Gorgeous Buttons and a little progress

Hobbysew stock lots of these gorgeous buttons by Laraine from Up in Annies Room. Laraine cut the lovely house button that we painted at the stitching days. They had some of the buttons on display on the stall.

I have been trying to keep up with my BOMs. I did enjoy stitching this second block of Christmas Fun. My little pieced blocks are improving a little! I just love the little painted bird button.

Stitching progress

It has been so good to have some quiet days to get started on some stitching. I am busy trying to get the samples and notes prepared for my classes that start in February. I love to get them done (and over with!) so I can concentrate on some UFOs and BOMs. Here is the cushion I have made using the painted buttons that I painted a few days ago.

I couldn't resist starting to get this Crazy Christmas BOM put together. I had decided that I wanted simple borders instead of the crazy patchwork to show off Lynette Anderson's gorgeous stitcheries. Took a while to work out what to do and then chose simple borders in the darker fabrics in Lynette's range of fabrics. Here are 2 rows. There are two more to do and then the borders.

Years ago I bought this pattern and kit at Canberra Needlework and have wanted to make it ever since. It is a pattern by Marg Low and went together so well. It's ready for Christmas this year!

Here is a little heart I have appliqued for another class project.

My dear friend, Penny, created a delightful sheep scissor keeper a while ago and I have been wanting to make one ever since. Here it is. I am planning to stitch the sheep on the back as well.

Stitching Show and tell

So good to catch up with the social stitching ladies this week at Hobbysew. On Tuesday, Shirley brought in her beautiful "Starry Starry Nights" quilt. It has been professionally quilted by Robyn and it looks wonderful. Shirley chose to have plain outer borders instead of stars all around and I think the result is great. Also it would have been a lot less work!

Barbara has been away on a lovely cruise and managed to get lots of stitching done. Isn't this a lovely Christmas stitchery?

On Wednesday, Paddy had two amazing quilts to show us. She has been making this village quilt as a BOM and it looks so lovely. Paddy needleturned all her houses and they are so special.

Paddy has also finished her owls Mystery quilt too. It looks so wonderful. I am amazed at how much Paddy is able to achieve! It is a lovely BOM designed by Cathy Stevenson and you can get the patterns from Hobbysew.

Paddy also received this beautiful stocking for Christmas. I gather it had lollies in it! Yum.

I had to get the paints out yesterday to paint some buttons for a cushion we are making in Term 1.

Here they are all painted and ready to stitch onto the cushion. The buttons are from Laraine at "Up in Annies Room" and we have them at the shop.

More show and tell from Wednesday

There are so many lovely pictures of projects to show you from Wednesday. Here is Lorraine's red "Basket of flowers" bag. I do love those Rural Jardin fabrics.

In the evening, Margaret had made a beautiful bag for a friend and has used her lovely stash of fabrics and one of the Red Brolly stitcheries.

She also added the button we were given at the stitching day in Canberra. What a great use for that lovely timber button from Up in Annies Room.

Barbara has also been busy and has stitched and made this heat pack as a gift. The stitching is so lovely and the fabrics look really good. The pattern is in the "Gardener's Journal" book by Anni Downs.

I'd best stop blogging and get on with packing and organising for Stitching on the Bay this Saturday. I am off down the mountain (carefully as it may rain) this afternoon.

Another block stitched and a new pattern

I have managed to fit a little bit of stitching in over the past busy week. I have finished block 6 of the Crazy Christmas BOM by Lynette Anderson and am pleased with the result. I did rush the needleturn this time and that is not a good idea! I couldn't bear to undo it so continued on and it is OK.

The "Plant Trees" sampler and cushion pattern is now ready to go to Hobbysew. We are doing this project in my "Stitching for Pleasure" classes but there have been a few people interested in the pattern. The samples can be seen at the shop. The pattern will include one of "Up in Annies room"s lovely willow tree buttons and the buttons are also available individually.

Here is a close up of the painted tree and the house on the sampler.

And here is the lovely button.

I have 2 copies of the pattern and the button to give away. Just leave a comment on this post to be in the draw. I will draw it on Saturday.

A wonderful tree button and some stitching finished

Isn't this a lovely tree button? Laraine from "Up in Annies room" gave it to me last week and I can't wait to play with it. I am planning to paint it and then think up a project using it for term 2 classes. It is such a lovely button, Laraine. Thank you for letting me play with it.

I had some time stitching on the weekend and finished the second block in the Cinderberry Stitches Christmas pattern I am making. It is so easy just working with one colour.

I have also completed the largest block of Anni Down's lovely Gardener's Journal quilt. There was a lot of stitching in this one but it is a lovely block.

Just had to iron on the next Christmas block in case there is time to stitch. Natalie's stitcheries come with an iron on transfer which has a very fine line. I don't usually use these as I don't like it if there are lazy daisies to cover but as these don't have any, they are working well and are very easy.

More show and tell from the shop

How gorgeous is this hobby horse that Jo has made from a Melly and Me pattern? She is just so special. Jo hasn't any grandies yet but they will be lucky to have her as their grandma one day!

This lovely girly quilt is all finished ready for another special grandchild.

Paddy has finished her Country home hanging. It has turned out so well. Your fabrics look so good, Paddy.

Here is a closeup of one of the beautiful bee buttons that Paddy is going to stitch onto her hanging. It is one of Laraine's from "Up in Annie's room". We stock some of her lovely buttons at Hobbysew.

Craft fair purchases and a delivery

I walked past this lovely book in Sydney but finally decided to get it in Canberra. I am not sure if I will ever make any of the projects but the quilts are beautiful and the book is very well presented. Gorgeous pictures, history info (must go back to the Victoria and Albert in London and check out William Morris!) and excellent instructions.

As always, I couldn't resist a bargain on our own stall! They have discounted these ceramic buttons so I thought I had better get some!

Yesterday I received this lovely package from Marg Low . I ordered her pattern for these lovely handpainted buttons and 6 of the buttons. They will make lovely Christmas gifts or look great on my tree.

Sharing Buttons

A few weeks ago, some of my Wednesday night girls made the little evening bag in class and a few had them to show. They looked really good and I hope they bring them to show us another time. They needed a decorative button to complete the bag. It was lovely to see that last week, Sue and Margaret brought their pretty buttons to share with some of the ladies that needed one. Here they are.

 

It is so nice to share and help each other. The ladies were also swapping squares to help make their starry quilts as scrappy as possible.