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.

Astra

I first made an "Astra" quilt as a customer order at the start of last year.  At the time I thought it would make a great quilt for a man and later last year made it for my brother for Christmas.  I love how it turned out with those colours against the navy background. 

The backing is actually a dark blue wideback fabric and worked very well for this quilt.

Late last year I needed a baby quilt for a dear friend's new grandson.  My friend lives in UK and the baby lives in New Zealand.  I wanted to have the quilt arrive in New Zealand when my friend was vising baby William.  My friend has always loved Peter Rabbit so I was very pleased to find I still had some of the sweet Peter Rabbit blocks left from previous quilts

and some of the fabulous border print.

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.

Baby on a Quilt

Mack's quilt was finished earlier this year (maybe February) and it took me ages to get it to him.  His Mum sent through a couple of photos of the little cuties on his quilt.

Big brother had to get in on the act too :)

I think I'll be ready for some more colourful sewing after making these blue and white quilts.  I was rummaging through the Figtree scraps and came across a bag of 2-1/2" squares.

There are more than enough to make "Happy Scrappy Baskets" (which has been on my mind lately), so I cut out the rest of the required fabrics.

Might start this next and get back to the rest of the blue and white quilts later.

Vinnie and Daisy had a great time at The Wiggles - Vinnie made a lovely poster and was so happy to give it to Caterina.

Friday week ago Elizabeth, Cousin Stephanie and I went to see Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell in concert singing songs by Elton John and George Michael - what a fantastic night out.  They are such good singers and so entertaining - we had a great laugh and loved the show.

One of my Bucket List items is to go to Jane McGrath Day at the Sydney Test.  I'd always wanted to take Mum to a day at the Ashes but I was never able to get tickets (let alone tickets in the shade in a stand).  The tickets for the Sydney Ashes game next January went on sale last Tuesday and, after a very stressful time of being in a queue of 190,000+, finally getting in only to be timed out and then joining a queue of 32,000+, I managed to buy tickets for me and the girlfriends to go on Jane McGrath Day  By that stage I didn't care where we were sitting - just happy to know I can be there.

Blue and White

I've always loved bows and as soon as I saw this Thimble Blossoms pattern, I knew I'd be making it using "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" light blues and low volumes.  There are so many pretty prints in these ranges.

The quilt top came together so well and I love the scallop border.

"Star Pop"in "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" low volumes is together - this is the small throw size.

Current sewing is "Cakewalk" also in "Nantucket Summer" and "Shoreline" fabrics.

I might start sewing this together later today.

Yesterday my cousin, Stephanie, and I went to see "Titanique" - what a fun take on the movie.  The singing was exceptional.  We loved it.

A couple of quilts are on the way back from Karen:  "Shoreline" version of "Piece and Quilt" Sampler

and Thimble Blossoms' "Takes the Cake".

Last month on my birthday we had some family photos taken - it's been 20 years since the last time.  This photo is my children's favourite.  Right at the end, Steph, Jenni's friend and photographer, told us all to yell/scream.