Weekend

Finished stitching down the binding on two quilts over the weekend.  "Master Plan"

and another quilt that is a surprise for someone in the middle of the year, so I can't show it until after it has been given plus I will be making the same quilt as a surprise for someone else.

I'm still working on "Jiggery Pokery" and "Castle Gardens" blocks are ready to be sewn into a quilt top but I've also been spending time knitting.

Michael and Peta took Gulli on a roadtrip on Saturday but didn't tell him where or why they were going.  This is Gulli's new friend Wynstan a beautiful brindle boxer.  I met him yesterday - he's adorable.

Mum and I went to see "The Duke" on Saturday - we really enjoyed the film.  Second time I've seen it (saw it in early March for a local Rotary Club fundraiser to help eradicate polio) - I knew Mum would love it.  And yesterday we spent the day with Jenni, Kurt and Vincent - a fun time with our beautiful family, then I went to see a local production of "Chicago" - absolutely outstanding.  Loved it!

New Year, New Starts

New Year's Day I made bindings for the Rainbow Cot Quilt and Sweet Escape and sewed them onto the quilt.  Rainbow Cot Quilt is finished and Sweet Escape might be finished in the next day or so - it was put aside over Christmas and I've been sewing the binding down this week.

Finished stitching down the binding last night while watching the AO Rally for the Bushfires

Way too dull at home this morning to take photos of the finished quilt.

Lynell and I enjoyed "All You Need is Love" so much - we had a lovely afternoon at the Opera House - drinks at the Opera Bar, dinner at the Opera Kitchen a walk around the Opera House and in to the Botanic Gardens followed by a coffee inside the Opera House before the concert.  Again, we didn't want the concert to end - such brilliant singers, musicians and the fabulous Beatles songs.

Many years ago, all my free time was taken up doing cross stitch.  I loved it.  Hadn't cross-stitched for so many years until I picked up Elizabeth's "Angel of Mercy" to finish off late last year.  While rummaging around the sewing room after Christmas I came across "Merry Season" , a Shepherds Bush design I've had for about 18 or so years - I also had the fabric and buttons.  Made a start and

five days later it was finished.  I need to find a frame and then I can put it up next Christmas.  The fabric is large gauge (around 18 threads/inch) and I used 4 strands of DMC, so it was very quick to stitch up.  Really enjoyed making this and it may prompt me to drag out another long-time UFO.

I've made two Scrappy Trip Around the World quilts and when I saw a post on Instagram for a sew-along to make another, I started cutting strips to make a second low-volume version with aqua feature strips this time.

Really happy with how the first four blocks look together.  I'll need to make six blocks per week to keep up with the SAL because I'm making mine queen bed size.

I'm running very late with the "Hide and Seek" SAL - most people have their quilt tops together and I've just finished step 3.  Might have time to start step 4 on the weekend.  I need a new cutting mat - turned this one over and it's perfect.

Haven't done any of "Summer Moon" or "Long Time Gone" for months nor have I started "Gypsy Wife" SAL, which I also signed up to make.  Packing away Christmas is going very slowly this year as weekends are being spent with the family and friends and I'd rather sew and watch sport during the week.

I saw two movies recently:  "Shaun the Sheep - Farmageddon" and "The Gentlemen".  "Shaun the Sheep" was a fun movie for the little ones and plenty of laughs for the adults in the audience.  "The Gentlemen" is definitely not for everyone but I loved it - haven't laughed so much for ages.  For me, Colin Farrell stole the show - his character was hilarious.  The language is extremely coarse - hearing Lady Mary from "Downton Abbey" swear in a Cockney accent is a shock to the system.

Oh Darlin'

Lynell and I had such a great time on Friday night.  Sydney Harbour at night is one of the best views in the world.

Dinner at the Opera Kitchen

Opera Kitchen Tasting Plate - yum!

followed by the most wonderful show - brilliant songs, singers and band.

Jack Jones is such a superstar and his version of "Oh Darlin'" had the audience on its feet.

Saturday I was back in Sydney - took Mum up to visit her great-grandbabies.  Shouldn't call them "babies" now they're both walking/running, talking and singing non-stop.  Sunday was a busy day at the eisteddfod - 2 weekends to go then it's all over for another year.

Last night I turned on the sewing machine and sewed some Spool Sampler blocks - it seems a long time since I did any sewing (but not really).  I think the little house blocks are my favourites so far.

The Two of Us

"The Two of Us" is a very cute little bag designed by Rosalie Dekker.  I first made this back in January 2012 for a friend's birthday present, and thought it would make a very cute little bag for little ChaCha using some Tasha Noel charm squares a sweet friend had given to me.

I reduced the pattern by 20% to make it more ChaCha-size.

The jacket and overalls have been finished for months except for the buttons.  Delivered these to ChaCha as well - they should fit next year but you never know with her because she's so tall.  More patterns from the book I bought when Michael was a baby.

Mum and I had a a great day in Sydney on Saturday - shopping at IKEA then visits with our two little sweethearts and my bigger sweethearts.  ChaCha and Gulliver are so much fun and very entertaining.

"Cheerio" is now sewn together and waiting to be quilted.  I love how fresh and happy all the colours look together with the white/red polka dot background fabric.

Sunday afternoon was quilting time - "Marmalade" is done.  The binding is on too - hoping to stitch it down tonight.

Happy to recommend long-arm basting rather than pins - pulling out the threads in much easier than pinning a quilt.  I have another quilt that Karen basted for me a while ago and it will be quilted soon (I hope).

A work colleague and I went to the Helpmann Awards last night - this is an annual ceremony for live theatre in Ausralia and there are performances from various shows throughout the ceremony.  Lots of celebrity spotting.

"Matilda" was nominated for 13 awards and won all 13.

Busy, busy, busy

Lots has happened over the last 10 days or so - some things wonderful, some things not so great.

During the night Saturday week ago, all of NSW east coast and parts of Qld were hit by a huge weather event and, once again, the bedroom and sewing room at the back of my house flooded, even though I had installed new drains and done a lot of remediation work after the last flood a bit over 2 years ago.  The following day all the furniture was moved out of the two rooms thanks to my wonderful family and I was able to set up a sewing area in the family room.

These once-in-a-lifetime rains are happening too often.  Further rain events created even more havoc in Tasmania.  Seems strange that I had lived in the house for 24 years with no flooding and the last two times we've had lots of rain in a short space of time, the house has flooded.  

On Friday the wardrobe was installed in my new bedroom.

Much of Saturday was spent moving into the bedroom, thanks once again to my fantastic friends,

and moving all my sewing furniture and stuff into my previous bedroom.  I'm so sad to not be using my lovely sewing room any longer but it makes more sense to have my sewing room at the front of the house - good news is that the room is also pink.

Yesterday I bought curtain fabrics and a blind for my new bedroom so there will be some curtain-making over the next few weeks.

On Saturday afternoon Karen called in with the Scrappy Churndash all quilted - it looks fantastic.

I made a scrappy binding

and two nights of tv watching later, the quilt is finished.

I've received a request for another Piccadilly Circus quilt, so I started cutting strips for that on Sunday afternoon - needed a change from all the furniture arranging.

No navy in the quilt now - more green, aqua and pink

Hard to believe little Gulliver turns 1 next Sunday - time is passing way too quickly.