springwood

Image courtesy of the Springwood Quilters blog

It's an unbelievably stunning Sydney autumn day and I'm supposed to be here at the Springwood Quilt Show in Sydney's Blue Mountains.

Instead, I'm at home with a dreadful cold feeling sorry for myself.

It looks like a great show too. More pictures and information on the Springwood Quilters blog and at Creative Dabbling's blog. The shop stalls look fantastic!

Musn't grumble . . .

I had an extended weekend thanks to the ANZAC Day public holiday on Thursday. Around the country and overseas dawn services were held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the young men and women of Australia and New Zealand. It's a sober reminder of how lucky we are to have a safe country and a good life.

I worked on the charity quilt and although I haven't finished all the blocks needed (April's are done) I wanted to start joining the blocks together using the method by Fiona from bugzrugz. Click here for her tutorial.

It actually works!

 

front

 

 

back

 

The main blocks are 18 inches square. I didn't lose too much of their size after trimming despite using at least three different types of batting.

 

 

Four of the blocks have the black star print and five blocks have the cream star. These are joined in rows of three and there are long joining rows to give the quilt some length. Most 13-17 year olds are as tall as beanstalks these days.

I also found some time to work on the Rosette blocks before the cold took hold. Now I'm off to make a hot lemon and honey drink. Then a nap.

patience

It's about this time in a new project when I start to lose a little patience. This of course benefits no one, least of all me.

It hasn't helped that my iron gave up the ghost (where on earth does that expression come from?) spluttering and spitting as it did so. I'm beginning to think there is a conspiracy as this is about the fifth iron story in the last two weeks.

Its replacement is a fine, sturdy chap with a Teflon sole plate and good head of steam. Perfect for ironing jeans (awww Mum! Not my jeans - DS).

Pity it's too heavy for pressing 2 inch half square triangle blocks. Heading to the store this week to find something more diminutive.

I have discovered that pressing the finished block and pinning it to the ironing board to cool overnight is resulting in lovely flat blocks which stay flat. Why didn't you folks let me in on this secret before now?

It takes ages and ages and ages to make one of these blocks. I'm guessing the clever folks at Figtree whipped up this quilt in an afternoon. (I know, I know. You've told me a million times not to exaggerate).

Six more blocks to go.....

muddle

Now that work has finished on the basket quilt, it's time to pick up where I left off on the Rosettes quilt.

Things got into a bit of a muddle but it's all sorted now and eight of the sixteen star blocks are finished.

Still a fair way to go though.

A binding is also needed for this quilt -

I've only just realised that those brown strips are next to each other. Sigh, so much for random.

On a lighter note the peacefulness of our morning sleep-ins are being shattered by an unkindness of ravens dropping small stones on the roof. They are a relatively new addition to the avian landscape around these parts and I have to say I much preferred the sparrows and blue wrens.

march

I'm a wee bit late posting about finishing these blocks but I did quilt them in March so it still counts right?

Just two more blocks left to quilt and then I can start piecing them together and working out the pattern for the border. I have lots of leftover pieces that musn't go to waste.

Thank you all for the lovely comments and compliments on my baskets quilt. Made my day!

baskets

 

What do you think?

 

I am so happy with this quilt that I could sing (lucky that you can't here how awful that sounds!)

 

The pattern is from Kim Brackett's Scrap Basket Surprises and it was such an enjoyable quilt to make. Kim's patterns are easy to follow and although designed for 2.5inch strips I made mine from a layer cake with a little extra yardage for colour balance.

 

Kim has published two books since then.

 

The fabric is Simple Abundance by Bonnie & Camille and was given to me by the wonderful team at Busy Thimbles.

 

Busy Thimbles always has a fantastic stand at the Sydney Quilt Show and I'm looking forward to visiting them again this year. They are renowned for their kits, English paper piecing and Sue Daley patterns.

 

Joanne Knott - The Quilter's Quilter worked her magic using a flower pattern and the binding was made from leftover fabric.

 

 

 

 

It's a good feeling to have this quilt finished at last. Now I'd better get back to working on my charity quilt blocks. The end of the month has crept up on me this time around!