Na-Na-Na-Na-Na ....

BATMAN!!

I've been having a little fun with a project after taking myself a little too seriously.  Do you ever do that?

I was stressing over a WIP that I started in ... July 2013 ... it was hanging over my head.  The project was a black and white Houndstooth quilt.  One day someone said, quite innocently, that the pattern reminded them of bats.

Now I can't un-see it.  So I decided to embrace the bat!

Time to drop my shoulders and have some fun ...

Original collage source can be found here

See that batman quilt in the middle of the collage above?  That's my quilt!  It wasn't in the original collage ... I just had a bit of fun imagining the type of little boy's nursery room this quilt could live in ... I (badly) overlayed my quilt in the pic (#cheeky).

You see, this little guy is headed off to a children's charity.  I won't ever get to see it in it's new surroundings so I'm having a little play here.

One more?  OK, if I must ...

Orginal collage source can be found here

All in the name of fun ... that's what this is all about right?  Sewing, creating, fun!

I think I like it best in the monochrome collage above ...

Monochrome nurseries are coming back in ... and this little exercise has flooded my brain with black & white nursery quilt ideas ...

 ... and to think that this little project had me so stuck for so long!

I think I'll go easier on myself next time ... you know, when things don't work out as planned.

Sx

Shine Bright Star Quilt

My youngest is in Kindy ... such a special time ... watching their little blinkers widening from home life to the big world outside. She is half-way through the year now and today is her first day back after the school holidays. Uniforms washed and pressed ... new lunchbox, new water bottle and a new quilt made by me for Kindy nap time.

At the beginning of the year she said she didn't want me to make her a quilt for Kindy nap time (Aww, I was heartbroken).  But, I smiled back to her and asked what she would like instead.  "Something from the shops", she said.  Ok, I get it ... something shiny and new to go with all the other shiny new things.

I love this quote ... it's so her and so me whispering in her ear

A happy little accidental fabric placement

So off to K-mart we went.  She scanned the isles and found the perfect little pillow and blanket just for her (and the 3 million other kids that would buy exactly the same stuff churned out by the juggernaut ... I thought to myself ... somewhat sourly).

I included a lot of low volume fabrics like this so she could enjoy and discover the little details while she rested

I bide my time ... hoping that by not making a fuss ... she would come back round.  And you know what?  It only took two terms of school (... only ...) but she finally asked me in these holidays to make her a quilt for nap time.

shimmers of gold metallic prints

A dark backing because they nap on the floor

I tried not to sound too eager (yay! woo whoo, happy dance, fist pump, take that K-mart!) and began working on it the minute she went to bed that night!

I remembered to add one of my labels (I often forget to!)

It's finally finished and she took it to Kindy today ... I can't wait to hear all about nap time when I see her shiny, beaming, little face at school pick up.

The sun pillow is from K-mart, she still loves it and to be honest I do to!  

Sx

Quilt Stats
Size is 40" x 60"
Fabrics on front: main players are a mix of Paperie, Backyard Circus and Spotlight
Backing is from Spotlight
Quilting thread is Aurifil variegated 50wt #3660 (shades of pink)
Binding is Liberty

Linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday, Let's Be Social, Finish it Up Friday

This picture makes me happy

Modern Rainbow - Scattered Baby Quilt

We all know that I love a rainbow and it might surprise some that know me well here that my appetite for using scraps is growing.  Yes that's right, in my earlier days I used to bin scraps - gasp!  I know ... I'm trying to be better these days and it seems my efforts are paying off.

Introducing my new favourite scrappy quilt:  Scattered.

I can't take credit for the pattern or the name ... they are the genius of Rebecca Bryan and her book Modern Rainbow.

My scraps were not quite the dimensions required for the pattern, so I ad-libbed somewhat, that's the best thing about this pattern ... it suggests a certain style and gives you the freedom to play with scale and placement.

I used the Backyard Circus scraps from my last quilt for the most part ... and filled in the colour gaps with Ella Blue's Basics range.

They play so nicely together ... must be because they are from the same happy family.

Why yes, Quilt Police ... I do use selvages in my quilts ... especially when they are this cute!

You may have seen on Instagram that I had a few "Issues" with my walking foot ... so we just limped over the line to get this one quilted.  My Janome is such a trooper ... but still I didn't want to push my luck ... so some simple diagonal line quilting was the answer ... but still ... that texture ... I'm pleased with the outcome.

Well this quilt is now jetting over from Perth to Adelaide and will be hand delivered by my Fine English Fellow to it's forever home.

You're welcome to use my washing instructions found at the bottom of this post

I hope the recipients love it as much as I enjoyed making it for them :)

Sx

Linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday and Finish it Up Friday

The Circus Is Coming To Town - Baby Quilt

Which comes first for you?

The design ...

or the fabric?

Backyard Circus

Recently the fabric came first ... in the very. fun. form of Backyard Circus by Jodie Carleton for Ella Blue.

It's usually the design for me ... then I spend weeks/months hunting around trying to find just the right fabric to fit what's in my head ... which, come to think of it, is probably why I don't have much of a stash.

But, when I saw this fabric, the name of the quilt "The Circus Is Coming To Town" popped into my head ... and ... just like that ... I was off and racing!

I knew I wanted houses.  I knew it was going to be a baby quilt (because my hubby requested one recently ... a baby quilt, not a baby - phew!). I knew it had to be for a boy.

Me ... attempting props ... with quilts (badly)

Pinterest took me to this pattern ... you'll see that my quilt is quite heavily based on it ... but without the faces, the faces freaked me out, and I messed around with the layout too.

This Perth heat has not been good for the grass!

Wonky improv houses ... love this little set of three

This little house has very good air-conditioning

Still ... A fun quilt!  A quilt I'm happy with.  An Improv quilt.  A first for me!

Sx

... Circus family out-take ....

*** Cue the circus music ***

Linking up with TGIFF and Finish It Up Friday

Twin Quilts

The twin quilts are finished - yay!

You can pop over here to see the work in progress, but basically the brief was full of ice-cream colours ... mainly yellow, pink and mint green in pastel shades) ...

Cute little animals ...

and a minimal design ...

I added some straight line quilting in matching variegated mint and yellow threads, creating 60 degree diamonds (channelling my inner waffle cone) and some stripy binding for extra yum!

They are sweet and simple at 40" x 60" and I can't wait to see them in their new home.  The little twins will be welcomed into our crazy world any time now ... Exciting!

Sx