This Is Why I Make Quilts

A lady who I have met a few times, was given one of my quilts by a mutual friend when she recently had a baby girl. Last night she posted a beautiful photo of her darling little girl with her quilt on my Facebook page and a lovely note saying that they loved it and had lots of comments on it. I was so touched.

She also sent me an email with a copy of the photo and gave me permission to use it in my blog. Thank you so much Andriena, it was so very generous and thoughtful of you to give me a copy of such a precious photograph. I will treasure it.

Sweet little Emily with her Wee Woodland quilt

 Photo by Studio V Portraiture

QCA Bee - March Block Completed

Well after being sick last week, I can finally say that I'm feeling better and keen to get back into some sewing. Before I got too sick, I managed to complete my QCA March Block for Jane. I know it's early but I wanted to get it done first so I can continue with my red and aqua string blocks, my scrappy improv blocks and a quilt that will be a gift to a family member.

I really enjoyed making this block and it's definately on my list of projects to do. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with it, Jane said she's more than happy with it and I don't think my imperfections will cause any problems. 

You can find the tutorial for this block here.

Now, I'm off to bed to watch a movie and relax.

I Won A Giveaway!

My friend Fiona over at Finding Fifth had a giveaway a few weeks ago to try and get rid of some of her "fugly" fabrics. This also included a prize where she would make the winner a little bag out of one of the fabrics. I entered thinking that I wouldn't mind if I didn't win, and guess what? I won! 

It arrived today along with a gorgeous little cupcake and tag, and I just love them all. I'm thinking the bag will be handy for in my son's nappy bag, perhaps with some matchy cars in to keep him amused when we're out and about. Thank you so much Fiona, I will treasure them.

Red & Aqua String Block Progress

It's been like Christmas everytime I go and check my post office box lately. The wonderful ladies from QCA Bee Group 2 have been sending me their awesome blocks. Most of them have blogged about their blocks and it's surreal to see people mentioning me on their blogs. It's all very exciting and I'm so glad I decided to join the bee.

I laid them all out, plus two of my own blocks, and this is what it looks like so far.

I still have a few blocks to come yet and I have a huge bag of red and aqua fabrics and scraps so I can make more blocks to add to the quilt. It's going to look fantastic when it's finished.

You can find some of the other ladies blog posts about their blocks at Mad Crafty Mama, Samelia's Mum, Sue's Place In The Sun, and The Peony Teacup.

QCA Bee - March Block Progress

Tonight I sat down to do a few more blades for my QCA Bee March Block. I now have half my block completed! 

I picked up the purple homespun from Spotlight today, in the $4.00 per metre section. I got 30cm for $1.20. Bargain. I also picked up a few other prints for my stash and a fat quarter of a gorgeous aqua fabric that I will use in my aqua and red string blocks. Needless to say I only went there for one thing and it wasn't even fabric! I think we can all relate to that.....right?

A Quiet Weekend

Well it's been very quiet on the sewing front in my house this weekend. Master Almost 2 is sick so I haven't been able to get much of anything done. We did go into the shop on Saturday for a few hours but other than that we have pretty much been hanging around the house. 

My cousin has recently acquired a new puppy. I thought it would be nice to make her "fur baby" a blanket. I whipped it up tonight using two pieces of flannel. It's very sweet and has given me inspiration to perhaps make some basic pram blankets for the shop.

More Finished Quilts

Last night I was feeling inspired to make more blocks for the QCA Block Bee. But I looked at the two quilts that were hanging on the back of my sewing chair, all quilted and the binding sewn to the front, and decided that I better machine bind them and get them in the shop. So I did. 

I'm so glad I did because the shop is now looking very well stocked and I can concentrate on some projects for me!

  

I bought this fabric ages ago from Bubbamia and it has been sitting in my cupboard until earlier this year when I decided to make as many quilts as I can from my stash before buying new fabric. So far I'm sticking to this goal. The only fabric I have purchased is for quilts for myself and for quilts I am making for gifts (and even then I used a nice stash piece for one of them). The fabric collection is Eek Monsters and I have mixed it with a couple of blenders from Spotlight. 

I realised that I haven't really done any quilts in pastel colours so I whipped up this little one from some fat quarters I had. It's the same pattern as I used for the monster quilt but with 3 less blocks.

Both of these quilts are for sale on my Facebook page here and here. Now, I'm off to make some more blocks :)

QCA Bee - March Block

My sewjo has been M.I.A for almost a week now. Possibly because I have too many things on the go at the moment. Gotta love those "works in progress". 

So, the lovely Quiltjane posted a tutorial for our QCA Bee March block, and I must admit, it had me feeling rather nervous at first. Not only was it a Dresden Plate, but a strip pieced Dresden Plate! After reading the tutorial however, I realised that it's quite similar to the string block that I did for my block last month, and that the whole thing seemed quite easy and not too complex.

I decided to get started tonight so that if I had trouble at least I have the remainder of this month and next month to get it finished. I made two blades tonight and what do you know? They were so simple and I really enjoyed making them. I can't wait to turn it into a finished block. Quiltjane has chosen solid and textured solid colours and it looks fantastic. I'm going to have to add this to my long list of quilts I want to make!

I have also started to stalk my post office box, waiting for all the gorgeous red and aqua string blocks that the ladies have made me. I have seen photos of some of them and they are just gorgeous. I feel very blessed to be in this group with such talented women.

Fabric Bargains

At the markets yesterday, there was a lady who was selling fabric ranging from large pieces to scrap bags. I picked up all these little beauties for about $2.00. Except the green scrap bag, Mum got that for me when she went back to get more!

I got the white with red with my aqua and red string blocks in mind. As soon as I saw the green fabric I knew my Mum would love it so I will make her something with it, I'm just not sure what yet.

The stallholder said she was going to be at next weeks markets in the mall so I might have to pop down and get some more this Sunday!

A Very Busy Weekend

Well I have had a very busy weekend. I opened the shop on Friday and Saturday and had ladies on each day come in and pick up their purchases.

Custom order baby wipes container

Bugs & Butterflies quilt

Then today we had markets on outside the gaol, which happens on the second Sunday of each month. I have never opened the shop for the markets before as I am usually at church on a Sunday. There was quite a few people through and even though I didn't have any sales, it was lovely to see the place so busy and full of people.

This afternoon was spent pinning and quilting some new quilts for the shop.

California Dreamin' Quilt

Yesterday saw another quilt finish. This is number two of three quilts that were already quilted but just had to have the binding finished. Now I have one to go.

My goal at the beginning of the year was to make quilts for the shop using as much fabric as I can out of my stash. This applies more to the making of quilt tops, as I usually go and buy backing and binding to match. This bright and fun quilt was made using left over fabric from a quilt I made around a year ago for a friends daughter. It's a bit of a mix of the California Dreamin' range and some Lakehouse fabrics.

My son's toes! :)

This quilt is so fresh and girly and is for sale here on my Facebook page. SOLD.

Quilt Club Australia Block Bee

I am part of a group on Facebook called Quilt Club Australia. Basically it's ladies from all over Australia who quilt and we share our projects and ideas. Twenty four of us (two groups) are participating in a Quilting Bee which will run for the rest of the year. Basically, each person has chosen a month, and in that month they choose what kind of quilt block they want, along with colours/fabrics/themes and everybody in the group makes them a block and sends it to them. Which they can then turn into a quilt! It's such a fantastic idea and I'm very excited to be apart of it!

This morning I went and raided the scraps containers at Mum's place.....

....and then went to my local quilt shop for a few extra prints.

Today I allocated February to myself and I chose a String Block in aqua and red fabrics. I did one block using this tutorial to show everybody what I was after. 

I really enjoyed making this block and it was really quite simple. Now I'm looking forward to seeing what the other ladies come up with for me! 

Max & Whiskers Quilt

This is what I was doing yesterday morning to get this sweet little Max & Whiskers quilt finished for the shop. Although I prefer the look of a hand sewn binding, I machine bind all my quilts for the shop as it's much quicker and I like to think that it makes it more secure (I'm not very confident about my hand sewing ability). Yes, those are bobby pins. It makes it so much easier than pinning, in my opinion, as you just sew up to them, lift the foot, and pull them off. No pins getting stuck in the feed dogs.

Since the natural light is so poor in my house, I took Master Almost 2 to the park out the front to take some photos of it. He loves being outside and getting outdoors is a nice way to break up the day when you have things to do at home. 

This quilt would be perfect for a little boy and is for sale here on my Facebook page.

Sugar and Spice is definately nice

I pulled this gorgeous fat quarter bundle out of the fabric stash at Mum's place on Saturday. The collection is "Sugar and Spice" by The Quilted Fish for Riley Blake Designs.

I'm trying to decide whether to make three small quilts with each colourway or make one big quilt with all of it. 

Blue colourway

 Until then, I have three quilts to bind.

Welcome To My World

So I finally decided to get a blog up and running....properly. My Aunty Dodie over at Frank and Mouse has started her blog which has given me the inspiration and motivation I needed to create my own. My biggest excuse has been that I don't have time. But one thing I have learned since having my son, is that you have to MAKE time. 

I have a little shop in the Old Geraldton Gaol Museum and Craft Centre and I love stocking it with baby and toddler quilts, fabric covered baby wipes containers, crayon rolls, burp cloth sets and whatever else takes my fancy to make at the time. 

 View from the door into my "cell"

I have three quilts all sewn up and ready for the binding to be finished, so until then, here is my latest creation for the shop. A fabric covered baby wipes container in "Zoology Owls" fabric. It is for sale via my Facebook page.