Another UFO Finished

This was going to be a 21st present, but I got talked out of giving it, so it is now finished and in the "To Sell" pile. I really liked the juxtaposition of funky pictures, bright colours and (by themselves) ugly fabrics. The border is a cotton sateen, so has a slight sheen to it.
Close-up of the corner border quilting.
Finished size 1.76m (69.5").

Another UFO Finished!

An Oriental Bay Sunday

This is as a result of a yellow charm square swap in 2000. I even received squares from overseas! I didn't want to cut them up too much, so settled on this simple block. Now, I don't really like yellow and blue together, but this is growing on me! Anyway it is simply quilted - meandering on the blue, and leaves and vines on the yellow, then finished with half feathers on the outer border. I called it Oriental Bay Sunday, because the teal blue makes it sparkle like a summer's day at Oriental Parade/Bay in Wellington.
Measures 64 inches square.
This is my favourite fabric in this quilt - birds on a wire.

A Quilting Bee

This last Saturday some of my quilting group got together at my place for a quilting bee. We were helping out my friend Marjorie who wanted to make a wedding quilt for a niece, but this was a too much for her to manage especially as she is fighting cancer on 2 fronts.
Marjorie was having complete bed rest in hospital so couldn't join us.
But, we started with the fabric (New Zealand fabrics) and a picture ...

Pam, Jenny, Sue and I had our 4 sewing machines going while Biddy cut and ironed fabric.

Pam doing push-ups to get up off the floor and an almost completed top.
8.5 hours later we had finished the top, almost finished piecing a backing, eaten great food and had a lovely day working together.

From left: Pam, Jenny, Sue, me, and Biddy.
Well done ladies!

You'll Never Walk Alone

My very dear friend, Marjorie started chemotherapy for her cancer today. Over the last 10 days I have made her this quilt, it's really very simple but every stitch has been stitched with love, it has fabric with angels on it in the centre and I have quilted angels, hearts and feathers around the border. It is backed with soft, fluffy wincyette and has 80% wool 20% cotton batting and measures 54" square.
There will be times when she feels very alone and the struggle will seem all uphill, but she will know that she is being loved and cared for every step of the way.

corner angel

All my love, Marjorie - this is so for you!

New Zealand Wallhanging

I started this in 2005 for a Tote and Gloat challenge which was a New Zealand icon - it has squares of New Zealand fabrics forming the map. But, before the challenge date, I saw the fabric manufacturer had an advertisement of the same thing, so I figured I really couldn't enter with this. Since then, I've had quite a quilting journey. On this you will find the national flag, a silver fern and the rest represents the ocean currents that swirl around and through the Cook Strait separating the 2 major islands.

Another Happy Village

Here's another 'Happy Village' done the Karen Eckmeier way - it's so easy and fun to do! This is Primosten in Croatia - the old town sits on what used to be an island but is now attached to the mainland. The high tower on the hill is actually the church of St Juraj erected in 1485 and restored in 1760.
I may have to give this to Sarah, because when she and Derrick were in Croatia in 2005, this was a place she really wanted to see, but fell asleep in the car and couldn't be woken up.

Finishing the Binding on Your Quilt

I have struggled for ages to finish the bindings on my quilts so that you can't see where I've started or ended, but today a fellow quilter mentioned a video of how to do this. AND it's the best instruction ever. So look here: