rose star progress and instagram giveaway ✴
I actually managed to get my rose star basted yesterday! This is the first time I've ever thread basted and I'm pleased with how it went. It should make hand quilting much easier.
I did my usual stick the backing to the floor and layer method, Clare (my quilt is her rose star tutorial) recommended the rolling method and after watching this Youtube video I will be trying that next time. It would be nice to not have to take up so much room!
I have the perfect thread, which matches the backing. My plan is to quilt the centre hexies and I'm still thinking about what else to do. Any suggestions are welcome?!
I'm having a little giveaway for my followers over on Instagram! To share some cute things and celebrate having 2427 followers over there :) Apologies if you don't have an instagram account, there will be another giveaway on my blog soon.
I'm giving away a charm pack of Just a Speck, a cassette tape measure and a lined notebook.
How cute is this?!
ends 13th June 2016
happier and better women ~ Eva, Doris and Judy
Here are my latest Farmer's Wife 1930's Sew-along blocks and the reasons for my fabric choices...
#31 Eva
This letter was a sweet, reassuring tale. I decided to go with the theme of the tree blowing in the wind. I don't really have bird fabric, it's not my thing, so instead I used blue Liberty prints - some of which are feathers. The Paper Bandana dots represent the "land of snow" and the Lighthearted brown print is for the tree limbs. This block was hand pieced.
The next two blocks were English Paper Pieced, I keep switching between the two methods despite knowing that hand piecing is my preference for these blocks. I think I just like the change!
#29 Doris
"Say, aren't you thankful now", a letter full of gratitude and a reminder "to find abundant causes for thanksgiving". I used a Zephyr by Rashida Coleman Hale print for the centre - perfect for Doris, who tries to stride like others. I like the drama of the navy with the brown 30's floral.
#48 Judy
Interesting that the "mother's vacation" ended with her taking a job as a cook! For this one I used Cotton + Steel Sprinkle in Corduroy for the "wheat crop" that was ruined, the metallic and pink print for the "fashionable hotel" and the adorable Cookie Book by Kimberly Kight print for her "work as a cook".
I feel like I need to lay all the blocks out again, to see what I might need more of - pink, navy or brown. I'm happy focusing on those colours (with the odd deviation) and allowing the letters to guide me on my fabric choices, although I still want it to be balanced.
Do you have any tips for balancing colour in your quilt tops? Since I'm (mostly) using a limited palette of three colours, is it better to have the same amount of each or perhaps make one more prominent? Any ideas or thoughts are welcome!
marvellous ☼☼☼
There are some fabrics that I just can not resist...
I saw the print (below right) in a different colourway on Kim's instagram, I might be an enabler but I'm also enabled 😉
A quick search and I found it at Fat Quarter Shop so ordered it along with some other lovelies!
Stripes in Fuschia on Navy, Mostly Manor by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and Fan Dots in Brown, Mostly Manor by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.
The whole Mostly Manor collection is gorgeous - I really love the stripes, the fan dots, the bouquets, the comb petals, the diamonds... go and look! It's a pretty mix of colours too, with some nice pastels for summer!
I picked some other paler prints:
Scallop Dot in Sorbet, Foxtail Forest by Rae Ritchie and Painted Gingham, Sommer by Sarah Jane in Cloud and Bloom.
And just because they are so pretty:
Stem Dot in Pink, Foxglove by Aneela Hoey and Foxgloves in Navy, Foxglove by Aneela Hoey.
Next up are some really gorgeous stickers. I used some as soon as I got them!
These are all from Clever Gal Crafts, amazing quality, quick shipping and I absolutely adore the designs:
This sheet is foiled, so beautiful and shiny! They add some colour and pizzazz to my planner.
The sun has been shining here so it was time for the kids to have new sun hats. The girls both picked straw cat ones from H&M - adorable!
Actinomycetes color block pouch and deluxe pincushion ♡
As a fabric lover it is always fun to be able to use unique and handmade fabric. Today I'm featuring a couple of projects using screen printed panels made by Lucy Engels of Skinny Malinky Quilts. The new collection 'Actinomycetes' is a limited run, available now in her Etsy shop Skinny Malinky Quilts.
The designs are printed on Kona cotton and this mini collection is a gorgeous mix of brights and pastels.
I wanted to incorporate the three prints and happened upon the perfect pattern - Sotak Handmade's free Color Block Pouch tutorial. My version came out a little smaller but it will fit nicely in my handbag.
It is hard to capture the beauty of the colours, they are really vibrant! I used the Pod design on the other side. I think it's so cool and different.
The next make has been on my 'to sew' list since I got the book 'Sew Organized for the Busy Girl' by Heidi Staples, you have probably seen the Deluxe Pincushion on social media and I get exactly why everyone has been making them! It is a fun pattern and very quick to make.
I enjoyed playing, mixing the panels with fabric from my stash. The Pod in Silver Grey and Navy and Petri Dish in Cream and Fushcia (which also look like bubbles) designs combined with a little face from Ladies Night, Black and White by Cotton + Steel and a border of NY Circuit in Ashen, Gramercy by Leah Duncan. I think she looks like an actinomycete angel, or maybe an underwater actinomycete mermaid?!
I quilted the front pocket with Aurifil 50 weight #2130, I keep turning to this one it's such a pretty colour.
The tag is cut from a selvedge, I hemmed the top and like that frayed bottom. I filled the pincushion with crushed walnut shells and so chose not to top stitch around the outer edges.
The back is Actinomycetes in Bright Pink with Navy and love the information Lucy puts on the panels, it highlights that it's handmade fabric so I kept it!
⦂⦂ Visit Skinny Malinky Quilts to see the full Actinomycetes collection! ⦂⦂
If you have never heard of Actinomycetes you are not alone, I had to google it! They are basically a form of bacteria - some good, some bad. Many of the species are found in soil and rain makes the spores airborne, which means they are the reason it smells so good after it has rained (thank you @biologyconcepts). One of my favourite smells and more reason to love this fabric line.
linking up:
Foxtail Forest Bundle Winner!
Thank you to everyone that entered to win a Foxtail Forest FQ Bundle!
The winner is...
Congratulations Ella! I have sent you an email.
Be sure to checkout the whole line of Foxtail Forest by Rae Ritchie if you would like to add some cute critters and modern prints to your stash!
two favourite pouch patterns
I've been sewing a lot of small makes recently and I want to share two brilliant pouch patterns that are easy to sew, useful and great as gifts!
First is the Lola Zipper Pouch by Svetlana Sotak. I have made these before and it's such a clever design with well written instructions. I picked a fun Riley Blake glasses print for one and did a double sided version with Gramercy by Leah Duncan and a bird print (no idea what it is sorry!). I used metallic canvas by Cotton + Steel for the bottom and the gorgeous Petite Plus, Black and White by Cotton + Steel for the binding on both.
These makes were sent out to friends as happy mail this week!
The next pouch pattern is a new one by Laura, from an Instagram mini tutorial she did for the See It All Pouch. So fun and quick to make! These could get seriously addictive!!
Sewing with vinyl can be tricky but I had no problems making these. If you find your vinyl sticks to your machine foot then try using a piece of tissue paper between the plate and the vinyl and/or the vinyl and the foot, it tears out easily.
Another tip is if you have creases in the vinyl, very carefully hold your iron over the crease (not on it) and give it a burst of steam.
I like that you can see everything in these pouches. The tops are a little floppy compared to the vinyl so next time I think I will add some interfacing between the fabric. Check out #sewitallpouch to see all the gorgeous versions of this pattern.
It's also fun playing with zip colours and I love how these pop!
And in personal news, I'm so thrilled to finally have my braces off!! You can see my big grin in my new profile picture :)
Tomorrow is my Nan's 98th birthday and me and the kids are going out for lunch with her and my Dad, should be another good day!cuteness and kindness
Some stashing, a helpful quilting tip and half term holiday fun!
I've already shared these purchases over on Instagram but in case you haven't seen them and so I can record the details, here's what I bought recently...
Two yards of this gorgeous Hexie Fabric by Heidi Kennedy from Spoonflower - designed to fit 1.25" hexies! I'm not sure I will do hexies but I couldn't resist the cute illustrations.
If you haven't heard, Spoonflower now also ships from Germany and that makes the shipping costs for all of us in Europe much cheaper! Shipping starts from $1 for a fat quarter but make sure you select to have it shipped from Germany.
The prices are still higher than regular quilting cotton but I think it's so great to support independent artists and a nice way to find fabric with unique and different designs.
I also got these gorgeous handmade screen printed panels from Skinny Malinky Quilts. This is part of her new collection Actinomycetes, which will be released 2nd June. Check out her Etsy shop!
Next up, not fabric but geeky pins! I LOVE Buffy and Kevin Smith films so I had to represent with these fun pins from Jenni's Prints - another Etsy shop, filled with brilliant patches and pins for cult film and tv fans!
It's not been all shopping, I have done some sewing too! I thought I would share a little tip, when using your walking foot it helps to have the edge of the foot hang over the seam line. That way the foot helps guide you more and you have a neat straight quilting line. Helen also pointed out to me that you can move your needle across, which is perfect if you are top stitching!
Yesterday my family had an adventure at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we went to see the Kaws exhibition which was brilliant and I was really taken with the work of Not Vital.
Although the kids liked the art, they mostly loved the outdoors!
We are enjoying the half term holidays but Fred was devastated when someone flooded his house on Minecraft today. His sisters were adorable and jumped straight to comfort him. I hope the love continues this week!
Foxtail Forest Bundle ~ Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway!
**the giveaway is now closed**
Fat Quarter Shop are kindly sponsoring a giveaway of a Foxtail Forest Fat Quarter Bundle.
You’re invited to discover a whimsical retreat of celebrating creatures and lush forest finds.
Foxtail Forest is a beautiful collection designed by Rae Ritchie featuring furry friends, ferns, fungi and treehouses. There are also pretty blender prints, I have already bought this one to add to my stash!
**NOW CLOSED**
Good Luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)