No Pressure - what deadline?

Can't believe I haven't felt any pressure getting this done by today! Who am I kidding?? Chooky placed a deadline of the 31st Jan on our quilt tops and our next 2013 Stitch-a-long project for January. I am yet to start my January one - approx 9 hrs left in the day!!

You MUST excuse the horrendous background - hubby's soon-to-be man cave. (only myself and little tackers home so couldn't ask them to hold it up - they would only make it to the first block!). I just needed to photograph quickly on my phone, and blog to show you the top is done!!!

(nicer photos to come shortly - I promise)

Not without some issues I might add. I was in such a rush that I didn't press one seam!! nope! so obviously the alignment is out of whack but I will just have to deal with that. Its all leaning to the side. I envisage over the next evening or so I will be standing up in front of the TV for two hrs or more trying to press this humongous thing!

This is my backing fabric - quite a contrast but I wanted that. And Denise Schmidt fabric at $4 metre from spotlight was a bargain I thought.

Now my biggest issue is how to quilt it - I think some FMQ would be wonderful but I'm not attempting it on this huge quilt. So I was thinking of hand quilting in the thin hand quilting thread (not sure what it is called - not Pearl 8 like I normally use) with some free motion designs I will draw on. Mostly on the strips - not the blocks.

Anyway, a weight off my shoulders - now to complete my next Jan project by this evening. I cut out the shoe bag template from the Anni Downs book and didn't realise there is a smaller template of the shoes in the back. Fortunately, I just got my hand on the Red Home book this week so I may just look at doing the thread catcher instead.

Happy Stitching All, Love Susie

A new year and new goals

Still can't quite believe the school holidays are almost finished. Its been busy here in the house of Flower and Linen.

Chookyblue has been cracking her whip in the Stitch-a-long. I have been going as fast as possible at the moment with three kids at home and hubby away for alot of the holidays but this is what I have achieved lately........

Some more of this.......

and this...........

a little of this.........

some more of these........

And to get myself into gear this year I've joined this wonderful group

http://sewitsfinished.blogspot.com.au/

I figure this should help me get through three projects I have going, I adore them still, but other priorities have taken over.

Lastly, I have decided to attempt a quilt that I have had my eye on for a long time now. This is the Girls Day out quilt by Libby Richardson that was originally a BOM for many stores a couple of years ago. I was fortunate enough to be in Cairns during the week to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary and saw this quilt 'in the flesh' for the first time by Button Tree quilts and made me fall in love with it all over again.

picture courtesy of stitcherscupboard.com.au

Look at the details in these blocks, especially this block previously completed by Narioka

picture courtesy of narioka.blogspot.com

picture courtesy of lyndainwonderland.blogspot.com

Pop on over to see Sharon our host at http://friendsmakingquilts.blogspot.com.au/ of Lilabelle Lane fame. Such an amazingly productive woman with four children - not sure how she does it.

I am really looking forward to starting this quilt. I picked up two of twelve patterns for $2 each at Button Tree quilts - not sure I'm going to be so lucky with the rest. I'm hoping to complete most of this in this gorgeous fabric - however not having much luck.

La Belle Fleur by French General

Happy Stitching everyone

Susie