Birthday gift

At the moment I am usually baking like mad but yesterday I finally got back sewing again. Just the sewing machine did  not work as I needed it to so it went to a check today and the good old baby had her turn to make birthday present. It all started with a star seen over at Sarahs blog and some fabrics I got.

I wanted to make her something special and I know she loves to celebrate. As it is Christmas coming up a table topper might be a great gift and as this star is also called "Star of Bethlehem" this it had to be.

With the old machine I did not want to ruin this beauty so I decided to go back to handstitching. I took out some pink and aqua perle cotton yesterday evening. I stitched in the pink diamonds of the star and around the aqua border.

 The sewing machine was still not working today so I used the time while I was waiting for my new tires to hand sew the binding to the back. It looks so nice and neat now and I am really happy how it turned out.

 So this little table topper was given her at a surprise birthday party some ladies had arranged. I brought a cake the girls made yesterday and for the hosting lady a little basket full of toffees.

And if you want to read about the "trip along quilt" have a look at the Modern Quilt Guild Ireland blog.

Linking up with crazy mom quilts and Finish it up Friday

working, working, working ...

Do you know that time before Christmas when everyone is counting the days? I have no clue how many days are left until Christmas and to be honest, I did not even start preparing. There was an UFO that had to be finished so I am just going to show you some little peaks now ...

Swapping with the lazy bums ..

... then I met Santa to give him the trip along ...

.. then I started the table runner for an other swap ...

... and I started backing!

So we are busy helping Santa!

Modern Irish Bee 2013

My baby is done! Finally after stitching the binding for the last three evenings (yeah I am slow) this quilt is finished. My Modern Irish Bee quilt is done after a long time and lots of trouble. I asked for lines made out of equilateral triangles. Two lines together make a row.

Today I took it out for a photo shoot - just a little different than I usually do. So let me show you lovely places around Galway. Lets start at the beach...

I went down to Blackrock to the diving platform, one of the most beautiful places in Galway. I love this yellow tower and one day I will do the jump (they say you are not allowed to leave Galway before you did the jump).

I am glad the wind did not blew the quilt into the sea so I would have had to do the jump.

After I had a place in mind but I could not get a parking space any close there. Friday might not be the best day to head to town for a photo shooting but you have to use the sunny slots here. So I went to the other side ...

You still can see the Cathedral just not from the spot I wanted it to be. Down at the Corrib you can find this bridge. I am not sure if it is unfinished or it broke one day.

After a short stop at the coffee shop I head of to the last place in Menlo. Actually there is this little ruin next to the bridge but as it started raining I postpone climbing up there with an other quilt on maybe a sunny day?

I am so happy with my new quilt. The last three days when I was hand stitching the binding I could not stop smiling. It is getting terrible cold these days but it was so cosy sitting under my quilt.

It looked like the sun is coming out again so on my way back home I took the way along the beach following the sun ... sun? She really was disappearing every time I stopped ...

So no picnic today but frozen back home. Anyway it is much to wet outside and heard on the radio - I am listening sometimes - that it is going to be stormy and rainy in the West.

This baby went bigger from day to day and so at the end the backing had to be pieced.  The binding was made out of the last leftovers I had in dark grey, light grey and blue hand stitched on the back. I love how neat it looks.

Fabric: Glimma from Lotta Jansdotter in rose, grey and blue
Background: Britten number, Emma Jones pieced with Glimma
Size: 71'' x 78''
Wadding: cotton

A huge thank you to the ladies from the Modern Irish Bee and a special Thanks to Linh who helped me selecting the fabrics.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday