Make a Wish

After admiring my new quilt on the wall for a few days, it occurred to me that too much of the black background was visible through the lighter fabrics (mainly light orange through yellow and pale green). It didn't take me long to realise I was going to have to do something about it for my own peace of mind. I unpicked about 1/3 of the hand applique on the outer, cut 2 layers of soft iron-on interfacing to just fit in the gap, ironed them on, and replaced the stitching. I finished the stitching on the back verandah this morning, enjoying the wisteria scent - while Eleanor slept and James did the 'watening' with an old watering can and found all the dandelions he could.

Monarto

Today we took James and Eleanor to Monarto; an open-range conservation zoo about 70km out of Adelaide. It opened in 1993, and I haven't been since it first opened. It has come a long way, with a lot of new viewing areas and developments just opened or about to open. I'd love to go back and do the meet-and-greet-the-baby-cheetahs tour - if I had a spare $350!

It's mostly African animals; giraffes, cheetahs, lions, painted dogs, white rhino... There are organised bus tours through most of the animals, and both kids lasted well through the 1-hour tour. James isn't too well, and did fall asleep in my lap at the end, and Eleanor did her share of wriggling in Simon's lap, but was quite happy.

It's hard to get good photos with James jumping around my lap, but here are a few of the day. This baby giraffe was only born last week.

Eleanor riding a zebra. There's a large area of bones, pelts, horns, hooves etc to touch.

James had his hand eaten by a lion: James was also very excited to have a camel ride. He keeps telling me it was bumpy!

We should take them to the zoo more often. Certainly we will soon; from next October, Adelaide Zoo will have a pair of Giant Pandas - my favourite animals!

Finished

My newly completed quilt for me No Pot of Gold is hanging temporarily in the study. I'm enjoying it!

Version 2 has had the in-the-ditch quilting done, and thanks to Helen's recent tip, I have a freshly-wound bobbin of black thread in, ready to start the background stipple/meander.

Storage...

900-odd metres of beautiful quilt fabric is stored...

• in one wooden trunk
• in my horn sewing table cupboards
• in 11 large (30L and 50L) clear plastic stackable tubs, which stack perfectly under the leaves of said table
• in random piles around the study

I feel a 1km giveaway when I reach the milestone sometime next year - and some photos of the augmented stash!

One completed quilt top, ready to be quilted for Jonathan David:

There went 900

This morning a package of whites and neutrals arrived on my doorstep, taking my stash to 909m! There were really well-priced, and I find myself often wanting larger amounts of basics, so stocked-up from a local online supplier for a change!

Late this afternoon I took a couple of quilts outside to photograph. I got some decent shots, but am hoping our wisteria will be out in full bloom to get some more of one before I send it off, and the other needs to be photographed flat on the floor, from directly above to get a nice overall photo - I just need to work out how to get high enough to get a shot straight down and square over the large top. I did get this nice one of a dandelion though!

And here are some early spring flowers I brought back inside with me.

And here is a completed whirl block.

I just need to put the 4 together with some black sashing, add a black border, and the top is done. Nice and simple.

New beginnings

This morning, around the time I was at the quilt shop buying more fabric to restart his new quilt, my cousin's baby boy made his appearance! So now I need to hurry up and finish it, so Gran can take it with her when she goes to visit in the next few weeks. One of these 8in blocks will form the centre of each of the four swirls. The rest is cut, and I've removed the foundations from these; now to add the black background.

I swear I only went for more black, and a blue to fill a gap (the spot in the top row), but somehow I ended up with 5 metres for my stash quite apart from those and the perfect binding fabric (top left; to be cut vertically)!

Eleanor had a wonderful time giggling as she ran around the shop, taking particular delight in pushing over any bolts of fabric not tightly in shelves, one at a time, and listening to the satisfying 'thud'. James was entertained by Chris, looking at photos of his farm on the computer.

Clancy update

After ten straight nights without tears at bedtime, and without finding a sleeping boy in the hallway, I think we can call Clancy a complete success! Thank you very much Ellie!

Bedtime tonight

I've finished Change of Season and am just waiting for baby to make her appearance so I can do the label.
I do wish I could phorograph my quilts properly! Once again it looks as though it's not square - and it is! And I'm still getting blurred edges - distance helps, but sometimes that's hard to achieve. I'll phtograph this quilt properly tomorrow if it's not too wet. We had a reversion to winter today - cold, windy and very wet!

No Pot of Gold

You won't find a pot of gold at this rainbow's end, because it doesn't have one! But I liked it so much, I couldn't bring myself to give it away, so I'm finishing it for myself!

As blogged the other day, I designed it for a second baby, to match the one I made for the first. I spent ages doodling with curvy lines before hitting in the circle idea, which I instantly liked. The centre black circle is 12in diameter adn the whole circle is 24in. Unfortunately it meant applique, but I'm doing more of that these days - and getting better and faster at it! And now I've had to deisgn another, which I need to get to work on!

I started the applique last night, using tiny blanket stitches with invisible filament on the machine. About 1/8 of the way around, I decided it was the wrong method, and spent ages unpicking before starting the tedious blind hand-applique. That might be where my attachment formed! Here it is all pinned to applique; I thought the pins gave it a fireworks-effect!

I used the same beautiful multicoloured variegated thread I used in the last quilt; not quite as effective on black as white, but still pretty good. I started the radiating lines freehand, until Simon asked if they were meant to curve? Oops! So I started marking a few guides to keep me straight!

The centre needed quilting, but I didn't want to detract from the rainbow, so put black thread on the spool, and did a small stipple a la Helen. As you can see, I left the rainbow thread in the bobbin; it took a while to get a tension I was happy with where the colour wouldn't show through the front and I didn't get too much black on the back. I like this, though it didn't come up well in the photos:

Now, on to the next design!

Tutu Tute

Think he likes it?! Unfortunately he found it for himself before I got up, so I didn't get to see his reaction, but I did hear it! He came running into the bedroom in glee, with it already on!

I did buy some extra white organza to make wings as well, but haven't thought about how I'll do that yet.

Once we were up, we had to replay the 'Lulu's Tutu' eposide of Bananas in Pyjamas about 4 times for him to dance along!

Here are my instructions for a tutu in about half an hour!

(measurements are in inches apart from the amount to buy - multiply by 2.54 to convert inches to centimetres)

I bought 1.5m each of 3 different coloured crystal organzas; this was just right for one each for James (nearly 3) and Eleanor (1). For a single 3yo tutu, I would guess about 3.5m total, and about 2 for a 1yo tutu.

***Crystal organza frays terribly! It looks great - until it frays!***

You will also need about 50cm of elastic about 1in wide, or a metre of wide ribbon.

Cut the organza in 3in strips. This is really fast with a rotary cutter, ruler and mat. I folded the organza in half so that the selvages were together, then in half again, then laid this out on the cutting mat (use a weight at the back to stop it sliding off). If you're not a quilter and don't have these tools, I would fold it in half again, and cut the strips using sharp scissors. It doesn't matter if the strips aren't perfect.

Each tutu has strips in 2 lengths - half each, so I could alternate. The fabric was 44in wide. The longer strips on James' are the full width (possibly a bit long on him, but easy to trim later if you want); on Eleanor's the longer ones are exactly half (22in). For the rest, I cut the strips at the 27in mark for James, leaving 17in for Eleanor's.

Now set up all your strips, and you're ready to start makiing the tutu. I tied one end of the elastic to the chair first (on my right).

Take the first strip, and hold the 2 ends roughly even in your left hand, leaving a loop big enough for your hand to move through. Put your right forefinger and thumb through the loop and open wide.

Stretch the finger and thumb out over and around the loop.

Bring the finger and thumb together underneath.

Let go of the tails with your left hand, and using your left forefinger, pull the top of the loop down.

You will now be able to put your right forefinger straight through the 'knot'.

Transfer the strip to your left hand, ready to load onto the elastic (or ribbon).

Try to ensure you have each knot facing the same way as you load them on, and don't pull them too tight.

Repeat this for all the strips; althernating colours (if you have more than one) and lengths.

Once they're all on, just tie a double-knot and tuck the loose ends into the closest strip knots. Even out the strips around the skirt, and you're done!

Photos of the completed items in yesterday's blog.

Ballet

On our way to the shops this afternoon, James announced he'd like a 'ballet', please? Having heard his comments about Lulu (from Bananas in Pyjamas) and Dorothy (the Dinosaur) wearing them in 2 of his favourite 'DVDVs', I knew he meant a tutu! A brief discussion followed, in which I told him that usually only girls wear tutus. He finished it off by saying, "But I'd LOVE a ballet please Mummy!"

So, I figured why not? He doesn't care, and he'll have plenty of fun, and later on, Eleanor will love it! Although, I did tell him he'd be mortified when he's older!!! First we had to go Bras'n'Things, to get some more lingerie bags, which I use to wash most items. The satiny items out the front had him asking loudly if he was getting his ballet here?! The girls in the shop were highly amused!

I'd seen no-sew tutus blogged, and knew exactly what I'd do, so we went to Lincraft and headed for the shimmery organza, where he announced he wanted pink. Of course! And sparkles? Naturally! There was only hot pink, so I found some white and pale mauve to tone it down a little, and he proudly carried has bag back to the car.

As I was cutting the fabric, he and Eleanor had a wonderful time playing with the other pieces. I'm tempted to go back for a bit more yardage, just for them to play with!

I ended up making one for Eleanor as well. I picked up a white feathery halo for her at the show for a photo session sometime, and the tutu will go perfectly!As I said to Simon while tieing the strips on - I never thought I'd be making a pink tutu for our son! And to top it off, after shopping, we visited a friend who happened to give me a lipstick. James asked for one too, and was obliged with a pale, shimmery lipgloss, which delighted him. I can't wait to see (and photograph) his reaction when he gets his ballet tomorrow morning!

Once the tutus were done, I spent ages playing with fabrics. I had the quilt all designed to match this one (this was for my cousin's first baby, and their second is due next week), and had even printed the foundations.

But making a circular rainbow with a smooth transition of colours is hard, especially when I had to have exactly 48 fabrics! It took a long time to get it up from 43 to complete the circle.

And finally, just for Helen, here is my new iron.

Look! Steam!!!

Incoming

More fabric on the doorstep when I arrived home today! But with the Aussie dollar dropping against the US$, I'll wait a while before I do any more big overseas orders. I have, however, just made my first purchase from The Humming Mini, and ordered a stack of brilliantly-priced of white-on-whites and neutral from a local online shop.

But back to today's incoming fabric. Stash = 887m. First, a random selection:
A few more beachy fabrics, as my sister-in-law is expecting her second baby, and I'll be making it a quilt to go with Beach (their wedding quilt) and Seaside (their daughter's quilt). I'll wait until I know what they're having before I start designing, but thought these might come in handy!

And 4y of this large-scale print (the photo shows about 20in wide)......to use with a couple of my recent book purchases; this below and it's sequel (blogged here):


I've also attached the binding to Change of Seasons. It just needs hand-stitching to the back, and then I have to wait for the baby to arrive so I can do the label and send it on its long journey!

I'm enjoying having a steam iron again - I'd forgotten just how much faster it is! Our old iron stopped steaming (well, when it did steam, it tripped the safety-switch!) years ago, but we never bothered to replace it, until a couple of weeks ago the soleplate came loose. Within an hour we had a new iron - why did we wait so long?! This binding was pressed in no time!

At last!

I've finally cut into the beautiful pile of Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market I bought a while back to make a quilt for myself. Unfortunately that quilt is still being shunted down my to-do list. But I cut a 2" strip from 18 of the prints (should have been 16, but I made a couple of false-cuts!), and combined them with a white-on-white and a aqua-blue snowflake print, to make this quick baby's play quilt.

It was cut, pieced and sandwiched in 2 evenings, then came the quilting deliberations. I would love to be about to do a beautiful allover FMQ, but my machine keeps catching the bottom thread when I FMQ, whihc drives me batty. I eventually settled for some free-hand stars on the blocks and the sashing corners, to show the beautiful variegated thread. I've just discovered King Tut quilting threads, and they're my new favourite. This one changes colour every inch, so gives a really good effect.

I'm intending to bind it in one of the stripes from the same fabric range - as long as I leave enough for my quilt!

Spring

We spent a lot of today outside enjoying the warm spring weather. Despite complete neglect, many of my favourite dutch irises are blooming anyway!

Unfortunately it wasn't all fun. This last one may not survive another year, after being in the Dingo's firing line. The water pipes to our house need replacing (we've had several leaks), and the large front garden was the main cause of the $3000 quote we had to fix them. So Simon and his father hired a Dingo with a trench-digger, and are doing it themselves. James spent most of the day helping.

Eleanor helped too (Good work chopping my head off, Simon! Yes, I had a go too; it came back pretty easily, although it's years since I operated a tractor with a scoop)......joined in some of the 'grotting'...

...and helped me with the washing and in the back garden.

Clancy joined us in the garden, too. His skills weren't tested tonight, as James was so exhausted from his gardening and no nap, that he fell asleep on the sofa before dinner! However, when he woke a short while ago for some supper, he wanted Clancy along with Bec and Ra.

Here's what our driveway looked like late this afternoon, after most of the back-filling was done:

Clancy

For the last few weeks, we have been having trouble getting James to bed most nights - and even more problems getting him to stay there. After many tears and him getting up and being put back to bed, eventually he'd be quiet. We'd go down the hallway much later in the evening, only to find him fast asleep on the wooden floor with Bec and Ra. It was finally revealed that the crocodiles under his bed were going to get him! Obviously he still wasn't happy in his room, but too tired for more fights. We tried several strategies.
First, I told him that there couldn't be any crocodiles in his room, because Mummy won't let them in the house. Unsuccessful.

Then Simon cleared everything from under his bed. Unsuccessful.

Then Simon got the powerful torch out to show James there were no crocodiles there. Unsuccessful.

Then I went out and found a small plastic crocodile to keep the others away. After the first night, that too was unsuccessful ("But the biggers ones (under his bed) will get it").

I'd been investigating larger ones recently, and only yesterday rejected a very cute 1m-long one at a cost of $100!

Today's mail brought a parcel from our favourite Hillbilly, containing Clancy, a lovely crocodile puppet, and a message:

Dear James, Will you please look after Clancy the Croc for me. He needs lots of cuddles and likes to eat pretend fish and pretend flies, Thank You.

At bedtime tonight, we read James the message and brought out Clancy. James cuddled him. Much abbreviated conversation follows:

Mummy: "Are you going to take him to bed?"
James: "I don't want that one."
Mummy: "Oh, look, Clancy likes pretend fish and flies. Do you think he's hungry?"
Clancy: "I'm hungry, can you catch me some fish please?"
(Daddy quickly retrieves James' fishing 'rod' and hook. James happily catches both fish and flies and feeds him.)
Clancy: "Can I have another cuddle?" (Cuddle provided)
Mummy: "Are you going to take him to bed? He likes his cuddles. Isn't he lovely?"
James: "I don't want to take that one to bed."
(Prro Clancy! Mummy and Daddy exchange frustrated grimaces.)
Mummy: "I think he'd be very good at keeping all the other crocodiles away."
James: "No."
(Mummy pretends Bec is a crocodile entering James' room, and Clancy tells him to go away - Bec leaves in a rush.)
James: (giggles) "More?"
(Ra is rapidly procured and scene is re-enacted. More giggles)
(At James' request, scene is repeated another maybe 8 times, with various toys. Each time Clancy uses a different approach, and every time, the crocodile beats a hasty retreat.)
Mummy: "Are you going to take him to bed? He'll keep all the other crocodiles out of your room very well."
James: "I don't want to take that one to bed."
(Mummy and Daddy roll eyes at each other.)
Mummy: "But Clancy needs lots of cuddles." (thinking at top speed) "You see, Clancy's Mummy died, and he needs you to look after him."
James: (sadly) "Clancy's Mummy died? Where did she die?"
Mummy: (ummmm, help!) "In Queensland. So, will you look after him? He'd love to come to bed with you?"
James: (gives Clancy a big cuddle) "There's no room in my bed."
(More rolled eyes, this has never stopped him before, even when he wanted to take his wooden ride-on bike to bed - oh and we said no to that!)
Mummy: "Where's Clancy going to sleep?"
James: "In your room."
Mummy: "But Clancy needs you to look after him"
Daddy: There's no room in Mummy and Daddy's bed either, can't he sleep with you?"
James: "No"
Daddy: "Can he sleep on the mattress next to your bed?"
James: "No. I don't want that one in my room."
(Mummy starting to feel very sorry for poor Clancy!)
Ra: "James, Bec and I want Clancy to come to bed with us, please?"
James: "No"
Bec: "Please, James?"
James: "No, there's no room"
Mummy: "How about we make some room?"
James: "Ok." (Oh, was it that simple?!)

Apart from one brief appearance, and no tears, James went to bed well tonight. A recent check has him fast asleep where he should be.

Late-night update:
At about midnight James woke in tears, requiring me. He needed to go to the toilet (he's still in nappies unfortunately, so this was rather unexpected). After a successful toilet visit, I tucked him back into bed - and along with Bec and Ra, he reached for Clancy!

Update tomorrow with photos of Clancy...

Success!

I haven't completely forgotten about my blog! I spent a week sorting through photos instead of quilting, and somehow fell out of the habit of blogging! But apart from the 30 or so I want to Photoshop (after Joy comes on Sunday and reminds me how do do everything!) my order of nearly 2000 photos is ready. Although I roughly label and file them on a weekly or even daily basis as I upload them, I hadn't done it properly and updated the albums since last September! I have several large albums filled with pages ready to go - when I next have a chance to have a break in the quliting! And because standard prints are a different proportion from most digital images, I had to crop or resize most of the 2000! I wish somewhere would figure that out and start printing 3x4s!

Success refers to the lovely star fabric here. I used some in a design for a friend's girl, but as the quilt sat unfinished waiting for a photo, I changed my mind about the design, and needed more. I'd bought it before I started buying online, and thought I had no hope, but it was recently found by the Kenai Fabric Center in Alaska of all places, through Missing Fabrics and today it arrived. Now on top of all my other deadlines, I want to get this and her new baby sisters quilt both finished within a month!

I am also continuing my love affair with The Book Depository. I don't believe it is entirely one-sided, as they do quite well out of me! This great UK bookshop has terrific prices, and free worldwide postage. Ideal for those expensive quilt books! Like some of these recent additions to my book stash...

This post is a haphazard catch-up on allsorts, so next up are some photos of my most recent completed project. After finding James with an entire packet of baby wipes stuffed into a box, and learnign that it was a pillow for Bec, I took him straight to my animal prints stash, for him to choose a fabric (smart boy chose pandas!) and whipped up this pillow, stuffed with polar-fleece scraps, in a matter of minutes.I did Eleanor one the same in a penguin print, as one of her favourite toys is a penguin. Here is Bec trying it out and being patted to sleep.

Next is a peek at the border I'm adding to Helen's Round Robin centre.Mine is the last border before it goes back to Helen, and I'm really enjoying this one. Although the design of this was less challenging for me than the last, which I dithered over of ages, machine button-hole stitch applique is new to me , and I was pleasantly surprised how fast it is - though I've yet to do some of the tighter curves!

And last is James as a 'Ligon' (Tiger) and on the big ferris wheel, and with Simon and Eleanor wathing the fireworks at the Royal Adelaide Show on Tuesday.

I promise not to leave it as long next time...