Disappearing Pinwheel

The second project our Rotary Cutters quilt group did for the year, was the Disappearing Pinwheel.  Another very innovative way of starting off with just two squares of light and dark, constructing half square triangles and stitching them together to form a 12" pinwheel.

After cutting this block then in 3 equal strips horizontal and vertical, you are left with a very small pinwheel, 4 smaller hst's and 4 squares.  And then the fun start.  By mixing these blocks up and laying them out in different ways, all sorts of looks can be created like shown below which is the layout Frances's picked

or this one, the look I went for.

It is created with 4 blocks laid out in the order as shown below which really had me utterly confused as I swopped the dark and light fabrics.  And I also wanted the print of the darker fabric to all go in the same direction in each quarter, which my son (not so jokingly) refers to as his mother's OCD.

By adding a second row, the stunning layout below are created which was what I was originally going after, but at this stage I stitched only 2 centers which will each cover our bedside tables.  Otherwise, it might just end up as another unused quilt.

By adding a third row, this beauty is created.

With me still struggling to finish January's Four Patch Posy, two small runners are definitely the way to go.

Shopping at Fabric8

This month's shopping at Fabric8 included among others more wool for Cheyenne's blanket as well as some cute charms and a pinking scissor.  Do scroll down for a picture of the blanket.

The package was as per usual wrapped in gift paper

adorned with various stickers

portraying Fabric8's appreciation towards their customers.

It is like unwrapping a present within a present and is just so welcoming.

Just look at the little surprise packet packed with all kinds of little but extremely useful notions.

Then another packet inside with all my little purchases.

It's like a gift that keeps on giving although I paid for it.😃

Cute needlework charms as well as a pin to add to my collection of pins although my cellphone bag gifted to all the Bloemfontein ladies who attended the quilt festival at Pietermaritzburg, is getting full.

I also bought a bulky seam jumper as well as non-slip adhesive rings for quilting rulers for a friend of mine.

 The pinking scissors

and this month's wool.

And as promised Cheyenne's blanket.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Looks just like a quilt.

New designs added to store

 Block 5 was added to the Shades of Red quilt.

This block was one of the reasons the designing of this quilt came to a halt as I just could not decide what to substitute the original design with as I did not particularly like the original version which is known as Red Delicious by Esther Aliu.  Then this came to mind and Voila!

Block 2 of the Bohemian Quilt was finally ready after much editing.  Still learning Embroidery Office but getting there step by step.  This block features a monochromatic design.

Block 3 is yet again an applique design which went quite smooth designing it although the first stitch out distorted badly.  The fabric shifted in the hoop, like I didn't hoop it tight enough.  After starching and ironing the fabric, this one stitched like a dream.  It will be loaded shortly to my store.

And so, I soldier on to block 4 of about 30 which will make up this quilt.  A huge task I know whilst also working fulltime as well, but for now I focus on one block at a time.

Shopping at Fabric8

My latest shop at Fabric8 included wool and some notions.

The package was wrapped as usual with Fabric8's lovely personal touch.

The little thank you package contains notions of all sorts. 
The saying "Just let me finish this row" had me smiling as it is so true between fellow knitters.

The notions I bought included anti-slip fabric for socks, key rings, a glue pen and snaps with the plier.

I finally started collecting wool for a beautiful blanket I want to crochet, not that I am as accomplished crocheting, but with my friends help, I will conquer this task.  Will surely keep me busy for years as I only have time for hand crafts on and off between all the other hobbies.

When mistakes happens...

Friend Magda had a bad embroidery day or three with a few spit cloths ruined, but with adding this cute little elephant from Appliquetion Station I was able to salvage them.

I appliqued the elephant to the back as well as the front and with clever placement of satin ribbons

 

as well as a little bow, these spit cloths now look super cute.

A few months back I had the misfortune of Sharpies bleeding and salvage the spit cloth also using the same elephant.  A cute as well as versatile design and big enough to cover just about anything.

Shades of Red - Block 4

Finally embroidered the designs for Block 4, a chili and a tomato. They were also added to my store at Oregon Patchworks.

Designs available here.

Shopping at Fabric8

I needed key rings for all the key fobs I bought from Daleen Lubbe from Stitchdelight to hand out to the other quilting ladies taking the bus to the Voices in Cloth Quilt Festival held in Pietermaritzburg.  As Fabric8's prices are very reasonable and I really enjoy shopping from them, I ordered items placed on my wish list during June.

The 40+ key fobs.

I bought a packet of globe pins to use as row counters using some of the buttons. 

One of my quilting friends used tiny little doll clothes buttons on one of her projects,
and when Fabric8 received these 4 and 5mm buttons, I bought a packet of each.

Here is a photo of all the buttons I bought showing how
tiny the buttons are in relation to normal size buttons.

I also got a craft knife and some stickers.

These cute cactus caddies' will be used for all kind of nick naks.

I also bought ordinary sucker hooks to stick to my overlocker and
sewing machine for scissors.

And last but not least I bought some more of the handy
bulky seam jumpers for one of my friends.