All Caught Up

Having 5 days off has been a wonderful opportunity to catch up on some sewing as I was a month behind with our 6-1/2" BOM.

  

Block 3 - "Pieced Star"

Block 4 - "Interlocking Squares"

and I was a block behind on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.  I was so glad Diann chose an easy block.

Nine Patch

Another Cushion

I finished this cushion a couple of weeks ago and posted it off as a surprise for a friend.  It's great to be able to really surprise someone.

I used some of the stitcheries from Anni Downs's "Simple Pleasures" book and Fig Tree fabrics.

My friend has a shop and she has it on display - looks so much prettier in the shop than on our couch.

John and Vincent

For longer than I've known John, he's been a Vincent Van Gogh fan.  One of the first places we had to visit when we arrived in Holland in 1978 was the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.  The relatives thought we were crazy when we rode there from Eindhoven on our motorbike.  That sort of distance is nothing in Australia.

Quite by accident I came across this kit when shopping on-line for some other fabric - I knew John would love it, so I made this quilt for his 60th birthday present (along with a track day at Phillip Island, which will mean a trip to Victoria some time later in the year). 

"A Tribute to Vincent"

His birthday was yesterday and we had a party at home for family and friends.  I asked Elizabeth if she'd like to make her Dad's birthday cake and she used the photograph of John below (from 40 years ago) as her inspiration.

Such a fabulous cake - bottom layer is chocolate/ginger; middle layer is chocolate/guinness and top layer is chocolate fudge.

There has been so much going on in our lives lately.  On 1 April John retired from work after 32 years driving coal trucks. 

Presents for Me

Our on-line group's first swap this year had Anni Downs/Hatched & Patched for the theme.  These are the presents I received from Jane - beautifully made cushion and key fob.  The pretty colours look lovely on my sewing room chair.

My other partner was De and I made Anni's "Home for Summer" cushion for her.

This was a very popular design with 4 of us choosing it - one of the girls used the design for a lovely block keeper.

Finished

Happy Birthday Diann

Today is dear Diann's birthday.  I posted this photo a little while ago.

It is one of the presents I sent to Diann.

"Love to Sew" Purse - Bronwyn Hayes

I'm looking forward to making one of these purses for myself.

The other secret sewing is now "secret quilting".

Hoping to continue this afternoon after I've finished the ironing.  The Big Birthday is next Sunday.  Feeling pretty confident now that it will be finished in time.

Pretty Parcels

Some of the secret sewing is finished and was posted away earlier this week.

The main secret sewing is continuing - hoping to have most of it together over the weekend as the deadline is fast approaching.