A New Quilt♡

Hello lovely friends♡ It's late Sunday evening here, where, for most of you in your little part of the world, Sunday is just awaking♡

Early this week I had a request for a quilt to be made to be used as a throw for a nursery nursing chair. And, the request was if possible could it be finished in a week or two. Also, if at all possible could I use Australian theme fabrics mixed with a few solids and green prints. And......not a lot of bright fabrics, please. Though, some brighter greens thrown into the mix were acceptable.

Fortunately, I have remnants of fabrics with Aussie animals and flora so I pulled these out, with various green prints and a few solids; sending  a photo to the mum-to-be for the okay. So, receiving the green light I began.

I stitched 4" squares together. Fabrics where sweet joeys are peeping out of mumma's pouch and cockatoos and kookaburras enjoying a laugh in an old gum tree. There are platypuses chasing fish in and out of reeds deep in riverbeds and other platypuses sitting on the river bank fishing with their pelican chums. Koalas are catching rides on the back of jumping kangaroos and there are a couple of chubby koalas enjoying a banquet of eucalyptus leaves.. There's  a little gum nut, Snugglepot......or is it Cuddlepie (of May Gibbs fame) setting sail in a little tinnie with her friend, Koala. There's even a blue fairy wren singing a merry tune where more little gum nuts listen, enthralled. Such a sweet fabric. The other fabrics added to the mix are spotty spots,  Australian floral designs and a few Kona solids. The binding is Kona Bluegrass which do-si-do around the quilt quite nicely.

The backing fabric  is very different to the quilt front. It's a fabric with cute doggies all over. An interesting choice but it is what the mum-to-be requested. But then, it's really two quilts in one. Double the fun and whimsy.

I bought the doggy fabric when out shopping with my daughter in San Fransisco. It was the first time I stepped over the threshold of Hobby Lobby. It's certainly a shop with all things craft, isn't it?? I thought at the time you would be hard pressed to not find what you wanted. Though, I must say for fabrics and pure wool I prefer smaller independent patchwork and wool shops.

I'm still bemused by my little shopping expedition in Hobby Lobby. My daughter and I were at the cutting counter and as the sales assistant was cutting the doggy fabric  she asked me what country I was from; to which I replied, Australia. At this point she told us that she would never travel to Australia. Intrigued, I asked her why ever not. She went on to say that she would be terrified to visit Australia as it was a communist country.  My daughter and I looked at each other simultaneously and silently questioned.......What??!! When??!! How??!! I wanted to enlighten this dear lady that perhaps she should board a plane and dip her conservative toes in the land down under and experience for herself a land where government  serves the people and, for the most part endeavours to make the lives of their citizens better, but I thought better of it. Of course, the both of us walked out of the shop incredulous, chortling as we went. Truly, the ignorance of some Americans is astounding. I must say when the sad time arrived when I had to say  au revoir to my daughter and son-in-law, I said to my daughter to wish me luck as I departed for that communist land in which I live; the home of her youth. I'm still chuckling over the dear lady's thoughts on Australia. =) Yes indeedy, I'm thankful and feel blessed to live in Australia.

Oh, while I'm broaching the subject of politics, another aside. So, so sorry.......but you know me. =) We're having a federal election within the next few months and can you believe, we have a right wing conservative party called the Trumpet of Patriotism!! It is a party where their intention is to get an elected representative or two into the hallowed halls of Parliament. You have got to be kidding!! Imagine my surprise when one evening the Trump-like, bloated and over-fed billionaire leader of this party took over my TV screen in an over-long advertisement sitting with Tucker Carlson??!! What??!! They were trumpeting on and on and on, how Australia needs to have Trump policies. I don't think so!! I had heard Carlson had been doing the rounds here, spewing out his buddy Trump's propoganda. However did he get into Australia?? Truly Border Force, you  should be more particular, indeed, more selective with whom you allow to enter. Such a pity his entry visa wasn't denied and sent packing on the next plane. Ahh....us Aussies are just too friendly. =)

But....back to the quilt. I machine quilted vertical and horizontal stitching lines a quarter of an inch in from the seams. I was half way through the quilting where I discovered an almighty boo boo. The backing fabric is upside down. The things one does when one isn't thinking. In all my years of quilting I cannot recall doing this before. Truly, I wonder about my muddly head sometimes. Not to worry. I sent a photo to the mum-to-be as I really didn't want to spend hours and hours unpicking stitches, and all's good with her. We decided to call it a Topsy Turvey quilt.

Oopsa daisy. =)

Another finished quilt. A speedy quilt which was pieced and machine quilted in a few days. I enjoy fashioning small quilts. It's a welcome change to huge queen bed size quilts which seem to take me forever. I always find simple patchwork quilts where squares dance happily with each other, charming. Fingers crossed the mum-to-be likes this pretty.

Hoping you enjoy a pleasant Sunday lovely lovelies......lovely friends; joying in something you love to do♡ I enjoyed a lovely day, though it was a busy one. Somehow, I managed to squeeze in the hand stitching of the binding of the topsy turvey quilt. Remember, keep your light shining in your little part of the world. Mine is shining brightly here♡ Take care♡

Until the next time......

Flower Baskets Is A Flimsy♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies♡ March has quietly marched into my little corner of the world, and it has brought with it soft, diffused light in the early mornings. Quiescent mornings with sunbeams filtering through the misty, pearlescent sky. Cool mornings with the promise of warm days. I must say 'tis rather lovely.

March has brought a flimsy, too. I'm delighted to say, each little basket of flowers are now gathered together in a flimsy. Splashes of vibrant colour and floralicious joyfulness here, there and everywhere. I must say this quilt is not for chroma phobes. Indeed, some might need to don sunglasses to dim the brightness.

The 9" blocks are set on point with the baskets skipping diagonally wherever they will. No sashings between each basket; just a border of grey batik dancing around the quilt alluding to a modern aesthetic. The baskets are Kona solids and the flowers are florals from my stash. This quilt is a biggen measuring  98" by 98".

Now to hand quilt Flower Baskets. I haven't decided upon quilting designs. Perhaps a basket weave design inside each basket?? A simple design, me thinks. Anyway, while I sit and contemplate my belly button, perhaps my pretty will whisper in my ear as to how she wants quilting stitches to skip atop her. I will set her aside until Old Man Winter and his frigid sidekick Jack Frost take up residence once more. I get chilblains just thinking about those two pesky, wintry varmints. Yep, a lot of hand quilting in front of a cosy fire might just get me through the perils of winter.

But, for now I will enjoy the warm days of March with nary a thought of the colder days creeping ominously up  my country road.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my first foray into blogging. I can't quite believe I've been prattling on about stuff and nonsense for thirteen years. That's a helluva lot of musings and happy snaps of all things stitching and of course, the flowers. 

Here in Blogland we frequently visit each other and see what we have been up to and how we are going; how we are travelling. And, in these days, where each week is becoming a little darker and more sinister than the previous week, blogging is a way of encouraging each other, building one another up, supporting each other, laughing with each other, crying with each other; and of course, inspiring one another. Thank you for the perpetual inspiration you beam to me down here at the bottom of the world on a regular basis. Thank you, too, for always taking the time to visit my little place and gift my days with your sweet thoughts; your sweet words. You, lovely lovelies, are the sweetest of blessings to me♡

So, I've been thinking. Wouldn't it be lovely, if every now and then, I send a little package of 4" squares of my fabric stash to some of you; just to thank you for your kindness. No drawing names out of a hat, no random computer generated numbers.....just me sending a surprise wee parcel to you in the post. A lovely surprise in the post, other than a bill is always welcome, is it not?? Now, if you wouldn't mind a little package filled with fabric loveliness from me to you, please say so and let me know by sending your address to my email.  Sharing the love with fabrics♡ Sprinkling a little kindness into another's day♡

I must be off. A little knitting for Slow Sunday stitching while watching Vera, me thinks. Enjoy your Sunday, lovely lovelies. Don't forget to be the light in this dark, dark world. "That's a bit grim" I hear you say. Well, after Friday's shocking turn of events in the White House it's clear that there is a tectonic shift in global geopolitics. In Trump's and his regime's world, allies are foes and foes are allies. Very grim indeed. And on that somber note, I really must be off. Vera and a little knitting awaits. =) Take care, lovely lovelies, and again, thank you for your kindness all these years♡

Until the next time........

When I woke up this morning........♪♪♬♫

 

Hello, lovely lovelies♡ I woke up this morning......and you were on my mind  ♪♪♬♪♬♫  Just channelling Crispian St Peters. =) Though, I really have been waking up in the mornings and thinking of some of you, of late♡ I hope you are travelling okay,  all things considered; living in this alternate universe we find ourselves♡

Here in my little universe, within the safe cocoon of my humble home, sheltered from the ails of this sorry world; and where the summery garden embraces me every day, I've been fashioning more flower baskets. I was a wee bit excited on Friday as I thought there were enough flower baskets for the quilt and the piecing of rows could begin. But. Alas. No. It seems more are needed. Now, if this girl's muddly head wasn't more often than not, lost in dem arty farty textile clouds, twirling and whirling around all things fabric, ribbons, flowers and baskets, she would've realised the layout she imagined was just not  going to work. So, with both feet once again on terra firma, and with a new layout decided upon, the appliqueing of new baskets is under way. Though I'm loving all these pretty baskets, the appliqueing of the baskets is wearing a bit thin....just a tad. So, perhaps next week there may be a Flower Baskets flimsy to ooh and ahh....and wax lyrical about. 

One of these things is not like the other...

One of  these things just doesn't belong......

Ahh.....Sesame Street. I used to sing 'One of these Things' with my girls when they were little. Precious memories of watching Sesame Street with my girls, with each day following the fun and educational antics of Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, The Cookie Monster......Maria.......Bob.....and all the gang. Those were the days♡

This week I started knitting a wee baby cardie. A cable pretty in Patons Merino 4ply baby wool. The colour is a soft grey, and 'tis lovely and soft.

As it's Sunday I will enjoy a little knitting. Clickety clack, clickety clack of the needles, rhythmically knitting back and forth in a relaxed fashion; sipping a cup of Melbourne Breakfast tea, in a pretty teacup; of course. Perhaps, I will hand stitch a few more baskets, too. 

Sending you, lovely lovelies, sprinkles of heavenly scented sweet peas and rose petals; with a little Tassie sunshine to kiss you on the cheek♡ Take care, lovely lovelies♡

 

Until the next time......

"Freedom, Books, Flowers, And The Moon, Who Could Not Be Happy?" Oscar Wilde

Hello lovely lovelies♡ A lovely Sunday morning welcome to you♡ It's a peaceful morning here. Far, far from the madness....and madding crowd. I've just come in from the garden for my early morning stroll snippety snipping pretty blooms here and there. I'm ready for the first of many a cup of tea;  and later, a little slow stitching of my flowery baskets.

I acquired a couple of fabrics this week, with lush flowers flourishing all over. A pretty floral fabric will always find a home in my fabric stash. Two fabrics are designed by Anne Maria Horner 'Good Gracious', and the other, a lawn from Moda, Chelsea Garden.

There's a fabulous quote on the selvedge of the Chelsea Garden fabric. A quote by Oscar Wilde.  Gotta love an Oscar Wilde quote. There are many memorable ones.  He was a man of incisive wit.     The quote?? 'I can be perfectly happy by myself. With freedom, flowers, books, and the moon, who could not be perfectly happy?' Oscar Wilde

And that, got me thinking............=)

I love this quote. I am that girl who is perfectly content with my own company. And, if there's a  tower of books waiting to be read, encouraging me to journey along the yellow brick road in search of new adventures, exciting mysteries, knowledge, and truth......well so much the better. And, if I can walk in a garden where beautiful blooms brush me as I pass by; and there's many a room in my humble abode where many a vase of flowers intoxicate the air with a potpourri of redolent fragrances; even better.

As for the moon.  That brilliant globe bathing the earth with a silvery, ethereal glow;  cannot but cause a little happiness, can it?? Though a full moon hanging low in the night sky is magical, full of wonder; I rhapsodise a little more when the moon is indistinguishable in an inky black sky and a host of scintillating stars are twinkling above. I have been known to slip out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to indulge in a little star gazing. Just me, a mere mortal, diminutive, insignificant, humbled, looking at the cosmos above; in awe at the sight of the glimmering constellations vastly stretching above and across. It is theatre at its very best.

I am moved, in the innermost depths of me every time I look at a star-lit night sky. I send thoughts and prayers travelling through the galaxies to the Creator. In these times, I send many a prayer heavenwards for some of you, lovely lovelies. Prayers of strength. Prayers to be able to cope with each day and the continual barrage of idiocy of late.

Then the quote states freedom can but make a person happy?? Freedom?? What a can of worms, freedom, is. I've been thinking about the fragility of freedom of late. A free society?? A respectful society. A society tolerant of diversity. Citizens of different skin colours, faiths, backgrounds, social classes and family structures; having the same freedoms to live, dress, worship and believe as they wish. Unfortunately, there are some who would have us all live by their rules, their confined and bigoted ideals. One must never become complacent when governments across the world assume sweeping powers and impose significant restrictions on their citizens. Generations past, fought and died to uphold freedom.  But hey........what do I know......right?? 

Now......if I was penning this quote I would have to include fabric into my happiness gauge. I never walk out of a shop with a pretty fabric or two in my bag, unhappy. Though, when I arrive home there might be some misgivings, a smidgen of guilt  with the acquisition of yet more fabric....but that is easily pushed down, down, down...... into the depths of my consciousness.

I wonder if sumptuous fabrics caused Oscar Wilde to feel a little happiness?? After all, he was a fellow who tended to dress flamboyantly. His choice of fabrics were richly coloured velvets, silks.........dressed in a manner, thumbing his nose up at the strictures of Victorian fashion. Indeed his clothing choices were a form of self expression. I read he  considered life should be as beautiful and full of style as art.  Why, I'm going to don a pair of black patent leather shoes, complete with silver bows, just as Oscar would've worn back in the day, and do a happy dance in concurrence. Yep, Oscar Wilde is my kinda guy. 

Of course my happiness barometer would include, family, sweet sweet grandbabies, friends, stitching, oodles of quilts, chocolate cake, sweet puppy dogs, tea in pretty fine bone china tea cups...........a myriad blessings which cause me to smile. I wonder what causes the mercury in your happiness barometer to rise?? =) 

When I wasn't having fun falling down the rabbit hole reading about all things Oscar Wilde this week, more pretty baskets filled with pretty blooms were hand stitched. And yes, some of the new fabrics were stitched into the baskets.

Who would've thunk it......that a whole lot of musings could've emanated from one quote. But, that's my muddly mind for you. I'll blame it on the oasis that is my pond. I sit there with a cup of tea in hand and think upon the madness and chaos of another week that has slipped into the annals of history. My little light is shining a little brighter today because this week, the world just became a little darker. Sending many hugs wrapped in many prayers to you♡ Why, on the next star-filled, inky black night I will slip out, look up into the theatre of the night sky and whisper a prayer for you♡ Take, care, lovely lovelies♡

Sending you, lovely lovelies, a little flowery love♡ Until the next time......