creamy delights & Christmas in July???

Joanne signed up for a class at The Country Yard some months back to make the Antique Lace Patchwork Quilt , you will remember I made the class sample back here. Joanne asked for hers to be quilted the same.

Ever so sorry for the substandard photo's, but we are having the most incredible relentless rain & wind here in Northland,  there was no way I could take any outside photo's of this pretty quilt!
Joanne tells me she now has a new found addiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . .collecting doilies! I can join her on that addiction, they are hard to say no to. What better way to use some of them though, in a stunning heirloom for generations to enjoy.

Joanne chose Matilda's Own 50%wool 50%cotton batting. The quilt measures : 62" x 62". I used a soft taupe Maderia poly neon thread, that just seemed to blend nicely into the fabulous linen & cotton fabrics. Honestly I wish you could see some of the fabrics better, the colours & textures made this quilt dreamy to work with.

Of course I had a few 'interesting' times with the quilting foot getting caught in the doilies! I had to take things real slow. I like the choice of sashing, a tone on tone, old world look brown, which Joanne says she will bind the quilt with also. Now that the quilting is completed, Joanne will add some of her collection of antique buttons, no doubt that is another addiction!!

                                                     Thank you Joanne, enjoy your quilt.

More cream to share, not a quilt, but a pincushion. I made this for my friend Raewyn, who had a wee birthday last week.

Made from a wooden coffee tree stand ( saw some rungs off & the top) & an old round cake tin, a dash of paint, then sand some paint off for that 'well-loved-vintage-chic' look. My total inspiration must & does go to my dear friend Julie, over at My Threadbear  Life, so much inspiration is she!
 Backtrack a few months to here where I made another one for a friend for Christmas. Then I bought this awesome one from Julie at my last visit. fun to make, but much easier to buy from her!!
Anyway, I used felted cream wools from up-cycled woollen clothing, & a small doiley all bought from OpShops (thriftshops). I made a flower for the top. I called Raewyn's pincushion "The Pin House".

It's always fun making handmade gifts for friends & of course receiving them! I wonder how well my handmade gifts will be received this month, as I signed up for a 'Christmas in July Swap'. I had to make three handmade gifts. We got to choose from a Christmasy themed list. I have no idea who I will receive from, but of course I know who I am giving to!! Here they are wrapped & ready to post.

I hope other Northland readers are all OK & of course anyone else out there in the firing line of this amazing, relentless wild weather.

*Rabbits *Prefer * Chocolate*

How nice to be sharing a quilt with you, rather than sneak peeks! As has become the 'norm' in recent posts!.
Gaynor has made a lovely job of this Bunny Hill pattern called "Rabbits Prefer Chocolate". This will make a lovely addition to Gaynor's Easter display.
I remember assisting Gaynor last year at the shop to choose fabrics for this delightful quilt.
Ok enough talking, here's what you came for, the quilting!

Quilting over cotton batting, using a mix of Gunold, Madeira poly neon & glide threads. Some echoing, swirls, pebbles & even some hearts & flowers.

see the tulip I quilted?

A view of the back. For the border I quilted piano keys, if you missed how I did this see my previous post here.
So if you think Rabbits only ate grass, think again!!

Below is a gathering of gifts made & shared at a stitching group I belong to. A rather late Christmas swap & shared dinner. Another couple of months & we could have called it a 'mid winter Christmas'!!

Some gorgeous gifts received & given!
Below, a collage of what I made my swap friend. A pincushion made from one wooden coffee mug stand, one cake tin, wool felt & embellishments.
Fun time with paint, glue & of course the needle! But the best part, the giving!!!!

My gift was special, because my swap pal, really was listening one day when I mentioned in passing I would like to try the Bohin marking pens. My pal, then got her daughter living in London to send for these french designed pens. Also in my parcel a beautifully made wool felt needle case......thank you 'pal', you know who you are!

On a flying visit south, I visited my friend Julie & her lovely shop Threadbear Cottage. Look who wanted to come home with me?' Jack Cat! He is a heafty fellow that holds my door open when needed. Julie made his body with an old grey army blanket........love him! he should be cheap to keep too & hopefully won't go back to the old house!

The postie is back with another quilt, so back to it! Until next time, take care.

Cushions.................

A cushion I made from scraps leftover from a secret project and a doiley.

 A CD pincushion I made for a friends birthday. I haven't forgotten to make yours Helen. I have made quite a few of these for people, here is where I got the idea.

A few weeks ago I got together with a few friends and we had a pin cushion bee. many laughs later, someones nearly landed in a cup of coffee out of frustration! Another ditched her's all together and started over!