Hold Onto Your Heart: Making Part 8

This month it's time to create the welcoming and abundant bowl of produce. This bowl is a platter of plenty; pineapples represent welcome, friendship and hospitality. The pomegranate has long been associated with success, marriage and birth and shows up in carvings and ornaments all over the world as a symbol of prosperity. The berries represent bounty and pleasure and the zinnia flowers represent endurance. Each fruit and bloom in this bowl is in it's own peak season, so lavish all your attention on making this scene as inviting as you can. For my gentle quilt, I opted for calm colours to blend into the existing pallette:

When I was considering my pineapple options, I was mindful that I wanted a fabric to replicate the skin without creating a double layered applique shape. It was on my mind that I might have to do this, or perhaps use paint to create that additional depth, however once I set eyes on this fabric I was in love with it and decided to keep things simple.

This is what my fussy cutting process looked like

As you can see, I numbered every last shape

And you can see what I mean here about painting in the extra shapes to create depth. When I say extra shape, I mean the overlapping piece on each layer. I really like the 'cap' over each piece and would have painted it slightly golden over a chosen fabric.. until I came across my chosen fabric and didn't have to. 

This is what the back of my pineapple looks like

and of course, the front

and my zinnia

For my full colour quilt top, I fussy cut my flower head

and used this gorgeous swirls fabric for my berries

my pineapple was made from a bright and bold print which best suits the mood of this quilt top

I can't wait to show you more and see what you've been up to also..

     ' Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM   

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

  You can start this BOM today!   

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!

WOW: Preparing my Pineapples

 WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

Today I'm preparing my pineapple blog post to ready BOM 2019 members for the next installment of Hold Onto Your Heart. As you can see, I'm busily creating behind the scenes and quickly running through my supply stash.

I've almost used up all of my favourite applique glue and I'm thinking hard about where I can quickly buy some. A focused errand to just get that one thing. But I know me, and if I head out I'm sure to see someone I know.. or get sidetracked by some lovely new fabrics and before you know it, the afternoon will be gone.

So in the interest of getting on with my WIP, I'm going to scoop, dig out and preserve as much glue as possible in the hopes of completing this block before I set out.

Priorities!

 What's Your WOW?  

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WOW: Creating Community

   WOW = WIPs On Wednesday  

I've been blogging for over ten years and right now, my online Quilt Group is quickly approaching it's 10,000th member. It feels like a nice milestone. We only started up on Facebook in 2016 and this number seems staggering to me. I feel incredibly blessed that not only am I doing something that I love - but that I get to share the adventure with like minded people and form friendships along the way.

It still strikes me as almost impossible that there's a little community out there, from all over the world, creating my designs and sharing it's talent and inspiration with each other in such a friendly space. 

So today, as I start pottering about my studio for the first time in weeks since being struck with the dreaded flu, I'm thinking about this WOW: it's a real life work in progress I never expected or saw coming and yet, here we are.. and I am so grateful.

  What's Your WOW?  

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WOW: Influenza Break

  WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays  

I've got a bad case of influenza so today I'm doing absolutely nothing. Not a thing. Just rest, bone broth and plenty of fresh air. With a WIP pile resembling a mountain in my sewing room, I hope to be better real soon.

Until then, happy wipping everyone, I'm going back to bed..

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Gorgeous Gracie

Good morning Saturday! I've woken up today with several emails asking after this gorgeous quilt Gracie. Apparently it's been shown somewhere which has spiked interest and I'm over the moon about it. Here's the pattern!

Gracie is one of those quilts that has so much going for it - it can be a sweet girly quilt, or a modern folk style quilt - all on the whim of the fabric you choose. I am head over heels with this design, all you have to decide is, which hue suits you?

Finished Size: 68 x 68 inches

Gracie

Complete Digital pattern

$12.95 USD

Gracie is available as a digital pattern, in PDF format for easy home printing in A4. Once payment through Paypal has processed, your download is instantly sent to your email in-box. (Be sure to check your spam and junk folders if it doesn't arrive within 3 minutes.)

WOW: Yarn Bombed!

  WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays  

Do you ever buy things and then promptly forget you've purchased them? I went online to buy some yarn in colours to finish off my existing stash supplies so I could (in theory) complete some projects this winter. Although I am living under a quilt WIP mountain, I do still like to knit or crochet in the evenings when it's really cold and this year has been an especially long and cold winter down my way. So I thought I better be ready stocked with yarn supplies.

Well then I got influenza and forgot all about my evening knit plans.. until this box arrived. Is it just me, or is it normal for yarn to arrive so tumbled?! This is the view right after I tore back the lid. I was really surprised that the yarn looked like it had been plucked off the shelf and literally thrown in the box - because each colour has multiples of 10 x, I expected it to arrive in 'lot' bags which is usually what happens. So now I have to think of a way to safely store these balls safely from the clutches of the months which have invaded this winter.

I really wonder why I keep making so much work for myself?! My shelves are groaning with fabric, so there's definitely no room there. I have seen some suitcases over on pinterest put to good use for storing yarn, so I might have to do that.

But maybe after my influenza nap. Just the idea of doing any of that has left me exhausted. It's back to bed with me..

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Time For Some Blooming Therapy!

What a week! If I've ever been in need of some blooming therapy, it's now!

I've been struggling with a very nasty strain of influenza that has zapped all the colour from my days.Today's the first day I've been back on my feet and I've been thinking about my On My Window Flowers Bloom wall hanging pictured here. I love the idea of a bright shelf of flowers, always in perfect bloom, shining from any wall, any time I feel like it.

I think it's about time I finished this gorgeous wall hanging to cheer me up on days like today. And you know what they say - every cloud has a silver lining- so here's my contribution to some sunshine indoors; if you'd like to make your very own On My Window Flowers Bloom, go ahead and do it!

On My Window Flowers Bloom

An applique wall hanging, finished size 38 x 48 inches

Complete Digital Pattern

$19.95 USD

This pattern is being sold as an instant digital download. The moment payment is processed by PayPal, you will be redirected to a download page. You will also be sent an email with download details so you can download this pattern instantly. 

WOW: Collar On !

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I was thrilled to find this cardigan in this gorgeous hot pink colour. It's pure wool and beautifully made. But you know me, I had to embellish it somehow! I picked this lovely Bari J fabric and added this fabric collar just for the sake of it. I started last week and got as far as cutting out the pattern when I went down with a nasty bout of Influenza last Thursday. Although I'm still struggling a bit, I am glad to report that this particular WIP is done!

Today, I'm taking it easy with plenty of bed rest. The flu is no joke and I've really suffered from some nasty strains in the past 2 years. I get so annoyed when I see sick people out and about, spreading viruses, especially at this time of year. If you're sick, STAY HOME and stop spreading it.

My WIP today is all about getting better; I'm a terrible patient and just hate being sick, especially when I have so many other more exciting things I'd rather get on with.

 What's Your WOW? 

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Click here to enter