CHARM ABOUT YOU

It's been a while coming but this evening I got myself in gear and determinedly finished hand sewing the binding on. Then I rushed my (rather tall) nephew outside to take some pictures of it!

Here is the Shattered Stained Navy - the pattern is from the fabulous Stained QAL by the talented Sarah of Narcoleptic in a Cupboard


Size: 57 x 69 (loving those odd numbers!!)

Fabric:
Panels - Joel Dewberry - from the Heirloom and Modern Meadow collections, Tula Pink - Hexbox, Amy Butler - Lark - Souvenir in Lemon, Dear Stella - from the Palladium collection, Lizzy House - Jewels and some others that I can't remember!
Borders - Kona Charcoal
I added larger borders in Kona Charcoal and the luscious Herringbone in Lake by Joel Dewberry


Backing:
Vintage sheet, black and white floral

Quilting:

I used the Leah Day pattern Broken Glass in some of the panels, straight line quilted around a few others and then straight line quilted around the Herringbone border.

At the suggestion of the super-duper M-R I also used the fmq design just around the edges of some panels so it really gives that comic book broken glass effect - LOVE! - thanks M-R :)


Overall this was a great pattern to do, it's so fun to see the blocks come together and is easily made from fat quarters. There's so many great variations of this quilt on the Flickr group!


Huge thanks to Sarah for providing such a well thought out and cool pattern :)

The S.S. Navy is bound for a dear friend and I'm hoping he'll like it... my husband said 'how can he not love it?', so that's one male thumbs up!

Linking up to TGIFF, which is at the amazing Plum and June this week:










and because I hand stitched the binding (does that count??) I'm linking with the fabulous Katie:


and because I'm so proud also linking to:



     

I've started quilting my Stained QAL quilt.

I sat and stared at it for a ridiculous length of time trying to decide how to quilt it. I had a nosey at the Flickr group to see what other folks had done. I contemplated straight lines, which I love but I was in the mood for something fancy!

I started quilting concentric circles, like I did on my Drunkard's Path QAL quilt.

Then I unpicked it.

It just didn't feel right.

The friend I'm quilting it for is an awesome guy, I've known him practically my whole life, he's also an amazingly talented comic artist and now journalist. I wanted to do something cool.

I just had a hunch there was something better...

So I turned to Leah Day's wonderful designs. I knew there was something in the back of my mind (but couldn't sort through all the crap to find it!!) and then I saw this design again...

'Broken Glass' fmq design by Leah Day source: http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/day-54-broken-glass.html

I remembered reading that she'd been inspired by Marvel comics and the glass that always seems to get broken!!

This is so perfect, not only is my friend a comic book fan and artist but this is a Stained glass effect quilt top!

It just felt wonderful to have this combination! So I started, then I panicked that it just looked like a random mess of lines (some of it really does, I don't have her talent!!) but regardless I'm still in love with the notion of it and the texture it creates feels SO good!



I'm not doing this design in every panel, it would take forever and I'd probably end up hating it! Also I think it really does detract from the fabric because I've used a dark thread so I'm going to leave some of them plain and just quilt lines around the edges of a few panels in the sashing. I also want the quilt to have some movement!

I'm really pleased with the effect so far.

I've also decided that it will be called Shattered Stained Navy (AKA the SS Navy, thought I'd chuck a boat theme in there too randomly), ok Sarah?!


I better get back to quilting it...

Just before I do I have to tell you I was lucky this week :)

I won a great giveaway at Don't Call Me Betsy, a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks and I chose Elizabeth's wonderful Fabricland pattern! I'm so thrilled, she's uber talented and I'm sure I'll love making that great quilt and getting lots of inspiration! Thank you Elizabeth :)

I also just discovered that a won the first giveaway from the London Modern Quilt Guild Blog, a gorgeous bundle of Laura Gunn fabrics! I'm really excited to receive these, they look beautiful and my cogs are already whirring about what to do with them!

I kind of feel bad because I only entered after a blog post from Kelly, it feels like stealing??!!! That ever happened to you?!

To ease my troubled mind and if you're feeling a smidge jealous can I remind you that there's a heap of giveaways and swaps linked up to the Fugly Fabric Party and you can win some lovely fabric of your own from Prints To Polka Dots if you link a blog post, I'll stop harking on but...

source: http://flippistarchives.blogspot.co.uk/ by Professor Batty  - go look, you won't regret it!!

could I make a quick plea? Some of those fuglies are a bit lonely over at the party. I know you're all very busy but if you get a chance could you go and visit them and stop them being wallflowers?! If you win some of the fabric you could always use it in a charity quilt!

There are some great blogs linking up so pretty please take a second to visit the new links and you still have until Monday to link up a post to win the giveaway :)

It's not finished!! This is the amazing Stained QAL that Sarah cleverly designed! Need to add borders but thought I'd show you where I'm up to :) - apologies for the shoddy picture, the wind was crazy and I couldn't be bothered using any more tape!!

I've also been doing a bit more stitchery for the Fat Quarterly retreat swap, I'm making tea towels:



The patterns for these ones came from this fabulous Sublime Stitching book I bought the other day:



I also got this one after seeing Annabella's beautiful embroidery:


I'm looking forward to reading them properly and learning some more, plus they both have the cutest patterns included.

And just because, I got a few bits from Prints To Polka Dots too!


Some of which are ready to be turned into pouches:


But this but I'm keeping in my stash... I just love it!

excuse the wrinkles!

Look at the cute vintage keys and buttons, adorable



This is from the Walnut Hill Farm Collection by Blend.

If you've not seen it already Prints to Polka Dots have agreed to sponsor an *amazing giveaway of Blend fabrics* as part of the Fugly Fabric Party, go look!!


Linking up to these fine places:

because this is the shocking state of my sewing table right now!

I DO NOT like mess!!

I really have to get to sewing to clear this lot up!!

So onto what's been occurring this week...

completed

not a whole lot, in fact only this mini quilt, I did fanny about with picmonkey and made a pattern if you'd like to make one yourself!




- Name Swap
I also got to reveal the name tag I made for my lovely partner to wear at the Fat Quarterly Retreat:


new projects


- Secret Swaps
Going along with the embroidery theme I also made a start on the secret swaps for the retreat too.

An explanation because my husband wasn't sure what these were. Clockwise from top left: a spilt bowl of water; a cracked egg; a kitchen timer ; salt and pepper pots (he did get that one)

Ultimately these will be making their way onto tea towels. I really wanted to make something people would use and doesn't everyone need tea towels??? Let me know if you'd like tea towels fellow swappers? (If if helps the tea towels themselves are 50% cotton, 50% linen and could always be cut up into lining fabric or something else if you hated them!!). I'll show you more progress when I've made it!

Oh and Susan knows why that salt pot is nearly empty ;) I love French knots but they are time consuming!

- New Kitchen Rug
I just couldn't resist making this tutorial by So Sue, when I saw it at Sew We Quilt (Madame Samm rocks my world). We have a gaping hole in our kitchen floor, which I previous covered with this rug I made but it's looking crap, takes years to dry because it's denim (what was I thinking??!!) and no one likes it ;)

So I got this pieced SUPER fast (I'll show you how tomorrow - although I'm sure it's nothing new), quilted it and now just need to trim and bind it.


I was going to use a pile of left over binding I had to bind it with but honestly I think I'd hate it, so instead I'm going with...

not making my heart sing

lalalalalalalalalala!

I managed to get a few bits of DS Flea Market Fancy and I know some of you might shout at me for using it on a kitchen rug (along with those delicious charms, the vast majority of which I got in the Somewhere Over the Rainbow charm swap held by Emily) but really I can't think of a better place to put these fabrics. I'm in the kitchen everyday and the rainbow loveliness will make me smile!

ongoing

- Stained QAL, I've finished all my blocks for this one!! Hurray :)


but I haven't sewn them together yet :(

- Retro Flowers QAL, I did this much cutting...


and then vowed not to do any more until I've at least finished the Stained top. So I'm behind, what the hell, I always am!! ;)

no progress


 - Rose Star blocks, feel sad I didn't do any work on them this week. Is it weird that I miss them and think about them every day??

stats
completed: 1
new: 1
in progress: 5


Linking up to Freshly Pieced:



p.s. I've not forgotten about the next Fugly Party, just stalled slightly!

I don't really have UFOs (unfinished stuff), at least not ones I've had for ages. I do try to get things done but having previously lost my mojo and since I'm currently feeling highly motivated, I'm going to join in Rhonda's Finish-A-Long to keep me on track!


There's also LOTS I need want need to get done (I struggle because it's not a need need but some stuff has people's names on it so there are some deadlines!)

This is in no particular order but all of this shall get done:

- The Stained QAL, no hurry really but a great desire to finish it for my fabulous friend!


- The Retro Flowers QAL, again no hurry except I'm quilting-a-long and honestly I bought the pattern a while ago and this QAL is the kick I need to get going. So far I've cut the squares of fabric so a lot more cutting ahead! I was pleased to see I had enough DS with a couple of solids thrown in :)


- The Name Swap, yes this is still as far as I've got with the name tag swap for the Fat Quarterly Retreat so need to get stitching! Also need to get working on the secret swapsies!


- Hungry Caterpillar Cushions. These are for the kiddies. This is the worst kind of pressure, 'Is my cushion ready?? Have you finished my cushion??' etc (so demanding and only aged 2 and 4!!).


I've done some quilting on both of them but I've attacked one with fabric paint (can you tell I've never used it before!!) because the white areas around the caterpillar were annoying me, just need to add red splotches as well (just to truly ruin it!!) and then (when I'm feeling brave enough to face invisible zips) they're ready to become cushions :)


- Sort of Secret baby boy quilt. This is for my darling friend who is currently pregnant with her first baby (the friend with REALLY great taste that gave me a gorgeous bundle of Hope Valley). She has given me this bundle of lush fabric to work with and we've picked a backing. The binding and pattern I'm using are a mystery to her though and since she might be reading I don't want to give anything away. I'm excited to work on it and might show sneak peaks just to annoy her ;)


That's three quilts, two cushions, a name tag, swaps and whatever else I take on in the next quarter (while still making Rose Star blocks)!!
Hahaha, wish me luck!