Bathroom Refresh

Painters were at my house last week to paint the "new" room as well as the bathroom, laundry and 2nd toilet.

Previously those rooms were what I call "poison green"

and now are a very clinical-looking white.  I had a white wicker shelf-unit, clock frame and laundry hamper in the room but even with a new coat of white they looked yuk so I spray painted them midnight blue and they look much better.  Time to update the cupboard and drawer handles as well and download a new white clock face.

Tomorrow morning the floor polishing will start in the new room then the electrician can hang the new light fitting and replace power points/light switches etc, and I need to buy/install a blind and curtains.

Hoping to have time over the weekend to paint the laundry cupboard so that I can move everything back into the laundry from the family room.

"Blueberry Kisses" quilt top is together

Jocelyn Proust backing.

and went home with Karen following her visit last week.

Last week's "Swoon" blocks

and last week's Fireworks blocks.

Two Swoon blocks and four Fireworks blocks to go - hopefully they will be made this week.

I also made the cot-sized version of "Happy Stripes" in Nantucket Summer low volumes - this was a very quick quilt to sew together.

and I've made a start on "Star Pop" also in Nantucket Summer fabric.  Because I'm using a variety of low volume and white-on-white Bonnie and Camille fabrics for the stars, I need to lay out the fabrics work out what goes where.

A Week Off

The University was closed last week and most of the staff had the week off.  As it was school holidays Gulli was with me during the day and T&H were also with us on Monday.  We had a great week.

Karen sent through a photo after she'd finished quilting "All Stacked Up" - Karen is coming to visit some time this week and will bring the quilt with her.

Elizabeth's cardigan is finished and she's been wearing it a lot in this very cold weather we've had lately.

So hard to get a photo of the correct colour in the winter light - the progress shot show the true colour.

In amongst the SAL blocks, I've been working on Blueberry Kisses - I need to make some more cross blocks (maybe 15).

Last week's Fireworks Blocks

and last week's Summer Swoon SAL blocks.

I've also cut up my Nantucket Summer fat quarter bundle to make two quilts designed by Emily Dennis of Quilty Love:  "Star Pop"

and a cot size "Happy Stripes".

Yesterday Mum and I went to see "Falling for Figaro" - loved it, especially Joanna Lumley.

Lots of progress in the room renovation - the skirting boards and architraves have been added and the painter is there today to do the room as well as the bathroom, laundry and 2nd toilet.  Next week the floor will be sanded and polished.  I'm waiting for the light fitting to be delivered to the shop then the electrician can come to install that and replace the power points and light switch and the room will be ready for use.

SALs

This winter has turned out to be a time for participating in sew-alongs.  The first one I joined is Chooky Blue's Churn Dash Along.  I sewed up July's blocks while chatting with friends in a Chooky Zoom on Sunday evening.

A month or so ago Camille Roskelley (Thimble Blossoms) suggested a sew-along making a Swoon quilt - there are a few Swoon quilts to choose from and I'm making the original in various Bonnie and Camille fabrics.  I've made this quilt before but not in B&C fabrics.

I will try to make two blocks each week.

 

When I cut out my Swoon blocks, I also cut out blocks to make Fireworks.  My plan is to make four blocks each week but not sure how achievable that will be in amongst my other sewing, crocheting etc.  I made three this week because I made one block after cutting out the fabrics.

Making some slow progress on Blueberry Kisses and hope to continue with it over the weekend.

Hooray the sun is shining today!

Boho Heart

I belong to an online Scrap Busters group and we've made a couple of Jen Kingwell designs as sew-alongs:  "Gypsy Wife" in 2020 and last year's quilt was "Boho Heart", designed by Jen Kingwell and Andrea Bair.  I already had the pattern - I love hearts and bought the pattern when I first came across it.

The quilt was finished earlier this week and I love it.

There were some EPP and applique blocks included in the quilt pattern but I substituted those with block designs from my other Jen Kingwell patterns.  A friend quilted Boho Heart using "Geometry" - looks so great on the quilt.

Wasn't sure what to use for binding so I went with reliable black/white stripe.

2022's quilt is Tula Pink's "Butterfly" - it another gorgeous sampler quilt and I'm hoping to start that soon.

Photo source:  Tula Pink

Pretty Birds

I have a couple of regular customers who purchase quilts through my Etsy shop.  One lady bought the small Dinosaurs quilt and she mentioned she would love a "Pretty Birds" wallhanging if I felt like making one.  I love Elizabeth Hartman designs - they are intricate and have many pieces but the patterns are so well-written and are easy-to-follow.

The wallhanging was finished a while ago and I sent it to Sarah for quilting (along with Batman).  Sarah used "Square Buns" and the design looks great on the finished quilt.

The client specifically asked for white cockatoos - she has a 40 year old cocky.

The Alison Glass fabrics look fantastic in the birds - Cockatoos, Macaws, Cockatiels, Toucans and Lorikeets.  The backing fabric is from Spotlight.

I'm looking forward to making the full-size quilt - maybe later this year or next year.

Batman Quilts

A while ago my cousin asked me to make a Batman quilt for her son-in-law's birthday in June.  We found a pattern online for a Batman block (Quilt Around the Clock), ordered some yellow and black Kona Cotton from Patchworks Plus and found a Batman curtain fabric at Spotlight to use for the backing.

I made the block a bit different to the pattern by not using all 2-1/2" squares - I cut strips to suit the measurement of each part rather than having loads of seams.

As I was making the first quilt I realised I would need to make one for my son for his 40th birthday in July - he has always been a huge Batman fan - so more fabric was ordered.

Both quilts were sent to Sarah for quilting - we had found a great design with the Batman symbol and an outline of Batman's head.

The colours look best in the photo of the quilt on the bed.  These were fun, quick quilts to make and the boys love them.

Michael's birthday was last Saturday - to fit in with Michael's band's performance on Saturday night, the family went out for dinner on Friday night.  My favourite time is when the family is together.

Jenni, Kurt and Vinnie stayed over for two nights so they could come to the family dinner and also go to see Michael's band.  I was on babysitting duties.  Fortunately Vinnie was asleep before they went out.  That little sweetheart never stops till he's asleep - he has so much energy.

The weather over the last 10 days or so has been atrocious and so frightening for many people on the east coast of Australia.  Fortunately I've had no water come into the house but it's a constant worry these days.  The rainfall has been extremely heavy and constant and has now moved further north to, once again, inundate the folks who suffered terrible flooding earlier this year.