WIP Wednesday #1

I need to be held accountable for my large stack of works in progress... so I've decided to link up with Lee's WIP Wednesday to try keep account of that shameful pile.

This week I've managed to:

• Sew a bunch more HST's into blocks for the Strawberry Fields quilt.
• Make two heat packs (I was feeling the cold on Sunday!). I am perfecting my methods and then I will post a tutorial - stay tuned.
• I also gave away 3 quilt tops to Cat's Mission for Christchurch.

I still need to:

• Finish Aphra's quilt. Sooner rather than later.
• Finish the hexagon quilt.
• Decide what to do with the Verna Blocks.
• Finish Bliss in Patches (especially now my fabric has arrived).
• Finish the ABC quilt.
• Progress Little Apples Single Girl quilts.

I can't wait to get started on (but I need to):

• FMF Fancy Flag Quilt
• Arcadia DNP for John
• Wee Play DNP super size me
• Innocent Crush Mixed Tape Quilt

Check out what everyone else is up to! There sure are some super productive people I feel at home knowing I am not the only one with a large pile of WIPs :)

A HST Update

I've decided 6 x 6 isn't quite big enough... so a few more blocks are in progress to trial this as a 7 x 7 and if that's not right, I'll make a few more blocks to make it 8 x 8. Hopefully the MIL will love it as much as I do.

For the Love of Christchurch

Wonderland Jelly Filled

Munki Munki Chain Reaction

Sherbet Pips DNP

A while ago I read about Cat's mission to provide quilted goodness to families affected by the Christchurch earthquakes on Sarah's blog.

At the time I thought I to myself I must make a quilt for Christchurch... and then it hit me the other day when the thought popped in my head (again) that I had 3 beautiful quilt tops, all needing loving homes sitting in the spare room closet.

So... in short, these 3 quilt tops are destined for Cat to finish (thanks Cat) for Christchurch families along with some fabric to back and bind. Cat is doing an amazing job providing love to families who desperately need it. I love each of these quilts, but they're definitely not getting the love they deserve! I hope they will make some families very happy. The thought of brightening someone's day makes my heart sing.

HST Quilt - What do you think?

From your comments on my last post, this was the most popular layout... what do you think?

I would love to hear your thoughts before I go any further :)

To Plan, Or Not To Plan...

That is the question. Unfortunately for me, I am rather obsessed with being somewhat organised where I can be (you only need to check out my Tupperware collection to know that this issue runs rather deep). After my last post, it would appear that I am a little bit crazy planning Christmas gifts so far in advance... although I am not alone. Thankfully. (Hi Michelle!)

Anyway, I am OK with being a little crazy and what you are about to read will only affirm my craziness (or perhaps compulsion for being organised). Over the past few months I have been collecting these encyclopedias each week. They are released each weekend with The Herald (I don't buy The Herald though!).

When I picked up the first copy and realised that a total of 24 were being published, I knew exactly what to do with them... These books will be an advent calendar this Christmas. I plan to wrap each book in brown paper and number them 1 - 24. Every day the boys will be able to open one book together, and that night we will read about the mysteries and information it contains.

It's been quite fun collecting these books each week! And I am loving how they are stacking together. I think they'll look quite sweet on their book case.

In other news, I've begun my Single Girl mission. 3 quilts. 2 twin sized. 1 queen sized. All need to be completed for Christmas.

The 2 twin sized quilts will be for Oliver's bunk beds (which remain unbuilt in our garage!) out of Little Apples. I love this line. I plan to make pillow cases and a memo board too once the yardage is released.

The queen quilt is for my sister in law. She chose these prints last year for her quilt - very bright and cheerful. Much like her.

And... I've also managed to turn that pile of Strawberry Fields from this

...to this. This quilt is destined for my MIL for Christmas. Although I think I might find this one hard to part with.

Still trying to decide if this should be a windmill? Or if I should just lay out the squares randomly. I've always loved this quilt. Any thoughts? Please share!

The week in parcels...

Thankfully our airways seem to be returning to normal after many delays and cancellations thanks to volanic ash (all the way from Chile!)... as well as having a few work trips interrupted, my mail box had been very empty... until this week that is!

This delicious parcel arrived perfectly timed after my third 5am start (thanks Gus!) and getting up and down like a yo-yo throughout the night. It was such a delightful car trip into work as I opened and examined the beautiful goodies inside.

Georgia (the sweetest friend ever) sent me a just because present containing an awesome selection of delightful quilty goodness plus some lollies which were quickly consumed and couldn't be photographed. Among the goodness, including gorgeous patterns, needles and a sweet Kristen Doran print were these beauties...

A bundle of AMH's Little Folks in voile (so buttery and soft!)

The sweetest mug rug. Ever. In the world.

A Kona Cottons Solid Card - I had no idea how many colours there were! YUM!

Thank you so so much Georgia. You are an absolute gem. I love my parcel! Now to start collecting goodies to surprise you with. xx.

Next this parcel of Little Apples (jealous much?!) finally arrived (4 weeks after it was posted!)... This was part of a swap for the DS Australian/NZ prints only.

Yum! This will be a Single Girl quilt for Ollie (x2 - I've managed to also buy some extra layer cakes and a jelly roll at an online Moda Sample Spree too!) I think he will love the giant O's the pattern creates!

And lastly... my A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate swap from Lisa.

This was also filled with pure delicous quilty bits and some amazing handmade gifts from Lisa. Including 2 scarves for the boys which Oliver immediately began wearing! A pretty wee pincushion, gorgeous bookmark, aqua FQ's for a red and aqua quilt I plan to make (one day!) and the nicest fudge ever. Thank you so much Lisa! You're very talented! xx

And just when you thought that was the end of it... I also got a wee thank you gift from one of the sweet ladies I sent the DS Australian/NZ prints too - a charm pack of Little Apples but I didn't want to make you all too jealous. I am so grateful - thank you Amanda! These will definitely be put to good use in Ollie's quilts... and if I've enough... I may even make an extra for Gus :) But we all know I have way too many unfinished quilts for Gus at the moment as it is!

Thank you so much to all the ladies who posted these parcels to me! What a wonderful week of surprises... made even more special by one of my busiest weeks yet!

Right... I must be off to make a last minute gift for my nephew's 3rd birthday which we are celebrating today. In less than 2 hours. Eep. Why is that I always buy the materials well in advance but leave the actual making to the last minute?!

In an effort to get organised...

Strawberry Fields - destined to be a windmill quilt

Last Saturday marked the 6 month countdown to Christmas. Eeeek! Where has the year gone? Seriously! So... in an effort to get myself organised as part of my Make. Bake. Craft. Create year, I wrote myself a Christmas to make list... Yes. I am honestly that geeky.

Arcadia - destined to be a DNP sashed in white

It's a rather optimistic list and I have a feeling that I am definitely biting off more than I can chew. I need to average 2 - 3 projects a month in between working full time, being a Mum, a housewife, a wife and a person. Thankfully a month or so ago I made the decision to book a cleaner fortnightly on a Friday. It's lovely to come home to a clean home. Makes my heart happy!

Anyway, I hope I haven't caused you too much panic with my Christmas countdown. Do you write lists to? And is anyone else already planning Christmas presents? Please assure me that I am normal (ish).

So with July already upon us, I've already sliced two Layer Cakes (above) ... just need to find the motivation to sew. Perhaps tonight! Happy sewing everyone!