Happy Hexagons.

Posted on September 19, 2025 | 8 Comments

I have been working away at my hexagon blocks for a while now. They were inspired by Emma Jean Jansen’s Tussie Mussie cushion.

I started out small wondering if I would stick with it.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed doing it. Even the hand stitching around each hexagon cluster with the perle thread.The blocks finally grew into a lap sized quilt.

It is approx 36 inches square.

I really enjoyed finding small pieces of fabric in the leftovers that could be used in the hexies.

And it was also good to find a variety of backgrounds.

I also found hexagon fabrics for the binding and backing. That’s a bonus.

That’s my lot for today. Short and sweet. Catch you next time.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

Stripes And Hoops.

Posted on September 12, 2025 | 5 Comments

More like strips than stripes, but either way, it works.

These are the last couple of strippies made for donation. I will pass them over in the next few weeks. I will then start up again in January or February, if they still want them.

First up, one for the dogs.

The piece was given to me last year and it took a while to decide how to use it.

I used a piece for the binding that was left over from a previous quilt, and the backing was in my stash.

The next strippie was hard to match colours.

I only had a single piece with the seagulls and didn’t want to cut it smaller. I ended up using greys and mottled blues.

I found a blue gingham the right size for the backing, and a simple blue with white spot for the binding.

I have ended up with 26 donation quilts, and most have been made completely from my stash. That’s a bit scary! But good to be able to use it up.

I have also been playing with little hoops.

This is a collection of three from Fig’n’Berry.

I have posted the bear before, but only completed the Santa and Reindeer this week.

They are a gorgeous set.

I then played with a small scrap of fabric left over from a quilt from last year, and put it in a hoop as well.

That’s all the finishes for this week. The weekend is shaping up well for time outside in the garden. Next weekend involves a bit of running around with two grandies in basketball grand finals on different nights. At least that way we get to watch both.

Enjoy your weekend.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Uncategorized

Jungle Doubles.

Posted on September 5, 2025 | 4 Comments

I found that I still had a couple of panels that needed to be made into quilts, and both had a jungle theme. I played around a little with colours and sizes as they went together.

There are eight blocks in this panel, so to make it into nine, I added some fabric in the centre that matched all the colours and hopefully added a bit of fun. I kept the same fabric in the border.

I then decided to see what difference it made if I used sashing between the blocks in the second quilt.

This time I used a green in the centre and added plain colours for the sashing and border. I think I like the second one with the sashing as it gives better definition to each block.

I had different fabrics for the backings.

I had a small scrap left of a multi coloured fabric that had enough for the binding.

The first two quilts are large enough for a topper on a single bed.

The next two are a good size for tummy time or play mats for babies.

Because each block was already printed with borders I left them as they were and simple cut the panel in half so each part had four blocks. I added different coloured borders, some in different widths.

I had enough of the yellow with white spot from the previous set of quilts for one of these. The green was another leftover, but from a very long time ago.

The same coloured stripe worked well for each quilt. I do like striped binding.

I need to move away from the jungle theme for the next quilt. I had some squares already cut but never used. There were enough to make into a lap quilt.

I was four short in the end, but found a piece of red with white spots that matched the same red shade. That became the corners.

Another piece of red and white for the backing.

And of course a red and white stripe for the binding.

These go into the donation box and will be delivered in the next month in preparation for Christmas.

I have a few more ready for binding, so will easily have them ready in time for that.

Other things have kept us busy around home. The old pergola was pulled down. The new one has been built and painted. We are only waiting for lights and a fan. Inside the house we have had a lot of plasterwork replaced or repaired and that is also waiting to be painted. Those of you who have done this before will understand how that fine plaster dust gets into everything. We have dusted, wiped, swept, vacuumed and mopped, and I still don’t think we have cleared all of it out. It has made us have a very early Spring clean.

As for Spring, all the bulbs are popping up and I am seeing blossom on the fruit trees. I am ready for some warm days but will have to wait. I think it is down to three degrees tonight!

Have a lovely weekend.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

Singles And Doubles.

Posted on August 22, 2025 | 8 Comments

The single refers to the hat I have knitted. It matches the jumper in my last post. Because the balls of wool from Bendigo are 200grams, I often find there is enough left over for a scarf or a hat.

I am hoping to deliver the jumper and hat this evening when we go to watch a basketball game.

The doubles refers to two quilts made with almost identical fabric.

The centre fabric continues the surf theme.

The only difference is in the yellow outer borders, but that doesn’t really show up in the photos. To help distinguish them, I chose to do different quilting on each one.

As you can see, I chose a very busy and bright backing.

The teal inner border was also used for the binding, keeping the bright theme going.

That’s all for this week.

I have a dilemma with a purchase I want to make. I need to buy the beads for the eyes for my giraffe embroidery. If I buy from the designer in South Africa, I can buy 5 beads for $6, but the postage is over $60! If I buy from USA, I have to buy 100 beads for around $17 with postage around $25. I don’t want 100 beads, but I don’t want to pay crazy postage for 5. Not really a big world problem, but I have to sort something out.

Hope you have wonderful plans for your weekend.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Knitting, Quilts

Lots Of Progress, But Only One Finish.

Posted on August 8, 2025 | 7 Comments

I often wonder if the Winter weather makes me take on projects that take a while to finish. Do I choose ones that are going to keep me inside where it is warm? Maybe I sub-consciously do.

I have been keeping the needles working in the evenings to finish this jumper for Miss 10yo. She has already seen the yarn and very much approved of the colour.

The yarn is machine washable wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills. It is from the Prism range and the shade is Fairy Tale.

This is a closer look at the colour gradations.

It is a great way to knit up a jumper without having to change balls of yarn. Love the result.

That was my one finish.

All my other work is going to take quite a while. This is where I am up to on my giraffe.

I have also completed the first border of my Homegrown quilt.

There is so much detail in each section.

I am glad to be back working on this one.

And last of all, my Tussie Mussie inspired blocks. I have gone well past a cushion top in size, so now I am aiming at a small lap quilt.

Even though it is still cold – we have had a few overnight zeros – there is a feeling of Spring on the way. Lots of bulbs are popping up and the birds are getting rather noisy.

Enjoy your weekend, regardless of the weather.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Embroidery, Felt, Knitting, Quilts, Work in Progress

Small Steps.

Posted on July 31, 2025 | 3 Comments

I have been keeping busy, but not necessarily achieving a lot of finishes. Lots of knitting and hand stitching being done, so slow progress there. But for a change of pace I decided to complete a few donation quilt requests. This way I can get some finishes and still keep working on the slow stitching.

I had a small amount left of the surf fabric with cars and surfboards, so decided to use it in a strippie quilt.

I also wanted to share a photo of the orchids that are in bloom.

Here is a closer shot of the quilt.

The fabric strips.

The fabric with spots is part of the same range.

I also found a light backing which seems to work.

The binding is a lovely blue with random white spots.

The next one is also from the same fabric range.

I have really enjoyed the combinations and will be sad to see all this fabric finally used up.

A different backing for this one.

I had some fabric left over from another quilt that was suitable for the binding.

And last of all a request to use these Christmas fabrics in a small lap quilt.

The whole thing.

Lots of red in the backing.

I used the same fabric for the binding.

I will have to do a bit of thinking as to where I can take my next quilt photos. Our pergola is being taken down tomorrow, and that is where I normally hang the quilts. It will be a few weeks before a new one is built, and I am not sure if it will work the same. Not a big problem by world views, so I am sure it will work out.

Enjoy your weekend.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Christmas, Quilts

Sea Creatures.

Posted on July 11, 2025 | 4 Comments

Sue Spargo put together a fabric bundle of sea creatures, coral and kelp in black, white and a tiny touch of blue. I bought a bundle with the plan to make a very simple quilt with the addition of some more blue.

I have given up trying to avoid the wind when taking photos. Yes, it makes the quilt look like the sides are astray, but I know they are fine.

I have combined a few design ideas in the quilt with alternating light and dark diagonal lines, as well as a double diamond pattern using the blue.

Lots of fun with the fabrics.

I also found a fun piece for the backing.

The binding is another piece with black and white.

I think there will be times that I put the quilt on the bed reverse side just to enjoy that design, too.

We have enjoyed a lovely week with grandchildren staying here. Now I am planning to head to a sewing day with friends over the weekend. I hope you have some enjoyable plans, too.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

Neptune.

Posted on June 20, 2025 | 5 Comments

I think that is the name of the fabric in this quilt. I know I bought it quite some time ago, maybe 10 years?

Not totally sure.

I found a pattern designed for layer cakes, but also altered for charm packs. That was what I had in my pile and thankfully there was enough to make this quilt. It ended up at 40 X 54 inches.

The pattern is a free one from The Fat Quarter Shop and is called Layer Cake Crepe. Sometimes I have pre cut fabrics that I am not sure how to use, so this might be a pattern to use again.

I used a soft green thread to quilt the teardrop design. It hides on most of the blocks, but I do like seeing it on the darker backgrounds.

This gives a better representation of the quilting.

The backing is another of the fabrics I bought at a closing down sale.

Yes, the lemons on the tree are ripening up.

I found green and black fabric to use for the binding, and all was done.

A couple of smaller projects have also been completed.

This is a little wool felt hoop project from Fig’n’Berry. There is a tape measure hiding on the side to show how small it is.

Next up is a little Easter ornament.

This is from a pattern by Needle Finery called Elegant Eggs.

It has been very cold here, but every now and then we get some lovely sunshine. On this particular day we were visited by many of our native birds. We had king parrots, crimson rosellas and these ones – maybe eastern rosellas or lorikeets. I need to get my bird book back out.

They do help to brighten the day.

( I have just had a good laugh at spell check – it wants to change rosellas to lacrosse, and lorikeets to strikeouts. Oh dear!)

I hope you all have a good weekend planned. I have lunch with friends and a sewing afternoon tomorrow, and then a catch up with my sisters and our mum on Sunday. And son, DIL and grandies and Monday. That should keep me going for a while.

Cheers, Karen

Category: Christmas, Easter, Felt, Ornaments, Quilts

Paris Again.

Posted on June 13, 2025 | 7 Comments

Paris the fabric, not the city. Although I would enjoy being in Paris.

I have been using the left over Dance in Paris fabric. I made another quilt over two years ago but still had a fair bit left from the fat quarter bundle. There was enough to make this quilt. It is called Fat Quarter Fancy and is a free pattern through Sew Can She.

I think I changed the size to make it slightly smaller so that I could use the fabric I had left- only maybe half an inch off .

It is a very easy pattern to adjust.

I didn’t do a lot of quilting, just straight lines following the seams.

I had enough of one of the green fabrics to do the binding.

I had this bird fabric that I liked, so this quilt was the lucky recipient.

It was one that I didn’t want to cut up, so a backing was the perfect way to use it.

I like it when I can get two good sized quilts out of a fat quarter pack.

Next up, I am playing with hexagons. This is very unusual for me, but the bug has bitten.

I saw a design called Tussie Mussie by Emma Jean Janson, and loved the colours and the different backgrounds. This is my progress so far.

I will need to sort some backgrounds soon to go with these.

Heading in a different direction now, our citrus trees have been very productive this year. We have started picking the ripe mandarins by the bucketful. For a small tree they produce a lot of fruit. We are giving lots away so that they are not wasted.

I love being able to pick fresh fruit in Winter. In another month our oranges should be ready.

Have a lovely weekend. Cheers, Karen

Category: Quilts

Welcome To Winter.

Posted on June 7, 2025 | 7 Comments

Brrr. It is a holiday weekend here as well as the first weekend of Winter. I think my holiday will be staying at home and keeping warm.

My trees are still in Autumn, but with the winds we are having, I am sure the leaves will be gone very soon.

My taxi driving requests are slowing, so I am able to return to some regular sewing time. As a result I have completed a soft and subtle blue and white log cabin quilt.