It's a finish!

I have repaired the quilt I gifted to Catherine 17 years ago. Never done a repair to a quilt before so this was a steep learning curve.. ..... I started with replacing the worse block, a log cabin which had two badly sun-rotted logs and replaced it, sewing one seam on the machine, the other threes sides I hemmed into place.  I was lucky to find little strips of the original fabrics in my strip stash.

Two more repaired blocks. Fabric strips under the ricrac darned and hidden by pink ricrac. Herring bone stitch around the centre of the Star square hopefully supporting thinning fabrics and a flower to cover the worst bit.
I gave the quilt a good wash on a gentle machine wash and dried on the line overnight when it was cooler. I didn't want it in the direct sun!

So, fingers crossed it works. And fingers crossed England wins their World Cup match tonight!!!

17 years old Quilt back for repair

 

One of the first large quilts I made back in 2001 was this single bed sized quilt called "In the Pink" for my cousin's daughter's 30th birthday.

I was so pleased to learn recently that the quilt is still on Catherine's bed at her parents' house  and she still enjoys it.

Unfortunately her room gets a lot of strong sunlight so the colours have faded badly, especially in the bottom half of the quilt. The hot sun has actually rotted two of the fabric strips in the log cabin blocks as you can see in the second photo. One of the appliqued elephants is coming adrift and the black stitches which represent his ear have disappeared!

 

So it's back with me  for repair - something I haven't done before so tomorrow I'm taking it to my Patchwork Group meeting to ask for advice.

 

Interestingly, 17 years later I still enjoy making Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Bill blocks ( I have some on the go as handwork at present) and I also applique names on the front of quilts, Baby quilts these days.

 

Happy memories.

Traditional block but new to me

Here are my Sunshine Lotto blocks for July, the theme was Pink and Green.
I took the opportunity to try a new - to me - block, the Shoo fly. Middle two blocks in this photo.
 I thought the pink rabbit fabric would make a fun centre to the block and I'm happy with them.
These will be added to the 4 June blocks.
Off to the Post Office tomorrow.

Sunshine June blocks

I only managed to make 4 blocks in June as we were away half of the month.
The theme was Novelties. Im happy with the way the turquoise with white spots Wonky star shows up and emphasises the Woodland animals fabric.
I've had the teddy bear fabric in my stash for several years and never found the right place to use it. So much character in each teddy bear it has always seemed a shame to cut it up - so I cut large centres for the blocks.

Woodland World baby quilt

I have finished the baby quilt I am gifting to my daughter's friend Aimie for her baby boy Tristan who was born on 5th June. We have known Aimie since she was 13 so we are all excited about this new baby. Aimie has chosen a Woodland theme for baby's nursery and fortunately I had several fabrics in my stash that fitted perfectly: featuring little owls, rabbits, foxes.

I hand quilted with my favourite Perle cottons and hand blanket stitched round the letters of Tristan's name and the little hearts at the top of the quilt.

The quilt measures 36" x 48" which I think is a useful size.
Our daughter is visiting Mum and baby on Tuesday afternoon so I will have a parcel ready for her to take - this quilt, the crocheted blanket and a little cardigan.
Can't wait to meet Tristan but unfortunately I have a prior engagement on Tuesday so I can't deliver the gift in person.

Ready for my Patchwork Group

The Patchwork Group was meeting at my house this morning so here's the goodies ready for our Coffee time ( or Morning Tea as it's called in New Zealand).

I tried a new recipe for the cake: Mary Berry's Orange cake with chocolate. A great recipe, all-in-one method so pretty quick to make. I have to say it was delicious! Moist and tasty, not much left!  But I think this is going to be a favourite recipe so more of these cakes in the future I think.

A plate of rock buns - a recipe from my NZ  Edmond's cookery book. Well tried and tested recipe but still tasty.

We had a lovely morning together, lots of conversation between nine of us. Friend Ruth brought her cousin along - Mary lives in Canada but it's the second time she has joined us.

Aren't Patchwork friends the best?

9 Patch Lotto Blocks winnings

Collected today from the Post Office ( parcel arrived a few days ago whilst we were away). 

My Sunshine Guild Lotto Blocks winnings: the theme was 9 Patch blocks. The 18 blocks include one of my own blocks.

Now I have 2 sets of Lotto winnings so I think I need to get busy putting them together. Just got to finish a baby quilt first. And I also need to make my June blocks and send them off to the USA.