Week 9

Week 9 of lockdown is coming to an end.  Since the travel restrictions became even more stringent my little homeschooler hasn't been coming, so life is extra quiet.  I'm grateful I can visit Mum and she can visit me.

"Nine Patch Waltz" arrived at its new home on Saturday and some photos were sent through - the colours looks wonderful in this bedroom.

This week I've been jumping from one quilt to another.  "Boho Heart" blocks for June, July and August.

 

"Electrolite" quilt top is together.

This is a throw size quilt but I thought I'd like to make it bigger and on Instagram asked for some border suggestions - Julie suggested a braid and I found plenty of ideas on the internet.  I've made these four border strips.  I have a little black spot on white to use as an inner border to help with the maths to make these braids fit and then there'll be another black spot border and blue binding. 

The last "Sampler Spree" blocks have been made.  I haven't quite decided on the colour for the borders so putting the quilt top together is on hold for a little while.

A previous customer has been in touch and asked me to make "Feathers" - a design from The Pattern Basket.  This will have lots of FigTree fabrics and maybe some royal blue and a little bit of brown.  The original was made in "Strawberry Fields Revisited" - I have a few pieces of that range so they will be included.

The start of the flock of "Feathers".

We had a terrible storm on Tuesday night - the winds were around 120 kph, power went out at 9.30 pm for about 8 hours, loads of rain.  Lots of damage in the neighbourhood and a little at my place.

Next door's back fence was completely blown down, a huge branch is down in another neighbour's yard.  There are a lot of very tall trees in this area which provide beautiful shade but they are a constant worry.

On-line trivia with my friends tonight and over the weekend I plan to baste and start quilting Vincent's cot quilt.

Nine Patch Waltz

This "Nine Patch Waltz" quilt was a special request from a customer.  She has bought other quilts from me as gifts but this one is for her.  The binding was stitched down over the weekend and the quilt is now languishing in a courier warehouse awaiting delivery.

The quilt is king size, approximately 102" square.  I love this quilt pattern - the secondary circle pattern is wonderful.

She also requested some pillow shams for her European pillows.

Here we are ending week 8 of lockdown.  I can't believe how selfish and stupid people can be and how badly the roll-out of vaccines in our country has been handled.  This makes me both sad and extremely angry.

Lunchtime Cutting Out

On the days that Gulli isn't here, I've been spending lunchtimes cutting out a couple of quilts.

The first one is "Electrolites" designed by Thimbles and Needles.  The blue fabric arrived earlier this week, so I was keen to make a couple of blocks as I wasn't 100% sure I would like it - very happy with the blue.

The blocks are set on point in the final layout so it appears all my flowers and stripes will be on the diagonal.

I also cut out some trackies for the little ones.  Jenni bought the bright bug fabric for Vincent and there was enough to make him a size 2 tracksuit and a little t-shirt for next summer.

Two European pillow-size shams to go with the Nine Patch Waltz quilt.

The backing arrived last week and I'm hoping to drop the quilt and pillow shams to the quilter in a couple of days.

Last week's "Sampler Spree" colour was Navy.  I have a very limited supply of FigTree navy and didn't want to have too many fabric repeats.

Month 8 "Shine On Sampler" blocks.

"Stripe Me Lucky" is together.  Michelle Mackillop has designed the best border - everything goes together like clockwork.

Close up of the orange-spot used for the background.

Made the final "Sugar Plums" block last night.  I'll add the final corner blocks when the layout is finalised so that there is more variety in the four patches these little squares make.

Latest lunchtime cutting out is "Twin Stars" using up jelly roll and strips leftover from "Nine Patch Waltz".  There is a lot of cutting when making this quilt from jelly roll strips - if I make it again I'll definitely not use a jelly roll.

Lockdown Week 4

Feels like we've regressed and are back in 2020, except this version of the virus is way more infectious.  The university was closed last week and it was nice to have a week off.  Gulli has been spending some time here and I've enjoyed his company while supervising his homeschooling.

The Riley Blake Block Challenge quilt top is together.  I'm really pleased with how this turned out.  The Challenge contained patterns for 16 blocks - I used 14 because I felt that two didn't suit the on point setting.   The rest of the block patterns came from The Quilters' Cache.

Love this pretty Ella and Ollie FigTree fabric that I bought for the backing.

Last week I sewed the last stitches in the huge "Nine Patch Waltz" quilt top.  Waiting for the backing to arrive then it can be quilted.  I'll be very pleased when this is finished and off to its new home.

I look forward to Thursday mornings to find out the colour for the "Sampler Spree" blocks.  Very happy to be keeping up and using lots of FigTree favourite pieces.  One advantage of working from home is being able to cut out at lunch time.

The main part of my second "Stripe Me Lucky" quilt top and the flying geese for the borders have been made for a few months.  Sewed the flying geese together over the weekend and made the corners last night.  I love this quilt - so bright and happy.   The background is white with a little orange spot.

A little while ago an Instagram friend was selling off her stash - I bought heaps, including a layer cake of "Just Another Walk in the Woods" - I've had a bit more than a metre of the all-over print of this fabric for ages and was so pleased to buy the layer cake.  I'm making Thimble Blossoms' "Sugar Plums" - one block per day.  This is turning out to be so pretty.

Our online trivia is back in full swing and was so enjoyable last night.  I'm very grateful that we live in an age of social media, especially FaceTime.

Another Quilt Top

A little while ago I cut out loads of pieces for another "Village" quilt - this pattern is designed by one of my favourite people in the quilting world - Carrie Nelson.  Until a few years ago she published loads of patterns as "Miss Rosie's Pattern Co" and now she works for Moda Fabrics.

Last year this pattern was made available as a free download for people to sew together during the COVID lockdowns.  I made two last year and both have gone to new homes.  The pattern is designed for charm squares but any favourite fabric pieces can be used.

The body of the quilt is now together and top and bottom borders have been added.  Should be able to add the side borders and make the backing tonight.

"Rainbow Baby" is coming along well.  The green and aqua blocks are finished and can be sewn into rows to add to the top half.  I made the first navy block this morning - 5 more to go then 6 grey blocks and this will be ready to go to the quilter.

"Nine Patch Waltz" is almost halfway.  I'll continue on with this when "Village" is together.

Had a very busy weekend - watched basketball on tv on Thursday night (Hawks won), then housework and cooking on Saturday before the second Hawks playoff game (Hawks lost).  Family came for lunch on Sunday and then I went to Symbio Wildlife Park with Elizabeth, Matt and the little ones on Monday before watching the third playoff game on Monday night (Hawks lost).  So, our extra-long basketball season is over.  Don't really care who wins from here.

This and That

Another couple of rows are ready to add to the Nine Patch Waltz quilt and I'm also making some more blocks to make the quilt wider.  This quilt is a special request and she wants the quilt to be at least 100" square - with another two blocks added to the width and the borders, it should end up around 102.5" sq.

"Rainbow Baby" reached halfway late last week and the next row (green) should be ready to add this week.

Last week's Riley Blake Block Challenge block

and last week's "Sewcialites" block - Passion designed by Carrie Nelson.  Two blocks to go.

 This month's "Shine On" Sampler blocks.

Finished up all the blocks for "Summer Days" late last week

and the quilt top was completed on Monday night - the yellow Sawtooth Stars are an addition to the original design and the quilt top is ~85" sq.

Three basketball games last week - two wins and one loss but the Hawks were already in the playoffs before the last game - very exciting.

One of my bosses is running for Lord Mayor in the September Council elections.  Had a fun time at a fund-raising trivia night on Friday with a bunch of friends.  Some of the Hawks were guest quiz masters.

Ended up having a quiet weekend at home (mostly in bed or the sewing room) with a cold, so no fun time with the family etc.