Progress is slow

My Drayton Hall quilt.

Progress is slow. I have been working on the middle part of the quilt off and on but now have cut enough diamonds to make the surrounds.                    

I started sewing the pieces together bit by bit for the first row and finally came to my senses with the second row that it would be so much quicker and easier to string piece it.                                                                     

This equals enough rows for 1/2 of one side. The strips have still to be sewn together. This was yesterdays work at the machine.                             

Today I was out on a bus trip to Patchwork shops with the AQA. [Aust.Quilters Assoc.] We went to 5 shops. The first shop was like a maze,
rows and shelves of fabrics ,braids ,threads tools. So many corners, cupboards, fabrics from way back when, an aladin cave. I found a fabric I had used in a quilt 10years ago. I loved this fabric and I had kept every little scrap of it because I liked it so much.Recently, I had finally used the last little piece for a berry.  And now, I found a whole bolt of it. Yipee!

The next shop was BRIGHTS, LIGHTS and 1930's.
So, not me but I found a pattern for a sheep. Shaun the Sheep. The sample in the shop had a black with white fabric body, arms and legs and over the top a white fleece Jumpsuit with a zip down the  front, so a child could dress/undress him.
The other sample was made with white with black fabric for the body and a black fleece jumpsuit....and as I'm going to be grandma next year had to have him.

Lunch was next and then off to a sweet little shop with a lovely selection of fabrics.

The next shop was another aladin's cave. This one had Xmas decorations too and afternoon tea on the verandah. This is when we really did feel the heat of the day. It was over 30C.  I bought a pattern to make 3 little Christmas penquins with my felted wool and a nice black/white cotton for making Shaun.

The next store had Japanese fabrics, red - navy and taupes. An enormous range of Homespuns [muslins], and a large range of florals.
and then it was back on the bus and home. I had a good day and didn't break the bank.