A Big Parcel

In early December all the rows for "Stroll" were completed and the sashings cut out.  After all the Christmas dressmaking I really enjoyed putting this quilt top together.  I've been waiting for some backing to arrive and it came on Monday.

This is the last 2019 "Sewcialites" block, "Joy" designed by Susan Ache

and this is the first for 2020, "Serenity" designed by Chelsi Stratton.

I had sewn up all my Bonnie and Camille 5" squares for the "Hourglass a Day" sewalong and was waiting for some more charm packs to arrive, so started sewing the Hourglass blocks in to nine patches over the last couple of weeks.

On Monday, a big box of fabric arrived from my friend Amy in USA.  Amy sold off a lot of her fabric late last year and I've been pretty excited about all the fabric I bought.

Backings, backgrounds, low volumes, loads of Figtree off-cuts and squares etc plus 4 charm packs for my "Hourglass a Day" sewalong blocks - I think it's going to be a pretty big quilt.

Amy also included a Yazzi project box, some American lollies and a beautifully made bag.  Gulli was with me on Monday and was very interested in the lollies.

Each morning I sew four Hourglass blocks and in the evenings I've been making "Kaleidoscope" blocks - this is a fun pattern by EmmaMary Designs.  The photo shows one quarter of the quilt on the design sheet,

and here are the other half of the triangles.

The plan is to use each 5" floral once (giving two triangles) in the quilt and so far I've cut 170 - need to find another 30.  I was able to cut a few from the fabrics in the box from Amy.  Another 200 blocks to be made.

My friends and I are missing the basketball, which normally would have started last October - the season will hopefully start this coming weekend but I doubt we'll have any home games.  Going to the game and out for dinner in summer is always fun.  We'll have to have picnics in front of the tv when the games are on.

All my free time has been spent working with my brother to replace the rails on the two verandas at my house.

We've cut and painted 185+ pickets and 23 top and bottom rails, painted all the veranda posts, Philip has sanded the decks, and the top rails have been attached.  Philip is hoping to clean/oil the decks on the weekend and then the bottom rails and pickets can be installed.

My friend, Gail, volunteered to help with the painting, so her job was the front door.  It looks fantastic!  Marine grade paint has such a glorious shine.

Someone is pretty excited about starting school after the holidays!  

Entry Room (the Parlour) Makeover

By the time Jenni and Kurt went home two weeks ago all the prep work and undercoating had been completed as well as a first coat on the back of the front door, some architraves and some cutting in around doors.

They came back on Saturday morning and were straight into it.

Gulliver was with us on Sunday and he was on kitchen duty helping to feed Jenni and Kurt

as well as providing entertainment with Mum.

By the time Gulliver and I left to go to the basketball game, the room was done.  Such a huge job that Jenni and Kurt finished in two weekends.  Unbelievably thrilled and grateful.  They even styled the room before they left so that it would look pretty when my friends and I arrived home from the game.

 Happy Christmas 2018 to me - the most generous present.

Christmas 2018

Christmas celebrations started on 22 December with a party for my brother's children and grandchildren.  Such a lovely afternoon and great fun for Mum to spend time with 9 of her great-grandchildren.  Little Abel is the second youngest (at the moment) and he's such a lovely little fellow.

The only hand-stitching this Christmas was a decoration for each of the little sweethearts - Annie Downs designs.

Finally a stocking for Kurt - it's about time.

Jenni and Kurt arrived on Christmas Eve and we settled down to watch The Carols with Raspberry & Cranberry Frozen Cocktails.

Christmas Day was relatively quiet with 6 for lunch.  Jenni decorated the trifle.

Boxing Day was a bit more lively with the whole family over for lunch plus a cousin or two - so happy they could join us.  Raspberry and Coconut cakes for sweets on Boxing Day.

Gorgeous shopping bag from my cousin - lovely surprise present.

Friends visited Boxing Night and, as always, it was a lovely, relaxing night.

I think these were popular presents this year.

During the days between Christmas and New Year I've had some sewing time (in between spending time with my family).  "All Wrapped Up" quilt top is together.  Love the sparkly fabric for the sashings.

Made two "Long Time Gone" blocks - taking my time with this quilt because, although I'm looking forward to having a finished quilt, I really enjoy making these blocks with the birthday fabric from Elizabeth, Matt and little sweetheart.

"Trip Around the World"

"Plus a Star"

Blocks roughly in place where they'll be in the finished quilt.

Latest sewing has been "Patchwork Sky" - these fabrics were cut out last October.  This is a great design for chain-piecing while catching up on tv shows or watching sport.

Layout next and then sewing the blocks together.

Tonight Lynell and I are off to the Opera House to see "All You Need is Love", a show featuring 35 Beatles songs with great singers and musicians.  Makes coming back to work a little easier.

To finish off - Gulli and Michael playing with one of Gulli's Christmas presents.  The Hawks should sign up Gulli now - after their very poor show on New Year's Eve, the Hawks need a new star shooter.

Binding

After all of the quilting Karen has done over the last couple of weeks, I've been stitching down binding while catching up on recorded tv shows.

Ohio Star Cot Quilt

Cakewalk

Seaglass

I had enough "Seaglass" strips left over to make a 17" sq cushion cover, which Karen kindly quilted in a smaller version of the design on the quilt.

Seaglass Cushion

On Saturday ChaCha came for a sleepover and brought an extra birthday present for me - a bundle of Allison Glass fabrics!  The colours are glorious.  I'm hoping to make Jen Kingwell's "Long Time Gone" quilt some time this year and these fabrics will be perfect in that quilt along with some other Allison Glass fabrics left over from Jenni's 30th birthday "Tessellation" quilt.

Karen quilted "Line Dried" this morning and sent through some photos.

Looking forward to picking it up tonight.  This quilt will have a wavy edge and bias stripe binding.

One of my dearest friends is going to be a first-time Nanna later this year.  I've been saving these fabrics for almost 10 years (for her) and am so happy to have sewn them into a cute quilt.