Melissa's Notebook

I think I started this before Christmas. I finished it on Sunday. It's for Melissa - fellow English teacher - who blogs at Baking Makes Things Better.

I got the idea from Jacqui's Prize Winning Cushion. I do love the Patchwork Passion lineny fabric I have used for all the journal covers. And all the oranges.

Hatched, Patched and Ready for Dispatch

After a year, this is finished. It's now hanging in the hot water cupboard drying so I can get it in the mail to Mount Gambier. (I got the girls' journals in the mail this morning.)

It's a Hatched and Patched design from the book, The World As it Should Be. I used an old wool blanket, an old green wool jacket and felt scraps for the central picture. The fabric is left over strips from the Wedding Quilt - Prairie Paisley.

The binding I love. It came from the local patchwork shop - The Crafty Needle in Manukau. I decided to use it on the bias to mimic the cross hatch quilting. I also love cross hatch quilting! And I finally got to attach one of my 'new' labels I got months ago. I feel it's been months since I actually got anything fininshed.

Now it's back to quilting the Little Patchwork Village Quilt. I thought I was much closer to the end than I really am. However, perfect quilting weather - rain. And perfect office moving weather. Got my new office 90% set up this afternoon.

Christmas Journals

Instead of going to school to move offices, I stayed home and sewed. I got two journals made. Not sure they will get to Mount Gambier by Christmas though.

All of the fabric (except the one at the top of Sarah's diary and middle of Chelsea's diary) and the ribbon has come from Patchwork Passion. I am quite liking orange at the moment.

A Present

From Kat and Al. All the way from Canada. Lucky.

I am still trying to work out how the quilt-maker did it.

Picnic Quilt Update

I have done as much as I can of the top. I now need to buy some material for the triangle fillers. It measures about 58 x 58", about 1.48 m square. She said she wanted it big enough for two people to sit on.

It has used exactly 6 fat quarters of Silent Cinema by Jenean Morrison and about 1.4 m of the grey stripe the nice man at Patchwork Passion helped me choose. Personally, I was thinking a lighter grey was what I was after. The last photo shows the grey fabric the best. It's not as dark as the other photos make it look. And if I quilt words in orange perle thread on the grey - whoa, that'll mix it up!

I bought a fat quarter bundle of the whole Silent Cinema collection a couple of months ago I think from the Fat Quarter Shop. I like it! This is the first time I have used it.

One Cushion, Two Cushions

Done.

Ta da!

I love ta da! I love the scene in Amelie where Lucien uncovers the expensive groceries for Dufayel, "Ta da!"

Anyway, the Half Square Triangle Quilt is done. Bound, washed, now drying.

I can attest to its snuggliness, having fallen asleep under it on the couch on Friday night. Where it covered knees and feet.

I am loving the flannel on the back. I have not used flannel before and would use it again as it is super soft and snuggly.

On a less enthusiastic note, day light saving finished this morning. I forgot. Woke up at 7.45am and thought, I'll get up at 8. Bonus, when I realised it was still and hour and a quarter until 8.

I think day light saving should last all year. I don't change the clock in my car ever - it stays on day light saving time because I know it will come round again.

Now day light saving is over and it is April, I might have to admit it's autumn. But I am still wearing short sleeves, so I don't think I have to admit anything just yet. Ask me after a week in Hawkes Bay and I will probably be ready to admit it is autumn. Bugger.

But I suppose summer can't last forever. If it did, we wouldn't appreciate it or have anything to look forward to when it rains every day in July!

Old Linen

I was given a lovely old hand embroidered linen table cloth for Christmas by my Gran's cousin. Earlier in the year she gifted me several old aprons that belonged to her late husband's mother - they were also hand embroidered. I do like old linen and have heard there is a new old linen shop in The Bay.

Present

Pretty fabric is the best present ever. Thanks, Jarrah!

Bunny Runner

My first Christmas present is finished and well before December!

Pattern: from Occasions by Whimsicals (2007)

Fabric: wools (Designer Textile Outlet and Savemart) and flannels (Grandmother's Garden)

The Care Package Quilt

For Shannon and Isabel.

Pattern: Days in Provence by House on the Hill

Fabric: Moda Rounnieries from Patchwork Passion, Onehunga