Another Civil War Diary Block

Sorry Julie, have to tempt you again. I have just done another Civil War Diary Block. It’s amazing how one can do things so wrong, when it seems so simple.  Like picking the little pieces up and somehow turning them accidently, and sewing them together around the wrong way. Ah well I can hear you say – you will do these mad things!

I have been trying to sort out a suitable foundation to do some invisible machine applique.  I’m about to try some wash away, which my friend Sharon at www.pinevalley.co.nz has successfully done. In doing so I lost something ( I’m always doing this) in my sewing room, and had to have a tidy up, which resulted in me finding a lovely hand applique project which has been on the back burner for about 4 years.

So… you guessed it, I spent Sunday afternoon gluing some pieces down, and hand appliqueing them. 

My dear friend Sharon from Arizona sent me an early birthday present, which I couldn’t leave until the day to open. Well, I had to write and thank her didn’t I, and she asked that I let her know when it arrived so she would know how long it took.  The most delightful apron in the beautiful fabrics. The flowers are the outside fabric and the spots are the lining or back of the apron. I love it to bits, and Sharon very generously put some of her Mom’s vintage buttons on it. The cream packet is another apron, with a needlework panel ready for me to make up. A couple of really neat patterns, so I’m set.

I  like birthdays as at my age one can make them drawn out.  Have to celebrate with different people, and that takes time. I’m meeting my sister in Taupo which is central North Island of New Zealand. Will post some photos when I get back.

Hi from New Zealand

Today is overcast, but I hope it won’t rain. I’ve just hung my washing out and it’s blowing around nicely.

I had a weekend to myself, when DH went away with his horses, and I managed to finish a table runner, that was supposed to me a wall hanging, but I didn’t want it as that. The class was invisible machine applique, so I thought a table runner would be large enough to do. Notice the butterfly on the bud? That’s there because I accidently cut the background fabric!!

I have also made a start on The Civil War Diary Quilt. I was going to start Dear Jane, but I haven’t got my background fabric yet.   

The one with the squares – I thought I don’t need to do this foundation piecing, so I carefully cut my strips, then squares, and VERY carefully stitched them up to find I had forgotten to add the S.A. Oh my God! how could I do something so basic so wrong. So, I re cut and stitched, only to find I had done a Very scant 1/4” S A and the block measures about 6 7/8” instead of 6 1/2”.

Well…. I had had enough of that one, so maybe I’ll redo it later in the peace, or do very large SA when I stitch it in. No that wouldn’t do at all, so I guess I’ll be redoing!!

I think I need to starch these little beauties as my photos make them look abit off.  My seams are all perfect, so I think that’s the way to go.  Some peoples little blocks look so perfectly neat.

Many thanks to Linda, Jenny, Julie x2 and Quilts & Pieces (sorry I don’t know your name) for all the nice comments you made to my last blog.      Linda I’ll certainly try and remove the Quilts feet. Did you notice the quilts hands! haha  

Thanks for dropping by

Matts Quilt

 

Hoorah, today I managed to take a photo and download – upload?? I never know which is the correct term – to my blog.

It hasn’t been too long in the making, for me anyhow.A friend in Brisbane – Hi Julie, said it reminded her of sea horses, so that’s what I have been calling it. It was quite fun to make, and fairly easy to quilt on my new Pfaff, although I managed to do it with a few crooked lines. Overall, the effect is fine, and I don’t think a 16 year old boy is going to worry about that.

Sorry the quality is not very good, but I had to haul in helpers to hold it up, and the rain started at the same time.

Wouldn’t it just have to have a bucket with the dogs drinking water in it, right next to my quilt. As this was the second shot at getting them to hold the quilt up, I didn’t dare ask again. It’s amazing that you never notice those things until after you have finished taking the photo!

The quilt measures 75”  square.

While I was taking photos, I thought I would add one of the little wall hanging I made in a class with http://pamhollanddesigns.typepad.com/Pam Holland at the Symposium in Auckland in 2007.

Fantastic tutor. I even changed one of my classes so I could do another class with her.

Thanks for dropping by, and hopefully I’ll have another photo to put on tomorrow.