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.

In The Pink Room

Lots of different things happening at the moment.

On Saturday, Lynell and I caught the train to Sydney to meet up with Robyn - we spent a very pleasant couple of hours in Darling Harbour enjoying the spring afternoon and early dinner before going to see "Jekyll and Hyde" - Anthony Warlow was so, so fabulous.  WOW!  We LOVED the show. 

Spent time on Sunday with the littlest sweetheart and then had some free time later in the day to start  sewing together the "Basket Case" blocks.

I was thinking of adding a border but decided I like it as is.  I'm waiting for one more piece of fabric to arrive then I can make the backing using the lawn fat quarters from "Smitten" and "Little Snippets" - of course, I cut into one a few weeks ago and then was one short when I decided to use the fabrics for the backing.

I've joined my first quilt-along to make Thimble Blossoms' "Hide and Seek".  As I had cut this quilt out a few weeks ago, I was ready to go when the QAL started on 1 November.  The first part is cutting out and sewing starts on 11 November

but, being me, I couldn't wait and I've made the first 10 of 36 stars.

There was a fair bit of wool left over from the Sloth, so I've been knitting at lunchtime - a fisherman's rib vest for Jenni's friend's little boy.  His Mum loves dressing him in natural, earthy colours.

A new cot quilt will be underway soon, using these beautiful Kona Solids from Sarah's shop.

Last night I started sewing "Sweet Escape" blocks together.  Another night's sewing and this quilt top should be together.  Making these log cabin blocks hasn't been my favourite sewing but they've turned out ok.

Tomorrow night Mum, Lynell, Robyn, Gail and I are going to see "The Wharf Review" - Mum and I have been going to this show for a few years and love it.  Always extremely entertaining, so well-written and acted/sung.

A fun weekend coming up with Gulli coming to stay on Friday night, the Stitching Girls coming for afternoon tea on Saturday and I'm not sure what's happening on Sunday - maybe Mum and I will go to the pictures.