Friday, November 27, 2009

Taking stock for the week.

I've had some lovely mail this week. This book is one that Kathie recomended and I'm so glad I got it. It's quite big and has some fabulous quilts in it. I've looked at all the photos and will enjoy reading it this Christmas holidays.

The lovely Mrs Schmenkman sent me some of her favourite chocolate wrapped in some of the newest Kaffes. I hope Lindt will keep making it and then they may bring it to Australia. I have to say it's good, really good. I might have to take some salt with my chocolate now. Thank you Amy for the taste sensation, and I love the Kaffes!

I've had one of those weeks where I thought I hadn't got much done and so I thought maybe I had better get on and make a couple of softies I had planned for the grandkids. Here's where I'm at so far. I was sitting in my chair last night with a giant bag of stuffing and my chopsticks and other high tech stuffing tools when I had a revelation. I actually don't like stuffing things, It's not my forte and I often get wrinkles and lumpy bits, I'm so intense when I'm doing it that my hands get sore.

These strange looking things are going to end up looking like a sausage dog and her four puppies. I hope.
The downside of living in a different country from the grandkids is that everything I post has to be a reasonable size and weight. This mother of a dog is a bit large. I took the pressure off myself and decided I'm going to buy their gifts this year and take the softies in my bag on my next trip.

So onto the next thing. I have that quilters ADD remember?  I have been trying to have some quality time with my Susan McCord quilt for ages.

Finally some leaves are prepped. Has anybody had trouble with the freezer paper lifting off the fabric? I think it could be the humidity.

Some of them are so tiny, if I sneezed, I think I might inhale one. I'm just doing the prep for  two branches on the panel, yeah and that's #52 leaf. I counted, there are 250 leaves on this panel to do. One branch at a time is my mantra.

This week I actually did manage some small progress. One redwork stitchery.A few Basket blocks.



One Joseph's Coat.

And a Cockatoo on the back lawn. No partidges in a pear tree here.

29 comments:

antique quilter said...

lots of fun pictures!
glad you like the book sometimes I am leary about recommending a book that others won't find it as interesting as I do.
oh love those piles of scraps for the SM buds...and cute pincushion, never saw that one before, did you make it too?

never saw that candy before do I need to go buy it?
Kathie

Shari said...

You've had a busy week! Love the covered boxes by the way, and the Kim McLean quilt... good on you for highlighting the copyright issue! Very important... that book looks interesting... Kathie is a good source of info

Good luck with those lumpy animals and the McCord quilt - don't know how you keep up with everything - is that cockie helping you??

Hugs - Shari

Nat Palaskas said...

Great post and now you made me want to look inside that book!!! You have ADD too? I am glad to meet someone with the same disease LOL! Thanks for sharing - Hugs Natima

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

I love all your pics too, you have heaps on the go. The sausage dog is looking great, the pups will be so cute! Very handsome cockatoo does he visit often? Enjoy your choc, I really enjoyed mine!! xo

Nedra said...

You've really been productive. I think quilters ADD is a sign of a very creative mind that just wants to do it all!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

I thought you said you hadn't done much! Looks like heaps to me!
When I laughed about inhaling applique pieces I had to explain it to hubby. Your Josephs Coat block looks great, can't wait to see more!

luv2quilt2 said...

I'm no good at stuffing (except a turkey!), so that's one thing I never do anymore. What a wonderful list of accomplishments you have. Can't wait to see the panel with the 250 leaves. Your applique is amazing.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

You sure have lots of different things going on with your sewing Janet! It's fun to see them all!

Teresa Rawson said...

I love the peek at your projects in motion...especially your little baskets. I've seen others working on this quilt, or one like it...who makes the pattern (or did you draft it yourself)?

Very nice blog!

In stitches,
Teresa :o)

*karendianne. said...

Ha! Ha! Ha! What a great post. Having 2 parrots myself (not cockatoo's) I thought it was great to see the, what I think is a sulfur crested? You totally cracked me up. Then with the comment about the small bits accidentally being inhaled. Oh my friend, gosh that was hilarious. I do like your mantra "one branch at a time." I use that as well although I don't do branches. :) I'm in love with the Joseph's Coat and I really really enjoy seeing it all over the Blogs. Inspires me almost to try it. Truly it does. :) Thanks so much for the delightful post. It was great over coffee.

(ps: I can't believe you don't have that chocolate over in Australia. We should all get on a mission and do something to change that!)

Juliann said...

I would say you were very productive this week. Thanks for all the photos too. Your quilt got a lot of attention at our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday - love to tell this story.

Lori said...

I love the sea salt dark chocolate!! What a treat for you!
And your quilts and projects are a treat for us!

Anonymous said...

I love your sausage dogs...a whole family will be hot dogilicious!

I have trouble with freezer paper sticking for any length of time and motion! My friend's theory is that they don't make freezer paper like they used to. She has an old, really old, roll that sticks great. Not with the newer ones. Less parafin? Who knows? Frustrating though!

Love all of your projects, Janet!

Jill in New Jersey, USA

wishes, true and kind said...

Lucky, lucky you! Kaffes and sea salt chocolate! Wonderful! And look at all that you have accomplished! I feel like such a slacker by comparison. And there will be no sewing today -- I'm sure. I need to deep clean and then get out all the Christmas decorations. Then we're going to a production of A Christmas Carol tonight. Not a very quilty day -- but at least it will usher in the Christmas season :).

Barb said...

You have alot going on.....love the baskets..

YankeeQuilter said...

Definitely have problem with the freezer paper if (rather when) it is humid...also when my Dh puts water in my quilting iron so it steams (I gave him is own iron for that very reason!)

Crispy said...

Yep humidity can make the freezer paper not stick as well. You have gotten some lovely blocks sewn!! How fun to have a cockatoo in the back yard...they are so pretty!!

Crispy

Janet said...

One branch at a time will eventually get the quilt made! Wow - I never realized that some of the leaves are that small! I wish I could borrow some of your humidity - it's terribly dry here.

Miriam said...

You have been very busy!!!
The book looks very tempting!
Mrs Schmenkman sent the perfect gift; fabric and chocolate!! :)
I can't wait to see all those leaves appliqued on.
I love the little stitchery.
Cute baskets. How many do you have made now?
I am still waiting for my JC fabric to srrive.

Julia said...

Wow Janet, you are so busy...
Love the look of that book...you know I'll have to look for it now!
Julia ♥

Anonymous said...

Seriously that bird is in your yard? How cool is that?!
You've been busy and it doesn't get better with book, chocolate and fabric! Enjoy!!

beth said...

Love your joseph's coat and baskets! I'm working on the JC too...and...I also have that "quilter's ADD". Very good description!

RG said...

Wooooohooo...you go girl!!
I share the same affliction with you, QADD, only mine is quite often random as well...so RQADD :O!!!
I love all that you're doing and quite right...
.."A cocky on the back lawn!!" lol

They're presently here in droves and I bet they're having fun in my orchard at the farm right now...mmmm

Unknown said...

Big week in the stitching area for you! Lots accomplished. I can't wait to see what that softie will become. I am sure it will be worth all the stuffing. Your prep work for applique is amazing.

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Cockatoo??? Oooh, someone's been holding out on us! lol Please share more pictures of that little beauty! Does he help you quilt?

Robin said...

LOL! A cockatoo? :) I'd say that beats a partridge in a pear tree!

It looks to me like you've been very productive. Wow! And it is all beautiful, as always. :)

Amelia said...

The red work looks neat have been humming through mine. I had a little chuckle when i saw the photo of the dog and the pups - they look very newborn atm!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow! Look at all those yummy projects! And oh! The excitement! If I found a cockatoo on our lawn I might faint -- he's beautiful!

Unknown said...

Fabulous start! It's getting to sound like a broken record, but I really need to learn how to do applique...