Advent Calendars.

 I forgot to blog about these. Well they are finished and filled before 1 Dec.

 Normally I would have written about these earlier but husband whisked me away for a romantic evening/ night away.

Seven pockets have been raided already. Can't quickly December is going.

Have a good weekend.

I have linked this post to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday. 

Busy Christmas sewing

 Another make up pouch.

 This one is for Sister in Law. She might know my blog. Fingers crossed she doesn't.

 An i-pad cover for my mother. Now this is safe to post as she does not know about blogs. She has heard of them but the concept is alien to her.

Are you getting a deja vu kind of feeling? Well these two didn't make to cut for the Monochrome quilt. Rather than leave them to linger I thought I would use them here. Quick finish.

So my need to make list has been reduced by two items. Going to buy interfacing tomorrow and then sew some zippy purses.

Make up bag.

 I used Noodlehead's open wide pouch tutorial to make this little make up bag.

 Now those of you who know me will be calling out right now: You never wear make up. Not even on on your wedding day. No, lipstick does not count as make up on your wedding day. Why do you need a make up bag?

 Well I don't. Who says lipstick doesn't count? Anyway it's for my mother in law. She does wear make up.

I used waterproof fabric for  the lining. I would include the link where I ordered it but I can't find the link anymore. Friend Anna ordered it for me, I am blaming her :-)

Now that is one present sorted. Only need to make 2 i-pad covers, 1 i-pod cover, at least 4 zippy purses and 1 pencil case. No worries. Lots of worries but I am not letting on.

Pink cushion finished.

 I love cushions. They are so fast and simple to do. The tulips are from Timeless treasures and so is the pale pink with white flowers.

The back of the cushion with percale stripes and a fun pink print. Just because it was a way to get more pink and the girl who will get this LOVES pink.

I know it will have been difficult to spot, what with it being invisible, but do you like my (almost) invisible zip?

Pretty in pink

I have been asked to make pink cushion for  little girl who likes pink. Having seen the picture of her bedroom she is wasn't kidding when she said she liked pink.

I hope she will like her new cushion when it is finished.

Quilt top done.

 I appreciate that you are all probably bored by the black and white quilt by now but I thought I would explain it's origins. Last year about March my Grandmother was moved into a care home. She had ordered herself a new bed. A swishy one which moved up and down and helped you to sit up. My Grandmother loved clean simple lines and the bed was to be black and modern. My Mother wanted to make her a black and white quilt to go with the bed. Unfortunately and unexpectedly my Grandmother passed away. 

My mother had not even had time to start the quilt but had bought the fabric. Well it would have been a shame to waste the fabric, so mother started to make squares and my Dad liked the look of it, so he wanted the black and white quilt. 

My mother's original plan was to make a sampler quilt with sashing. I did not like the idea of that. I had seen a black and white sampler quilt at a show and I didn't like it (won't post a picture I think that would be unfair). At local a fabric shop they were running a course and the blue and white quilt and the purple quilt were made by two ladies on that course. 

I tried to persuade Mum that this style would be well suited to black and white. 

She wasn't sure. How would she go about this and how would that all work? I tried to draw it out for her. She liked it. Somehow during that conversation I agreed to make the quilt. 

So here it is finally a finished quilt top. It isn't exactly like the two quilts form my local shop. Then again they aren't exactly the same either. 

 I love Monochrome Quilt. I didn't always love it. I found it hard to get the right amount of contrast. On the whole though it works.

 The sun even came out to let me take some pictures. The border is makeover fabric with bicycles. Chosen by my Dad because he is Dutch and they look like Dutch bicycles.

 Sorry no full length shots. There are three reasons for this.
1: The quilt is long (2.2M) and my chief quilt holder upper (husband) is at work.

 2: The grass is really wet. Those are my legs after walking the dog, so I know it's not only wet but muddy as well.

 3: The little black one likes to test quilts for me. I am not sure muddy dog will be a good look on the Monochrome quilt.

Finishing straight

Look all the blocks are sewn together. Now the Border.