Once again I have been busy..

I have finally got DD1 and SIL's wedding quilt quilted and bound and they now have it and can read all the messages that people wrote for them on their wedding day. Luckily they have been away on a long honeymoon so that gave me plenty of time. I am super happy with the way it has turned out and hope they like it.

This is one that the Groomsmaid drew for them. (I backed it with red so I think that is why it has a slight pink tinge)

One butterfly for DS1

DD1 is expecting and two weeks after that announcement came the announcement of a cousin having a baby so.... this is the quilt I have made for that baby( got some of the fabric in Brissy with Michelle). I just love this and am actually looking forward to quilting it. Know what I want to do so just need the get up and go to baste it and then get cracking!

Babies galore... my osteopath is also expecting so I got this cot panel and practiced FMQ. Love doing this as all the lines are already there.I have another baby quilt( apart from the one for my grandbaby) to do, as another of DD1's cousins is going to be a dad in May.

Yesterday I sat and made 8 bibs out of a towel I got very cheaply. Need to put the ribbing on the rectangular ones and velcro on a couple of the others but they are okay. Not doing this again though! Preferred the one like the ducky one.

This is a gift that was sent to me by someone who gave our family the ultimate gift in April last year.We share a special bond not only for that gift but in our shared loss. Thank you is inadequate.

Kilmore Quilt show

This last weekend was Kilmore's quilt show. Here is my AHHH quilt finished and hanging. Was so happy with it but after quilting it I discovered I had left 3 papers in the EPP hexies!!!! AHHHHHH I had removed about 7 as I found them but those other pesky ones slipped through the net.

I also entered my "Thankful" quilt which I just love.

Rosalie's crazy quilt which shh, she doesn't want to say anything ... but she got second in the viewer's choice. Congratulations Rosalie. It is a stunning quilt. The red quilt is a half size version of Just takes two.

This was a tribute to a very special Nanna. Love the whole thing and I'm sure the Nanna in question would have been very happy with this.Can't remember whose quilt it was.

This is the label on the back and it is one of "Nanna's" Doilies. How special.

Saw Dianne making this at retreat and don't those flying geese borders add so much to it.

Bali wedding ring ... think this won a viewer's choice but not sure. The colours are so subtle and beautiful. The work that went into this... mind blowing.

Just because...

and just because.

The show was a great success and I enjoyed seeing (4 of) my quilts hanging up and seeing the wide variety of quilts. I'm sure the Kilmore Quilter's website will have lots more pics.

Sunny Brisbane

Last week was spent up in sunny Queensland.... and yes it was hot! Here is my acclimatised daughter saying it was "warm" and wearing a jacket!. She is working up there and loving the independence and the weather.

I also got to see her do some of this...

.. and this. Love those extensions. This is something that 18 months ago wouldn't have been possible but she just loves it. The teacher did ask if I was likely to attend a class(as a participant) Not on your life. The bruises that DD2 has following this are unbelievable so I will give it a miss.

I was also very lucky to catch up with Michelle from Rag Tag stitching. She took me to The Quilters' and Embroiders' store where I picked up the green and apricot fabric for a baby quilt that will be needed in April for a niece's baby and some threadworx thread which will help embroider some butterflies on a quilt for a grandbaby that will appear in March. Rosalie and I also wanted one of Michelle's new books so rather than have them posted I picked them up from the designer in person. I was also given a little bag of goodies. Thank you Michelle, it was a great morning, the shopping was good , the coffee and apple tart scrumptious and the company wonderful. I actually had my camera but bad blogger that I am I forgot all about it. Next time.... ( probably June as it will be cooler!)

Miss Elizabeth is finished.

Finally Miss Elizabeth is

 done. I am thrilled with the way it looks... the picture doesn't really do it justice. Maybe I should have hung it on the washing line.... I have the backing fabric and will take it to my friendly quilter when I have asked her when she can fit it in. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the best fussy cut star (at the top) but when it is quilted I will post another( better) photo.

Linking with Hibiscus stitches again.

Another border goes on

On Sunday I decided enough was enough. .. I had to get the next bit of Miss Elizabeth done. This is border 3 with all the elongated hexies. They are supposed to be sewn on by hand but due to a very sore arm and shoulder( as well as being impatient) I decide it would be much easier to sew them on the machine. The quilt police can take a day off as my arm and shoulder said a big thank you for not being over used. Am loving the way it is looking.

I have been very careful at measuring my borders and in the pattern it clearly says that , as the pattern writer had used smaller hexies, one less would be needed. Hmmmm well I actually needed two less so the sides went from 23 to 22 to 21 and the top/bottom from 18 to 17 to 16. Of course I thought I had done 78 of them, realised I had done 80 and then only needed 74. The same has happened with the stars for border 5. I have made 33 of them .. I need 32 but as my quilt is coming out much smaller I may only need ??28. Just in case you were wondering, yes I can count but the ability obviously left me when I was preparing these last two border! Off now to put on the thin blue border and then will measure to see how many stars I can actually fit!

Linking with Anthea at www.hibiscus-stitches.blogspot.com.au

What do you do....

...when waiting to farewell a traveller. The answer of course is sew.

Thanks to Jo and her wonderful ideas, I have made 7 of the foot slider grippy thingies and two little pouches. I actually only did 6 of the grippy things today but thought I might as well put everything in the picture.The pouches are easy if a little fiddly. I have used my grippy thing and it WORKS! No more looking for the foot pedal when sewing. I am in Heaven.

As I said I needed to keep myself occupied this morning as DS2 left about half an hour ago on his way to Lyon ,France, via Singapore and Zurich, to continue his studies for the next 12 months. Along with his GF , his Dad and I took him to the airport and bid (on my part ) a teary farewell. The endless waiting and queuing was a bit fraught but he got through to Passport control with plenty of time. Having had DD2 leave for Brisbane 5 weeks ago we are now empty nesters and it will take a bit of getting used to but I am sure it won't take long.

Slow progress with Miss Elizabeth

I have been a bit slack with Miss Elizabeth but I have managed to get the 28 x 1/2" hexies that go between the stars on the outer border. I tried fussy cutting but it wasn't as successful as I had hoped... ah well.I also did some more elongated hexies. I have all the papers but need the scraps so I need to go foraging in all the bags etc.

Three stars that fit around the last border. Don't think I will fussy cut all of them but I will do some.

I also managed to get all the blocks for DD1 and SIL's wedding quilt so I have put them together. I still managed to get two in the wrong direction( the cream has self lines on the material and I wanted them all to go horizontally) It is looking good so a thin black border, some half square triangle blocks with red to make another border and then black binding. Think I may get it finished by Christmas!

Linking with Anthea again at Hibiscus stitches.