Gingham Girls - My Favourite Things

The stitcheries for this quilt were started around June 2011 and stitched intermittently over the next two and a bit years.

Machine quilting was completed in October 2013

then the quilt needed some hand-quilting

and it was bound in November 2013 before the hand-quilting was finished.

Some beads and buttons were also added.

 

And I have no idea when the quilt was actually finished - some time in 2014 - I didn't take a photo of the completed quilt until last night.

Went to the pictures during the week with Jenni and some friends to see "The Water Diviner" - loved it although I found some of the war scenes particularly difficult to watch (closed my eyes).  Going to see "Into the Woods" tomorrow night.

Buttons and Beads

Still a lot of hand-quilting to be done but, for a change, last night I started sewing the buttons and some little pearl beads onto the quilt.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully some more beads will be added tonight as well as some more quilting.

Road trip tomorrow!

Chanel, Zombies etc

What do Chanel and Zombies have in common?  Me, I suppose.

Had quite a busy couple of days starting on Friday when Barbara and I caught the train to Sydney to attend a makeup class at the Chanel Studio.  We learned a few tips and tricks and came away more confident than when we went in.  I think it's funny that after how many years of wearing makeup I have now had a lesson.  A fun way to spend an hour or so and you receive the cost of the class in products.

We had nice lunch in QVB, a little wander around Tiffany & Co and a couple of other shops (very proud of ourselves for not buying anything) then it was time to catch the train home as we were going to see "Hairspray" - a local theatre production.  What a fabulous show!  Enjoyed it so much.

Saturday I was off to Sydney again, this time with Paula.  We drove most of the way, stopping for lunch at Bourke Street Bakery (wonderful cakes, pastries and breads), a bit of shopping at the Gordon Smith outlet shop (bought a couple of things for my holiday in Fiji next year) and a look around Remnant Warehouse (came away empty handed, mainly because the stash is healthy enough) before catching the train into the City to Hyde Park to check out the Zombie Walk - a fundraising event for the Brain Foundation.  What a huge event it is:  thousands of people participating in the walk and just as many spectators.  Well organised, well behaved crowds - I hope they've raised a lot of money.

The walk goes from the Archibald Fountain to Prince Alfred Park - Paula and I walked there and met up with The Zombie King, Queen and Princess (aka Michael, Peta and Jenni), had a chat, took some photos then walked back to where the car was parked (over 5 kms) and headed home.

Jenni, Michael, Paula, Peta

Sunday was a very quiet day mostly spent in the sewing room - I should have been doing housework but was a bit tired.  In the morning I sewed the binding onto Gingham Girls and last night I started stitching it down and also doing a bit of hand-quilting inside the ditch-stitched blocks.

Hand quilting is not a favourite with me - even though I have all the equipment and have been to various classes, I can't get the rocking motion and using a frame and thimble bug me.  More hand quilting lessons need to be on the agenda.

Yesterday afternoon I made a start on the Sit-Me-Up Donut.

There is well over 1 kg of fibrefill so far in this donut and I've run out.  I love this.  Next up is making the rattle and squeaky toy attachments.  I'm really enjoying this.  The baby was born a little over a month ago so I need to get a wriggle on.

Elizabeth and Matt are on holidays at the moment and, by the look of their photos, are having a fabulous time.  I love the latest photo:

Lastly, a little swap present is ready for next weekend.

Quilting The Girls

I enjoyed Saturday lunch with Mum and Jenni - we all went to see "About Time" - just as good the second time.  I've bought some of the music from the movie - great songs, especially "Il Mondo".  My brother and sister-in-law popped in on Saturday night - was lovely to see them.

Quiet day at home yesterday spent machine quilting Gingham Girls.  A couple of week ago I had a brainwave to use the frame to stretch out the three layers while pin basting.  Much better than leaning over the dining room table or breakfast bar (I've never been able to manage pinning on the floor).

Just starting.

Halfway.

Pretty backing.

Machine quilting all done.

There are plenty of spots to be hand-quilted (not my favourite passtime) along with buttons, beads and pearls to be added.  A bit of variety amongst my secret stitching.

Borders are on.

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Sewing the Blocks Together

Last block, minus 1-1/2 leaves.


All the blocks ready to start sewing together this morning.


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Label

Update:  what a duffer I am. Forgot that I'd blogged about this label a couple of weeks ago.

Gingham Girls label is finished - one colour stitcheries are great to take along to stitching group etc.  Think I started this one when I went to Melbourne in July withe Helen, Jenny and Norreen.

Will look much better when ironed.

Picked up the final big Gingham Girls block last night, after a long break, to find I have one small stitchery block to go.  Will be very happy when it's finished and I can sew all the blocks together.

Time to start thinking about Christmas sewing and stitching.

Quiet weekend coming up and, hopefully, the weather will be kind to the bushfire fighters.  Scenes of utter devestation on the news this morning.  Can't imagine how the families returning to what was their homes must be feeling.

Lunch and Shopping

Had a lovely birthday lunch with the Birthday Girl, Matt and Mum.  Elizabeth took us to the sweetest cafe in Kensington:  it is so pretty inside with delicious food.

Mum is always up for a trip to Ikea so we called in on our way home.  This is a little bedside table that I'm using in my "office" as a stand for a filing box.

Saturday night (don't ask me why) I felt the urge to clean out the pantry.  All sparkly clean now.

Sunday my brother came over and I convinced him to come shopping with me.  I came home with a new computer,

tv and dvd player

and also bought a tv cabinet, which will be delivered in 10 days.

A sort of stitching finish - this is the label for Gingham Girls ready to be written on when the quilt is actually finished.  Still plenty to do on the final block.

Beautiful spring weather at the moment - it is definitely the best time of the year.

Not Much Stitching Happening

No progress at all on my Gingham Girls and very slow progress on my BFF blocks.

The canvas collage of Elizabeth and Matt's wedding photos arrived a couple of weeks ago - it's turned out really well and looks great on the wall with Michael and Peta's wedding photo.

 Had a quick shopping trip with Elizabeth two weeks ago - came home with a new handbag for summer.

And I've bought luggage for a holiday next year - a little wheelaboard bag is inside this large bag.

No 1 Baby Girl's birthday tomorrow, so am looking forward to lunch with her tomorrow.

Gingham Girls - 2nd Last Block

Met up with the stitching girls last night - had a great time and managed to do a good amount of stitching.  Second last Gingham Girls block is finished.

Phone photos with flash are a bit orange

I've been stitching Pies and Tarts for what seems like forever (on and off since 2009) and last week made the decision that I just wasn't going to finish it and it should go to a new home.

I have a feeling that a couple of other half-done quilts may move house too.

Last night Pies and Tarts left the building and moved house.  I feel great, the new owner is very happy, so it's an excellent outcome.

New lunchtime stitching is Rosalie Quinlan's Best Friends Forever BOM.

Wonder how long the attention span will last with this one?

7 sleeps till the girls and I go to Melbourne!