Baby On Trend - The Baby Shower Quilt

I was given Tied With A Ribbon's debut fabric line to play with recently and, well, I'm pleased to say that it pepped up my creative slump.  

The Baby Shower Quilt

The Baby Shower Quilt

I think it was the Woodland colourway that did the trick.  It has such a calming effect.

What I love the most about this range is the panel.  Words I thought I would never say about a fabric range - I usually sneeze (aaaaahh-chooo) if anyone puts a panel near me ... sorry panel lovers.  

But when the panel makes me look good (I'm so vain). 

With minimal effort (and lazy). 

Who am I to turn my nose up? (cross snobby off the list).

When I published this little cot quilt on Instagram I got a few messages to ask if I was selling a pattern.  I hadn't expected that reaction as it's such a simple (and quick) little sew - thanks to that panel.  

So I thought I would whip up a quick little tutorial in this space and just share, share, share.

I'm using the word "tutorial" ... but really it's a little mud-map of cutting instructions.

I know that you clever sewing peeps out there would grasp the rest!

So rules of engagement:

1. All measurements are in inches

2. Always use a 1/4" seam

3. Measurements are cut sizes - not finished.

4. Fabric are:

Woodland Panel

Green Trellis

Woodland Triangle

Woodland Stripe

Yellow Trellis

5. "BG" means Background in the Mud Map below

6. Follow the Mud Map below:

You're welcome to share your makes on Instagram using #thebabyshowerquilt

Here's where you can find links to the fabric

Enjoy!

Sx

PS big thanks to my hubby for squeezing his 6ft frame behind a baby quilt for these pics!

More Rainbows and A Unicorn

Carrying on with I-sew-lation sewing ... it's a 2020 thing.

Two more WIPs done and dusted to the almighty squeals of my two girls.

The curse of a quilter's child is to wait FOREVER for things to be finished ...because ... SQUIRREL!

Something new and shiny comes along that we MUST MAKE and so the hopes and dreams of small children get added to the WIP pile.

But ... eventually ... things do get finished and the small children sing with glee once again. 

Unicorn Dreams Pattern by (the very lovely) Jemima of Tied With A Ribbon

Go get yourself a copy ... because we all need more Rainbows and Unicorns right now.

Sx

Because We Need Rainbows

Do you have one of those quilts that never seems to get finished, then one day the world as you know it goes BAM!! and the WIP is "called to duty"?

By BAM!! I mean Covid-19 ... there ... I typed it out loud.

I haven't wanted to write about it because it's everywhere.  But like sniffing the air as soon as someone says "oh, who farted?"  it's enviable that it would end up in a blog post.  We quilters do like to document history.

So a lot of us are working from home, teaching our kids from home and going a little stir crazy at times.  Daily walks are a good tonic. A lot of families are lifting each others spirits by getting the kids to put soft toys in their front windows and draw rainbow pictures to display and brighten everyone's day.

It just so happens that my WIP was rainbow themed ... so it was time to finish it and hopefully bring a little joy.

Instagram tells me that I finished the centre piece for my Round Robin quilt on the 11th June 2014.  It travelled through Australia and even popped over to New Zealand to have rounds added to it.  Our Round Robin group was called "Possum Magic" and it's contributor are: Carla, Jane, Rebecca, Alice, Jo, Wendy and Sharon.  Links to these lovely ladies are.here

The quilt finishes at a whopping 82" square and is quite heavy ... just ask my little quilt holders!

I would like to thank each and every lady that contributed to this quilt for the effort they put in.  Some had to step way out of their usual colour palette or purchase fabrics that they would never usually purchase.  You see, our motto for these Possum Magic quilts was "do what's best for the quilt".  Sometimes this meant learning a new skill, unpicking a border, or fixing a "boob" like balloon so that the quilt sat flat for the next person.

We just tried to be kind, listen to what the quilt was telling us it needed and doing our best to have a positive impact on the quilt.  Words we can apply to each other in these times.

Let there be rainbows!

Sx

Cooling Blues

There's two things on my mind lately.  Much needed rain and preparing my girls for their next year at school … basically … January.

I'm reminded of a quilt I made from a range of blue fabrics called "Blue Sky" designed by Laundry Basket Quilts.  I have to say that they are not my usual "go-to" fabric designers but for the following quilt they were perfect.

This particular quilt was for a teacher, who after 19 years of service at our school, was retiring.  She taught both my girls in their first year of "big school" which is a huge transition for the kids (and lets be honest, the parents too).

This quilt design started with a mood board.  It's my favourite tool to use when dreaming up a quilt for someone.  I think about their favourite colour.  I draw influences from the environment that surrounds them.  Their generation and personality.  I made the following moodboard so you can follow my train of thought.

The schoolhouse block was a must …

Rows of stacked coins … a nod to the time I was parent helper for maths lessons.

Soft wavy quilting representing the winds of change ...

Each detail made just for her … bundled up with love.

Some care instructions ...

And plenty of hugs ...

Just as it should be.

Sx

The Fires Bring New Life

It's almost poetic that my last blogpost was about the terrible fires in California, when now, as I type, many volunteers are labouring against fires that are exponentially massive in comparison, in my own county, Australia.

The compassionate response from within Australia and around the world has been heart warming.  Many people from all walks of life have been raising money for not only the antipodeans inhabiting this country but also for our precious wildlife whose homes are also being destroyed.

I think we should look to nature on how we rebuild and recover from this … even while fires are still non discriminately burning.

Wombats, unusually, sharing their burrows and sheltering other animals that would normally be unceremoniously shooed away. 

New shoots growing from the charred remains like bright green beacons of hope - mother nature showing us she'll fight on despite our neglect.

I've been working away for some time now in the background on a few hand sewing projects.

These flowers are beyond bright and are cheering me up.  Every block I finish is my new favourite and spurs me on to finish another.  

I'll leave you with this bright bunch of flowers I've completed so far …

… I hope they brighten your day.

Sx