Berry Parfait

Another quilt finished before my holiday was "Berry Parfait", which is a new design that Thimbles and Needles asked me to pattern test.  I made the throw size and love how it turned out.  I've always loved gelato colours and these colours work so well in this quilt.  I've called my version "Fruit Tingles".

Orange Peel quilting is the best and Karen did a great job quilting this one.

Love making a quilt completely from stash, including the backing and binding.

Making Bindings

The last quilt in the previous parcel to Karen arrived home on Monday.  I love how "Berry Parfait" has turned out.  The colours are beautiful.

This week I'll start sewing down bindings on "Swoon", "Star Pop", "Happy Stripes" and "Berry Parfait" although they won't be finished before I go away on holiday on Saturday.

Another parcel of quilts has gone to Karen for quilting - the last one to be put together was "Fireworks".  The border is fairly wide because I plan to make the edge wavy.

"Starlets" is also in the parcel.  This is a lap-size quilt and was very quick to make and sew together.

On Saturday I'm flying to the Gold Coast with Elizabeth, Matt and the little sweethearts for 10 days.  I hope to catch up with my friends Diann and Bill if they're back from their travels.  Then I'll have another 10 days holiday at home before going back to work.

More Quilt Tops

Still sewing up the stacks of blocks.  "Berry Parfait" is a quilt top I made to test a pattern for Thimbles and Needles - another great, scrappy design that goes together so well.  I love a pattern with pressing instructions.

Last week I sent "Berry Parfait", along with three other quilt tops/backings to Karen (Quilting on the Coast) and the first one is on the way back.  "Happy Stripes" designed by Quilty Love.  This is a baby-sized quilt and I think the texture will be wonderful.

"Dwell 2" blocks have been sewn up and this quilt top is pretty bit (around 91" x 95") - quilting will shrink it a bit.  I'm starting another pile to send to Karen.

"Sewcialites" blocks were finished in June last year but I've been dithering about the layout.  Saw this layout on Sister's Choice blog and liked the look of it.  I think I'll add a white border then it can go onto the pile to go to Karen.

"Fireworks" blocks still to be sewn together then I think I'll be up-to-date but I've been sidetracked by a container of half-square triangle offcuts that I started sewing up and trimming.  These are all sewn and I have one more lot to trim then I'll have the 400 needed to make Thimble Blossoms' 25 HST Blocks - 25 different blocks from half-square triangles (16 per block).

The blue triangles in the photo above ("Happy Stripes" offcuts in "Nantucket Summer") will be made into a "Moda Love" block - might be a cushion cover.

Here it is sewn together. 

Recent photo of our littlest sweetheart that Jenni posted - he is the funniest little fellow.  I'll be spending Thursday and Saturday night with him - can't wait.

Making Quilt Tops

"Starlets" blocks are very quick to make and because I'm making the small throw size, I had the number I needed pretty quickly .  I put these blocks aside to sew together on another day - I seem to do that a lot.

I hadn't kept count when I was cutting out the house blocks for "Dwell 2" and I cut way more blocks than needed - turns out I have enough to make quite a large quilt

Decided it was time I sewed up some of these blocks I have piled up on the spare bed and started with "Swoon", which has the least number of blocks.

Backing and binding fabric for Swoon.

Next up is "Dwell 2" - this is just over halfway.  I'm waiting for some more red fabric to arrive to make another two stars.

I hope to sew up "Berry Parfait" next, then it might be time to send a couple of parcels to Karen.

The laundry is finished

Before

After

but the "new" room (5th bedroom/study) isn't quite done - the skirting boards need another coat of paint before furniture is moved in.  The paint on the skirting boards was damaged when the floor was polished - I painted them a week ago but that didn't quite cover the damaged areas.  Might have time next weekend to paint.  The light fitting is in.  I'd love to be able to afford new white windows in all the rooms.  Still trying to decide on a blind.

Spent Saturday with my friend Lynell packing - after 40 years in her home she and her husband are moving (to my suburb) - it's a big job.  Yesterday I visited Mum then went to a lunch with another friend.  I'm really pretty shy and it's good to meet/chat with some new people.