spent my afternoon assembling. It is for Jo for the December Beehive , not just flying geese but a circle of geese! I have to say I thought she was crazy whe I first saw the pattern, and that if I cut into her gorgeous linen I might live to regret it, but the final product is spectacular, and I have learnt alot.

That's all until Sunday, I have a mountain of stash to make up for! x

Beehive block for November

This is a close up of the 15.5"x10.5" block I completed for Meg for November's Beehive. I have to say I was initially skeptical of enjoying abstract piecing and I loved doing it!! If I made a mistake it didn't matter, I just made it work and I was pretty happy with the outcome. It also helped that Meg chose some gorgeous fabrics, especially the Joel Dewberry floral silhouette- my fave. I might have to get some for my Beehive!!

Under Meg's instructions I managed to iron most seams open- no small feat for so much small piecing.
Meg I hope you enjoy this quilt, I loved doing your block and it taught me alot that I had never tried before!!

Officially home...

and not loving it but I am pleased to be back to the online wilderness! Our holiday was fab, as you can see from the photos, and although the sewing machine was set up, I did a paltry amount. So, here is a summary of our holiday:

1. Hanging out with Brigi and swimming with ducks

2. Zooming around the Hawkesbury trying desperately to avoid thunderstorms in our boat while smelling like bait! Nick and I loved out couple of days out on the boat, we didn't catch much that was edible but the main thing is we made it home alive. I kid you not, there was lightning zapping right behind us as we zoomed back to Patonga Beach.

3. Did I mention Brigi - swimming - ducks??? I just hope she forgives me for her wearing glasses AND a hat when she is older.

4. Brigi giving a kangaroo at the Australian Reptile Zoo a smooch.

And there you pretty much have it!! There was lots of surf time at the rockpool at Copa but Brigi was so fearless I guess Nick and I were running around the whole time, so alas no photos. She managed to get into a swim ring and LOVED it, and when I say she loved it, I mean she was OUT THE BACK (I know it's in the rockpool but there was surf!) swirling around treading water. That girl is adventurous.

And last but not least, the beginning of my abstract block for Meg for the Beehive. I promise you Meg, it will be in the post this week, with a little salty air in the fabric.

I hope this post finds you all well, I can't wait to catch up on my blog reading too. Bec xo

A babe (and a star!) is born

Today has been a day of high nerves and excitement. My little sis had her first baby- a beautiful boy named Samson. This post has piles of photos in it because I can finally show you what I have been working on for 6 months- Sam's quilt! It is a star quilt, the pattern used from the first Material Obsession book.

The fabrics used were from the Lecien Folklore range, Moda Arcadia and Urban Chicks. It took some time finding appropriate colour matches.

As you can see, there was LOTS of fussy cutting. I only made the centre of the quilt and bound it to make it baby size. I didn't know what the sex of her baby was so I used muted blues and aubergine and made it pretty. This quilt has been my baby- after only a year of quilting I had no idea how hard a star was, but it was well worth the effort. I learnt how to quilt on my machine and did stitch in the ditch and stippling myself!

Amy (my sis) was happy with the pressie (it was hard to give to her!) and Sam had a lovely snuggle under there. As my sister has just arrived home (yes, she gave birth 5 hours ago) she wasn't in a photo op moment but I will get some of her with little Sam.

Welcome to the world little one. Brigi can't wait to give you a kiss!

October Beehive

Below is the block for my October beehive for Belinda. It is HUGE for a quilt block- 18.5" square. It was so rewarding making a large block, I think because it looks like you've done so much! I loved the fabrics, it was pretty easy for me to work on. Next is a 9.5" square with the leftovers...

4 days to go...

So just letting y'all know I have kept my promise from my Sunday Stash #7 to not buy fabric for two whole weeks. Thank goodness I didn't overcommit myself as I have found some that I can't wait to get my grubby hands on! Come Monday I will be free of my promise and ready to feed the addiction. In the meantime I have finished a quilt and started a dress for Miss B in the seersucker japanese fabric from Sunday Stash #4. Photos for quilt are going to have to wait until my sister has her baby, just in case she is lurking around in the online wilderness...

Sunday Stash #8

Some summery looking Denyse Schmidt... Beehive inspiration perhaps?

September Beehive

Below are the two blocks I made for Mel this month...

Ta-da!!

This is the first quilt I have quilted myself on machine, thanks to a very helpful lesson by Deb Louie, which demystified the whole process and gave me the confidence to just try it. This is a baby quilt for my girlfriend Marie, who is having a baby girl in December.

The quilt is about 22" square, so good for strollers, bassinet and a play mat. The fabric is all Prints Carming except for the gorgeous flamingos, which is a Japanese fabric I bought from Tessuti Fabrics probably almost a year ago now. The backing fabric was hand printed and was just too gorgeous to be fiddled with. Unfortunately I cut it a smidge too short so had to add the baby paisley, but I think it's quite a sweet bit of serendipity!

I am still marvelling at how good the stitching in the ditch looks. Even though it took more time than the straight lines on either side of the seam, it was worth practicing, as the next self quilted project is a lonestar quilt (no, am not insane, just like a challenge!).