Birthdays Galore

In our family, June is big on birthdays.

As my remaining siblings, (all sisters now) and I get older, I find it's more difficult to buy birthday presents for them. 

So I have taken to making their gifts and only making them something I know they will use. 

Here is what I have made my Twin Sisters for their birthday this month.

For three years running I have made them a bunch of cards.

Since Mr H.P. has spent up big on card making supplies for my Mother's Day gift this year, I thought I had better make good use of them.
Above is a sample of some of the cards I made.  The ones above are for the older of the Twins. (Ha! Ha!)

With the cards I include envelopes (of course),a sheet of postage stamps and a nice pen.  Then I place all of these items into a useful container, this year a tin which I purchased at the Hippy Shop in Springwood.

The New Age Markets (aka The Hippy Shop) is a shopper's heaven!  Be sure you'll find a gift for any occasion. An hour or two could easily be spent behind the five-shop-fronted emporium!

A warning though...if you spend too much time in there, you're bound to come out smelling of patchoulli and sandalwood...so you can't hide where you've been!

 (I'll put the link up later as it seems to be busy right now.) 

Above you can see a few of the cards I've made for P, the younger of The Twins, and at the back is the tin I will put the bundle into.

I hope they like them, but most of all, I hope they find them useful.

Two days after The Twins' birthday my niece L. turns eighteen...or as she says...she turns "legal", as in Australia, 18 is the legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco and voting.

Above is the card I've made for L.
I've tried a new technique, using white embossing powder (this one is called Seafoam White and has a bit of a pearlescence to it) stamped on baby blue card stock.

The butterfly was stamped on black card stock and embossed with the same embossing powder and then cut out with scissors before mounting on card using foam tape. 

I'm also trying my hand at word cards but I'm feeling a bit uncertain about them...so maybe more about them later.

Four birthdays down...four to go...in June.

(By the way...February is our busiest birthday month).

Do you have a month that is jam packed with birthdays?

Tardiness Results in Post Out of Synch

I haven't been very good with my blog posts lately.  Life just seems to get busier and busier.
My sister  visited us in May, for her sixtieth birthday celebrations. She lives two and a half thousand kilometres away in sunny Queensland.  She spent four weeks with us , sharing herself  between her siblings.
We celebrated by having a Sound of Music themed party.  My sister, always the family clown, had a couple of changes of outfits...her first was, Liesl sixty years on, yes, that's right, sixty years on and the other was Maria as a nun.   Here is "Sister Maria" receiving the quilt that I made her. She loved it and she was so surprised to see what I had done with her blocks.  She couldn't wait to get it home.

And here she is as Liesl sixty years on.

Other Sound of Music cast members to attend included Whiskers on Kittens, Me (a name I call myself), lots of boys in lederhosen costumes, Baroness Elsa Schrader, and Maria as a novice.

Since then, I've tackled my next quilt project for Mr HP's niece's third baby.

G is for giraffe, and...girl.

Here it is ready for pinning.

And here is the backing.

Aren't these lambs just so cute?

It is a rather simple quilt, and I'm counting on getting cute appeal from the fabric itself.

Cheating I know, but what inspired me to keep this quilt uncomplicated is the expectant mother, who I know will allow her baby to use this quilt however she wishes.

You see, this Mum already has twin girls, and almost five years ago I also made the twins quilts. The two quilts made for them were almost identical, and I know that both girls love their quilts and treat them as security blankets.

You know, this, I think, is the highest complement for a quilt maker.

I like to see my quilts being enjoyed.

Oh, and by the way, baby number three is due 8th June, so I better get cracking...

Linking up to 

As If I Could

If there are two things that most evoke memories of my childhood - they would have to be persimmons (the astringent variety), and skeins of wool.

Devouring squishy, jelly-like, elegantly-sweet, fruit (the only way to eat astringent persimmons) and unravelling wool for knitting were both activities that might have taken place on wet, foggy, autumn days.  My younger sister disliked persimmons. Not surprising since she disliked most foods that once grew as a plant.  

As children we squabbled over who would be the holder and who would be the unraveller...of the skein.  The one who wound the ever-growing ovoid was the ultimate winner.

Some times there was no holder available and the back of a chair would have to suffice.

My sister and I learnt how to knit at a very early age.

I was knitting myself cardigans around age seven or eight. When my twin sisters arrived when I was eight years old, I could knit baby booties without the need of a pattern - because I knew the pattern off by heart.

These days my memory isn't so good.

Buying skeins of wool is becoming common again, especially if it's hand dyed or hand spun.

I found both these skeins of wool and the persimmons at the local markets.

All I need to do now is wait for the persimmons to become squishy sweet; and to decide a  pattern for my home dyed skeins of wool.  I'm thinking the unravelled skeins will be knitted up into scarves.

Let's Have A Party! # 2

Yesterday, family and friends celebrated my Twin Sisters' fiftieth birthday at the Burning Log Restaurant Dural.

We had a 'wig party'.

Even the teddy got to wear a wig!

I think my Youngest Brother had the coolest wig!

Our Second Sister made drink coasters using photographs from The Twins' last fifty years.  What a hoot we all had looking at the photographs spread out on the tables, and what a brilliant idea!

I'm pleased to report that the cake I made went down a treat.  Everyone licked their plate clean and I received lots of compliments. Also, I could tell my brother in law that it was gluten free (he is one that always makes digs at me 'cause I eat gluten free) and much to his surprise it was delicious.

After serving plates of breads and dips and antipastos,kitchen staff plated up perfectly cooked beef steak and chicken with mash and vegetables. The birthday cake was presented garnished with berry sauce, ice-cream and cream. 

A totally perfect way to spend a rainy and cold June afternoon.

Today, my sisters opened up their presents at home, so did not get to see them open up the quilts...but I got some lovely text messages on my mobile telephone.  I've even been promised kisses tomorrow...when I visit them again.

Twin Birthdays/Crazy Weekend.

All Ganached!

Birthday Party 2morrow!

Sometimes I think my purpose in this life is to try out as many things as possible so I can choose ONE talent to concentrate on in my next!

I volunteered to make my Twin Sisters' fiftieth birthday cake not knowing at the time that my Daughter and Grand Daughter would be moving house today.  So in amongst the mayhem, the packing, and the boxes I have made the cake!  We also have two interstate guests arriving tonight and one from Sydney!!!!!

Foil Covered Numbers.

Black Forest Brownie Cake

Chocolate Ganache added.

With Cherries on top.

Marzipan Roses.

Taa Daa!

The Twin Quilts are bound, labelled and wrapped, the outfits all picked out (we have to wear wigs!) and all that's left is for the removalists to show up!

Happy Queen's Birthday Long Weekend to you all in Eastern Australia!

Twin Quilts for Twin Sisters.

Yay! Sue Bell from Fancy Stitches has finished continuous quilting my Twin Quilts.  Wow, can't believe she managed to do both in less than one week!  She also machine sewed the binding on for me so all I need to do now is hem the binding and add the labels.
Found this great tutorial for blind stitching quilt binding. Love it!  Thanks to Dream Weaver's Quilts.











I'm loving everything about these two quilts.  As they were progressing I had my doubts about these and that.  When I went to purchase the backing fabric I couldn't find what I wanted, and on and on....
Now that they've all come together I'm very happy.  Hope my sisters are too!!!!
All that's left to do now is hem the binding and sew on the labels. 
Then they're off to a birthday party on the 11th June.
I'm linking this post to WIP Wednesday at Don't Call Me Betsy.  WIP Wednesday is usually hosted at Freshly Pieced.
Hope you all have a great day!

Twin Cards for Twin Sisters - Card 2.

In an attempt to be very organised for my Twin Sisters' birthday I took up the sketch saturday challenge to inspire my gone by the by card making skills.

I've used Kaisercraft background papers and embellishments, Penny Black image - Brush Butterfly - and one of my favourite.  Also Ruby Rock-it up Stairs down Stairs Narrative sheets, Bradz, Kindyglitz glitter glue and whatever else I could find lying around.  And I have LOTS lying around, I can assure you!

Linked to sketchsaturday.blogspot.com

Twin Cards for Twin Sisters - Card 1.

In an attempt to be very organised for my Twin Sisters' birthday I took up the sketch saturday challenge to inspire my gone by the by card making skills.

I've used Kaisercraft background papers and embellishments, Penny Black image - Brush Butterfly - and one of my favourite.  Also Ruby Rock-it up Stairs down Stairs Narrative sheets, Bradz, Kindyglitz glitter glue and whatever else I could find lying around.  And I have LOTS lying around, I can assure you! 


I have linked this post to sketchsaturday.blogspot.com

Fingers Crossed.

This is now a complete quilt top...this morning I purchased quilt back and wadding.  Just need to cut my binding and off it goes to the long arm quilter along with this quilt top Will they be ready for my Twin Sisters' birthdays in two weeks? I've linked this post to WIP Wednesday, Freshly Pieced.  Wednesday 25.5.2011

Progress Report.

Here is a short progress report on the second Twin quilt I'm making.  I've decided on half square blocks which I've played around with and here is a sneak peak of the end result.  Since this photograph was taken I've stitched all the blocks together (with lots of unpicking) and all that remains is for a small border to be added. I love the colours so much I'm tempted to use them in a quilt for me! 

You can see my first Twin Sister's almost complete quilt here

One Down, Three To Go!

Life Is A Pea-2011

Remember this?  My Irish Chain quilt top is finished! Today!  
Tomorrow I'm off to purchase backing and binding fabric.  I've decided that at almost ninety by ninety inches square the quilt is way too big for me to machine quilt it myself so it's off to the long arm quilter.  
On Friday, I hope to pick out the fabric for my second Twin Sister's quilt which will consist of octagon blocks similar to this.
After these two quilts are out of the way, I have two baby quilts to complete.  
It's looking to be a busy year.

Manic Monday.

Do you ever have days when you have soooo much to do that you run around like a dog chasing its tail?
That's how today feels for me!

So I'm starting my morning with a juice for breakfast; carrot, apple, beetroot and celery.

Lunch will be leftover curried sausages from last night's dinner. (Yes which was made from leftover sausages from Meat 'n Three Veg).

For tea I somehow have to squeeze in preparing this: 

and you can find the recipe in this cookbook.  I also have my patchwork sewing class from one onwards where I'm looking forward to choosing fabric for Older Twin Sister's quilt.
I must do a load of laundry, ironing uniforms for Honey Pie,shopping,check in on my neighbour who has had chemotherapy recently...I think you all know the script...
Hope you all have a great day!!!

Sunny Sunday Sewing.

This afternoon, trialled a block I want to use for my Older Twin Sister's fiftieth birthday quilt.  The colours are a bit ho hum but I couldn't waste a perfectly good piece so I made this cushion with it.

Which inspired me to complete a pair of pillow slips I wanted to make for my Youngest Son. These will go with a quilt I'd made for his twenty first. He turns twenty five in June-oh my gosh, where do the years go?!!  And should I mention that this week Honey Pie and I celebrate our 39th, yes 39th wedding anniversary-ahhhh!  I will add a photo of the quilt into my gallery...that is when I find a photo of it!

Anyway, here are the pillow slips.  

Irish Chain Quilt Top.

I am well on my way with a quilt (I mentioned in an earlier post ) for one of my Twin Sisters' fiftieth birthdays. I shall call her The Younger Twin.  The colours are not quite what I had in mind but I wanted blue to be the star colour in her quilt.  
As always, I never stick to the original pattern layout.  I didn't particularly like this layout either so I changed it to suit myself. Of course this means a nightmare job of rearranging blocks and then of course, I tend to change my mind halfway through the quilt anyway!!!  
So...I have three options to chose from 

This was my original option but I dislike quilt tops that draw your eye to the centre (unless it's an art quilt).  My preference is to take a little journey around the quilt, surveying the entire piece.

Option Two is a bit subtler in the centre, maybe too subtle?  It does strengthen the blue colours though.

I think Option Three is more balanced, the focus is still the centre yet the stronger reds and rusts draw the eye around the quilt.

Which would you choose?

And yes, I know, there are blocks missing...my next task.  This will also probably mean that once they're complete, I'll change my mind again...about the layout.  Hehe!

Movin' Right Along

One project on the go is never enough for me.  

As you might remember my Quilt Top post listed a couple of projects yet to be completed.

The bad news is that I haven't even started those yet!

The good news is that below you will see two projects that have come along since that post.

I've added sashing and borders to my Churn Dash quilt top.  Now all I need to do is add batting and backing fabric before I quilt and bind.  I will more than likely hand quilt this one.

I've discovered that I'm very efficient at "growing" my quilt tops!  What I envisaged as a lap quilt has grown to the size of a single bed quilt.  

This one was always intended to be a single bed quilt. Since the last post about the above quilt I've added the borders and machine quilted the project.  The binding is just being pinned here but I am happy to report that the machine sewing of the binding is complete, now to trim and hand sew.

Above is my third 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar Quilt'!  The first two had to be completed within a week of each other.  They were for my Honey Pie's two great nephews; cousins born within a week of each other in 2010.  They were almost identical quilts, except for the backing fabric, binding and the hand quilting.  I would have preferred to hand quilt this one but time is quickly running out and I do want to have it finished well in advance to it departing for the U.K.
My next major quilt project is to make two quilts for my twin sisters who turn fifty this year!  I have chosen fabrics for one....