Christmas quilt.....

I bought this pattern quite a few years ago (the copyright is 2011) and I love that it is quite different to others I have seen.  The instructions and pictures are hand done rather than typed out and it just feels fun and personal.

The pattern is by Vivian Robinson (Viv's Creations) who I understand sadly passed away some years ago.... for a while her family continued making her patterns available which is how I got a couple but I haven't seen any others around for a while.  It is called Merry Little Christmas

I hope Viv would approve my version of her pattern....

As previously said I did simple quilting around the applique and stitching as well as the borders and then some wriggles in the grey sashing....

Although it's simple to look at I do find going around applique needs concentration and time....

I had done the 'stitchery' by machine … like free motion quilting but only on the top fabric....  I like the scruffy casual look it has made.... and it goes well with the raw edge applique.

A sleeve on the back... and now I need to ask Hubz to look in his shed for a bit of dowling to put in it

The quilt measures 57" x 50" so it's quite big for a wallhanging...

I do love it and look forward to finding just the right spot to hang it up soon....

There is a pillow pattern with the quilt which I would like to do also... but not for this year!

Righto, Gotto Go.....   I am working on the quilting on my Postcards quilt..... 

Flannel on top..... flannel on back....

not the best choice for this weather …. doing a meander over it and ditch stitch the postcards.....  all it needs

Christmas is on the way.......

My first Christmas decorations for this year are here!!!

Isn't this the cutest fat little robin made out of a handprint …..

it may have taken a little while to fly here... but no good posting it could have got broken.... personal delivery was wonderful

… and arrived with a personally picked out angel …..

Since it reminded me of Christmas I started quilting my Christmas quilt..... 

The pictures are so fun that I decided to just outline them and ditch the sides, then some wriggly lines in the grey …. only a few swirls in one area which had a big empty space....

…. the quilting is seen better from the back....  

… and some hand stitching has meant another block for United Stitches has been done... still heaps more....

I am trying to do a bit of my crochet blanket each day.... there are not a lot of rows more to do but it's too warm to have it on my lap for very long.....

Sounds like fires are getting under control, they have been awful.  Some rain has happened (not here but other places that need it badly).  Smoke and dust is still bad.  Thinking of everyone affected.

Righto, Gotto Go... I'm going to get that binding ready for the Christmas quilt so I can sew it down in the evening.

Hello, hello.....

Back from my break and had a lovely couple of hours reading blogs, I haven't commented on many I'm sorry (time constraints) but I do like to read them.   Blogging is my most favourite social media format... really because it is quite chatty between friends.

Last time I showed you our white Jacaranda.... it still has quite a lot of flowers on it.  A couple of weeks ago I went to a local park that has a yellow Jacaranda, which I have never seen flower so I made a special trip to go see.....

in typical Jacaranda style there are flowers all over the base....

this tree is tall and the flowers high up....

… must be so pretty up there....

  the label on the tree if anyone is interested....

… close up of the flowers in the ground... its blurry but you can get a good idea of the colour….

It's a lovely tree

We had a lovely visit by son and grandiegirl and widget and his mom managed to join us for most of the time too

We had time at the beach.... and the pool.... and Australia zoo..... and shared food, read stories, sang lots of MammaMia .... etc etc

I didn't take many pictures, I will have to scrounge some memory ones from the parents

My fridge is covered with new art work..... 

… and comfort food in the form of home made with real icecream and proper vanilla milkshakes were needed this morning....

They left yesterday morning and we had a quiet day at home, Hubz watched cricket after checking up on his plants... and I sewed..... (surprise, surprise)

I have a new pair of pyjamas made from a vintage striped sheet

the top and these tops were all made from the Bondi Top pattern

so 4 new tops for me, some of them Tilda fabrics.

The pattern is pretty simple but they are very comfortable and cool (and I think look okay on my shape) There is a bodice with a small pleat at the back which is great for movement.   The bodice is lovely in a contrast colour but I did all of these a single fabric.

I have completed these two small panels in my hand stitching time..... this is an Anni Downs pincushion pattern I am making....

So... back in the saddle, or rather the sewing chair.  I do find it relaxing as well as fulfilling to make something, and comforting in those times when I feel a bit sad.

Chez is going to run a WOOFA (working on or finishing a UFO) challenge next year so we can encourage one another to finish off projects.... 

If you feel like joining us all just pop over to her blog HERE and let her know

Righto, Gotto Go..... came home from the coast with a huge pile of washing.... damp towels etc that needs sorting and putting away now....

All sorts.....

You may have noticed I'm a scatterbrain... a bit of this and a bit of that... my decorating style is eclectic... just whatever takes my fancy... and my sewing is just the same.... a bit of this and a bit of that... always...

I have done the last of these blocks for my Wings quilt...  

.. and yesterday I sewed the blocks all together.

 

I am a little concerned my fabrics aren't going to last the rest  but scatterbrain here will put it aside for a while and have a think and chats to designer Michelle

In my garden our pink hydrangea is blooming beautifully.  we bought this as a small plant less than a year ago....  I have two others, still only with little buds and different colours ...

.. and our white Jacaranda is flowering... a little bit scint as it is suffering from not enough water

I did some grid quilting this week.  I avoid marking as it takes up a lot of time but it was needed for this one

Gentle waves from corner to corner

and back taking care of the directions 

remove the gridlines and apple core quilting...  

This could easily be done using a walking foot if you prefer

the quilting was for the back of cushions.... 

When I made the box pouch last week I quilted up a bigger piece of fabric... I couldn't throw out the piece I had left... so it has made up another mug rug for my house...

Hand stitching has resulted in another United Stitches 4" block stitched up....

… and something new started!

On Thursday my son and a grandiegirl arrive from UK for a visit....

Her new hedgehog quilt is on her bed and a welcoming committee have settled in...

I will be having a bit of social media break …..

Righto, Gotto Go... I guess I better make up a bed for her dad too!! haha...

Have fun, keep safe, special thoughts to those affected by the crazy scary fires....

Postcard flimsy.....

I already had some of the blocks sewn together.....

so it didn't take too long to join the rest and we have a finished flimsy.... it is 60 x 70" and fits nicely over my queen size bed

some wideback flannel has been ordered - and then I want to quilt loosely so it will be a soft and snuggly quilt for using in a cold climate....

One of my friends moved to Brisbane a little while ago and I was able to visit her last week.  I had this lovely piece of fabric which seemed perfect for a new home so I made up this little zippy box bag.

I'm not sure if it was my pattern reading skills but it was very fiddly putting in the zip.  I love the look so I will have a search and see if I can find an easier pattern to follow.  I like the quilted look (its not obvious but I used a stipple all over and a firm iron on bag wadding)

Another little Wings block is done.... the ladybirds are sweet 

I have been doing Jane's sampler course on facebook.  Each block has one more piece than the one before to make it increasingly difficult.

The last block in the series is the 12 piece woven block....

The next step will be the sashing.  I laid out my blocks together.... and found some light cream fabric to use for next time...

It has been a fun project to do... and it will be a sweet mini quilt at the end of it all....

Righto, Gotto Go..... Sunday morning coffee to be had.....