I think I'm a last minute deadline kind of girl ...

How do you go with deadlines? I usually get things done in time, but lately I'm noticing (especially from a quilting perspective) that I'm dealing with deadlines in a last minute kind of way. I haven't started any of this month's shoo fly blocks, and I haven't even considered what I'll make for this month's mini quilt. They'll be a lovely task in these last two weeks of July ... but not just yet ...

This week I concentrated on getting more applique shapes ready for the last four blocks of my Lily Rosenberry project:

I made a bajillion little circle berries too, but they're hiding in the container with all the other little berries. I can't wait to get this project to the quilting stage, I'm already thinking of all the ways I'd like to hand quilt it. Patience ... patience ... :-)

And when I tired of the applique shapes, I started putting little Mary's playmat together. I had teased you with the fabrics a couple of weeks ago, and here's where I'm at:

I just need to stitch the binding down and it's all done. Tomorrow if I'm ready I'll take it over to Amy's house and we can take some pictures so I can refresh my Etsy listing, and then I'll just leave it there so Mary can start using it right away. Mary loves thumbing through her little board books and has some favourite soft and wooden toys, so she can pile them on the mat and play wherever she likes. I joke with my friends that Amy has no idea of the tsunami of handmade items heading her way for little Mary ;-)

On another completely different note ... while I was working on my applique shapes this week, I was thinking of lovely Teresa from Fabric Therapy, and I wondered if anyone knows how she's doing? She was such a prolific blogger and stitcher and is an all around lovely person. Her blog has been quiet for quite a while now, and I've been concerned for her. I hope she's doing well, has anyone heard from her? Sending big love and hugs her way xoxox

That's is from me for this week, I'd really like to get busy on that binding ... right now! Chatter soon xoxox

Happy Friday!

Hello there, and Happy Friday! I have a few things to share with you this week!

First up, I can't believe I forgot to share this with you last week, I made a dress for Mary, and I just love it:

This is the first clothing item I've made for her, it's the Alice dress from Rebecca Page patterns, and it was quite easy to sew. I used a cute May Gibbs fabric from Spotlight, it's so darling, and Amy loved the little tushies you see here and there.

It's lined with a Lori Holt fabric I purchased recently, it just seemed to go so well with the other fabric that any plans I had for this fabric went out the window. There will always be more fabric!

I also made a new shirt for dolly, I'm getting close to finishing her little wardrobe of clothing:

The last garment to make from the Tilly pattern is the little felt cardigan, and I'm looking forward to working on that.

This week in quiet moments I put another Lily Rosenberry block together, I'm just finishing up the last of the applique now with only the berries and the vase left to stitch down.

I opened up some of the packages of scraps I purchased from Somerset Patchwork for the greens in this block, it's so much fun having a huge variety of fabrics in a quilt, I'll never tire of being a scrap quilter. I think this is the eighth block now, so I'm half way done with the centre of the quilt. I'm not working on it as often as I should, I seem to be a bit of a distracted quilter lately - working on so many things at once.

And here is another fun thing I'm working on after seeing the charming end results on lovely Janet Treen's instagram:

This is my first Little Elf from a pattern by mmmCrafts. If you follow that link, be prepared for endless cuteness and Etsy spending. I am in love with these patterns and I plan to make many, assuming this one goes well of course :-) I'm looking forward to sewing the pieces and seeing this little Elf come to life.

I had a little happy mail come this week also, some fabric from Michelle Yeo:

At some point I'd like to make the Antique Wedding Sampler by Di Ford-Hall, and these fabrics will be perfect for the broderie perse blocks. Whenever I see fabric I think will work for broderie perse, I grab it as I don't tend to see it that often.

Last up for today, I wanted to share that Mary's Dolly Varden 1st birthday cake worked out quite well, I'm so glad I gave it a try.

Now that the cake is all gone, Barbie has been washed off, her legs snapped back on, and she's in the toy box ready to be played with another day.

I'm so pleased I've been able to have a few moments to myself for sewing this week after quite a busy time, and next week I'm sure to have more to share with you again. Chatter soon! xox

Whew - I need a nap!

This week has not been a great one for spending time at the sewing machine, but it has been a wonderful week for spending time with little Mary, I babysat the little honey four times! She is a darling, but goodness I am wiped out, little people require energy that I just don't seem to have any more. I'm sure it will get easier though - she will grow, and I will get used to it again!

So I have no quilty goodness to share, but I did make one small thing this week:

I had been dying to get back to making the clothes for Mary's dolly - when I'm done I can finally hand her over to Mary, so in stolen moments I put the shorts together from the pattern. They were really easy, and they're so cute. There is a top and a cardie from this pattern to go before I gift them. And then at leisure I'll make the clothing items and little suitcase from the other patterns I purchased. Go check out RicRacSew's items on Etsy, she's a darling person and super talented too!

The lovely ceramic bowl is now spending time on my Kitchenaid mixer:

And I used it this week when I had a quick practice making Mary's birthday cake for this weekend:

I wanted to see how long I needed to bake her cake - I'm making a Dolly Varden cake and because of the much deeper pan I was nervous about not getting the cake cooked properly. Turns out I need an hour and 15 minutes. I also did a quick test of a new to me icing recipe, so I did a quick coat. Obviously not smoothed or anything, but I wanted to see what the texture was like. Here is the recipe if you'd like to try it - it's not quite as sweet and a little lighter than regular buttercream frosting.

I've made the cake today, and I'll be icing it tonight, wish me luck that it all goes well people! And for the cake, my Mum found a pretty cake stand to put it on, I'm just thrilled:

Also new to me this past week were some lovely Wedgwood Frog plates given to me by one of my Mum's friends:

They're ever so cute, and I've never seen anything like them before.

I'm looking through the photos I've taken recently, and it looks like that's all I have to share with you this week. Mary's birthday party is this weekend, so once that lovely celebration has passed, I should have a little more time for stitching to share with you. Have a great week xox