Wednesday, January 29, 2014

More Liberty Tana Lawn Pincushions

First please let me say ~ Thank you, thank you! Your lovely comments and emails regarding the Floating Squares Quilt have restored my confidence in stepping outside of my comfort zone. I am so grateful for having such supportive readers. This online community never ceases to amaze me. Thank you!
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Both this week and last week I have spent some time completing custom orders for Liberty Tana Lawn Pincushions. I can't say enough about Liberty Tana Lawn fabric; the high quality cotton is finely woven and super soft to touch. Exquisite. Luxurious. It is a pleasure to work with.


All of the pincushions pictured here are already on the way to their new crafty owners.

TAKING ORDERS NOW

Just in case there is anyone else interested in purchasing a Liberty Tana Lawn Pincushion I have prepared a PRE-ORDER listing in my Etsy Store.  SOLD OUT for February 2014 ~ more Pincushions will be available late February for shipping at the end of March 2014.

The pre-order pincushions will not be ready for shipping until the end of February 2014.

The Etsy Listing for Pre-Order Liberty Tana Lawn Pincushions is here.  Numbers are limited. Shipping charges are actual cost.

If demand warrants it I will list more pre-order pincushions in February for shipping in March.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions ~ redpepperquilts at gmail dot com

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Liberty Patchwork Pillow
Liberty Tana Lawn Oven Mitts and Potholders
Red Pepper Quilts Etsy Store

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Floating Squares - A Finished Quilt

Floating Squares - A Modern Quilt
Last week I ventured way out of my quilting comfort zone. I know I am really comfortable with my own style of patchwork and quilting, but every so often I get the urge to try my hand at something different. I have had the general idea of squares floating on a quilt in black and white on my mind for some time, but I knew before I started that this project would be a challenge for me - not the actual piecing, for that is the simple part - but working through the layout, and developing and balancing the design.


There were sewing highs - when the layout flowed and I was able visualize the end result - and horrible lows of self-doubt, indecision and uncertainty. I don't usually experience such a range of emotions when I am patchworking, and the loss of confidence was unexpected. The lack of rhythm whilst working - from repetitive tasks like chain piecing, or trimming - was just as unsettling.


I don't like to start something and not complete it so I pushed on in the hope that in the finishing touches (the quilting and a contrast binding fabric) I would grow to love this quilt as an end product, rather than be reminded of the making process. And yes, now that the quilt is finished I rather like it. A lot. I love the messages and details that have been included in the quilt, ranging from text (see above) to the red wavy line of quilting that runs along the left hand side of the quilt.


The wavy red line is a decorative stitch on my sewing machine for which I have used a standard weight cotton thread (Gutermann 100% cotton). I did try a heavier weight thread - Gutermann Top Stitch - but it immediately seized up my sewing machine. I will have to keep experimenting with heavier weight thread on my less testy sewing machine.


For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric from The Red Thread collection by Creative Thursday and the binding fabric is Straws from the Simpatico collection by Michelle Engel Bencsko. [The main fabrics used for the quilt top are Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Snow and Kona Cotton Pepper].

This quilt has been an emotional ride and at one point I didn't think it even worthy of sharing with you. Now that the quilt is finished and I have had time to reconcile the process with the end result I actually don't feel ready to part with it at this point in time. I feel like I need to hold on to it ... again a feeling I am not familiar with in regard to my quilts.

Floating Squares Quilt
I am itching to start a new project - a comfort stitching quilt - and although I haven't yet decided what my next project is I can guarantee it will involve fabric play and repetitive process(es); both of which I really missed in the making of this quilt. 

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Sunday Stash #215 - Terra Australis by Emma Jansen

Terra Australis by Emma Jean Jansen
Today I am celebrating the release of an Australian collection inspired by Australian flora, fauna and landmarks by Australian designer Emma Jean Jansen on this 26th day of January ~ Australia Day. That seems appropriate.
Terra Australis - Harbour Bridge
Terra Australis is Emma Jean first fabric collection for Ella Blue. With this collection Emma has injected color and vitality into iconic Australian images thereby creating bright and modern designs.
Terra Australis - Spinning Gum

Terra Australis - Kangaroo
Terra Australia by Emma Jean Jansen is available in Australia from:

and soon to arrive internationally (February 2014):

GIVEAWAY ALERT
Let's celebrate Australia Day!  I am giving away a Fat Eighths bundle of each of the fabrics pictured to one lucky RPQ reader.

The draw will take place at 6pm (Australia - EDT) on Monday 27 January 2014, at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will be announced the same day by edit to this blog post, and will also be contacted by email.

Terra Australis - Stripes and Bush Sticks
Congratulations Emma on the release of your debut fabric collection. I look forward to seeing more of your work and designs in the near future.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Thank you for all of your entries!
The lucky winner of the Terra Australis bundle is:

Congratulations Kelly!  Kelly has been contacted by email.

Happy Australia Day everyone!
Rita

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Disclosure:  This Terra Australis bundle of fabric was sent to me courtesy of Emma Jean Jansen without obligation - the words, photos and opinions however are all mine.  No persuasion needed.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

A Patchwork Quilt with Rounded Corners


This little quilt was in progress for most of last week; the relentless Summer heat left me completely useless and although attempts were made to soldier on I couldn't bear to turn on the iron and add more heat to an already hot house. I pulled fabrics, did a little cutting and propped myself on the couch with my knitting. 


A cool change blew in on the weekend and sewing has since resumed - we are once again a happy home. The plan for this quilt was fabric play and then rounding the corners - just for a change and to work on technique. I made the quilt top as usual (with square corners), then basted and quilted it. Once the quilting was completed I squared up the quilt (trimmed off the excess batting) and then used a large dinner plate to mark the curved corners. I traced the curve of the plate with a fabric pen first - so that I could still change my mind - then proceeded with a rotary cutter to follow the marked curves on the quilt. Easy.


This is the first time I have rounded the corners of a quilt - although I have previously worked with binding curved edges for potholders, oven mitts and a patchwork bag. I made my own black/white stripe bias binding  -  from fabric strips cut across the diagonal of a square of fabric (off-grain) - giving the fabric sufficient ease to hug the corners. And it worked! It wasn't any more difficult than getting the mitered corners of a quilt right. Perhaps even a little easier as the binding is stitched onto the quilt without stopping and starting at the corners. 



The back of the quilt features a single black/white print from the popular Summersville Spring collection by Lu Summers. The quilting is functional and simple. All seam lines have been ditch stitch, and in addition I have quilted a single line both horizontally an vertically through the center of each of the squares.


I am really pleased with the effect of the gently rounded corners of the quilt and you can expect to see these curves pop up more often in my quilts.


This quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.

You can see the listing details here:  Patchwork Baby and Toddler Quilt
Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sunday Stash #214 - Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey

Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey
It's here, it's here! Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey is in the house. Despite the unbearable and oppressive heat that was last week, the postie delivered. It was one of the few highlights for the week. Summer you are not my friend.

Hello Petal - Kitty Cats
I adore Aneela's design style and color palette but particularly love the addition of some of the darker colors - the medium blues which are usually so hard to find - which are part of this collection. Pictured above are the Kitty Cats and although I am not a huge cat lover they are my favorite print. Available in 5 colorways - these are going to be a big hit. And there is more ...

Hello Petal - Hopscotch
Hello Petal - Jump Rope
Hello Petal - Handstands
How cute are these designs? They're fun and girly and do take me right back to my own childhood and that of my children. I imagine these fabrics will make many little - and not so little - girls very happy. And every great collection needs a range of coordinating basics (note again the wonderful medium blues, as well as purple dot on a dark background - they are so good!):

Hello Petal - dots and stripes
Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey is available from:
Fabric Worm - save $5 with code redpepper for purchases $50+. 
Hello Petal - Dinky
Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Checkerboard Quilt II - A Finished Quilt


So this is my second Postage Stamp / Checkerboard Quilt.  It is the quilt for which fabrics were cut at the same time as the Economy Block Quilt from last week.  I thought it wise to multi-task whilst my stash was turned upside down and cut an extra strip of fabric. So easy!


I have strip-pieced this quilt using the same method as detailed in the Postage Stamp Tutorial although I have cut my strips wider (2.5 inches x 11 inches) and therefore each 16-patch Postage Stamp Block measures 8.5 inches x 8.5 inches. I have also pieced strip sets by alternating light and dark fabrics. I find this quicker and easier than row sewing (sewing fabric squares together in long rows) not only because you're working with 16-patch blocks but also because I don't have room for a design wall ~ arranging 900 fabric squares on the floor with a dog ready to play can be stressful. (Although I must admit that I do my fair share of row sewing with larger size squares).


The quilt is ditch stitched - all of the seam lines have been quilted which in effect creates a 2 inch grid of intersecting straight lines. The quilting is again functional (that is, to keep the layers of the quilt together) rather than decorative. 


For the back of the quilt I have used a single fabric from the Pam Kitty Bouquet collection by Holly Holderman. For the quilt binding I have used another fabric favorite ~ Art Gallery Squared Elements in Lemon ~ although I was sorely tempted to bind the quilt with my more stock standard black/white stripe fabric. A change is nice though.


This quilt is for sale and is listed in my Etsy Store.

You can see the listing details here:  Modern Checkerboard Quilt


There is something so wonderful about simple patchwork and working from stash; I love seeing the quilt come together, the fabrics all playing together regardless of color or design. I love color!

RELEVANT LINKS:
Postage Stamp Quilt Tutorial

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Sunday Stash #213 - Echino Decoro 2014

Echino Decoro 2014 by Etsuko Furuya - Kokka Fabrics
I wanted to tell you that I don't have any Sunday Stash to share with you today and that I am awaiting the arrival of last week's purchases - like Hello Petal by Aneela Hoey and Catnap by Lizzy House - but I found some Quilt Market stash that I had tucked away in a safe place.  This is the 2014 Echino Decoro collection - yet to be released.  It is the medium to heavy weight fabric base (45% cotton 55% Linen) and suitable for home decorating, apparel and of course quilts. (And for some reason I cannot find a lot of information about this collection online. As yet).

Echino Decoro - Bees
The first image of the whole Echino collection doesn't show you how fantastic the colors and designs really are.  As we have come to expect from Echino collections the colors are saturated, and the designs vary from medium to large scale. In my mind I fondly associate Echino collections with  a heavy dose of the color purple - not a color that I am otherwise keen on - but I cannot imagine an Echino collection without this color.

Echino Decoro - Birds
Ah, the Birds and the Bees!  Both are stunning and I may have gasped when I unfolded my fat quarter bundle. I have said it before, and for the record I will say it again, but I really want a skirt in one of these bold prints.  2014 has to be my year for making a skirt - one that I will actually wear. Please hold me to it.

Echino Decoro - Kalmia
Echino Decoro - Hide
Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

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