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I wasn't feeling well a few days ago and then the mail arrived with two patterns from one of my favourite designers Brenda Gervais from Country Stitches http://www.countrystitchesonline.com/

So to cheer myself up I decided to make one of the designs, a punchneedle bird from a pattern called Home tweet home.

I had sourced the vintage oil can from Ebay a week earlier so a spent a couple of hours finishing the project and needless to say I was feeling much better just sitting and looking at this cute little birdie.

Sydney Quilt Show 2010

This years show was very exciting as my group The Glenbrook Cocktail Quilters made the raffle quilt. The quilt was based on a quilt by American designer Kim Diehl from her book Simple Traditions. We were thrilled to see the quilt was front and centre at the entrance to the quilt exhibition and I was relieved to see it hanging so well as I had machine quilted it. From the left in front of the quilt is myself, my sister Gail and good friend Sharon all members of the group. After viewing the quilts we spent the rest of the day shopping with friends two of whom had travelled from Melbourne to visit. Above from top left my sister Gail, my friend Linda from Melbourne, Janet then at the front myself, Jenny (Sharon's sister) our other visitor from the south and Sharon.

Here are a few more proud Cocktail Quilters Cath, Denise, Joan and Heather.

My first hooked rug

I love it when I finally finish a project. This one has been a long time coming, first it was getting the wool stash together which has taken a couple of years of buying bits and pieces and scouring Op Shops for woollen skirts and jackets then my friend Linda went to the States and picked up a Gripper frame for me and finally I sat down and read every book I had on hooked rugs to work out how it was done.

As is always the case trying to decide which pattern to start with was another dilemma. I finally decided on this tree and stars pattern from a book by Cherie Ralston called Stars all around us. I was originally going to hang it on a wall then I found this great old foot stool at a local trash and treasure market and painted it black, after picking up a few more red wools in the States last year I was able to finish the background and here is the finished piece.

30's baby quilt

I have had an obession with 1930's reproduction prints for a long time so I planned and started a babies quilt on Monday. I have a fair stash of 30's fabrics and a cute pastel spot that I got months ago as usual I had no actual plans for the spotted background fabric and once I designed the quilt and calculated the cutting ( there is a bit of wastage) I had 4in left over. I am supposed to have this finished, quilted and made into a pattern by next week to give to a friend for the Sydney Quilt show - Nothing like a deadline.

First day at blogging school

This is my first Blog! How exciting and as daunting as my first day at school - believe me with my limited computer skills this is the equivalent experience. I hope my adventures are interesting to some and my enthusiam for blogging doesn't wane as the months tick by.

I spent the weekend making a Log Cabin lap quilt for Mark's Mum it too was a first and I enjoyed it so much that I already have the next one on the design board.