A little distraction...

...while plugging away at Mum's quilt, I have spent evenings doing some applique...heartily enjoying it too!

Thought I would share it's gentle progress....far from the hectic whirring of my machine.

I rarely machine sew at night as it is nice to sit with the family. I am enjoying watching all the inspiration from the Glorious Colour blog...amazing stuff there!

Cardygirl xx

Delicious applique

I know I posted about this applique medallion for my Sue Ross MO BOM a couple of months ago, but a couple of recent entries in blog-land have made me want to share again! Pop over & visit the lovely Cathy who is doing this block in two color ways, and also look at how Meg became truly inspired and changed hers...really lovely!

I love mine...please no comments on the pins holding the yoyos in place LOL! Mum had given me some vintage ricrac which seems to be "right"for so many things...and I added the yoyos for something different...what do you think of all of these delicious appliques?

Cardygirl xx

Festive Fun No.3

Today we are going back to about 2000.

A workshop with Sue Cody resulted in this sweet hanging.

Interestingly this is version 2...version 1 had a dreadful case of red colour run...eeek!

A hard lesson learnt about prewashing...especially after the applique was needleturned.

I still like it & every year the thought of that colour run makes me smile!

Cardygirl xx

Another stinking hot day!

It is 9am, the wind is HOT & blustery!

It is already 35C & the winds are gusty northerlies & you can smell the smoke in the air.

I hope everyone stays safe & the firefighters day is not too terrible.

There are apparently fires out near Kandos & Rylstone...that might be where the smoke is coming from.

This is the bush behind our home.

I get quite paranoid about it on days like this. We are very particular about keeping it mowed out behind the fence & keeping our yard neat & free of rubbish. Sadly our neighbours are not so diligent...read dead mowers, boats & car bodies...& long grass! Nice people though!

On a brighter note...

I have had this Liberty Star pattern looking at me for some time now...

she just needs a face & Noel to be appliqued on her skirt...cute!

I love the Flea Market fancy fabrics...oh so hard to find...so I entered the giveaway...sorry for the button but I would really like this!

Cardygirl xx

Pretty presents

With paid work seeming to absorb more & more of my time, stitching seems to have taken a back seat...sadly!

But I have been endeavouring this week to finish some Christmas gifts...

only a few more things to do & it is pretty organised.

I have been having fun making the Dressy Hangers from Marg's pattern...

looking a bit formal

lots of fun fabrics to coordinate with the recipients personality!

SSCS present ready to go...not long now till posting!

DD is heading into final exams...a bit nervous but looking forward to a future outside of uni...

here is her completed "stress reliever"!

DS is finished exams...off with friends this week.

Like Marls, I weakened at the sight of the quilt along with Kellie & will try to participate...

I am happy to do a cushion cover though!

Cardygirl xx

Don't startle them!

Still having butterfly fun...DH said when it is finished we will need to be careful....

if we startle them they might all take off...wouldn't that be fun!

Hope your day is a happy one!

Cardygirl xx

Plodding on...

Things are not happening at a great pace here...lots of hand work...slow & contemplative.
Still working away on the butterfly quilt I started a fortnight ago at Nundle.

Having fun with the colours...enjoying the needleturn.

The original quilt called for 9 butterflies...

I might do 16 to make it bigger....I will have to see if I can get some more of the background spot.

The other project consuming my time has been the Sue Ross BOM with MO.

Having changed one fabric, I am now having difficulty with fabric selection for the inner triangles on my whirligig block. No doubt I will work it out, but I have set it aside to have a "creative break". I am enjoying the hand piecing though! The support of some other ladies doing this block has been invaluable...suerossbom.blogspot.com.

Cardygirl xx

Butterflies & cake

A lovely day...this spring weather is gorgeous...
lots of birds & butterflies in my garden...and in my sewing basket!

I am still having butterfly fun...and the best thing is Mother Nature shows us that most colours do work together beautifully. She doesn't spend hours agonising over what goes with what...

or does she?

I am having fun playing with these lovely creatures...

And today we had another lovely visitor...

we chatted...had a coffee...and chatted some more...

and shared some scrumptious Pear & Cranberry Loaf...

mmmm...

happy to share the recipe if anyone is interested!
Cardygirl xx

Post Nundle Fun

A quick post...
my post Nundle mess to sort & tidy...

some sweet antennae on the butterfly...

some fabrics to make a quilt for a friend's new baby boy...
the lovely bloggers from Nundle...

Cardygirl xx

A grand day out!

Oh, I love my blogging friends!
Previously my family believed I was a tad loopy & referred to them as my "imaginary friends".

But DH met the lovely ladies today at The Cottage on the Hill, Nundle, & he thinks they are beautiful too! ( Thanks Chooky for spoiling him with cups of tea).

If you are ever in the Tamworth area make sure to visit the wonderful Kerry at her shop just outside Nundle. We had a great day catching up with each other & meeting some new friends too. Good food & lots of laughter...& stitching too...bliss!

It was a bit hard to know where to start...all of these gorgeous fabrics & so much more.

I began a project that has been lurking on my noticebord for 9 years...since a workshop with Sue Cody...I am having fun with these fabrics...

I will post better pics as it develops...

Ladies ...you are beautiful...thanks for sharing a great day with me...you are the best!

Cardygirl xx

Slow progress

There has been a bit of a "go slow" on at the Cardy house!
Too much work, driving to see Mum & Dad & now I am trying to fend off a dreaded cold!

You all know the feeling, a pile of cherries "stuck" in your throat & a "big" head!

Very attractive!!!!!

I am hoping that the power of positive thinking will frighten it away...fingers crossed.

As a consequence my stitching has been progressing in a somewhat leisurely manner- not a lot happening at all. I walk into my sewing room & feel inspired, but that is as far as it is going at the moment. I will try this week for a little oomph....hehe.

Here is DD's bag...she is pleased with it!

Here is my Lakehouse fabric...WIP...applique nearly complete.

Hope your week is a productive one!
Cardygirl xx

Without haste

A few days ago I hung this quilt on my loungeroom wall...stood back & admired it...and thought of it's long journey to that place.

It was begun many years ( probably > 10yrs) in a workshop with Sue Cody. First attempt at needleturn applique...unsure about picking colours.

Because it was harder than what I was used to, work progressed slowly...then we moved...renovated one house, then began building another. Children grew... husband's changed jobs...I did some study...then some more...all the time this was hiding in my cupboard.

About 3 years ago I finished the applique on the sawtooth border, & put it away to be hand quilted...it slept again!

Late last year I pulled it out, mentally gave myself a talking to & sent it off to be machine quilted...no more procrastination ( I thought...hehe).

It came home & sat waiting to be bound!

Well, now it's finished & hanging...

sewn without haste, after all these years I do love it!

Cardygirl xx