Bloggers Quilt Festival Quilt! "Hydrangea"

Thank you Amy for another Blogger's Quilt Festival, I really enjoy this linky party and appreciate all your planning and time in organising it each time. 

Hydrangea
Wallhanging, 18 x22"

This is a simple but favourite wall hanging of mine, I keep it in our main corridor to our bedroom so that I can enjoy it all the time. I created it freehand from a photo I had of hydrangeas in our garden. My quilts are usually large or wall hanging size, it just seems to turn out that way.

When I made this quilt, I knew I wasn't finished and that I would like more floral quilts around my home. This inspired my current Free Bom 'Forget Me Not' which is a floral wall hanging applique quilt, and, you know, flowers!!... I'm loving every moment of it.

Thank you for viewing my Quilt Festival Quilt!

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

This is a block from Part 4 of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

raw edge applique

Outlined petal details

Because this was the part 4 block of my dark background quilt, I went with vivid colours that can take the dark background. If your own background is light, you can opt for subtle shades.

Have you decided which block you are making this month?

This is a block from Part 4 of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group

Wild Rose & Lilac Details

Wild Rose & Lilac

This is a block from Part 4 of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

turn edge applique petals for the wild roses

raw edge applique lilacs

turn edge leaves

some pencil detailing on the petals

Like the previous blocks, I will be embellishing these blocks with decorative stitches at the end, when I plan my quilting. With the lilacs in this block, I am looking for tiny beads to stitch in amongst the applique so that the lilacs 'shimmer' in their cluster. How much or how little extra embellishment will vary block by block. You can keep it simple or really enjoy embellishing all the areas of small and fine detail.

Fabric selection next to my sketch and alongside my background fabric

Lilacs in deep to light hues of blue pink. Make sure that you check which side is fusible, to avoid sticking your little lilacs to your iron, this is too easy to do!

I use fusible release paper when raw edge applique cutting out.

It's great because you can re-use this paper 5 times before discarding.

I use Wonder Under brand.

This is the lilac 'shadow', it's raw edge and again, so simple. Creating the lilac backrground means that I don't have to cut so many little lilac shapes out. I was also toying with the idea of embroidering the lilacs on top of the 'shadow' fabric and if you have an embroidery machine, this is definitely an option for you. (I tried on my domestic and it didn't look effective). So I went ahead with my lilac applique.

These are my leaves waiting to be cut out

How is your Forget Me Not Block looking?

This is a block from Part 4 of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group 

WOW: Finding Forgotten WIPs

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Has this ever happened to you?

I have found a new WIP stash!

I'd completely forgotten about it.

I found it in a cupboard I thought I'd cleared out. 

The top is finished, and I even began quilting it before it was packed away....

I think it will have to be next on my WIP to do list, as it's so nearly done, I may as well finally finish it!



Forget Me Not: Part 4 is Launched

This month you have the option of

Wild Rose & Lilac

Jacob's Ladder

Here are the pattern sketches. Remember, colour in your patterns before commiting to fabrics.

Stay tuned as detailed block images and working pics will be posted after WOW this week.

Also, remember to check out the Yahoo Group to see what we are all talking about over there!

Forget Me Not is my 2012 Mystery BOM

Anyone can take part.

Each monthly block is available for download via my

website and Yahoo BOM Group only.

To learn more about my BOMs, click here.



Any Excuse for Roses

Yesterday was Mother's Day,

and whilst I'm a mother every day of the year,

it's a nice excuse for roses!

I definitely didn't need an excuse for cake... and will be resisting today.

My DH will have to finish it off!

Today I also realised that it's time for Part 4 this week!

How are you going with your Forget Me Not?

WOW: What the Judges Thought

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Hearts Desire arrived home late yesterday afternoon. Well, the box did. I've only just found time to unpack it this morning, give HD a good shake and re-fold and take a look at what the judges thought of my quilt during assessment.

Best Feature:

"effective border frame, variety of scale in fabrics"

Areas to Improve:

" machine tension problems in quilting"

Well, I'd have to agree with that! I think it's time I had a serious re-think about my sewing machine options  as my 1950's Elna just can't keep up with my domestic quilting demands and of course, I don't have a stitch regulator.

Still, it's nice to have this quilt home, it reminds me how much I can do in a few months. Because at the moment, I have a lot of WIPs to get through and I'd really like the satisfaction of seeing them finished.