I hear a lot of people complain that there is no service in the world anymore, no-one has compassion, no-one cares....well they obviously don't have my friends and they definitely don't have a quilting blog.

When I put out my little request for help with Dad's farm fabric, I knew people would have a think about it for me, but I didn't realise new bloggers I had barely got to know would scour quilt shops in places like Dubbo in outback NSW armed with a photo...(and only miss the fabric by an hour!!!!!) or lovely friends would check the shops in Kalgoorlie, a mining town in Western Australia or that shops would be scoured all over North America....just to name a few locations I know about.

This is really only the tip of the iceberg: fabric comes when needed-(and Amy will eventually get her surprise for the lovely cowboy prints for my boy-when I get my act together), quilt blocks come.. and go for good causes as well, birthday surprises, bag magnetic clasps, completed quilts for swaps and even lovelier, all those words of encouragement, whether over kid issues or quilty business....and the multitude of ideas your blogs add to my "to do" list!

It really makes you feel part of a wide tight knit group, a fabulous feeling-and thanks go to everyone who has helped make my year brighter and hopefully I have done my little bit for someone as well.

Here is Isabelle junior as your reward.-and she really is happy, it's just those eyes!

But onto the sewing front, here is me doing something that brings tears to my eyes and probably makes all quilters feel a little sick. Yes, using my new unpick...and not just on anything, but on an entire double bed sized quilt binding.

Not understanding why I would perpetuate such a crime, well, we will go back for a quick overview.

In Feb of 2006 I decided, with 3 or 4 days to go before my dad's 70th, that I would make him a quilt...here it is, with me and Dad. It was made entirely from stash as I got it all cut out after 7 pm one night. All the guests signed it on the back, it had family photos printed on it and that, I thought, was that.

Half way through the year I was given it back, Mum wanted it bigger, for their bed. Many bloggers gave me ideas but the overwhelming response was make him another one....and this I was going to do until the "fabric and the 6 days left until Christmas and they are calling out for their summerweight quilt back" issue.

Hence, the binding picture. I am going to add the farm pictures to the bottom and 4 or 8 more of the log cabin blocks to the sides, and it should hit the mark. The farm pics are a risk...but I like 'em, they scream my Dad to me. I also don't think I have enough of the original cabin strips to conjure up too many more even slightly co-ordinating blocks so the farm pics should cover the hole. Here is how they are going so far, they will, of course be sewn in one long strip.

This was more the original quilt plan.

And this is the photo that is my Dad, (he just doesn't look right when he is polished up and in good clothes!) so I printed it on fabric and it will go on either back of front as well.

Have a great day.....and for the many who have enquired, DD is still good, 2 weeks now! Tracey

Luxuries and treasures.

There was one specific luxury that I really looked forward to when the kids were both finally at School.

There were of course, quite a few that tantatalized me, - the idea of coffees, lunches and sewing, all carried out in uninterrupted peace, sounded great. The sheer joy of being able to walk into a shop without my son saying in a painfully clear voice, "I don't like this shop, this shop is yukky" and the restfulness of grocery shopping without him rolling under the supermarket shelves and disappearing up the aisles-laughing all the way and calling "find me Mummy!!!"-all appealed. (They tell me that every child has their stage when they cause trouble, I am working on that being my DS', leave me in ignorant bliss there please people!!)

But, the most appealing thing was the luxury to be sick in peace.

You know, being able to lie in bed for at least 8 hours in a darkened room, with complete quiet and no interruptions? No-one running up the house every 5 minutes to cuddle you, bring you their teddy, report on what Elmo did on Sesame street.......

Last year I din't get my weeklong annual flu and this year I would say it is well and truly setting in and guess what...the two little darlings are here with me!!!!

Have done a fairly major repair job while being at home. It reminded me of Atet talking about her first wonky quilt, well here is my first and if I had known that it would still be getting dragged around 9 years later I may have changed some things, but as I had less that no idea I probably wouldn't have!

I managed to cut out and sew some squares together, then I sewed them to an old sheet and sewed satin ribbon over the joins. Then I went to a hardware store and got some kind of lightweight foam, turned the edge of the sheet and sewed it together, put a line of stitching through it to hold the foam in and, there you have it, a quilt!!!! It is very fondly known as "warm doona" and is the first one layered on at night. The old flannel sheet was the first to go, I have already replaced most of the back with better quality flannel but now it has reached this point, almost a crisis!

I cut off all this rotten edge, reached into the trusty op shop reserves and found satin ribbon, and reinforced the 2 trimmed edges with that. The sick daughter did not feel up to the paparazzi but you get the point.

Here is the next one I made, 3 years later and with a little more assistance, but didn't realise you were meant to do things like measure the middle and keep things straight, I just added to whatever edges were there, which worked ok until it came to the quilting and the finish...then I just had to jam everything into the binding. And does it worry the daughter who layers this on second when she goes to bed?? No, not a bit.

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I may go and lie on the bed and wait to be the cuddle machine now, have a good day, Tracey