Ingrid's birthday

This week was Ingrids birthday week, we had a lunch planned for the day, the balloons were delivered just before lunch, which was very good timing

We had a great lunch, lots of chatting and laughter, but the best was we managed to surprise Ingrid with two birthday cakes. One for eating and the other for keeping.

We got a sewing/Quilting themed cake, it was made by Leanne Rhodes of Leanne's Cakes Geelong and she did a fantastic job making this cake.

The cake had so much beautiful detail

I had sent images to the cake maker of Ingrids favourite fabric line and it was incorporated into the edging around the cake

and also there is one of her favourite designers quilts under the needle.

The machine is polystyrene covered with fondant so should last a long time.Ingrid has a glass dome the cake will be going under at home.

This was the cake for eating with Nicks cheeky message!

I gave Ingrid the One Block Wednesday quilt for her birthday, Jasper moved in for the photo!

This quilt has gone to a very good home!

I also made Ingrid a handbag with fabric left from the quilt, it was a BIG challenge for me, but I did get it finished and then forgot to take a photo!! I had handles go on after this photo.

I also made this project bag with left over bits, it has strips on the back.

I had a finish yesterday

A top made with half square triangles, there was supposed to be a snail trail at one end of the blue triangles but that got lost in the pinning and sewing somewhere. So we have a couple of straight lines going nowhere!

I also made the final foundation pieced block for the Star Quilt that has been underway for years and sadly neglected, the purple piece on the bottom is not straight so some unsewing needs to happen.

These are the blocks so far.

and to finish off here is wee Jasper.

I am off now for a walk and then when back will cut wadding.

Happy stitching.

More photos from Nick.

The happy birthday girl.

A couple of Palmers.

Jill

Nick and his cheeky birthday greeting.

Friday

Tonight is another gathering of FNWF, this is #2. An extra gathering that Cheryll has organised as we ate still home bound.
This week a long avoided project saw the light of day

These are from the New Hexagon book by Katja Marek, published in 2014, I think that was when I started. I am not making all 54 blocks, the ones I have made might be a table runner one day.

The photos I rescued from dads old photo albums are now in an album

I appreciate having the photos, sadly not all of them are dated, good to have the record though.

The ones that didn't fit here will go in the family history album.  At least they are off the book shelf!

Another Anthology block made with paper piecing.

Then I attempted another one, with tiny tiny pieces

and after unsewing three times, I decided I was happy with it as it was.

I looked up from sewing one evening and saw this most magnificent sunset, had to go outside and watch for a while.

The ast couple of nights I have been sewing these knitted squares together for a KOGO blanket.

One Block Wednesday came home from the quilters this afternoon, Joan has done an amazing job, so happy with it.

Some happy mail arrived this afternoon too, this beautiful wool from the Great Ocean Road Woollen Mill, it is a polwarth and alpaca, so beautifully soft and light.

A friend from the Guild asked to do a postcard swap, so I have started with this bit of NZ fabric, have given it some free motion quilting, now it needs a backing.

The day has nearly gone, it started off sunny and windy, so I washed the sheets, I had better go get them in as not it is cloudy and still, we are due for a change and rain possibly over night, definitely in the morning.

Join us for a virtual sew along tonight.

Happy stitching.

On the weekend

some chatting and stitching happened, we had a catch up with a few of the Scrub Stitching girls, organised by Chooky

I didn't get a screen photo until some of the girls had said goodbye, but here we are chatting away.

I stitched some hearts while on the laptop, it was lovely to have the catch up.

the hearts got mixed in with some I did in the evening, you wouldn't think purple was my favourite colour would you!!

The next night a few more were done, I am using any scrappy bits of mainly batik I find around in the fabric stash.

The One Block Wednesday blocks have been joined together, I decided to do a random join and was very happy until I went to iron it and found two identical blocks next to each other. So some unsewing had to happen, followed by some more sewing!! Very happy with it now. Today I have joined what I thought was enough fabric for the backing, to another piece of fabric so I definitely have enough for the backing. Need to cut wadding now and then it is ready to be quilted.

I went to get some sticky fruit slice this morning....the two legged mice have been before me.

I spent and hour and a half here yesterday afternoon and another hour this morning...puzzle finished!! One piece missing again, black trousers right hand side for those who have to find it!! I knew there was one missing, this came from Jo, so she had noted it on the box. 

I have a collection of random photos saved from albums of my Dad's, so that might be the next thing to be doing on the dining table, sorting and putting into a scrap book.

Today I made another Anthology block

This one was paper pieced, so I managed to get it the right size!!

I am off to join some wadding pieces together for a little quilt.

Happy stitching.

Sunday today

I had to have a look at the phone to make sure I had the right day!!

Friday I started trimming the One Block Wednesday blocks, some are not straight and need to be fudged but we will see how we go!

Ingrid made me this beautiful hummingbird wall hanging, she made it them misplaced it, found it and posted it! Phew! I love it.

Yesterday I fired up and got these bird feeder cups into the garden, I don't know why I took so long to get it done!! Julie makes these and kindly sent me the washer and bolt arrangement that her hubby welds together to go on the bottom of this cup

and Julie kindly sent me this cup she put together. They make wonderful bird feeders

Now they have seed

Just waiting for the birds, who are very happy in the fig tree, to find them!!

Every time I go near the fig tree I see flashes of colour

I think I was being watched!

Last night I started quilting the Caroline Challenge.

This morning I had a walk around the garden, there are hundreds of white butterflies, they are everywhere,I am thankful we don't have veges in the garden, they would be gone by now.

The galahs are busy having their morning clean up over the road.

The hexie quilt is sewn onto the borders, now it needs backing and wadding. ( And ironing!)

I have been stitching away now and then on the sew a little happiness every day project that is over on instagram. There is so much inspiration and beautiful stitching with this project. I decided on a little kiwi touch, the buzzy bee , a NZ icon.

And a kea, the cheeky NZ parrot

Link to you tube

I am of to sew some happiness,

Happy stitching.