I've been busy

Guess it is a while since I posted. Lots has been happening in my world, including a trip to Tasmania to meet Jonas and play with Sophia.
Also done some sewing and made them both quilts.

It was lovely to see them and play Grandma.

Jonas' quilt. This is a variation on the Hugs N Kisses pattern "Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite". I added a few more flying geese.

Sophia's Quilt - this one is from a picture I saw on a blog. I'm really sorry I can't remember who it was, the block just stuck in my mind and I had to make it.

New Project

I want to make some more quilts this year using some of the fabulous patterns that come into the shop, and I've decided to go with this one first. It is called Penny Lane by Abbey Lane and uses 25 fat quarters, which I just happen to have in my stash. It should be quick and easy as it is all done with simple strips. Here are the fabrics I have chosen and the original picture. It also needs some contrast fqs but I haven't got them out yet, I need to see how it looks first.

And I also made a cute little baby quilt last weekend. I was looking at Red Boot Quilt Company patterns and found one called All You Need is Love with this fabulous applique word on it. I didn't want to make a big quilt so I just used the applique word to put on a simple baby quilt. I think it's great and I might have to use the letters again. The quilt is pretty nice in the pattern too - it might get made later in the year.

Ready for 2014

I'm back home from a lovely Christmas break in Tasmania, and now I'm planning some quilts and other projects for 2014. I want to make a couple of Christmas Tree quilts, and some kitchen type things - hotpads, placemats, etc. I would also like to start a larger project that I can work on throughout the year - think it may be the Whitework Sampler. I have loved it since I first saw the pattern a few years ago, and it is done with only 3 colours. I don't think I will do it using Needleturn, more likely it will be with fusible web. If I get it started I will put some pics up.

Wedding quilt top finished

I have finished the top for the wedding present, and I am very happy with it. It will go to Belinda in the early new year to be quilted and then I can give it to someone who has been very influential in my life recently. I used the To the Point pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew and did it mainly in Kaffe fabrics, it turned out bluer than I expected but that's fine. It is also not quite as big as I thought, the pattern has borders and I decided I didn't want borders on it. So it fits as a topper on my double bed. I'll take some better pictures when it is quilted.

Decided, and now for Christmas

Well, I have decided which quilt I am going to make. It is the To the Point by Cluck Cluck Sew, and I have even cut half the fabrics for it. I am using mainly Kaffes and lots of brights. I think I might make one with a white background and one with black.
Now for Christmas. I want to make a Christmas Tree quilt, and I have looked at several before deciding on which one I want to make. It is Step Into Christmas by Abbey Lane. I might not have time to make it this year, but now I know what I want it will happen before next Christmas. And I am going to do some redwork ornaments for Sophia's tree, the pattern is by Annie Smith and is called Jingly Dangly Things - isn't it a cool name. And I am also making Sophia a new hat for the summer - this one is a Fig Tree pattern and is called Amelia & Me.

And this is the latest project I am working on. I found a heap of purple half square triangles, 1.5" finished, in a box. They have been there for a large number of years, and I figured I should do something with them. They are now all made into 9 patches, and there will be four 9 patches in each block. I will put up some pics when I get a bit more done.

Decisions

Well I was planning to do more blogging once I got moved and settled but it all seems to have come to a screaming halt. But anyway, everything is good in my life at the moment and I am very grateful for that. I'm still trying to finish putting things where they belong but it is a bit hard when I don't seem to have enough room (or maybe I have too much stuff). We won't go there.

And now I have a bit of a dilemma. I have to make a wedding present for someone, it needs to be bright and modern and I am having trouble picking a design. These are some I am looking at right now, it could change again tomorrow. I figured I should find a design then get fabric, but maybe I should do it the other way.

 These quilts are by some of my favourite modern designers, any suggestions would be gratefully accepted. I want to make them all but don't know which one would work best for a wedding present.

All Steam Ahead

It's been a while since I posted anything anywhere but I'm back now and All Steam Ahead. I have moved house and it was an interesting experience - I don't really recommend it. But I love living in my new house and once I finish unpacking and get everything sorted it will be great. 

SewArmadillo is still going, with lots of great new stuff starting to come back in. I stopped ordering for a while during the move but that has finished now and I am ordering new stock, and getting in things that I have run out of. 

So here are a few fun new patterns - these are Creative Cards - quick and easy little patterns in card format. They have brief instructions and template drawings on a single card. Just trace the templates onto template plastic and have fun making these cuties.