Sandi Frames

This quilt has been in the works for at least 2 years, I think maybe three!  I made most of the centre blocks at Sewjourn, a sewing retreat with quilty friends.  I think I may have had a bourbon or two before I sewed some of them up as a few are a bit wonky.  I used some of my carefully hoarded Sandi Henderson fabrics, with some shot cottons and a white background which I think I got at Spotlight.  I ran out of the lovely Farmer's Market Paisley print, needing only about a 10" square to finish the blocks. 

So the search began!  On and off I searched for that out of print fabric.  I had got to the stage where I thought I would just cut my losses, unpick and replace it with something else when someone in my facebook destash group noticed my year old 'searching for' post and contacted me.  She had 3 metres of it!  I really wanted to buy it all, but I settled for a half metre. 

I love this quilt top.  I wasn't sure about such a huge expanse of white but it really works well.  I adore the Sandi Henderson fabrics too.  They are mostly Meadowsweet I and a little Farmer's Market.

I may of course change my opinion when it comes time to quilt it!  Any ideas for a simple quilting pattern would be considered.  I think I'd like something loopy rather than straight lines, as some curves would compliment the trellis design.

It is such a windy day here I had to take the photos on my front verandah pretty quickly, so that it didn't blow away.  If I wait for good days to take photos I just won't blog much though!  I am trying to let go a bit so that I blog more.

 

I bought two of these lovely storage boxes from a clearing sale a few weeks ago.  Aren't they gorgeous? 


I have a confession though - this is the third quilt I've made using my Sandi Henderson stash and shot cottons!  I've also just realised that I've never blogged the other two - admittedly one is only a quilt top.  I will work on changing that very soon.

The pattern for this quilt is 'Frame Up' by Jessica Levitt in her book 'Modern Mix'.  It's a gorgeous book of quilts, pillows and other items.  I love Stash books, they make building a library of quilting titles reasonably inexpensive.  Spotlight have starting selling a few too, so they are easily available.  I've got quite a few now and love flicking through them.  Im sure if I spent some of my browsing time quilting I'd have a few more finished quilts.

2014!

I've been busy at the sewing machine and need to take some photos to share.  It's that time of year when I like to reflect over achievements and take stock of the WIP pile.  This past year I managed to finish quite a few quilt tops and I am becoming more confident with quilting, although I still have quite a pile of tops to quilt!

Rather than do a wrap up post for 2013, I'm going to update the lists in my side bar.  After I've picked myself up off the floor from the shock of just how many WIPs I no doubt still have to finish, I am going to also make a list of projects I hope to achieve this year.  I'm very excited about starting a couple of quilts that I have been thinking about.  One of them is this lovely 'Open Your Windows' by the clever Brigitte at Farbstoff.  I know I should be finishing a few things off but I just have that urge, you know, the start something new urge!

I've got a couple of tops pinned at the moment, one is this lovely Tribute Star.  The photo was taken inside and doesn't do the fabrics justice I'm afraid.  The background is a beautiful hankerchief linen in a soft neutral brown. 

 

This is the first Tribute Star that I've made, the second I blogged about here.  I'm so happy to report that my daughter's boyfriend's mother has received the other one, and likes it.  My daughter even told me she has it draped on their lounge.  It's always a relief to hear that a gifted quilt is being used.

I love this pattern so much, I don't think I've finished with it yet!

I've also been playing with these delicious blocks.  Called Chiral Music, the pattern is a free one designed by Cindy at Live a Colorful Life (I always have to go back and take the 'u' out of the word 'color' when quoting Americans!).  It is part of an online quilting bee, but I just really liked this block.  It's so different to most of what is popular at the moment, and I've found it a great block to practice using a good quarter inch seam and matching my points.

 

The very last block has the centre section reversed.  I'm still thinking about whether I'll unpick and change it or leave it as an 'on purpose' mistake!  I've cut out quite a few more blocks which I'm slowly working through.  I'm using all DS for Spotlight/Joann's fabrics, and I'd like to sash it but I'm unsure what to use. 

A couple of the blocks in more detail.  It is a gorgeous and unusual block, I'm enjoying making them very much.

Of course it's always nice to get some help when taking photos.

A Birthday Cake for Hedgies!

I've been sewing away since I last blogged, meaning I've got quite a bit of fodder for the blog.  I think the hardest thing about blogging is to start the habit again after a period of not blogging, so I'm just going to jump in again.  I do love having this record to look back on, and of course the interaction with other bloggers is so much fun.

I finished binding this lovely little version of Elizabeth Hartmann's Birthday Cake just this week.  I've had the blocks finished for ages and I'm very pleased with the finished quilt.  It's a bit small, but I ran out of fabric so is just going to be a lap quilt for my daughter's share house.

I was particularly happy with the double loop stipple that I quilted onto it.  Quick, easy and looks effective, all boxes ticked!

This quilt was always going to be for Indy as she loves hedgehogs so much!  As a child when we lived in England we even had a couple in the backyard at different times and she's always adored them.  I call this quilt 'Birthday Cake for Hedgies'.  The fabrics I used were mostly Lizzy House's Outfoxed range. 

The backing is this adorable Prints Charming for Spotlight poplin. Just the right shade of orange.  You know I can never have too much orange for my stash!

Indy is going to the UK for her summer holidays, she will be staying with her lovely boyfriend Nick and they are intending on doing some traveling to Europe.  She'll also visit her English relatives (her father's family).  She'll be celebrating Christmas with Nick's family.  I wanted to thank his mother for being so thoughtful and caring towards her, and what better way than a quilt.

I've worked on this Tribute Star quilt this weekend.  I love this pattern, it's available free on Denyse Schmidt's website and I'd encourage you to follow the link to read the story behind it.  Such sweet inspiration!  The only information Nick gave me about his mother's taste is that 'her favorite colour is lime green'.  Not much to go on!  I wasn't sure about using a real lime green as I thought it might be a bit too strong and not match their home.  So I used this apple/asparagus green, which I'm really happy with.  There is also some lime in the prints making up the star.  It's just a lap quilt size so it won't take up too much room in her bag. 

Indy leaves in less than four weeks so I have to get quilting.  I'll miss her so much, the idea of waking up on Christmas morning on my own is pretty ordinary but I'm so proud of her working hard at her uni studies, and her job to save the money for her trip.  I couldn't be happier for her.

Got To Love a Quiltalong

I love quiltalongs, and find them very hard to resist. I'd been admiring the pattern Impromptu, which is a pattern designed for layer cakes, for a while.  Then when I saw that Katy at I'm a Ginger Monkey was hosting an Impromtu quiltalong I ordered the pattern and signed up.  I've done quiltalongs with Katy before and they are always fun, and there is no pressure to stick to a time line.  Katy was one of the hosts of the Tripalong which I have been really enjoying.

I am a layer cake queen and so thought I would have no problems digging out a layer cake from my stash.  I was surprised to find that I am down to 3 layer cakes, and none of them really suited what I had in mind.  Determined to use some of my stash, I had a look at my bundle of Birds and the Bees by Tula Pink.  I love Tula's fabrics but I have to say I find them quite difficult to use with the rest of my stash.  So I made the decision pick out mostly the dark green and blue prints from this line.  They needed a lift so I added just three of the purple prints.  I wanted to use a deep colour for the background, and whilst I considered using a dark green I thought that would make the quilt too drab.  Spotlight had this lovely teal colour, and it was even reduced in price so I went for it!

 

It's a quilt that uses two different blocks to make the pattern.  I've made all the 'A' blocks, and since these pictures were taken (at night and inside so they are not brilliant photos) I've made more 'B' blocks.  I only have three to go!  I am very happy that I've kept up with the quiltalong - so far!

The blocks will hopefully look like they are floating on the teal fabric.  The 'B' blocks are disappearing 9 patches, which are sashed with 1" strips and this has been trying my sewing skills!  Any little wavy sewing really shows.  There has been much unpicking and resewing!  I'm hoping the finished quilt will be worth it.  It's very striking in colour, and I think it will look great on a bed.  The quiltalong is being held on Flickr and there are some lovely quilts in the photos there.  It's a friendly group and fun to be part of.

Modernising A Classic

I'm pleased to announce I think I've found my blogging powers!  After taking 'blogging without obligation' to a new level, I have heaps to write about!  I've been very busy completing some quilts and working on some others on my very extensive long list on my sidebar.  I also seem to have started a couple of new quilts!

I'm happy to share these photos taken at a recent Sunday sewing day with some friends.

We made Lisa Stipes Easy Peasy Felicity quilt, it's a lovely variation on a rail fence pattern.  I love rail fence quilts, and by varying the widths of the strips she's modernised this traditional pattern.  It's a free pattern on the quilt pattern resource site at Riley Blake, Cutting Corners.  They have some wonderful free patterns there!

This quilt is Chris's.  She made a Modrian inspired quilt.

Denise's quilt has the blocks laid out with the colours in diagonal lines.  The aqua, green and grey is such a lovely colour scheme and would look great in a contemporary home, draped on a lounge.

 

Diane used these cheerful fabrics.  This is a such a pretty quilt.

 

I made my quilt using some hoarded Tea Garden fabric by Dena Designs.  It's a riot of gorgeous rich colours, I'm going to give it to my daughter for her lounge room.

Baxter

I had really hoped to share a couple of quilt tops this long weekend however it has been so hot here that I haven't been able to get any decent photos.  The sun is so bright that my photos look dreadful, and really no-one with any sense spends any time outside when it is this hot.  I realised I hadn't shared this cute chap I made before Christmas.

Making soft animals is such fun!  One of my favourite creators of all things cute and cuddly is Jodi Carlton of Ric Rac.  Baxter is a gorgeous hedgie who I have made before a couple of times (my daughter has a Baxter and his friend Lou).  I made this hedgie for a friend at work.

He looks so royal with his long spines.

I try to give all the animals I make a smile, it took me a couple of goes to get the stitching just right.

Baxter and patterns for more fantastic creations of Jodi's are available from Ballarat Patchwork.  On her website there is a lovely story simply called Baxter. I bought my long staple (hmm, wool has 'staple', not sure about fur fabric?) fur fabric and wool suiting from Spotlight to make him.

Foxys

I love making softies almost as much as I love making quilts.  I especially love that I can make a softie or two and get them finished in a day!  I made these two foxys for Indy for her birthday later this week.  They were featured in a recent issue of Molly Makes.  They are so sweet!

Taking a photo proved tricky once Wombat realised that something other than himself had all my attention.  Here he is working out what is going on.

Trying to get in on the photo.

Getting the softies out of the way so a better photo can be taken.

This photo is for everyone who thinks that Zeppie is an imaginary cat.  She is much more timid than Wombat and not interested in being a photographic model.  She saw the drama of me trying to take a decent photo   and Wombat interfering and took off!  

She is adorable, but very aloof.  Unlike Wombat, who has to be involved in whatever I am doing around the house.  

The softies were a quick and easy project.  I also worked on some more tripalong blocks.  I have to be honest and admit to starting a new project too.  A couple of the girls in my patchwork group wanted to make the Easy Peasy Simply Strippy Fat Quarter quilt.  It's a free pattern at the Riley Blake website.  One of my favourite traditional pattern is Rail Fences and this is a variation of a Rail Fence design.  Of course I had to join in, how could I let them make one without me?  I finished all the blocks today so will take a photo soon.  It is a quick and easy pattern and looks very effective, and I do love Rail Fence quilts!