The triangle quilt

Hi all,

This has to be one of my fastest finishes ever! For a quilt that is. Started and finished in 2 weeks!

While trying to decide what to make for an upcoming engagement party I came across these left over triangles, scraps to anyone else! They are left over from this quilt. Which is still not quilted BTW. I seem to have a pattern of using up the leftovers before the original project is finished.

This picture got rave reviews on my FB page so I went with it!

I trimmed the triangles to 6” sides. I pretty much made it up as I went along, there are loads of tutorials for these quilts but as long as your triangles are all the same size it should work.

I quilted straight lines following the edges of the triangles, the lines are pretty organic and I changed direction here and there.

For the back I used some Heather Bailey Pop Garden with a strip of Bella Raspberry which I also used for the binding.

Stats – Triangle Quilt
No Pattern
Size – 54” x 46”
Fabric – Leftover triangles, Bella Etching Slate, Bella Raspberry and HB Pop Garden.
Quilting – by me in straight lines.

Coaster Set

Hi all,

These are a great quick and easy project, perfect for gifts on the run!

I made these for Jess as a thank you for co-hosting the QAL with me. I wanted to share them because they are so easy to make…if you have only made one 10” block from the QAL then you could make these.

I used a 10” block from the QAL and cut it into quarters. If you layer it with your wadding on the bottom, backing fabric right side up and then top fabric right side down. Stitch around the edge leaving a small gap on one side. Turn it right sides out through the opening, and press. Then top stitch close to the edge you have a set of coasters! See, quick and easy!

These are cool because they fit together like a puzzle but still look good individually! I am thinking about doing something similar with a 20” block I have left over and making a set of potholders.

If you whip up a set of these you still have time to link them up to the QAL Linky Post and possibly win a gift voucher for the Fat Quarter Shop!

There are 2 days left to link up your quilts for the QAL, I have been checking Jess’ blog every day to see if there are any new entries! I get super excited when I see a new one up there!

While you are over at Jess’ blog check out the Quilt Appeal she is running for the people in Tassie that have lost everything in the fires.

End of the school year!

Hi all,

Wow! Can you believe it? Where did this year go?

My biggest little guy finished year 1 today, it has gone so quickly but he had a great teacher and there was a teachers aide again this year so I think he has had lots of learning, encouragement and guidance…which I thought couldn’t go unappreciated! So I made them something each that I hope they love.

Lunch bags! The pattern is free over at the Pink Penguin blog! I love this bag, I have one myself which I use to carry around hand sewing.

These are lined with a food safe waterproof fabric which was lovely to sew with and looks really neat. And for the wadding I have used a layer of Insul-bright to insulate them.

Now we have to start getting ready for next year which will be very exciting and scary too. The biggest little guy will be in grade 2 and the littlest guy will be starting kindy. I have a feeling kindy might be a bit of a shock to his system – with the sharing, separation from mum & dad and new rules to follow. Hopefully it won’t take too long to for them both to settle in.

 

Teacher Appreciation Day

Hi all,

So last Friday was Teacher Appreciation Day for Queensland schools, I believe the other states have this day while we are on school holidays in September….

Last year I made the teachers bookmarks.

So I thought I would stick with the bookmark theme again this year….actually I googled ‘teacher appreciation gifts’ for ideas and came across some interesting posts. This one has asked her teacher friends the best and worst gifts they have received and I found it really helpful….they do not what anymore chocolate and candy!

I wanted to do the bookmarks a little different from last year, don’t want to become a one trick pony!

I used a free tutorial, which you can find at the Funky Polkadot Giraffe.

The only change I made was to add a layer of heavy iron-on interfacing, that way the bookmark wouldn’t be floppy.

I used fabric that would remind them of Ty – trucks, machinery and motors are pretty much all he talks about!

On the back I used this cool fabric that has Hello in lots of different languages….I got this in a strip swap. Swaps are great for adding fabrics to your stash that you probably wouldn’t normally buy but they really do come in handy!

We also made cards from scrapbooking card and Ty helped write a message and drew each of the teachers a personal picture. I thought it was really sweet that he added that himself.

Now I am thinking about end of year presents! Only about 6 weeks to go, I can’t believe this year is almost over!

Blocks, blocks, blocks and a Bag!

Hi everyone,

Over the last week or so I have been trying to catch up on a couple of things…I am in a Bee with the Quilt Club Australia Facebook group.

This is the block for August, a Feathered Star. Quite a time consuming block, which is why I put if off for so long but it looks great when it is finished.

Now I only have to catch up with September and October!

Next up was the QAL…very naughty of me to be behind in the QAL I am co-hosting!

Block 5 – Jack in the Box.

 
Block 7 – Another Star.

Block 9 – Dutch Rose.

I still have Tippencanoe to do which is Jess’ latest block and I need to get going on the tute for this weeks block!

I have been so tempted lately to start something new! So instead of starting something big I thought I would make something that could be finished quickly!

And it was so nice to take a break and do something fairly quick and easy!

Sorry the photos are horrible, I took them last night so our friend could take the bag first thing this morning.

The outside fabric is Sandi Henderson Secret Garden and the Lining is Aqua Chevrons by Riley Blake.

I will definitely be making more of these bags so I will get some better pictures with the next couple! And I will try to remember where I got the pattern from – it was a freebie!

Baby girl quilt!

Hi everyone!

Things have been a little slow around here for the last couple of weeks, we have all been sick with the flu but things are slowly coming back to normal again now.

Before I got sick I found out that one of my friends had her baby….but surprise, surprise!! She had a girl! They told her she was having a boy so this was very unexpected…I thought I might make something pretty for this new baby girl!

I keep a few panels in my stash for these sorts of occasions! I raided my stash for matching fabrics and this is what I started with.

I got the top made and then had a break for a week while I was sick….And finally this is what I finished with!

I put a small border around the panel and then made simple blocks to put around the edges. I wanted to keep it fairly soft and pretty so I used a pale binding too.

Don’t quilts look lovely rolled up?!

I think the back looks just as pretty as the front!

Unfortunately I can’t give you many stats because I forgot to measure it, I didn’t use a pattern and the fabrics are a lot of different ranges and all from my stash!

It is 100% cotton though - fabric, wadding and thread! And a good size for a cot!

I’m having a sale!

Hi Everyone!

Just in case you need a gift for a special someone….I’m having a sale!

15% off all the items in my Etsy shop for one week only. The sale will end next Tuesday the 2nd of May.

You need to use the coupon code – gift2012

What’s been happening!

Hi Everyone!

We have been pretty busy here…

I was finally able to convince Hubby to extend the quilting setup I am looking after for my SIL.

It is actually a short-arm quilting machine….I have only done a little bit of practice so far and it has been here since the beginning of the year…what a waste, right?!

Then I realised I didn’t have anything ready to quilt. So I been busy finishing off a couple of tops.

This is the star quilt from Quilting From Little Things…I am pretty happy with how it has turned out…I am a bit worried about the seam joining the stars to the first border, in some places – were the star-arms join the border – the seam allowance is cutting it a bit fine…might iron some interfacing to the back for extra support.

I finally put the border on this sampler quilt. I think she will be my first quilting victim ;) I mean my first customer!

Just need to join the backing fabric and I am right to go…I will try to do that tomorrow and get her loaded on the machine.

I whipped up these cute little coasters for my neighbour….a thank you for a beautiful beehive ginger and a very enjoyable afternoon tea!

Some quick sewing!

Hi all,

Believe it or not I haven’t turned my sewing machine on for nearly a week! What the?!

But when I saw the tutorial for a “Bapron” over at The House on the Side of the Hill….it is sooo cute!

The tutorial is done by Jess at Craftiness is not Optional. They are so sweet and very easy to make!

My SIL is due to have a baby in about a month so when I saw these I knew what to do – make some of them of course! The pink one is from Cape Ann fabric and the blue one is some Organic fabric. Lined with pale blue flannelette.

This is the last blocks for the Bee in Oz for 2011 -

It is called Drunk Love and should make a beautiful quilt.

I don’t know if we are doing the Bee again this year so I have signed up to do Just Takes 2!

 
Which has just started today so you need to get in quick! Click on the picture for the link to the webpage.

And lastly – I will announce the winner for giveaway 1 on Wednesday so if you haven’t entered yet now is your chance!

The Big Launch!

Hi all,

Do you see my big news!!! Over to the left….

It all started with these – covered notebooks.

I was making TP’s end of year presents for his teachers. And I really love the process of starting with scraps or small pieces and seeing were I end up.

I loved quilting them and adding the embellishments – ric rac, buttons, flowers.

And I thought “I wonder if I could sell these?” and I asked a couple of people and got some good feedback. So I am launching my very own (holy cow!) etsy shop!

Jump on over and have a look! If you know anyone who is looking for quality gifts or even for some self-spoiling (is that a word?) send them to visit me! I will be adding more items regularly….I have a million ideas racing around in my head!

I might even have a giveaway to celebrate! Keep an eye out for that soon!

I feel like I have done the NASA countdown for my own shop….so exciting….I think I need a glass of wine now to calm my nerves!