Button Blooms

I have been making the most of my time to sew during the holidays. It is so nice not having to rush off to work each morning ... I may even have had a few pyjama days!!

My latest achievement is this table runner called Button Blooms.

This was one of the kits I received from Sarah as part of the Fig Tree Club.

The fabric range is California Girl and the pattern uses two charm packs for the blocks.

Each block finishes at 5 1/4 inch so they are rather dainty and cute.

I wasn't sure about the light blue posts and borders but now it's done I love it.

As is usually the case, it looks much nicer to the naked eye than in photos.

Today I am making some bindings for a couple of other projects. I really like binding which is just as well as I have a fair bit to do in the next few weeks.

Block 5, 6 and 7

It's hard to believe there are only 5 blocks to go in this years Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt. I put block 7 together yesterday then dragged out block 5 and 6 for a photo shoot.

As much as I LOVE Avalon I struggle with the really dark blues. The centre square in each block is supposed to be navy blue but I have substituted other fabrics from the range.

Block 5 - Stargazing by Vanessa Christenson

Block 6 - Sparklers  by Kate Spain

Block 7 - Lemon Lodge by Lisa Bonegan

I hope everyone had a great weekend and found some time for some stitching. I'm still working on Swoon. All the blocks are sewn and I'm ready to start assembling the quilt. Exciting.

Swooning Along

This week I've been having my own little Swoon fest. 

This quilt has been on my 'to do' list forever! I purchased the printed pattern ages ago and also have it as part of Camilles' Pre-Cut Piecing Made Simple class on Craftsy. I really enjoy making quilts from Craftsy classes.

So far I've finished 6 blocks.

 These blocks are BIG .... 24 inches.

 I'm using all my favourite Bonnie and Camille fabrics in red and grey.

 There are bits of Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern, Marmalade and Scrumptious.

 Each time I finish a block it becomes my new favourite!! Now I'm looking forward to sewing the blocks together soon.

Hope you are having a productive week too.

Juggle

Between Christmas and New Year I pieced a Juggle quilt using Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille.

I started with two Scrumptious Honeycombs then cut the extra hexagons I needed from yardage. The Honeycombs come with a plastic template which is easy to trace around. I started off using one as a ruler but after slicing a bit of one side I decided it was safer and more accurate to trace first then cut!

The white background fabric is Moda Bella Solids 9900-98.

The Juggle quilt is part of Camille's Craftsy class Playful Piecing Techniques and I really enjoyed watching the class as I worked on the quilt. Camille had some really useful tips which helped make sure everything lined up properly. There was a little 'reverse' sewing but that was due to my 'perfectionist' tendencies.

I made my quilt bigger than Camille's original pattern adding an extra row for a more symmetrical look.

I loved every minute of making this quilt and hope to make another sometime soon.

Now I just have to organise some backing fabric and send it off to be quilted.

 

Having finished this top it was only right that I should start another!. Come back soon for some Swoon.

Gifts for Peg

Today I am sharing the gifts I made for Peg in our Friends in Stitching Christmas swap. This hanging angel is a Rosalie Quinlan design from her little Christmas book, Petit .. Noel. I struggled a bit with the ric-rac but got there in the end!

For the main Christmas Day present I made Peg the table runner version of Painted Ladies by Fig Tree.

I used Honey Sweet  for the butterfly wings ... 

and Butterscotch and Rose for the posts, butterfly bodies and  border.

I find that Fig Tree ranges mix really well together.

The lovely Sarah did the quilting on her long arm quilting machine. I chose the butterfly design as pictured below. The backing fabric is a Henry Glass neutral I found at Spotlight a few years ago.

I have done quite a bit of sewing since Christmas and will pop back soon to show what I've been doing. It is so nice to have some 'me' time after such a busy year.
Happy New Year.

 

Christmas Gifts

I belong to an online group called Friends in Stitching. I received some lovely gifts from Leanne in our annual Christmas Swap. Firstly, this beautiful wall hanging made from Fig Tree fabrics .. mostly Avalon, I think.

Isn't it gorgeous. I love these fabrics so much!

The little birdie is so cute.

 Leanne also sent me these lovely Tilda fat quarters ... I was very spoilt! I have plans for these but for now they have been added to my Tilda box.

In the lead up to Christmas we exchanged gifts starting with the letters of S.A.N.T.A.

These are my S (Santa) ...

and A (antler) presents.

 Thank you, Leanne. I love everything you made for me. Next post I will share what I made for Peg.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you well for the New Year. I don't usually make New Year resolutions but I do hope to blog more regularly in 2014.

2011 Mystery Quilt

Today I'm sharing my finished 2011 Designer Mystery Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. It is a huge quilt and was not very easy to photograph. It is made from one of my favourite Fig Tree ranges, Strawberry Fields and was quilted by my lovely friend, Leanne. Enjoy.

I love making these mystery quilts and have nearly finished the binding on my 2012 quilt .. pictures soon.