Raffle Xmas quilt finished

Here it is with green binding.  Decided on that instead of red, and it makes a nice contrast.

Christmas quilt for nursing home raffle

My husband Ken has been very ill in recent months, so I haven't had a lot of spare time to myself.  But I'd promised to make a quilt for the Christmas raffle at Liscombe House, so with the help of my lovely friends at the Quilt Shop class I attend once a month, I managed to put this together in a few days.  This is the top basted to the wadding and back, and I plan to quilt and bind it this weekend to get it to Liscombe House next week.  I emailed the co-ordinator this picture, and she emailed back to say it is 'awesome'.  Guess that means she likes it, lol!

Lap quilts gratefully received.

Linda Steele commented on my post about the last lot of quilts I had completed, and remarked that I was doing well to finish five quilts!   I think I need to remind readers of this blog that I only make SMALL quilts - baby or lap size!  They don't take long to whip up.  Well, a couple of weeks for each one, although if I lived on my own and had nothing else to do, I could probably finish one in a day.  But I don't, so it takes a bit longer, lol!

I delivered those five to Liscombe House earlier this week and the staff and residents alike were delighted.  I suspect they thought after the first lot that I wouldn't be back so soon, if at all, but there I was :-)   The Activities co-ordinator asked me if I would be prepared to make a larger (as in single bed size) quilt for their Christmas raffle and I said I would be happy to do that.  I will make the top, then take it to Jenny Jamieson who has done such a great job on quilting all my other 'big' quilts, to do the quilting.  I have just made a Christmas quilt top for myself, which is going to be a table cover rather than a quilt, as I've used very thin wadding to give it some body without needing warmth.

I still have heaps of Christmas themed fabric, so this new project will give me the chance to use a lot of it up!  Mandy wants it by the end of November, and if I made a start soon, it shouldn't be a problem.

Christmas is coming!

For a change I got an early start on Christmas hand made gifts this year!  Some of them are for a swap on the Home Makers Forum, but once I'd started making those, I kept on sewing, so I will have some items to give people as last minute gifts if needed!
The first group are an oven mitt, two hotpads and a coaster, all made from some Christmas kitty fabric that was given to me a while ago.  There was a couple of yards, so there is still plenty over to make more things for my many cat loving friends!

This tea towel is a simple applique job.  I found the free pattern online and as I have a few plain tea towels set aside for embellishing in some form, I used one of those.

The next item is a bit different.  It is a little holder to put a gift card in, to give someone, rather than just in an envelope or card.  A cute gimmick!

NOTY Quilt Show October 2018

I went to the North Of The Yarra (NOTY) Quilt show last weekend, and took quite a few photos of the gorgeous quilts on display.  You can see them here on my other blog:
https://needlecraftandquilts.blogspot.com/

Five lap quilts complete.

I don't make these quilts to a specific size - I simply use what fabric I have available, and cut the backing to fit, mostly from sheets, flannelette for warmth.  Most of the fabrics in the quilts above were sets of fat quarters, and have been given to me as part of an exchange on the HomeMakers
Forum, or simply as a gift because they knew I am a quilter.  People are so nice!

Two months later...

I haven't achieved a lot since I posted the last lot of photos on July 31st.  The last four lap quilts have been finished and are waiting to be delivered to Liscombe House, and I have another two which only need the binding to finish them off, and I am hoping to do that tomorrow.  So I will wait until I've finished them completely before I post photos here. 

I was planning to do the binding today but got side tracked when I was searching for some fabric to make a tote bag for a swap on the HomeMakers forum.  I found what I wanted (the recipient specified vegs and chook fabrics) so I put the vegie fabric on the front, and  a little chook piece on the back.  I should confess that I don't make tote bags from scratch - I use canvas bags with advertising on, and cover the print with my fabrics!

While I was looking for those fabrics, I re-discovered three pieces of Halloween fabric left over from some projects a year or so ago.  With Halloween coming up, I decided to use these fabrics up so I won't have to look at them again in my stash.  I used the 'cheaters binding' technique on these mug rugs, and the coaster was the first one, which is a mess, but it's not going anywhere outside my  home, so....

What I have achieved in July.

 Lap quilt top made up from a bundle of fat quarters given to me years ago.

 Two lap quilts made up using a bundle of green and white fat quarters given to me.  All I had to buy was the dark green solid fabric, and the pale green for the borders.

 After I'd made the two tops from the green and white FQs I had enough left over to make a table runner for myself!

  Lap quilt top made from kimono fabrics left over from the larger quilt I made last year.  I'm using the remaining scraps to cut into strips for the binding.  Should be a nice lap quilt for a bloke.

 Tote bag made for my partner in the Tote bag swap on the Home Makers Forum.  I'm not into making bags from scratch, so I just machined a piece of patchwork fabric on to a ready made charity bag.

 Strawberry coaster.  One of the members on the HM forum provided a link to this pattern, and it took me about 15 minutes to cut it out and put it together!

More coasters.  The top right coaster is made from some peacock fabric scraps that were given to me by one of the quilters at a group I go to.  I made this as a thank you - he was pleased with it!
The others are just from scraps I had around while I was doing the peacock one; I get on a roll when I do those coasters, they are so quick and easy, and make great little impromptu gifts.

Chicken lap quilt finished

Thanks for the comments on the previous posts, it is nice to see your friendly faces :-)
Yesterday I finished the chicken themed quilt and am pleased with it.  That's three on hand that I can take up to Liscombe house soon, to warm a few more elderly feet and knees!

I am enjoying going through my stash and my books, looking for patterns to use.  I sorted out all the fat quarters into a box on their own, as a lot of patterns specify using fat quarters and now I will be able to put my hands on them straight away without going through boxes and measuring up lengths of fabric!  Of course I could go through and cut everything up in to fat quarters but that would just be silly. 
I've already got the fabric for my next two lap quilts ready to start.

Lap Quilts

I decided to try and use up as much of my stash as possible before I drop off my perch, so after asking  a friend who works at the Liscombe House aged care facility, and being assured that the residents would love a colourful quilt for their bed or lap, I started in earnest.
Four have been delivered and are being loved already!

I finished two more yesterday, and pieced a new one today with Chicken fabrics:

More denim recycling

Doiley quilt.

It has taken a lot of time, in between everything else that goes on around here,but I finally cut the fabric for the binding last week at the Quilt Shop, where there was ample room in their studio to lay the top out and measure it, and cut the binding strips.  Hopefully I will sew the binding on in the coming week, then take it to show the husband of my friend who left me these doilies.  Once he has seen it, I'll take it to the ONJ Cancer centre at the Austin Hospital.  It would be rather good if they don't want it, because then I can keep it!!

ANZAC quilt/wall hanging

When I discovered this panel online at the Little Patch Of Country patchwork shop, I had to have it.  I simply quilted it to a thin cotton batting and the poppies backing and added black binding.  My husband said it would have looked better with a wider border, but I don't think it needs anything else.  And I wanted to finish it in time for ANZAC Day, which I did, with an hour to go!

Doiley quilt update

Forgot to mention on the previous post, that my doiley quilt has now been quilted and looks absolutely sensational.  I just need to do the binding, then it will be ready to take to the Austin hospital to see if they want it.  I will show it to my late friend's husband first though, as I think he would be happy to see some of Denise's doiley collection put to good use instead of being hidden away in drawers for years.  I will post a photo here once the binding has been added.

I am dying to make another of these quilts for myself, as I have so many doilies that are languishing in my collection room unseen.   Now that I've made one such quilt, I know what is involved, and because it was such fun to create, I won't be putting it off for years!  But I need to get a few more lap quilts done for my aged care ladies before I do anything else for myself. 

My hands haven't been idle!

I have been neglecting my blog over the past month in favour of the Home Makers Forum which takes up most of my internet online time these days.  I post all my sewing projects on there as they are done, but don't seem to find the time to do the same here.  So this is what I have done in March.
I tell a lie...some of the mug rugs were done earlier, but after checking the blog, I realise I haven't posted them.  So I've added them to this list.
The first two photos are of lap quilts for the residents of an aged care facility I used to volunteer at.  Their hairdresser still does my hair for me at home, and I asked her recently if the residents at the Home would like lap quilts when they are sitting around watching t.v., or just for the end of their beds to cheer up their room.  She asked the manager, who was delighted at the idea of having small quilts made for her old ladies!  So at last I have an ongoing project that will help to use up the huge amount of stash I have accumulated, but never seems to diminish.   Also a great opportunity for me to try out all the patterns and designs I have been wanting to make, but with nobody to make for!
The first one is called Argyle Diamonds, and is quilted on the lines of ric rac.  This only needs the binding to be done.

Below is a top made of strips from my scraps box, and needs to have the backing and binding done.

I saw these cute projects on Pinterest, and dropped into the opshop to buy a pair of  jeans.  Got a pair of large mens jeans in excellent condition for $5.  After making this little bucket and the pot holder, there is still a lot of denim left over, so I might make a few more of these for gifts.

Another idea from Pinterest which I've had my eye on for about 2 years, and decided in early March there was still enough time to finish this Easter egg runner in time to display this year.

Below are a couple of mug rugs that I've made for friends, but not posted photos of here.

I made a doggy mat for Ken's niece last year.  This one is different dog fabric and a different style of place mat.  After I'd put it together, I wasn't happy with the colours I used for the rows on the side, but I guess it's okay.  The friend who will be receiving it will be happy to have something that has been made for her!

 The back is flowers because she likes flowers as much as she likes dogs!