Small Dinosaurs Quilt

The small Dinosaurs quilt is also finished.  I made this so Vinnie could have a Dinosaurs lap quilt in the event he chose the Robots for his bed.

Once again I asked Karen to use Scottish Plaid Diamond for the quilting.

And, there was plenty of fabric left for the backing.

A few years ago I visited a local quilt show with a friend and I bought wool to knit a cardigan.  Mum knitted the front and sleeves and I was to knit the two fronts.  Since that time the unfinished knitting has sat in my spare room. 

I just haven't felt like knitting until recently.  Maybe it's the cold nights when I found myself sitting in the loungeroom at night in front of the heater with a quilt over my lap and  thought about finishing the cardigan.  Feels so good to have it finished and now it's an extra hug from Mum for Jenni when she wears it.

Last month I spent an afternoon with my friends and her husband and I sorted through some of her sewing and knitting stash.  She is no longer able to knit or sew and I find this so heartbreaking for her - she did the most beautiful smocking and embroidery as well as knitting, patchwork, dressmaking etc.  This is what I brought home to sort through and sell on my Instagram destash account @lyndah2502_destash.

In one of the bags was a kit to make the Lichen Scarf in beautiful Cleckheaton Superfine Merino 8 ply.  I've knitted this for my friend and hope it helps keep her warm.

Soon her husband I will tackle the sewing room - so many containers of beads, embroidery threads, books, magazines, etc.

Robots Quilt

After I finished the Dinosaurs quilt, I started work on Elizabeth Hartman's "Robots" quilt.  Vinnie happened to see this and was torn between the Robots and the Dinosaurs.

Karen quilted this with Scottish Plaid Diamond - I think it looks great on these character quilts.

Dinosaurs Quilt

Three years ago I bought a kit from The Next Stitch to make Elizabeth Hartman's "Robots" quilt.  I thought this would be nice for Vinnie when he went into a big bed.  But, as with most little boys, he prefers dinosaurs, so earlier this year I started making Elizabeth Hartman's "Dinosaurs" quilt.

I sent this quilt to Sarah at Patchworks Plus Shop for quilting.  She used Scottish Plaid Diamond and I love this design.

Vinnie chose the backing when we visited Spotlight a few months ago.

I went to visit Vinnie and his family on Sunday to give him his quilt - the colours are terrific with his room and curtain colours.

Vinnie also wanted a dinosaur t-shirt, so I made him a shirt.  What is it with clothes patterns these days?  Vinnie is a very regular size 4 boy and I made this shirt size 6 - it will barely get him through the summer.

The "Happy Scrappy Baskets" quilt top is together.  This was enjoyable to make, mainly because I was able to use up fabrics from my Figtree scrap basket.

The setting triangles and backing fabric is from Figtree's "Strawberry and Rhubarb" range.  I'm not sure which range the basket fabric is from.

A few weeks ago my friends and I went to see Torvill and Dean's show in Sydney - was so lovely seeing them skate again.  I went to see their first shows in Sydney after they won their gold medal and, even though they were as graceful as ever.  Was disappointing that the arena was only half full.

Baby on a Quilt

Mack's quilt was finished earlier this year (maybe February) and it took me ages to get it to him.  His Mum sent through a couple of photos of the little cuties on his quilt.

Big brother had to get in on the act too :)

I think I'll be ready for some more colourful sewing after making these blue and white quilts.  I was rummaging through the Figtree scraps and came across a bag of 2-1/2" squares.

There are more than enough to make "Happy Scrappy Baskets" (which has been on my mind lately), so I cut out the rest of the required fabrics.

Might start this next and get back to the rest of the blue and white quilts later.

Vinnie and Daisy had a great time at The Wiggles - Vinnie made a lovely poster and was so happy to give it to Caterina.

Friday week ago Elizabeth, Cousin Stephanie and I went to see Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell in concert singing songs by Elton John and George Michael - what a fantastic night out.  They are such good singers and so entertaining - we had a great laugh and loved the show.

One of my Bucket List items is to go to Jane McGrath Day at the Sydney Test.  I'd always wanted to take Mum to a day at the Ashes but I was never able to get tickets (let alone tickets in the shade in a stand).  The tickets for the Sydney Ashes game next January went on sale last Tuesday and, after a very stressful time of being in a queue of 190,000+, finally getting in only to be timed out and then joining a queue of 32,000+, I managed to buy tickets for me and the girlfriends to go on Jane McGrath Day  By that stage I didn't care where we were sitting - just happy to know I can be there.

Blue and White

I've always loved bows and as soon as I saw this Thimble Blossoms pattern, I knew I'd be making it using "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" light blues and low volumes.  There are so many pretty prints in these ranges.

The quilt top came together so well and I love the scallop border.

"Star Pop"in "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" low volumes is together - this is the small throw size.

Current sewing is "Cakewalk" also in "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" fabrics.

I might start sewing this together later today.

Yesterday my cousin, Stephanie, and I went to see "Titanique" - what a fun take on the movie.  The singing was exceptional.  We loved it.

A couple of quilts are on the way back from Karen:  "Shoreline" version of "Piece and Quilt" Sampler

and Thimble Blossoms' "Takes the Cake".

Last month on my birthday we had some family photos taken - it's been 20 years since the last time.  This photo is my children's favourite.  Right at the end, Steph, Jenni's friend and photographer, told us all to yell/scream.

Piece and Quilt Sampler (Figtree)

Last year I participated in a Quilt Along hosted by two of my favourite designers, Lissa Alexander and Susan Ache, to make their "Piece and Quilt" Sampler from their "Celebrate with Quilts" book.  I made two quilt tops - one using scrappy Figtree fabrics and the other using Thimble Blossoms' "Shoreline" fabric with a couple of "Nantucket Summer" fabrics added.

The Figtree version is finished.  I love how the sawtooth border sits on the bed.

I asked Karen to use "Featheration" - it's a favourite design on quilts made with Figtree fabrics.

The backing is another favourite Figtree - from her "Chantilly" range and the red binding is from her "Honeysweet" range.

I had plenty of the Elizabeth Hartman fabrics left after making the large "Dinosaurs" quilt and decided to make the small version.

I am waiting for the large quilt to come back so I can add the backing offcuts to the fabric I have for the backing and cut out Vinnie's shirt.

On an Elizabeth Hartman kick this year (as well as blue and white quilts kick).  I've been wanting to make "Robots" for ages and sorted fabrics for this a little while ago.

These guys are very cute and come together as well as all the other Elizabeth Hartman characters I've made.

The only problem with sewing these Essex Yarn Dyed Linen or navy backgrounds is that I end up covered in threads and the sewing room floor is a total mess.

Some of the threads brush off but most are matted into the fleece :)  I have a special sewing sloppy joe.

I was searching on google for some backing fabric and found this robot fabric in Lincraft for $3.75/m - talk about a bargain and it's lovely.  Bought enough for a small Robots quilt too.

I have enough feature fabric left to make the small Robots quilt and needed to buy another metre of background fabric, so that will be made soon.  Vinnie saw the Robots quilt top and is now torn between Dinosaurs and Robots - such a dilemma for a 4 year old.  I'll let him have a big quilt and a small quilt.