More Catch Up

We had lots of huge storms in March - so much thunder and lightning.  One Saturday afternoon we lost power for a few hours so I lit some candles and cut out Thimble Blossoms' new "Picnic" quilt, mostly from my Thimble Blossoms scrap bags.

I have some Bella Solid 200 on order and will cut out the background when it arrives.

Around 6 years so when making a quilt, I'd make an extra block in Bonnie and Camille fabric and when there was a stack of blocks I'd sew them together into a sampler quilt.  I came across a bag with some blocks, HST offcuts etc and thought it was time to make another sampler so started making blocks based on the quilts I've recently finished and my current sewing.

Making the blocks fit does my head in.

Had to add a border or two.

The backing is a fabric I bought on fantastic sale from Bella's Patchwork and I'll use a scrappy Bonnie and Camille binding.

In late March there was lots of chain piecing to make Four Patches and Flying Geese for "Master Plan", a Miss Rosie's Quilt Co design.  These were cut out in February.  I've put them away for a while.

Definitely entered my Flying Geese phase.  In May last year I cut out Cotton Way's "Wish Upon a Star" quilt in Navy Bonnie and Camille, Thimble Blossoms and Tasha Noel fabrics with Moda Bella Solid 200 for the background.  I've been sewing the block components over the last couple of weeks and they're slowly coming together.  It's school holidays here and there hasn't been a lot of time for sewing.

Seven more of these large blocks to assemble.

Easter Sunday was a lot of fun - the little ones had a great time hunting for eggs and Vinnie decorated cupcakes.

Bonnie and Camille Sampler 3

I love making these scrappy sampler quilts and working out the jigsaw so that all the blocks can fit together without too many filler strips.

Finished this quilt early last week and love how it turned out.

Jenny at AngelCake Quilting used a new-to-me design, "Chantilly", and I'm sure I'll request this again.

Had a lovely long weekend down the Far South Coast with Lynell, Robyn and Wendy.  Took one photo all weekend - Tathra Wharf.  We stayed nearby.  Lots of local seafood to eat, lots of shopping in the nearby towns, plenty of laughing and talking.

"Gracious" designed by Vanessa Goertzen is the latest "Sewcialites" block.

Catch Up

Last Friday night I wasn't sure what I felt like sewing and then I noticed the stack of Gypsy Wife blocks - hadn't made the blocks for last month or this month.

October:

November:

All the blocks are done and it's time to start cutting the strips to bring all these blocks together into a quilt top.  That's a job for next month or next year.  I'm very much looking forward to the next SAL:  "Boho Heart".

Last week's "Sewcialites" block is called "Soulful" and designed by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree and Co.

On Friday, Leanne, our receptionist at SMART, retired.  We went out for lunch to wish Leanne well - so lovely to be able to all go out together for an enjoyable afternoon.  We've worked together for 8 years and the office is now very quiet without Leanne.

Sunday was the day to pack away my year-round decorations and bring out the boxes of Christmas goodies.  It will take a couple of weeks to put it all up, especially with going away this weekend.  Looking forward to a weekend down the coast.

Finished putting "Picnic" together last night and will be delivering it to the quilter tomorrow after work.

I'll be picking up the Bonnie and Camille Sampler when I visit Jenny tomorrow.  It's turned out so beautifully.

I've never posted a photo of my Sweetheart T but this action shot is so fantastic.  She loves her soccer games with her team, The Unicorns - what else would a team of 5 year old girls be called?

I really like house blocks and made this house from Thimble Blossoms' "Autumnville" pattern to go into my sampler.

The sampler is now together - some of the newer blocks didn't make it into the finished top but they will probably be used in the next one.  I still try to make a block in B&C fabrics from each quilt I make, so that gives me a good headstart for another sampler.

Backing fabric arrived yesterday and this pretty aqua will be the binding.

Over the last few weeks I've been cutting out fabric for a second "Chinoiserie" quilt.  Started sewing the blocks on Sunday evening and the lower four rows are together.

My "An Hourglass a Day" stack is growing.  On Sunday I started making two hourglasses a day (four blocks) - I think I'll need 400+ so it's fair enough to increase the daily number.

Sewcialites Block 6 "Devotion" - I've found this one the most difficult so far.  It's not very neat but will hopefully sit in the quilt top ok when it's all together.

Had a fun weekend catching up with The Schoolgirls for brunch on Saturday, then T & G came over on Sunday - they don't keep still and make me laugh.

Last night I started cutting out "Stroll", a new Thimble Blossoms pattern using mostly scraps (lots of cutting) and I also want to cut out Cotton Way's "Summer Days" from the B&C scrap bin.

Santa in the Trees

 "Santa in the Trees" was a fun quilt to make for a family in Victoria.

Quilting (for Karen) was a nightmare.  The very cute backing fabric was from Spoonflower and it feels like the design is painted onto white cotton fabric so the feel of the fabric and sewing tension is very different to what we're used to.  It looks great on the top.

I had plenty of tree triangles leftover so I made a wallhanging for the family as well.

On Sunday afternoon I didn't know what I felt like working on, so I settled on making some more blocks for my Bonnie and Camille sampler.

Strawberry from Thimble Blossoms' "Stroll"

Splendid Speck's "Bradley Street"

FigTree's "Checkerboards and Stars"

Michelle McKillop's "Stripe Me Lucky"

Rainbow from Bonnie and Camille's "Quilting Bee"

Lighthearted from Bonnie and Camille's "Quilting Bee"

Some blocks have been added, some removed and others moved around but it's coming together.

Last week was "Book Week" in NSW schools.  Here is my pregnant Kindy Assistant Principal ready to go to school.  Those students are very fortunate to have her as their teacher.

Brunch with the Schoolgirls this weekend and maybe Mum and I will go to the pictures - there are a couple of Australian films I'd like to see.

Patchwork Sky

This is the second "Patchwork Sky" quilt I've made - this one being a special request from a customer in USA.  It was finished and posted away a week or so ago.

Little Sweetheart's dresses are finished and hanging up in her wardrobe ready for some warmer weekend weather.

Block 4 of the Sewcialites SAL.  Love making these blocks each Saturday morning.

The "Hourglass a Day" blocks are growing in number and many, many more to make.

Stitched down the "Santa in the Trees" binding last week and it is now at its new home.  I really like this quilt but the backing fabric was a nightmare to work with.

The full-size "Bradley Street" is all done and will be dropped off to the quilter later this week.

I'm ready to start another "Chinoiserie" - the first quilt has gone to Peta and Michael's home and have been working on putting together a Bonnie and Camille Sampler this week.

Had a fun weekend even with the weather turning very yukky - T&H came for the day on Saturday then I had dinner with friends - home-made wood-fired pizzas.  Sunday was a pj day - spent most of the afternoon in The Pink Room.

Back in the office for most of this week - lots going on and a busy time for us.