My birthday.

Early in November I turned 25. My dear friend Michelle came over in the morning and cooked breakfast for Jamie and I. Then Mum and my brother Jack came in for lunch - and ended up staying for dinner as well!

I was very spoilt! Mum gave me some beautiful antique dessert bowls. Michelle gave me some gold earrings, and Mill sent me a handmade apron and tea towel from America! But Jamie saved the best until last. He gave me this antique double wedding ring quilt! He bought it from American eBay and had it sent to us. When I first got it out of the box it stank of cigarette smoke, and I mean stank. I did some 'googling' to figure out the best way to get the smell out. First I was told to vacuum it with a stocking covering the vacuum hose. That did not work at all. After further research it turned out all it needed was some fresh air (go figure). I hung it out on a windy day and left it all day. The result is a beautiful quilt that has no odour whatsoever! I am delighted!

My dear friend Mill also sent me an early Christmas present. This is a Royal Doulton trio from the early 1930's. It is an art deco styled trio and the pattern is called "Shower". I love it! Thanks again Mill!

My collection of Royal Doulton trios is growing!

Sam xox

Vintage quilt.

This is my vintage quilt I have been working on for over 2 years. I am hand quilting it and I am up to the final round of blocks.

This is a photo of the quilt top before I had basted it.

Here are some photos of the progression of the hand quilting.

And here is the almost finished quilt... not long to go now! I am very excited!

Sam xox

A previous post from 4th December 2007.

It is Tuesday morning here in Australia. What a storm we had yesterday evening!!! You know you live in Australia when it can thunderstorm and your still wearing t-shirt, shorts and thongs (thongs as in flip flops.... not the other ones Americans refer to! haha!).

Here is a picture of the quilt top which I am currently hand quilting.

The pattern is from an old Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I love it because of its vintage fabrics! My dear friend Mill helped me with the layout of the puss-in-the-corner blocks. Half of the fabric was given to me by my Jamie's mum (the lovely lady who is responsible for getting me hooked on quilting! Much to Jamie's dismay!) so I was very lucky to be able to collect such a variety of fabrics, as my stash isnt quite that big yet....

Today I think I will keep on with my sewing, tomorrow I will finish paper piecing my Nan's Xmas present (I am making her a quilt to hang on her wall). I made one for my Mum last year and Nan keeps saying how lovely it is, so I have taken the hint and am making her one. She has no idea though so I am looking forward to seeing her reaction when she unwraps it on Christmas day! I have a feeling it is going to be a hot and humid Christmas Day this year.

Sam xox

A previous post from 19th May 2009.

First off I have sent the names out to those people participating in the Easter/May Block Swap Molly started all those months back. I hope they all have fun making and receiving their blocks. I can't wait to see the results!

I have been doing some hand quilting also on the 'vintage' style quilt I am making.

My knitted scalf is growing quickly. I think I have about 4 more inches to go and then I'll finish it.

Prada inspecting the scarf.

I now have 14 Log Cabin blocks! They are so much fun to make. Foundation paper piecing makes it SO much easier! Yes that is a bag of 1" strips, all ready to be made into Log Cabin blocks!

Now, to my 1930's repro addiction! This is a Grandmothers Flower Garden I have been working on for a while. I have used the English Paper Piecing method to make these blocks, which will eventually be joined together with cream hexagons.

The blocks I have made so far...

On Saturday Jamie and I went to my grandparents house for Pop and Jamie to do some woodwork. Nan and I sat outside in the sunshine. Nan read her newspapers and did her crosswords, and I paper pieced 48 hexagons!

Thanks for looking!

Sam xox