Village

 I love this pattern - an opportunity to use so many favourite fabrics no matter the colour or design.  They all look so fun together.

"Think Spring" is a pretty design chosed by Jenny at AngelCake Quilting.  I love this cute backing fabric.

"Another Story" is together and ready to go to the quilter - this was a fun quilt top to make and I was fortunate to be able to swap fabrics with another two quilters so that added more lovely fabrics to the mix.

I think this lovely umbrella fabric will make a beautiful backing for Another Story.

Close up of the background and stripe border fabrics.

"Rainbow Baby" is also ready to go to the quilter.  I've been making a sawtooth star each day for a few weeks (sometimes two) and that has been very enjoyable.

The backing has been cobbled together with some large leftover pieces of this lovely bow fabric.

The final Riley Blake Block Challenge block was published last week.  Because I'm setting these on point, I'm not making the butterfly or heart blocks

and I've made an bunch of extra blocks so that there are enough to make a reasonable sized quilt.

These are the sashings and posts.  I'm using Woodberry Way's setting for her "Chamomile" quilt.

Life is very quiet now we're in lockdown again.  Hopefully it will finish as planned on 9 July and all my friends are going well.

Quilt Top

 Added the final two borders last night and sewed up the backing fabric for "Village".

The backing fabric is designed by Cathy Nordstrom for Andover fabrics - a nice garden for the Village houses.  

Dropping the quilt top and backing off to the quilter this afternoon and picking up "Summer Days".

My "Sampler Spree" book arrived on Tuesday - just in time for the start of the SAL yesterday (Wednesday).  Sorted out a load of FigTree jelly roll strips, scraps, etc last night into bundles of colour in the hope of using as many as possible in the Sampler Spree blocks.

Couldn't help myself - had to make two blocks before going to bed.  The plan is to make 10 blocks per week for 10 week with a specific colour designated to each week.  Week 1 is blue (not navy, teal, aqua etc).  FigTree's "Catalina" range has lots of lovely mid-blue fabrics.  Not sure how I'll go keeping up with 10 blocks/week.

Last week's "Sewcialites" block is Compassion designed by Anne Sutton.  One more block to go and that's the end of this SAL.

Gulliver is turning 6 this weekend - unbelievable how time passes even more quickly now that I'm a Nanna.  Looking forward to spending some time with him and the rest of the family.

Another Quilt Top

A little while ago I cut out loads of pieces for another "Village" quilt - this pattern is designed by one of my favourite people in the quilting world - Carrie Nelson.  Until a few years ago she published loads of patterns as "Miss Rosie's Pattern Co" and now she works for Moda Fabrics.

Last year this pattern was made available as a free download for people to sew together during the COVID lockdowns.  I made two last year and both have gone to new homes.  The pattern is designed for charm squares but any favourite fabric pieces can be used.

The body of the quilt is now together and top and bottom borders have been added.  Should be able to add the side borders and make the backing tonight.

"Rainbow Baby" is coming along well.  The green and aqua blocks are finished and can be sewn into rows to add to the top half.  I made the first navy block this morning - 5 more to go then 6 grey blocks and this will be ready to go to the quilter.

"Nine Patch Waltz" is almost halfway.  I'll continue on with this when "Village" is together.

Had a very busy weekend - watched basketball on tv on Thursday night (Hawks won), then housework and cooking on Saturday before the second Hawks playoff game (Hawks lost).  Family came for lunch on Sunday and then I went to Symbio Wildlife Park with Elizabeth, Matt and the little ones on Monday before watching the third playoff game on Monday night (Hawks lost).  So, our extra-long basketball season is over.  Don't really care who wins from here.

Pineapple Party

Finished "Pineapple Party" on Monday night - it's such a fun quilt and was a joy to make.  The different blocks in the body of the pineapple add lots of interest.  I love these bright Alison Glass fabrics - I've used these in a few quilts lately.

Not a great size quilt for a queen bed but it adds lots of colour as a bed-topper

and I think the little ones will like this when they're lying on the couch watching tv.

I love the two different quilting designs Jenny (AngelCake Quilting) used:  "Pina Colada" in a variegated thread on the pineapple

and a lovely swirly design ("Growing Things") on the border.

The backing is lovely - sherbert colour with cute pineapples.

What a big weekend we had!  A few months ago I bought tickets for the girls and I to see "Frozen" - first major musical experience for Little Sweetheart T and so happy that Vincent was on his best behaviour (with his daddy) so his mummy could come with us.

We had lunch in the new Darling Harbour precinct - lots of "Frozen" items on the menu.

Elizabeth took T down to the front of the theatre to check out the orchestra pit.

Sunday was Mother's Day.  Peta was working all weekend (starting at 5.00 am on Mother's Day), so Michael and Gulli visited in the morning and left in time to pick up Peta from work.  The rest of the family came for lunch - Matt cooked a Mexican extravaganza (which was delicious).

Little Vincent was showing his new party trick - he's smiling and it melts my heart.  Mum was thrilled because Vinnie was quite happy to sit with her for a good while.  The other great-grandchildren are too active and fidgety to do that now.

As my birthday was on Monday, Jenni made a fabulous cake for sweets on Mother's Day and T helped with the decorating.

Last week's "Sewcialites" block is Gratitude designed by Thimble Blossom.

30 blocks made and 6 more to go then I can put the quilt top together - some of the blocks might be moved around to mix in the colours some more.  I've ordered silver Kona Cotton for the setting triangles.

"Boho Heart" is up-to-date.  Love working on these blocks and using these beautiful fabrics.  They are a bit more expensive than most quilting fabrics but the colours are fantastic.

The first half of the quilt is now finished.

Last week I cut out another "Village" quilt - this is for a special order and I'm more than happy to make a third one of this design.  It's so bright and happy.  Lots of last pieces of favourite fabrics will be in this quilt.

Another Riley Blake Block Challenge block is made.  I'm having to add a few more stash fabrics to the mix because I have very little variety left in my "Chantilly" fabrics.  So great that all FigTree and Co fabrics mix in so well together.

Think I'm caught up on all my sew-alongs and BOM's at the moment.  "Another Story" sew-along starts next week and I have most of my hexagons cut out.  I swapped fabrics with two other SAL members so that will add more variety to my quilt top.

SAL's/BOM's are a good way to make quilts and not become bored making the same blocks over and over.  I've found lately that I end up having a few quilts all finishing around the same time.

Hawks home game on Tuesday night and a win!  The season has been very long this year and we have 7 home games over 3 weeks.

Village Quilt No 2

When I was cutting out fabrics for my first "Village" quilt, I cut out way too many pieces and had plenty to start another quilt without having to cut too many more.

Jenny also donated the quilting and batting for this quilt and this time she chose one of my favourite designs - "Rainbow Hearts".  It looks wonderful.

Mum stitched down the binding and I picked up the finished quilt, along with the two Kindness Project quilts, last weekend.  The "Village" quilt will also be going to Keepsafe Quilts along with a couple of other quilts I have in the cupboard.

"Long Time Gone" quilt top is now all done

and borders have been added.

The quilt will be delivered to the quilter (Jenny) tomorrow and I'll be excited for this one to be finished and hanging up in my home.

Village

"Village" is a Miss Rosie's Quilt Co design (Carrie Nelson) and the pattern was released by Moda as a freebie for a sew-a-long during quarantine.  I already had the pattern but hadn't made the quilt, so I joined in (a bit late).

This is such a great pattern to use up loads and loads of fabric pieces and none of them have to co-ordinate.  I cut out pieces for the roofs, background, walls, doors and lintels and just pieced the blocks with whatever fabric was top of the pile, except if that fabric was already in the house.  Some unusual combinations and some very happy combinations.

I finished stitching down the binding on Sunday afternoon while Mum and I were watching BBC Proms on Broadway.

I asked Jenny (AngelCake Quilting) to use whatever quilting design she fancied and this "Think Spring" design is perfect.

The backing also has a spring feel and I used scrappy binding.

I have a second "Village" quilt with Jenny - that quilt will be going to Keepsafe Quilts, along with a couple of other quilts, when it's finished.