Can't believe it !

I just can't - really !!!!

I'll start at the beginning. This year I have a big birthday. I will be 40 !! My best friend Jacqui who I met in primary school when I was 4 years old will obviously be 40 too . So I decided quite some time ago that this momentous occasion calls for a quilt - what else - lol ! She lives far away from me just now but we are still as close as we ever were. You know when you can just pick up a conversation months later as if you were just speaking that same day.

Anyway Jacqui is a Television producer and her husband is Chief Harbour master for one of the Scottish rivers so they are very well-off financially and thus I never quite know what to buy for them for Christmas etc as they have everything. Aha - except a quilt !!!

It struck me last week that if I don't want to be busting a gut a day before I need to post this quilt I should really get started . Just a few minor decisions of what fabrics to use, patterns and such - you know little details like that - lol. I have in my stash a small collection of beautiful batiks which are so lovely they come into the " too nice to cut " category. These were bought gradually over time and have been sitting patiently folded nicely and looking gorgeous. BUT seeing as she is my very best friend and I knew they are just her type of thing ( at least I sincerely hope so ) I actually cut them ! ! That's the bit I can't believe. Not quite as painful as I thought but a bit of a wrench nevertheless.. Only a quilter could understand this.

Because they are so luscious I didn't do anything too complicated to let the fabrics do the talking. What do you think ?

I have worked my socks off on this one and even when distracted by thoughts of other quilts and bags etc I carried on - ignoring the dust and other trivial matters - lol ! I have about 4 weeks to get this quilted, bound and labelled before it needs to be posted. Whats the betting I am still hand stitching the binding down the day before ? It has come out well I think. In real life the colours are much richer and vibrant. Should suit Jacqui down to the ground ! You see that fabric I used for the setting triangles - that was my most expensive fabric - it cost £11 ( $22 ) a metre.

Also this week I learned my pincushions had reached my partner. I was getting a bit concerned as I had not heard if they had arrived but there was some mix up over emails I think. I made 2 - Mr and Mrs. I hope Janell liked them.

Here also is the little gift bag I made for Patricks teacher. Patrick chose the fabrics. With a pair of gold earrings and a bit of wrapping paper it made a nice gift and Patrick said she loved it.

It's hot here today and I'm flagging with the heat. Summer is NOT my favourite time of year. If I have a spurt of energy later I may get my batik quilt basted and ready to quilt. Then again I may start something else - lol ! I'm thinking baskets........