Block-a-day-July Day 7

I often have a small boy to look after on a Thursday but he has a bit of a cold so it was Basting Day instead —

It took a bit of hunting and piecing to form a back for the Bears quilt.....I like to back my baby quilts in brushed cotton...I had a main fabric that was too small so surrounded it with offcuts from other quilts. It will do!

I did get the mending on the MOML's farm overalls done. I thought I just had some stitching on the zip to re-do but I discovered a holey knee as well!  Maybe that's why the job took (more than) several months for me to get to!

Today's block is a star I haven't made before. Another Tilda block for my Memory Lane quilt —

I thought I'd quickly show you a photo Lily wanted sent through to me the other day after she had laid the doll quilts out for her Barbies. These are all the quilts that 'she has made' lately! —

'til next time

happy stitches,

Gifting Time

As one would expect at this time of the year, there's been a bit of a focus on gifts around here.

These two doll quilts are winging their way across the Tasman, hopefully they will make two little girls happy —

Minky on the back - so luxurious!

And for the first time for a VERY long time, I have been making dolls' clothes!

How many did I make, you ask??

Just two - but I made them reversible, as you can tell (hopefully) from the photo below —

(That way the identical twins can dress their babies identically - or not..!)

The only headache I had was what to use for closure - being reversible, I had to get creative. I had hoped that one buttonhole and 2 buttons for each strap would work but because of the small area to sew, I had trouble getting the buttonhole tidy. I unpicked a buttonhole!! (Grrr!) But I was happy in the end with these large snap studs - even though they show on each side I don't think they look too obtrusive - and even look a bit decorative!

The dolls the dresses are intended for are a little bigger and chubbier than
this one but I couldn't resist having a play regardless!

And speaking of crossing the Tasman, the sleigh has landed at my house, laden up with my SSCS parcel!! We're allowed to open the ornament now - and here it is - or should I say "here they are"!

How gorgeous - this lovely set of wee stockings will make a perfect addition to our tree!!

Some secret Santas reveal themselves early - some don't - but I did find out that Kris of Tag Along Teddies sent this - thank you Kris :-) The other gift will be stowed carefully under the tree (when we get one)!

Other sorts of gifts have happened as well. I didn't put this one aside for Christmas - it was a 'just because' gift which arrived from Joanne recently. Joanne and I skype and sew regularly; one time she was weaving tea towels on her 'new' loom.... I'm so delighted to have the result of that here in New Zealand.

And we are very sad that our neighbours of 12 years, K and F, are moving on; they've been the best of neighbours and we've shared many laughs and good times over the years.
K asked if we (and our tractor) could give him a hand the other day - little did we know he'd done a Maori carving for us, a pouwhenua, (literally, a land post)... and he needed a hand to get it into position.
This pou is a link between our (old) neighbours and us, our relationship with the land (and more). It will keep an eye on us. K has a love of traditional carving, delighting in giving dead trees on his property a new life.

It is set about a metre into the ground, and the taiaha (spear) itself is about as tall as we are...just to give you some idea of its size!

Paua shells for the eyes.

There are still a few things on my Christmas to-do list so I had better get busy!  I hope your Christmas planning is going well - are you like me, deciding to add things to the list at the last minute.....I never learn...!

Happy stitches,