Ruffles 'n' Rows

Last year I was selling off some of a dear friend's sewing stash and one of the kits was "Ruffles 'n' Rows" designed by Natalie Bird.  I was with Sharon when she bought the kit and, sadly, she is now living in a nursing home.  I made this quilt for her and was able to give it to her for Chritmas.

It's a fun design to make with lots of added extras on the rows.

I got a bee in my bonnet to cut out another "Master Plan" quilt (designed by Miss Rosie & Co) and I might get around to making it this year.  Such a great scrap buster.

And, I bought some more greens to make another "Santa in the Trees" which was finished in January.

Master Plan

This would have to be one of my most favourite quilts ever.  A lot of cutting out (I used stash instead of charm packs as suggested in the pattern), a lot of piecing and then my usual angst with laying out the rows.  Because of the stars kind of interlocking, the blocks couldn't be sewn into stars and then laid out - it had to be made row by row.

So happy with how it turned out.  Each star is made of a unique fabric but fabrics have been repeated in the four patches and the outer chequerboard border.

The backing was a fun Moda fabric I'd bought a few months ago from the Fabric Sauce - I knew it would suit one of my quilts in the future.

I asked Karen to use "Featheration" for this quilt - even though it's a busy design it doesn't overwhelm the patchwork and the texture is lovely.  Karen adjusted the size of the design and it turned out beautifully.

Weekend

Finished stitching down the binding on two quilts over the weekend.  "Master Plan"

and another quilt that is a surprise for someone in the middle of the year, so I can't show it until after it has been given plus I will be making the same quilt as a surprise for someone else.

I'm still working on "Jiggery Pokery" and "Castle Gardens" blocks are ready to be sewn into a quilt top but I've also been spending time knitting.

Michael and Peta took Gulli on a roadtrip on Saturday but didn't tell him where or why they were going.  This is Gulli's new friend Wynstan a beautiful brindle boxer.  I met him yesterday - he's adorable.

Mum and I went to see "The Duke" on Saturday - we really enjoyed the film.  Second time I've seen it (saw it in early March for a local Rotary Club fundraiser to help eradicate polio) - I knew Mum would love it.  And yesterday we spent the day with Jenni, Kurt and Vincent - a fun time with our beautiful family, then I went to see a local production of "Chicago" - absolutely outstanding.  Loved it!

Party Boy

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day to celebrate Vinnie's first birthday.  His party was lovely and the timing fitted in well between his naps :)  Kurt's Mum and Dad were able to travel down from the Mid-North Coast, so it was wonderful to be able to see them too.

Jenni and Elizabeth made very sweet decorations for the gazebo and cupcakes.

"Master Plan" is together and on the way to Karen for quilting.  There are more than 3,200 pieces of fabric in this quilt top.  Lots of cutting and lots of chain piecing (my favourite).  Many different colours have been used but I'm finding that I have not used red in most of these very scrappy quilts.

"Joyful" arrived back from Karen last week.  Binding is still not done.  "Diagonal Plaid" quilting design looks terrific on this quilt.

In amongst the loads of fabric my friend sent to me last October, were three bundles of Jen Kingwell's "Gardenvale" fabric.  

I've been puzzling over what to make with it ever since and after looking through loads of patterns and books decided on "Jiggery Pokery" Quilt in Kaffe Fassett's "Quilt Romance" book.

I think with the bigger sections of fabric, the quilt won't look too busy and the border triangles will be the spot fabrics.  It's all cut out and packed away while I sew some other blocks.

The fabrics and pattern for "Castle Gardens" were also in the parcel from my friend and the blocs were cut out last month.  I've started sewing some blocks together.

When all the blocks are made I'll decide whether to add sashings or assemble the blocks as in the pattern.  Some of the fabrics are pretty busy

So thankful the really heavy rain seems to have finished - we're still having showers.  I can imagine a little of what everyone up north is going through but not the extent of it all - just awful.

Happy Birthday

The baby with the biggest personality, Vincent, turns one today.  Surely a sign of time flying by way too quickly.  Even though we missed a few months with him due to the lockdown last year, we've been very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with him.

Vinnie is an absolute joy in all of our lives - his cousins have so much fun with him and he is very entertaining for the adults.

Little Sweetheart H decided it was time to launch himself from his cot after his afternoon nap, so the cot was quickly converted into a bed and he's been sleeping very well.

"Sampler Spree" arrived home from Quilting on the Coast (Karen) yesterday - the Clamshells quilting looks terrific.

"Master Plan" quilt top is together and I've decided to add a chequerboard border - one side to go and it will be finished then I can choose backing/binding.

On the weekend I spent a good amount of time cutting out a blue version of "Blueberry Kisses" - so much cutting in that quilt but I think it will be lovely.  I like to have a few quilts cut out ready to sew when a quilt top is finished.

The last couple of nights I've been knitting.  Hadn't touched H's jumper since December.  It's slow going but I love the challenge.

Chase's Rainbow

My cousin-in-law and I are pretty close.  Our families spent a lot of time together while our children were growing up.  Our youngest daughters (born 5 days apart) both had their first babies this year - my grandson, Vincent, born in March and my cousin's grandson, Chase, born in September.

It took me a while to decide what to make for Chase's quilt then I stumbled upon a piece of "Safari Life" fabric in The Pink Room and bought some Kona Solids from Sarah at Patchworks Plus to make a rainbow to tone in with the "Safari Life" fabric.

The backing fabric wasn't big enough for the quilt so I added a couple of "stripes" to the sides.

Jenny, AngelCake Quilting, used Ikat design and it looks terrific.

The Triceratopses are made so it's time to start sewing the quilt top together.

I think I may have enough fabric leftover to make the smaller quilt (48" sq) as well.

Most time this week has been spent cutting out new quilts.

"Master Plan" designed by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co

"Joyful", a new Thimble Blossoms design

I like have a few quilt options to sew - don't tend to work on one quilt at a time.

When Jenni turned 21, I made her two quilts and one was from Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric.  I've been saving this fabric for 13 years or so and made a little romper for Vinnie for the coming summer.

During the week Jenni sent me some photos of Vinnie wearing this yellow top/pants set that I knitted when I was pregnant with Michael 40 years ago.  This shade of yellow looks lovely on Mr Personality.