Having a ball

The ever-generous Di B has just added six of these bright and beautiful patchwork balls to my growing collection of stall goodies, all wrapped in glistening cellophane and tied up with ribbons for extra appeal.

These balls, with their ‘orange-peel ‘ segments, are perfect for little hands to grasp, and hidden deep, deep inside is a tinkling bell.

A patchwork ball, made from her stash of whimsical kiddy fabrics, is Di’s usual gift when a new baby arrives – which makes her very popular with their mums!

I’m having such fun making more and more items for the stall, but with the St Luke’s fundraiser coming up tomorrow, I think it might be wise to stop now, don’t you?

See you on the other side

 

Di

But wait, there’s more…

This approaching craft stall is certainly keeping me out of mischief!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There may be even more ….

 

Di

Busy fingers [2]

There’s nothing like a cosy beanie to keep little heads and ears warm, and I’ve had fun playing around with different patterns and weights of wool as I made these for the St Luke’s Care stall just under a week away.

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm, perhaps I could do with a grown-up sized one myself

 

Di

Busy fingers [1]

Give me an episode of Midsomer Murders right now and I’ll show you an opportunity to whip up a baby beanie (or two) for the approaching St Luke’s Care fundraiser.

I was on a roll after finishing Jack’s beanie for his camping trip, so I made a brown one and another in blue for the stall.

 

These shoes took a little longer, and gave me quite a few headaches (and far too much unpicking) but in the end I was pleased with result.

More to come

 

Di

Warm as toast

Jack’s Mummy and Daddy, along with a bunch of good friends, took him on his very first camping trip last weekend. As I’ve told you, winter has certainly arrived with a vengeance, so I made him this woollen beanie and pair of mittens to keep him warm.

 

Teamed up with the red cardigan I knitted him little Jack looks very snug, don’t you think?

And he isn’t even bothered by those cute but silly ears     … yet!

 

Di  

Another Frederica Josephson quilt in the making

Rae has caught the bug! These little hexagons are so portable – and addictive. 

In fact, the Frederica Josephson Quilt from Kim McLean’s pattern in Dr Annette Gero’s book “The Fabric of Society” is the perfect take-along project. 

Little by little, piece by piece, they come together in moments of spare time, each one a little treasure.

A gold star for your fussy cutting, Rae

A little sheepish

That’s how I was feeling when I arrived at Gail’s this morning for the English Quilt group’s monthly get-together.

With deadlines looming for a few other projects like the craft stall for St Luke’s Care my hand-pieced version of Joseph’s Coat (aka Jill’s Quilt by our little group) hasn’t been out of its box since our May get-together at Jill’s place, and I was convinced the others would have theirs almost finished by now.

It turns out I wasn’t the only one temporarily diverted.

Jill’s been absorbed in making Chris Jurd’s beautiful quilt, Deauville. Look at her progress since last month.

 

Gail is using this rainbow of cotton sateen sample fabrics to whip up a Bento Box quilt for her son, using the subtle colour gradations to wonderful effect.

 

 

And Anne is meticulously embroidering a cashmere blanket for her new little granddaughter, due to arrive in the next month.

 

Our “quiet achiever”, Rae, hasn’t been idle either, and next time I’ll show you what she’s been up to.

 

Di

Added later – For enquiring minds, Anne’s teddies are from a Windflower Embroidery pattern which she bought a few years ago from the Crewel Gobelin at Killara in Sydney (Australia). The bears are made from velour and you simply have to touch them

Re-connecting with an old love

It’s been quite a few years since I’ve picked up a crochet hook, but with our annual fundraiser for St Luke’s Care fast approaching I’ve been rediscovering the joys of crocheting. I’d forgotten how much I love the feel of the wool running through my hands, especially during winter.

There are so many gorgeous new patterns around for babies’ booties, and they take no time at all to whip up for the craft stall.

Bootie styles have certainly changed since my children were babies. Aren’t they just so cute?

I have more to come too – but you’ll just have to wait

 

Di

Baby, it’s cold outside

Winter has arrived with a vengeance here on the east coast of Australia.

On a bone-chillingly cold day like today it would have been quite understandable if the lure of hot coffee, sweet nibbles, ugg boots and an exciting quilt project to work on in cosy surroundings had kept our St Mark’s Quilters at home.

But they didn’t give a hoot about the cold!

For our monthly workshop it was all hands on deck as a grand total of 14 quilters came through the door over the course of the day.

(Hover your mouse over each photo in this post to see whose work it is)

We’re currently making Blankets of Love, little quilts to be given to grieving parents whose tiny bubs don’t survive their journey into the world, or whose first days are spent in Newborn Intensive Care.

A few quilts have been finished since last month’s workshop.

Amanda made friends with the open toe walking foot, and used the Hera marker to rule her guidelines.

By the end of the day she had finished the quilting and attached the binding ready for some relaxing hand stitching at home.

Michelle laid out her blocks for a raggy quilt.

Perdita started a new baby quilt in my very favourite colour

And Helen was knitting squares for Wrap with Love.

On a day when the weather outside was distinctly lacking in warmth, in our hall at St Mark’s we had it all (almost) - hot coffee, sweet nibbles, and an exciting quilt project to work on in cosy surroundings.

There wasn’t an ugg boot in sight, but there was the warmth that creating quilts with like-minded souls always brings. 

Di