A gift to me.

It's my birthday soon, and I've been buying my own presents for quite some time.  This is much better than the question "Would you like these new  towels for your birthday?"  I kid you not, this was a question last week!  Anyway, I most graciously replied "No thanks, You've bought me something nice and it will be coming soon in the post,"
So, Friday dawned clear and windy, but it also brought the postie to my doorstep.

Yayyyy, all the way from half a world away.  A rather soft and squishy parcel.

Still soft and squishy, but also very beautiful.

What a sight on top of my king-size bed.  Hand stitched beauty.

Oh, the hand-quilting is so lovely.

What a lot of work this wonderful quilter put in so long ago.
I find myself wondering about her  Unfortunately, there was no information accompanying this quilt,but it's easy to see that it was magnificent back in its day.
Much better than new towels!

Hexagon table topper.

I'm pretty pleased with myself.  The table topper top is finished.

Next, to quilt and bind it, and put it on my table!

Project Intermission...

I was a little weary the last few days- night shift will do that to you.  I really wanted to sew, but I didn't trust my tired eyes to any applique that I've been working on.
Whilst looking around Blogland, I found Aunt Reen's Place and noticed that she'd just finished a short Sew-a-Long.  It involved a new to me cutting method for hexagon blocks with a 60 degree ruler.  Now, I purchased a new ruler a while ago but hadn't had a chance to use it yet.  So, win-win for me.

A few bits of a recent fabric club came in very handy.

Strips of background from the fabric resource shelves!  Using the new ruler to cut pieces.



Then in half.

Now, we had a little problem here Houston.  Somehow I managed to cut some of the pieces a little "wrong"- remember that night shift?  Hmmmm, I thought this was a foolproof project-maybe I shouldn't operate sharp objects with not much sleep!

Sewing the shapes together.
And Voila.....
Blocks are made.

This will finish about 32" square- a lovely table topper size.  thanks so much for the Sew Along Irene, I came along a little late, but enjoyed finding the project.
A bit of fudging with the  shapes, some creative trimming, and I got the blocks about the same size after cutting the hexagons wrong.
Now, borders I think, and maybe I can even machine quilt this one.

Oh Spring...

I had no idea that clivias have a lovely light fragrance.  I've had some in pots for several years now, but I've never smelt them up close.

Twirling balls.

Moving along slowly on my DD's quilt.
The stitching is not hard, but there is more preparation required than usual for me.  I've chosen to back baste these applique blocks .  This is a new technique to me, very easy, but as with all applique by hand- the time is in the preparation.

I'm stiching the dark fabric to the gold, the pink running stitch is my guide for applique stitching, these are removed as I sew.
I'm getting used to this technique.  It's wonderful for absolute accuracy, the pieces don't move at all.  This is a problem I've had in the past.  I like to glue baste, but often the fabric moves a little before I have time to sew it down.
Do you back baste?  What's your preferred method of applique?

I've been sewing a lot on many projects, so no big finishes ( or near finishes) unfortunately.
Slowly sewing on my wool blocks.  These are a real delight to stitch.  The pattern is so lovely, and sewing wool onto cotton backgrounds is so easy and relaxing.

The large blocks are finished except for some writing that needs to go on.
The small blocks need some embroidery stems added.

Some gorgeous fabrics found their way to my sewing room today.  On sale, how could I say no?

I don't know how it is possible that I haven't posted for about 3 weeks.  The time has gone so quickly.
I've been  busy with house and family, but thankfully not too busy to take a few stitches now and then.
Two of the five quilts that were quilted in July are totally finished.  Binding, washed and on various bits of furniture.
I've just finished machine sewing the binding on the next two- waiting for time to handsew the binding over to the back.

"Old Tobacco Road" , a Bonnie Hunter ( www.quiltville.com) mystery quilt from 2008.  Oh dear- 2008- Really?!!

"Orca Bay", another mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter from 2011.  Now, that's not that long ago at all!

Now for something extremely recent.  LOL.  This adorable little mini-quilt is this month's  quilt from the ladies at The Quilted Crow  in Tasmania.  We're being delighted with one mini-quilt per month for 12 months.  Amazing- I'm up to date. (It's only the second quilt!).

And I'm up to date with my weekly mystery block from Pam Buda at Heartspun Quilts.  This little quilt-along is called "Nabby's Dowry", made with a range of fabrics designed by Pam.