Gypsy Wife

My friend, Sarah from Patchworks Plus in Tasmania, organised a sew-along at the end of 2019 to make Jen Kingwell's "Gypsy Wife" quilt in 2020.  Sarah worked out a schedule of blocks to make each month and by the end of the year we would have a finished quilt top.

I kind of kept up but stalled when it came to putting the quilt top together.  I had bought 6 different greys from Sarah's shop but it took me a while to work out how I'd like to put them together.

The quilt was sent to Sarah for quilting - "Square Buns".  The linear design looks great.

Another row is ready to add to "Nine Patch Waltz" and two rows of "Rainbow Baby" blocks are sewn together - orange and yellow stars are next.  I don't have enough of either colour to make a whole row without repeating the fabrics 3 or 4 times.

Last week's "Sewcialites" block - "Bright" designed by Chelsi Stratton.  4 more blocks to go.

I'd like to set my Rile Blake Block Challenge blocks on point and will need more blocks than those in the Challenge, so I searched Quilter's Cache for more 10" finished blocks and made three last night.  I'm having to add more FigTree fabrics to the ever-dwindling bag of "Chantilly" fabrics.

A big weekend with little sweethearts T and H staying over for two nights.  Lots of fun and cuddles.  And then a great basketball game on Sunday evening.

Strawberry Social

Finished this fun quilt over the weekend - loved making this quilt.  I also made one last year but this one is a little different - I used only one green for the stems, leaves and border rather than scrappy greens.

The backing is a gorgeous Riley Blake strawberry fabric.

"Roundabout"is the quilting design Jenny, AngelCake Quilting. chose for the first Strawberry Social quilt and I asked her to use it again - it has lots of interesting patterns in the one design.

Last week's "Sewcialites" design is called Noble and designed by one of my favourite designers - Susan Ache (@yardgrl60).

I cut out a couple of quilts in the last week.  "Summer Days" designed by Bonnie Olaveson (Bonnie Cotton Way) and also Rainbow Baby from "Bonnie and Camille's Quilt Bee" book.

I hope to make a Sawtooth Star a day for the next 6 or 7 weeks and then I'll have enough for the quilt top.

Over the last few days I've been making the low volume connecting nine patches for "Nine Patch Waltz" - the circles are starting to become apparent.

Latest Riley Blake Block Challenge block with a couple of non-Chantilly fabrics.

and all the blocks so far together.  I love this fabric and am sorry to be using up the last of so much of it.

Weekend plans changed a bit - Mum and I went to the pictures on Saturday afternoon to see "June Again".  Such a beautiful Australian film starring Noni Hazelhurst, who is wonderful.  Saturday night I saw "Viva Bob Vegas" - a show put together by the fabulous Bob Downe.  What a fun, entertaining show.

Yesterday was a quiet day at home - housework and some sewing.

Kaleidoscope

The binding on "Kaleidoscope" was stitched down last week.  This quilt pattern is from Emma Mary Designs and I loved it as soon as I saw it on Instagram.   The fabulous backing is a fine cotton and so lovely - would make a beautiful top.

There are 200 different floral fabrics in the quilt top.

Jenny, AngelCake Quilting stitched Bauhaus Baby on Kaleidoscope - it's a lovely design against all the triangle points.

Karen, Quilting on the Coast, will be visiting this week and is bring my Hourglass a Day quilt

along with a fat quarter bundle and bolt of new Bonnie and Camille fabrics - "Sunday Stroll" - I have plans for these fabrics.

Pineapple Party

Finished "Pineapple Party" on Monday night - it's such a fun quilt and was a joy to make.  The different blocks in the body of the pineapple add lots of interest.  I love these bright Alison Glass fabrics - I've used these in a few quilts lately.

Not a great size quilt for a queen bed but it adds lots of colour as a bed-topper

and I think the little ones will like this when they're lying on the couch watching tv.

I love the two different quilting designs Jenny (AngelCake Quilting) used:  "Pina Colada" in a variegated thread on the pineapple

and a lovely swirly design ("Growing Things") on the border.

The backing is lovely - sherbert colour with cute pineapples.

What a big weekend we had!  A few months ago I bought tickets for the girls and I to see "Frozen" - first major musical experience for Little Sweetheart T and so happy that Vincent was on his best behaviour (with his daddy) so his mummy could come with us.

We had lunch in the new Darling Harbour precinct - lots of "Frozen" items on the menu.

Elizabeth took T down to the front of the theatre to check out the orchestra pit.

Sunday was Mother's Day.  Peta was working all weekend (starting at 5.00 am on Mother's Day), so Michael and Gulli visited in the morning and left in time to pick up Peta from work.  The rest of the family came for lunch - Matt cooked a Mexican extravaganza (which was delicious).

Little Vincent was showing his new party trick - he's smiling and it melts my heart.  Mum was thrilled because Vinnie was quite happy to sit with her for a good while.  The other great-grandchildren are too active and fidgety to do that now.

As my birthday was on Monday, Jenni made a fabulous cake for sweets on Mother's Day and T helped with the decorating.

Last week's "Sewcialites" block is Gratitude designed by Thimble Blossom.

30 blocks made and 6 more to go then I can put the quilt top together - some of the blocks might be moved around to mix in the colours some more.  I've ordered silver Kona Cotton for the setting triangles.

"Boho Heart" is up-to-date.  Love working on these blocks and using these beautiful fabrics.  They are a bit more expensive than most quilting fabrics but the colours are fantastic.

The first half of the quilt is now finished.

Last week I cut out another "Village" quilt - this is for a special order and I'm more than happy to make a third one of this design.  It's so bright and happy.  Lots of last pieces of favourite fabrics will be in this quilt.

Another Riley Blake Block Challenge block is made.  I'm having to add a few more stash fabrics to the mix because I have very little variety left in my "Chantilly" fabrics.  So great that all FigTree and Co fabrics mix in so well together.

Think I'm caught up on all my sew-alongs and BOM's at the moment.  "Another Story" sew-along starts next week and I have most of my hexagons cut out.  I swapped fabrics with two other SAL members so that will add more variety to my quilt top.

SAL's/BOM's are a good way to make quilts and not become bored making the same blocks over and over.  I've found lately that I end up having a few quilts all finishing around the same time.

Hawks home game on Tuesday night and a win!  The season has been very long this year and we have 7 home games over 3 weeks.

Handmade with Love

Another Thimble Blossoms quilt I've made for the second time - lovely big blocks that show off the pretty Bonnie and Camille fabrics.  This is a great design to make with any style of fabrics and it still looks Christmassy but not too over-the-top.

Love the Rainbow Hearts quilting by Karen (Quilting on the Coast).

"Kaleidoscope" is ready to be picked up from AngelCake Quilting - it's looking great.  "Strawberry Social" and "Pineapple Party" are also quilted so there will be some binding happening over the next week or so.

Last week's Sewcialites block is Delight designed by Me and My Sister.  No 30 coming up this weekend then there will be 6 more to go.  I'll be sad to finish making these blocks - I've enjoyed the whole sew-along.

Caught up on Month Six of the "Shine On" Sampler.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been sewing "Stripe Me Lucky" blocks and they were all sewn together on the weekend.

Flying Geese blocks are needed for the borders and these are now made and I'll add them in a little while.

Last week I made a tiny start on H's "Dinosaurs" quilt - ferns and cycads.

I've joined a sew-along - "Another Story" designed by Thimbles and Needles starting on Instagram mid-May.  The blocks are 3" hexagrams.  I bought the cute umbrella fabric for the backing and I had enough "Kaleidoscope" background left to use in "Another Story".  Hoping that I will have no fabric repeats in the hexagons.  I've arranged to swap some hexies with another couple of ladies also making this quilt.

Jenni and Kurt's wedding anniversary yesterday - hard to believe that wonderful day was two years ago and that their little sweetheart is 2 months old already.

Exciting weekend coming up - trip to the theatre in Sydney on Saturday then Mothers' Day and birthday celebrations on Sunday.