Christmas 2025

 

Christmas 2025 was a lot of fun.  I asked Vinnie to draw a picture for me to hang on the back of the front door - it was a big relief to know that the house was protected by The Hulk, Superman and Leonardo.

Each year the decorating doesn't change much.

The Parlour (entry to the house)

Loungeroom

Family Room

Once again, not a lot of Christmas sewing.  I made Bronwyn Hayes "Christmas Hangers" for Thea and Gulli

and Hatched and Patched punch needle ornaments for Hugo, Vinnie and Daisy.

The two littlest sweethearts at Christmas - so precious.

Darling

The last quilt I finished was at the end of August.  "Darling" designed by Thimble Blossoms and made with her "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" ranges and Moda Bella Solid Navy for the background.  I really like the scallop border.

I asked Karen to use "Modern Loops", a favourite quilting design, on this quilt.

Currently I am working on a king-size "Sugar Dish" quilt - this quilt is designed by Cluck Cluck Sew and I'm adding a few borders.  It is a custom order and is being made in Thimble Blossoms' "Nantucket Summer" with Moda Bella Solid 200 for the background.

Blades for the Dresden Plates.

The pattern is six rows long and six rows wide of rectangular blocks with one row of 6 Dresden Plates.  I added one row to the length and one row to the width.

Then came a plain borders and a flying geese border.

Then a border of more rectangular blocks.

Chequerboard border on both sides to add to the width and next up is a final round of rectangular blocks to reach the width and length required.

One of my favourite designers, Elizabeth Hartman, is now collaborating with Moda Fabrics and this is her latest design, "Show and Tell", made in Moda Bella Solids - I love it!  Really hope Daisy would like this for her big girl bed in a couple of years - I'll let her choose.

Takes the Cake

 "Takes the Cake", designed by Thimble Blossoms quite a while ago, was finished in June.  So happy with how this quilt turned out - it's very pretty in aqua, pink and red.

This is was made from my Bonnie and Camille stash with Moda Bella Solid in Ruby Ice for the background.  It's a large quilt - I used 2-1/2" squares rather than 2" as in the pattern, so didn't make quite as many blocks as used in the pattern.

"Party Streamers" is the quilting design on this quilt - more lovely work from Karen.

I was fortunate to find a bolt of "Lighthearted" fabric still available to use for the backing.

In August I came across a tutorial on Instagram to make a "Hidden Wells" block - what a rabbit hole that turned out to be.

I cut loads of 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" strips and started sewing blocks.

I was wanting to butt the blocks against each other but it looked too messy.  Had a look through my stash of solids and liked the look of pink as a narrow border between the blocks.

I used up 99.99% of the strips and now have a large quilt top ready to send to Karen.

I've had this pretty parasol fabric for quite a few years and really wanted to use it to back this quilt but there wasn't quite enough (I had 5m).

A few leftover blocks were sewn together to make a centre panel and the parasol fabric is now large enough to back this big quilt top.

There has been a lot of knitting happening since I finished the cardigan for Jenni and the scarf for my friend.  Making an effort to use up wool in my stash.  I bought a new pattern book, "Joyful Kids Knits", and there are so many great designs in it.

"Toothy Striped Cardi" for Gulli from wool leftover from my friend's scarf.

"Stripes Galore Jumper" to fit Daisy in a couple of years.  Patons "Sierra" left over from her Mum's cardigan with Bendigo Woollen Mills green I've had for years.

Vinnie chose his own jumper from the book"and picked the colours:  "Two Tone Jumper".

And now I'm knitting the two colour version of "Toothy Striped Cardi" for T.  Hopefully the green Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply and Patons "Sierra" will be all gone when this is finished.

Shoreline Piece and Quilt Sampler

During the Piece and Quilt Sampler Sew-Along I made two sets of blocks:  one in scrappy Figtree fabrics and one in Thimble Blossoms' Shoreline fabric range.  The Shoreline quilt was finished in June and looks very pretty in these colours.

Karen used "Featheration" for the quilting design - it looks great.

I've made a few quilt tops since June but have only sent a couple for quilting and they're back from Karen awaiting binding.

One is an "Astra" quilt for my brother for Christmas made from my stash.  Started this in August.

A lot of cutting out for this quilt but the blocks go together very easily.

Bought a wide-back offcut from Widebacks Australia for the backing.

The other quilt waiting for binding is "Ruffles 'n' Rows", a Bird House design, made for my friend who can no longer sew.  This is also a Christmas present.  Sadly she has been moved to a nursing home so I'm hoping the quilt will bring her some happiness and comfort.

Some suffolk puffs and buttons to be added now that it is quilted.

The Lakehouse Dry Goods fabrics in this quilt top are so pretty.