Stringybark Farm BOM

Well, here are 3 very overdue and long awaited blocks for the Stringybark Farm BOM. Once again, my apologies for not getting around to this sooner. Thank you to those who have emailed me regarding the BOM as you kept reminding me to 'hurry up!'

So, here we have 3 more blocks for the BOM - Blocks 6, 7 and 8. I haven't actually sewn them yet as I just don't have the time at the moment unfortunately. But hopefully these drawings will do. Please feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have any questions at all regarding the blocks and design. There are two more final blocks, and I'll finish drawing them over the next week or so.

So, Block 6 is Harold and Susie, two sheepish residents of the farm. They like nothing better than to stand under the old windmill and watch the world go by, whilst snatching a few mouthfuls of lush grass of course! Then we have Miles and Pepper, two very cheeky, and very naughty barn cats. They never stray far from the bales of hay where the field mice play and hide.

And finally, we have Farmer Jack and Betty in Block 8. Their little wooden house is a simple affair, but a very happy home indeed. And whilst Farmer Jack tends his farm, his doting wife Betty is very happy in her garden.

Once again, I'm really sorry! I'm really quite annoyed at myself that I haven't been able to give this the time and attention it deserves. But life has gotten in the way quite a bit over the last few months, and that takes precedence over sewing luxuries!

Anyway, till next time - happy sewing!

Download the patterns here.

Edited to add: Just to answer some questions I have been asked. Blocks 6 and 7 need a 4.5 x 6.5" piece of cream homespun. Block 8 needs a 4.5 x 10.5in piece. Unfortunately the pictures did not scan in at the correct size (technology these days... *sigh*) but I tried to get the designs as close to the correct size as possible. Hopefully it will work out fine. :)

Cheers!

Bits and pieces...

It was my birthday yesterday! I had a lovely quiet day at home with my mum and dad. We went out for lunch to a local restaurant here in Healesville - Wattleseed. It's a great place to go, and the food is delicious, and very large servings. I had a lamb and rosemary pie, and oh - it was so good!

I got some lovely presents yesterday, and they all seemed to have a craft theme to them! I think people know me too well. I got a bundle of fat 1/8's in the purples/creams and greens colour range, and the board game, Stitchopoly from DMC. My friend Cath came over later and suprised me with a craft storage trolley! It will be brilliant to take to the craft class.



Speaking of which, we had our first craft day on Tuesday. We started with some cutting out, and learning how to use a rotary cutter. Most of the ladies hadn't used one before, and unfortunately my old ones are a bit blunt, which made it harder! But they all did really well, and I think everyone now has their bits cut out. We were going to make it a monthly thing, but I reckon we may make it fortnightly.


It's been great to see such a response to my BOM! I'm really quite excited to see some Rusty blocks, and I have also been working on the next blocks.

Anyway, enough from me. I worked at the shop this morning, and now I'm off to go for a walk and enjoy this lovely afternoon.

What's this strange wet stuff falling on my head?

Well, I had some good news that my two little monsters from my previous post found a home! Two children found them (a boy and a girl - just like I had hoped,) and took them home. Their parents decided to donate the two toys to the Healesville Relief Centre for the fire victims. So I'm hoping some lucky child will find them and look after them.

Well, the new Homespun magazine came out this week, and inside were the two new blocks for the "Breast of Friends," mystery BOM. The third block in the series is a gorgeous applique by Natalie Bird, and the fourth one is a simple and pretty block by Rosalie Quinlan.

I have just completed the third block, and had a great time stitching it.

I did the wording part on mine slightly different to how the pattern suggested. I wasn't happy with the fabric I had chosen for the border originally, but I quite like it now. When you see it in person it really gives the block a pretty and refreshing look.

Check out Homespun Magazines website, as they have a blog that is updated every monday. This week they interview Rosalie Quinlan.

I have also been working on the quilt for my Omi. Yes, you remember that one that I had so much trouble with, right? Well I am pleased to announce that it is finally quilted!! And I stipple quilted the whole thing! I'm quite stunned with myself as this is the largest quilt I have stipple quilted other than a wallhanging. It's not perfect and there are quite a few mistakes, but I don't really care. And I don't think my Omi will either. Considering where I have come with this quilt and what we have been through, I'm so happy with it!

This morning I am pleased to report that we had a few sprinkles of rain! Praise God! We haven't had rain here for litterally months, and everything is dying. The beautiful hedge that we have around the back fence on our property is dropping it's leaves and looking miserable.
As it was drizzling this morning, I turned around and saw this rainbow, with the end of it sitting directly in the township of Healesville. It gave me a nice safe and secure feeling that Healesville was saved from all the desctruction of the bushfires, and the promise of rain is coming.

Finders Keepers!

I have some wonderful news regarding my dear Penny. She has been rescued and has found a new home! If you check out the Toy Society's blog, and scroll down a bit, it will say that Drop #85 (that's Penny!) was found! A lady named Julie has emailed in and said that her 8yo Daughter found Penny, and then gave her to her 6yo sister! Isn't that just sweet? Wish I could make another Penny for the 8yo now!

So yes, I am very happy right now! And also because I have finished my 2nd Homepsun BOM block! *pats self on back*

Aren't they cute? I can just imagine sitting down with these three girls and having a good giggle and a chat. I'm so looking forward to the next issue of Homespun!! I wonder which designers will feature in the next issue?

Well, now that those two blocks are done, I can get back to my 3 secret projects (that I can't tell you anything about just yet for 3 different reasons! But I will soon, I promise!)

It's only 13 more posts till my 50th post! Keep an eye out because I will be having a giveaway!

It's been too hot to sew!

Well, dear little Penny was no longer there when I went back to the park later that evening. So I'm hoping someone found her and took her home. I am yet to hear if someone has claimed her on the Toy Society blog. I have been looking around my local town, and have come across some other perfect places to drop some toys, so I might have to make a few more 'Penny's.' :)

Thank you so muh for all your lovely comments about my Homepsun BOM block! I'm so chuffed with it! I managed to take a bit of a better photo yesterday, so have edited my original post with the new photo.

I have also made a start on the second block, and I am really enjoying this one so far. It is by Bronwyn Hayes, and is three girls sitting and having a great chat. I can just picture myself and two of my girlfriends doing the same.

I have so far completed all the stitchery part, and am now about to start on the applique. I actually quite suprised myself. Usually I am not a big fan of stitching because I tend to rush it and take shortcuts. Even though I am in general a very patient person, I guess I am from that 'instant generation,' where we want results, and fast. So hence why I get a bit frustrated with stitching and usually steer clear of it (though I absolutely love stitcheries.) But for some reason I have really been enjoying doing these two blocks, and I have been taking it slowly, and really making an effort to do neat stitches. I tell you, I'm stunned!

Here are two of the girls so far...I just love that blonde hair style!

It's been awfully hot down here in Victoria this past week, with a shocking heat wave affecting the southern states. It was over 42°C for 4 days running here, with it reaching 46.7°C on Friday. I felt so sorry for my poor horse, Charlie, being stuck outside in that heat. We unfortunately don't have many trees at our place, but there is a shelter for some shade. I ended up freezing blocks of water, and putting them in his water trough, though he much more enjoyed licking them straight, especially when I put a dash of cordial in one!

And because it was so hot I had to give my little dog Daisy a hair cut! She gets quite a long thick double coat, so of course she just suffers in the heat. So here she is, looking much more happier with her new look. :) I can't believe she is going to be 12 this year!

'tis a great place to live...

Happy Australia Day for yesterday! For any international readers, the 26th of January is Australia Day, and what a ripper of a day it was. The weather was beaut, the snags were bonza, thongs were the order of the day, and the green and gold was worn with pride. If you didn't understand anything in that sentence, or you are slightly confused about thongs, then you are obviously an international reader! I absolutely love my country, and couldn't think of a nicer place to live.

Well, my first block for the Homespun BOM is done! I've been working on it for the last couple of days, and last night I did the final stitches. I'm so happy with it, and it looks so pretty and romantic. The photos don't really show it properly. It was impossible to find a good place to take a photo this morning without it causing shadows etc.

Thank you for all your help with my quilt in the previous post! After two shortbread biscuts and a cuppa, I was able to face the task of unpicking the borders off the quilt. I then tried to pin and tighten some of the seams, and pull it more together.

I'm thinking I will get some iron on interfacing, or some sort of stabilising stuff and put it on the back of the quilt. It is looking alot better now, but I don't want to risk it puckering again when I put the borders back on. I don't think I could handle that, and it would certainly take alot more than nursing a fat quarter, and a cuppa with some biscuts to bring me around! I shall keep you updated with the progress!

**Edited to add a new photo! 2/2/09**

I was finally able to take a relatively good photo of my BOM block. This one probably shows the colours more acurately.

...we have some progress peoples!

As soon as I finished my last post yesterday, I got stuck in to starting the first block for the Homespun BOM. I sat there like an eager child with a big dumb grin on my face, as I merrily cut my fabric and sewed away. Mum would often walk past and chuckle to herself.

I'm afraid I had to deviate from the pattern (any purists out there- block your ears, or cover your eyes more to the point,) but I didn't do the needleturn ( I hate doing needleturn with a passion!) and I used my machine to applique the birdies. Oh, the horror! But, I have since been told by my friends that the buttonhole police are on holidays, and I am hoping they will stay that way for another 9 months or so.

So I have finished all the wording on the block...here is a sneaky peek... (ignore the wrinkly fabric, haven't ironed it yet.)

So, there are quite a few of us ladies who are doing this quilt now, and sharing it as we go along. If you want to join in with us, or keep up, check out Homespuns forum.

Onto something different, I think the fabric below is some of the prettiest I have in my stash at the moment. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it and knew it would be perfect as a quilt for my Omi (grandmother.) I started these blocks last week, then someone got me sidetracked with the Homespun BOM. So I have promised myself that I have to finish all the blocks for my Omi's quilt, before I start the second block in the BOM. Somebody please hold me to that if you see me weakening!


Thanks for all the comments on my previous posts. I LOVE getting comments! I'm sorry if I don't get around to replying, but I do try to visit your blogs and see what you are up to. :)

Introducing...

...my new project for 2009... Homespun Magazines Mystery Block of the Month quilt!

I only heard about this yesterday when a few of the ladies on the craft forum mentioned this BOM in Homespun, and how great it was. And I thought, "What BOM? What am I missing out on? Gah, I have to buy Homespun, and NOW!"

So, when I eventually got my hands on the latest Homespun (the last copy in my local newsagents mind you...alot of ladies must have had the same idea as me,) I soon found what all the fuss was about. Incase you haven't heard about all the 'fuss,' I'll explain! Some of the top Aussie designers ( Leanne Beasley, Rosalie Quinlan, Lynette Anderson, Anni Downs, Bronwyn Hayes, Natalie Lymes, Amanda Browning and Natalie Bird) were asked by Homespun to help them make a quilt in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The designers were given a stack of fabric, and the theme of 'women and friendship,' and then to go for it! So each month, for nine months, there will be a block (or two/three) in each issue. It's a mystery BOM, so they haven't shown the finished product, only the first two blocks. But, the blocks are gorgeous, so you know it's going to be a great quilt!

So of course, I had to jump on the bandwagon. And as much as I like their fabric choices of pink and brown, I don't love them. So, I went through my stash and decided that blues are definately more me. So, this is the result of raiding my stash, and visiting Spotlight this morning... Blues with cream and tan.

I can't wait to get started! :D