Needle turn

One project ready to be hand quilted and another one has just began...

I love sewing in the evenings while watching TV.

This week-end I managed to quilt some more feathered circles on my big quilt. It's a hard task and my arms are giving me a hard time.

I love squishy mail

Yesterday I received a package from Australia. It was from my secret partner Chantell. I entered Sue's Cushion Swap a couple of months ago and when I saw this cushion at Sue's blog I wished it could be mine. Never did I imagine that my wish would come true.

When I opened the parcel I had the most pleasant surprise.... the cushion I had wished for was MINE!!

I absolutely adore it. It seems she knows me so well. The fabric, the panels, the colors, everything is perfect!!!

Look at the gorgeous  ceramic button in the middle. It's awesome.

 As I still don't have the stuffing to put in it  I'm showing you some photos I "borrowed" from Sue's blog

Thank you very much Chantell!!! I love my new cushion.

|The first is almost done....

My first needle turn project is almost finished. I still struggle on curves and valleys but I never thought I would enjoy it so much. So much that I'm already searching for some patterns to make a bigger project.

Do you know where can I find some traditional applique patterns?

The rows are done!

At last I've finished sewing all the rows of my Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt.
It was a hard task, there were times when I thought I couldn't get it done.
All those tiny squares and matching ( kind of) all the seams wasn't easy but the important it's that is done.

Most important...I'm loving it

Now I have to think about the border...Solid or print? What do you think?
Today I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for another WIP Wednesday.

Needle turn applique...first try

I love  seeing all those wonderful needle turn applique quilts all over blogland but I had never tried doing needle turn applique before.
My friend Celia brought me some freezer paper from the U.S.A. ( we don't have it here in Portugal) and she also offered me a DVD lesson on needle turn applique.
So...here is my first try at it

 Preparing the applique shapes

I'm doing a pillow from the Lynette Anderson's book " Country Cottage Quilting". I love her work and hopefully I'm going to have a beautiful pillow.

Don't miss the next episodes ( LOL ).

The most wonderful Sunday

When I entered the blogging world I would never guessed I'd make so many friends. About a year ago I "met " a girl named Celia, she lives in Australia and guess what...She's portuguese. Since then we've been in contact with each other either by the net or by phone. This Summer she came to Portugal and we met yesterday. It was fantastic. She is the most wonderful person, I loved spending the afternoon with her. We talked a lot, it seemed we knew each other for ages. She will be back nest year and we are going to meet again but this time for a longer period of time.

 We had lunch together at Vasco da Gama shopping center in Lisbon, this is a photo taken outside the shopping facing Estação do Oriente.

 In our hands are the present bags we exchanged

    It was a fantastic afternoon, hopefully there will be more next year.

During our lunch I couldn't resist and opened my gifts. Oh my God! I'm so lucky to have such a generous friend. Look all the fantastic things she brought me all the way from Australia. I fell like a kid in a candy store

                       Beautiful fabric, I love the kangaroo print.

           Some quilting magazines and the latest Lynette Anderson's book

      Some great patterns, a video lesson on needle turn applique, a flying geese ruler and  fabulous needle case that opens both ways.

                             A gorgeous table topper with a lovely label. I'm going to cherish it

 An apron panel with a wonderful cheery print

Friends are really one of the most wonderful things it the whole world.
Thank you Celia for being one of my dearest friends!

WIP wednesday - Half way through

I'm back with a WIP report

Today I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and share my work in progress.
There isn't much to show, I've been rather busy sewing the sashing, the corner stones and joining the rows  on my Farmer's Wife Sampler. It's time consuming and I do most of the work on my week-ends. Nevertheless I'm half way through

Forgive me the poor background, in fact is my hall floor, but it was the only place where I could photograph it with a better lighting.

I'm not doing the 111blocks, I prefered to make the twin size quilt which involve only 83 and it's still a good size quilt.
Join the fun and share your Work In Progress.

Great Storage solution

Fabric baskets make wonderful storage. You can keep many of your sewing stuff inside. I also use them in my bathroom, they are great to keep  our make-up and other small items.
If you want to make some of these baskets  there is a great tutorial at Pink Penguin, by the lovely Ayumi.

You can make a bigger one like this ( I enlarged the measurements)

 Or a "petite"

 They are great to use and highly decorative too.

Right on Schedule!!!

This month I have two swaps to honor, my QBSA September block and  the Cushion Swap hosted by the lovely Sue at Quilted Hugs.
I have been too busy lately and the sewing got a little behind but fortunately this week-ennd I got everything ready. Right on schedule!

My QBSA September block is a postage stamp, a fairly easy block but when it is made of 144 little  1" finished squares... I have to confess I got a little bit scared, I never failed on a swap and I have always been able to match my partners wishes. Well, no pain no gain, here it is, my postage stamp for my partner Jen in the U.S.A., I hope she likes it

My cushion for the Cushion Swap is also ready, my partner asked for cream and burgundy. I love the combination, I made a little embroidery surrounded by squares of different sizes framed by a brown border. I had a wonderful time making it. I really love swaps!

Finally I got some sewing done...

It's been a while since I've posted anything on my blog. It's Summer vacation time here in Portugal and the staff at the place I work is reduced to half. As a result I've worked very hard and when I get home I'm so tired. Nevertheless the house chores have to be done, cooking, washing, ironing. By the time I'm through with it I fell exhausted and I haven't been able to do any sewing. It was only today that I sneaked into my  little sewing room and I got something done.

I finished a kitchen set. A table runner and a round table topper.

Then I got added another row on my Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt.

It's not much but it feels so good to be back. 

what I've been up to...- FWQ

I finally finished all my Fw blocks. I've made 83 for i'm doing the Twin size quilt. Last week I received from Fat quarter Shop all the fabrics for the sashing, corner stones and setting triangles.
After cutting all the necessary pieces i finally began joining the blocks, this is what I've done so far...

Design Wall Monday - What's new

I'm back to work today. Vacations are gone! In the mean time I did a little bit of sewing, this is what I've got to share with you

A new table runner. I still need to hand stitch the binding

I used some Treasures & Tidbits by Piece O'Cake Designs for Robert Kaufman. It's a wonderful line of fabric with bright and cheerful colors.

I used the leftovers and some more fabric and made this scrappy pot holder, it's not ready yet.

Slowly my Double Wedding Ring is growing, I've added another ring to it. Please forgive me the poor photo but I'm using my cell phone for my daughter took my camera away. Nevertheless you can have an idea of how it's coming. Today I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times, join the fun,too.

Pay it Forward - More goodies

Yesterday I received a surprise package from Tanya at Wee Little Birds. It was my PIF. Oh my God, I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends

Look at the beautiful bag she made me. Full of other gifts,too. A sewing case, some pieces of beautiful fabric, golden thread and a personalized card.

 A matching sewing case, both with the most wonderful embroidery

this is a close up of the bag's embroidery. The stitching is perfect! I am so happy with my gifts.
Thank you very much Tanya!!!

Pets on Quilts 2012

This is my first Pets on Quilts participation. Why? Because I didn't have a pet until last year. Blackie, my mini schnauzer came to live with us almost a year ago. He is the joy of the house and my quilt inspector,too.

Here he is counting all the hexies I had sewn on my "Sweet Summer Cottage", he was just a little puppy at the time.

 Inspecting the border and the softness of his own quilt, the "Blackie's Quilt"

Hum... Are all the seams matching each other? I think he spotted a faulty one on my " Penelope's Garden ".

 But his favorite quilt is my daughter's, he loves to jump up to her bed and take a nap on the "Catarina's Hearts"

Don't miss all the fun and join us,too. Make sure you check out all the other pets and quilts in this wonderful blog show HERE!! 
And if you liked Blackie, please vote for him!