Deadline looming

Pin, pin, pin ...

... quilt, quilt, quilt!

Sew faster Bloom, sew faster!

The quilt top for my daughter's birthday is finished. Now I just need to quilt & bind it in 24 hours! Don't like my chances, but I've not conceded yet! Must pause though for a quick caffeine boost & a piece of this luscious chocolate & raspberry brownie (recipe here) made by my girls yesterday.  

Quilt progress

My apologies for teasing you with the beginnings of a quilt and then going AWOL for days. We have been at the farm with no internet connection. Despite my absence from the blog, I have an update on the surprise birthday quilt for my daughter - some progress, but will it be enough? 

DAY 2: Whoops, no sewing at all! Spent all day in the garden, & fell in a heap in the evening, watched The Edukators - very cool movie!

DAY 3: More cut, cut, cutting. All the neutral brick blocks.

Lay out blocks & decide on placement. 

Days 4 & 5 : Sewing vertical columns of blocks together.

I've so far managed to keep this a secret from Daughter #1, sewing at nights after she is asleep. Her birthday is on Tuesday, & at this point, I really have no idea if it will get done. I will have all of Monday to work on it as she will be back at school. Anyway, it is a whole lot closer to completion than it was 5 days ago!

Attempting the impossible?

It is my eldest daughter's 13th birthday in exactly one week. I am determined that she should have a new quilt on such a momentous day - only trouble is, I've not started it!! Is it possible to make a quilt in a week? Surely this is no challenge for many of you, but for me? It will mean fighting my perfectionist & procratinating ways, and taking up a new mantra of 'just do it'! DAY ONE Step 1: Send aforementioned daughter to Grandma's for a sleepover so that I can work in secret. Step 2: Choose a suitably realistic design. I so wanted to make her this one, with it's 30+ stitcheries - no Bloom, not going to happen! I settled sensibly on this one. Step 3: Toss fat quarters of fabric all about, especially her favourite Amy Butler ones, & contemplate them MOMENTARILY. Do not take hours to decide - you can do it Bloom, you can!

Step 4: Just start cutting, no lingering. DO NOT FUSSY CUT ... except perhaps for the stripes ... and maybe the spots? Cut late into the night.

Step 5: Just check, in the harsh light of day, that the fabrics so hastily chosen the night before do actually look OK. Hmmm, perhaps more blue? No Bloom - push on! Hopefully, back soon with some progress!

D is for dots, dollies & duck egg blue

1. Polka dot cases, 2. Duck eggs, 3. I love this combo!, 4. Handmade patchwork wristlet using Amy Butler fabrics, 5. front view of judrops in wonderland, 6. Lolly Dollies!, 7. Handhelds: Binky Buddy No.09, 8. blue spot baby shoes I've made today, 9. Spots quilt top, 10. Polka-dot heart, 11. Follow your heart - linen dresses, 12. red polka dots, 13. Completed doll quilt: Strawberry-Rhubarb Πr2, 14. Not My Granny's Bag in Duck Egg Blue, 15. Untitled, 16. KIKI japanese kokeshi doll softie

My mum, the miracle worker

Mum has been staying with us for the last week, and she almost conquered my ironing pile for me - a miracle indeed!! She also had some time to do some sewing. She has finished this bag:It is her version of 'Ready for an Outing' by Melly & Me. It was published in Australian Country Threads Volume 7 No 9. I made this bag too, earlier in the year. Mum also finished the quilting on this quilt for my Grandma, & now only has to bind it. My Grandma is 88 years old, and has lived all her life on a farm. A recent stroke has unfortunately meant she has to move to town & live in a retirement home. This is an enormous shock for her. Mum is hoping a quilt may help her to feel at home. I only hope she will use it! My Grandma is from a generation who kept things in the cupboard, because 'they are too good to use'. We figure, that at the age of 88, it is time for her to get things out and enjoy them!

(Another) retail confession

Quilter Going Bananas suggested I should 'fess up on my purchases on our quilting trip last week. I feel Mum & I were reasonably self-restrained, despite the considerable temptations! We bought these fabrics ('Flea Market Fancy' by Denyse Schmidt & 'Summer in the City' by Urban Chiks)...

... to make up this pattern ('Candy' by Melly & Me) ...

... some 'Freshcut' by Heather Bailey, just because (!) ...

... a layer-cake-friendly 'Figgy Pudding' pattern by Figtree Quilts ...

... and a couple of fat quarters to add to my Dear Jane stash. These are from a beautiful new Moda reproduction range called 'Collection for a Cause'.

Weren't we well-behaved?!

Fancy a virtual tour of one of Australia's loveliest quilt shops?

After a very busy last week of school, my Mum (who is visiting for a few days) and I treated ourselves to a visit to The Home Patch, owned by the lovely Anni Downs, designer of Hatched & Patched designs. Oh, what treasures lie beyond this little green door! Unfortunately, Anni was away in Tasmania doing a workshop & many of her most recent samples were travelling with her, but Margaret, who was taking care of the store for the day, generously gave me permission to take some photos to show you all. So enjoy the tour!

Beautiful quilts line the walls ...

... here ...

... there ...

... and everywhere!

Luscious fabrics at every turn ...

Tempting bundles of loveliness tied up with bows ...

Freshcut fat quarters ...

Felts in every colour imaginable ...

... and felt designs from Anni ...

Sweet dancing dollies ...

Some Hatched & Patched needlepunch originals

... and more samples of Anni's whimsical stitchery & applique designs ...

Overwhelmed with creative inspiration we dragged ourselves from this wonderful shop, returned home & started planning our next projects! What better way to spend the day?!

Walk like an Egyptian!

I have been helping to make costumes for the school musical, which has a decidedly Egyptian theme. Two performances down, two to go! It has been lots of fun. Joining a handful of other mothers, and taking on the task of making 150 costumes is a surefire cure for my perfectionist tendencies! There was some pretty rough sewing happening - LOL! By the end, my mantra had become: "If you can't see it from Row P, it will be just fine"! The costumes looked great en masse ... ... and the pure joy on the children's faces as they dressed up and performed made it all worthwhile.

C is for cherries, crochet & colour

Last week of school for us, & musical performance week. I have been helping with costume-making for the last two school terms and tomorrow is the big dress rehearsal, so most of my sewing time this week will be costume-driven. I will leave you with the creative goodness of others:1. Blanket-WIP, 2. Suede and leather flower brooch - Cherry ripe, 3. Cherry top, 4. Untitled, 5. crochet skirt, 6. lille_maus, 7. Minny Muu Baby Quilt, 8. Bolsa Envelope Cherry, 9. cherries jubilee pillow, 10. wool eater, 11. Sweet Cherry Pie Lola Apron, 12. Farmer's Market Fabric by Sandi Henderson, 13. Cherry Insa, 14. napkin with button cherries, 15. A colorful weekend!, 16. Anne Claire Petit crochet wide Stripe Fox Since I'm talking colour, be sure to visit oh, fransson! and wonder at the evolution of her amazing Paintbox quilt, here, here , here and here.  I will lose sleep tonight thinking about this quilt - so, so clever & inspiring! May your week be creative, Bloom.