Baby Quilt

 Shock horror!  I have finished a quilt on time, not just on time but like at least 5 weeks early on time!!

 This one is for a gym friend who is having her second baby, this time its a boy.  I found this lovely quilt panel and decided to pick a few colours and quilt around some of the owls and other bits and pieces.

 I realised when I just uploaded the photos that I hadn't taken any with the threads all sewn in properly.

 Anyway I'm pleased with the way its turned out and whooo (pardon the pun) could resist these little cuties?

 Tonight I have been listening to some music that has brought back wonderful memories of when I used to play in Brass bands and symphonic bands... yes I am a musician although I haven't played my poor neglected French Horn in many years.  Tonight's selection has been the floral dance, one of my favourites when I played in the brass band and now I'm listening to Gustav Holst.  Planet Suite, this is an amazing composition with Jupiter my personal favourite planet.  Do yourself a favour and set aside a little time to listen to this music.

50th quilt finished on time!

 How happy was I when I was able to get the binding for the quilt?!  two days before the party.  I love living on the edge.

 I quilted this quilt with a lovely pink variegated thread, bonus was it was on sale so I bought a large reel and a small reel for less than what the large reel normally costs!  Didn't find this out till I got to the cash register.

 I love the feeling of achievement when you have decided to make someone a quilt and it comes together quickly.  I did leave the binding till a Little late but I got in on just in time.

 My training partner rang me and asked me if I would have time to go and do a bikram yoga session, so another incentive to get the quilt finished.  I sewed down the label and was just getting changed when she pulled up in my driveway! (the bikram yoga by the way was great, sweated like I have never done before!).

 I just realised when I was uploading these picture's that I didn't take a photo of the fully finished quilt with the binding completely sewn down.... what a doofus!

My friend was delighted with the quilt, she loved the colours and the butterflies and bugs.... I will be telling her when I see her tomorrow that I expect her to use it and not put it somewhere safe for special occasions.

hand piecing

 The down side of feeling sick, is that you feel like crap, you cant do what you want to do. You don't feel like going out to get basic daily needs ie: milk and bread and  something for dinner.... mind you, cooking is the last thing on my mind.

 An up side?  well I have sat and watched TV and done hand piecing of the double wedding ring.

 I have sat and cheered on Orica Green Edge cycling team as they ride in the Giro D'Italia... well I have seen the highlights as its on at an ungodly hour of the morning. OGE are the Aussie team for the non cycling fans and they are doing extremely well!

 Milly has made the most of me sitting still for such extended periods and is either on my legs as above or curled up, don't you love the way they curl up into such a small tidy ball.

 I have managed to get a fair bit of stitching done which has helped cheer me up.

 I recently saw a photo on face book of a bride who had wrapped herself in the DWR quilt her mother made her for a wedding gift.  It made me smile and have tears of joy thinking how lovely the picture was and how much the mother of the bride would be delighted.

 I showed the froglet the photo, (she is the recipient of the DWR I am making), she told me she wants a photo just like that one of the bride wrapped in her quilt....  my heart nearly stopped with joy!  I have quite a few years before I need to worry but its given me an incentive to make sure it is finished on time.

Cookie also decided he had to get a little lap action tonight too and sat on his 'mummy' he isn't a big one for doing lap time, so we all feel rather privileged when he chooses one of us for a cuddle.

nearing completion

 Finally got the boarder on for the top.  I had a nice large piece of material in my stash perfect for the backing, and it also works for the boarder.

 Of course the backing piece wasn't wide enough so I had to add a little to it.  But when I was making the blocks I had made 7 more than I needed and I also had a few of the little 4 patches, so I turned them into a strip and added a boarder to either side which made it wide enough.

 I'm happy with the way its turned out.  Now I just need to see if I have any batting large enough, or 2 or more bits that I can whip stitch together.

I love being able to make a quilt without spending any money.  Well that's not true as I must have bought the fabrics at some time in the past!  I will have to buy some thread to quilt it and I don't think I have any batting so will buy that too... oh my goodness... just realised I don't have the binding sorted!   got some purple that might just do the job!  It makes a giving a quilt that can cost quite a few dollars very affordable, I also get a huge enjoyment out of making and giving something that I have made, specially when I know the recipient will appreciate the whole concept of it being made specially for her.

a weekend of special rides

I rode 167km in 3 days.

 On Friday my bestie and I decided to ride the kinglake loop.... I did this last ANZAC day with the group that I rode with all last year but she was unable to as she had hurt her back... so a year later she smashed the climb!  that was a nice little 70km.

Saturday morning I set off with my other cycling group and did another 40km. I then went into the city to see Mrs Browns boys..... oh my it was hilarious.

Sunday morning I rode again.  This ride was another 50kmish  but it was a very special ride.  This ride for our friend Nicola who lost her short battle with cancer.  There was about 40 people and we rode a loop and then took ribbons that we hung on our bikes to give to her daughters for them to keep.

Today we attended her funeral to celebrate her life.  RIP Nicola

The top is finished

 So as promised here is the nearly completed quilt for my friend.

 I picked the colours that are bright, loud, cheery and uplifting as this is the type of person that is going to receive the quilt.

 I enjoyed making this quilt and this is the second one of the same design as it was simple and quick to construct.

 I was also able to make it either using a precut jelly roll, which would be faster than cutting up 2.5" strips from fat quarters or other cuts of fabric.  This time I had all the fabric in my stash so had to cut all the strips.  However it still didn't take me too long once I began.

 So this is the top completed on Good Friday, just needing a boarder, then I will take it to my next guild meeting and baste it on the table that we have available.

I do apologise for my last 3 posts as I didn't check what I had done before I did the next post.  I wont show you my missing lawn mower or dog again as the lawn has in fact been mown (its needing another one!) and the dog was unharmed durning the mowing of said lawn.
I will show you though my lime tree that is growing some nice little limes and we also got rain.... I was rained on Saturday morning whilst riding my beast, wasn't the first time and wont be the last!

the quilt continues

 But first I had to find my lawn mower.....

 The I had to find my dog in the long grass so I didn't mow her!

Who doesn't love little piles of colour?

 The four patches now had their tops and bottoms and sides attached.  I hung up my trusty plastic table cloth to make a design wall as Milly likes to walk across the fabric when I put it on the floor.  I have in fact finished the top and now need to find a boarder fabric.  Shall post the next installment soon!