Delightful Desert Quilt

I've been wanting to make one of Elizabeth Hartman's amazing quilts for a while and a new baby was the perfect excuse to try the Delightful Desert Quilt!

I really thought it would take me ages to get a little quilt top, but I enjoyed the process so much that this was done in only a few days. There are many, many pieces in this quilt and there was not one error anywhere. This is really impressive. I'll have no hesitation in making anymore of her patterns (actually there is another one waiting in the pile on the cutting table).

I chose a palette of blues and greens and didn't plan which one went with which block. I cut one block at a time and just grabbed what looked good together. 

I can't wait to get time after Christmas to quilt this and start the next one!

Oven Mitts

Some sewing for the end of year teacher presents. Bombazine came out with a great pattern, just at the right time. I used two fabrics (like the oven mitt pattern in Denyse Schmidt's first book) and added lining and binding around the top.

For these I followed the Bombazine instructions a little more and they definitely worked out better.

Scrappy and Happy Quilts

The first copy of Scrappy and Happy Quilts is here!! It's out on January 2nd. I can't wait to share more of it with you!

Beehives, Bento Bags and Zinnias

A quick run down of some recent little sewing projects:

-Bento Bags for wrapping Christmas presents. I ended up making enough for all the teacher presents. I love the idea of wrapping presents in something that can be used again. 

      

-Bee hive - pattern from love Patchwork and Quilting.  I think this will end up as a teeny mini quilt for the wall. 

-Zinnia - pattern by Lori Holt. I love zinnias so I had to try this pattern. Not sure when I'll get time to make more blocks, but I'd love a quilt of zinnias. 

Sewing for Olive

A couple of new dresses for Olive for summer. 

Madeline Dress in Cotton and Steel fabric.

Mini Southport Dress in Tula Pink fabric.

And Repeat

It's quite rare that I feel the need to remake a pattern. There are too many things I want to try and not enough hours to try them in, so once something is finished I move on. 

I've made an exception for my Modern Clamshell Quilt. 

I made this one larger than the first one I made was inspired by the colours in my spring garden. 

This one is a commission, another thing I very rarely do. I used similar colours for the clamshells and a pale grey (Kona silver) for the background. I was afraid the colours would not pop as much, but I think I love it more with this background. It might just become my go to background colour.

Both of these quilts were quilted with straight lines in both directions.

I've now made it three times now and would happily start another one tomorrow.

Sointu

I think I bought the Sointu pattern as soon as it came out, such a simple but elegant pattern.  I knew I didn't want to make it in knit fabric, but wasn't sure how it would turn out in woven to I used some very, very cheap polyester I bought from Textile Traders that I think was $2 a metre on the bargain table. I can't believe I'm saying this about a polyester top, but I love it. I've already worn it out twice in the last two weeks.
I measured between two sizes and after measuring the pattern I chose the size down. I'm glad I did, it's a perfect fit. The only thing I altered was the neckline, I folded it over twice and hand stitched it down, not the neatest job, but is a lot neater than if I tried to face this fabric.
The perfect top to wear out with jeans - there will be at least one more!

Staircase to the Moon

And now for something completely different - a minimalist quilt.
Inspired by the Staircase to the Moon which happens as the full moon rises over the tidal flats in Broome. It is so beautiful and amazing to watch.
I pieced a full circle into a rectangle of fabric (I used the Creative Grids Circle Savvy Ruler to do this) and then added rectangles for the stairs.

Every time I decide to pebble quilt I have a moment of regret as I start, it is very time consuming, but it is worth it to get the amazing texture. 

The finished quilt is 28" x 38" and will be added to the mini quilt wall in our passage.

Geometric

Grey, grey and yellow, the perfect colour combination. I made half triangle, quarter triangle, half rectangle and drunkards path blocks. A random number of each. Then I mixed them with some plain squares and rearranged them until I was happy with the arrangement.

I divided the quilt into sections and quilted lines 1/4" apart. I have no idea how people have the patience to quilt 1/8" apart, 1/4" is all I can manage. 

 I love it when I find the perfect backing in my stash.

The perfect mix of planning and seeing what happens as I go along. A pleasure to make from the start until the end. The perfect way to sew.

Sails of Silver

 I grew up listening to Steeleye Span, my parents loved them and so did my sisters and I. While listening to music one day I knew the chorus from Sails of Silver would make a great wallhanging.

I started with a vague plan, I knew I wanted to paper piece the letters and it needed a boat. I used the Refridgerator Magnets by Elizabeth Hartman. It is not a paper piecing pattern (it uses a different method), but if you have had some experience you can work out how to use them. 

 I'm no expert, there was much ripping out and swearing, but I eventually made all the letters.

 Next I googled images of sail boats and then drew up a generic one in Electric Quilt. It is not obvious in the photo, but the sails are made from a silver fabric I found in Bunbury at Craft Collections. I think it is this one from Kaufman. 

 For a bit of contrast with all the paper piecing and to add some extra colour I improv pieced some waves using different blues and more of the silver.

 To put it all together I placed it all on the design board and starting with the letters I joined one line and then the next, I just worked on adding one more section at a time and gradually it all came together.
I really enjoyed the process of making this quilt. I don't often go into making a quilt without having the whole thing mapped out, but it was quite enjoyable seeing where it went. Now to think about how to quilt it.

Butterfly and Cocoon

Olive was browsing ravelry one day with me and saw this butterfly and cocoon. I think it was love at first sight as she has been asking me to make her one ever since. She is turning 5 next week and it's all wrapped up waiting for her.

 Ok now to my quick review of the pattern. I'm not a big fan of dpns and small fiddly knitting, but this was actually enjoyable. It was fun to see it emerge and it was quite quick to knit. I think it is the finishing that actually puts me off knitting toys, but there wasn't much to do here and the little bit of finishing off was done as you go. It's hard to tell how big it is in the photos so I measured it and it's  about 8" tall (without measuring the antennae).

It is also super cute, in and out of it's cocoon. I'd definitely recommend this pattern - more details on ravelry. 
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Flat Cap

Wool we bought in Kyoto last year, Liberty lining and the excellent Flat Cap pattern by Nicole Mallalieu. 

It was so much fun to make, and Chris was so happy with it, that I immediately made another one for my Dad. I can't recommend this pattern enough. 

Naturally Dyed and Printed Dress

I really enjoyed the process of making this dress for Eva two years ago so I thought I would make one for Olive. It took a few months, but here it is!

This time I added another step to the process - I started with white fabric and dyed it with avocado pits (and used alum as a mordant). I saved avocado pits and froze them until I had enough to do the fabric and a few skeins of yarn. I cut up the pits and put them in my dyeing slow cooker. I put the yarn into a laundry bag, but just threw the fabric in (it wasn't hard to get the bits of avocado off after).  I left it cooking for a few hours and then turned it off and left it for a day or so and then rinsed it off and hung it out. 

It's quite a nice pinky colour - the exact colour of this hellebore.

I originally planned to print with silver, but it wasn't working so well so then I mixed up a dark pink with red, white and splash of black.

Olive chose a stamp I carved last month and I randomly printed all over the fabric. 

The pattern is one of my favourites - the Madeline Dress Pattern (I think I could make it blindfolded now I've made so many!).
It really is satisfying to transform a white piece of fabric into a dress. It is really nice not to rush something and to enjoy every step of the process.
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A Piece of Cake - Book Tour

The amazing Peta from She Quilts a Lot has written a book!

If you are a fan of pre-cuts (which I definitely am!) then A Piece of Cake is the perfect book for you. All the quilts are made using 10" squares or a Layer Cake. There is a really good mix of designs and quilt sizes in this book so whatever your style, or whoever you want to make a quilt for, you will find the perfect quilt in here. 

As soon as I saw the quilts in the book I knew I wanted to make the Wrapped in Love quilt. The original is made with 10" squares but Peta has also given the instructions for making a mini version. I have A LOT of scraps from jelly rolls so that is what I used for my mini quilt. 

The instructions and diagrams were very clear and this little quilt top came together very easily one afternoon. I basted, quilted and bound it the next day, so this would be the perfect little weekend project.

There are so many great quilts in this book. I really love Modern Spools.

And also Origami Squares.

To see more from the book check out the wonderful bloggers below.

14 Aug Sedef - Down Grapevine Lane

15 Aug Jemima - Tied with a Ribbon

16 Aug Samantha - Aqua Paisley Studio

17 Aug Andy - A Bright Corner

18 Aug Kirsty - Bonjour Quilts

19 Aug Lisa - A Spoonful of Sugar Designs

20 Aug Alison - Cotton Factory

21 Aug Carrie - Moda Fabrics

22 Aug Nadra - Ellis and Higgs

23 Aug Angie - Gnome Angel

24 Aug Tara - Tara Sews

25 Aug Jules - The Creative Retreat

26 Aug Kristyne - Pretty by Hand

27 Aug Kimberly - Fat Quarter Shop

28 Aug Lissa - Moda Lissa

29 Aug Amy - Diary of a Quilter

30 Aug Kerry - Kid Giddy & Cat - Hello from Cat on Instagram

31 Aug Jane - Modern Makers Retreat

1 Sept Kate - Never Enough Hours

2 Sept Jodie - Vintage Ric Rac

3 Sept Sharon - Patches Indooroopilly (in store & online!)

4 Sept Amanda - Material Girl Quilts

5 Sept Amber - A Little Bit Biased

6 Sept Xanthe - Wife Made

7 Sept Rachel - Family Ever After

8 Sept Jenny - Martingale

9 Sept Amy - Nana Company

10 Sept Peta - She Quilts A Lot

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