Melbourne and more

This blog has been neglected for a while as I have been away, to Melbourne, where my eldest son competed in the Australian Gymnastics Championships last week. Sadly he was sick on the day his team flew to Melbourne (Sunday May 17th), so he couldn't go there until Tuesday, on the eve of his first competition. He did compete on Wednesday and Friday, but not surprisingly didn't do as well as he had hoped. However, his team won gold, so that was great, and I am just glad that he did not have to miss out on the whole experience.



Of course I was there to cheer for him and his teammates! And when I wasn't at the Arena I strolled around in Richmond...



and in the City. I love Melbourne! I made lots of photos, you can see some of them on my photo blog.



Back in Brisbane I finally got to go to Reverse Garbage again and scored these fabulous fabric sample books. Stay tuned for what they will turn into...



First I have to finish this project though:



Yes, I know it's only May!

Spring 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival - Rainbow Diamonds

Amy from Amy's Creative Side is once again hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I am entering my Rainbow Diamonds baby quilt in the ROYGBIV Quilt Category.



I made this quilt in October 2014, for my brother-in-law and his partner in the Netherlands who were expecting their second child, but did not want to reveal if it was a boy or girl. I wanted to finish the quilt before we went to the Netherlands for Christmas, so suggested I make a rainbow quilt - good for a boy as well as for a girl! They liked that idea. In the end the baby, a boy, was born a few days before we left Australia. His parents and big sister loved the quilt :-)



It is made up of half-square triangles and measures 30" by 42" (76 x 107cm). The pattern for this quilt can be found in my Etsy store.

Upcycled cushion

Yesterday was an extremely wet day here in Brisbane. I was lucky to be able to stay at home for most of the day and play with fabric. In a corner of my sewing room I found this upholstery fabric sample book that I bought at Reverse Garbage one? two? years ago and with it I made a patchwork cushion. The fabric is a faux suede, so the cushion is very soft.



For the back I used the remaining scraps plus some other samples. The newspaper fabric is from an op shop skirt - I also used it for the Cadet Cap.



I stuffed the cushion with scraps of batting - I always save the strips of batting that are cut off after sandwiching a quilt, and the leftover pieces from a roll:



I spend quite a bit of time cutting them up in small pieces:



I had planned to take the cushion to Reverse Garbage and put it up for sale in their gift shop, but it looks so good on our new couch that I decided to keep it. The boys really like it too :-)



I have a few more sample books, so may make some more cushions!

Escape

Yesterday I finished this little quilt - it's my contribution to the 2015 SAQA Benefit Auction.
You know I love Kombi vans - I just had to make an art quilt featuring one!