Here's To 60 Plus lap quilt

Sorry, inside night lighting photos as I didn't get home until dark, and it's pretty much still dark when I go to work...and I needed to gift it today!

I made this large lap quilt for my favourite netball buddy and world's most awesome office manager, Broni Tumataroa, to celebrate her significant birthday earlier this month. She was in Oz for her birthday, and it was school holidays, so today at work we had a surprise morning tea for her.

I used fat quarters from a bundle of Blueberry Front Yard (by Sandra Clemons for Michael Miller Fabrics) that has been in my stash for a few years, and the pattern is 'Pinwheel Plus' by Cheryl Brickey from her book 'Modern Plus Sign Quilts'.

I quilted it with a free-motion double loop design (as used by the sample in the pattern book).

It measures 58" x 56" and is backed with a deep blue minky, and has a binding of a navy/while spot.

I love the little rabbits that pop up in a couple of the fabrics!

This is one of my 2018 Finish Along third quarter goals...DONE!

A big New Zealand hello to any visitors via Sarah's TGIFF linky party - kia ora!

Kia Kaha lap quilt

The winter weather is not great for photos today - was too windy this morning to go outside and now the rain has well and truly settled in - so just some inside shots for this little lap quilt (which is 32" x 32" in size).

I used a Moda charm square pack that has been in my stash for a while, called Simply Style by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. for Moda; the backing is a pale teal print and the binding is a navy polka dot.

The pattern is called 'Charlotte' and comes from a Me & My Sister Designs collection called "3 Times the Charm!' (published by Leisure Arts). It was very quick and could easily be made in a day.

I free-motion quilted flowers in the white spaces of the main area and a swirly-ball 'vine' along the borders (as done on the sample quilt in the pattern book).

I've made this for a local lady who had an unfortunate accident and will be stuck in a wheelchair for quite a few months as she works on the recovery from her injuries; I've made this to help keep her warm when out and about and called it 'Kia Kaha' (Maori for 'stay strong').

A warm mid-winter welcome to all my visitors from Myra's Busy Hands Quilts Finished or Not Friday linky party!  And also those from Kelly's Needle and Thread Thursday!

2018 Finish Along - 3rd Quarter Goals

It's a good motivation to be part of the 2018 Finish Along and to have some goals to aim for, even if time always seems to run out on me (or I get distracted by projects that aren't on my list!)

Sticking to mostly UFOs for this one...

...this small art quilt that I started at the National Quiliting Symposium last year...(Oct: if only I could find the safe place that I've put it???)

...this queen-size quilt that I made in about 2009 and have not yet quilted up...(October: this is sitting out waiting for me to baste it - will put it into the Q4 goals!)

...this Kate Spain lap quilt needs quilting too...DONE!

...I also need to quilt this baby quilt...DONE!

..as well as its sister quilt...DONE!

...I want to get this kit set done and dusted! (or rather, quilted)...DONE!

...and this project will get done once I find a nice deep blue for the pinwheel fabric...DONE!

Wish me luck!

Two crafty completions

First, a wool wall-hanging that has been swirling around in my head for a year (since we moved into this house and repainted the bedrooms...

I wanted something with texture to go in the space on that wall and spent a bit of time collecting up balls of wool in different colours of grey/black/teal/white/cream.

Finally got it made the other night - I used a length of driftwood that I collected from Lake Te Anau at New Year.

Second, a 14" cushion that is made from a Disney fat quarter - I used it in January to practice a free-motion quilting motif before completing a larger quilt.

Have finally put a backing on it (just a length of deep blue marbled fabric). My sewing supervisor is not looking too happy about the mouse motifs.

Bee-ootiful Welcome baby quilt

The third in a set of baby quilts that I have made this year using these fabrics; 

this one was gifted to my cousin Roz (who had a baby girl, Chloe, in late June).

I finished it back in April and now can't even remember what pattern I used 

or what size it was (cot size obviously!)

It has a navy/white polka dot flannel backing and a dark navy binding.

I quilted it with a random loopy stipple.

It would seem I made it with half-square triangles 

(not that I can remember...how quickly we move on to the next project...)

and this is one of my 2018 FinishAlong Second Quarter goals. 

Hint of Spring

I created this little piece of quilt-art to get an idea out of my head 

regarding making some Spring blossoms.

It only measures about 9" x 10". I used some hand-dyed fabrics from Mallee Textiles as well as organza and satin ribbons, a pale pink solid, and some pink tulle.

These two photos taken at night, inside - so aren't wonderful, sorry.

The blossoms are four layers of fabric/ribbon/tulle in various combinations.  

The 'twig' is a brown organza ribbon that I have re-purposed from a gift box.