April Finishes.....

Our UK daughter mentioned she had extra luggage allowance so I asked if she would like some quilts to take back.....

Well we had to give her an extra suitcase!  A couple she had chosen still had the binding to finish so I got those done...

Angel Story was sewn some years ago... an Anni Downs pattern done in Tilda fabrics...

It was a fun one to stitch and quilt...

Some coordinating Tilda fabric for the backing....

I made two very similar quilts with these fabrics, one already went to someone and this one is now a finish too....

... all over quilting.....

... and a cheerful backing....

I finished this Urban Street EPP quilt in November 2024 ...

This Wedge quilting sampler was finished in February 2024.....

This one was  finished in May 2022 (2m square)

Charming Stars was finished in January 2023 

Mama Tembo was finished in January 2022.... it's a big quilt...

It is a lovely feeling when the quilts are wanted and now I have an empty shelf!!!  I still have lots I want to make, and lots of tops to finish off...

Righto, Gotto Go...... coffee time....  have a lovely week....

Dancing in the New Year

- well I was in bed fast asleep for the actual event but I am very thrilled to have finished my dancing girls quilt

Introducing Mama Tembu.....

93" x 84"

The African Queen block was drafted and shared freely by Sew Preeti Quilts for International Women's Day in 2017.  Find it HERE....

Coming from Zimbabwe, Africa and danced my way through my youth (and maybe a bit more) I just had to make some blocks with some Africa style fabrics I had in my stash....

 

Some have hands in demurely, and others facing outwards rather precociously....

Quilted on the Sweet Sixteen....

Mama Tembu's Wedding is a song that I danced to so much in the 70's and 80's - the African beat is hard to not dance to. (sung by Margaret Singana with Ipi 'NTombi)

So my African Queen dancing girls is called Mama Tembu.  I very seldom name my quilts but this one is my youth ... so it gets a name.

A lovely bold blue backing and orange binding.....

Righto, Gotto Go..... I had a long day of binding... all 354" of it... thanks to the Tuesday girls for keeping me company...

End of December - almost

Finishing up the year....

I have been cleaning up the sides of my blog, taking down some lists etc.... and noted that I did indeed get quite a lot of finishes done this year....

.... and started lots of new projects.....

.... and kitted up lots of new ones to make.....

Thanks Kris for keeping count on OPAM.... always fun to look back and see what was made in the month....

Thanks to Cheryll and Wendy who each month host a virtual sewing evening..... always fun to go and visit and see what others have made...

Thanks to those who comment on my blog.... it's the best part of blogging for me.... I do reply to comments and if I am not it's because they are on no reply or I don't have an email for you... apologies....

Thanks to those who write blogs... I love visiting you....  being entertained, motivated, encouraged and most often tempted to start something else...

Back to December....

Finishes included.....

A cushion (black-work stitching done throughout the year - thanks to Helen for the arm-twisting to join this one!)

Black work was my new skill/technique that I learnt this year..... very much enjoy it

In the black-work theme I made these as decorations to send out this year....... 

Made on plastic canvas and fiddly diddly ....  15 made altogether

Then I made 25 masks.... boring snoring.....

6 of these little pouches went as gifts for my regular sewing friends.... happy snappy

And during the break I have been quilting quilting away 

Mama Tembo - each dancer is done separately to show off her pretty dress -  and swirls in the sashing and edge triangles..... 

Splendid Sampler - each block (100)  is done differently to fit the design - scrolls in the sashing...

I have made their bindings and machine sewn them on.... will need some cooler weather, loan of the dining room table and a good book to listed to in order to hand sew down the binding...

Wishing you and yours all the very best for 2022 - I am going to endeavour not to take things for granted... well the special things that are important to me anyway.

Righto, Gotto Go.... time to prepare to see the New Year in (which will mean BBQ, shower and pyjamas)

Catch up with you next year .... 

Back to my own sewing.....

I am very pleased that I am still keeping to do a bit of my own sewing each day....

and the machine has been kept busy with my sisters.... this quilt has worked out 86 x 97 inches …. now it's going to the 'waiting to be quilted' queue.....

Hand sewing has meant another lovely block towards Wings quilt.  This is the little bird under the Umbrella flower....

I have been naughty about keeping up with my One Christmas Item each month so did up these last 3 ornaments that I had felt for.... 

I have had 2 kits of stockings... some I made a couple of years ago and then these ones have been this year... 

As a result I have 2 patterns to pass on if anybody would like....   I don't think I will be wanting to use them again.

Please note, these are patterns only … not the kits as described on them....  and they are in good but used condition.

If more than 2 people want I will put your names in a hat and do a draw.

Righto, Gotto Go..... I have another Wings block waiting.... 

Want another look at my Disco Dancing Diva's?

A busy week .....

Since buying my sashing last weekend I got all enthusiastic and sewed some more of my sisters....

These are all the colours/fabrics I am using and I think I have about 3 of each which will make a good size quilt.  I have more fabric so if I need to make a couple more that will be okay.

I will need to lay them out and then work on the sashings… 

Hubz and I worked on the fernery a bit.  He has one area which we are trying to do more orchids and they need more protection.  We noticed how they struggled on the very cold, and the very hot days as the wind goes right through the tunnel created by the structure.

We had a long weekend here (celebrating the Queens birthday) so extra time to play

We bought two pieces of slatted timber and placed them up one side.... and a couple of shelves on the other side.... 

Then covered the one side with shadecloth (we had plenty left over from when we did the top).  Can you see my fat Hoya buds at the top.... 

Then we put up this log and wired it up nice and firm - it's resting on another short log on the right...

Our piece of art!

.. and covered it with elkhorn ferns (a friend kindly gave us a big bunch of these and we have been able to cut lots off).  When they grow it will look lovely and we will stick a few plants on the other blank spaces in due course.... 

The protected orchid space is on the other side … and this side, which will catch the breeze is our little spot for sitting and enjoying the shade and cool. 

I love it....

Whilst backwards and forwards to hardware store to get supplies I finished another Little Penguin jumper.... now there are three! 

These are knitted in pure wool so can be used on the penguins that need some extra help for a while.

This weeks playtime in the sewing room has been spent finishing up the Bloom quilt blocks 

They are all prepped up now and ready for sewing.... not sure when I will do that (I have a retreat day in November so that might be the day!)  I will be doing machine blanket stitch. 

The Bloom blocks quilt was designed by Lori Holt at Bee in my Bonnet

https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/

Evening sewing continues to be the stitching for Les Courtiers.  8  of the same so they are taking a bit of time.... 

Righto, coffee time and I think I will go and sit in my special spot outside and check on the orchids and the Hoya...

My new Hoya I got from Sue earlier this year (came in the post!)  has had it's winter hibernation and there are lovely new shoots growing... I wonder how long till I get a flower off this one...

Have a lovely rest of the week... doing something you love