Red in Oz

EB Newbie Quilters Block Swap Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:36:00 +0000

I've been slack in posting my sneak peaks, although my blocks have been back at Kirsty's for a while now but here are some more...

Sorry it's taken so long for me to post them, I know how exciting it is when others post pictures with your fabrics in them...

Just two more blocks to go and then we are getting the whole lot back in December to put together in time for Christmas, and this one is for me, it's mine, all mine... :)

Christmas Table Runner - Work in Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:57:00 +0000

I decided to make some blocks using this tutorial from Elizabeth at Oh Fransson.

So far I have made 6 blocks in the red (ironed on to the interfacing) and 2 in the green (completed), so planning one all read an done red and green table runner. I love the red ones especially. Might have to make more of them.

I made a couple of changes to the technique in the tutorial, I used spray baste to stick them down before ironing, rather than touching with the iron as suggested. Mainly because my cutting space and my ironing space are in different rooms... but I think it was helpful. I also ironed my seams to one side which is much quicker that ironing them open, I did try one block with the seams ironed open and it is a little flatter, but takes ages to do, and once it's all quilted I don't think it will make enough difference to be worth it.

Here are the next batch of fabrics ready to be cut,

Anyway, at least I am doing (and blogging) something!

Beth's Big Girl Room

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:40:00 +0000

Beth's room is nearly finished, just one more picture to find (for the frame on the bottom right) but I know which one I am after.

So here's some pictures

The Name Letters - Wooden Letters from Spotlight, Heather Bailey Scrapbooking Paper glued on with quilt basting spray.

The Cupboard - Ikea Expedit, the top has been covered with patchwork squares of the same paper as the Name Letters and glued down with multiple coats of ModPodge (Tip, don't butt your squares up too close as they expand when wet...)
The Tree is a gorgeous wall decal that we put up a couple of months ago.

The Pictures

1. Butterfly mirrors in three sizes from Spotlight, Paper Heather Bailey Scrapbooking Paper

2. A Pretty Card

3. Wooden Butterfly Cutouts (Spotlight) covered in same paper as above

4.Belle and Boo birthday card that my parents sent me

5. Little Red Birds to match the Owl Headboard.

I'm pleased with how it's turned out and hope she will enjoy it.

EB Doll Quilt Swap 2009 - Sent

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:28:00 +0000

OK, and here are some pictures of the quilt I sent to Tina (Can't find your blog Tina? which is a shame because your pictures are better than mine!)

It was a fun one to make and has gone to a good home.

The Big List

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:12:00 +0000

Well, really this isn't the big list, it's the 'things to finish before Christmas/baby's arrival' list. The big list would have lots more long term projects and dream projects on it.

1. 3 Quilts to be quilted and bound (Purple Quilt, Aunt Bec's 9-Patch, Hungry Caterpillar)

2. Beth's cuddly quilt to be pieced (cut out and waiting for me to start sewing)

3. Table Runners x3 for Christmas Presents

4. 2x Rainbow lap quilts (pics of the fabrics to follow).

5. Applique some t-shirts for B

6. Dress from pre-shirred fabric for B (if I leave it until next Summer the fabric won't be big enough)
(update 15.11.09 - Done)

7. MIP Hats for B and for Me (the last one I made was too small :()

8. Picnic Blanket from vintage FQ's

9. Ring Sling

10. PIF's

11. Curtains for the Lounge (need extending)

12. Put together EB Newbie Quilters Round Robin Block Swap Quilt

EB Doll Quilt Swap 2009 Received

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:19:00 +0000

Just look at the gorgeous quilt Bethan and I received from Nic in the EB Doll Quilt Swap this year.

I sent a couple of pictures of Beth's room (more to come in another post) and she has got the the colours and the style just perfect.

The pictures show it up on her wall so that you can see how well it goes in her room, but I think it will be used for dolls, I mean that's what they are really for isn't it!

Thankyou so much Nic, we love it. Check out Nic's blog for more pictures including a picture of the back and the gorgeous label she made which I forgot to take a picture of because I had put it on the wall.

I will post my sent quilt later...

New Headboard for the Big Bed

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:30:00 +0000

I made up a new headboard for B's big girl bed over the weekend, pleased with the results, but not pleased with my pictures!

The little owl appliques match the owls in the tree decal on the opposite wall.

Straight line quilting on alternate columns.

The Baby Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Here's a couple of pictures of what I've been working on for the last couple of months. A quilt for my first niece Charlotte who arrived, eventually, 2 weeks ago today.

Happy 2 week birthday Charlotte.

The quilt is a pattern by Sandy Klop and made largely with her 'American Jane' range of fabrics, with a few extra spots and stripes etc. thrown in.

RR Sneak Peaks, Sets 1 and 2

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:36:00 +0000

Block Swap Fabrics

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:43:00 +0000

here are my fabrics for the EB Newbie Quilters Block Swap...

Something Fishy

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:47:00 +0000

My Quilt Recieved in the DQS6 didn't have to travel as far as my quilt sent, and it arrived this morning.

In fact these little fishies have only travelled about 10 miles up the road, such a small world...

What you can't see on the picture is that the fish fins are little flaps and their eyes are little beads, and Beth is loving playing with them.

Thank you so much Cylie, we are very happy with our quilt.

Here you can see a some of the beautiful swirling waves in the quilting. Sorry for my terrible photos but the light isn't great here this morning.

DQS6 Sent to the U S of A

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:11:00 +0000

My Doll Quilt Swap 6 is in the post, a little late so I hope it gets to my swap partner on time - 3-10 working days according to the post office.

And here it is.

I was really pleased with it, I found a couple of frog blocks online and designed the centre block based on them, it's the first serious piecing I've done and I enjoyed it, it wasn't as scary as I thought (I usually do applique or just squares...). And I love the brightness of it. It's going to someone who has boys so I hope that they will find it appropriate. I thought the Save our Planet fabric fitted nicely as it seemed a green and environmental kind of theme.

Nature Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Yesterday we went on a nature walk, we're lucky that our appartment block has such lovely gardens, just enough to explore.

Mmm, wonder what this bark tastes like...

This is pretty

Serious leaf carrying business.

Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:21:00 +0000

IMGP7858, originally uploaded by red in oz.

Beth eating her easter egg - testing flickr

Skirt and Shirt Market

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:29:00 +0000

On Sunday we went over to Abbotsford Convent to check out the markets there and make the most of the day to make a trip to the Collingwood Children's Farm while we were there.

Lucky for me Beth slept in the car for an hour after we arrived to I got to scope out the markets on my own - hurray - much more conducive to a bit of shopping.

There were two markets on, the Makers Market and the Skirt and Shirt Market. They are both regular markets held on the 3rd Sunday of each month and both worth checking out. Lots of clothes (women's and childrens apart from a few mens t-shirts), jewellery, accessories, toys and many more crafty delights.

I bought this cute dress for Beth from Retrobub, haven't managed to try it on her yet but I know it will be just perfect.

And I bought this skirt for me from Sancana and I love it. I have promised to wear it, get into wearing skirts and go back wearing it next month ;) Don't you love small businesses who actually care what happens to their goods. I know it's a terrible photo, it was the best I could get out of Sam who was determinedly watching nothing on TV... The jacket I bought as well, from Saffron it's a gift for my mum but I thought I would try it on for the photo.

Afterwards we went to the farm and saw lots of animals, and had a very nice brunch.

4SDQS5 - Received

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:18:00 +0000

I received this beautiful doll quilt from Trish in the 4 seasons doll quilt swap 5 monochrome challenge.

I think it's just beautiful, and as you can see, someone else agrees.

This is the one I sent and it has been well received by Rachel

(I promise I'll come in tomorrow and add all the links in).

Kids Clothes Swap

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 07:53:00 +0000

Here are a couple of pictures of the cute outfit that the talented Natalie sent for Beth in the EB Sewing group Kids' Clothes Swap.

here is Beth in her new outfit demonstrating her new 'up' trick

and here's a pic showing the matching hair clip

Thankyou Natalie for all the hard work you have put into this outfit for us, and thankyou for Ingrid for organising the swap.

4SDQS5 MONO Sneak Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:20:00 +0000

Finally a sneak peek of my Dolls Quilt for the 4 Seasons Doll Quilt Swap 5 Monochrome Challenge.

It's on it's way over the seas at the moment, should be there soon...

It's been great fun and I will post more pictures once I know it has been received.

Irises

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:43:00 +0000

I have been in reciept of a blogland random act of kindness (RAK). Although I entered for a couple of the giveaways in the Great International Stash Busting Giveaway I didn't actually win any, but I recieved an email from Sherry saying that she had more of the Irises that she had included in her giveaway and was I interested... as I had said in my comment that I am collecting iris fabrics to make a quilt for my daughter (who's middle name is Iris).

So here they are, t hree big stacks of charm squares,they are just fab, and the colours are so much better in real life than in the pictures. I can't wait to get working with them.

Thank you so much Sherry.

Habedashery Swap

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:52:00 +0000

I took part in the EB Habedashery Swap and opening day was Saturday.

Here are the pictures of the goodies that I recieved from Becca.

I had put in my preferences that I needed buttons and I was hoping to make some more softies so she sent me lots of appropriate goodies for that.

And have a look at these - geniune vintage women's weekly - how cool are they. I am going to make the kangaroo first.

My big girl

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:33:00 +0000

I was going to cut her a slice of nectarine, but she didn't think much of that idea and swiped the whole thing...

She's changing every day, this weekend she has crawled for the first time, managed to get herself from lying (on her front) to sitting, and learnt to clap.

The big bed quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 06:16:00 +0000

Here it is, with a cute model showing it off.

I just quilted straight lines as it was tooooo biiiig to do anything else with. The room looks very busy now but I kinda like it.

Aglow!

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Look what I got, I was so excited when I saw the return address on the package.

I was 10,000th visitor to Emma's blog and she sent me this to mark the occasion, thankyou so much Emma, it's beautiful, and you were right, red really is my favourite colour.

I'm sorry my pictures don't do it justice but it really is fabulous and so appropriate for the weather today. See more pics on Emma's blog.

Anyone who hasn't seem Emma's blog before, you must check it out, her work is so clever. Not only is she a wonderful quilter - a quilt artist indeed, but she is so helpful and supportive of other quilters, not least beginners like me.

Thank you Emma for all your support and for this lovely quilt.

51 Books

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Well, I pulled together my pile of books, stacked them up, and lo, 51 books, which one should I NOT read this year lol!

Uni Books

More Uni Books

Books for pleasure

Don't think I need to say any more...

What are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Red Haired Girl) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:47:00 +0000

I've decided I'm going to join in with the 50 books challenge that Ruth kicked off on her blog at the start of the new year, many (some 'sheepishly' Car lol) others have followed, so I think it's almost an official challenge now.

50 books for 2009, I have about a thousand I should be reading for Uni, so better get started.

I'll do up a list in another post, but I just thought I would throw this out there (you obviously don't have to be participating in the 'challenge' to answer.

1) What are you reading now?
2) What book do you think EVERYONE should read at some point in their lives?
3) What is your favourite book? (Might be the same as No. 2)
4) What book would you recommend to a friend who needs a bit of cheering up?
5) Who is your favourite author (and why)?
6) What is your favourite non-fiction book?
7) What is your favourite genre/type of books?
8) What is your favourite era in literature?
9) What book do you REALLY want to finish this year (even if you don't manage another 49)?
10) What is the most disappointing book you have read (i.e. you expected it to be really great, or it had a disappointing ending).
11) What BIG book do you have sitting on your shelf that you would love to have time to read?
12) What are you reading next?

I think that's enough, I considered aiming for 50 questions, but thought that might be a bit much...

So, my answers...

1) What are you reading now? Juliet Nicolson, The Perfect Summer: Dancing into Shadow in 1911 (non-fiction about the build up to the first world war as seen by the British aristocracy - this was a Christmas present and I'm really enjoying it)
2) What book do you think EVERYONE should read at some point in their lives? Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children
3) What is your favourite book? (Might be the same as No. 2) Hanif Kureshi, The Black Album
4) What book would you recommend to a friend who needs a bit of cheering up? Roddy Doyle, The Woman who Walked into Doors - not cheery but then you'd realise your life isn't so bad after all, or Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran which is engaging enough to take your mind off things, but not hard to read.
5) Who is your favourite author? Hanif Kureshi, or Adaf Soueif (Map of Love).
6) What is your favourite non-fiction book? Well, can't go past anything by Nigella Lawson, I reckon her recipes read like fiction, I have been known to read her books from cover to cover... Study wise Nancy Etoff's Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty.
7) What is your favourite genre/type of books? I love books on the Middle East and India, even though they are places I have never been to, books about the characters' everyday life, and I'm not immune to a bit of crime drama (a la Dan Brown) for a forget-all-about-the-real-world type read.
8) What is your favourite era in literature? Early 20th Century, through to 2nd world war, although I have really enjoyed Phillipa Gregory's historical novels as well.
9) What book do you REALLY want to finish this year (even if you don't manage another 49)? Germaine Greer, Shakespeare's Wife, and lots of Uni reading.
10) What is the most disappointing book you have read (i.e. you expected it to be really great, or it had a disappointing ending). Yann Martel, Life of Pi, I could never shake the feeling all the way through that he was a patient in a mental insititue, and I promise I didn't read the ending first, so I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to buy the story; Arthur Golden, Memoirs of Geisha, I believed it, all the way through, and then it turned out it wasn't real, just a story. I was gutted.
11) What BIG book do you have sitting on your shelf that you would love to have time to read? Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy (and Ulysses, and Anna Karenina)
12) What are you reading next? For pleasure - Germaine Greer, Shakespeare's Wife, for Study - Dana Heller (ed.) Makeover Television: Realities Remodelled... and many more.