Rectangles Cot Quilt

The last stitches in the binding of this cot quilt went in last night.

 

The quilt top was made in August last year (inspired by a quilt I'd seen on Susan's blog) and Karen quilted it with clamshells (one of my favourite designs) a couple of weeks ago.  I made a few cot quilts with these colours last year.

Last week most of my sewing time was spent making a dress and Panda for ChaCha's first birthday.

 

The weekend was very busy with the birthday party in Sydney on Saturday and a baby shower yesterday afternoon.  I made another set of wardrobe organisers for my great niece due at the end of March - another great-grandchild for Mum.

Earlier in the week I finished adding the borders to Patchwork Swoon - I am really keen to make another one in Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

A parcel was delivered on Friday afternoon - I'd forgotten that I had ordered this Moda selvedge fabric from Sarah so it was a lovely surprise.  I love the "Little Ruby" mini charms.  The selvedge fabric will be great backing for a quilt in the future.

We have some relatives visiting from Holland and Canada - they're coming for dinner tonight along with some other cousins.  Should be a fun night - we have Tim Tam Cheesecake for sweets (not made by me).

New Year Sewing

The couple of days before the trip to Brisbane I had no plans so that gave me some time to sew.  For Chrismtas 2013 Helen gave me a bag of heads to use with Annie Smith (Country Keepsakes) doll patterns.

Straight after that Christmas I made "Wishes Do Come True".

After Christmas 2014 I made "Angel Greetings"

And during my recent holidays I used the last two heads to make

"I Believe"

"Holly"

These heads are one of the best presents I've ever received.

Following the Brisbane trip I wanted to start something new, so made "Piccadilly Circus", a Thimble Blossoms design using Bonnie and Camille fabrics.  I loved making this quilt top and it was finished just as I had to come back to work.

Had a great weekend - lunch with friends in Sydney, a visit with my favourite little man and his mum and dad

then babysitting my other favourite little person - as well as starting to pack up Christmas and some sewing.  Started making "Cheerio", another Thimble Blossoms design using Bonnie and Camille fabrics.  This one has been cut out for months.

 

Chain-piecing and watching "Ally McBeal" - fantastic.

Heads Up No 2

This little doll has been a long time in the making - received her head as one of my Christmas presents last year from Helen (along with 3 other heads)

 

"Angel Gatherings" is designed by Annie Smith from Country Keepsakes.  All of her patterns are so gorgeous and very easy to follow.

A friend in Tasmania called her "Little Puddin'"  and I think that suits her very well.

Last Christmas I stitched a few "Jingly Dangly Things" also designed by Annie Smith.  Actually got around to finishing them off last night.

The tablerunner in the background was a Christmas present from Christine a couple of years ago - it is so lovely.

Yesterday I had an appointment in Randwick, so took Mum with me, picked up Elizabeth and we went to Peter's of Kensington for lunch and a bit of shopping.

A few things are ticked off the Christmas list.

Fun Few Days

On Saturday I went to a party to celebrate my friend's Dad's 90th birthday - it was a lovely afternoon and so nice to catch up with so many people I've known forever.

After the party Mum helped me finish off the Christmas decorating - 

Family Room

Family Room

"Christmas Belles" - my favourite Christmas quilt

Loungeroom

Loungeroom

The following day Robyn, Lynell and I went to IKEA - we were hoping to buy a couple of Christmas presents but came away with a bagful of shopping each and no Christmas presents.

 

Always a good day out with these girls.

Last Christmas I received one of the best presents ever from Helen.

 

A bagful of beautifully painted heads.

I made up one of the dolls straight after Christmas

Wishs Do Come True

and that was as far as I got till last night.  "Angel Gatherings" is finally underway

and I'm hoping to finish her off tonight.  She is so sweet and will look wonderful with all the other angels and santas in the loungeroom.

The Lori Holt Instagram SAL wallhanging is together - hoping that my backing will arrive this week so the wallhanging can be quilted and hung in the family room - there is a space waiting for it.

Heads Up No 1

Beautiful Christmas Bush from Peta's Mother's garden - I was so happy when Barbara turned up with this.

Mum and I had a lovely, busy few days in Canberra.  We stopped in Goulburn on the way there for afternoon tea.

I lived in Canberra in the mid-1970's and was very happy to see this place is still operating.  Mum and I had breakfast there on Sunday morning.

 Mum had a list of where she wanted to visit and we managed to go to all of them:  Parliament House, Portrait Gallery, National Gallery and top of the list, the War Memorial

Nothing like a milkshake after a big day out.

It was a nice change to do some sewing when I arrived home - felt like ages since I'd done any straight sewing just for me.  I love all the "Tone It Down" photos I've seen on blogs and Instagram.  I drew up the pattern before Christmas and it took me a while but I tracked down an e-version of the magazine (American Patchwork & Quilting) so that I could check my calculations were correct.  I'm not quite following the original design in that I'm using one background fabric (Moda Bella Solid Fig Tree Cream) and I'm using all my Fig Tree fabrics.

So far I've used 60 different Fig Tree fabrics - would be fantastic to not repeat a fabric but I don't have enough to do that.  The repeats will be in the little nine-patch posts in the sashings.  I'm still thinking about whether to have plain sashings or Fig Tree sashings.

On Wednesday I wanted to make one of the dolls inspired by the heads from Helen - I chose "Wishes Do Come True"- she's such a sweetie.

I am thrilled to bits with her (even with the OTT trim on her hat - couldn't find any plain swansdown in our local shops) - thank you Helen.  Will start another doll very soon.

I have a couple of doll kits ready to sew up and came across Alwyn the Elf that I bought a few years ago so thought I'd make him.

He is the companion for Twinkle Toes Tess - made her quite some time ago - she's a favourite, especially the tiny gingerbread men in her basket and the plum pudding.

 

Mum and I went to see "Philomena" last night - such a sad, true story based on a Magdalen Laundry inmate told with such compassion and acted beautifully (Judi Dench and Steve Coogan).  I am truly astounded by how cruel people can be to each other.

Not looking forward to work on Monday - too much fun at home.