UFO - Finished

A fair while ago, might have been last year, I don't exactly remember, I stumbled across this Pinwheels in the Park quilt   on the Sew, Mamma, Sew blog, and loved it. I knew straight away I wanted to make one and I knew I wanted to use Sarah Jane's Children at Play fabrics

I made this  quilt for my niece back in April, with plans of it to be a single bed size, but my sister wanted a small one for everyday. OK. I did that.

I still wanted to go with my original plan, so once I finished nieces, I started this one.

It sat for a long time waiting for me to bind it. I was going to hand stitch it but changed my mind. Perhaps I felt guilty about not doing the hand quilting, that might be why it sat for so long. Anyway, I finished it on Sunday morning, and I love it. (Excuse my bad photography, the sun was too glaringly bright and blinding and you can't really see the blocks fantastically so I took them in the shade.)

My favourite block

The back. I love those children marching. I'm tempted to have a go at the little embroidery patterns Sarah Jane does too.

This quilt measures 137cm x 180cm and is now listed in my Shop

A Scrappy Wonky Stringy Thingy

Hubby told me the other day to make some new cushions. He is sick of the boys taking them into their little cubby. Yep, I can!

I've wanted to try a string quilt for ages but I've hesitated at the paper piecing. Hmmm, seems too hard for me.

Anyway, I decided to start small - four blocks - I can handle that.

I had scraps from this quilt, which were perfect for the boys and seeing as I've been up at 4am every morning this week with a sick Samuel, I've had plenty of time to test my skills.  

  

Turns out it isn't really that hard. In fact, I think the hardest thing was trying to get the paper off the back. I used just normal Reflex paper out of the printer. Maybe next time, I'll use a lesser quality! 

Samuel thought the Scrappy Wonky Stringy Thingy was great.....

...for about 4 seconds, then had a meltdown. 

And then that was the end of our photo shoot.

Collaborating for a Cause

So a couple of Kylie's and me have been working madly on making some items for the Facebook Charity Auction called Collaborate for a Cause.
Our chosen charity is Little Angels Memory Boxes. We are hoping to raise this amazing orgnaisation some much needed funds so they can continue to put together the special memory boxes for families who have suffered a miscarriage or baby born sleeping.
At first I chose this charity as I wanted to help someone I knew - the WA coordinator. But that changed recently when I suffered a miscarriage myself. I received a Memory Bag unexpectedly which was such a surprise but something that I can keep as a precious token of a pregnancy ended early.
Anyway, these are the items we've made and if you are on Facebook, most definitely pop over and have a look at the other amazing packages up for Auction. There are loads and loads of charities being supported.

I made a Single Bed size Ruby Patchwork quilt with matching Ruby Pillowcase

Kylie (1) from Chickadoo Lane made this gorgeous vintage style doll from the pattern that her Grandma used to make her daughters dolls from - CUTE!

She also made this sweet bunting which is sure to brighten any girls room

Some matching hair ties and clips

And Kylie(2) from Wombat and Poss knitted this amazing patchwork Cushion and sweet matching slippers.

WOW! What a Collaboration! All made out of Ruby (or matching) and all super special.

M.I.A

I've been missing for a while from the blogasphere, but I have been busy!

Look at these little pram quilts I've been whipping up for my Madeit Store

One for the boys, a mix of Saffron Craig, DS Quilts fabric from Spotlight, and Cloud 9 Organics 

Some Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille

A little bit of LOVE by Amy Butler

And some Delilah by Tanya Wheelan

Quick, easy and fun to make. And an added bonus, refreshing the quilting creativity slump! I'm now working on the Inside Out Plus Quilt from Cluck Cluck Sew.  Lots of cutting and lots of little bit sewing, but I can't wait for it to be finished. I'm making it for my sister for her new baby due in September. I hope she likes it.

Not too shabby

While I was scrounging around in my stash last week, I came across a fat quarter pack I didn't even remember was there. It was a few of the gorgeous pastel roses prints from Durham Collection Anew.

As soon as I picked them up I knew I wanted to use them right then and there. 

I could picture the quilt before I had started cutting. Do you ever get that?

I matched them with some Kona solids I just happened to have.

 Can you believe they went perfectly together?

I cut 7 1/2 in x 10inch strips from the FQs and then cut them again at 3in, then cut 2 1/2 in strips and sewed them in. Simple yet effective and perfect together!

When I quilted this little beauty I wanted to add some extra sweetness, so I added little hearts into the stippling. I was sure I had seen that done somewhere once. I think they are so darn cute!

 For the backing I found a Shabby print at my local fabric store The Blue Box. It wasn't cheap but it was exactly what I was looking for. 

Can you see that little random heart? There are a few spaced around the quilt too. I had forgotten about those. I just saw it! 

This is by far the most feminine quilt I have made, but I love how it turned out. It measures 128cm x155cm or 50in x 61in. 

It is listed in my Madeit store

Finished Peak Hour

I finished the Peak Hour quilt the other day. 

This one is toddler size. It's quite wide so can tuck under the mattress in the cot. I love this fabric. I started this quilt here

While I was stitching the last little bit of the binding I found a hole. A pinhead size hole. Deflate. The quilt was intended for sale. I darned it.

Took photos. Offered it on my FB page at less than 50% off for 24hrs.

Then gave it to the one little boy who wanted it most in our house (the quiltless Samuel)

He doesn't care about a hole. He loves cars, loves anything he can hide under or lay on.

He loves this quilt and so do I!

Wild Whimsey Ponies

A few weeks ago while scouring Etsy, I stumbled across some gorgeous lime green pony fabric. I just had to have it. It was too original and perfect to leave there. It was designed by the very talented Brenda Salzanos in America
On Sunday I was quietly working on some pinwheels when all of a sudden the pony fabric called to me. No! Shouted is more like it! (ever had that happen?) Straight away I knew what I had to do with it and what to put it with. My Modern Whimsy from Laurie Wisburn. Perfect.

The colours suit perfectly. It was a bit of a mission for me to match my measurements of small blocks with the larger fussy cut ponies, but I got there in the end and it fits together really well. 

Unfortunately I only had one fat quarter of the pony fabric so at the moment the quilt is only small, but I've ordered more and am so excited to say that the quilt is sold before I've even finished it! It will end up being a large lap quilt for a horse mad adult!

Brenda has also designed a pink version of this which I have on order as well. I can't wait for it to arrive!