"Citrus Crush"

"Citrus Crush" designed by Janelle Wind is now finished and all my Amy Butler fabrics have been used up (except for a couple of tiny scraps).

We are going to Sydney today to do a bit of shopping and have dinner with Elizabeth, Michael and their partners (Jenni has to work), so I thought I'd take both Amy Butler quilts along and let Elizabeth choose which quilt she would like ("Citrus Crush" or "Happy Days"). Hmmm ... which one? I honestly have no idea.

"Truly Scrumptious" is almost finished - she's quilted and bound, label is stitched and written on ready to be attached. Might have time to do that tomorrow night. The quilting on TS is very simple - in the ditch on all the blocks, sashings and posts then 1/4" inside the stitchery blocks and across the diagonals on the corners of those blocks.

Miserable weather today - great for shopping and spending time with the family.

Sunday is Quilting Day

Yesterday I decided that it was time to quilt "Citrus Crush". Not using the doover this time as I want to ditch stitch this quilt first then see if it needs any more quilting. The main advantage when using the doover is that a quilt doesn't need to be pin basted.

Block 2 of "The Wish Quilt" is finished. Will be putting this aside for the next few weeks as I have some swap goodies to make. I love stitching on linen but it does need a good ironing to look fresh.

Beautiful day on the lovely south coast - Spring is definitely here this weekend (lovely after the incredibly cold days during last week).

In the sewing room ...

A few months ago I bought these Amy Butler fabrics to make "Happy Days" quilt for Elizabeth.

The quilt is now ready to go onto the doover prior to appliqueing flowers (managed to take a couple of terrible photos). Elizabeth didn't want appliqued flowers nor the frill as per the pattern, so I'll be appliqueing the green flowers cut from the border/backing fabric and I've added some ric-rac to match some cushions I made for her birthday.

Instead of making the pieced backing (suggested in the pattern), I've used yardage of one fabric and there's enough of the others left over to make "Citrus Crush" for a dear friend's daughter for her birthday/Christmas. Love slicing into a stack of material - one of my favourite parts of the whole quilt-making process.

Lunchtime stitching now is the Bronwyn Hayes Christmas Quilt in the recent Homespun magazines - this will be a WIP for quite some time and I've been stitching a bit more on Girls Day Out at home when watching tv.

Long weekend here in NSW and I'm hoping to trace/vliesofix another Vintage Valentine block or two - time that baby was finished. We're going to see a preview of "My Fairy Lady" on Sunday and on Monday Sharon and I will be having a sewing day making Prim Santa from Homespun 63 - looking forward to that.

Ugly Duckling is now a Swan

Earlier this year Elizabeth and I went shopping at Material Obsession in Sydney. We came home with this unusual (for me) bundle of fabrics

These fabrics

were added to the bundle and this week I finished a Travel Quilt for Jenni (quilted on the [doover] frame) - I'll post a picture after her birthday. Leanne describes the Travel Quilt as "The perfect solution for using the fabrics you bought on a trip that don't blend in with your stash" - so true in this case. But, I have to admit, I'm really pleased with the overall look of the quilt and Elizabeth made excellent fabric choices because I can imagine Jenni choosing all of those fabrics for herself (for clothes or whatever).

Next quilt to sew up is Anni Downs "Happy Days" in these fabrics -

and I think I'll have enough leftover to make a smaller version of Janelle Wind's "Citrus Crush". I'm hoping I can find some pistachio or turquoise coloured jumbo ric-rac but don't like my chances. Two more quilts to quilt on the doover - am slowly feeling more competent.