The blessing of friends ... especially friends who stitch!

This lovely thing arrived for me yesterday from a special friend. It was stitched for me as a most thoughtful gift in sympathy for the passing of my Dad last year. The sentiment, "Flowers for pleasure, memories to treasure" is just perfect. Thank you Wendy - I just love it. I especially love all those tiny french knots on the ric rac - very impressive! I am wondering whether it is as obvious to others as it is to me that Wendy has Dutch heritage. Perhaps it is the blue & white theme, but there is something very dutch about this cushion in my mind. I have several good friends with Dutch parents & The Netherlands has a special spot in my heart.

WIRSP #4

This is my progress on a what will be a particularly slow, but very satisfying project. I am making these blocks at times when I am busy & have little time to sew, but just need a little 'fix' at the sewing machine. The blocks are made entirely from my scraps. I was inspired by this quilt from Crazy Mom Quilts who in turn was inspired by Melly & Me's scrappy cabin challenge. There will be something very satisfying about creating a quilt from 'nothing'.

WIRSP #3

This is block 1 of many of a quilt for the boy in my life! I would like to get it finished before he thinks it is 'uncool' - he is nine, so I don't have too long! The pattern is called 'Tim's Things' and is by Anni Downs of Hatched & Patched. It has very cute stitcheries of 'boy stuff' like frogs & tractors & cricket bats.

WIRSP #2

This little number has been in progress for some time. It is a wonderful design by Carey Golledge and was published in Australian Homespun #36. It is called 'Memories of Heathcliff' and is made from Moda's Wuthering Heights fabric range. Why am I stalling on this one? Those dreaded pinwheel blocks will not behave & I am stumped on borders!

Quilt-a-long block 9

WIRSPs?

May Britt has issued a WISP challenge for January, and it has been inspiring watching girls from all over the globe finishing projects left, right and centre! I am hoping February might be my WISP month, once everyone is back at school. I thought I would show you some of my WISPs, or are they more aptly named WIRSPs - Works in RIDICULOUSLY slow progress! I bought this lovely kit almost exactly 12 months ago, and call it my 'Just Because' quilt, just because it was pretty & I liked it (a 50% off price tag also helped)! It is the first kit I have ever purchased. The blocks are done and it is high on my 'to do' list as it shouldn't take too long to finish - famous last words!!

Simple beauty, nothing more to be said!

Hey Jude

This is the lovely 'Jude the Obscure' rose by David Austin. I must confess, I had no idea about the naming of this rose but a quick bit of research & I now know it was named after the novel written by Thomas Hardy in 1895. The only Hardy novel I have read is 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' which I studied at school. I remember it being unlike anything I had ever read and was dark & disturbing, but entrancing - I couldn't put it down, wondering what could possibly happen next. It would be interesting to read it again all these years later.

Gifts for my littlest blossie

I love Rosalie Quinlan's designs and when she released her range of dollies & accessories a few years ago, I promptly purchased the entire set of patterns. I set about to make all of them for my youngest daughter, but have as yet only managed these:My version of "My Dolly" Kinder bagand "My Dolly" Lollie.

And dollies must be comfortable, so I made a little pillow to match. The heart stitchery is from a Bareroots pattern called Flower Quilt #51.

Pretty & pastel for a little princess

I had a request a couple of days ago from Danetta to show you the quilt in the second photo of my header, so here 'tis:This is a cot quilt made for my niece and is a simple stitchery design by Sue Brennan of Weigela Design who I have previously mentioned here and here. Unfortunately, her designs are not available online, but I can email an address and phone number to any Australian girls who are interested. She could certainly do phone orders within Australia. Hopefully, clicking on the images will show you more detail of the stitchery designs.