Sunday Stash #67 and a Giveaway!

A few weeks ago I received an email from Diana.  Diana asked if she could send me some fabrics:

"I would like to send you some fabrics.
Because i like them and because i love your quilts.

I don't want you to make me a quilt,
I don't want you to buy them from me.
I don't want you to write about me or make any kind of publicity."

And without further ado these gorgeous fabric arrived in my letter box during the week all the way from Romania.

I don't know anything about these fabrics except that they are a beautiful cotton fabric, and that they are bold and colorful. 

As promised to Diana, one kind deed deserves another, and as such today I am giving away the pictured bundle of the much coveted Flea Market Fancy fabric  from my stash.

Four FAT EIGHTS 

To be in the draw all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, with the only requirement being that you provide either in your profile, or in your comment, an email address so that I can contact the winner!  International visitors are very welcome to enter!  Only one comment per person/email address will be eligible to enter the draw.

The draw will take place at 10 am (AEST ) on Tuesday 7 September 2010, at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will  be contacted by email.

Enjoy Sunday!

Quilting

It's been a wonderful day!  I have today managed to get behind the sewing machine in daylight hours, which just hasn't happened all week.  As you can see:  Quilting, quilting, quilting, straight line, straight line ...

And for a change I have attached the quilt label to the front of the quilt much like Andi does.   It means having to remember to sew the label on before basting the quilt, something which is not yet part of my regular routine.

The quilting is going well;  it is slow and steady, and is adding much character to the quilt.  I hope to show you more soon.

Have a great weekend!

Parcel Day

Back in July I made a quilt for my swap partner in the Down Under Doll Quilt Swap, and today I received a doll quilt from my swap partner and I couldn't have been more thrilled.

Made by Kirsty from Kootoyoo who is multi-talented and hugely inspirational.  Kirsty has beautifully embroidered the center panel with an incredible number of stem and chain stitches as well as some French knots. 

Some of the embroidered leaves add a 3D effect as do the borders.

Truly, this is a piece of art.  Participating in swaps for me is for me all about the making and the joy I get out of sending the parcel off to my swap partner.  Receiving this awesome quilt is an unexpected extra.  Thank you, Kirsty!

You can check out:
Kirsty's blogging and creativity here.
The Down Under Doll Quilt Swap Flickr Group Group here.

Poseidon

After much consideration and indecision I have, this week, cut into my Kona Cotton Poseidon FQ bundle.

Some calculated strip piecing saw this quilt top come together really quickly.  Simple piecing for such an effective result.

My only solid fabric addition to the Poseidon FQ bundle is Kona Cotton in Ash, a favorite grey that I fits in well with the overall color palette.  For sashing I have used Kona Cotton in Snow.

Backing, basting .... and quilting. 

Goodness

This week all of Oliver's bedding was washed and given the rough treatment:

Wrinkly

Crinkly

Goodness

And there will be no more resting on the arm rest of the couch for Oliver. 

After six weeks of episodes of severe pain and distress that lasted for up to six hours at a time, day or night, two different vets, plus a specialist vet, numerous bloods tests, liver/kidney functions tests, an ultrasound, complete change in diet, and pain relief medication it was finally decided to treat Oliver for a suspected spinal injury.   Four weeks of  strict confinement followed (no walks, no jumping, no playing outside, just resting, sleeping, and confined to just one room) together with anti-inflammatory medication and Oliver has recovered.  We are now ready for rehabilitation, starting with 5 minutes walks twice daily.  

Oliver has been known to slip off the arm rest whilst asleep, landing on the floor with a loud bang.  So no more.  He still loves his quilt though.

It's a Family Thing Part VII

Today an update on my Mother in Law's hand pieced hexagons.

And there has been much progress with the completion of over 180 hexagon units out of the required 240 hexagons.

Hand Pieced Hexagons

I've picked out some of my favorite hexagons, however I must say that was not easy task; there were many favorites!  My Mother in Law is a precision hand piecer, the stitches are tiny and consistent.  Each unit is pieced and the seams are pressed to perfection.

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I think you will recognize quite a few of these fabrics as my MIL has free reign to my scrap bin.  I love the way the fabrics have been fussy cut to create new patterns, with surprising results.

As a machine piecer, all hand pieced patchwork is such an inspiration.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing this quilt finished.

Links to previous Hand Pieced Hexagon posts:
Progress Report 1
Progress Report 2

Sunday Stash #66

Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton FQ bundle - Denim

More blues today - not a reflection of my mood.

Although I am comfortable using white/cream, grey and black  fabrics, I find it difficult to use some of these dark/navy blues in my work.  I hope that inspiration will strike soon to help me decide just what I will do with these fabrics.

For comparison- Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton FQ bundle Denim and Poseidon

As you can see the two Kona FQ Bundles - Denim and Poseidon - are very different in tone.   I tend to favor Poseidon over Demin and  I wonder which FQ bundle is your favorite?

Enjoy Sunday!

Just ONE Layer Cake

Some time ago I stashed my first layer cake, Dream On by Urban Chiks for Moda.  It has been quietly waiting for inspiration to strike and I have finally challenged myself to make a quilt with just ONE layer cake and a single solid fabric. 

Take 1 - A Layer Cake Quilt

Quilt measures 50.5 inches x 62.5 inches

I quickly learned that there wasn't much room for experimentation with my Layer Cake fabrics, and worked out really easy (and quick) cutting and sewing technique to ensure that no fabric was wasted.   When all was said and done, there were a handful of scraps leftover.

This quilt has been quilted with diagonal lines (again!) from edge to edge, a sharp and clean look that I am still loving.  Less is more.

I had so much fun working just how to get the most out of my Layer Cake that I have written a full pattern for this - the Take 1 ~ A Layer Cake Quilt.

You can find the Take 1 ~ A Layer Cake Quilt  Pattern in my Etsy Store
 

The pattern (a pdf file) fabric requirements can be substituted with any other Layer Cake or scrap fabric.   The pattern  includes detailed tutorials and step by step cutting and piecing photographs.

Upon purchase the quilt pattern will be sent to you directly by email within 12 hours, usually much faster.

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Stitching!
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A Sneak Peek

I thought I would give you a peek of what I have been working on this week.

Lots and lots of sewing, of course.

It is already a finished quilt and I am looking forward to showing you more.

Soon.

Wordless Wednesday

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Robert Kaufman - Kona Cotton - Poseidon

The blues.