Backing or Quilt?

Well we are in our last month of Winter and I am so looking forward to Spring. It has been a really cold winter this year. Come on sunshine. I have added pictures of my latest quilt. This quilt was actually made as a backing for another quilt which I am unable to show you for the moment as it is still at the quilters. My sewing group that I go to every second Thursday convinced me to make it as a quilt and as I'm not a lover of the colour Brown I'm not sure I have made the right choice, so please make a comment on what you think. Did I do the right thing making it as a quilt or should I have left it as a backing?

And yes we have a few of our inquisitive cattle in the background.

Ring, Ring

Yes it's a new phone. Well no, not exactly, it's actually a bag to carry your phone in or maybe a camera. My Dear Mum has recently brought a new phone and she is a terror for putting it away in a cupboard and of cause when you ring her, you can't get her so she asked me to make her a little bag for it that she can carry around. So here it is, complete with a long strap to either carry around her neck or wrap it around her wrist or she can put it on a belt as it has a belt loop on the back, so plenty of options.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Chiaverini's novels and her pattern books and I have just completed another of her quilt tops. I have put up a photo of it but it still has to sent off to the quilter to be quilted, I just thought I would give you a sneak preview.

I have been sorting out my scraps today and I was wondering what others do with scraps. I have been ironing the bigger pieces and folding neatly and sorting into colors. Anything that is smaller I have been cutting into 1 1/2" or 2" or 2 1/2" or 3" squares. Am I the only one who does this or do you do something similar? I would love to hear what you do. Happy sorting.

 

This is an English Paper pieced Hexagon shaped quilt that I did for my DIL Mel. She loves stars. She is a star herself. I am pleased that she was so happy to receive it.

What a Year so far

Why is it that when we have a couple of big events in the first half of the year that the whole of the year just seems to fly by way too quick? In febuary this year our middle son was married and then in June our "baby" son turned 21. We are so happy to see middle son take the plunge and see him so happy. It does make me a bit sad to see my baby turn 21, it also makes me feel a bit (dare I say it) "old" urhhh.

Our Grandson with his new Stepmum. I love this photo.

I have also been busy with quilts this year. Many, many quilts have been sent to the longarm quilters and when I say many, I mean many. I didn't actually realize how many quilt tops I had ready to be quilted and it was a shock when I pulled them out earlier this year so I decided I needed to have them finished off, so hopefully I will have many a quilt to show you in the very near future. Happy quilting from Cheryl

What a Year it has been

I have been a little bit slack on posting anything on here this year as it has been a year for us. My Dear Husband was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and around the time when hubby was going into hospital for his surgery my Mum took sick and as I was her main carer I was trying to get her some help to make her better before hubby went into hospital instead of getting better she got worse, My poor Mum now has dementia and paranoia and she turned on me and started to make false accusations so it has been a very stressful few months.

After having the prostate surgery my hubby was not well and eventually ended up back in hospital and going through surgery again and is feeling a lot better and is very lucky that he doesn't have to have Radiotherapy and Kemo. It was an aggressive cancer which was not expected when he was diagnosed but it looks like they got it all, but of course he has to make regular visits back to the specialist.

Mum and I have reconciled and she has gone into a Low Level Care Nursing Home (she refers to it as a retirement village so whatever keeps her happy (haha). She has only been in there a week today so I am still in the middle of cleaning out her unit as well as having to deal with a bung shoulder which is causing a lot of pain. I tell you it never rains but pours around here.

Even with all the dramas going on around her I have actually managed to finish off a few UFO's which I am really happy about and I hope that in the near future I will post the finished pieces on here soon.

I will be back, please don't give up on me yet.

New Blocks

I have made 2 new blocks for "Quilted Diamonds 1" which are in the Blue and Cream color scheme and one new block for "Quilted Diamonds 2" which is in the Pink colors. I have also made my first block for the "Nearly Insane" quilt which was, I have to admit, very easy. I wish I could count on them all being that easy but I have decided it might be wise to go with foundation piecing for these or at least the harder ones, as I think it would be more accurate and a better finish.

Oh and I nearly forgot poor old "Dear Jane", I did another block for it as well, not very happy with the finished product of this block so I think I shall end up doing it again. Meanwhile I don't think it hurts for others to see mistakes it might help someone do a better job than I did.

Doing housework today but while taking a bit of a break to have lunch I thought I would pop in and update what I have been doing this past week.

Oh my, I am so forgetful today, I also have a picture of the teddy quilt that I have finally finished after taking me about 12 months maybe a bit more. I have hand appliqued and hand quilted this for my youngest sons girlfriend. Jess turned 18 in August of this year, I asked her to postpone it for a month but she wouldn't be in that for some reason but if she had I would have only been one month late with it instead of two. Not to worry, better late than never. She has it now and I think she likes it.

I hope I haven't forgotten anything else, if so I will pop in after housework and fill you in.

Happy Sewing all.