Fiddler on the Roof

My all-time favourite musical theatre/opera performer is Anthony Warlow.  Last year when the new production of "Fiddler on the Roof" was announced I bought tickets for Mum, Elizabeth, Jenni and me.  I was pretty excited by the time Saturday afternoon came around and we were finally going to see the show.  He was fabulous - such an incredible voice, wonderful stage presence and great sense of humour.

I've cut out another quilt from my Hello Darling f/q bundle - Hopscotch, a Thimble Blossoms design (surprise, surprise).  The bundle is now almost gone.

Lots of points to line up in this quilt - not my favourite thing to do but the effect is great with the 6-pointed star being made when they align.

More points to line up with Starlight - most of the triangles for the half-hexagons are made.  I think this one will be really pretty with the pink star points.

A couple of weeks ago I finished binding the two Text Me quilts that Karen quilted.

I have a couple more quilts to finish off then they will be sent off for donation.

Second-last 'Downton Abbey' tonight - a shame this wonderful show is coming to an end.

Catching Up

Not much sewing happening over the last few weeks - family is always number 1 priority.

About 3 weeks ago I started sewing 64 patch blocks for a Bonnie and Camille version of "Patchwork Swoon" and made some of the star points.

The blocks were put aside till last week when I had some time to sew them together and add the borders.

The quilt top is now with Karen for quilting.

I picked up the Fig Tree version of Patchwork Swoon from Karen on Saturday - it looks so lovely.

Photo from Quilting on the Coast instagram

Plenty of binding in the near future.  I also picked up my two "Text Me" quilts - these quilts are for donation.

Photo from Quilting on the Coast instagram

Photo from Quilting on the Coast instagram

At stitching on Saturday afternoon I started cutting out "Aviatrix Medallion" - there is so much cutting out for this quilt.

All the pretty colours are cut out now - just the templates to go.

New Starts

Mum and I had a fun time on Saturday:  a bit of shopping at Miranda Fair, where I was able to find some more background for my Cheerio quilt;

a visit with our favourite baby girl, who will have her first birthday in a week; then home so Mum could go to a surprise 80th birthday party and I was going to 'Sing-along Grease' at the Sunset Cinema in the Wollongong Botanic Gardens.

All the Cheerio blocks are now made and waiting for me to be inspired to work on the layout 

 

"Text Me" blocks have been sitting in my cupboard for almost a year because I was unsure about my background fabric choice.  After discussions with a friend, I decided to make two lap-size quilts and when finished they will be donated.

 

I have some quilts planned for this year and have started collecting fabrics and doing some prep sewing.

Aviatrix Medallion is a lovely bright quilt in solids - my IG friend Amy in Oklahoma is also making this quilt.  I need to make some templates and pick up some pale silvery grey background from Karen, then I'll be ready to start.

Instead of working on a couple things I should, last night I sewed Fig Tree "Butterscotch and Rose" strips together to start Thimble Blossom's "Patchwork Swoon".  I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it and know that I'll be making a second one in Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Heading back up to Sydney shortly to spend tonight with my favourite baby boy.

Presents

Another week has flown by with lots happening:  sewing and family time as well as a lovely surprise.  Arrived home from work on Wednesday evening to find a package on the verandah sent by dear Helen.  Inside was a present for me and a present for little ChaCha.  Both are so sweet.  Love surprises like this.

 

The last 12 Text Me blocks are now together.  Fig Tree fabrics are lovely - the quality of the material is beautiful and the designs are so pretty.  Next step is to work on the layout of the 36 blocks - my least favourite part of the quilt-making process, so the blocks will be put away for a little while and I'll work on something else.

Binding has been sewn onto Basket Case

 and I can sew it down in between stitching Little Chicken Feather.

 

These stitcheries are so sweet.

There's also a little bit of secret sewing happening with some more Go Four It blocks in the Rainbow Rows design.

 

Planning to make a large version of this quilt using loads of scrappy pieces (brights and whites) later this year in an effort to use up the stash.

Had a lovely time with the stitching girls on Saturday afternoon - actually did a bit of stitching while I was talking.  The whole family visited Elizabeth, Matt and ChaCha yesterday - was lovely to spend some time with all my favourite people.

The Weekend

Had a lovely visit last week with Miss ChaCha (and her Mum and Dad) - she is such a delightful sweetheart and doing everything she should.  It's like she's been part of our lives forever.

Plans for the weekend kept changing, just like the weather - boiling hot and humid followed by big storms.  I'm sad it's the end of summer and I don't like the nip that was in the air this morning. 

Some old friends came to visit on Saturday morning - so lovely to see them and catch up.  Haven't seen them since Elizabeth and Matt's wedding.  I had time to sew over the weekend and worked on "Text Me" - started in May last year then came to a standstill in June.  It's a great quilt for chain-piecing designed by Me and My Sister.

Once all the block components were made, the blocks were quick and easy to put together.

I had 7 blocks finished last year; by Saturday evening there were 12 blocks

and I finished another 12 blocks yesterday.

12 blocks to go before my least favourite part - deciding which block goes where.  The feature fabrics are all Fig Tree fabrics from my stash - a variety of ranges and some are great favourites.

Last Thursday night Mum and I went to a charity screening of "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" - loved it!  The characters are wonderful and, once again, Maggie Smith steals the show.

A few social things happening this week, there won't be much sewing/stitching in the evenings.  I've been stitching "Little Chicken Feather" at night - a nice change from all the sewing.

Quilt Tops

After two weeks away on holidays, I was very happy to come home to my sewing machine and finish off a couple of quilt tops.

All of the blocks for "Red Letter Day" have been finished for a while.  Decided to add a border to use up the leftover nine-patch pieces and ended up cutting a few more.  This will be going to Sarah very soon to be quilted - just need to sew up the backing.

Another quilt top that only needed the blocks sewing together is "Basket Case" - since taking the photo I've found a block that has a mistake, so I'll get around to fixing that one day soon.  I'm thinking this will be the last thing I will make with this "Oh Cherry Oh" fabric - as much as I love it, I'm over it.

Five years ago I bought a load of flannel to make a quilt for my nephew.  Thought it was about time I made it for the poor guy.  I love this quilt pattern - it was designed by the lady who taught me patchwork and quilting.  I've made it at least 3 times.

So, a few more quilt tops added to the pile to be quilted.  In May I spent a bit of time cutting out.  One of those quilts is "Text Me", pictured below.  This is a great quilt for chain piecing.  I have 6 blocks finished now.

While I was away a parcel arrived - backgrounds and Fig Tree backing fabric - I love how the fabrics were wrapped.

Eisteddfod starts this weekend so that will significantly cut into my sewing/socialising time BUT the good news is that the flood repairs are underway and I'm hoping will be finished by next week.  Once the carpet is laid I'll be able to move everything back into the spare bedroom and sewing room and I'll be a happy girl.

Using up the Stash

To be honest, I'm a bit over my stash.  I would really love to buy so many of the new ranges but there is too much beautiful fabric in my sewing room.  About 2-1/2 years ago I put myself on a fabric diet and have pretty much only bought backing and background fabrics plus a few absolutely necessary fabrics to finish of WIP's.

The last week or so there has been very little sewing - I'm still cutting out.  A couple of Christmases ago I was given a kit containing these fabulous Holly Holderman (Lakeside Drygoods) fabrics but I wasn't 100% keen on the quilt design - then I bought the "Fireworks" pattern while visiting Sarah's shop.  I started cutting out the blocks at stitching on Saturday afternoon.  I think these will make wonderful Fireworks blocks.

 

I've had Thimbleblossom's "Marmalade" pattern for a while and cut into lots of scraps and smaller pieces of fabric for this design.  There is one more row that couldn't fit onto the design sheet.

The only change I've made is putting two layers for the white petals because the underneath fabric showed through too much - hope it's not too thick for pressing when I sew it together.  I'm enjoying machine blanket stitching.

There has been a bit of shopping over the last couple of weeks - the greens/whites/oranges plus the two aqua fabrics on the right for my "Red Letter Day" quilt.  Sarah and I are counting down the days till the class with Camille Roskelley.   Might make one or two changes to these fabrics ... I have another pink on the way.

I sewed up a "Text Me" block and am really happy with it.  I've had to order some more of the yellow background fabric.

The embroidery machine was doing its thing yesterday while Mum and I were chatting.  I can show the full design and my secret stitching/sewing next week.

On Friday night I had dinner with The Schoolgirls.  Denise gave me this beautiful embroidery - lots of different stitches and techniques.  It's so lovely and suits my loungeroom perfectly.

Cutting Out

In an effort to use up the stash (well, that's my excuse), I'll be making some quilts from patterns I've had for ages and I've also bought a couple of patterns recently.  One I saw on a blogpost about the Pittsburgh Quilt Market is called "Text Me" - really like this one and decided to use some of my Fig Tree fabrics.

Feature fabrics for 36 blocks

I'm using two different background fabrics - one to make the larger squares and the links between the blocks and the other for the smaller squares within the blocks.  Of course, I ran out of one of these fabrics and was fortunate to find some on-line (considering it is from an old range).   Maybe some more cutting tonight.

Secret stitching is finished and now ready to be added to the present - I've enjoyed this.

Found a photo of my "Not Quite Civil War" quilt top together - this was put together about a month ago.

It's been added to the large pile of tops waiting to be quilted - maybe it's time to sort out the garage and set up the frame.

Took my "Scrappy Trip Around the World" with me to Tasmania to leave with Sarah for quilting.  Will definitely be looking forward to this one coming home.