Dappled sunlight

I finished off this quilt yesterday and I have to say I really love it. Charlotte over at http://charlottenewland.blogspot.co.uk named it dappled sunlight.

The top is all Amy Butlers Cameo range and the back is also some yardage on hers.

I quilted it Fmq using an Angela Walters design. As the prints are so busy I just wanted an all over design to add texture and it turns out the floral quilting is very similar to some of the prints. I love the texture this quilting creates. It's much easier to see on the back.

I bound it using left over backing and a bit of scrap binding I had in my bin.

It was 48x60" before washing.

I love log cabins

I really think log cabins is one of my fav blocks. The variety of patterns you can achieve with it are vast. I've been know to play in a drawing program on my computer, twisting and turning blocks around to see all the different effects.

Mainly they rely on contrasts of light and dark, but this week I've been sewing with fabric that doesn't have much contrast. I grabbed a FQ pack of Amy Butler Cameo from stash and separated them into blues and everything else. I randomly chose which strips went where rather than the traditional movement out from the centre of light to dark.

Mostly, it was just fun sewing something that isn't tricky or needs much thought.

I haven't gone too big ether, it's just 48x60inches so when I get round t quilting it should be easy.

Being naughty

After my obsession with the trip along I told myself that I would have to start finishing some of my tops into quilts before the pile of ufo's got to big. Well then this afternoon I started thinking about log cabins and as that is one of my favourite blocks I couldn't resist. I made these two just now.

I did finish off another iPad mini case for a friend of mine. I'm very happy with the way these have turned out.

Scrappy tripalong addiction

I think I've recovered from my scrappy tripalong addiction that has consumed me for the last couple of weeks.

You may have also got sucked into the madness following Bonnie's great tutorial.

My first one I made was using 6 strips in each block from fat quarters etc.

The second one, I decided to use jelly rolls as it saved on the cutting and went for an 8 strip layout as it meant I could get the best use of the fabric.

I loved making them, but think I've got it out of my system now.

I also made a little pouch for my new toy, an Ipad Mini. I played around with a zippy pouch and lined the outside with wadding and the inside with a heavy interface. I wasn't sure what dimensions to use to make sure that with the seams and extra weight of wadding etc wouldn't make it too small so I started off with pieces 7x10 inches and it came out spot on first time!

I forsee a few more of these in my future!

I couldn't resist!

The latest fad sweeping the internet is the ScrappyTripalong and I couldn't avoid joining in.

I was just finishing off the Twisted Jelly Roll race quilt when it started and I couldn't resist. I started with a FQ Bundle of solids I had out. I Just had the need to start cutting and didn't want to waste time pulling a selection of fabric from stash. I honestly only wanted to try the technique.



The 4 blocks in the top left are from that bundle. I knew once it was finished I would need to carry on so I pulled a few matching solids from stash and some more oranges and yellows. Four of the six fabrics in the rest of my blocks will be the same, the other two colours will be a mix. I've already done the boring task of cutting them all, so its just a case of sew, press, cut, sew and press again.

I still want to do a much more scrappy version as well, I love making scrappy quilts anyway.

Have you caught the bug? I warn you, they are addictive!

Still alive - and sewing again

Sorry for the long blogging break to anyone who is still bothering to read - life and holidays got in the way.

Hopefully like myself, you have recovered from all the madness and are feeling fully rested. I am not good at recognising when I have reached my limits and I basically went past mine sometime in November but didn't stop going so by the time Christmas arrived I was well into stress and anxiety land. I've done very little since Christmas Day was over and done with except rest and sew. Therapy for my body and mind. Sewing really helps me clear the crap out that I carry around with me all the time.

I finally turned this little top into a charity quilt 36x36in using fabric given to the LMQG by Thomas Knauer earlier in the year. It was the first quilting I've done in months and I did go a bit mad with FMQ, although you can't really see it! But I enjoyed it and that was all that mattered.

 

Today, I finished this quilt which even has a name, "Twisted Jelly Roll Race". I started it off using the method for a jelly roll race and then when the whole strip was about 16 inches, I cut it into blocks. Blocks which sat on the side for months. I always knew I wanted to use the yellow solid with them as I think its a shame that Summersville didn't come in a yellow colourway. Sewing the sashing, I fell in love with the range all over again and I spotted little detailed that Lu put into the design that I had missed when sewing the blocks together like the coach with Summersville Tours on it.

 

 

I decided to off set the blocks and sashing a bit to give it a bit more of a twist. I had one spare block whicn ended up on the back with some more yellow solid and a print that went well. I also did the binding in the yellow. I can't for the life of me remember which yellow it is, but it is a kona.  This came out 56x74 inches.

The pictures are crap I know but I can't get any light anywhere as the days are so dull and gloomy in London at the moment.

The only nice day we've had in weeks was yesterday, so I went to Greenwich Park to clear the cobwebs. This pic from the Observatory shows the area in front of the Naval College where the Olympics Equestrian events took place. Still not quite back to normal.

And this shot just shows now nice random bits of the park are and the bit of sunshine!

I also finished another block for the EEEP EPP Bee for Marg which was the most challenging yet with some very fiddly bits. I even broke out some of my Tula Pink fabric for it!

So hopefully I will be a bit more regular in both sewing and blogging into the new year, but I'm not sure. It depends on what happens with work and that is all a bit up in the air at the moment. But even though I don't comment much, I do try and keep up with my blog reading.

Happy New Year x