WIP Wednesday

This week, I am working on finishing the quilting on this quilt I'm making for my grandmother.  I haven't blogged it yet, because I haven't had a chance to get good photos, but I will definitely take photos once it's finished.

 

I'm using the Flower Power design from Angela Walters' book Free-Motion Quilting with Angela Walters, also covered in her Craftsy class.  Honestly, I can't recommend this class enough.  You do need to know the basics of free motion quilting to start, but I am still using the designs 6 months after I watched it and I will definitely keep using them in the future.

The difference between my flowers and the ones Angela does (apart from my rather wonky quilting!) is that my centres are a bit more of a swirl.  I'm finding this design really easy to do and it adds a lovely texture to the quilt, which is just what I wanted.

This is the back.  I absolutely love this fabric - it's from Bari J's Bijoux collection for Art Gallery Fabrics.  I'm glad I'll be able to keep the left-over backing fabric - expect to see it in a project soon!

I've been working away on my Sailboats quilt too - more pictures to come soon. If you follow me on instagram (my user name is adrianneonthewindyside), you might have seen some progress shots already.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced:

By the way, some of the links in this post are affiliate links (if you click through and buy something, I get a teeny tiny payday).  I only link to products I've used and loved myself and would recommend to friends and family.

Sew Sew Modern Received

A couple of weeks ago I received the most wonderful parcel in the mail - my amazing swap goodies from Cindy, who blogs at Adventures of the Singing Quilter.

 

I asked for a few different swap items - to give my partner options (I know I like having options when making for a swap partner!).  But what I was really hoping and crossing my fingers for was a sewing machine cover.  Cindy really pulled through for me!

 

Isn't it gorgeous?!  Cindy used linen (love) and lots and lots of different text fabrics (more love) and that fantastic measuring tape trim (so cute).  Linen is not that easy to work with on this scale, and Cindy did a fantastic job.  It fits my sewing machine perfectly and I absolutely adore it.  Even the lining and piping fabric (Cindy made piping!!!) is beautiful

 

How cute is this little thread catcher?  I love the little bits of Flea Market Fancy and there is even a smidge of text print here too.  I cleared it out for these photos, but I have already been using it - there are far fewer threads on my sewing room floor thanks to this little basket.

Finally, how sweet is this little pincushion?  It's filled with what feels like sand, which strangely enough makes it really satisfying to stab pins into.  What can I say - it's the little things!

Cindy also sent me a lovely note, a cute postcard and a spool of Aurifil!  So generous!  You can believe I am excited to start sewing with that Aurifil - I've read so much about it online but never used it myself.  It's a light grey - a perfect all purpose colour, and I'm going to save it for quilting to really get the most out of it.

After quite a lot of swap activity over the last three months, I think I will take a little break for a while, but I will definitely sign up for the next round of Sew Sew Modern - it's a fantastic swap group!

Linking up with:

2013 Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop coming up

The schedule for the 2013 Let's Get Acquainted New Blogger Blog Hop has been finalised, and the first posts are up!  Beth from Plum and June has put together a great bunch of bloggers, so you should definitely check out those on the list below.  There are quite a few names that are already familiar to me (yay!) and also lots of new ones - I can't wait to get to know my existing bloggy friends better and make a whole lot of new ones!  I can already tell from the massive email chain we've got going on that they are all wonderful.

Here is the full schedule - you can also find it by clicking the button above. 

Friday, June 7th

Nancy @ Owen's Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo 

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14th

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side <--- that's me!

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There's A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21st

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28th

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5th

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Kristy & Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Friday, July 12th

Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure

Karen @ Quilty Creations

Anne @ PlayCrafts

Rachel @ Let's Begin Sewing...

Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm

Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain

Cath @ Wombat Quilts

Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19th

Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma 

Alison @ Making Happyness

Kelsy and Amanda @ Everyday Fray

Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta's Little Room

Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Nicole @ Modern Handcraft

Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya

Friday, July 26th

Vicki @ A Quilter's Mission

RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts

Elise @ Lovelea Designs

Elizabeth @ In The Boondocks

Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts

Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers

Emily @ Sew E.T.

Em @ Sewing by Moonlight

Beth has also put together a group of guest bloggers who are providing advice for new bloggers - if you read the Advice for New Bloggers series last year you will know that these are valuable and informative posts.  I will be reading with interest!  Here is the schedule for the Advice for New Bloggers series:

June 
8 Heidi @ Fabric Mutt 
15 Tessa @ The Sewing Chick 
22 Janice @ Better off Thread
29 Kristy @ Quiet Play

July 
6 Martha @ Weekend Doings
13 Nat @ Made in Home
20 Jess @ The Elven Garden
27 Alyssa @ Pile O Fabric

I'll be writing my post this week, and I thought I would take the chance to share a little more about myself. If you're a regular reader, and there's something you've always wondered, now is the time to ask!

Finally, it just feels wrong to post without a picture.

This is an entirely gratuitous stack of fabric I put together, pulling colours from the fabric on the bottom (Ashord in blue, from Dena Designs' London collection).

It might be just the thing for a super speedy baby girl quilt once I have finished some of my current projects.

Saturday Cat Words of Wisdom #22

"When it's cold, comfort trumps style every time." Ralph

Yes, I made my (boy) cat a dress out of a scrap of batting.  Yes, he does wear it (for a while anyway). Yes, I know that this is not normal behaviour (from both me and the cat)!

If you would like to see your pet featured on Saturday Cat Words of Wisdom (other pets are also welcome!), flick me an email at adrianneonthewindyside at gmail dot com.  Enjoy your weekend!

WIP Wednesday

This week, I'm working away on my sailboat quilt.  I've finished all the boats so the next step is to assemble the centre panel and then add the first border.  Once the quilt top is finished, I'll post a picture of the quilt in Jacqueline Morel's book (Le Petit Monde de Jacqueline Morel) so you can see how I've changed it up a bit.

I'm also going to try and get my June block for the Simply Solids Bee done this week - it is a double nine patch.  The first quilt I ever made was a nine patch quilt, so it is a favourite block of mine!

What are you up to this week?

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced: