Current Sewing

I have a few quilts on the go at the moment.

Hopscotch designed by Thimble Blossoms

I visited a local quilt show in September and bought a pretty jelly roll.  No idea who the designer is.  Added a few of my stash fabrics.

Jelly Girl designed by Fig Tree & Co

I've used loads of fabrics from my Fig Tree stash for this.  It's a fun quilt to make.

Starlight designed by Thimble Blossoms

This quilt is also made from my Fig Tree stash.  Another fun design.

Also some dressmaking happening.

We've had so much wind and rain over the last couple of months.

  

One afternoon in November, I heard a huge crack and this is what I found - a big branch had fallen from one of the gum trees in my yard.  Fortunately it didn't land on the house.

I lodged an application with the Council requesting permission to remove the trees.  The inspector came and advised I could remove one but not the tree closest to the house. 

He also said in the letter of approval that there was no evidence of disease, pests etc in the tree when I pointed out this area on a branch overhanging the roof. 

Thursday before Christmas, this is what happened.  That very branch cracked at the mal-formed joint and landed on the roof.

I was very fortunate that the local tree-loppers dropped everything and came to remove the branch the next day - again, no damage.

Now I think I'm finally up-to-date.

Christmas 2023

We made it through December - Mum's birthday is the 4th and every year the family would get together for lunch - Mum would decorate the tree with the little ones.  We had a tree-decorating lunch on the weekend of Mum's birthday.

My goal for Christmas was to decorate the front door and I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Entrance/Parlour

Loungeroom

Kitchen/Family Room

Bedroom

A lovely Christmas quilt made a few years ago with a group of Aussie-loving Bonnie and Camille fans.

Cooking

Christmas Cakes, Shortbread and Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

Mango Cheesecake

Trifle

The littlies made Rudolf biscuits between courses on Christmas Day - Vinnie's biscuits.

A fun Christmas present:

Merry Christmas - I hope 2024 is kind to everyone.

Christmas Stitching

For Christmas 2023 I made the little ones Mill Hill "Snow Globes" ornaments.

It was time to make Vinnie's "Santa's Treasure Sack", designed by Helen Stubbings of Hugs 'n' Kisses, with machine embroidery Gingerbread Men designs instead of the hand-stitched embroideries.

 

Quilt Tops

At the end of October 2023, Jenni, my friend Gail and I went to the State Theatre in Sydney to see Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell in concert - what a fantastic show.  So great to have tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing; wonderful singing and everyone up and dancing to the Backstreet Boys medley at the end.

While Mum was in hospital I would sew for a couple of hours each night after visiting finished - I suppose it was my stress relief.  Can't beat chain piecing.  This continued for a few months, hence the finished quilt tops.

A few more quilts were cut out and the tops sewn up.  They are also with Karen for quilting.

Hannah's Garden

Made from my stash of blue, green, pink and some red fabrics.

Sugar Dish

I've been wanting to make this quilt (designed by Cluck, Cluck, Sew) for ages.  The quilt top is made with Fig Tree's "Stitched" fabrics.

I used the border from Fig Tree's "Kiss Me" quilt as inspiration for this quilt.

Chandelier

"Chandelier" is designed by Lella's Boutique and is made using two charm packs (5"squares) - Coriander Quilt' "Cosy Up" in this quilt and Moda Bella Solid Snow for the background.

I added a ribbon border - design from The Quilters' Cache.

The backing is a Jen Kingwell "Gardenvale" design and will also be used for the binding.

Flower Girl

A few years ago a dear friend sent me a load of fabric, totally out of the blue, and in there was a "Flower Girl" kit in Bonnie and Camille's original fabric for this design - "Marmalade".  Such a treasure.

The blocks are large and quick to assemble.

The quilt is very long - would suit a king single bed.

I chose this Thimble Blossoms' "Shine On" fabric for the backing and a red/white stripe came with the kit for the binding.

Little H loves Halloween.  In the October school holidays he came to Spotlight with me and chose some fabric for pants.

Another pair of Style Arc "Bobby" pants - fortunately H likes to wear cotton pants.