Bradley Street Cot Quilt

This could be the third cot quilt I've made using this design - I love it because it really shows off the fabrics and 'Safari Life' is such a fun, cute range using non-traditional baby colours.

Backing

Karen used my favourite Clouds design for the quilting and Mum stitched down the binding.  The quilt is going to a baby due in a couple of months.

Christmas decorating is pretty much finished - I'll take some photos in the next few days.  A lovely friend sent me a new hand-stitched decoration for the tree - thank you Shez.  It was such a surprise.

Friday and Saturday nights were spent wrapping presents - I'm pretty slow and miss my resident present-wrapper (Jenni).

John hung the shelves in The Parlour on the weekend, so the room is coming together.

There has been a little bit of hand-stitching.  A new stocking for the swag

and some hardanger decorations.  Such a long time since I've done any hardanger - was a bit stressful cutting the threads.

Not much machine sewing happens at this time of year but I found some time to sew the last 16 star blocks for the "Hide and Seek" SAL - I'm a couple of weeks behind now.

Work finishes up for the year on Friday and I'm definitely looking forward to that and having lots of time to spend with my family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Way Behind Schedule

The Little Sweethearts had a good time at the Uni Christmas Party and came back to my place to decorate the tree - well, they lasted about 10 minutes then ran off to play and left the rest of the tree-decorating to Mum and me.

That same day my daugher-in-law's new shop opened in Thirroul.  It's a wonderland of colour and curios.

Wednesday last week was Mum's 92nd birthday - she is truly astonishing and we are so fortunate to have her here with us.

Decorating has continued at a slower pace than usual and was finished on the weekend.  The Christmas quilt is on my bed.

On Saturday morning, Gulliver and I prepared the fruit for the Christmas cakes, and then we cooked the cakes on Sunday when the our other Sweetheart was there to help.

The only sewing that has happened over the last week or so is a binding has been sewn onto a baby quilt for Mum to stitch down and I'm trying to hand-stitch some Christmas decorations for the Little Sweethearts for Christmas - not sure if they will be finished in time.

I picked up Sweet Escape from Karen last week and have yet to make the binding for that.

There has been a little "enhancement" to The Parlour.  A couple of Christmases ago, Jenni bought me a very sweet coat rack.  It was hung on the weekend and I have two shelves to be hung next weekend.

A couple of weeks ago Michael and Peta moved the grandfather clock in to The Parlour - it looks so good in there.

I have some special photos to go on the walls and shelves and then I think the room will be finished.

Wish Upon A Star

On Saturday Mum and I went on our annual trek to Sydney for "Schools Spectacular".  We've been attending this show for over 20 years - first when Elizabeth was participating, then Jennifer and over the last 13 years or so because we love the show.

Karen quilted "Wish Upon a Star" quickly for me during the week and on Saturday night I stitched down the binding - not a big job on cot quilts.  This little quilt is going to a new home tomorrow.

 

The machine embroidery designs are so sweet.

 

I have some pink fabrics in this "Guess How Much I Love You" range and I think a baby girl version of the same quilt will be very sweet.

Basket Case

Karen posted a photo of her machine working on my quilt

and I picked up the finished quilt on Tuesday evening.  Wednesday night I sewed on the binding and didn't intend to stitch it down but I started watching more episodes of "The Crown" Series 3 and,  before I knew it, I had reached the last corner.

Backing for the quilt is made from all the voile/lawn fat quarters in the "Smitten" and "Little Snippets" ranges.  The fabric is lovely and soft.

I love using polka dot backgrounds and this Riley Blake "Essential Dots" fabric is gorgeous.

Last night I made the November and December Aussie B&C Beehive Blocks.  I had a little "issue" with the other piece of grey fabric so the lady who is receiving these blocks is going to fix up the green block.

The blocks went off in the post today, so that commitment is completed for this year.  I'd forgotten how big the "Red Letter Day" blocks are.

Angel of Mercy

I can't remember if I started "Angel of Mercy" in 1996 or early 1997 - I know I was stitching it for Elizabeth's 18th birthday, which was September 1997.  It wasn't finished for her 18th birthday but was finally done and at the framer a couple of days before her 40th birthday in September this year.

This is a Lavender and Lace design.  Such a relief to have it finished and given to Elizabeth.  All that needed to be done was to couch down the halo rays - embarrassing to say the least.

"Basket Case" was finished recently.

I used the voile/lawn fabrics from "Smitten" and "Little Snippets" for the backing - these are such lovely, soft fabrics.

Karen quilted it last week

and dropped it off yesterday.  Hope to sew on the binding in the next couple of days.

"Sweet Escape" is ready for quilting.  I made the blocks a few weeks ago and put them aside for a little while before I felt like sewing them together.

I love this "Scrumptious" floral for the baking.  Karen will quilt this over the next while.

Little Sweetheart's "Elsa" dress is finished - photo was taken before Mum did the hand sewing.  This was a dress pattern I used for Elizabeth probably 36 years ago.

I have a few cot quilts to make for some of Jenni's friends.  Jenni asked for a Rainbow Quilt and sent me a photo of what she liked.  I bought a bunch of Kona Solids from Sarah and they look pretty wonderful.  I'll get around to sewing these blocks together after the Christmas sewing is done.

This zig-zag fabric for the backing with have a rainbow row of blocks through it.

Another of Jenni's friends loves natural, earthy colours, so I thought "Safari Life" by Stacy Iest Hsu would be a great fabric for her baby due next year.  This is ready for quilting.

Love this animal print backing too.

A few months ago I stitched out some machine embroidery designs and cut out some rectangles from my stash of "Guess How Much I Love You?" fabrics - this cot quilt top has turned out to be very cute.

Pretty green backing.

Had a fair amount of wool left over from making the sloth so I knitted a little vest in Fisherman's Rib for Jenni's friend's little boy.

Next ten stars are made for the "Hide and Seek" quilt-along.  Such a great way to make a quilt having a goal for each week.

A couple of weeks ago Mum and I went to see "Judy" - loved it, although I felt very sad when I came out of the pictures.  Mum had told me many times about Judy's sad life and how she was ruined by the studio system.  Renee Zellweger is magnificent.

Friends and I went to see "Ford v Ferrari" on Sunday night - this is an action-packed movie about the development of a Ford racing car to win the Le Mans 24 hour race in France.  Very loud movie but a good story, inspired by true events.

Next weekend is our annual trip to see "Schools Spectacular" - just Mum and I going this year - it's always a magnificent showcase of young talent.  And then the girls and I are going on our annual epic Ikea trip on Sunday.  Always fun.