My Stash Busting Stars Top

Remember my Stash Busting Stars quilt? I love that pattern. And as soon as I started cutting up the fabrics I had set aside from my stash, I saw I had too much of it. And I really wanted to use it all up (without bothering to make another quilt) so I added bits in. I added a sashing between the blocks and corners on the blocks and an extra border. Just because. 

For me, patterns are a 'guide', even when I intend to make the design 'as is', I rarely do. I don't think this pattern actually needs any adjustment, but I did decide to modify it as I went along in order to make it bigger and use up the extra fabric.I love this range and I knew I wouldn't be using the fabric for anything else so I couldn't stand to waste it. It's a stash buster for sure.

Some people just don't like stash busters, but I love them. They're the perfect way to test new skills, try new blocks and later, practice your quilting on. I think a quick stash busting quilt at least once a year is just the thing to use up a few fabrics from the mountain and try out some new threads too.

This beauty been on my wall all week and you know what? My DH is confused by it - he sees a mash up of colours and fabrics that don't make sense to his sensibilities... but I must admit that I LOVE IT! My DDs love it too although several guests to my house have agreed with my husband.

Some people just don't understand or see the beauty of quilts in the same way that I do. I mention this to remind any unappreciated quilter's out there that we're a special bunch and not everyone is going to 'get it' and that's fine. For me, everyone ooohs and aahhhs over my applique pieces and walks straight past my patchwork quilts without so much as a second glance.

And talking about all this reminds me of the time when I had a quilt on the machine for domestic machine quilting. A non quilting friend came around and was curious to see my quilting stitches. After admiring the top for a few seconds, she remarked 'oh that's great, I got one just like it from Ezi Buy'. For those of you who don't know, Ezi Buy is a kind of home living catalog and they sell commercially quilted bed coverlets - you know the room decor ones? I just thought that was the funniest thing. Imagine toiling away for hundreds of hours over a mere quilt when I could have simply shopped one for $89.95! Hahaha!

Anyhow, this beauty is complete now and I'll be taking it down and rolling it up ready for basting and quilting some other time as I'll be too busy to get it completed this year and will have to reconsider my quilting options in the new year as I'm developing quite a queue.

Phew! Another WIP just about done. I'm delighted. See you tomorrow for WOW.

WOW: Yarn Time

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I have hundreds of quilt WIPs but every year I like to complete at least one yarny WIP. My next yarn project will be made up with this merino blend from Peru. How gorgeous are these colours? As soon as I set eyes on it, I knew it would be perfect for a winter scarf. Although I prefer to crochet these days, this yarn demands to be knitted owing to the threads wrapping around the fibres. I'm thinking something super basic - I don't think any stitch variation would work with a yarn this busy so I'm hoping to get it stitched up as quickly and easily as possible. 

What's Your Latest Yarn Project 

& 
How Long Did It Take You To Finish? 

An InLinkz Link-up

Book Of The Week: Making Needle Felted Animals

It's time for me to learn something completely new and just play. 

Do you ever get that feeling? Sure, quilting is my first love but I like being an absolute beginner sometimes and just about now, I would like to learn how to make felted animals. 

True to my love for textiles, I'll still be working with a fabric of a kind and with my hands, but this is a challenge I really hope I can rise to. The idea of being able to craft a whole farmyard of gorgeous little creatures is just too tempting. 

Have you ever needle felted an animal?

Morning Glory: My Quilt Top

Well I'm so happy and excited with my Morning Glory that I just have to show it to you even though the early morning lighting isn't too great. But lighting aside, you can see that the top is sewn together. Isn't it fabulous? I'm in LOVE! I can't wait to show you more..

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Morning Glory: Sew Time!

 With all my blocks and parts prepped, today I'm finally sewing down my quilt top

 Here's my border fabric waiting..

And I cannot wait to see the top put together!

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Morning Glory: Notes on Part 8

This is my Part 8 corner triangle block. 

I just love this block, it's a stunning way to make your favourite fabrics shine. 

I mentioned it in the pattern but it's worth repeating that when it's time to work with this block, be sure to STARCH your background fabric before you cut it. This helps keep your cutting line neat.

This is my background before I cut it in two to create the corner triangles. I cut mine out after I had added the second applique motif. Here, the progress of just one fan is shown. There is a tendency for these corner triangle blocks to pull themselves out of shape, so be sure to double measure them against the pattern for accuracy, have the fabric starched and take double time when sewing them into position to make sure you aren't pulling them along the bias. 

 I just love starched blocks ready and waiting to be sewn into position. It's an exciting stage of the quilt top blocks development and I can't wait to show you more..

BOM 2018, My Biggest Year Ever! 

Morning Glory is my current paid BOM. It's an applique and pieced quilt. 

You can start this BOM today! 

Simply click the quilt image to learn more.

To see some of the breathtaking examples that are taking shape, simply visit my Free BOM Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

Cups Galore

Well, I'd rather be quilting! I decided to make a 'spring clean' of my whole Last Quarter Cleaning task and took out my cabinet of cups to wash them (they were a bit dusty) and reorganize the saucers and cake plates. I have lots of extra cups in storage so I'm thinking of rotating them and bringing a new stack in and packing these away. And I suppose now is as good a time as any to get that done.

I'm happy to report that I have discovered some forgotten gems and am loving picking and choosing. Now I just have to get them back into the cabinet - all organised and easy to access.

I think I'm starting to get into this whole 'organisation' thing as it doesn't feel as bad today as it did yesterday. I mean, cleaning is just so boring. But I'm trying to remain motivated. After all, I'm tidying up so that I can return to quilting. And I'll be able to enjoy new cups of coffee as a reward for my hours of toil.  New pretty cups to excite my morning ritual is definitely something to look forward to right now..

What I'm Making This Month: October

I don't turn on my TV very much nowadays, but when I do - it's usually to Chromcast a sewing tutorial! My DDs have been asking for several travel organizers each, made from their favorite Fassett and Tula Pink fabrics. They're completely uninspired by shop bought offerings and want to enjoy their love for fabric in a practical way. 

In the past, I spent HOURS drafting and redrafting bags just like this one, so I know how much work is involved in getting it done, making it nice and sewing it right. Those creations of 15 years ago are now thoroughly worn out and in the intervening years, my DDs simply purchased replacement bags when needed because it suited their lifestyle. But they've grown up a bit now and have a desire to make these kind of one off items. I guess they've come full circle: homemade' is no longer the unfashionable option it once was! But for me personally, I'd rather be quilting and don't have much patience for drafting 'practical' patterns anymore. Luckily for all of us, I don't have to.  

Today I'll simply be following an online class tutorial which includes the pattern to make it. And my DDs will be joining me for some weekend sewing. It'll be our own private workshop at home, in our own time with as much pausing and rewinding as we please. It's going to be fabulous. 

Whenever I think about how much technology annoys me, I remind myself how lucky I am to be alive during this revolution. Just 10 years ago, this wouldn't have even been possible. Today, we're sewing what we really want in fabrics we really love at a time and place that suits us. Perfect.