Retro Cot Quilt

"Retro" is a quilt featuring Jacob's Ladder blocks from Camille Roskelley's "Simply Retro" book.  This quilt top was made 2 years ago and quilted with sweet little clouds by Karen last week.

The binding was stitched down last night while watching tv.

 

The fabric is a very pretty colour and such a soft flannel.  I think I have enough left for one more cot quilt backing.

Two more quilts to bind and I'll be almost up-to-date.

Swoon

ChaCha's little cardigan was finished last week.  Love the sparkly button I found in one of the drawers in the sewing room.

I'm slowly using up my wool stash - started a jumper for Gulliver for next winter and will probably make one for ChaCha using some other leftover colours.  They both love purple at the moment.

Had a fair bit of sewing time over the weekend in between spending time with my family - little sweetheart had a sleepover, we visited Michael for his birthday so the little ones could have a play in the big park at Coogee Beach, and also stitching with the girls.

Seems that Friday nights are often spent watching BBC police shows on ABC TV while stitching down binding.  Last Friday night after ChaCha was asleep I started to stitching down the binding on Swoon and finished it off on Saturday night.

Here is the story of how I came to have these beautiful fabrics.   I wanted to make something special and also wanted a Swoon quilt for myself one day, so Swoon seemed to be a good choice.  Sarah did the quilting and it looks wonderful.

 

"Wish Upon a Star" is together.  I gave it to Karen yesterday and she has just posted a photo on Instagram showing the quilt on the frame

Backing

I have binding to stitch down on a couple of cot quilts:

"Shoo Fly"

"Retro" designed by Thimble Blossoms

It's so cold here - winter has hit with a vengeance.

My Big Day Out

For years my children attended Big Day Out, Homebake and various other music festivals in and around Sydney.  At Gulli's birthday party I mentioned that Sydney Quilt Show was coming up and Diann would be visiting from Brisbane.  Michael commented that this is my annual festival and he's so right.

Diann and I had a wonderful few days together - I didn't take any photos at the Quilt Show or during the weekend.  We spent Thursday night in Sydney to save on travel time.  Our hotel turned out to be an experience that we can laugh about.

Loved the Quilt Show this year - more stalls to visit and quite a few new vendors, which was great.  The hall was very crowded from mid-morning till mid-afternoon but I think it's terrific that so many people love to visit.  I found everything on my list except for one book, which I was able to purchase on-line, so I'm a happy little shopper.  The quilts were spectacular and it was so lovely to see quilts made by people with whom I've become friends over the last 15 years or so, especially when they are prizewinners.

We stayed at the show until the very end then met up with Chookyblue, Deb and some others for a drink and dinner.  Such a lovely way to end the day.  Saturday we didn't seem to do a lot - Diann stitched some hexagons then tried out one of the Sachiko stitcheries she bought at the Quilt Show; I did some crocheting and Mum came for afternoon tea (bringing cake, of course).  The weather all weekend was spectacular so on Sunday morning we had breakfast in Shellharbour and then visited Karen so that Diann could go shopping in Karen's cupboards and then it was time to go home so Diann could pack before we headed off to the airport.

On the way home from the airport I called in to visit Elizabeth, Matt and ChaCha to drop off a couple of little presents I picked up at the Quilt Show and also ChaCha's new cardigan.  When she outgrows it, I'll change the buttons and Gulli can wear it.  Bendigo Savanna is beautiful, soft alpaca/wool mix.

I'm almost finished a little bolero/cardigan for ChaCha - this one has knitted lacy edgings and just needs sewing up.

Last Wednesday, my Swoon quilt arrived from Sarah.

I'm so happy with the wavy line quilting.

I thought this quilt would suit a wavy edge so bought a special ruler to try it out.  A few other tools were needed for the corners.

Had a day off on Monday and decided it was the day to be brave and have a go at the wavy edge.

Tickled pink with the result.  The binding is now sewn on but I need a few nights to stitch it down.

I'm going to have a try with the scallop edge on the little Fresh quilt after it's quilted.

Karen has been busy quilting a couple of cot quilts that have been ready for 2 years or so.  They both have new homes to go to.

"Shoo Fly"

"Retro" designed by Camille Roskelley featuring Jacob's Ladder blocks

A Couple More ...

Cot quilt tops.  No more (at least until I've quilted these).

"Retro" is a design from Camille Roskelley's book "Simply Retro".  The seafoam coloured fabric is a lovely soft flannel.

The traditional Shoo Fly block was used for the last cot quilt.  It creates nice secondary patterns.  The fabric is Riley Blake's "Hollywood Sparkle" - it has a lovely pearlised sheen.  Very glamorous.

I added the leftover blocks to the backing - it needs a good iron before basting.

During the week I received a couple of parcels from friends in Queensland.  A while ago I ordered some magnetic pin bowls for Christmas presents but missed out on a pink one for myself.  Teresa was placing an order and managed to score a pink one for me - you could say I was tickled pink.

Also, Helen sent some fabric so that I can make a certain sweetheart a Pookie Panda.

I have the best friends.

Another border has been added to Jelly Rolls Gone Wild Log Cabin

and the pile of little granny squares is slowly growing.

Had some extra time on Saturday afternoon and made this very cute pencil case - it's a free design called "A Pencil Case for Lola" from Patterns by Annie.  The very cute fabric was a gift from another friend a few months ago.

Having a day off on Wednesday - so looking forward to seeing the babies.

More Cot Quilts

Late last week I put the log cabin quilt aside to cut out some cot quilts.  Seems all my friends are having grandsons.  A couple of weeks ago I bought a fantastic hexagon fabric in teal, aqua, lime green, grey and white so I went hunting through my fabrics for pieces to go with the hexagon fabric and I've made two quilt tops in these colours.

The first one is a design I borrowed from Susan - I saw her quilt top in Instagram and she gave me permission to use her layout.

The second quilt top is based on Cluck Cluck Sew's "Off-Track" pattern - I made the rectangles smaller and shortened the linking block to make it more cot-sized.

A third cot quilt has been cut out using a cute flannel lightweight flannel fabric - the quilt design is called "Retro" from Camille Roskelley's book "Simply Retro" - it's a 12" finished block to very quick and easy to make for a cot quilt.

 

Hoping to sew these blocks together tonight and add the borders.  I have one more cut out in a lovely pearlised fabric called "Hollywood Sparkle" to make Shoo Fly blocks.

Jenni went to Ikea yesterday and sent a photo of a little shelf unit she thought I might like for the sewing room.

 
The doll has been moved and the shelf is on the left-hand side now.  Jenni also brought back some white baskets for under the cutting table.

There has also been a little bit of tv-watching crochet - making little granny squares that might be a jacket for Smudgie.

Barb and Mary have posted some photos of their trip to Australia and the classes they taught.  Great photo of Karen.