CHARM ABOUT YOU

This is how the original blocks looked:


When I was re-cutting I made sure to keep that piece of fabric that has 'Lucy' on it!

It will need trimming along the sides and of course I will be hand quilting it. I have a quilting plan and Aurifil thread ready to go!


There's 5,467 pieces in this quilt top... ok kidding I haven't got time to count them!! But it's a lot. All the papers were cut out from printer paper, then hand basted and hand pieced with Aurifil 50wt 2600 and 2610.


All done by hand and all done by me, except for one beautiful block made by my wonderful friend Nicky - she made the one on the bottom right in the picture above and she also made me about 5 of the 'alien' connecting shapes because she's awesome :)

I haven't quite finished taking out all the papers but I'm just pulling those basting threads by hand and it comes out easily, most of the time I took them out as I made each block but some have remained from connecting them together.

There was very little thought put into this quilt. In the sense that I decided to use solid colours (orange, pink, mint, grey and beige) in the centres and I used a stack of fabrics I liked but I just put them together one by one in combinations that I liked. There is very little fussy cutting, I tried it and I love the effect but for the most part I just cut totally randomly. I didn't play around with the layout, I just started sewing them together. Then I realised you can put them in rows so that's what I did. Putting them together is much faster when you work in rows - one rose star, two alien shapes, one rose star, etc.

To finish it off I decided to have the rose stars almost floating by using kites and half hexagons to get to the point I could just use full hexagons. I was going to do more hexagon borders but honestly this quilt top is big enough as it is and I like how the rows of rose stars look like they're stacked on top of each other, kind of higgledy-piggledy.

It's random, eclectic and all mine!


The rose star tutorial is by the amazing Clare - my love of English Paper Piecing is all down to her and this brilliant pattern. This was the very first English Paper Piecing I attempted, I have finished other projects along the way but this quilt holds my first block. Is it weird that fact almost has me tearing up?! I adore this quilt top so much. I totally recommend going and visiting Clare's inspiring blog selfsewn, she also has an English Paper Piecing tutorial if you'd like to start doing some yourself.

You can see more fabulous rose star blocks and quilts in the Flickr group.

Linking up:


at Quilting Mod this week
and finish it up friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

I also picked background fabrics from my stash for the English Country Garden BOM. I like the idea of going darker, it's not something I've done before and I've ordered some invisible thread so I can do a 'new to me' style of appliqué. I'm loving Kerry's BOM, check it out for some great all round ideas and advice as well as the beautiful Daisy block this month.

The wonderfully creative Janine of Rainbow Hare totally inspired me the other day with talk of a Bear Paw quilt.

I have always wanted to make one, so has she, and so I jumped in.

We are both going to try to make one by next summer.

I found some fabric (from my Pink Castle Stash Stack Club FQs and my Low Volume swap hosted by Rebecca):




And got to it:

I'm making paws. Just paws. Not a full bear paw block though I might try that next!

Want to bear with us?

Make a bear paw quilt, traditional blocks or more modern interpretation?

Have you already?

If you like, grab a button and join the Flickr group, where you will find lots of inspiration.

This is NOT a quilt along, there's no prizes or giveaways... so really no incentive to make anything except for the fact that bear paw blocks are so beautiful!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/2205846@N20/" title="Bear Paw" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/Lucy_Brennan/bearpaw_zpsde0dcfbb.jpg" alt="Bear Paw" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Linking up:

*check out the fabric giveaway at Fluffy Sheep Quilting*


Last night I made these fantastic tooth fairy cushions. My son has a couple of friends with birthdays coming up so I thought I'd get them both done at the same time! I was also running low on creativity so I just used the same fabrics for both. So happy with how they turned out though:


I used a pattern from Suzanne at Just Another Hang Up, called Manfred - she has so many cute creations! I love Give a Hoot too.

I've not done very much applique before and this was the first time using bondaweb. I really love the stuff!! Even peeling the paper off was so satisfying!! Suzanne has a great tip to do that easily in her post about how to applique.


Truth be told the birthday boys are a little young to be losing their teeth yet but I'll stick some sweets in the pocket (just to move things a long!!) and I'm sure they'll have fun playing with them anyway.


I've done another English Paper Pieced Rose Star block. I love the growing collection :



Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions about the low volume background idea. I think I'm going with it! I'm also going to use one fabric per shape. It's easier for me that way and will help the rose stars be the focus. I've only done a couple of the shapes but you kind of get the idea:


Ok that's possibly not giving you a good idea at all... I'll make some more eventually and show you again. Huge thanks to Erin for sending me some low volume charms and contributing to this quilt without knowing it :)


Yesterday was the best post day I've ever had!!

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway from Lisa at The Quilt Jam and I got a huge box full of goodies!


I'm thrilled with all of it and especially want to try that Dresden ruler, I do love Dresdens. I'm also working on a Christmas project and that fabric will fit in perfectly! She sent a lovely note and I'm so grateful for her generosity. Thank you so much Lisa :)

I also realised I had NO white thread (I have no black either - what kind of sewing person doesn't have white and black thread?!!) so this arrived just in time to make those tooth fairy cushions!




***Warning...  this part contains some VERY rude swear words / cursing. The offending item will appear below. If you are likely to be offended please stop reading now***




I  also got my gorgeous swap from the very talented Justine as part of the Sailor Mouth Swap. She was so kind to include an amazing array of gorgeous fabrics and the cutest pair of aeroplane safe scissors. I also love the notecard with the gummy bears :)


And the main event is this amazing cushion:


ADORE ADORE ADORE!!! It's brilliant and she used the most perfect fabrics. Also it's a really soft cushion - bonus! I near enough fell over when I opened it. To be honest I'd forgotten I should be expecting something (I've heard people say that about swaps and was like 'yeah right' but it didn't even occur to me!!). I really can't thank you enough Justine, especially since you got it done with so much going on. Thank you!



Obviously Justine has great taste in fabric (and isn't rude at all in real life!!) and she's going to be surrounded in a whole lot more of it since she took over ownership of Simply Solids. I can't wait to see what plans she has for the shop. It's undergoing a redesign open and looking awesome, be sure to go visit and support her! Huge congratulations Justine and thank you again!




Oh and if the rudeness didn't offend you and you'd be interested in joining the next round of the Sailor Mouth Swap keep an eye on Allegory's blog Sew Allegorical, there are plans underway





Linking up: