Dear Jane blocks

Here are the latest Dear Jane blocks. The bottom right proved a bit more of a challenge but all in all I am happy with them. Happier still that I am up to date with them.

A very special person sent me this butterfly which is now flying on a "round robin" style wall hanging that I made with three friends. I like that it is there and I can look at it and smile. I tend not to wear brooches but this needs to be on show.

While I was recuperating from my little procedure a "friend" gave me yarn and a pattern to knit hats for ladies undergoing chemo. Here are 4 of the 6 I have done. I did also do one for DD1's birthday. Double ended needles are a pain as the number of times I dropped the stitches off the other end was enormous. That is why friend is in " ". I think I knitted a couple of them twice as I had to unpull to the ribbing, too hard to reverse knit and no way could I pick up the stitches. Anyway they look good and I enjoyed doing them despite the annoyance of seeing those dropped stitches.

Butterflies abound

Today(16th) would have been DS1 31st birthday and as we always associate butterflies with him I decided today was the day to finish this quilt. I have loved the pattern since it first came out and bought the kit( well DH did for my birthday)  two years ago. All sewn and off to the quilters, hopefully in time for Kilmore's quilt show. Alas Leanne found a flaw in one of the sashings so.... more butterflies were cut out and they were so beautifully incorporated into the final quilting, covering the flaw. Leanne did an amazing job as always and I just love it. Next year's quilt show it will be in there.I sewed the binding on and was all set to do the hand stitching when, after getting to the top, I realised I hadn't put a hanging sleeve on. Well that meant it has languished on the bed in the spare room for about 8 months until this morning. I only had the top and the hanging sleeve to hand stitch in place and that is now done so thinking of my beautiful boy while I put in each stitch.

This is some of the beautiful quilting surrounding the butterflies.

A rogue butterfly but you can see how well it was brought in to the quilt. Well worth the wait as the quilting makes it all perfect.

It's been a while

The past two weeks I have had visits from DD2 ( twice ) and DS2 once. DD1 decided a family photo was in order so this is the result. Proud Grampa was not letting go of our 3 month old grandson. He looks most unimpressed though. 

While I was away on our trip I did do some sewing and this is the result. I have had this Helen Stubbings pre printed embroidery for ages and decided that this was an easily portable project for that just in case moment. I realised when I got home that I had stuffed up by putting french knots where the lazy daisy should be but that was soon rectified. Will eventually make it into a cushion for DD2 to have as she was the intended recipient.

Having had a few minor health issues I have not had the mojo to do anything but now that I feel heaps better I am going to get going with the latest Dear Jane blocks. 

I've been everywhere, man

Warning LOTS of photos... Colosseum in Rome

Trevi Fountain

Pisa... leaning tower of... iconic photo!

Bridge of Sighs Venice

Pompeii.. Roman soldier lookalike maybe

Tunnel of Love around Capri

Atomium in Brussels ( DH was a physicist in a previous life ie pre retirement)

Pyramid at the Louvre

Le Tour Eiffel

Moulin Rouge windmill... somehow I was expecting bigger.

THE bridge at Monet's garden. So beautiful

The reason for the trip DS2( trying to avoid having his photo taken)

The other reason... my big brother had a significant birthday and we were there to help celebrate. This is at the station as I said bye, Stockport is the town I was born in.

London and yes they still have working ??? phoneboxes.

The best reason for coming home, our beautiful grandson on Grampa this morning. He has grown soooo much in 5 weeks.

We loved being away, catching up with the son, my family and even some old school friends but it was so nice to "sleep" in my own bed last night. I say sleep as it was hard to get to sleep but when 10.45 dawned I was a bit shocked. Now back to wet and cold Melbourne but couldn't be happier.

the next project..

This is the centre section of the quilt for DS2 GF who is 21 in November. Have to go around all the applique shapes but will do them on the machine. Hope it smooths out a bit!

Here is my gorgeous grandson with his mum and dad, Grampa, (DH) and Great Nana( DH mum).He had just made some noise down below which is why DD1 is killing herself laughing.This is at Easter so lots of family around. LJ is no 13 great grand child for Nana and hopefully no 14 will arrive soon.

Luckily DD2 came down early and got to have some lovely cuddles with her nephew. He was very comfy on her chest that afternoon.

Building blocks finish and a surprise...

Blocks 5-8 of Dear Jane.

Building blocks quilt along is complete. I am so very happy with this and I am 12.5 months ahead of schedule as the 18th birthday isn't until April next year.

The back... almost a double sided quilt and you can see the quilting better.

This young man made his appearance on Monday at 11.53 am after a fairly quick labour. Dad looks so proud here and I just love the photo SIL doing all the correct things. DD1 was exhausted and looks it so will save a family photo for after Easter when I hope to get a 4 generational snapshot.

Here he is , all 8 lb 15 oz of him.(and 5 days early)

Cos my computer was throwing a wobbly, here are blocks 1-4 of Dear Jane.

All the blocks are done

4 house blocks...

.. last two stars...

.. 4 wonky stars (these were a pain to mark so the may be a bit different to Leah's pattern....

... the corner blocks. Top left I added a few flowers and butterflies to my basket( didn't want to do matrix) and the one with all the circles.... well a border was enough for me and I once again added spirals to the ones that weren't as round as they could be!.

 I have started putting them together and have the fabric for the cover strips. Lucky for me Kilmore is on tomorrow so once again I will be using the bias maker , as long as I get the strips sewn before I head off. I have changed the orientation of the bottom baskets... having cut too much off the background on one, i have made it so that the binding goes on that side.  Think it will still look ok. Stay tuned for the big reveal.