My Dad will be 60 on Monday!! He's too young to be 60! and he is actually the best Dad in the world.
I used duck tape to stick down the back, used Quilters Dream Poly Deluxe in the middle, and then got the top pinned on and looking nice and flat, though it was a bit tricky as I had to match it up with the pattern on the quilt back (I did it by sticking a pin through the top and making sure it came out in the right place on the backing.) 
Also, I was happy to get two new feet for my sewing machine in the post today. I'd been worried I wouldn't be able to get them for my machine because it's a good 10 years old and not very fancy. I spoke to Toyota directly, and they were able to supply me with a walking foot, and darning foot, and at really good prices. So I had a go at the squiggly pattern I like, and sewing in the ditch - my first ever actual quilting!! It seemed to work out OK...
I was getting on with some quilting in the meantime, and Harry's friend was fascinated by the sewing machine. He wanted to do some sewing on it, and we compromised with the boys pushing the treddle under the table, while I steered the material (to make cushions) and yelled "STOP!" to them at the end of each row of sewing... They were MAJORLY proud of them, and even took their cushions with them on the school run to pick up their big brothers!
A friend asked if I would make a New Home card for her to send, so I made this one using the sketch at Mojo Monday. I also had a look through my sticker box, as the challenge at Caardvarks is to use stickers - a good challenge, as I usually forget I have them...
A few more of my wonky squares (the younger kids were worried at first: 'Mum - they're not straight!') I'm thinking of alternating 18 of these squares with 17 differently patterned ones - we'll see.
I finished off the embroidery for Jack's pillow case back, the other day. I need to make my handwriting more regular next time I do this, because it's not quite as neat as I would like. Jack loves it though!
I found some Amy Butler fabrics on Ebay the other day at quite a reasonable price, and they arrived today.
Also today, the Kona Snow fabric that I have been waiting for arrived in the post, so I got to finish off the sashing on my quilt - I have finished my very first quilt top!!
I was a good girl yesterday, and finally got round to washing (in phosphate free 'Ecover') all my new fabrics, and I soaked the pre-cut squares in cold water, and dried them on tea-towels over the radiators. Here they are all nicely ironed (and my laptop on which I was buying more fabric on Ebay!)
I couldn't find any instructions for a wonky style squares quilt, so I just did this:
I didn't measure anything, just made sure I added onto a perfectly straight edge each time:
Making sure the outer edges are straight, and adding some more wonkiness:
Adding more wonky pieces, making a rough square each time:
I placed the square in progress over a completed square, just to check it is roughly the right size:
I added the last frame, and then cut it down to a perfect square.
My 'temporary' quilting corner of the dining room... (dismal day outside)
I want to 'write' something on each quilt/pillow I make - here is the little rhyme I made up for my son Jack's pillow. I want to sew it into a strip made up of all the fabrics I used on the pillow front, and embed it across the back of the pillow case. (I found this 'Prym Aqua-Trickmarker' pen in Dunelm yesterday - like felt-tip, but disappears with water.)
(I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this!) 
I wanted to make a New Home card for some of our friends in America, and used the sketch from Card Patterns for it. The papers are from Cosmo Cricket Earth Love, and the die cut oval, house and cloud are Sizzix.
Harry has a birthday party today, and I needed a birthday card for his little friend. The Mojo Monday sketch was perfect for it.
I used the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You for this birthday card (got loads of family birthdays coming up). The sketch used a tall card, which I normally find hard to use, but this came together pretty easily. (Except for cutting the circle window, which I had to do free-hand with a craft knife, because the card was too big to fit through the Big Shot.) It's great now I'm doing quilting, because it means I permanently have my sewing machine out!
The theme for this card is based on the Caardvarks Challenge - 'Weddings', and it also fits the CPS sketch, and DCM challenge to use a heart. I had out all sorts of cardmaking bits and bobs, but kept being drawn to the white things, so monochrome it is! I made sure there was plenty of texture and dimension, so hopefully it can get away with it.
I started a new quilt too, using Moda Aviary triangles. I'm just going to have the same pattern repeated all over. I'm awaiting more of the Kaufman Snow material from America now though. It's annoying how ridiculously expensive fabric is in the UK - it's cheaper to buy from America even with postage. (Though if anyone knows good places to buy in the UK, please let me know.) 
I also made a bag, using the tutorial linked to at the side - the 1 hour bag. It actually took me an hour and a half, but I was on the phone for 40 mins of that. (Sewing machining and chatting at the same time!) I found the instructions are really good and clear, and I've not made anything like that before.
