Nimble fingers runs in the family

I live 2hrs away from my folks, so I don't get to see them as much as I would like.  But when I do pop over we have a great time and I leave feeling nourished - in my big belly and in my soul.  Isn't it funny how when you're young (and ungrateful) your parents exist solely to drive you bananas, and then (hopefully) we mellow out and come to the conclusion that family is actually very cool.

So I went to my folks last weekend.  I thought I'd share some pics of the visit because this time it wasn't just the usual yakking and eating.  This time it was yakking eating and quilting - my kinda afternoon!  My mum really liked the quilt I made for my sister, so much so she wanted to make one just like it.  I'm only a newbie quilter myself (and Mum had never made one), but as this quilt is super easy I knew we'd be able to at least finish the best part of a quilt top in a few hours.  Gran also popped around too, she's a seasoned quilter.  She'd bought with her an amazing candlewicking quilt that she had made - to give to me (result!!). Pics are at the bottom.

For her birthday I had already bought mum some swish sewing gear including: her first cutting mat, quilt ruler and rotary cutter.  She hadn't used any of these items before, but it wasn't long before Mum was happily slicing through 6 layers of fabric - Sweeny Todd style.  I think most everyone has same epiphany moment when they use a rotary cutter for the first time :)  So after Mum got the boring fabric cutting  over with we set to work on making her first quilt top...

Click on pics to enlarge:

Mum having fun learning about the mysterious art of placing pattern and colour together. Sooo glad that Gran (who is a hardened quilter) was there.  Mum had loads of questions that I couldn't answer...  :)

In-yer-face-floral-tastic! 

 

And soon enough Mum was whizzing the pieces through her machine, ironing the seams open and everything.  I tell you, she was unstoppable!   Her 1/4in seams are preeee-cise. 

 

Here's me holding up my Mum's handiwork.  You can't see, but behind me Mum is fixing up a delish Chinese dinner - the prefect reward for a rewarding day's sewing!

My gran hand stitched this Candlewicking quilt over 20 years ago. And now it's mine, all mine! The quilt is made of individual panels that have all been edged with crochet lace and then sewn together to form the quilt top.

Yep all hand stitched.  It must've taken an aaaaaage!

 

 Do you do the craft thing with your family?  What do you get up to craft-wise?