Empty spools finished!

I just did what Susan said!  I quilted and bound it.  The binding is a pale solid blue from stash which looks nice and quiet and fits in well with the blue print.


All in all one peaceful reflective little quilt that doesn't want to shout about itself!  I loved doing those scrappy spools - great fun!

One little quilt quickly done!  I am liking it now though I have to admit it wasn't love at first sight.


Good practice for the workshop I will be going on in October though I might forget how to do them by then.  




Nicky



Edit: Just linked this post to Quiltstory Fabric Tuesday see my sidebar for their button!  






measurements 
block size 6" finished
quilt size 32" finished


fabrics
Lily and Will 
Kona AshJohn Louden pastel polka dotJinny Beyer Palette for backing
blue solid from stash for binding

Scrappy spools block taken from 
Great Scrap-bag Quilts by Jan Halgrimson

quilting 
Big stitch in cream cotton perle
previous posts
http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2011/07/hexagons-hexalong-hexathon.html
http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2011/07/empty-spools-update.html

FWQ 18 blocks!

I forgot to do my Farmer's Wife blocks last week so I am playing catch up here.


I have done three blocks to get up to the correct number - I had also done three blocks two weeks ago.  So I have a total of 18 blocks.


After all those Spool and Churndash blocks my first two blocks were an obvious choice

Then I did a block I have always had a great affection for - the Friendship Star!

And here are the eighteen blocks together..

Has anyone thought of how they are setting their blocks?  I know they are on point but I haven't really thought about my sashing yet.  I will think about that this week - perhaps the very lovely Kona snow will help calm down my patterns and lift some of those darker colours....!




Nicky

Churndash nine!

Previously I showed you a quarter of a quilt which I had made, inspired by a quilt by Julie from juliekquilts.

I have worked a bit more on this one yesterday evening and this is how far I managed to get

And here is Emily - she just couldn't help herself but get involved!  Isn't she pretty and nonchalant looking?  

Who would have thought she had just been racing backwards and forwards, and ended up running up this tree? 

But back to the quilt....

I really like it but wonder what to do next? 

Border or no border?  Julie's quilt had a four patch and outer plain border. 

At the moment I am thinking another narrow sashing all the way around but I don't think I have enough thirties fabric so it will have to be a solid fabric instead - I'm thinking red.  The tiny cornerstones can still be in thirties fabric and will help to finish my last scraps off.  Then possibly a white border ....and then?  Binding? Another border? Or I'm tempted to just go straight to binding in red now?

I'm not sure yet...thinking caps on girls what is your advice?

Nicky

measurements

block size 14" square  finished size

top size 59" square 

fabric

thirties jelly roll

kona snow and peridot

previous posts
http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-nine-patches-and-those-churn-dash.html
http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2011/07/more-orphan-blocks.html


inspiration
juliekquilts

Empty Spools Update!

Well Susan told me to just get on with it - to baste, quilt and bind the empty spools quilt.  So I am!




I used some Jinny Beyer Palette fabric for the backing.  I am using cotton perle yet again - this time cream - to quilt with big stitches round the spools and in the border.  


This is how it looks so far

The cats, Saffy and Emily, both decided my photos needed a bit more excitement with a walk through.  Emily even stood on the quilt but I thought that was going a bit far as she hadn't cleaned her feet yet from going outside.



I had hoped to finish but duty called and we had to attend a few events to celebrate my daughter's last day at the local Primary school after seven years and mine too after twelve....New chapter in our history coming in September and I have to go and buy lots of new uniform....ouch!





Nicky


measurements 
block size 6" finished
quilt size 31.5 finished


fabrics
Lily and Will 
Kona Ash
John Louden pastel polka dot
Jinny Beyer Palette for backing

Scrappy spools block taken from 
Great Scrap-bag Quilts by Jan Halgrimson



quilting
Big stitch in cream cotton perle

previous post
http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2011/07/hexagons-hexalong-hexathon.html

A commission!

I have been commissoned to make a quilt for a very exacting client - my son!  




He has never been interested in patchwork before but was telling me that the squares in patchwork are just like pixels.  He was telling me how to make a circle and so I asked if he meant something like this:

Then he got talking about space invaders and has now commissioned me to make him a space invaders quilt - and in case you do not know, or have forgotten he is thinking along the lines of this:

But in green and black. 




I think I remember that the space invaders game had lots of these chaps descending the screen firing shots like rain.  Maybe I'll have to play a few games before I can commit to this - just as research you understand!




Should I take this commission on or just play the game?  What do you think?




Nicky

Visiting the Corn Store

Odd-sounding name you might think but I can assure you it is a great place for a visit.


My friend and I like coming to the Corn Store in Pulborough because it is an antique store and they do lunch! 


The location is charming -

View from the old stone bridge crossing the canal.




We like coming to browse the antiques 

We like coming for the friendly service from the delightful Nicky - not me another one!  And the lunch -

We especially like coming for the tea and carrot cake!  Mmmm!

And we always take something home -

Two new necklaces!

A cute red dog with little knobs to hang things from - she loves red, she loves dogs!  I think she likes him!

Now is there a better way to spend a day in the company of your friend?

Nicky

Hexagons Hexalong Hexathon?!"

Well Lynne from Lily's Quilts just had to say those magic words QAL and I was in before I knew it.  But it was not the sort of hexalong I was expecting it was even better!


Here is the information you need - go and check it out: 


Lynn's first post about it Hexalong starts here! 
Her co-hosts Gayle Brindley's first post Hexalong with Lynne which includes a photo of the quilt Kerry Dear's Candied Hexagons
The group Flickr site  Lilys quilts

I had earmarked some fabric but I do not think it will do - I will need a complete re-think.  Another ponder or musing session is in the offing...


In the meantime I offer you some eye-candy....


when this

became this....

More spool blocks - scrappy empty ones this time (thank you Shirley)  - and in soft pastel Lily and Will fabric with Kona Ash, some extra cream on cream from stash and some John Louden Pastel Polka Parade from my local fabric shop for the outer border!  This is so not my usual colour palette and I am still wondering whether I like it!!  It may need a further tweaking...




This may become a wall hanging for my craft/spare bed-room.


As a point of interest - ages ago I told you about a conversation I'd had with my local fabric shopkeeper.  (My previous post is here!) She has responded by buying in nicer fabric pre-cuts and bundles that actually go together - the John Louden fabric is from a jelly roll of polka dots.   Getting closer but maybe not quite there yet...!  Well I had to buy some didn't I....?

John Louden Pastel Polka Parade and Candy Co-ordinates

Don't forget the Hexalong! 


There are new posts now with tutorials on English Paper Piecing (EPP) and Point to point piecing and lots of things to come!  Should be an interesting journey  -  are you hexing in!??






Nicky


measurements 
block size 6" finished
quilt size 31.5 finished


fabrics
Lily and Will 
Kona Ash
John Louden pastel polka dot


Scrappy spools block taken from 
Great Scrap-bag Quilts by Jan Halgrimson