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Mexican Fiesta Eggs

31/3/2012

A couple of years ago I taught some classes at my local quilt shop, Quilters Haven - which were part of a collection called The Breakfast Club - all the quilts were made using 2½" strips of fabric. Most of these were made with Jelly Rolls, which are great to use as they are already cut into strips and contain a whole collection of fabric, giving a wonderful scrappy, but co-ordinated look to them. I love this pattern, and it was a perfect choice for a very special quilt that I needed to make....

.....this quilt pattern is called "Mexican Fiesta Eggs" and this time I have made it with a Balipop, which is a bit like a Jelly Roll, and some fabrics from my stash - bali batiks, in shades of brown and grey and black.....

.....I made this quilt using a 4x4 block layout, but I wasn't sure what to do for borders, so I sought some inspiration from the brown and black bali batiks that I had already bought.....

.....as you can see, firstly I added a narrow border with some brown and black batik.....

.....then I added a second narrow border, using 2½ inch strips of this black and grey batik.....

.....followed by a wider 6½ inch border of this beautiful brown floral batik, which I had already used in some of the blocks.....

.....I chose a mottled black extra-wide fabric for the backing, and Janette suggested using a black wadding too. Janette picked out a beautiful bronze quilting thread for this one, which looks stunning in this design called "Fire Flower". We both thought the flower in the quilting design echos the shape of the flower petals in the batik....

.....here you can see a close-up of one the blocks. This bronze thread blends beautifully across the quilt, and really shimmers.....

.....I cut 1½" strips of the leftover backing fabric, which I then folded in half, to make a piped edge - this was sewn to the outer edges of the quilt. Then I cut 3½" strips of batik to make a double-fold binding, which I sewed ½" from the edge to make a deeper binding. I chose the same batik print for the binding that I had used for the border. It was machined to the front of the quilt and hand stitched to the back.....

.....as you can see, this quilt looks absolutely fabulous.....

.....and finally - finished with a "Foreman Flourish"?? Of course. Job done! Although this quilt looks beautiful on my bed, it is being packed away as it is a wedding present for a very very special person - can't say who she is yet, I don't want to spoil the surprise!!

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Etsy Shopping? Oh Yes Please!!

31/3/2012

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Whilst browsing the internet, I happened to come across these really absolutely gorgeous earrings in my favourite Etsy shop, Amanada Davie. Firstly, I saw these stunning "Pink Waterfall" earrings. These are pink hued earrings featuring lovely cut Cherry Quartz, Czech glass, and antiqued bronze finish charms, including a tiny bird and a lovely leaf.....then I spied this pair - I had already added them to my "favourites" and as they were still for sale, I thought that must be a sign that they were meant for me!! These are called "Choose Truth Mantra Earrings" and feature Amanda's signature word charms, and wonderful bead and charm accents. Lever back ear wires keep these beauties secure. Just look at those beautiful carved flowers with stamped brass hand charms in green patina. Stunning!

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Obviously this is where I've been going wrong.....

28/3/2012

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When I saw this I just had to share it with my blog readers - thank goodness it doesn't apply to modern day times!! MR F would think he's got a new wife if he came home from work and saw me looking so glam while I was sitting with my Bernina!!!

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Klädnyps-strut

25/3/2012

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Well I finally got around to making myself one of these bags to keep my clothes pegs in - "Klädnyps-strut". This was a Swedish pattern from a quilting magazine called FatQuarter, issue 02/2009 (available from Lapp-Elisa) - and no, I don't speak Swedish either, just incase you were wondering!! I can tell you, these instructions were a bit tricky, as I don't read Swedish, so I just used the photo diagrams!! As you can see, I have been using some Flower Sugar II fabric. This range is by Lecien, and I absolutely love it, especially when it is trimmed with some extra wide ric-rac. It always makes me think of Cath Kidston florals, a little bit retro-housewife. I had made several of these peg bags a few years ago as gifts for friends, and never actually made one for myself!! So, out came the sewing machine this afternoon and I set to work. When I made these before, I found the base a bit floppy so I used a double layer of pelon fusible wadding and lots of quilting to give it a stiff bottom.....

.....today I tried using some stiffer interfacing than I have used before, to give the main part of the peg bag a bit more "body" but found it quite difficult to sew with, especially trying to sew the main part of the bag to the base as it wasn't very flexible. Next time I'll just use the stiff one in the bottom. Despite it being more than a little bit tricky to sew, I was really pleased with the overall result - and it's MUCH more exclusive than Cath Kidston!!! - and fancy that - my clothes pegs co-ordinate with the Flower sugar fabric perfectly!! It even has a special hook to clip it onto your washing line. And I think you'll all agree I really do have the smartest washing line in Suffolk hehehe!!!

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Stitch and Craft Show - a Few More Quilts

24/3/2012

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These were the quilts that I really liked at the Stitch and Craft Show - the quilts that I would love to have made myself. I just love these patterns and fabrics and colours. This was called "Klimt Curves" by Janice Gunner, and was inspired by a Makower fabric printed with Klimt like designs. This was based on a "Curves in the Cabin" technique - and was machine pieced and machine quilted.....

.....another quilt by Janice Gunner, called "Papaver" and was made using the "Log Cabin with Attitude" technique, again machine pieced and quilted.....

....."Sunset" by Diane Giles - Diane wrote that these colours were inspired by sunsets. This quilt comprises of five panels, which were made for her final project when studying for the City and Guilds Patchwork and Quilting Level 3 certificate with Janice Gunner.....

....."Free Spirit" by Jane Turner - made for Marsh Quilters' exhibition challenge 2011, and features raw edge applique with machine quilting and some hand embroidery.....

.....and another quilt by Jane Turner, this one is called "Snail Trail" and was a scrap quilt for Project Linus. It was machine pieced and quilted, and the snail trail blocks were foundation pieced. I feel really inspired now to get creative and make one of Janice's designs! Now, I'm sure I have her book, called "Liberating Log Cabin: Exploring Contemporary Textile Techniques" on my bookself somewhere - wonder if I've got enough fabric in my stash to makwe one of these quilts??!! ....

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The Quilted Yurt

23/3/2012

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There was lots to see at the Stitch and Craft Show, but my favourite was this stunning quilted yurt on the Mollie Makes stand. It was made by Linzi Upton, and inside the yurt was as magnificent as the outside.....

.....and we were lucky enough to meet Linzi Upton, who made this incredible yurt. She was really lovely, and was happy to chat to us while we oohhed and ahhed her yurt. You can read lots more about Linzi, her quilting and yurts, over on her blog.....

.....this was my favourite panel, this magnificent hare.....

.....he does look really splendid, and the attention to detail was really incredible.....

.....if you click on the photographs to enlarge them you can see how wonderful this work is - and see the sequins that really make this panel sparkle. This really was a fabulous piece of work, and was admired by lots of people.

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Stitch and Craft Show Shopping

23/3/2012

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I didn't buy very much from the Stitch and Craft Show, which I know you'll find hard to believe - just a bundle of fat eigths and some Japanese woven fabric from Sunflower Fabrics, a couple of extra large cans of 505 spray adhesive and some tiny charms engraved with "hand made" which I shall sew on some handmade gifts.....

.....oh and I couldn't resist showing you these Wonderfil threads that Janet bought - don't they look pretty! And doesn't Janet look happy! Absolute thread porn!

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Mothering Sunday

22/3/2012

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I wasn't able to blog about Mothering Sunday on the day itself, because we had no internet access (some stupid people thought it would be a clever idea to cut out half a mile of phone cable in my village, so we had no landline or internet access for several days). Anyway, my two girls really spoiled me.....

.....my eldest daughter Beth was home for the weekend and she decided that she was going to cook a roast dinner!! I must say she did an EXCELLANT job, and peeled all the veggies herself and made Yorkshire puddings and breadsauce (with no sign of Aunt Bessie!) and although she's vegetarian, she cooked a roast chicken for us, and did a veggie roast for herself - it was all absolutely delicious and I was so very proud of her.....

.....and Alice baked me a special Mother's Day cake which she decorated with icing and sprinkles and was very tasty, and she bought me some flowers too, AND she baked lemon muffins for our tea.....

.....as well as cooking lunch, Beth bought me some Lush goodies too, which smell divine! So I really was a very lucky yummy mummy!

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Stitch and Craft Show

22/3/2012

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On Saturday 17th March, I spent the day at the Stitch and Craft Show at Olympia II, in Knightsbridge, London. I went along with a group of local quilters, and made some new friends along the way, (hello Janet and Louise) which is always nice. The coach journey went by quickly, especially as there was a fair bit of chatting to do, and we also did a bit of sightseeing as we travelled through London.....

.....anyway, back to the show. There were several zones to browse with stalls and displays and practical demonstrations. There was a Stitching Zone and a Craft Zone, a Knitting Zone and a Quilting Zone. There was a special exhibit by Quilts 4 London of a selection of the quilts and pennants made to present to Olympic athletes at London 2012. Many of these had been created by groups and represented themes from their local area and several were patriotically red, white and blue.
I must admit I was rather disappointed with the array of quilts that was on display. These had been made by groups and individuals to be donated to countries represented at the olympics - "A Gift of Quilts" - although if I'm really honest, I thought the standard was going to be much higher, especially compared to the beautiful quilt that was donated to Great Britain by America when the Olympics were held in Atlanta. Maybe I'm just too fussy.....

.....here are my favourites from "A Gift of Quilts". Firstly a superb quilt made up of flying geese, "Circles Around The World" by the Test Valley Quilters, quilted by Izzy Hall, and will be donated to Cape Verde.....

.....a mass of stars, "Shipton All Stars" by the Shipton Quilters for Mauritania.....

.....more stars, "Union Stars" made by the Pumpkin Patchers, for the Bahamas.....

.....and then this quilt for Montegro, called "Shining Through", by Margaret Hearn. Yes, there does seem to be a star theme here. There was another section of quilts by Janice Gunner, that were really stunning, that I'll show you later, and a fabulous quilted yurt - again, I'm saving that for later!!

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Someone's Been Etsy Shopping AGAIN!

22/3/2012

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A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing the internet - I was ONLY having a little look - honestly - and I thought these earrings looked FAB-U-LOUS darling - and, well, yes - I have been tempted again by the very talented Amanda Davie.....

.....and who wouldn't be tempted when a package like this arrives in the post - a little brown box - tied up with paper and string - and a cute little charm. Now - what could be lurking inside?.....

.....the most delightful earrings - "Dream Big No. 2", Mismatched Mantra Earrings to be precise - a beautiful faceted quartz crystal heart, blue coral, glass, abalone, and Amanda's very own handmade word charms! These really are simply STUNNING and I shall love wearing these in the summer.

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<<Previous

Mexican Fiesta Eggs

Etsy Shopping? Oh Yes Please!!

Obviously this is where I've been going wrong.....

Klädnyps-strut

Stitch and Craft Show - a Few More Quilts

The Quilted Yurt

Stitch and Craft Show Shopping

Mothering Sunday

Stitch and Craft Show

Someone's Been Etsy Shopping AGAIN!

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