Where to Start?

The Christmas decorations are still up - the little ones have stayed over during the break and they have enjoyed playing with the train set and everything else plus I've been pretty busy.  I'm back at work now so it will take a while to pack everything away.

Christmas 2017 was lovely - so wonderful that everyone could come home to have Christmas lunch together.  The present frenzy was fabulous fun with the two little ones.

I made a few presents and, as usual, it was a rush to finish everything in time for the big day.  Each year I like to make ChaCha and Gulliver a hand-embroidered decoration for the tree and this year I used a Country Keepsakes' stitchery for ChaCha's and finishing instructions for both of them

 

but with a Bronwyn Hayes stitchery for Gulli's ornament.

 

Also made them a Hugs 'n' Kisses Santa's Treasure Sack each with machine embroidered panels instead of hand embroidery.

Earlier last year Michael sent me a link to a pattern for an AT-AT Walker (All Terrain Armoured Transport Imperial Walker from "Star Wars") and I wanted to have this made for Gulliver for Christmas.  I left my run pretty late and was starting to panic about finishing it - the tiny little cannons on the front of the head were giving me grief.  Was tickled pink with how it turned out.

Just after the little ones were born I bought a pattern "Daisy Dress Ups" designed by Two Brown Birds.  These were fun to make and are great for 2 year olds.  Didn't have enough time to make all of the dress-up patterns but I'll get to them during the year.

 

 

 

At the last minute I decided that the Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs Tree needed a tree skirt.  This was made with the "Moda Love" pattern using fabrics from my stash.  This is a great pattern for a quick quilt because it works with any size squares.

Off Track

The "Handmade with Love" blocks were so quick and fun to put together.  Took me longer to decide on which fabrics to use than it did to make the blocks.

And then the layout seemed to take forever, so I had to just make some decisions and sew the quilt top together.

Finished off a little all-in-one for ChaCha (from another pattern I had used for her mum) but when I tried it on her it was too short in the body.  Took the zip out and added some ribbing.  Tried it on ChaCha the next morning and was told "Needs a zip Nanna" - 2 year olds are too clever these days :)

The new zip has been sewn in and GG is finishing off the handsewing.

Not many "Scrappy Stars" last week - enjoying the Christmas quilt blocks too much.

A friend of mine became a Grandma again a few weeks ago, so "Off Track" will be going to the new baby next time she visits him.

I've used the last of my cute washing line cotton flannel on the back - makes the quilt very snuggly.

Once "Handmade with Love" was together I still felt like making more Christmas blocks, so "Vintage Holiday 2" is well under way.  These blocks end up being ornament-shaped.  Background fabric is cut out and I'm waiting for the sashing and backing fabrics to arrive.

On Saturday The Schoolgirls and I went to see "Beautiful" - what a fabulous show!  Loved it so much.  I wanted it to start again as soon as it finished.   Mum and I went to see "Three Summers" on Sunday afternoon - such a lovely Australian movie, written and directed by Ben Elton, with  great humour, quirky characters, terrific music.

Some fabrics to add to the stack for "Medley" and "Line Dried" arrived yesterday - probably won't start "Line Dried" until next year - more Ohio Star blocks.

One more thing to crochet this year - a Christmas present for Gulliver.  His Dad sent me a link to a pattern he'd somehow come across on FaceBook and let me know that Gulliver might like an All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT Walker) from Star Wars.

Crochet Wreath

Over the last few months in my lunchtimes I've been crocheting all sorts of shapes:

Stars

2 Layer and 3 Layer Flowers

Holly and Leaves

Bird

Little Balls

 and making more pompoms

 all to be stitched onto a covered polystyrene wreath

 to make this

for my daughter-in-law's birthday present.  She was thrilled to bits with it.

All of the designs are from Lucy's blog - loads of photos and very detailed instructions.  Lucy is very generous sharing her very clever ideas.

Still no sewing but maybe back into it tonight - working on a special present at the moment and have a deadline.

A Big Few Days

I've had three trips to Sydney in 5 days and all for wonderful, fun events.

Saturday's trip was for Gabby's cooking class hens night

and Monday night's was to attend the annual Helpmann Awards (Australia's answer to the Tony's).  I go for the entertainment as there are performances by the casts of shows currently running (or coming soon) in Australia:  "Kinky Boots", "Book of Mormon", "Aladdin", "My Fair Lady",  "Greenday's American Idiot", "Construct", "Beautiful", "Velvet".  Any opportunity to see Michael James Scott (The Genie),  Reg Livermore and the hula hoop man from "Velvet" perform - count me in.

Last night's Sydney visit was for a genuine treat -

a birthday present from Jenni, Kurt, Elizabeth and Matt.  kd lang is a truly exceptional talent and I was thrilled to be at her show with Jenni and Kurt and Kurt's family.

Nothing to show from The Pink Room - all secret stuff happening in there; and there is secret crocheting at lunchtimes:

The jumpers for my sweethearts are almost ready to be sewn up.  Lots of ends to sew in.

Hopefully a quiet weekend coming up.  Might take Mum to see "Dunkirk" - looks like WWII is movie flavour-of-the-month these days.

Last week I took three quilt tops and backings over to Karen for quilting:  Swell, Spool Sampler and Hopscotch. 

Picked up Swell from Karen on the way home from work last night - it looks fantastic -

and Spool Sampler quilting is almost finished.  It's looking great too.

FigTree Diamonds quilt top has been a fun challenge to put together using a pile of half-square triangles I sewed up ages ago.

I made the backing last night and was so pleased with the joins in the fabric - it's great when the fabric design is so helpful.

For some unknown reason I had a bee in my bonnet to start Medley, again using my FigTree stash and Bella Solids for the backgrounds - I have smaller pieces in Ivory, FigTree Cream and Butter.

I think there will be just enough of each bakcground colour to make the quilt top.  This is where I stopped last night.  Friendship Star border is next.  This quilt will contain the last of many of my favourite FigTree fabrics.

We had another family birthday last week.  I made another crochet basketweave scarf - this time with fringing at each end - using Bendigo Woollen Mills Bloom wool in grey.

Had a great weekend.  Out with friends for dinner on Friday night for Robyn's birthday (Fruit Tingle cocktails are very nice).

My little Sweetheart ChaCha came for a sleepover on Saturday night and GG (Mum) joined us for dinner.