I finished FIVE quilt tops today!

Today I went off to Design Circle at Material Obsession for my monthly dose of stitching, and fun. I finished off the top for the grandbaby's first quilt. It's just a simple strippy flying geese quilt. When I get camera battery charged I will take a photo and share.

Then, tonite, when i got home, all motivated by my accomplishment, I went in search of fabrics to finish off grandbaby's second quilt. And, what a lovely surprise - in my UFO box there was four finished quilt tops!

I don't know why previously they had been considered unfinished, but tonite, I have announced them finished! Perhaps I had imagined a border, or two? That wont be happening - off to the quilter they go!

One is a small quilt that Tara-Lea made when she was about 10. I think now is a very good time to have it finished off and give it to grandbaby for her dollies!, Then there is a rather small one (made in a class with Jackie Robinson to explore a technique of tessellations), also good for dollies, Eloise can have that.

There is a lap-size quilt that I made in a workshop with Dijanne Cevaal about three years ago - nope it certainly does not need that previously planned border. And what's more, I even have a length of yellow fabric that will go just nicely as the backing.

My last find, and for the life of me I cannot see why this remained a UFO, is a row by row swap quilt top created about TEN years ago with a bunch of SCQuilters members. Now, after languishing in my UFO box, unjustly it seems, it will be off to the quilter with the others.

What a productive day - FIVE (including the baby quilt) tops FINISHED.
dls

Stitching in Lamb's Valley

Here I am with Aunty Krissy and Aunty Doffy.

Just arrived back in Sydney after my lovely few days in Lambs Valley. The weather was gorgeous, although it was windy, and Friday was quite chilly. By the time this morning dawned the wind had gone, and we sat out on the deck to have coffee and cake.

Homemade - of course. Lavender and Honey cake (front), and Whole Orange cake (at back) and coffee made by our personal barman and barista - aka Uncle Hugh - on his wiz-bang coffee machine!

We had great fun sewing for a few days. The main objectives were for my two aunties to cut up a whole bunch of doilies, ready to make a quilt each, and for me to start and finish two cot quilt tops for my eagerly-anticipated grandbaby due in November. Alas, I did not have enough of the pieces cut out for one, so that only got 1/5th done. The other one was a whole batch (or would that be flock?) of flying geese in warm and cool colours - a la Material Obsession style! I am afraid to sew the strips together, I need Kathy's input for the next step.

While we were quietly sitting by the fire last night, me arranging the flying geese blocks, Aunty Krissy hand-quilting (the lovely sampler quilt she learnt with Lynn Hewitt), and Aunty Doffy making a gorgeous Asian-style dinner, I found out that two of my great-aunties (my grandmother's sisters), are sewers and they do patchwork! I think I have a mission to embark on ... to catch up with them, and their quilts! I haven't seen either of them for more than 20 years - to be perfectly frank, I was surprised they were still alive.

The embroideries were very bravely cut up, and here they are ready to be sewn into six strips of 2x2in-wide strips. Both have a king size bed, and this is all the doilies used, so it was a close call, and fortunately no squabbling broke out, they shared very graciously. The strips will be off-set with silk ribbon and wide fabrics strips. Should be gorgeous! Will share a photo when they're finished.

And, here are a few of the views we had to gaze upon, in between sewing and eating ... sigh


As I drove back down the mountain (we were 300m above sea level - which you just may have guessed by the view) I came across the herd of wild horses that live on my Aunty and uncle's property and there was the brand-new-just-born-yesterday foal ... too cute!


This little fellow was named, by Auntiesx2, Patch to honour our weekend of patchwork sewing. While we were sewing his mummy was labouring to bring him into the world; how nice it was that today was warm and sunny for the little Leo bloke! Hey, just had a thought - he was born on August 1 - Horses Birthday!... omg... how clever.

Later tonite, after kids are asleep, will google stuff to do in PARIS - how many sleeps now Erica? Got the tickets on Friday - it's really happening ...

dls

We are getting a PINK one...

I mentioned I was to be a grandmother in my last post... today my heart is bursting with even more love!

We received the results of the chromosome tests that my 25 year old daughter had to have (due to abnormal readings at ultrasound). How agonising it was to wait for the result... but, now we know it's a PINK one, and she is absolutely healthy.

If i thought two weeks was an agonising wait, how do you think Ill cope til mid November to meet the wee one? I suppose I can keep myself busy with knitting and making cot quilts. I have two sets of fabrics ready for the quilts... in girly colours - I must've known!

back to duQ - I am researching PINCUSHIONS, for a special feature - they're gorgeous!

xxdls