scrappy trips {almost finsihed}

Time to get my 'scrappy trips' finished... it's been up on the design wall for way too long.

The sewing process to make these blocks was really rather simple, and initially a bit addictive.
And did I mention this fabric pull was all from my stash?
I focused on fabrics that fitted into my colour pallette, trying not to worry if it was old or new
- and I love these wild scraps all mixed up in unlikely combinations!

But it hasn't all been smooth sailing with this WiP!

First up I lost a few blocks...

Then I lost enthusiasm,

so many 12" blocks were needed to make this look symetrical...

... I almost came to a giant full s.t.o.p.

But then I had a little play with the blocks I had made,

and I fiddled around a little bit with my leftover squares & strips

and made up little 1/2 blocks for the top & bottom of the quilt.

So far so good
- still nicely balanced and not too huge!

But wait there's more...

Feeling v. pleased that I had found a satisfactory solution, I started sewing all my blocks together.
Then I began cutting & adding my border, an AMH fabric honor roll, single file in ocean

Sadly though, I didn't have quite enough border fabric

- a bit of a critical design element here in my mind
as it picked up all those little teal accents scattered throughout the quilt.

So it's almost finished, just waiting patiently now {sigh} for a fabric delivery!
Follow the link here for an excellent tutorial on making these scrappy blocks

Linking up with Lorna for show & tell over here at 'sew fresh quilts'
and with Kelly for 'needle & thread Thursday' over here at My Quilt Infatuation

and later with Myra for 'finished or not Friday' here

a few of my favourite things...

... yes, so happy spring has sprung!

... and I wouldn't have thought it, but I'm lovin' paper piecing right now!

Recently I downloaded a tutorial from Rita at Red Pepper Quilts, her 'colour wheel' block
- made from all solids & paper pieced
but, of course, I was more interested in her scrappy version here!
and I found more on-line inspiration, a rather lovely version here, an old vintage Swedish quilt.

no, no I'm not starting a new quilt... not yet!
just messing about, rumaging through my stash, and trialling a few background options
= avoidance tactics!

... I'm also enjoying taking my time
looking at all the colourful inspiration in my new Kaffe book, Bold Blooms

... and am v. happy with a couple of new finds to add to my blue & white collection!
- the owl & the pussycat

J

... and, I'm really enjoying the bloggers quilt festival hosted by Amy of Amy's Creative Side

What a great way to see lots of quilts and discover new bloggers!

Have you popped over to vote for your favourites yet?





These are a few of my favourite things
- what are you loving this week?

this is normal, yes?

Oh dear, there's fabric everywhere!
Again!

... this is normal for you too while you sew, yes?

... still, I guess someone really needs to tidy up around here
'cos at the last count,
I was so sure I had more finished 'scrappy trips'  blocks than this!

... maybe they are hiding under that messy pile on the 'design floor'?

Sharing what I'm working on this week with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' here
and with Beth for 'main crush Monday' here

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Have you seen?

- the bloggers quilt festival is on again, hosted by Amy of Amy's Creative Side

What a great way to see lots of quilts and discover new bloggers!

I've never entered before but I wanted to join in the fun, so I've decided to enter my 'vintage spin' quilt

- it's my most favourite scrappy quilt - ever!

Way back in September 2015  I attended a Modern Wedge class with Kathy Doughty from Material Obsession

Actually finishing a quilt takes a bit of time of course, so fast forward to now

and I have a quilt that ticks all my favourite boxes

- a lovley eclectic mix of scrappy modern florals & vintage fabrics!

-  Here they all are spread out on the design wall  floor.

Only a few more to make then it's the scary bit of trimming these circles down to squares!

- just a bit of fussy cutting

Lots of fabric fun with this!

Hm-m-m- Kathy's comment was 'it's right out of granny's linen cupboard'

well, all I can say is that this granny must have had a few memorable moments!

- stitching down the b&w centres, hehe mr D. asked if I had lined up all my dots?

what?!? 

{I'm more of the 'perfection-is-overrated' school of thought!}

- quilt top all done & dusted

- then it's off to the quilters

for those all important decisions about thread & quilting pattern

- and measuring up of course!

- back home again

and admiring the quilting by Annette from Wild Cotton

a simple overall loop-de-loop pattern, nothing that detracts too much from the yummy fabrics!

I learnt alot making this quilt
- I can see now that 'contrast' really was the key here

and how the color of a fabric is not really known until it is actually playing beside it's neighbour!

I'm linking up my quilt to the Scrappy Quilt Category

Why not grab a coffee and check out all the other quilts in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival.

Oh, and don't forget to pop back there and vote for your favourites next week!

playing catch up

After a week or so away from my sewing machine, I can't seem to settle on any one WiP

Instead, I've been all over the place, doing little bits & pieces
- just happy to catch up with lots of different things! 

The pickle dishes are coming along, slowly.
I didn't think I would, but I'm loving the repetitive process of paper piecing and the accuracy!
I just need to remember to change to a smaller stitch each time I get to the machine...

The stars keep mounting up too, daily.
Definitely a quilt to make from your precious scrappy stash ...

and my 'scrappy trips'  is almost was almost there!
It's so true what they say - sometimes stepping back & taking a little break really does help!
After not sewing for a week or so,
I relooked at all my blocks and suddenly decided I really needed a few lighter ones.

So nice to have things all ready cut up, all ready to go for just a few more sewing miles...

I do enjoy sharing my quilts as I work on them, how about you?

Linking up this week's scrappy play progress with Cynthia here  'oh scrap'
and with Em over here for 'moving it forward'

a bit more # 52

oh, and I've been out shopping this week too!

a couple of "Les Fleurs" fabrics from Cotton & Steel

- have you ever seen such a pretty selvedge?

and a little bit of Anna Maria Horner fabric may have just come home with me too...

Happy sewing!

plan B

Aunty needs a bit of a hand next week, so I'm moving over to hers for a while

- she is 90 after all!

I'll need some sewing though.

And admittedly, I am knee deep with lots of WiPs, so I don't really want to start anything new
but that's ok, I do have a plan B
I dug out these trial blocks I started a while back
... a spot of slow handstitching
... perfect!

... and I've been slowly adding to this dreamy scrappy selection for plan B over the weekend

I don't have a pattern as such, just combining templates & inspiration from a variety of sources
More about that next time
... off now to pack my bag!

Linking up with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' over here

and with 'slow sunday stitching' here for the first time in a while!

my friday favourites #5

It's Friday again, time to share some of my quilty favourites with you
- and it's going to be a pretty post this week!

... First up new fabrics
Have you come across Tilda yet?

I couldn't resist having a little play and taking a photo of these pretty bits of colour the minute I got them home!
They are part of the Tilda Autumn 2016 new collection

which I stumbled across at the 'Tilda Corner' at my LQS House of Patchwork right here in Auckland, NZ

The fabrics all have a vintage-y look about them and come in a range of colourways

I've seen these fabrics used for lots of smaller items & projects,
like dolls, soft toys, pincushions, little dresses and other pretty accessories.

 Lately some pretty quilts are popping up too!

- I've even spotted a Gypsy Wife made inTilda fabrics, but for the life of me I can't remember where I saw it!

Earlier ranges of Tilda have seemed more classic, more subdued to me,
still sweet...

... but I do love the new, more richer saturated colours, they add a real spot of zest to the range!
  The new brights include pumpkin, a sage green and a beautiful midnight blue
and they all seem to work well together

And while I personally don't do too much applique, I thought I'd include this BOM quilt
Sandra-from-the-shop made using the two new collections, Cabbage Rose & Memory Lane

I noticed that Lucy from charmaboutyou has made quite a few projects with this new limited collection too
and check this link here and here for heaps more Tilda inspiration!

... still on pretty makes, this week I'm featuring Michelle from coleandtaffy who loves all things pretty,

especially the tiny florals, gingham, and polka dots!

Don't you just love this gorgeous Lucy Boston block she made from her Tilda scraps!

She has written a great post here showing how you can make pretty things on a budget,

an interesting read with lots of tips too. 

Oh, and how sweet is this Tilda & lace bunting over the entrance to Michelle's gorgeous sewing room...

Michelle has recently finished making her version of the 'Raindrops' quilt - using Tilda fabrics too
from the new book by Emma Jean Jansen "By the Bundle"

And I see she is now making Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks

using another charming range of floral fabrics, Flower Sugar by Lecien

- maybe grab a coffee and have a little scroll through her feed to see lots more of her work
{using the IG link here}

- and I'm thinking my new Tilda pretties will be perfect for my pickles, yes?

{all other photos reposted with permission}

Linking up with Lorna for 'show & tell' here at sewfreshquilts