Globetrotting Block of the Month #6 & Aurifil Block of the Month

  I have finally got my June block done for the Globetrotting Block of the Month. On the last weekend of June I managed to get a little sewing done. I seem to be struggling with time management issues or something. So in a couple of hours I did get my St Louis Globetrotting block done 

and my Chain Links Aurifil block of the month done from my scrap box. 

A few more lozenge blocks done for my Leaders & Enders Challenge. Look at my pile of lozenge blocks. 

When should I start sewing them together?

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia            

                                                                         

Wishes Quilt Along -June's Block

Where did June go? Most of my Block of the Month projects is still waiting for their June block to be made. Where did I go wrong this month? I have cut 2 ready for sewing and this is the only one finished so far this month. Maybe I can find some time this weekend. I hope I can or I will be really behind. How are you all going with your Block of the Month projects? Are you keeping up or like me occasionally falling behind? Let me know in the comment below.
Here is the only June block finished.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2014 A Quilters Odyssey Annual Retreat

What a great weekend we all had at our annual quilting retreat, organised by A Quilters Odyssey. It was held at Nunyara Conference Centre, Belair. The weather was cold but the rain held off. We arrived on Friday afternoon and got set up and we could work on what we brought with us for the evening. 

Kate and Sue from A Quilters Odyssey arranged a weekend full of quilting pleasures, giveaways, presents, shop specials and with a workshop held each morning for 20 quilters. On Saturday Kate's workshop was on English Paper Piecing Kaleidoscope Stars. I am very familiar with English Paper Piecing but I haven't done much with fussy cutting piecing and only 2 fabrics were used in this workshop and all the stars were different when finished. This technique could turn some ugly fabric in my stash into something brilliant.

On Sunday Sue's Workshop was a no sew purse. Now this one was something different for me. It was very interesting how you can create a purse with some fabric, sticky backed vinyl and some hardware. I don’t think it would be something I would have tried if it wasn't for this workshop but Sue showed us some interesting project ideas that got my attention. So stay tuned for some small projects.

The rest of each day we could do what we liked and I can tell you we didn't go hungry, with breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner all supplied.

 A view of  some of the other buildings on site.

 Adelaide is down there some where. At night with the city lights it was a magnificent view.

 I took 3 of my own projects to work on. Unfortunately I didn't get any completely finished but I did sew some more blocks towards my Leaders & Enders Challenge and I made a big dent in my Celtic Solstice quilt. I finished the last few blocks, got the first border on and got halfway through the second pieced border. A lot more work than I thought but with all the eating and socialising I may of been a bit busy.  A very successful weekend I think and we can't wait for next year's retreat. 

Until next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

PS- My long suffering husband (LSH) tells me he is refreshed and can't wait for next year's retreat. What is he telling me?

Unfinished Projects #3

I have to report I have found another unfinished project. I was looking for something else when I came across a flat box full of star blocks in 3 sizes. The problem with this project is there is no pattern and only 2 of the fabrics from the project with the blocks. So what did I do with the pattern and the rest of the fabric?

My continued search has not turned up the pattern or fabric. So I am going to wing it and just create a quilt with what I have. To start with I have 35 stars blocks in 3 sizes I need to turn all of them into one size. The largest is 12 1/2 unfinished so that is my goal. The small stars I turned into a four patch with some extra fabric and to the medium stars I added a border around them to bring them up to size required. These blocks were hand pieced so I will continue hand piecing them.  I have ended up with 25 blocks. Here are the first 2 rows completed.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

2014 To Do List Update

I thought I would update everyone and myself on my To Do List that I set myself at the beginning of the year.

             

1. My Pies & Tarts Quilt I am half way through hand quilting this one.

I haven't touched this one yet but now winter is here it may be time to pull it out.

2. My Batik Hexagon Quilt top ready for quilting and binding.

Completed

3. My Batik Log Cabin Quilt I am nearly finished the blocks (4 blocks to go)

Completed

4. My Farmers Wife Sampler quilt -only has 30 blocks to go then sashing and borders.

Only 5 blocks left and sashing and cornerstones are cut. I sewed the first 3 rows together to see how they were looking.

5. Bonnie Hunters Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt the final layout was only released on 1st January 2014 I have 24 blocks completed.

Only 5 blocks left to go. I think this one is coming with me on retreat so I can complete the last blocks.

6. My Double Wedding Ring quilt I started at the end of October at a workshop. 3 rings completed only.

Nothing more to report on this one but it will be coming with me on retreat this weekend so I am hoping I can do a little bit of work on it.

New things to tackle this year, there are plenty of new things I want to try but there is only 365 days to work with.

7. Building Blocks Quilt. 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along created by Leah Day. This one is going to allow me to tackle 2 things on my list, improve my free motion quilting and have a go at the Quilt as you go technique.

I have completed January-May blocks I haven't started June's blocks yet.

8. A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring our Mystery Batik Sampler Pack. All designed just have to sew, write the pattern and kit it.

This one I have completed the sample blocks to check the measurements so I am ready to sew all the blocks.

9. A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring hexagons using the Inklingo technique or EPP.

Quilt top completed and it is ready for quilting.

10.Quiltmaker magazine Black Tie Affair using Riley Blake Evening Blooms (in stock at www.cynthiasark.com.au)

I haven't started this one yet.

10. Pat Sloan's Globetrotting BOM for freequiltpatterns.info (One block a month)

I still have June's block to sew so I am nearly up to date.

11. Fat Quarter Shop Wishes Quilt Along BOM (One block a month)

Up to date on this one.

12. A Dahlia Quilt I have a pattern.

This one is my new hand piecing project I have fabrics selected and have cut a few pieces of each shape ready for sewing.

 To see what I have completed this year have a look in the Completed Projects Gallery at the top of the blog. 

Plus there has been a number of new projects added some already completed, others at different stages of construction  and some not started.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Spring Sampler Quilt #2

I have finally got started on my Spring Sampler quilt. If you have read the first post on this quilt along you will know I only discover it in May they were already 4 blocks in I think. So I finally got a little time for some stitching so the plan was start with blocks 6 and 7 and work backward until I caught up. So I cut my fabric for block 6 and sew it together and somehow I ran out of time. Where does time go? So block 7 will have to wait but I thought I would share block 6 with everyone.

                                                         Block 6.                                                      There is a button on the right hand side of my blog for this project if you wish to have a look.

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

EQ Jump Start Sew Along #3

I have finally got to the sewing machine. We are up to the third block in our sew along and for this lesson we are changing a block from the library. I have tried this a few times in previous version with mixed results. So following the lesson I got it done, but getting the new lines straight was still a bit of a problem. Care really needs to be taken to get your lines straight. It was good to have a lesson on printing foundation pieces as I have never done any. I may have to do something with foundation piecing so I can have more practise using this function. Here is my block.

Here is the link to start what others have done with this block.
http://doyoueq.com/blog/2014/06/eq7-jump-start-block-3-link-up/

Until next time

Keep stitching

Cynthia

No Time For Sewing

The last couple of weeks has been lacking sewing time. I haven't touched any of June's blocks and I am getting a little edgy not being behind the sewing machine. Compared to last year where I did hardly any machine sewing and wasn't fussed about it. This year I am pumped to get behind the sewing machine and create. The brain has been running crazy lately. I am seeing new patterns and designs everywhere in all sorts of different places. Now all I have to do is make sense of all these ideas and turn them into viable projects. I may not have of done any sewing but I have selected a lovely range of pink batik fabrics for a new hand piecing project. Do you like my choice?

Until next time 

Keep Stitching 

Cynthia

Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair 2014

What a blast I had at the Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair over the June long weekend. I didn't realise how many people I had to catch up with, so in between sales I was catching up with all the news from stall holders and friends I haven't seen in a while. Over 3 days there was a lot to do with promoting my products, demonstrating English paper piecing,  giving my opinion on a variety of topics, answering lots of questions, some were very interesting. At least they were all easy enough to answer on my part. I don't like it when I get that really curly question that I can't answer.  I had empty boxes when I packed up and that is always a good feeling as I must have sold plenty. I would love to sell out just once but I know that will never happen. I'm just too well prepared. Here is a couple pictures of my stall.

  The only problem with having such a good weekend was I got no sewing done. I'm itching to get behind the sewing machine and start on June's blocks that are waiting to be done. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

 Cynthia

2014 New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop Week 2

I hope you all enjoyed week 1 of the New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop. I know I did. It took me a while to get around to them all, but it was well worth the time. So here's the link to Plum and June  to get you started with the week 2 list. Just remember Beth's blog has the first list and when you choose to visit a blog on the list, on each blog there is the second list. Double the fun. So "Let's get Acquainted"

Until next time 

Keep stitching

Cynthia

Is it a Quillow or is it a Quilt Pillow?

Is it a Quillow or is it a Quilt Pillow? That is a question that has been on my mind this week as I had to make one for a customer. I have never made one before so I wasn't sure where to start. The internet is where all searches start these days if you don't know or need an answer look on the internet which I did and I found lots of patterns, but sometimes I like to have the real thing in my hands when I am making something new.

I was telling my quilting friends this exact point when Lisa offered to lend me one of hers that she had made and had in the car. So that day I brought it home with me and using it as a template as was able to complete the order. Now all I have to do is deliver it on the weekend to the customer at the Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair, The Gardens Recreation Centre, Kings Rd Parafield Gardens South Australia. So if you are in the area pop in and say hello to me and enjoy lots of crafty goodness.  Here are some pictures of the Quillow/Quilt Pillow that I made. I still don't know what to call it.

Until Next Time Keep Stitching

Cynthia

PS In the top picture Yes that is one of the new fabric shelving units for the shop. So exciting to  see the shop furniture being made.

2014 New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop has started.

We are off and running finally. Here is the link to Beth's blog http://plumandjune.blogspot.com/ and you will find the first batch of bloggers links ready for visiting. It is time to meet some new friends, enjoy some beautiful quilts and maybe learn a few things. Please join me on this adventure and I look forward to sharing my blog post on the 16th July with everyone. In the mean time enjoy everyones posts.

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2014 New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop

Join us for the 2014 New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop starting on the 4th June. I will post the schedule as we go. This will be the perfect chance to meet new friends, learn a thing or two and enjoy lots of quilts by very talented quilters. I have a spot in this blog hop, it is very exciting participating in this event  My date is the 16th July  so I can enjoy the first half of the blog hop with everyone. When my date arrives everyone will get to learn a little bit more about me and my quilting adventure. 

Stay tuned for the schedule.

Cynthia