Lots of progress on "Nine Patch Waltz" over the last week or so.  I really like this quilt and the Fig Tree & Co "Avalon" fabrics are so pretty.

Work on "Nine Patch Waltz" came to a halt because Mum asked me to make a cot quilt for a little baby born in late November, so I decided to make Lori Holt's "Scrappy Crossroads" with Moda Bella Solid Peony for the plain sections.  All the other fabrics are from my stash.

I have one more block to make and the quilt top can be sewn together.

The little Sweethearts had sleepovers with Nanna last week - ChaCha on Thursday night and Gulli on Friday night.  On Saturday morning, Gulli and I went out for breakfast with The Schoolgirls before heading north to meet the family for lunch.  The little ones love seeing each other and have loads of fun.

I was a bit tired so needed a Nanna nap before heading out for dinner and the basketball.  Great game - always is when The Hawks win.

Spent a few hours on Sunday dismantling Christmas (will probably take another couple of weeks) and sewed Scrappy Crossroads blocks during the afternoon before going to see "Star Wars:  The Last Jedi".  Loved it and now have to wait two years for the next instalment.

New Year

Really enjoyed my couple of weeks' break from work.  Spent loads of time with the family and friends.  The Hawks were playing on New Year's Eve - an enjoyable way to see in the New Year with friends at the game, dinner at one of our favourite restaurants and fireworks at Wollongong Harbour; then we came back to my place to watch "Countdown" and the Sydney fireworks at midnight.

During the break I was able to finish off some quilt tops that have been taking way too long to do.

"Cakewalk" designed by Thimble Blossoms made in FigTree & Co fabrics.

"Nova" designed by Kim Brackett from her book 'Scrap Basket Sensations' made using a Batik layer cake and other batiks I had in my stash.

"Low Volume Log Cabin" - all stash fabrics.

 

I've been wanting to make Lori Holt's "Scrappy Crossroads" for ages and have been cutting out and collecting Bonnie and Camille charm squares.

I made one block using Moda Solid "Ruby Ice" for the background  - think I'll really like a quilt made up of these blocks.

Another quilt I started is called "Nine Patch Waltz" designed by FigTree & Co.  I love how this one is turning out - it's made using "Avalon", a very pretty FigTree range.

Half of the nine patches are made - the others will take a bit longer as they involve more sewing and trimming.

Mum and I went to see "The Greatest Showman" - we both loved it.  I'm hoping to see the new "Star Wars" movie soon.  Everyone else in the family has seen it and I need to catch up.

Where to Start?

The Christmas decorations are still up - the little ones have stayed over during the break and they have enjoyed playing with the train set and everything else plus I've been pretty busy.  I'm back at work now so it will take a while to pack everything away.

Christmas 2017 was lovely - so wonderful that everyone could come home to have Christmas lunch together.  The present frenzy was fabulous fun with the two little ones.

I made a few presents and, as usual, it was a rush to finish everything in time for the big day.  Each year I like to make ChaCha and Gulliver a hand-embroidered decoration for the tree and this year I used a Country Keepsakes' stitchery for ChaCha's and finishing instructions for both of them

 

but with a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery for Gulli's ornament.

 

Also made them a Hugs 'n' Kisses Santa's Treasure Sack each with machine embroidered panels instead of hand embroidery.

Earlier last year Michael sent me a link to a pattern for an AT-AT Walker (All Terrain Armoured Transport Imperial Walker from "Star Wars") and I wanted to have this made for Gulliver for Christmas.  I left my run pretty late and was starting to panic about finishing it - the tiny little cannons on the front of the head were giving me grief.  Was tickled pink with how it turned out.

Just after the little ones were born I bought a pattern "Daisy Dress Ups" designed by Two Brown Birds.  These were fun to make and are great for 2 year olds.  Didn't have enough time to make all of the dress-up patterns but I'll get to them during the year.

 

 

 

At the last minute I decided that the Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs Tree needed a tree skirt.  This was made with the "Moda Love" pattern using fabrics from my stash.  This is a great pattern for a quick quilt because it works with any size squares.

Vintage Holiday 2

I haven't made a Christmas quilt for quite a few years and now I've made two in the last couple of months.  I loved making "Vintage Holiday 2", designed by Camille Roskelley (Thimble Blossoms).  It's a great scrap quilt and lots of little, favourite fabric pieces can be used.

Karen quilted it in one of my favourite designs and the backing was a very lucky find - love that "Hello Darling" fabric.

This year I wanted to avoid last-minute Christmas decorating and started clearing out the loungeroom and family room in early November.  Over the next few weeks the house was decorated and the last ornament was put up on Sunday afternoon - it's been very gradual this year.  There are a couple of new additions:  the train under the Christmas tree and the little boxes that make up the Christmas tree on the table between the two lounge chairs.

 

 

A bit of Christmas fun:

Lots Happening

I love it when parcels arrive from Sew Lux Fabrics in USA - they are always wrapped to beautifully.

These are the sashing, backing and binding fabrics for Vintage Holiday 2 - a very sweet Christmas quilt.

Karen sent a photo of the quilt on her frame yesterday - I'm picking it up tonight and will bind it over the next couple of days.

On Saturday night the stitching girls had dinner together.  Our friend Paula is going to Finland for Christmas, so it was lovely to be able to catch up with the girls before Paula left for her holiday.  I received my first Christmas present for this year - a fantastic, beautifully made cross-body bag from Karen.  Very well-chosen colours.

Our family has had a very big few days.  Monday was Mum's 90th birthday and we had a family party on Sunday.  Mum loved having her family and some very close friends all there together.

Elizabeth made the birthday cake using Mum's favourite flavours:  ginger, lemon and marmalade.

On Monday afternoon the Village where Mum lives hosted an afternoon tea for her - another lovely event, and then on Monday night Mum insisted on taking us out for dinner.  I think she needed a good rest yesterday.

There has been some decorating at my place.  These lovely pink glitter Christmas bells are to be attached to a Christmas present I'm making.

Chain -piecing is very relaxing - just mindless sewing where I don't have to think too much about what I'm doing.  "Cakewalk" is an excellent pattern for this.  I've had this FigTree fabrics Cakewalk cut out since last April and have enjoyed sewing all the squares together over the last week or so in between party preparations and Christmas decorating.

Back to Christmas sewing next week.