Thursday 1 December 2011

Phew!

As I type this the sun in streaming in through the kitchen window and it feels like Spring.

The oak trees are still  in leaf, although the leaves are golden coloured, and for the first time in about 6 months the grass is green (and needs mowing!). It doesn't feel at all like 1st December.

The UK trip was a bit of a whirlwind. Lots to do and not enough time to do it in.

Mother loves her quilt. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a photo of her with it. Her 80th birthday party was a huge success. Afternoon tea for a select few (50!) in the local village hall. Lots of tea, sandwiches and cake, with a few glasses of Cava to round the afternoon off.

The centrepiece (apart from Mum) was the most amazing birthday cake with accompanying cup cakes.

Mum adores Creature Comforts, the cartoons made by the same person who makes Wallace & Gromit. Us sisters like The Old Bats being asked about speed cameras.


"Cucumbers" has become part of the family vocab!

Mum, however, prefers Shaun the Sheep.

So my lovely little sis arranged for a friend of a friend to make the cake and cup cakes along the lines of Nick Park.

This is the cake. The house is home in Kent and sitting/lying on the lawn from left to right are The Young One, with Tolly the spaniel, and my nieces Estella and Isabelle, oh and the chickens. Isn't it brilliant!


And here are 2 of the 40 cup cakes.




All in all a great day!

Right, on to the subject title. It is definitely a Phew!

All That Jazz

I've decided to call it "All That Jazz" because there are some musical notes fabrics in there somewhere and, of course, the cat jazz band.  It covers our queen size bed with more to spare so goodness only knows how I'm going to baste and quilt it, but I'm not even going to think about that at the moment.  Thanks again to Tonya for the inspiration.

I've now got to run up a name banner for The Young One's best friend's birthday in a few weeks. Bright green background and black and white letters.  Mmmmm interesting!

More soon.




11 comments:

Pippa Parsons said...

spray baste, Ive got a can here if we ever meet up, not sure I can post it, I know it cant be posted from uk or buy fusible batting from creative grids (theyll ship here) you iron it onto the backing and the top, u can move it around if needs be, iron it back again and no need for basting:) lovely and soft when washed I've found.

VivJM said...

Phew indeed! Fab quilt, fab cakes - love Shaun The Sheep one :-)

Browndirtcottage said...

Sounds AND looks like great fun Clare!!!

I am still just swooning over you gals/Tonya's quilt!! I plan one in my future!!! Yours is a NICE size!!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Fabulous birthday stories ...

And your All That Jazz is awesome!!!!

(did I mention that I'm already saving strips for another one using this method?!?). Warning - highly addictive!!

apiecefullife said...

What a lovely celebration. That cake! and the cup cakes!
Your quilt looks fabulous.

Tazzie said...

Oh my goodness Clare, those cakes are just to die for! My kids and I absolutely love those shows - it would almost be a shame to eat them!
Your quilt is just adorable too - all those tiny pieces must have taken forever!
Be sure to have a great day
*hugs*
Taz
:-)

Tonya Ricucci said...

glad your mom enjoyed her quilt! Gromit, all the way! I wish they'd make another short for this year. love love your monster quilt. fabulous!

Sharon said...

Oh, that cake and cupcakes are just brilliant! Love them! So glad your mum had a great day.

All That Jazz is a real beauty. And it is huge! Do you have any scraps left? hahaha!

Banaghaisge said...

Spray baste is the ONLY way to go with any quilt.
And what about "minuscule"? Is French so you should have seen it, no audio, all animation. Very clever and funny. Trevor dog is like almost any meek character you pick.
My Mummy will be 80 in May, so I told her "Just wait till you are 100. Then, I will be planning MY 80th". She just said "Shush"...
Frightened the bejesus out of both of us. Tho technically I will be only 79 when she is 100.
There was an AMAZING 90 yo in the ward with me, looked 65. Oil of 'Ulan' every night of her life since she was 14. Until Sunday when she was rushed to hospital.
Great ad for Oil of Olay!

KeyQuilter said...

Enjoying your blog. Just last week I got to quilt my friend Karen's quilt top that she calls her Lego quilt. It looks "just like" this one! Did y'all get together on it?

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Wow, your quilt is wonderful!! Love the cupcakes!!