'Surf Time' Delivered

Remember I was making this quilt for my nephew's 18th birthday?

Well last Friday, said nephew received his quilt, especially couried to Bournemouth by my parents and presented in Hot Rocks Surf cafe!!  What a perfect setting!

I'm told he loves it, but as he's heading off on holiday soon without the 'oldies' for the first time, it might be a while before he needs it!

All for the Boys!

This wasn't the first title that came to mind for this post, given that the name of the blocks I'm about to show you are called Number 2's, from the Stainded QAL!!!!

But enough about that.  Here are the next instalment of blocks:

I'm really liking how these blocks are taking shape, and the speed at which they can be sewn together.  Just blocks 3 and 4 to do now.

This is for another nephew turning 18 this year, and is one of those patterns where a change of fabric totally changes the look of the quilt.  Check out some of the others in the Flickr group.

My other nephew is getting the Surf Time Quilt when he turns 18 in May. 

I went for Kona Bahama Blue (aptly named) for the binding, which was the perfect colour to tie together all the other aqua prints.  

Despite my initial reservations on this one, I totally love it now, and the brushed denim on the back gives it a warm snuggly feel.  I'm happy that the simple wavy quilting lines emphasise the wave pattern.

Well today is Bee Blessed day in my house!

Thank you for the lovely Pippi blocks that have been donated so far!  We're building up a cute wee family!  We have a blonde Pippi, brunette, Scottish Pippi, even a set of twins!!! You can see them here. If you fancy having a go at your very own version of Pippi, you'll find the tute here.

Have a lovely weekend!

Making Fewer Waves!

I needed to make my nephew's 18th birthday quilt bigger:

51" x 55"

I've been through several different (albeit limited) options on how to do this.  My first preference was to put a skinny white border all round, then get hold of an aqua print and border all sides. (I'd already started sewing the lefover strips from the front to make a pieced back!)

I didn't want to order more of the aqua in the quilt because of an over emphasis on flowers!  But I just haven't been able to find a suitable aqua print anywhere. How frustrating!

So plan B is to use the leftover strips from the back and make up the border that way.

Now measuring 62" x 68"

While I just don't think this works, and probably spoils the 'wave' effect of the pattern, I've no time or patience left to hunt round the country looking for the right shade of aqua (online shopping wasn't an option because of the need to match to an exact shade).

So it will have to do.

The leftover strips went into the back, along with the light weight denim I've used on numerous other projects (thanks for the suggestion Had!).

I've tried to put a few more waves in with the quilting.

Just the binding to make and attach and that'll be one 18th birthday pressie sorted!

Dude! Where's My Quilt?

So I've got my Surfer Dude quilt top finished, according to this tute.

Approx. 51" x 55"

Only problem is, my nephew is at least 6' 2", and this quilt will just about cover his ankles!!

So I'm thinking, border, leftover scraps, etc. to eek it out a bit bigger without having to buy more fabric (haven't a clue yet what's going on the back or for the binding).

Need to get the old squared paper and pencil out again to do a bit of maths (groan!!!!!!!!!)

Just as I was going outside this morning to take pics of the quilt, this poor wee sorry sight met me in the patio:

We take a lot of pleasure from the birds that visit our garden, my youngest daughter in particular. We even have some nesting in our boxes this year.  We are just hoping this isn't the pregnant female we've been watching getting the box ready for her new family.  So sad.