Mac & iPad Cover

I'm am trying to decide which fabrics to use to make a sleeve for both my iPad and new Mac.  Originally I immediately though of all my Egyptian fabric.  Even though I love the fabric, for me its just not bright enough.  I want something bright and colourful.  I do have the following three fat eights I bought at Sewco.

 I absolutely love the three together.  However I thought maybe a little too bold?  I also have the following three fat eights that I bought at the Craft Fair earlier this year.

I do really love these three together.  I was thinking that they would be perfect for the iPad sleeve.  Our local quilt shop has a little basket/tray in their store which has a collection of fat eights in it that change every time we visit.  This basket is usually 5 for $10.  Mum and I usually pick some up for practice blocks or quilting practice.  Last time we visited I found 10 fat eights that I couldn't leave behind.  It's the first time I've found things in it that I liked.

I was thinking of using the bottom three pastel colours, or the purple/pinks fabrics together, or just the brights together.

I haven't made up my mind yet.  I'd like to so I can get started.  I suppose I just have too many choices.  I was initially thinking of choosing three fabrics to feature and sew them together very simple so that the fabric will do all the work.  However I do love pinwheels, and I do love chevrons.  I'm trying to think of how I can use either of the two in my design.  I originally wanted to buy half a meter of Chevrons fabric by Riley Blake Designs but I really want to design something myself and I have quite a lot of beautiful fabric here already.

I'll keep you posted about what I choose to use.

Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Update

 

 

I have finally settled on a design for my pinwheel sampler quilt.  I'm very happy with the overall layout.  Nothing special but I love all the blocks I've chosen. The finish size of each block is 23 x 23 cm (It was suppose to be 24x24cm).  The sashing will be half that so I can have a decent sized pinwheel cornerstone block.  It may be a little smaller but I will decide that when I get to them.

Now, I also mentioned I purchased two fat quarter packs of the Rhapsodia range by Art Gallery Fabrics for this project.  I have actually changed my mind on this.  This quilt will be a scrap quilt.  Why?  Well, today I made up a test block with scrap fabrics to check the sizing and I fell in love with the block and have now made five pinwheel blocks so far.  

Block One

The test piece.  I was so pleased with it that i got all excited about experimenting with fabrics and seeing what else I could come up with.

Block Two

The orange and blue scraps were sitting on the cutting table and they reminded me of something, even though I can't exactly figure out what it is.  They looked striking together so, tadah!   Block two came to life.

Block Three

Was a little bit unsure about this block at first.  When I chose the aqua stripe fabric I had trouble deciding what other fabric to use.  I'm happy with the purple I chose.

Block Four

I love the citrus colours.  I accidentally sewed two of the outer green half triangles the wrong way but I didn't realise until I had assembled the entire block.

Block Five

I found just enough blue to assemble the pinwheel.  I love the fabric, its in the quilt that is on my bed at the moment.  It had the slightest hint of red in it so I decided on the red but also the darker brown with a cream background colour.  Different to the previous four blocks but I still love it.

I have two more blocks cut out ready to sew and will hopefully assemble a few more tomorrow.

I hope you all are having a fabulous week.  I've had a very exciting few days which I will tell you about tomorrow.

Happy Days :-)

Melbourne Update

Melbourne is very cold.  My week away is being spent inside, watching tv, on the recliner with a blanket and the fire on.  It is forecast to be a horrible day today with gale force winds by the afternoon and heavy rain so we're preparing for another day inside. 

I love the birds out here and I've been going bananas with my camera.  I also caught up with my baby cousin George who is just gorgeous.  Flying home on Wednesday.  I don't want to leave but I want to get back to my sewing maching.  I bought fat quarter pack from Intrepid Thread.  I now have the complete Rhapsodia fabric collection :-) As I mentioned they're for my pinwheel sampler quilt but I haven't worked on the layout yet.

I leave you with photos from my weekend.

Don't you love the Eeyore I gave him?  The moment he saw it he was ecstatic.

Cockatoo

King Parrot

Crimson Rosella

Beading

If you have popped in to say hello or have a little snoop, you know this blog is mainly about my adventures in quilting.  I have another crafty hobby which I've been doing for quite a long time...

Beading

 

I love beading and have finally decided to involve it in my blog.  A few weeks (maybe a month or two ago) Mum and I went to the Craft Show here in Brisbane and I picked up some beautiful beads.  I'm thinking about finally making something with them.  I adore the little owl which I will use with the green beads.  I've also wanted to make something with coral beads for quite a while.  I actually just want to make a strand of coral with a featured clasp which you do up at the front.  I found a beautiful bead shop online in the US which have beautiful clasps shaped as leaves.  It might be time to order some.

Yesterday I was wandering through Target and found a lot of jewellery with a clearance sign above it! The little bargain hunter in me got excited so I picked up a few things.

Pretty Purple :)

I love the little pink hearts.

I love these.  They feel very aztec.

 

Simple, pretty leaf drop. 

Some of my favourite jewellery has come Target.  No matter where I buy jewellery from (except gold or sterling rings etc.) if something breaks or I don't like it anymore, I keep and recycle the beads, chain, findings etc.  It adds to my bead collection :-)  I've found things from Target break easy which is why I usually buy things on sale because I have had things break in a day or two.  But, I am very happy with these finds.  I also bought a pair of butterfly studs but I saved 10c on a bag and put the earrings in my back pocket of my bag.  The bag again my side broke the studs!  However, they were $2.50 so I will get another pair.

I'm very happy to have taken my camera for a spin today.  I always use my phone because I have great apps on my iphone and I love altering pictures.  Today however I decided to take simple photos with my camera.  It's a Canon EOS 1000D.  An amazing Christmas present from my parents two Christmases ago.

And talking about Christmas presents.  My favourite pair of earrings came from my boyfriend, the same Christmas I got my camera.  They're sterling silver and Amethyst from The Gem Cave in Alice Springs.

Trudy's Quilt

Over the weekend I finished quilting two quilts :-)  I'm very happy but I really need quilting practice!  It's hard to get use to the Sweet Sixteen Handi Quilter.  But I suppose 'practice makes perfect'.

So what did I finish quilting?

My little charm square quilt!  I'm so happy with it (except for how the quilting looks on the back of the quilt).  Every time I come down the stairs and see it on the couch, waiting to be bound, I am blown away by the quilting pattern.  It's obviously not perfect because I'm still learning but I do love all the swirls, they're so pretty.  

So, who is Trudy and why is she getting a quilt?  Trudy is my boyfriends mum.  She was totally blown away by the Bali quilt I made for Chris and she keeps sneaking a peek at it so I decided to make one for her.  This quilt was already in the works but it needed a home.  So I asked Chris what colours she loved and he named a few but he did mention light blue pink and reds.  Instantly, I knew this quilt had found a home!  She's seen photos because Chris shows her them every time I give him an update.  She's very excited to get this quilt but unfortunately with exams over the next week and a half it might have to wait a little since my binding pile has reached four!  I'm so pleased.  It's really nice to be so close to finishing.

Also just wanted to share the backing fabric which I love.  I bought it from equilter.com

This quilt still needs a name.  I'm hoping it will come to me while I bind it.

Feathery Friend

This little guy visited out porch this morning.  He's a Pale-Faced Rosella. According to mum, they used to eat from our bird feed all the time until the pigeons scared them off.  They usually sit on the power lines across the road at out neighbours house.  He has many parrots in cages in his yard.  I think he used to nurse injured birds and release them back into the wild.  He did, for a while, have a few of these beautiful guys in a cage at the front of his house but I think he's released them.  I think that's why they visit our area, because they had friends across the road!  I have many photos of them sitting on the power lines but it's nice to have a photo up close, and from our house.

Progress

Happy Easter!

I'm excited. This was my first time using my Mum's Sweet Sixteen Handi Quilter. It's a little tough but better than the sewing machine. I don't think I am used to it yet. Definitely need more practice.

Below is a picture of a close-up of the design I used in each square and used a leaf to go from one block to another, diagonally along the quilt. 

It has been a very productive day. I also have the binding on my diary cover and the binding on my little heart wall quilt, which has no name at the moment.

Little treasures

Introducing my beautiful sister Heather and me. She's the light of my life :-)

Odd Quilting Habits

I have a habit of taking photos of all my trimmings.  I don't know why but when I see all the slithers of colours in a pile on the cutting mat, I must take a photo.  So below are some of my trimmings...

Do you have an odd habit when you're quilting?

Easter Time

My sister has been buying so many Easter Eggs for us! I love the little bit of magic Easter brings... and the chocolate of course!

Current Project

I can't really say that I have a current project, because I actually have a few.  But the WIP I want to mention today is this little beauty...

The fabrics are Kaffe Fassett.  I bought three fat eights at the craft show last weekend here in Brisbane and they cost me $2 each!!  Using a white muslin we had in the stash, I've whipped up this mini quilt.  I'm very happy with it.  Even my mum was very impressed.  I sent a photo to my boyfriend and he replied with, 'I love it.  As you know purple is a love hate or hate colour for me but this I love.'  Glad I've impressed him.  I spent all weekend trying to figure out what to do with the fabric and on Monday came up with the above design. You can't go wrong with half-square triangles.

There are still two points I need to fix but she is ready for basting.  I can't wait to get this finished and hang it in my room.  It's one of those quilts which you didn't really know what the outcome would be, but then you're absolutely shocked at the result.  I'm so happy!

There wasn't much of the fabric left over but there was a strip of each so I'm making a cover for my diary which will be revealed soon.

Happy Day!

Jeanne