A Big Few Days

I've had three trips to Sydney in 5 days and all for wonderful, fun events.

Saturday's trip was for Gabby's cooking class hens night

and Monday night's was to attend the annual Helpmann Awards (Australia's answer to the Tony's).  I go for the entertainment as there are performances by the casts of shows currently running (or coming soon) in Australia:  "Kinky Boots", "Book of Mormon", "Aladdin", "My Fair Lady",  "Greenday's American Idiot", "Construct", "Beautiful", "Velvet".  Any opportunity to see Michael James Scott (The Genie),  Reg Livermore and the hula hoop man from "Velvet" perform - count me in.

Last night's Sydney visit was for a genuine treat -

a birthday present from Jenni, Kurt, Elizabeth and Matt.  kd lang is a truly exceptional talent and I was thrilled to be at her show with Jenni and Kurt and Kurt's family.

Nothing to show from The Pink Room - all secret stuff happening in there; and there is secret crocheting at lunchtimes:

The jumpers for my sweethearts are almost ready to be sewn up.  Lots of ends to sew in.

Hopefully a quiet weekend coming up.  Might take Mum to see "Dunkirk" - looks like WWII is movie flavour-of-the-month these days.

Pineapple Sherbet

My daughter Jenni and her cousin Gabby were born 5 days apart and our families always celebrate birthdays and other major occasions together.

3 year old sweeties

In September the girls turn 30 and we will be celebrating Gabby's wedding.  Saturday night was the Hens Night and we had such a fun time at an Italian cooking class in Sydney "making" a 5-course feast.

My cousin Stephanie (mother of the bride) stirring the risotto

Making ricotta ravioli

I wanted to make a quilt for Gabby's birthday present so last August I asked her big sister for ideas.  Danielle immediately suggested pineapples and I was tickled pink because I'd seen many pineapple blocks designed by Jackie Padesky Quilts on Instagram over the previous year or so and had been wanting to make some of these cute blocks mainly using some bright and fun Me and My Sister fabrics in my stash plus a few others I bought.

Sewed the last stitches in the binding on Friday night so I could pack it up to give to Gabby on Saturday.

 

Came across a fun shopping bag in Coles a few months ago, so wrapping was sorted.

Such a happy quilt to make.

Out and About

No sewing for a while but there has been lots of going out.  On Saturday afternoon Mum, Lynell, Robyn and I went to see "Kinky Boots".  It's a fun musical and Lola is just sensational.  A kind stranger took a photo of us at the boots.

On Sunday Robyn, Lynell and I met up with our friend Wendy.  We all travelled around Europe together a long time ago and it's always great to catch up with Wendy.

Gulli's scrappy block jumper is ready to sew together and I've started one for ChaCha.  The couch arm is a good landing place for the knitted pieces.

Last year I bought 14 balls of Bendigo Wool (mostly Luxury 8 ply) for Peta's blanket and scarf and I've been trying to use them up this winter.

There has been some crochet happening at lunchtime and I'm almost ready to put it all together.  Was pretty happy with my bird even though it's a a bit larger than I envisaged.

This rainbow wool has appeared in my Instagram feed a few times and I caved and bought some for ChaCha next winter.  Not sure what I'll be making with it

or the multi-coloured wool below.  The purple is for ChaCha's scrappy block jumper bands and sleeves and the two balls of grey are for something for Gulli for Christmas.

Some sewing from the weekend before last - started something very different for me to make and it will be taking up most of my sewing time for the next few weeks.

Kumari Holiday "Fresh" Lap Quilt

When I made my "Swoon" quilt there were a lot off off-cuts from the half-square triangles that were large enough to make into usable blocks.  My first thought was to make a cushion for the bed but I had enough pieces to make 6 "Fresh" blocks (at half of the original size) and plenty of left-over fabrics to use for more blocks, the borders and binding.

"Fresh" is from Camille Roskelley's "Simply Retro" book.

I wanted to try out the other side of the Scallops, Waves and Vines ruler and it worked out so well with this wide border.

For the quilting, I asked Karen to try out a design she hasn't used before.  She chose "August Rain" and it looks wonderful with these fabrics.

Using up a left-over larger piece in the backing.

It always feels so good to make an unexpected/unplanned quilt and to make a sweet quilt from fabrics that were such a lovely gift, is extra special.

Wish Upon a Star

"Wish Upon a Star" is a quilt designed by Bonnie Olaveson (Cotton Way) and made using Bonnie and Camille red fabrics along with a white/red spot Japanese cotton I bought last year while on holiday in Singapore.  Finished stitching down the binding on Sunday night.

This won't be my last red and white quilt.  I love how this turned out and have plans to make a scrappy version of the pattern.

I love the Orange Peel quilting (done by Karen) and it suits this quilt so well.

Had a lovely weekend.  Was able to spend time with both of my little sweethearts and most of the family (two are travelling around Japan at the moment).  I looked after Gulli for a few hours on Saturday evening.  He was so worn out from all of his bicycle riding that he fell asleep before he'd had his bottle or finished his "GG biscuit".

Retro Cot Quilt

"Retro" is a quilt featuring Jacob's Ladder blocks from Camille Roskelley's "Simply Retro" book.  This quilt top was made 2 years ago and quilted with sweet little clouds by Karen last week.

The binding was stitched down last night while watching tv.

 

The fabric is a very pretty colour and such a soft flannel.  I think I have enough left for one more cot quilt backing.

Two more quilts to bind and I'll be almost up-to-date.

Shoo Fly Cot Quilt

Last night while watching tv I stitched down the binding on this pretty cot quilt.  I love the Hollywood Sparkle fabric - the sheen is beautiful.

The quilt top was made 2 years ago but I didn't get around to quilting it.  Karen quilted it last week and the quilt will be given to a new baby girl in the next couple of weeks.

 

I hope to stitch down the binding on Retro tonight. 

Picked up two more quilts from Karen last night:  "Wish Upon a Star" and Kumari Holiday "Fresh" lap quilt.

 

After making the wavy edges on Swoon, I'm hoping to scallop the edges of this one and that it all works out.

Swoon

ChaCha's little cardigan was finished last week.  Love the sparkly button I found in one of the drawers in the sewing room.

I'm slowly using up my wool stash - started a jumper for Gulliver for next winter and will probably make one for ChaCha using some other leftover colours.  They both love purple at the moment.

Had a fair bit of sewing time over the weekend in between spending time with my family - little sweetheart had a sleepover, we visited Michael for his birthday so the little ones could have a play in the big park at Coogee Beach, and also stitching with the girls.

Seems that Friday nights are often spent watching BBC police shows on ABC TV while stitching down binding.  Last Friday night after ChaCha was asleep I started to stitching down the binding on Swoon and finished it off on Saturday night.

Here is the story of how I came to have these beautiful fabrics.   I wanted to make something special and also wanted a Swoon quilt for myself one day, so Swoon seemed to be a good choice.  Sarah did the quilting and it looks wonderful.

 

"Wish Upon a Star" is together.  I gave it to Karen yesterday and she has just posted a photo on Instagram showing the quilt on the frame

Backing

I have binding to stitch down on a couple of cot quilts:

"Shoo Fly"

"Retro" designed by Thimble Blossoms

It's so cold here - winter has hit with a vengeance.