Waiting In The Wings

Friday, February 2, 2024

Just what happened to my January this year??

I posted on the 1st of January with plans galore for the coming year, sadly family health matters and my own health scuppered the plans totally. My reading of all your posts more or less came to a stand still, which saddens me greatly, my patchwork also, but, a new month now and things seem to be improving so here I am once again.

Good news - Sunny Days is now a fully sewn together top and awaiting it's turn in the quilting queue


I have yet to pick out a suitable backing. Quilt measurement 48" x 56". I used a  Victoria Findlay Wolfe
for the yellow triangles, had just enough fabrics to cover all the triangles - slight mishap with calculations so I hunted amongst a few of her newer ones - see lower right bottom right, thankfully they don't look too out of place as the yellow is the same shade as the original used.

Yesterday evening I was determined to have the quilt for our baby great granddaughter all finished, so here is the Lyra Rose quilt

  

quilted simply wth wavy lines to catch in the seams, they're not really noticeable here mainly because I used the perfect match of Aurifil pink.

The quilting lines are a little more visible on the photo below, this shows the backing also and you'll notice that I used the same fabric for the binding. It picks up the bright little pops of colour in the Tula fabric with tiny rainbows.


Measuring 34" x 44" with bamboo/cotton batting, very thin but it's so hot here that a thicker quilt would have been just too much.

I love Nasturtiums and they grow like crazy in our garden, a multitude of colours and the peppery smell is fascinating, same with the lovely veined leaves,  here's just about the last one now flowering for us, there is a story here.

After a session at the hospital my kind husband suggested we stop off at the largest patchwork store here in Auckland - The Ribbon Rose with three floors, one filled with fabric, another with the requirements for painting artists and the ground floor has stunning knitting wools, embroidery threads and lots more delights.

I headed to the top floor to browse the fabric whilst husband was in the painting department, I bought a little of the new AMH fabric but making my way back to the counter what should I spy but


this glorious Figo fabric. I immediately saw a future border here.

Home to Howick and called in Poppies book store, if you're a book lover, which both myself and husband are, then hours could be spent here. Comfy sofas to sit and browse and decide whether  a purchase should be made. I wandered around the Homes and Gardens section and immediately my eyes fell on a book by Tricia Guild, just the cover was enough to excite me but the contents were a colour dream.


Moody Blooms is the perfect title! I'll show a picture or two next time, it sits here on my bookshelf, a gift from my husband !!

I'll finish off now feeling so happy that I have had the energy and inspiration to write a blog after one month!!! Tomorrow morning is set aside for reading your blogs and then progressing to stitch the applique on the centre piece of Bramble Blooms 1.

Got to leave you now with a flower, a canna lily flowering in the heat here in Auckland.


See you again very soon, happy quilting and hope those of you dealing with the cold and snow are staying dry and warm.

Maureen

13 comments:

Julierose said...

Hope your health continues to be good, Maureen; I have strained my "good" thumb as I was resting the "bad" one!! So, am having to rest once again--I know how you feel--looks like I will only be reading for a while!!
I love that Sunny quilt--so cheerful...take care hugs, Julierose

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love your sunny days quilt top. Yellow is my favorite color so I always love to see it in a quilt. I did not notice the second triangle fabric so it does blend in well.
The Lyra Rose quilt is so perfect for a baby girl. I hope your great-granddaughter is doing well and growing fast.

Robin said...

Sunny day turned out so pretty. I wouldn't have noticed the yellow if you hadn't mentioned it. It just looks like a design decision and is as terrific as the rest. Glad you're feeling better.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Two sweet quilts. I've always loved that pastel Kaffe stripe you've used in your 'lyra rose' quilt. So glad you are feeling better and have been able to get a bit of stitching in over the past month.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Sunny Days is wonderful! And Lyra Rose is perfect for your new little great-grand girl. Visits to a fabric store (and painting for DH) and a wonderful bookstore - what a lovely day (aside from the hospital part). And then you added that gorgeous canna bloom. Thank you!

Janie said...

Hi Maureen! Yes Tricia Guild has excellent books about gorgeous color!
I will look into Moody Blooms for sure. Your baby quilt looks wonderful and happy.
Thanks for sharing your nasturtium flower and cana lily, so cheerful.

loulee said...

Life and health often get in the way. We know that happens.
You have some lovely quilts there.

FlourishingPalms said...

No snow in Florida, but on again/off again colder weather. We still haven't turned on the heat though, so that's something. I absolutely adore the first quilt you showed - Sunny Days. It's simply delightful with those pops of yellow. You make me want to go buy some sunny yellow print like that! The whole quilt top is a beauty! Did you not want to give it away to great-granddaughter? Maybe you were afraid it would hurt her eyes? Her quilt is adorable too. I hope you continue to feel better and reach a point when you're back to full energy. We have so many quilts yet to make!

MissPat said...

Sorry to hear January was such a bust for you, Maureen. Hopefully things have turned the corner and you'll be back on track. Sunny Days is just delightful and Lyra Rose is a perfect quilt for your new great granddaughter. We've had two days of sunshine in a row, but cold, around 40F. But the daylight is lasting longer which gives hope for better, warmer weather here.
Pat

Linda Swanekamp said...

As usual, your colors are always stunning. So sorry for such a tough month. We only had a snowstorm, melted now. Sounds like a wonderful store- all those art supplies under one roof! I have spent a lot of time prepping for the watercolor class I am teaching this coming weekend and now I remember why I don't usually teach- too much prep time! So my sewing is neglected. I love nasturtiums and can grow them here.

Ann said...

January was a difficult month. I'm glad you're back. What a delight to have a beautiful baby quilt for your G-G-dau. I always love Tricia Guild's work; I'll look for this book here. Stay well.

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

So happy to see you back again and sharing your very beautiful quilts. A great granddaughter...what a gift! Love to read descriptions of delightful stores. Every night I sleep under my Auckland pure wool duvet because it is February in Canada, LOL. What a treat to see blooms!

Linda said...

Lovely to see you are back to blogging again. Well done! I think a visit to a fabric shop followed by a session in the book shop is a perfect antidote to having a hospital appointment. Keep well and keep sewing.