Sunday, February 10, 2008

Ad's Birthday Quilt

Well, most of the readers of my blog would know that Ads is my sister, my younger and only sister! A girl couldn't ask for a better sister, she has such a relaxed and easy going nature with the world, gets passionate about the things that matter, her children and sewing. She got very passionate at the end of Christmas last year and decided the 2008 was the Year Of Handmade Gifts for herself, Mum and I. So we agreed to give hand made gifts this year. And guess who's birthday was first? Yep, hers! So I had only a month and a half to pull something out of my sewing hat!

This is what Mum made. Ads does love her cats so it was quite fitting. I had seen Mum working on it, so it wasn't suprised to see it finished. My comment of "The hanger is quite nice" were quite innocent! It is a nice hanger!

I'll admit it, I started this quilt in February 2007, here. And it wasn't really a good start, cut the squares the wrong size, ran out of fabric, hand to unpick it all... In late March I was more in control, only had a few more squares to go here. And on April the 1st, I finished the top here! I was out of wadding so I folded it up and put it away and there it sat for the rest of the year.

So I pulled it out a few weeks ago, sandwiched it then spent the last week quilting the life out of it, flowers, stippling, some writitng along the edges and some decorative vine stitching from the auto button on my machine. I was pressed for time though and ended up sewing the label on the back on the drive down to her house today! And then my camera batteries died right after I took this shot of her lovingly admiring and stroking her new quilt, absolutely in awe of my fantastic work! Written with my tounge firmly planted in my cheek as there are a few chringe worthy sections of the last green border!

So I don't yet have any close up photos of the quilting, in hindsight I think just the large flowers would have looked hot, and left out the stippling. But for a "quick" quilt, I think she liked it.

Happy Birthday for Tuesday Ad!

6 comments:

Lily Mulholland said...

Aha! So that's why you were practising the FMQ! It's a very pretty quilt and no doubt Ads will love it! And the stitchery your mum made is lovely too. Lucky Ads having a handmade birthday - she is one receiver who will appreciate all that hard work!

Cass said...

Wow Helen your quilt looks great as usual

Unknown said...

Awwww, what sweet sisterly love! The quilt is gorgeous helen, and well done to your mum too. I think her gift is just fabulous!

AJ said...

Thank you for putting on a smile on my face for the first time today...and it is 10:30pm!!

I LOVE the fact that you two are so close and share your crafty-ness.

Great pictures Helen and well done on the quilt!!

AJ said...

Just had to come back and comment on your mum's present. I LIKE it!! I'm in total awe of any type of hand-stitching like that...probally cause I suck at it!! And inthis house it is not usually the pitter-patter of kitty feet...but usually crash, bang and bump as her wet feet cause her to slip on the wodden floor...a very funny sight indead!!

Little Munchkins said...

The gifts look great, I am sure Ads loved them.

Happy birthday to Ads!