Current Sewing

I have a few quilts on the go at the moment.

Hopscotch designed by Thimble Blossoms

I visited a local quilt show in September and bought a pretty jelly roll.  No idea who the designer is.  Added a few of my stash fabrics.

Jelly Girl designed by Fig Tree & Co

I've used loads of fabrics from my Fig Tree stash for this.  It's a fun quilt to make.

Starlight designed by Thimble Blossoms

This quilt is also made from my Fig Tree stash.  Another fun design.

Also some dressmaking happening.

We've had so much wind and rain over the last couple of months.

  

One afternoon in November, I heard a huge crack and this is what I found - a big branch had fallen from one of the gum trees in my yard.  Fortunately it didn't land on the house.

I lodged an application with the Council requesting permission to remove the trees.  The inspector came and advised I could remove one but not the tree closest to the house. 

He also said in the letter of approval that there was no evidence of disease, pests etc in the tree when I pointed out this area on a branch overhanging the roof. 

Thursday before Christmas, this is what happened.  That very branch cracked at the mal-formed joint and landed on the roof.

I was very fortunate that the local tree-loppers dropped everything and came to remove the branch the next day - again, no damage.

Now I think I'm finally up-to-date.

Making Quilt Tops

"Starlets" blocks are very quick to make and because I'm making the small throw size, I had the number I needed pretty quickly .  I put these blocks aside to sew together on another day - I seem to do that a lot.

I hadn't kept count when I was cutting out the house blocks for "Dwell 2" and I cut way more blocks than needed - turns out I have enough to make quite a large quilt

Decided it was time I sewed up some of these blocks I have piled up on the spare bed and started with "Swoon", which has the least number of blocks.

Backing and binding fabric for Swoon.

Next up is "Dwell 2" - this is just over halfway.  I'm waiting for some more red fabric to arrive to make another two stars.

I hope to sew up "Berry Parfait" next, then it might be time to send a couple of parcels to Karen.

The laundry is finished

Before

After

but the "new" room (5th bedroom/study) isn't quite done - the skirting boards need another coat of paint before furniture is moved in.  The paint on the skirting boards was damaged when the floor was polished - I painted them a week ago but that didn't quite cover the damaged areas.  Might have time next weekend to paint.  The light fitting is in.  I'd love to be able to afford new white windows in all the rooms.  Still trying to decide on a blind.

Spent Saturday with my friend Lynell packing - after 40 years in her home she and her husband are moving (to my suburb) - it's a big job.  Yesterday I visited Mum then went to a lunch with another friend.  I'm really pretty shy and it's good to meet/chat with some new people.

What's Been Happening

Karen took "Blueberry Kisses" home with her to quilt and sent through a photo yesterday.  It looks fantastic.  The design is called "Wind and Waves" - took ages to decide which design to use.  I wanted something with a curve but not flowery or feathery.

The last four "Fireworks" blocks are finished - still working on the layout for this quilt.  I'm going to add borders and sashing between the blocks and posts at the intersections which will turn the corner triangles into Shoe Fly blocks to make the quilt a bit bigger.  Without sashings it measures 68" square.

The final two "Swoon" blocks are also finished

and the layout is sorted.  Not too difficult with only 9 blocks.

Last Saturday we worked on the laundry cupboard - took a long time to clean it inside and out with sugar soap and then we painted it.  Also painted first couple of coats on the back screen door.  Will be nice to have that back in place before summer starts.  Electrician is coming tomorrow to finish off work in the new room.  The floor is beautiful (in the Swoon photos above).  Might be ready to move some furniture in on the weekend, depending on what else is happening.

On Sunday T&H came for the day, then Mum and my brother turned up, so it was a lovely busy day.

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.

A Jumper for H

Time flies when you're busy.

Lots happening at home and work.  Haven't turned on the sewing machine for well over a week.  The backing for "All Stacked Up" arrived last week and I should make that up so the quilt can be sent away for quilting.

The Aran jumper for little H was finished 10 days ago.  Really happy with how it looks.

I started to lay out some "Blueberry Kisses" blocks but didn't sew any together.

Left the window open a bit too long on the weekend :)

Not to worry - it's a scrappy quilt and the blocks can go anywhere as long as the crosses and nine patches alternate.

I've joined in a sew-along making Thimble Blossoms' original Swoon quilt - the SAL is to make any Swoon.  Decided to make the original because I haven't made it previously in Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Made one block.

While cutting out Swoon, I thought I might as well cut out another quilt - "Fireworks".  I made this many years ago, so I think I'll enjoy making it again.

The sub-contractor (Mum) and I are knitting a cardigan for Elizabeth - Mum is knitting the back and sleeves and I'm knitting the fronts.  It's a long cardigan and it feels like it's taking forever but the end is in sight.

Since that photo was taken, one front is finished and the other should be finished tonight or tomorrow night.

A gyprocker came last week to tear out all the old plaster and install new gyprock - the room looks great (and so much lighter).

A carpenter is coming tomorrow to replace the architraves and install new skirting boards then I can organise painting and floor sanding/polishing.  Amazing how quickly things can happen sometimes.

Last Sunday was Gulliver's 7th birthday.  The gorgeous boy had a wonderful time with his friends at Timezone and then another party at home with more of the family.

This coming Saturday, T and I are going to see "Mary Poppins" - I'm pretty excited.  Mum, Elizabeth, Jenni and I first saw the stage musical in Melbourne in 2011 and I'm very much looking forward to T's reactions to Mary flying and Bert tap dancing on the ceiling.