Brrummm brummmm.... Tractor Baby Quilt

I had a lovely time delivering this quilt today 

to a friend for her new baby.

I had made her another quilt that was a bit more 'neutral', 

but when I heard she had had a little boy....

Well! It had to be a tractor quilt!!

I longarmquilted it freehand

on my Nolting pro-24 machine with stars and loops...

And then I took a few photos as he gave it a trial run...

He is the sweetest little thing,

and his mother is under strict instruction 

that she can use it however she pleases

as it is completely washable and squash-able 

and made for use.

Blocks & Baking

I haven't sewn much lately....

 but I like the way these blocks are working out.

I have definitely spent more time baking...

Chocolate cake:

  ...than I ever used to do.

Banana Bread:

And I have definitely spent more time grieving

than I ever thought possible.

I miss you Mom. every. single. day!

Tractor Blocks

My handwork project for a while has been these tractor blocks,

that I designed as a part paper-piecing and part applique project.

I tend to take them with me when I am waiting for the children 

at dancing or an activity where I have to wait for a while

(sometimes even babysitting for friends :o) )

I have made 2 quilts using my original tractor blocks.

They were just simple ideas to make some children's quilts that you can see here:

http://sewkalico.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/tractor-quilts.html

Now that I have an ever growing collection of tractor blocks, 

in a variety of colours, 

I decided that I should probably make a few more small quilts.

I am cutting 3.5" squares to create the first border...

*****

When putting the fabric squares together

I always use pieces of paper pinned to the start of rows

to keep a track of which row goes where.

Sometimes I use numbers,

but this time, top, bottom, left, right... seemed more appropriate.

Now to sew the rows and make these blocks grow!

Tractor Quilts

So we were on the patio

and we saw this small tractor mowing the grass

in the field out front

and it reminded me that I really should have photographed

(and gifted) the 2 tractor quilts that I have had completed for a while now...

Of course photographing them

with the tractor in the background

was another story!

so I tried another few options...

In the end
on the grass, seemed the only way to see them properly...

I had some 'help' as always...

One 'helper' even climbed on the wall

to help secure a quilt.

I caught him in action as he jumped off....

I love the blue cloud-filled sky....

Some close ups....

The whole design idea of the row quilt

was the blue sky,

the fields,

the tractors,

the sheep...

More close-ups...

And while I photographed.

Some gardened...

and some played....

and some bloomed...

(at last!)

Wordless Wednesday - Day 2, Quilt number 2

Quick Quilting

I sort of made myself a promise that I would try harder

to quilt in a bit more detail

and try and get more out of my Longarm Quilting machine

but......

I had this quilt loaded on the machine,

and I wanted it quilted and a step closer to being finished,

so..........

I very loosely and very quickly freehand quilted it

and it was a lot of fun.....

Maybe next time when I have more time

and want to be more serious I'll try harder.

But then again.... maybe not :o)

It's Complicated....

... but finally my Longarm quilting machine

is 'home' with us!

We have sort of been between houses, deciding what to do

and so my Longarm has stayed where I was not until yesterday!!!

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have it back.

My new studio feels smaller as I have to share

with the laundry and the general garage stuff,

but the fact that it's pretty much in the house rules out all those minor problems.

I can use my limited time better now without having to drive to the old studio etc.

(And I can always do the laundry while waiting for my machine to warm up ;o) LOL)

*****

The two tractor quilts are now flimsies

and are waiting to be longarmed.... 

The quilting will really make them so much better.

I decided against borders as they are only lap quilts....

The one on the left is for a younger boy

and the one on the right for an older boy.

I'm raring to go on my Longarm so must dash and get myself sorted!

Hello Blog My Old Friend....

.....It's time to talk with you again!

I don't quite know what's happened to me.

I've always been busy, but my life has reached new levels of busy-ness.

February just flew by with a trip to sort out my Mother's flat

which turned out to be a mammoth task...

We're awaiting a shipment of sentimentality soon...

[I was reading with Miss Kalico the other night

and she saw a picture of an aeroplane and she said:

"Mummy went on an aeroplane to Africa. It was sad" :'( ]

*****

I keep wanting to take photos of things I'm doing,

but the change in Seasons means that if you blink you miss photo weather....

(Spiderwebs get worked on now and again....:)

*****

The biggest change after my Mom passed away

was that I got a part time job.

I needed a job, the lack of sleep 

and the horrible flashbacks were making the days and nights very difficult.

I think Mom would have been pleased....

It's just a few hours a week with a lovely bunch of people

and a great boss (this may sound a bit creepy,

but when you've spent the last decade looking after your kids

you need a special job with great workmates 

and an understanding boss to break you back in ;o) )

Sewing has taken a bit of a back seat,

except I still sew pretty much every evening (as I always have).

I have been working on 2 tractor quilts....

And I finished my 'Luna Lapin' kit

from coolcrafting.co.uk

 I don't normally buy kits, but this one is so cute.

She's been adopted at work,

so I have made her a 'work' outfit:

 with fabric from our Spring/Summer ranges....

and tiny heart buttons on the back.

*****

There has been much Easter crafting in this house:

And Easter baking:

I love letting Miss Kalico decorate the cake herself:

And 'to the victor the spoils' so to speak

*****

I will try not to leave it so long.....

.....until next time xx