I am moving!

I have moved to www.onelittlethread.wordpress.com
Please come and join me there

A few days in Beijing

I just enjoyed a few days playing corporate wife in Beijing and tried to capture some images other than the usual touristy ones from China

Baby Pinwheels Quilt

This quilt was made for DD’s piano teacher who is expecting her first baby shortly.

It was easy-peasy to make.  We used 2 x charm packs of It’s a Hoot by MoMo for Moda fabrics, plus the same number of squares of plain fabric – in this case Moda Bella in Snow.

The pinwheels were made using this tutorial from Missouri Quilt Co.

Join 2 charm squares right sides together (one plain and one print) using 1/4” seam around the four sides.  Cut diagonally through each side, which makes 4 blocks of joined half-square triangles.  Form into pinwheels and sew back together using 1/4” seam. Trim back slightly to 5.5”.

Using 2 packs of print charms plus 2 packs of plain (or yardage), you will make approx 84 blocks.  I joined them together in a 9 x 9 block configuration, using 81 blocks. I machine quilted in straight lines.  Once binding added, finished quilt size approx 46.5” square.

The backing fabric is a Bubbles design by Keiko Goke

Reading the news!

DD and I spied this chap reading his paper the other day in our local Chinatown

Block-A-Palooza Quilt Along

Ok, New Year means trying new things.  I'm participating in the Blogger's Block-a-palooza quilt along hosted by Quilt Dad

I have deviated from the fabric line the bloggers have used and found some 1/8 yard bundles of Park Slope fabric which needs to be cut into.  It must be 2 years old, so probably going out of fashion fast!

Here are the first six blocks - rather bright, but fun nevertheless

What I've been working on....

Poor old Blog...I've been neglecting her.  Had a big trip to the US and Hong Kong over Chrismtas/New Year.  Our big camera is at the doctor and I'm sad we may have lost lots of our photos :(

I am not good at NY resolutions, as they are usually unrealistic and fall by the wayside, but this year I am endeavouring to declutter my life and grab new opportunities when they arise.

We all saw the devastation in the media of the many natural disasters which have befallen most of Australia.  I, and some of my friends, have begun making some Quilt As You Go (QAYG) blocks for Jan Mac of Oz Comfort Quilts who does wonderful work making quilts for many deserving charities.  Her other blog Sew Many Quilts Too Little Time also shows some of the wonderful work she does.

Tutorial for making the blocks is here

Green Grocery Bag Challenge

I love reading Sew Mama Sew  and each year about this time they have a whole month of gift ideas for crafters.

As many of us have too much stuff  and create too much waste, especially at gift-giving time, this initiative is

a great idea

 

 

For a free, step-by-step tutorial, head on over to Green Bag Lady where you can find a wonderful idea for

wrapping your Christmas gifts - something handmade, and hopefully useful for the recipient. 

There are plenty of ways to personalise a bag as well.

 

Off now to hunt out some more ideas!