Perfect!

So glad I held off to find that perfect backing for Alex's quilt! The kids and I are enjoying a get-away to Canberra... catch ups with lovely friends from when I used to live here, and of course visits to my favourite quilting/craft shops that are here. In one of those stores I came across a new fabric range that I just couldn't go past...

"A Boys' Story" by Anni Downs. Yep, exactly the same designer and name of the quilt I've just made.  The colours match those I chose for Alex's quilt perfectly, and with the designs also matching, it was just to perfect to resist. The green with blue print at the bottom of the picture is also part of the range and I thought would look quite nice as the binding, so I grabbed it while I could. I don't have access to a sewing machine at the moment and the backing will require joining, so it seems I'll still have to wait a bit before I can advance any further with this quilt.

Until next time x

Somebunny is complete!

Back in August I posted about a cross-stitch I was hoping to finish by Sofia's first birthday. Needless to say, I didn't finish it in time and it was starting to fade into the background, yet another unfinished project...

Of late I've been really wanting to do some cross-stitch but getting Alex's quilt-top finished was at the top of my stitching priority list. Now that I'm stalled with that project I thought it would be the perfect chance... and as much as my new projects were calling, I was good... I picked up Sofia's cross-stitch and finished it in no time. Loving the finished product, and it feels great to cross another unfinished piece off the list!

The cross stitch is a Somebunny to Love design from The World of Cross Stitching magazine (issue 202). The original design has some balloons on it which I chose to leave off as I preferred the design without them.

I've got a white frame to put this one in and can't wait to get it up on the wall of Sofia's room!

Heading off on a road-trip with the kids tomorrow... wish me luck! I'll try and do some posts while we're away :)

Until next time xx

Motivation equals progress

Isn't it amazing the amount of motivation that seems to come over you when a project is really coming together?! Over the weekend I found myself picking up my stitching at every opportunity to complete the applique I needed for the final block of Alex's quilt ("A Boy's Story" designed by Anni Downs)... On Sunday afternoon I had it done!

Then I set to work on an appliqued rocket ship I'd forgotten to do on the side of the central block. By Monday morning it was stitched down and I excitedly got out all the blocks and started to sew them together...

The finished quilt top is bigger than I was expecting, taking up the entire top of my couch (which pulls out to a bed). It measures 138cm x 175cm (which happens to be exactly the size the pattern says it should be... funny that it's size came as a surprise to me!).

 

I'm really happy with how it's come together. Today I headed out in search for some suitable backing fabric but after visiting three local fabric shops haven't found anything that 'spoke' to me. I'm heading to mainland Australia in a couple of weeks so will look in the some of the bigger quilting stores while I'm there. It's proving to be quite frustrating to be stalled with this project now - I'm so eager to keep it moving along! 

Now to decide what to stitch until I can progress this one again... 

Until next time xx

Getting closer to a finish

I've completed the penultimate block of Alex's "About a Boy" quilt!

As I've already completed the stitcheries for the last block, it shouldn't take me too long to finish the applique needed for the last block... then join all the blocks together, then quilt it.... hmmm. Can I get it finished by Christmas?!

It's a beautiful day here today, Alex is happily playing in the backyard while Sofia naps... I'm thinking I might join my little man outside, maybe grab a cuppa and my stitching and enjoy the lovely weather :)

Until next time xx

A train ride

I love living back in Tasmania, my island home which offers so much splendour and natural beauty. There are so many ways to take in the scenery of this beautiful state and this week it's been fun experiencing it in different ways... including going on an historic train ride on the island's west coast!

We boarded this magnificent steam train in Queenstown (Tas), and the journey was simply amazing... despite dreary weather, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. The West Coast Wilderness Railway travels through to Dubbil Barril, with two stops on the way. The carriage we were on had a little balcony on the back which was ideal for capturing the sights on camera...

At Dubbil Barril there was the opportunity to stretch our legs with a 15 minute walk. It is also here that they turned the train around on a old-style manual turntable in order to return to Queenstown.

On the journey back, our carriage (and therefore the back balcony) was attached directly to the locomotive. Alex was absolutely fascinated with the train, and how it hooked together to the carriages.

The return journey took a little over four hours, which proved rather tiring at times doing it with two young children! However I'm really glad I did it, as it truly was an amazing experience. What a fantastic mini-getaway :)

Until next time x