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!

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.