"Peaceful Night"

A couple of days ago I finished stitching the background greys to the last star block of my EPP quilt. Yesterday I laid the blocks out on my design space (my bed covered with a sheet) and shuffled them around until I was happy with the arrangement of colours and patterns. Then I did the same with the low volume diamonds.

Then I stitched the star blocks together into their respective rows.

This morning they look much neater and sit well together. A few weeks ago I chose the name "Peaceful Night" for this quilt with its lovely mix of bright stars and low volume diamonds, set against the twinkling nighttime greys.

Yes, I even like the look of the back of EPP work. I like to use a seam a little larger than 1/4", closer to a cm. 

Last night I was carefully considering the next stage of piecing this quilt. As soon as I begin stitching the diamonds in place I will need a large flat surface to keep the project safely between stitching sessions. The edge sections are yet to be finalised and will likely take some fiddling to complete. What to do???

 So this is my solution for now and it makes my heart glad to look at it. Each row has been carefully folded and stacked in a neat pile until I have a little more space (when our eldest two head for uni in a few weeks - their beds will be free), time and the next wave of motivation. 

All neat and tidy for now, just how I like it. We'll see more of Peaceful Night in another month or so..... There are other projects which will fill my time for now, including some midsummer gardening.

Some of you may have missed the story of Butterfly Dance which was made between Christmas and New Year. Erin's email last night said.... "was so lovely to have you out:) and I'm still so thrilled about the quilt!!"
This is what makes a quilter's heart sing.


Sharing at WIP Wednesday, In Hand EPP.

Glimpses of Goodness

It's a beautiful life with glimpses of goodness to be found every day. The Lilly Pillies are now ripening to a gorgeous bright pink and dropping onto the ground. These Australian natives are edible but the variety we have growing in our garden is rather floury and tart to taste with a seed in the middle. I've heard of people making jam from them but I like to just chew on a few when I pass by.

The Jane McGrath rose was released to help support the Jane McGrath Foundation, raising money for supporting breast cancer awareness and assistance. Jane was the beautiful, young wife of an Australian test cricketer who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2008. Yesterday was a special Jane McGrath Foundation day at the 5th Test Cricket game between Australia and England with the signature pink featuring heavily amongst spectators, commentators, sponsors etc. Also the day I took the rose photo above (coincidental) and the day Australia won the Ashes Series 5-0 bringing great excitement to the cricket fans amongst our family.

I'm about to stitch the last piece of grey onto the star blocks of the quilt I've been working on for months. Then I can begin to stitch all the blocks together.

Sneak peak of a book which arrived in the mail together, more to share soon.

Happy mail - a holiday postcard from a friend arrived today. I still love snail mail.    :)


Sharing at Our World Tuesday.

Butterfly Dance

Before my friend's baby was born I had already decided NOT to make a quilt. It was Erin's tenth baby, the last three had been boys, and I gifted her a baby quilt for the most recent baby almost three years ago. No, I was not going to make a quilt this time.

But then Erin had a girl, December 22nd...and they chose a delightful real life name for her (Bella is her screen mane). As Christmas came and went I kept thinking about baby "Bella", a brand new blessing to my friend as we all celebrated the birth of our Saviour.

On Boxing Day (Dec 26) I was still thinking of Bella as I painted with my younger girls. Leaving the painting I went to my favoured medium for creating, my fabric stash, and saw some fabrics perfect for a little girl ..... and knew I wanted to make a quilt with love just for Bella. Something quick and easy yet beautiful and useful.

So I washed and ironed, designed and sketched, cut and sewed, cut and repositioned and sewed until I was happy with the quilt top. The butterfly print is the central fabric around which I chose complementary fabrics. Butterfly Dance seemed to be the right name for this quilt.

Very late on New Year's Eve I finished hand stitching the binding on the quilt, which then only needed a label.

Miss G came for a walk with me on New Year's Day to be my quilt holder as I took some photos. Standing in the middle of Fig Tree Avenue, we quickly scuttled off the road whenever traffic came along. This driver stopped, wanting to know what we were doing and suggested we should take photos with his car in them too! So we did.   :)

Yesterday I made a matching card and we headed out to visit Erin, PC and family and to see their beautiful new baby for the first time. As Erin fed baby some of their children watched on as gifts were unwrapped. They all loved the Butterfly Dance quilt - and we all loved little baby Bella.....

Yummy Fun

Earlier this week - or very, very late last year - Miss V celebrated her 10th birthday. Always an occasion for fun and games, presents and baking, we shared the day together as a family at home, as well as a quick visit to Granny in the local aged care centre. Miss O made and decorated cupcakes topped with "V"s while Miss E senior baked the requested mocha birthday cake.


Speaking of cake - 

Miss E senior made the yummiest Christmas Pudding Truffles yesterday with some of a very large fruit cake she had baked for Christmas.  A wonderfully quick and easy recipe - she used orange juice in place of brandy. I do believe there is only one left.....

2014

Words and thoughts I'm pondering as we enter a brand new year - for myself physically, mentally and spiritually. Each day is a fresh start, much more so is a new year. Sending New Year greetings to you all.