Calicoe Garden – the Birthday Quilt

The big day finally arrived – surely it can’t be 50 long years ago since my beautiful daughter arrived?  Just where have those years gone, I wondered?  We were having a small family lunch at the rather grandly named Orlando Country Club in Palmerston North.  Before we sat down at our table, there were gifts to open.  I had organised one of those on line photo books and Nicky and her best friend Heather had a laugh looking through all the old photos.  Especially the one where she took part in a school play dressed up as a pine tree!

Heather and Nicky looking through the photo book

Then the birthday quilt was unwrapped and studied.  Nicky had asked for dusky pinks and grey-green tonings, with plain cream calicoe on the alternate blocks.  I had decided to appliqué some leaves onto the plain blocks in various green fabrics, and am really pleased how it all came together. 

Nicky’s husband Robert, Heather, and Nicky

Three generations - Grand-daughter Emma (I don’t like getting my photo taken so I’m I’m not going to smile), Nicky and me.

We had lovely tasty lunches – our choices ranged from Eggs Benedict, Burgers, Paninis.  And we couldn’t let the celebrations go by without a big piece of cake each, mine was Lemon Cake and was so delicious.  After lunch we went our separate ways, Robert and Emma went back to work, Nicky’s Dad (my ex) and his wife travelled on to Tauranga, Nicky and Heather were continuing on their girls day out with a massage each, and Robin and I made our way back home.

Calicoe Garden

I was really pleased with the commercial quilting done by Paula of Rabbit’s Patch Quilting.  I had asked for each green leaf to be quilted with veins, and then left the rest of the quilting up to her.  Paula quilted a large flower in each of the nine patch blocks, did half a feather around the edge of the calicoe blocks and then stippled the interiors.  The outside floral border had feathers, and all the quilting was done free hand.  I think she did a wonderful job!

Close up of the quilting

Now that the birthday quilt is completed and gifted – what shall I work on next?  I’ve got plenty of UFOs to choose from.