Kids swap 2010 - sneak peek

I enjoyed making my swap outfit for last year's swap so much, that I signed up again this year.

It was a bit easier this year as everything was already in my stash.

You might recognise the fabric from a different swap I posted about a while ago.

I had the patterns and fabric sitting there waiting to make an outfit for Jack, and this has given me the motivation to get on with it. mind you, Jack's outfit is still only half done....

My parcel was wrapped up and posted off today, and now I'm eagerly awaiting my special parcel in return.

Check back on Monday for the big reveal!

A visitor and ANOTHER quilt in progress

This little guy has been hanging around our place for the last few weeks, changing trees every day.

He has a few battle scars so hopefully he will stay safe with us for a while.

I've spent a few hours over the weekend working on a baby quilt for a work friend's baby shower. The original plan was simple charm squares with a co-ordinating border and could have been completed in a weekend. However, the plan changed when the fabric arrived, and this is where I am up to....

It is inspired by Helen's Bye Bye Birdie quilt that appeared in Homespun magazine, http://patchwork-of-mini-grey.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-9-of-blogtoberfest-bye-bye-birdie.html and the bird appliques are taken from another quilt in a later edition of Homespun.

I've pieced the four long strips but the geen sashing isn't attatched yet. There will be two more sashing strips, a narrow pink border and a wide green spotty border.

That won't take long, but the quilting will take me a while.

And these little birds all need stitching down and they also need eyes and legs.

The baby shower is next weekend and I've decided not to try to finish it in time. It would end up rushed and I know I won't be happy with it.

I've also got some other commitments this week that simply can't be put off.

I think I will take a trip to the shops for a shower gift instead, and take my time working on this.

I'm sure there will be another little girl in need of a quilt sometime in the future.