More Catch Up

We had lots of huge storms in March - so much thunder and lightning.  One Saturday afternoon we lost power for a few hours so I lit some candles and cut out Thimble Blossoms' new "Picnic" quilt, mostly from my Thimble Blossoms scrap bags.

I have some Bella Solid 200 on order and will cut out the background when it arrives.

Around 6 years so when making a quilt, I'd make an extra block in Bonnie and Camille fabric and when there was a stack of blocks I'd sew them together into a sampler quilt.  I came across a bag with some blocks, HST offcuts etc and thought it was time to make another sampler so started making blocks based on the quilts I've recently finished and my current sewing.

Making the blocks fit does my head in.

Had to add a border or two.

The backing is a fabric I bought on fantastic sale from Bella's Patchwork and I'll use a scrappy Bonnie and Camille binding.

In late March there was lots of chain piecing to make Four Patches and Flying Geese for "Master Plan", a Miss Rosie's Quilt Co design.  These were cut out in February.  I've put them away for a while.

Definitely entered my Flying Geese phase.  In May last year I cut out Cotton Way's "Wish Upon a Star" quilt in Navy Bonnie and Camille, Thimble Blossoms and Tasha Noel fabrics with Moda Bella Solid 200 for the background.  I've been sewing the block components over the last couple of weeks and they're slowly coming together.  It's school holidays here and there hasn't been a lot of time for sewing.

Seven more of these large blocks to assemble.

Easter Sunday was a lot of fun - the little ones had a great time hunting for eggs and Vinnie decorated cupcakes.

"Wish Upon a Star"

This quilt is the second I have made of this design by Cotton Way.  I used as many Bonnie and Camille red fabrics as I had in my stash and also bought quite a few extra.

It was quilted by Jenny from Angel Cake Quilting in Orange Peel.

The quilt is now on its way to Canada.

I love quilts with red polka dot backgrounds.

New Start

"Scrappy Trip Around the World" quilt top was finished last week

and the backing was made.

"Scrappy Trip" and "Wish Upon a Star" were delivered to Jenny (Angel Cake Quilting) on Thursday and I'm looking forward to seeing them quilted.  I'll be picking up "Wish Upon a Star" on the way home this evening.

I felt the need to work with a different colour scheme, so cut out a "Plain and Fancy" block (quilt designed by Coriander Quilts).  Was really happy with how the first block turned out.  I've been wondering what to make with the leftovers of my "Chantilly" fat quarter bundle and was able to buy some more of the coral fabric. 

Back to "Red Letter Day" tonight.

Had a very social weekend - Friday night went out for dinner then to the pictures to see the staged concert version of "Les Miserables" starring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas (SO fabulous); littlest Sweetheart's first birthday party on Saturday with all the family and friends; Kathy Lette at IPAC on Saturday night; took Gulliver to a birthday party yesterday afternoon as his Mummy and Daddy were both working.

Quilt Top

Poor "Hide and Seek" has been languishing on the floor of The Pink Room for weeks.

A couple of rows were added last Monday and the floor is looking tidier.  I'll get back to it soon.

I have decided to make a red "Red Letter Day"  and ordered some more Bonnie & Camille reds along with some more Riley Blake Swiss Dots for the background.

Had to make one block. I'm adding extra little blocks in the corners to make small stars when the blocks are joined together.

"Wish Upon a Star" quilt top is together,

 the backing is made

and they are ready to take to the quilter tomorrow.  The rosebud fabric will also be used for the binding.

On Saturday I spent a fair while working on the layout for Scrappy Trip Around the World - thought I had it sorted until I found two blocks with the same aqua fabric next to each other.  Hopefully it's all good to go now - I want to start sewing these blocks together tonight.

Yesterday I went to the shops to buy some machine needles and also bought a new cutting mat - it's long overdue.

 

Over the weekend I also worked on the Dwell house blocks - 2 lots of 6 blocks are going to the other swap members

and these blocks are for my quilt:

Littlest Sweetheart turns 1 on Wednesday - what a quick year that has been!

Blocks are Done

Over the last couple of weeks I've mainly been working on two quilts:  "Wish Upon a Star" and Scrappy Trip Around the World.

The blocks for both are now complete.  Next up for Scrappy Trip is the layout - will have to set this one out on the floor because it's too big for the design sheet and also too big to lay out on the spare bed.  There are sashings to make for the Star quilt and I'm hoping to make them this week.

In between sewing these blocks, I've made some more house interiors for the "Dwell" block swap - as usual, I've over-catered and will have six blocks for each girl (rather than the required 5) because I forgot about the Pineapple Blocks that I had already made for them.  I have two more of the white star blocks cut out and ready to put together.  The girls can decide which houses they want to include in their quilt tops.

Dutchman's Puzzle, Card Trick and I don't know the name of the third block

I've enjoyed making these 6" blocks - a good opportunity to dig through the scrap drawer and use up lots of favourite little pieces.

Had an enjoyable weekend - quiet for me.  Saturday morning I did some cooking to take along to an ovarian cancer fundraising high tea - little quiches (Lorraine, mushroom, asparagus, camembert and smoked salmon).

This is one of my bosses, Tania - she hosted the high tea and her scones and zucchini slice were delicious.

Spent some time with the family later in the day and yesterday I was mostly in The Pink Room and a visit with Mum in the afternoon.  We were watching the Fire Fight Australia concert and I continued to watch it at home.  Some absolutely outstanding performances:  Tina Arena, Queen with Adam Lambert (oh WOW!) and then kd lang showed everyone what great singing is all about.  Her performance of "The Valley" was sensational and then she topped it off with "Hallelujah" - simply stunning.

Same Same

Most sewing this week is the same as the last couple of weeks:  the second-last 6 blocks for the "Scrappy Trip Around the World" sewalong

as well as a couple more "Wish Upon a Star" blocks.  I have two more blocks together.

I've joined another block swap - this time with only two others.  We're making 5 "Dwell" blocks with a 6" block for the centre of the housesfor each other.  Both girls requested a Pineapple Block for the interior of one house.  I always have difficulty with keeping this block straight and think it would have been better to not have the striped centre.

Last night I made some mini "Starlight" blocks

and some "Sawtooth Stars"

I'm enjoying going through the scrap drawers and like the look of the blocks with lots of colours but there needs to be a few blocks to "calm down" the look of the quilt so it's not too busy.

Last Saturday Robyn and I went to see "A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood" - I felt a bit blah about this movie; it's not one I'd recommend.  Sunday was a busy day with the grandchildren - Gulliver was with me for the day with me and we spent the day with T & H.  Gulli and T had a great time together.

Can't believe it's almost H's first birthday - time is moving way too quickly.  Today is 4 years since we lost Paul and tomorrow is my little brother's 60th birthday.

Had such a fun time on Saturday at Sweetheart T's 5th birthday party - it was held at the Discovery Centre at the University and all the children had the best time playing and running everywhere.  She didn't want to go home so Mum and I stayed there with her and Gulli for a couple of extra hours.

Then on Monday T started school!  A big couple of days for her - she's settling in to her new routine very well, although that will change in a month or so when her Mummy goes back to work.

Jenni and Kurt stayed over - so lovely to spend some time with them.

Last Hawks home game for the season was Sunday afternoon - wasn't going well for the Hawks and then the stadium roof sprung a leak so the game was abandoned just before the end of the third quarter.

I've enjoyed watching the Australian Open tennis but I'm glad it's over for the year.  Think I'm a bit "tennissed-out".

Have managed to keep up, so far, with the Scrappy Trip Around the World sew-along but not sure how long this will last.  I think the quilt will look pretty when it's all together - it will be a large quilt at around 96" square.

This week has been lots of pressing and trimming "Wish Upon a Star" 160 half square triangles and 128 Flying Geese blocks.

Now ready to sort them in to piles for the 15 remaining blocks.  I was hoping to have no fabric repeats in the individual blocks but it's not going to work out.

We've had torrential rain overnight and all day today which will continue well into next week.  I think we've had enough now and it should move over the mountains.

Long Weekend

Last weekend was a long weekend for Australia Day on Monday. 

Little Sweetheart T came to stay on Saturday night - we had a fun afternoon playing games and painting boxes to use for some Christmas decorations.  We had lunch with Mum on Sunday then the three of us went out to T's home for family dinner - lovely to spend time with them all.  Little Sweetheart H is gorgeous and so hard to believe he'll be one in a month.

T is 5 tomorrow!  And then starts school on Monday!  Can't believe she is old enough for these milestones.

Monday was pretty much spent in The Pink room sewing along with the tennis.  I quilted "Glad Tidings" and sewed on the binding to stitch down while watching more tennis at night.

The buttons have been stitched onto the quilt and the decorative buttons have been added to the ornaments at lunchtimes this week.

This week's "Scrappy Trip Around the World" blocks.

Next week's blocks are ready to sew together.

I also sewed together a couple of "Hide and Seek" rows.  It's taking me ages to place the sashing blocks in to rows because I'm trying to have no similar colours/patterns side by side.

Last week I received a request for a "Wish Upon A Star" quilt - I made one about 2-1/2 years ago, so I'm happy to make another.  I had some reds in my Bonnie and Camille stash but needed to order some more along with red spot background fabric.  They arrived earlier this week, so I made the first block.

Hoping there will be time for more cutting out on the weekend.  Busy social time coming up - dinner with friends tonight for a birthday,  T's birthday party tomorrow morning and then birthday dinner for another friend tomorrow night.  The Hawks' last home game is Sunday afternoon - kind of glad the season is nearly over - it's been pretty dismal for the team but I have a good time with my friends and this season has been more enjoyable because Michael, Peta and Gulli have been able to come along to a few games.

Wish Upon A Star

On Saturday Mum and I went on our annual trek to Sydney for "Schools Spectacular".  We've been attending this show for over 20 years - first when Elizabeth was participating, then Jennifer and over the last 13 years or so because we love the show.

Karen quilted "Wish Upon a Star" quickly for me during the week and on Saturday night I stitched down the binding - not a big job on cot quilts.  This little quilt is going to a new home tomorrow.

 

The machine embroidery designs are so sweet.

 

I have some pink fabrics in this "Guess How Much I Love You" range and I think a baby girl version of the same quilt will be very sweet.