Block 2 and other applique ...

Even though it was hot to boiling point on Sunday - the humidity was horrendous, I shut myself in the "craft room" (it's got air-conditioning) and got on with things - Block 2 of Toytime Circus got fused in place and I also had a play with appliquing a tea towel with a chook and another one with a pear and a flower.  I haven't blanket stitched them yet but they should look good when I'm finished.

I have 4 handmade gifts to make and have chosen 4 different things:  one is a tote bag, one a fabric keyring decoration, one a placemat and the 4th a potholder.  Then of course there's my secret Xmas swap.  I have the rest of the week to make the Xmas sack and 3 presents, although the presents don't all have to be handmade, I can buy if it's around the $5 mark, so with the 2 presents I've already made, plus a couple I've bought and no SCQ swap is complete without some fabric thrown in as one of the presents:  a very modern chook fabric and a novelty frog fabric (Gail loves chooks and frogs - me, I'm an owl person and a dog person.  Janet of JMD Designs has got a challenge going to see how many different types of owls she can get (she is supplying the applique template) using fabric to either make it arty, or farty, or traditional (she's calling it the Eva the Owl Event!) - so if you're into applique, have a go.  In my surfing for chook appliques, I came across Amy Bradley Designs - and fell in love with two, one called Barnyard Skyline and the other, A Blooming Welcome so had to get them (no wonder I have no money!)

Yesterday, Monday, I got no sewing done as it was spent saying goodbye to my mate, Debbie who's flown back to Perth after a quick visit to her parents (and picked the worst week weatherwise) and then my last visit to the hospital for a consult with speech pathologist (very good marks!) and an undignified test (but got the tick of approval there too) and walked outside to a typical "break the humidity" Brisbane storm so of course, had to wait ages for a taxi so once I got home, only had enough energy to sit in front of the TV - 5 hours from home to home so was just too pooped to pop!  No more hospital for about 3-4 months which is wonderful news.

Today, tho I had physio to go to, I also managed to start on my fabric decoration present (can't show you a picture until she gets it cos it's a secret!) and also cut out lots of hexagon paper templates and have now started on dresden plate blades (I bought them by the packet from Lizard of Oz for hand piecing in 2007 and am just getting them cut out!  I also managed to blanket stitch around the applique on one of the pot holders -- so really have the bit between my teeth!  It is so nice to concentrate on other things other than my health and if I'm feeling well or have anything else wrong with me!!

I also managed to find a handyman/gardener/mower to do some maintenance around the yard - at great expense to the management but it will really make the place look great and not only lived in again, but loved as well

Galactic Explosion, Celtic Sew Easy, Toytime Circus and Bonnie Hunter's new book

Well, it took a while but have finally gotten back into it, quilting that is -  I had about 10 days of doctors' visits and tests and but finish them on Monday next week and then hopefully, doctors can go away for a while and I can settle back into my normal life :o).

In amongst all my new stash, I remembered to get the final blocks, borders and backing fabric for Nancy Rink's 2010 free BOM: Galactic Explosion, which I got in the aqua/green/blue colourway. I had begun to collect the blocks before I got sick and I was so taken with it, I decided to continue even tho Nancy now has a 2011 free BOM but you can still download the blocks for Galactic Explosion if you follow the link above.  I love the fabric Nancy picked for the blocks and am looking forward to doing it, though I have to make a Think Pink quilt for a raffle first.

I've got 2 new books too which I know I'll learn heaps from.  The first is Sew Easy Celtic by Angela Madden (I also got her Celtic Masterclass DVD as I learn better with actually seeing it done).  I'm keen on celtic design so am looking forwards to trying Angela's way of doing it. Check out Angela's website at http://www.angelamadden.com/ and see her charming celtic quilts.  The other book I got which only arrived today is Bonnie Hunter's Scraps and Shirtails II.  Bonnie is a legend for her efficient use of scraps and her generosity in sharing with the quilting community, especially in Australia.  One of my favourite quilts in the book was Bricks in the Barnyard - I love symmetrical design and conventional blocks, so this and Goose in the Puddle really caught my fancy - and also uses up a stack of scraps which I have been diligently cutting and sorting, well I got interrupted by 8 months in hospital, but have started again!  If you like making scrap quilts, I do recommend this book.

Lolly, my friend who's been staying to look out for me after rehab, went home today and I was at a loss as to what to do with myself for a bit - I am missing having her company and so to cheer myself up, I managed to get started on Block 1 of Kookaburra Cottage's new BOM pattern, Toytime Circus.  I am doing this one through Quilters' Corner.  It's an 8 month BOM so should be manageable even for me, especially if I actually do the block when they come in the post.  The blocks are quite huge  so will be interested to see the finished top.  Block 2 which I already have and have started tracing the fusible pieces is the juggling bear so am hoping to get that all affixed tomorrow and then I can blanket stitch both of them in front of the TV.

It's almost the witching hour so I'd better go to bed so's I can be up bright and early for my daily walk and then into sewing - it is so nice to be home!!