Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap

A little while ago I signed up for a mini quilt swap. You can read the initial blog post here.

My partner is an English lady living in Europe and I stalked her blog and Instagram photos to find out a little more about her. She had been clear about what she doesn't like and it wasn't difficult to see where she was coming from!

I had a fantastic excuse to purchase some Kate Spain fabric as she lists that among her likes, along with colour references of blues, greens and greys.

As I have already posted this to her I thought I would add a photo of the finished article:

I'm glad she liked it, it was great fun making it!

I'm Queen Bee again!

Believe it or not, I am Queen Bee for both January (the Modern Bee Instabee) and for February as part of the Little Blogs Quilt Bee.

For February I have asked Jacquelynne Steves of The Art of Home if I can use her #SewSweetSimplicity blocks as the basis for my choice for the LBQB.

Jacquelynne has been running a Sew Sweet Simplicity block of the month sew-along. You might have seen her "Catch Up Sew-Along Day" on the 7th January 2015 ... it was fun to watch what was happening through the Instagram feeds. I didn't get a chance to join in with the sewing as we were hosting some friends from Poland but I did sneak a peek from time to time through the evening!

I think the blocks have a real country feel and I love the way she has provided embroidery designs for the centre of each of the blocks in her version of the quilt. You can get a better look at how these have been replicated if you search the #SewSweetSimplicity hashtag on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and Twitter.

So I would like me LBQB buddies to make me a block from this set of blocks, with white as a background fabric.

Each of the blocks requires 4 colours in various shapes configurations, I would like these to be a mixture of small print and plain fabrics in Navy (for the main contrast instead of the red) and 3 other softer focus fabrics (similar to the pink, green and lemon fabrics in Jacquelynne's blocks).

How the colours are configured I don't mind, the blocks are bound to look lovely however the colours are placed. I would love ginghams, spots, paisley and ditsy floral prints ... there are some amazing softer focus fabrics from Tilda ranges (just Google them) but there are lots of lovely choices out there!

I can supply you with some fabrics if you would like so there is no need to feel stuck. Just message me or comment below!

To download the Sew Sweet Simplicity block of the month patterns you will need to follow the link and sign up here.

Meanwhile Nick has a chest infection and my daughter Alex has tonsilitis again ... and the bathroom looks like this:

 Hopefully by the end of next week it will look radically different!

Finish Along 2015 Quarter 1

Last year I joined in the 2014 Finish Along hosted by Katy at The Littlest Thistle, although I missed the sign up for a few of the quarters it did make me list and complete some of my works in progress (WIPs).

I felt motivated to try again this year with the 2015 Finish Along (FAL 2015) now being hosted by Adrianne at On the Windy Side a reference to Wellington, NZ where she lives and apparently it is windy! The rules for the challenge are here: FAL 2015


The 2015 Finish-Along Link

The idea is to list your WIPs (proposed finishes) at the beginning of the quarter and link to Adrianne's 'linky party'. Then, during the quarter as you complete your projects you can blog about them or post photos on Instagram or Flickr linking back to the 'finish linky party' at the end of the quarter.

So without further a do here is my list (some of which have rolled over from previous WIP lists):

1) Alex's hexie quilt: Some of these hexagons were started nearly 40 years ago by my hubby's mum. She died too young in early '82 and I was given the unfinished hexagons and cardboard templates during a clearing out session a few years ago. It is a finished top now (which is progress from 2014) we have chosen a backing fabric but I have not bought the batting yet.

2) Paletina pillow: This shouldn't be too difficult, the front is finished, everything is cut out. I have the zip and just need to sew it all together .... not sure where it is hiding at the moment!

3) Alex's curtains: Because I broke my elbow last year we managed without these and I sort of forgot they needed doing until recently. I love the material from Laura Ashley. It is called Bacall and is in the apple colour way. Not a good photo, it's all in a plastic bag. I need a whole weekend to spread out on the kitchen table so this won't get finished anytime soon!

4) Maddie's Cardigan: Knitted and partly sewn up, the project isn't finished as I'm not happy with the edge of the hood, so I've had to pull it out and need to reknit it on smaller needles. I need a couple of evenings to get this finished ... and some motivation which has escaped me!

5) Maddie's 'Frozen' costume. I have the fabric and a pattern ... just need to get started.

6) Draft excluder: A prototype I started to test out the heat 'n' bond. I have the houses appliquéd but have not completed the details on the doors and windows so they need doing before I can sew it up and use it. I like it so far ...

7 - 11 are based on a design from Kellie at Don't Look Now called Worry Dolls I have cut out all the little people resembling my nieces and nephews to make them cushions:
     
7) Stanley's cushion: A footballer to go in his bedroom.

8) Arthur's cushion: A footballer to go in his bedroom.

9) Georgiana's cushion: A girl (looks like her).

10) Maddie's cushion: A girl (made from fabric from her baby clothes).

11) Thomas's cushion: A footballer - Thomas is my colleagues little boy, he's nearly 4.
 
12) Georgiana's cardigan: Started about 8 years ago this will no longer fit my daughter so it's heading for my niece. It just needs a ribbon and some appliqué flowers. I hope it doesn't take me another 8 years to finish! 

13) Puddlejumper 1: Started last year, I was really happy with this - until my niece tried it on. She's long in the body and it was clear this was going to be too small for her to wear over warm clothes, so it got abandoned. This photo was taken at the cutting out phase:

14) Puddlejumper 2: Started last year at the same time as the one above, all I did was cut this out. It got packed away with the one above and I forgot about it until I found it the other day. I have someone in mind for this but have not dug it out yet.

15) Daisy Kingdom coat: This Simplicity pattern (2778 on the left) was one I fell in love with and bought several years ago but I could never find double sided fleece. When pink/orange reversible fabric turned up in a local store (The Shuttle) I bought it and then couldn't locate where I had kept the pattern! I think the design is the same as pattern 4515 (on the right) which is shown in the type of fleece I have bought. I know a couple of folks have made it already and it looked great (some Flickr photos of Charity's coat).

  

16) Fingerless gloves: I have started these in a lovely soft Alpaca wool and have got them almost finished ...

17) My contribution to the UK Mini Quilt Swap, one of a couple of swaps I am in.

18) My contribution to the Rainbow Mini Quilt Swap, another one of my current swaps.  

19) Wigwam: I must get round to making a few of these for the summer. I have some fabric and plans in my head but have not yet drafted the pattern. I feel excited about this but I know it will take up a fair bit of space to 'manufacture' them. This photo came from a Laura Ashley photo shoot and was in the 2009 catalogue .... doesn't it make you feel like packing up for a picnic? 

20) Georgiana's cape: Alex has one that she loves and would like her cousin to have one to dress up with her in when they go 'adventuring' in the garden. The Vogue pattern needs adapting slightly for size but the fabric and trimmings are ready.

21) Postage stamp quilt: for years I have been 'salvaging' 2" squares from scraps of material that are left from other projects or are simply not big enough to make anything else from. I'd love to turn these into a quilt similar to Red Pepper's quilt in this link Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial. She made hers from strips.

22) William's quilt: This was started over two years ago with the intention of it being ready for my son's new room. I did not have a studio at the time and it came out in the bedroom occasionally if I could set up a space to work in, or I would take it on holiday. It has been stored away waiting for me to get back to it, I have a ton of excuses as to why it has not been first on my list however it is denim and heavy so since I broke my elbow last year I have done very little with it. He was away for the summer months of 2014 in Michigan at Indian Trails Camp and I had hope to complete it for his return - it didn't happen! I'll have to attempt it soon.

23) Baby quilt 1: I heard a while ago that one of my neighbours has adopted a baby boy. This baby quilt has now been cut out in some cute Urban Patch fabrics and strung together but I still need to complete the piecing of the top and make it into a quilt.

24) Baby quilt 2: A month or so ago I also found out that an old colleague of mine, now living in Cyprus, had a baby girl. She sent me a picture and I couldn't believe how much I missed her. Don't you just love an excuse to make a baby gift? I have not yet completed the top but it's a girly version of the one above!

25) My 'afternoon tea' quilt. similar to the one I made for my Schnitzel & Boo mini quilt swap partner, but in brighter colours.

26) Some pot mitts for friends and family - including our special folks in the USA and I need to make a tutorial too and post it here.

This will definitely be enough to keep me going ... It will be great having an additional incentive to get things done!

Swapping fun

I have recently signed up for a couple of Quilty Mini Swaps which I have always found to be great fun. It's a wonderful excuse to do something a little bit different to blocks and personal projects and widens the quilty horizons!

One of the new swaps I have joined is the UK Mini Swap. It is hosted by the lovely Nina (@BossyOz on Instagram) and I am linked up with Heidee once again as she is my 'swap mamma'. 

This is my swap 'button'

I won Heidee's foxy giveaway back in the autumn and she sent me a wonderful package of quilty treats!

All the information for the swap is shared here on Nina's blog.

I am delighted to be a 'swap mamma' for one of the UK Mini Swap teams.

A 'swap mamma' supports the swap members,  acting as a point of contact for queries (and holds the swap partner information) which can help spread the load from the swap owner. This is particularly helpful in large swaps and when key milestones are reached like the initial swapping of partner information and posting the finished item.

I have also joined the Rainbow Mini Swap, which has us all making rainbow themed mini quilts and is the brain child of Kate Basti (@katebasti on Instagram). Kate also has a shop on Etsy selling her creations: StitchNKitsch and she is based in Ohio so it's an international swap.

I was inspired to go for a Ferris Wheel pattern for this swap, by something one of my swap buddies said about patchworking (English Paper Piecing). 

It's made up of 3 shapes: hexagons, triangles and squares. These can be used to create 'wheels' - here I have used brightly coloured fabrics to highlight the pattern with a black/white background and outer edge. I have a few more edging pieces to add in this photo and then I'm on the the next step. It's a work in progress but I'm pleased with it so far: 

 

I'm planning to post a tutorial for the Ferris Wheel pattern .... watch this space!

My partners are going to stay a secret .... I know who I am making my quilts for and they have provided me some clues as to what they like, including some of their favourite quilting inspiration and a little about themselves.  

 

LBQB Third Quarter Finishes

We've already seen one or two quilts taking shape now in the Little Blog Quilting Bee ... and quarter four is in progress!

These are the blocks requested by Celine (September), Vanessa (October) and Gina (November).

Celine also known as Espritpatch is a prolific seamstress! She introduced a few of the group to a pineapple block. These are generally Foundation pieced (or some refer to them a paper pieced but it's not the same as traditional English paper piecing).  She gave us a link to Generation Quilts which gives measurements for 6" and 8" sizes. We all made 8" blocks in the 'Dark X' option which looks like the photo below with a mixture of bright sections to keep it scrappy.

Vanessa provided us with a link to instructions for the Posies block which is part of the Trifle Dish Quilt at the Moda Bakeshop. (Just a note: If you follow this pattern from the website the instructions in Step 4 needed a little adjustment to ensure all the leaves were the correct way round.) Vanessa sent us some lovely Oakshott fabric for the background. We chose our own colours for the rest and she now has a beautiful fabric flower garden so I'm sure she'll be thrilled!

Gina's block was quite a simple one but very effective. She requested a scrappy 'trip around the world' block in blues or purples (or both)with some instructions if we needed them her at Quiltville's Quips and Snips!! This is a very simple block to make and it only took a few of us about 30 minutes from start to finish ... hopefully you can't tell!

Vanessa's Posies block gets the trophy this quarter for being the most fun (& also for spotting the mistake in the instructions before we cut her fabric)! Here you are Vanessa:  

LBQB Trophy Quarter 3 is awarded to Vanessa.

I have managed to forget what I've added into the packages this time ... some of my own goodies sneaked in their along with chocolate and some sewing accessories. I think I am going to be the last Queen of the LBQB group ... and for the final quarter I will have to prepare to post my block instructions soon.

I have been busy making these pot mitts again, they are super gifts and fun to do:

We've also been on holiday for a break to the Centre Parcs set in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, it was a relaxing break (some of the days). Here are my not-so-little tree huggers:

We had a great time and have been enjoying the catch up as a family!

Hey partner!

Been busy with my planning & layout ... decided to go with a central appliqué panel and some happy Kate Spain "Summertime" ... this might take longer than I expected!

It's coming on nicely and it's great fun!

I think I have such a little blog I'm safe to show you how I'm getting on so far. I've added the cake toppings now and a few other bits since I took this:

Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt swap

I came across the Schnitzel & Boo Mini Quilt Swap on Instagram and was persuaded to join in - not that I took much convincing! 

So now I have been matched up with my partner ... whose identity shall remain a secret, I have been doing a little stalking through their profile, Instagram and blog to see what they like!

Apparently NOT batiks or bright colours ... preferring blues, greys and greens. Kate Spain and Denyse Schmidt are favourite designers and I can see why, they have some lovely collections! 

I thought I would give you a sneak peak at what has been under my machine tonight ...

Can you tell what it is? 

I have had a bit of fun getting this to work how I want it to ... only a little glueing needed to finish it off!