My sixth finish for this year is a rag doll for my wee cousin, Florence McGowan. Her big sister, Lucia, received this version in 2020, so it was only fitting that I make one for Florence too. I've insisted that this one is called Jenny, due to the first one being named Dana (my sister-in-law's name -see the post for the first version) - so I think it is only fair that we have one doll each! I used a pattern called 'Pip', ripped out from Australian Patchwork and Stitching magazine, Vol 11 No 1 2010, and she is about 21" tall ..read more

 At my school, our senior leadership team (I am the Deputy Principal) likes to acknowledge staff on their birthdays, and I am in charge of organising the cards. I saw this style of card on a social media post and wanted to make them for our staff ..read more

 In January I was very keen to join in with Emma Jean Jansen's sewalong for her Round Trip quilt pattern and I decided to create a quilt to donate for auction at the Clash For Cancer charity bowls tournament being held by my lawn-bowls club at Easter. I had this Serendipity (by Artisan Batiks by Lunn for Robert Kaufman) fat quarter bundle that had been in my stash for a while and decided to make the large throw, using the 6" blocks for Version A (coloured fabrics in centre strip and corners, with the sashing being the two inner panels of each block). I used a blue batik (from Spotlight ..read more

  This was a panel quilt kit that created a lap quilt of 41" x 59.5".  The kit had the panel and the fabric for the borders and binding.  It was quick to piece together and then I was able to use it as a practice piece for some free-motion and ruler work quilting on my Bernina Q20 longarm machine (aka Heidi, my Swiss Miss!) I used same-colour threads to do echo quilting, or stippling inside the picture and word panels, and black thread to do thread sketching on some of the motifs, and as outlines on the picture panels and word panels. A family friend, Joanne ..read more

 The final four bassinet quilts created in 2023 for Southland Hospital's Neonatal Unit were these four. I wanted to use the animal print from my stash, along with a jungle animals flannel that was there too. The yellow is so cheerful and hopefully it gives people a smile when they see it. Sunny Days and Friends 19" x 23" I kept the quilting simple as usual...some straight lines and the occasional loopy free-motion quilting, using my table-top domestic Elna 720. Friends and Sunny Days 17.5" x 22.5" Sunshine and Friends 20" x 24" Friends and Sunshine 19" x 24 ..read more

  Made this a couple of days before Christmas to gift to my cousin's new wee grandson, Harrison McGowan. Went with my tried and true pattern for a stocking, as used for all the previous ones I have made (click on 'stocking' or 'Christmas' in the labels on the right of this page to see the others). Hand-stitched felt, with added embellishments as pictured. Rudolph has a little bit of stuffing to make him more 3d. The ears and antlers also stick out a little. So much fun to make ..read more

 Some more of the blocks I've created so far in another long-term project: an EPP quilt, 'Cherish', using a pattern, papers and acrylic templates kit that I purchased in late 2020 from Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth in Australia, and started in 2021. Here are the rest of the twenty full-hexagon blocks I've made so far (see previous post for the first ten blocks), with some close-ups of the cute drawings in the fabrics:                    My aim in 2024 is to complete the quilt and piece all the blocks tog ..read more

   While I am on a run with updating my 'scrapbook', I will share the blocks I've created so far in another long-term project: an EPP quilt, 'Cherish', using a pattern, papers and acrylic templates kit that I purchased in late 2020 from Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth in Australia, and started in 2021. Here are ten of the twenty full-hexagon blocks I've made so far, with some close-ups of the cute drawings in the fabrics:     I looked for a set of fabrics to inspire me and love the blue and white scheme of  'Teatime' by Lewis and Irene for Moda fabrics - it has cute li ..read more

 Thought I would share the blocks I've created during the year as progress for my foundation-pieced quilt In The Garden (started in January 2022, having joined a BOM quilt-along with Kristy Lea of @quietplay). We were sent two block patterns a month (plus the occasional free bonus block pattern) - starting with the lilies, which I really enjoyed making (they finish at 8"). For the feature blocks I then worked my way first through the patterns that looked easiest and left the fiddlier, more tricky patterns until this year. I am doing the 15" block version (the other option was 12" blo ..read more

 I made this as a Christmas thank-you gift for a parent helper who has been coming along to my classroom at reading time once a week to listen to kiddies read - super appreciated! Followed a tutorial on Instagram by @simplyeilene for her Tissue Packet Holder, and made a few trial ones first to check the sizes would work for a packet of Kleenex here in NZ. I went with a starting size (cutting sizes) of 6.25" x 7.25" for the outside print, and the lining piece was cut at 6.25" x 8.25" (the lining also cleverly forms the binding of the opening). I think I would like to work out how to make ..read more