Best Friends Forever

In my quilting life I've been able to make quilts, wallhanging, tabletoppers etc for special friends but this quilt is the most special one I've made so far.

On Sunday morning I became a Nanna for the first time to the sweetest baby girl - we've called her ChaCha since we knew she was a baby girl and that will be her name on my blog.

I started making "Best Friends Forever" designed by Rosalie Quinlan in July 2013 - stitching the blocks during lunchtime at work.  Early in September last year I had the idea to make the quilt as ChaCha's cot quilt because Elizabeth likes lots of colour and I thought some of the stitcheries were so pretty for a little girl. 11 of the stitcheries are in the quilt and we chose mainly aqua, grey, green, pink and some red for the hexagon blocks.

The quilt was machine sewn together rather than hand-stitched.  Vicki helped me sort this out when she visited in September and it went together quite easily.  Great thing is that it's pretty much quilt-as-you-go.  Binding was stitched down last Thursday night and the quilt was put on the baby's cot on Monday afternoon when she came home from hospital.

A friend I've made on Instagram and I are going to make "Fireworks" designed by Camille Roskelley - I've had the blocks cut out for a while and a couple of weeks ago made a sample block.

I think it's going to look great in these lovely, bright Holly Holderman fabrics.

This year our Tuesday stitching group is making Cluck Cluck Sew's "Shortcake" quilt.  It's a great jelly roll or scrap design.  I'm using lots of Fig Tree fabrics and I was able to add some new colour to the stash swapping fabrics with Leanne - first time I've swapped through the post - such a great idea.

 

Over the weekend some other sewing happened while waiting for baby news.  "Marmalade" (also designed by Camille Roskelley) is now a quilt top - great design to use up lots of favourite left-over fabrics,

 

and all the orange fabrics for my "Orange Swoon" (another design from Camille Roskelley) have been cut.  Looks like I've cut one too many blocks so it can be a label for the back of the quilt.

So much sewing to look forward to.

Sewing Patterns

We've just had a long weekend in Australia and it started off very well when I had dinner with Barbara - haven't seen her for so long and we had a lot to catch up on.

A little while ago I saw a link on Facebook that Fiona had liked to You Can Make This - a very dangerous link for me to follow.  I bought only two patterns but could have bought plenty more.  Spent a night cutting out last week and made them up on Saturday.  Both patterns are very cute and very easy to follow.

First up was a very cute, vintage-styled romper.

And next was a swaddling blanket made in very light voile - perfect for a summer baby.

The blanket is so quick to make, I made a few more for presents using fabrics in the stash.

Yesterday afternoon it was time to get on with "Best Friends Forever".

 

The quilt top is now together and the binding has been sewn on.  I've cut the edges straight as I think that will suit the purpose of the quilt better.

Lunchtime stitching today and hopefully will finish stitching down the binding tonight while watching the tennis.

 

Karen brought my "Not Quite Civil War" quilt back last Tuesday and the binding has been sewn on but not stitched down yet.

I love the hearts and flowers quilting design - it doesn't overpower the piecing in the blocks.

This and That

Not a lot of sewing/stitching over the last couple of days but there was a great deal of house painting last week, most of which is now finished thanks so much to my wonderful sister-in-law and brother.  The house is looking fantastic.  A few touch-ups here and there, a couple of new verandah rails and the house will be looking so good - shame about the windows but replacing them is on the "one day" list.

Two more quilts have been cut out and a sample block of each made:  "Cheerio" and "Niner" both Camille Roskelley designs using a mixture of Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Early last week I came across "Girls' Day Out" in my sewing room - this quilt was started in February 2008, the quilt top sewn together at a retreat in March 2010 and the last border flowers were vliesofixed on in January 2011.  The quilt top hadn't been touched since.  Two nights' worth of stitching and now the top is ready for quilting then all the beautiful buttons and beads can be sewn on.

I've been collecting some orange fabrics over a couple of months to make an orange "Swoon" quilt and the last package arrived yesterday - think I finally have enough to start cutting it out.  4 Fig Tree fabrics were added to the pile after this photo was taken.  This quilt will be a gift for someone special.

A few rows have been added to Best Friends Forever - I'm on a deadline for this now, so it will be what I sew this week if I have some spare time in amongst socialising.

I have 3 more quilt tops to give to Karen tonight at stitching and then all bar two of my quilt tops will be quilted.  One of these quilt tops was finished in 2011 so it's about time to have it quilted.

Backing for "Basket Case" and "A Year in my Life"

A couple of weeks ago at stitching I cut out another "Goodnight Irene" quilt, this time using 2 Bali Pops jelly rolls in pink, dark red, charcoal and black batiks with a black background.

I hope it looks as good finished as it does in my imagination as this is another gift quilt.

Stitching tonight so I will be collecting "Not Quite Civil War".

Instagram SAL

I've joined the crowd and am making Lori Holt's Christmas quilt (#haveyourselfaquiltylittlechristmas on Instagram).  All the instructions are on Instagram - just search for @beelori1.  After making the blocks not in her book, I am waiting (impatiently) for my book to arrive so I can get on with the rest of these cuties.

They really are sweet and it's great using up last little pieces of favourite fabrics.

Last night I finished off the last Best Friends Forever block I will be stitching.

 

18 out of the 32 blocks have been stitched, 11 are going into the quilt I'm making and the other stitched blocks plus the unstitched blocks and patterns will be going to a new home soon.

Mum and I are going to see Schools Spectacular on Saturday, so that means on Sunday it's time to start decorating the house for Christmas.

Road Trip

On Saturday Paula, Karen and I drove to Bathurst to meet up with the other girls who were in Bathurst for the blog meet.  First stop was Anni's shop, The Home Patch, where we met up with some of the girls (Chooky and Ros and a few others).  I bought a few things at Anni's - a couple of her sweet patterns, some of her lovely Christmas fabric

and some chocolate brown linen for an Anni-designed bag I hope to make one day.

Next stop was the retreat venue for lunch, show and tell and "make it, bake it or fake it" swap.  I took 4 photos - 3 of them are some of Chooky's show and tell.

I took along this bag as my swap present:

The swap was a lot of fun with many girls wanting to steal each other's gifts.

Sunday was such a hot, humid day at my place.  I spent most of the day in the sewing room with the fan for company working on a Christmas present.

 

Last night I sewed a few Best Friends Forever blocks together and then felt like doing something different so I made a couple of Lori Holt's blocks that have been all over Instagram (#haveyourselfaquiltylittlechristmas).  These designs are so gorgeous - am very much looking forward to making the rest of the blocks.

The last Best Friends Forever stitchery block is coming along - might be finished this by the weekend.

2nd Last Block

Another Best Friends Forever stitchery block completed at lunchtime - one more to be stitched and I can put the quilt together; then I'll find a new home for the blocks I don't need.

I want to make an orange and white quilt for someone in my family and thought "Swoon" would be a great pattern choice.  This pattern requires 18 fat quarters plus background.  I had a few oranges in my stash

and plenty more are on their way in the post.  Last night I cut out and started to assemble one block - these are very large blocks (24") and I love the orange and white.

Finished this little cotton crochet cardy recently.

Road trip to Bathurst tomorrow!

I've Got Mail

A parcel was delivered to my place yesterday - Sarah had sent back my Red Letter Day quilt.

Love the quilting!  The quilt is going to look so fantastic when the binding is finished.  Might get to that on the weekend.

Finished another Best Friends Forever stitchery block last night - 1 and a bit stitcheries to go.

Saw two movies over the weekend.  Lynell and I went to see "Love, Rosie" on Saturday - was very enjoyable.  Mum and I saw "My Old Lady" on Sunday - much different than I expected but loved it.  Can't go wrong with Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith.  Turns out there was a huge wind storm while we were out - came home to find this big branch fallen in the back yard.  Very fortunate it landed where it did.

Stitching with the girls tonight - might finish off another stitchery block, then again might chat all night.

Stitchery Blocks

Another two "Best Friends Forever" stitchery blocks are finished.

I enjoyed stitching this block as there is no satin stitch:

 

Starting to feel like I'm on the home straight with 2-1/2 stitchery blocks to go.  There will be 11 stitched blocks in the quilt, excluding a few I had stitched before deciding to change the purpose of the quilt.  There has been very little progress since this photo was taken - am hoping to sew some more blocks over the weekend.

.

Sewing on Buttons

Another weekend has come and gone so quickly.  Had a lovely time stitching withe the girls on Saturday afternoon.  Made some good progress on a "Best Friends Forever" block

and felt motivated enough over the weekend to stitch more.  I really like this block.  Need to stitch another 4 blocks.

Saturday night was spent sewing buttons and ribbons onto some knitting that has been done over the last few weeks - not all pink.  I have a couple more knitted garments to sew together.

Yesterday the housepainters (my brother and sister-in-law) came over unexpectedly to do some more work.  Their grandchildren also turned up and they did a fantastic job painting the garage and watering the gardens.

Short Attention Span

Lots happening at my place - can't seem to concentrate on any one thing so I've been knitting a little cardigan in 12 ply Bendigo wool, crocheting granny squares and little shoes as well as sewing together some of the Best Friends Forever blocks.

Not so much sewing/stitching/knitting time since I started back at work last week.

The weather has been quite warm and flowers have started blooming in the garden - this is pretty exciting for me.

Mum and I went to see "Pride" on Saturday afternoon (great excuse to sit in air conditioning - it was a sweltering day).  Loved the movie, especially because it's a true story.

Holiday

I've been on a holiday - a fantastic holiday.  My dear friend Barbara turned 50 in January and invited a bunch of her friends to Fiji to two weeks - such a wonderful, generous idea and I was tickled pink to be able to go. 

Shopping for supplies at Sydney Duty Free

Fiji is such a wonderful place to visit.  The Fijians are so delightful, friendly and welcoming.  These guys sang every evening.

 Every sunset was a picture postcard.

Paula arranged for t-shirts for us all.

I took plenty of stitching with me but after a couple of days, didn't do very much - laying around the pool and occasionally reading my book seemed to take over.

Lots of fun nights out for dinner - Kirra celebrated her 23rd birthday at Hard Rock Cafe followed by a parachute jump a few days later.

Final photo is the Birthday Girl about to open our last bottle of champagne the night before we flew home.