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!

Kitty Mini quilt

One of my lovely friends on the Home Makers Forum sent me a small patchwork mini quilt kit for a surprise Christmas present.  She knows I love quilting and cats, so I think she will be pleased to see that I have made it up!  I cut all the fabric out last night at the Quilt Shop monthly class that I go to, and started hand piecing it.  Today I finished it off by machine, and all that is left to do is to hand stitch the binding.

Using scraps of kitty fabric.

I had this cute piece of cat fabric which was just enough to make four small mats, coasters , whatever you wish to call them.  I decided to use a different technique to bind them - the one where you bring the backing fabric around to the front, and stitch it down.  These two were the first pair, and as you can see, I made a bit of a mess with the binding!  But I have since made two more and they are a vast improvement on these, but I haven't got around to taking a photo so you will just have to take my word for it :-}

Edited to add that I took the doiley quilt top to a quilter yesterday, and she said it should be quilted in about 2 weeks.   Can I wait that long?  Going to have to, there is no way I was going to attempt to do it myself!

In Japanese mood.

As well as the Tori Gate quilt, I have been working on a small wall hanging that is based on something I saw in a magazine,  and cut out for future reference.  It was called Fan Fantasy, and I have used the basic pattern, but varied my version somewhat, including a bit of extra Sashiko to add interest.

Japanese traditional kimono fabric finally used!

Remember this?

 My generous friend Aiko in Tokyo has just sent me another parcel of materials - completely different from the above.  Traditional day Kimono fabrics in indigo, stripes and browns.  At first glance I thought What????  but after going through my Japanese quilting books, I can see the potential.  Watch this space, but don't hold your breath .

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I decided to make a wall hanging based on the Japanese style of  door curtain which is used instead of solid doors to save space.  I cut most of the fabrics into 10" strips of varying thicknesses, and sewed them onto a backing of calico.  Each row has a Tori emblem block - the Tori gate is appliqued on to a background of plain Indigo fabric, and the block was inserted into each row of strips.  I used a grey fabric for the sashing and outside borders, and will use the same for binding.  For the backing I used a golden colour curtain material which I have had in my stash for years, just waiting for the right project!

This is the top before I quilted the top and backing together.

Doiley quilt top finished

The top is all pieced and ready to be quilted.  But before that I need to do some hand stitching around some of the doilies that have wide lace or crocheted edges, otherwise they could tear if something catches on them.

More Christmas sewing.

I've been using up some Xmas stash.  This apron and the runner below is made from a panel which also included an oven mitt, but I gave that to someone else as I don't need another oven mitt!

Two coasters, one larger which will probably be used as a hot plate mat.

  The other side of the coasters.

Christmas Table Runner

I have just finished a gift for a non-sewing friend.  I made this table runner from fabrics that I had in my stash.

Doiley quilt.

So glad I decided to use the machine to sew the rest of my doiley blocks!  They are all done now, and are waiting for the November class at the Quilt Shop, when I will put them up on the design wall and decide what to use for the sashing and border.
My next projects are a couple of Christmas themed runners, place mats and coasters for friends. 
Thanks to those of you who expressed concern over my news of the bladder cancer.  It didn't take me long to recover from the operation, and I am back to my usual routines now, but for the coming six weeks I have to attend the hospital every Monday for two hours for bio immune therapy, to get rid of any remaining cancer cells.  I'm told that it doesn't take long and there are rarely any nasty side effects, as it isn't like chemo or radiation, but I'm sure I won't feel quite as energetic as I have been!  So if I don't post anything here for a while, it will only be because I'm a bit tired.

Update on my doiley quilt.

After meticulously handstitching doilies on to three blocks, I decided that was a crazy idea, and had a go at sewing the next couple of blocks by machine.  Much faster, and looks quite neat, so that is what I will be doing for the rest of them.
Funny to think I am doing this quilt in memory of a friend who died of cancer, and now I have just been diagnosed with cancer myself :-(   However, it is in the bladder, not an aggressive cancer, and I had the tumours removed last week without any problem.  My doctor assures me that it is quite a common cancer, and most people survive for many years once it has been treated.  Maybe I'd better make another doiley quilt when I've finished this one, just in case!

Clover shaped needle case.

I made this for a swap on the Home Makers Forum.  My nominated swap partner had mentioned a while ago that she would love to have one of those clover shaped needlecases, so I consulted Mr Google, downloaded a free pattern, and here  it is!   they are :-)
I made the Paris fabric one first as a trial to see how it turned out, and learnt a few things on the way, which made the second effort much more presentable in my eyes.

Crazy Cats table runner

I put the last stitches in the binding tonight.  Another small project out of the way!

Two Bunnies stitchery

I have several friends who love rabbits, so when I saw this free pattern online I immediately thought of doing one for a Christmas gift.   I love the current fad for framing little embroideries in hoops, and as this design was already circular, and I had a stack of hoops in my stash...

It only took about an hour to stitch, over two days as a break from sewing doilies on to blocks, and it is one less Christmas gift to think about.

Doiley quilt blocks

I have made a good start on the doiley quilt.  I have cut 21 blocks 12" square, and pinned two or three doilies (depending on their size) to each block.  I am hand stitching them to the background, around the edge where the crochet meets the linen.  The blocks will be joined in rows, but I haven't yet decided whether to join them up as they are, or use a sashing in between.  My SIL and her hubby were visiting us yesterday, and were admiring the blocks I've done so far.  I mentioned the sashing, and we mulled over the choice of white or ecru, or coloured, and looking at the all the embroidered colours, we couldn't agree on what colour sashing would look best.  The tablecloth on the kitchen table at the time had a pale aqua border, and one of my blocks was sitting on top of it, showing a bit of  the aqua next to the block.  Ken pointed to it and said 'that looks nice' and he was right - it looked perfect!  But I've got a long way to go before I even think about sashing yet, so no firm decision has been made.
Here are four blocks.  They are on the dark carpet so it isn't a good photo, but it gives you an idea.
The background fabric is a pale cream with a simple floral pattern in a denser shade.  It looks quite contrasty here, but isn't so bad when you see the actual fabric.