Sweet Pea's Quilts

One little

Two little

Three little Sweet Pea's

Four Little Sweet Pea's Quilts finished

A bit windy this morning and it was difficult to get a photo of the quilt hanging flat - the wrinkles aren't actually there.  I don't want to make another one of these for a very long time - won't say "never" because it's such a cute design, but four in eighteen months is enough for the moment.

Today ...

Mum and I spent this afternoon packing up many of the Christmas decorations, ornaments, lights etc.  Hopefully I'll finish that job tomorrow.  After dinner we went to see "It's Complicated" - hilarious, fantastic, best picture I've seen for ages.  Was wonderful to laugh so much.  Meryl Streep is fabulous.  The future son-in-law is great.

Last two Sweet Pea blocks are finished.

With a bit of luck I'll find some time tomorrow to finish quilting Monster Mash and maybe sew the Sweet Pea blocks together.  Almost time to start "Tail Feathers".

Very hot here today and supposed to continue tomorrow.

More Sweet Pea's Blocks

Two more "Sweet Pea's Quilt" blocks are finished - 2 more to go

then I can start putting the quilt together.  I'm thinking of using this spotty fabric for the sashings and borders with some of the red chenille (same as the flowers) as posts and outside corner blocks.

Last year I bought a stack of Moda fabrics from Cathy and I'm using one of the f/q packs for our on-line group's 12-1/2" BOM.  I love the colours in this fabric range - Anticipation by Sandy Gervais with Fig Tree Cream Moda Bella Solid for the background.

Best Time of the Year

I love this time of year - a few days holiday, no rushing around, time to read a book, iron everything in the ironing basket (using the new iron bought in the sales - it is trimmed with red so must go faster) while watching a movie, finish off some stitching that was started ages ago

Stitch another "Sweet Pea" block while watching tv

And start a new quilt.  I know I shouldn't because the half-finished pile is growing.  Earlier in the year I started buying/hoarding Patisserie fabrics and have been wanting to make a Whirligig quilt for a very long time, so I cut into a couple of charm packs and cut extra blocks from some of the yardage.  Love the colours in these fabrics!

Months ago I saw something on Bec's blog about a "fabric diet" and, although we didn't officially sign up, Diann and I have not bought any fabric for the last few months.  A couple of interventions have been required but we are managing to keep strong.  No time limit has been set for this diet - I think I have enough in the cupboards to keep me busy for a little while.

Getting There

On Sunday I quilted the Bright Scrappy Spiderweb quilt - this is a view of a little part of the backing.  The thread is actually variegated blue.  Just waiting for some more of the binding fabric to arrive and I can finish the quilt - will post a photo of the whole quilt then (hopefully an in focus photo - I've been using John's digital slr camera and haven't worked it out properly yet).

Another "Sweet Pea's Quilt" block is finished.

And this is what I started last night -  "Poky Little Puppy" - just so cute.  The pattern is a freebie available here.  I came across this pattern and the fabrics a couple of months ago and showed my dear friend, Barbara, who became a great-auntie in August.  Turns out this story was the all-time favourite of the baby's dad and Barbara asked me to buy some fabrics and make the quilt for the new baby.  As the baby is a little girl we decided to change some of the colours/fabrics to make it a little prettier.

John had a wonderful time on his weekend away - 30 motorbikes riding through the Snowy Mountains into Victoria, ever-changing weather conditions, over 2,000 kms.  On Friday night Mum and I went to see "The Time Traveller's Wife" - I've had this book beside my bed for over a year now and just haven't been able to concentrate enough to read it (in fact I've read very little this year).  We both enjoyed the movie and I'm hoping that I'll read the book over the holidays.

Stitching Again

Not much to show for the last couple of weeks - still sewing scrappy spiderwebs - 39.5 blocks down, 16.5 to go and then the quilt can be put together. I work better with a deadline looming (12 December) and I'm hoping to have a weekend at home alone soon, which will give me a chance to really get on with this quilt.

Finally felt like doing some hand-stitching and have completed one "Sweet Pea's Quilt" block. It looks nice in all red/white/cream (the mother-to-be's favourite colour is red). I'm using DMC 115 variegated garnet for the stitcheries and 304 for the appliques - the flower is chenille and I'm thinking about using chenille for one of the outer borders.


Still lots of machine embroidery happening - love the elf and have a few more in this set of designs - tea towels, placemats, serviettes.


Our baby girl has 7 days of prac teaching to go after which she will be finished uni for good and able to be registered with the Dept of Education to apply for a real job. Graduation for her Dip Ed is in December - will have to come up with a pretty good present I think.

Label

The label for "Sweet Pea's Quilt" is finished and stitched onto the quilt (I've blocked out the message).

1

Tonight Jenni took the quilt home so Ian can give it to his sister for when Baby Emily is released from hospital.

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It's amazing what's lying around in the sewing room - I haven't stitched any of the "Noah's Ark" blocks for months and months. Over the last week I've been stitching Noah at lunchtime and also this month's Christmas project, which should be finished shortly.

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Mum and I are going on a road trip this coming weekend. My great-nephew, Levi, Mum's only great-grandchild, turns 1 on Monday, so we're off to spend the weekend with him and all his extended family.

This Week ...

Jenni ready to blow out her candles on her birthday cheesecake.

"Sweet Pea's Quilt" is all but finished - Ian and Jenni are writing on a label and will bring it over on Monday. A bit windy outside this evening when I took the photo.

While fossicking around in the sewing room during the week I came across this "Girls Day Out" block - it needed about 10 minutes stitching and now it's finished.

A Lazy Day

I had a day off work yesterday with plans to quilt "Sweet Pea's Quilt" but it didn't happen - couldn't find the energy to sit at the machine for more than a few minutes.


Instead I cranked up the embroidery machine and decorated 4 napkins

and 4 placemats

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for an upcoming engagement present. Might do a bit more quilting during the week. Baby Emily still has a few more weeks in hospital so there's no rush.

Little Blue Bird

Last block: The quilt top is now together (except for outer borders).

Big Red Whale

Octopus

Sweet Pea's Quilt, Block No 7. I have to hurry up and finish this quilt because Baby Emily was born on Sunday 9 weeks early.

Caterpillar

Weekend with the Family

Last Thursday the travellers, Elizabeth and Matt, arrived home from their holiday in Japan. The whole family got together for lunch on Sunday - was so lovely to have them home safely. They brought us loads of presents - Elizabeth's favourite passtime is shopping. I received a pink bag from Chiri Men Craft Museum containing glittery phone bling, sparkly shoe laces for my pink sneakers, piece of cake trinket box, wet wipes in a cupcake-decorated container, teacup photo holder - all lovely. I'll post a photo of John's Samurai when he's finished building it.

Miss Bee and Thomas Turtle are finished

and also the final doiley from Leanne Beasley's "Butterflies and Blossoms" pattern I received at the Day of Inspired Stitches.

Little Frog and Bubbles the Fish

Doiley and a Baby Butterfly

On Sunday night I also finished off the second doiley from Leanne Beasley's pattern "Butterflies and Blossoms":

This is the first "Sweet Pea's Quilt" block finished. Good thing I like bright fabrics.

Next machine sewing project is a "Very Hungry Caterpillar" quilt for one of Jenni's friends - won't be making the same quilt as I made Jenni last year as I made up that one as I went along. I was able to find a kit for Jenni's friend.

Saturday Sewing

Cranked up the embroidery machine to applique a tea-towel to wrap up a birthday present.

Spent this afternoon and evening piecing the "Sweet Pea's Quilt" blocks ready for vliesofixing appliques and tracing some stitcheries tomorrow.


Pouring rain this weekend - excellent sewing weather.

Long Weekend

I have left some space in my suitcase to pack some clothes.

When I come back I'll start a new "Sweet Pea's Quilt" - Jenni's boyfriend, Ian, is going to become an uncle - the baby girl is due in October. Ian said his sister would prefer bright colours rather than pretty pinks so quite a few of these fabrics will be in the quilt.

. Pretty quiet weekend here. Friends came over for dinner on Saturday night, our nephew and great nephew visited yesterday (such a happy, lovely little guy) and today I seem to have spent most of the day faffing around not achieving very much - lovely way to spend a day.

Quilt Show = 2 sleeps
Queensland = 3 sleeps.

Sweet Pea's Quilts

My first two finishes in Peg's Challenge - two Sweet Pea's Quilts all done, except for the labels, which can't be completed until the babies are born in September. I've added sashings to make the quilts a little larger than the original design and one of Peg's Peepers to the pink quilt. 95% of the fabrics in the quilt tops are from my stash - have been trying to use up some of the stash this year.

This is "Miss T Tipsy" the next installment in "Truly Scrumptious" and two buckets (minus handles) that my daughter Jenni has been making - they are from the new Bronwyn Hayes book "Little Chicken Feather". A friend of hers had twin boys in January (3 months premmie) - the boys are doing really well now ("chubbin' up" to quote Jenni).

Catching Up

A surprise birthday present received last week from one of my dearest Stitchy Friends. Thankyou.

Leanne Beasley's 365 Challenge - March block and "Stairs to the Stars" block from Quilters' Cache. One more block to write up and one more red star block to piece and it will be time to put the quilt together. "Bubbles the Fish"; "Thomas Turtle"; "Miss Bee" and "Caterpillar". Capricorn Quilts' Stitchery BOM - April and May blocks. Lynette Anderson's Noah's Ark BOM Months 2 and 3.