Whoo Hoo - I'm back

on line, that is.
Have been having heaps of problems with Blogger.  Hopefully all is well again.

In the meantime I have been busy, busy, busy.  I'm participating in a Mystery Quilt through my Monday night group.  It is from the Bedford Mystery series.  This series of mystery quilts began in South Aust by a couple of quilters as a means of raising money for a local charity.  It is also the first Mystery quilt I've done and am enjoying it heaps.

Unfortunately, in my haste to get started I didn't take early photographs of the first three steps - there are 6 in all.  Step 1 was the selection of fabrics - I chose to do mine in 'country colours' - safe.... Step 2 was to make 4-patch blocks and strips with 1/2 sq triangle on the end. These blocks are some of the ones finished up to Step 3.

This next photo is Step 4.  These strips are the same construction as part of Steps 1-3, but are longer.  Hopefully the latter bits will be finished very soon. 

A bit hard to see on my 'design wall' as I have used a cream for the light colour material and my design wall is made from a cream flannel sheet.

In the meantime I have also finished some ATCs that are due to be posted very soon.

First ATC for 2011

I can now show you my first ATC made for the International Birthday Swap organised by Kate North in the UK.  Sheila (who was the first recipient) has now received it and has posted photos to her album in the group's page.

For this particular one I used some water soluble and stitched a grid over it.  Then I laid down some ribbons and stitched them down then kept adding more stitches and bits and pieces and finally washed the soluble away.  I had to wash a couple of times as the stitched piece was quite stiff.  Finally I cut it into 4 ATC sizes and for Sheila's I attached it to a piece of black velvet and then added some embellishment and finally edged it.  Not sure how I will finish off the other three - would like to make them look different for each person.  You can see here the one edged with green is Sheila's.

Unfortunately, I wont be able to post pics here until after they have been received.

At last some more ATCs to show you

Well after my little break I'm back to show you more ATCs that I've received. 

This first one is from Pauline B in Leongatha, Vic. Unfortunately the colours are not very true it is a more deeper purple.  Pauline has used a variety of techniques (I think) on her ATC.  She didn't say, but I'm guessing some felting, mixed media in the background and free-motion on the top and couching.

This next one is from Pauline C in the UK.  Pauline has used some beautiful colours in her felting background and embellished it with crystals.

This next ATC is from Marja M in The Netherlands.  Marja has used mixed media collage technques in her card.  Her painted flower embellishment is beautiful.

This beautiful envelope and card came from Doreen G in Canberra, ACT.  Doreen has free motioned her background and added embellishments.  I adore the tiny dragon fly.

The next card is from Cindy in Chester VA, USA.  Cindy has used a very pretty lime green background and she has free motioned and added sequins, beads and a lace flower.

This card is from Sheila S in the UK.  Sheila has made a pieced background, added machine stitching wire and beads.  Sheila and I have exchanged many cards, both ATCs and Postcards over the past couple of years and I always enjoy receiving her cards.

This cheeky card is from Kathy D, in Laurel, MD, USA.  I love the way Kathy has depicted the ocean and the fun loving times one can have by the sea.

The last card for this posting is from another Aussie, Penny C in Victor Harbour in SA.  Penny made her with card layers, FMQ, burnt background, metal cut outs and beads.  The card she sent with it is a Gelatin Print.

This international group that swaps birthday ATCs is so talented, I'm in awe of them.  Kate North in the UK who started the exchanges doesn't ask for any particular technique or put rules on us - just that we do our best to post our cards to the birthday person in the month of the birthday.  If the cards arrive early or on time that's good, but not a requirement, only that we try and if we are going to be late then we post a message to group, so that the recipient knows it is coming.

You can read more about Kate's work on her blog here.  Please go and have a look and maybe join in with us next year.

Till next posting of the final cards, take care and we will talk again soon.

Today I finished my ATCs that I will be taking with me to swap at Houston on the Quilting Arts wall.
I made 8, hope that will be enough and they are all basically the same design, just with a slight variation of the boomerang and shape of the wattle tree. I decided on the wattle as it is our floral emblem and the boomerang being aboriginal. For the background I used a rich blue silk material for the sky and I cut up a serviette for the earth! It was the only thing I had that was a good representation of our red earth. Trouble is I now have 5 instead of 6. Anyone know what I should do with them???

Jade ATC for Stitchinfingers

Mailed off on Thursday this ATC to Christine in the UK for the 'Jade+2' swap on Stitchinfingers. It is part of a monthly swap we have. We put our names on the list and Gina (bless her!) sorts us out and makes sure we send and receive from different people and if possible someone in a different country. We only have to make one to send so it doesn't become too onerous if we have other things happening in our lives. I hope Christine likes it. The colour jade doesn't show up as well as I would have liked, but it is jade. The background is offcuts from sari silk strips - as you can see some have frayed, but I like the effect. The two other colours are silver and blue.

Finally finished the ATCs for swapping at Retreat

Late this afternoon I finished off the 14 ATCs that I am taking to a retreat this weekend. I made them using the selvages which have been cut off from lots of material. If you want to know more about sewing with these little bits of scraps check the Selvage Blog in the right hand column. I love using them, you gets lots of interesting little bits, some with writing. With these ones I added some embellishments, beads, stitching and small tiles. Hope the girls I'm swapping with will like them. This pic is just a few - they are all much of a muchness with a little bit of variety.

More cards arriving

Is this the greatest birthday? Every day for a week now ATCs and Postcards have been arriving in my mail box. The one on the far right is an ATC from Sheila (from Scotland) and the one on the left is her Postcard.

(Sorry about the photo, not sure how this happened, it's lost part of the lower section - as you can see I'm still learning. Will put up a better one if I can fix it.)

We just happened to have joined two different

two swaps from two different groups -

both international!

A small world after all

(not sure who said that, but a good quote....)

The other postcard is from Lorna (UK).

These photos don't do the work on these cards justice, they are just beautiful and the colours divine. Even though I love colour I find it a little bit 'out of my comfort zone' so I usually stick to my favourites.

In a short while I will start posting pics of the cards I'm making (and have made) for these swaps.