Kiss Me

This is the second Figtree and Company "Kiss Me" quilt I've made.  I had loads of Figs & Shirtings fabrics left from the "Stitchery Sampler" quilt it and there was plenty to make this quilt.  I love the flying geese border.

This quilting design is "Modern Loops" - it always looks great.

Kiss Me

"Kiss Me" is a quilt designed by Fig Tree and Company.  My friend, Diann, and I started to make this quilt last year and it's been waiting to be quilted since June 2013.  I love these Bonnie and Camille fabrics ("Vintage Modern").

I love how the flying geese border looks like prairie points.

Karen quilted this one too - this spiral design is really lovely. 

A little while ago it was my turn to make a birthday present for one of our on-line group members.  The theme this year is a black and white bag with embellishment so I made Ric Rac's "Work in Progress" bag for my partner with Bloom's embroidery from her "Coquetterie" design.

Photo taken by Leanne

Sewing Room

Six and a half months ago my sewing room looked like this:

We had an enormous storm and my sewing room and the spare bedroom were both flooded plus there was water damage in the kitchen and loungeroom.  The repair work was finally completed recently and by Sunday morning the sewing room was full of stuff (my great family moved all the heavy stuff in a couple of weeks ago).

 

Sorting it all out didn't take as long as I thought and by Sunday evening (after going to the movies to see "Gone Girl") the room was finished.

I had a temporary sewing area set up in another room during this time - luckily I have another spare room at the front of the house.

Yesterday, for the first time in over 9 weeks, I sat at the sewing machine and sewed bindings on three of the quilts Karen quilted for me recently.  I have 3 more bindings to sew on then lots of handstitching.

"Goodnight Irene"

"Kiss Me"

"X and +"

7 sleeps till I go to Melbourne for Elizabeth's university graduation and then head off to Hobart for a few days with The Schoolgirls.  We have lots to celebrate.

PS:  Really enjoyed the movie, didn't think I would - lots of twists and turns and there was only one part when I had to close my eyes.

Backings

On Saturday afternoon I added some borders to the X and Plus quilt then made backings for some of the quilt tops I have finished over the last year or so.

Posted Picnic off to Sarah for quilting, so I'll be looking forward to that coming back in a few weeks.

A good while ago, almost 2 years, I cut into a quilt kit, "Pathways and Crossroads", that I had bought from Bec and ever since it has been in the sewing room cupboard.  Sunday afternoon I started sewing some of the pieces together and now have 5 blocks finished; 4 more to assemble.

 
These are all lovely Fig Tree fabrics and the quilt has interesting sashings, posts and borders.

Hanging out for the Easter break - catching up with family and probably painting.

Source

Rainy Days

Gosh we've had a lot of rain over the last few days and howling winds.  I had a lovely weekend - lunch with the Schoolgirls on Saturday followed by dinner with friends then most of Sunday in the sewing room putting "Kiss Me" together.  Last night I added an extra border outside the flying geese border.  I might finish the quilt top tonight - only the final borders to be added.

No stitching group tonight - way too wet to go out.

Quiet Weekend

After a busy few weeks, I had a lovely quiet weekend, mostly at home.  On Saturday I had lunch in town with Jenni and Mum came to visit later in the afternoon and spent most of yesterday afternoon in the sewing room.

I've been sewing the "Kiss Me" blocks for a while now.  The main blocks are made - next up my least favourite part of quilt-making:  block placement.

The flying geese blocks for one of the borders are ready to be sewn together too.

There was also a little more secret sewing.

See that little silver gizmo in the bottom right-hand corner of the photo?  It's a little music player that my friend Barbara bought me for my birthday - what a fantastic toy it is.  It takes a tiny SD card onto which you load your music and this little thing then vibrates through whatever it's resting on and that provides the volume.  I have no affiliation with this product - I think it's a lot of fun and very clever idea.

The crock pot worked overtime.

Chilli Con Carne

Osso Bucco

At last I'm making some headway with my current Gingham Girls block - don't often feel like sewing at night lately.

Those purple glasses are a little off-centre; just like mine sometimes.

Barbara and I are looking forward to seeing "The Great Gatsby" on Thursday then in June I'm going to see "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Kristen Chenoweth as well as the quilt show with Diann and Lorraine.  Should be a great month.

Hexagon Bag

Finished at last.  It was actually started at New Year - feels like this bag has been on the go for so long.
 

 

Didn't need to be at work quite so early today so I had a spare half hour to start strip-piecing the Kiss Me block centres.

The colours/fabrics look pretty even from the underside.

Diann is making excellent progress - she has four blocks finished.

I am so looking forward to Saturday night - I'm going to see the "Thank God It's Friday" crew in Wollongong - Wendy Harmer, Jean Kitson, Richard Glover, etc. Should be hilarious.

Plans Changed

ANZAC Day plans changed a bit - spontaneity is always a good thing.  Paula's quilt wasn't quite finished so she decided she would bring her bag-making supplies over to join Rhonda making bags.

The Sweat Shop

Rhonda quilting her main bag piece

"Kiss Me" homework for this weekend was to cut out all the block fabrics and make one block.  So far I love this.

There is also some secret sewing happening - lots of Bonnie and Camille fabrics here for two secret presents.

Pieced, cut and the rows ready to be sewn together.

The hexagon piece for the doctor's bag is now being quilted (that will take a while) and I'm hoping to start putting it together today.

Paula finished her quilt top yesterday and is coming back this afternoon to have a play on the frame.  Sarah, I've told Paula your advice - the bottle of wine is cooling in the fridge.

Lots Happening

Well, I'm hoping that lots will be happening today.

Diann and I have decided to make a quilt each:  Kiss Me designed by Fig Tree & Co.

Today's task was to choose our fabrics:  this was easy for me.  I'm using a "Vintage Modern" jelly roll along with the cream/beige spot for background, pink floral for borders (maybe) and the red spot for binding.

The weekend is for cutting out.

On Tuesday night the stitching girls came over - I put them to work helping me lay out the "Picnic" blocks - my least favourite part of the quilt-making process.

Looks like the girls got the colour placement right first go - there are a few blocks I will need to turn 90 degrees.  It's looking great.  Might sew a few together this morning.

This pretty tub is filled with all the half-square triangle off-cuts - over 1200 pieces of fabric.  One day, maybe, one day I will do something with them.

The girls are coming back this afternoon for a play-date.  Paula will have her first turn on the quilting frame.  Perhaps I should take Sarah's advice and offer Paula a couple of glasses of wine before she starts :)

Rhonda will be making her first bag.  Yesterday at lunchtime I took out my hexagons and decided that the row I was stitching would be the last.  I'm over sewing these particular hexies, so I'll be starting to put my bag together along with Rhonda.
 

Had a great time last night:  had my usual hairdresser appointment (Adage in Church Street).  Barbara and two other friends were there.  Barbara and I decided to go out for dinner afterwards.  Dinner was so delicious and I had way too much (of course).

"Lest We Forget"

My Dad - WW2

My Grandad - WW1