finding time to sew..

Christmas is over and it went smoothly and was very low stress, just as I had hoped!
Now it's time to find some sewing inspiration. A work colleague is retiring next year and I wanted to make her a throw quilt as a farewell gift. We have worked together for 12 years and she has been at the school for over 27 years. Not a bad effort I think. My mind was ticking over, I love having to think of a new project.
She admired my Down in the garden quilt and commented how much she liked the fabrics so seeing as there is heaps leftover the fabric choice was easy. Now for a design. I ordered some more of the white on white fabric from the sunkissed range from ebay so that's the next step done-I have enough fabric to make a stitchery and plate backings. I am thinking of using the centre stitchery from down in the garden for the centre of the quilt. For the surrounding blocks I thought some dresden plates might do the trick so I pulled out fabrics to have a go at making one.
I made a trial one from my red and cream stash and it turned out well, very encouraging! (oops is that a new ufo now?)

then onto the 'real' one..

didn't turn out as well as the first one but a little snip and press and it was sitting ok. I like these fabrics even more as a dresden plate!

Yesterday I spent a stitching afternoon with some stitchy friends Elyte, Annie, Anne, Robyn and Jo. It was a great afternoon chatting, sewing and of course eating and I felt very inspired when I got home and I made another plate and ironed on the heads and arms for my third dolly border that I finished appliqueing the dresses for at our crafty catch up. I so need some inspiration to get moving on my swan lake project.
now there are two....

Another reason for the visit with Elyte and the girls was to collect my prize from one of the Bluegum Quilters raffles that I had won. The raffle was to guess how many yo yo's there were in a jar. Guess what the prize was?
The yo yo's!!
Do you think I have enough yo yo's?
My original guesses were in the box. The girls were quite helpful thinking of projects that I could use them for. Thanks girls. I thought I would collect them already stitched into a quilt? Isn't that what friends are for?

It has been lovely seeing all the Christmas gifts that have been sent and received, lots of ideas for next year! Maybe I will be able to maintain the momentum for the 1 christmas item per month with Narelle.
Roll on 2013 I feel I am suitably inspired to finish some ufo's and make some progress on my WISPS, maybe throw in some random projects too just for fun.
Must make a list!
Have a great day
Marina