This is Amy's fairy quilt. It was made while I filled in time while waiting for her at dancing classes. Until recently I participated in a birthday fat quarter exchange, and the year I made this quilt I requested fairy/girly prints, so I had a very sweet selection of prints to go in her quilt. I chose to make large blocks rather than smaller ones, as I didn't want dismembered fairies all over the place.
I imagine this quilt is about 7 years old now, and at the time I was really still learning about different aspects of quilting. It's entirely hand pieced, and also hand quilted. Sadly though, the batt I used was not the greatest and beards terribly. Each time the quilt is washed more and more of the batt escapes, so I imagine in time there will be little left at all. Really though, it doesn't matter, because even though Amy has now outgrown her fairy phase, she still loves this quilt so much and has it on her bed each night. It's really a lovely feeling knowing you have created something which brings so much joy to your baby.
When some friends of ours announced a while back that they were to have a baby, I promised I would make them a cot quilt. The arrival date drew nearer and nearer, and I wasn't sure what to make them. I didn't want to make something which was in pastels, but had no other ideas. That's when I saw the Random Ohio Stars project on Bonnie's website, and remembered I had won some variable stars in an online bingo swap. A plan for a baby quilt was born!
I have also been using Bonnie's ideas for backing quilts, so I used some of my 10.5" squares that I had already cut, and being somewhat lazy, I also used some 10.5" strips which I cut to 40.5", so I wouldn't have to make up so many seams. The back is kinda cute I thought, and I used up stash I probably wouldn't have otherwise.
And of course, being the faithful follower of the 'Scrap Users System' that I have become, as soon as I trimmed the backing away after quilting, the pieces were channelled into other appropriate scrap boxes, ready for use with the next project. Thank you Bonnie for helping me be so organised!
In my first post I mentioned that I'm working on a scrap quilt currently for the magazine. I can't put a picture of the quilt on here right now, but I can show you a close up of some of the left over blocks. When I was making up the quilt, my head must have been in another place, because I miscalculated the number of log cabin blocks I'd need, and made 8 extra??
During the past few years, I've been a Thimbleberries club member at my favourite quilt store, and as a result of that, I've ended up with a lot of scraps, which I've channelled into Bonnie-style scrap bins, but I also ended up with a lot of 'strings' which I've put to use with these log cabins, which finish at 5" square. I decided to keep the centres red, and for the rest of the logs, the warm colours on one side, and the cool colours on the other. I managed to use up most of my strings and some extras on these blocks, it feels great to work through the scraps ... it's almost like free fabric!
I can do this ... I can do this ... I'll recite that while I think about which picture I'll try and post for you.
This is a quilt I finished around the beginning of the year. I was lucky enough to have it published in a recent issue of AP&Q. I called it Liquorice Allsorts, because the sashing strips reminded me of the candy, even though it doesn't have the black stripes.
It's one of my favourite quilts right now, and the bright colours are something of a departure from my usual choices of Reproductions, or country style fabrics. Amy has reserved this quilt, she just loves it!
This is my first post, a scary hold my breath leap into blogland. I'm a passionate quilter, and I try to stitch in some form every day. Right now I'm working on a project which will be featured in Australian Patchwork and Quilting. It's a scrap quilt, and I'll give you a sneaky peek when I figure out how to post pictures here, surely it can't be hard!
I adore Bonnie's website, and I have slowly been implementing her Scrap Users System. If only I could be so prolific as she is!
Last month I returned from my first trip to Paducah with my wonderful friend from San Jose, Linda. Such a wonderful quilt festival. It's sure a long way from here in Australia. I can't wait to return.
That's all for my first post, I will write more when I figure this all out.
