Birthday Quilt

So my Little Miss is 10! I cant believe it, which I'm sure every parent says! I was particularly touched that she asked me to make her a quilt for her birthday; I had recieved some vintage fat quarters along with my Snap Press, and also went into a swap, so was arranging them (in colours, of course) and testing out this pattern for myself when her request was simple- "One of those in purple please"!

 

  I enlisted the help on Instagram to pick the pattern (the left one); 

 and got to work! I managed it in about 4-5 days; Using the time she was at camp for layout and basting, and after she was asleep for the quilting.

I accidentally (no, really, it was)  used the same pattern binding that I used for this quitl; I love the coincidence, as does she!

And the full thing

and backing. My girl and I love fake moustaches, and  this print was perfect for the back. Some different quilting patterns gave it a lot of interest.

 A perfect fit! (Teddy approves).

Keeping Out Of Trouble Part 2....

I was asked to make a special gift for a special Dad for Father's Day this year, and I couldn't refuse! 

It started with "I'd love to buy a hexie brooch off you" and "Do you have any blokey fabric in your stash?" and a deal was done! (I'm cheap sometimes...hehe)

Surprisingly (or not if you've ever seen my stash) I had it all in there. I added some Curlypops fabric, of course! Also a mix of quilting cottons and thin to thick corduroy. For some reason I wanted texture in this quilt! (I had free reign, but checked in regularly with Cam).

  

there was cutting, sewing and basting....

 and the quilting. I was with outlining all the squares, and then some diagonal lines. I had heard of and been recommended to try the quilter's gloves, and luckily Coles has the Ansell brand of gloves that worked a treat. (If you click on the link, just add 'quilting' to the uses haha). In case you've never heard of using them, they help grip the fabric to be fed through the machine. I don't think I've made such a heavy quilt before, due to the cord, so I literally had to pick it up to feed through; the gloves help you push it a bit more. Just what I needed!

  A 'mid quilting' layout and admire inspect

and a full shot when I delivered it to Cam. We were to busy gas bagging to remember to do it outside in the sun, so an inside shot unfortunately.

I named it 'The Bloke' haha

 Trying it on for size- my eyeballing on the design wall is always off- I thought I would need to add more before I tested it this way! Lucky the kid will sleep through anything...

We ducked out to vote on the quilting day (ie election day here in Oz) and came home to find the first seal of approval... (the backing was a lovely soft flannel with a teeny purple stripe. Poor cam had bought something similar it Spotlight for the back, but this from my stash trumped it- sorry Cam!)

 The binding is the Denise Schmidt green and blue check fabric, in a smart move I'd grabbed a bit when it was on clearance at Spotlight, I like how it's a bit scrappy with some bits green and others blue.

And the best pic and the reason I love making them? A happy new quilt owner!

 Awww! (yep, there may have been choking up at that!)

Keeping Out Of Trouble Part 1

Spring is in the air! I was a bit tired of the old winter wardrobe, and the beautiful week of spring weather recently spurred me to update the wardrobe a bit. I dove into the stash and found some nice medium weight denim, and 2 hours later....

a skirt! Pattern by this chickie, and you can buy it from here. I'm lucky (or unlucky, depends how you look at it!) to be the same size as I was the last time I made it, so I had the pattern all ready, and have made a few now so  it was a great quick make.

The top is another Alma blouse, the seersucker gingham *sigh* was bought specially for it- a few weeks prior! I love this fabric....I cheated this time and didn't put a zip in, as it fits easily over my head, and I could have taken a bit in the shoulders so the tight cardi doesn't sit a bit funny- but I'm hoping for less need for the cardi in a few weeks!

The warmer weather has (temporarily) altered the need for the knitted cowls; I threw together a quick 'infinity' style scarf, a long tube twisted and stitched together. I used some lawn from Spotlight as a practice, trying to get the guts to cut up some Liberty lawn!

Remember the Triple Zip swap I mentioned a few posts ago? Mine was very well received, with a wonderful blog post about it over here. I also received a gorgeous pouch, from manybooks4u (on flickr).

It was full of yummy goodies, I've never seen coloured magnetic snaps, and have fallen in love Glamping now I have a mini charm pack!

 And last update- the scrappy zig zag is pieced and ready to go....when I get to the Spotlight sale and pick up some batting!

This one's a keeper, that's for sure!

             Stayed tuned for part 2 where I reveal a special little job I was asked to do....

What i've been up too....

There's been a bit of quilting stuff happening, and other sewing of course.

I'm a bit of a fan of this girl, and her beautiful work. I spied this quilt in Feb and think I pulled all the scraps out for it straight away! It took till now with all the other projects that came up to get it started- and it only took me a week! I used a pink homespun with it, as I use so much white in quilts I wanted something different.

I haven't decided on the layout yet, there are a few versions in the original post that inspired Nova (who has now inspired me hehe) so I might put the design wall up tonight and get laying!

I also saw this on Nova's blog (OK, now I sound all stalkerish, but I saw it over here too, it was a coincidence, I swear!) Anyway, it was good timing, as I have been pretty slack for the nephew...I mean, only 1 quilt in 8mths....sheesh!)

I got out the blue cotton stuff I scored a while ago when the school was throwing it out;

and a plan formulated when I spotted this thread at Spotlight. I'm going a bit neon mad at the moment, I like 'pops' of it in things at the moment.

So I joined The QAL and got started....might be getting ahead of myself though, better slow down!

  Couldn't resist a mirror ball dot in there hehe

The girl decided she needed to make some new lavender sachets today for her drawer....and lucky Henry got one for his sock drawer too!

 I had the Maze and Vale prints already pieced for a cushion, and this scrap was in the scrap bin just waiting...

Oh, and I finally got a snap of the girl and her braces...only took 3 weeks, and I think she forgot about them for a sec! I really thought it would be a year before she let me take a pic of her again!

Speaking of cute (weren't we?) here's the little man himself- 8mths old and standing/cruising and has started those slobbery baby kisses. In. Love!

A finished quilt!

Another bit of a break between posts (I'll try not to say that at the beginning of EVERY post though) but I have a good reason! The battery in my laptop died a few weeks ago (may have been a few months, actually, have lost track). It was around that same time as a few other things broke, so a new battery wasn't high on the list of priorities. So I decided to leave it plugged in and use with the charger...fast forward to the charger dying! A week and a bit to order a new one...lets just say, nice to have it back!

I've been working a bit more the last few weeks too, my colleague going on leave meant I was able to do 4 weeks of full time work! Eeek! Could I do it? Turns out- not very well! maybe for other little black ducks, but not this one! Keeping things running at home was a lot harder, and my time to 'look after myself' (usually by doing chores on my spare days the kiddo is at school, so we can spend the weekend together) was gone! So happily, due to work being quiet, the last 2 Fridays were cut off and I could breeeaatthheee!

I also got asked to do a custom quilt in the middle of all this! Of course, I said yes! It was for the sibling of the girl who got this quilt; and I was allowed to pick the pattern and fabrics! (had some colours to guide me).

I chose this pattern, and am really glad I did!  Easy to follow and accurate, I'm really hoping to try a few more of Allison's patterns, and get a copy of her book. Only problem is deciding which on to make first!

The fabrics were picked from GJ's Fabrics, during one of the Sit n Sew days of the MMQG. I had a few helpers thankfully, as picking fabrics is not my forte!

 

 (Sewing is a lot more fun with sparkly nails I've decided!)

 lots of trimming!

  

and finally came putting it all together. A rockin' Saturday night that was!

I planned it to be finished by this weekend coming- but I got absolutely motivated at the sit n Sew day on last Saturday with the Guild, and got it basted, quilted and nearly bound in one day! I finished the binding that night. Then went to bed and died of back pain haha.

  Yummy binding!

  I'm happy to say it was all worth it! I didn't get much time in the old grey weather for good pics, as it was picked up quick smart- so some indoor shots to show the quilting, and outdoor for the colours.

I'm going to miss working on this beauty!

Anything old is new again....

I have previously blogged about this project...
only about 18mths ago! I quilted one, and it all pulled and distorted- the different fabrics and sizes just weren't working for it. The 2nd one was still in a little (hidden) UFO pile.

So I got on with it!

 Nothing a few hours/nights on the couch unpicking! And may I suggest unpicking 2 dirty old quilts for testing your pelvic floor muscles...there's a hell of a lots of dust and sneezing happening! 

  

I kept shaking my head and muttering about the seam allowances....and gradually felt the love for them, and spent the time thinking about the fabrics, where they came from, who sewed them together...I've decided a non-sewer, but someone that wanted to make something. And as I'd HATE to see my first quilt again, I forgot about the mess!

The unpicking was the easy bit...threads everywhere, dust- it took ironing, then a pet roller over them to get them all clean!

I then trimmed them all to 3.5" (I think) and counted...about 320!

All ready for the next decision! (what to make??)