still sewing scraps #2

Heaps happening around here
and so exciting, planning something new with Julie from julielou
 . . . pop back Saturday April 1st to hear all about it

Meantime, here is one quilt top I've just finished and a new project I am loving so far.

I have a couple of gift quilts to make
so I started this weekend with these slightly wonky improv blocks . . .

I have made something like this a couple of times before (see here and here ) but I wanted more of a colourful happy mix focused around my latest purchase, 1/2 metre of Amy Butler's 'Double Fault Floral' in this stunning colour called Cherry, part of her latest 'Splendor' Collection. I just love the colours and that interesting pattern . . . Linking up with Beth for 'main crush Monday' here at cookingupquilts

I made a couple of 10" trial blocks and it all just started to grow from there.

It's been a while since I've used solids in my quilts, they called for some careful pressing.

There is a great post on pressing seams here if you are like me and need a little reminder.

I rotated the quilt a few times, just to check it looked balanced from every angle - a little trick I picked up recently from Kaja at sewslowly.

Well this sure brightens up a dull day.

I thought I'd have a go with quilting wavy lines to really add some texture to those -ve space bits. And then bind with a tried & true b & w stripe, yes? Sharing my improv effort with Kaja and Ann over here for this months Ad Hoc Improv Quilter

And up on my design wall this week . . .

 my new scrappy WiP "ebay on point"

- a Kaffe pattern that has always always appealed to me, from his Caravan of Quilts book 

It's great to be using so many of these fabrics from my scrap basket. The pattern is simple, however I'm finding to get that all important 'contrast' thing-y happening, I am having to juggle bits & pieces around until it's just right. And I'm really trying hard "not to analyze the fabric for its beautiful design but rather, consider each only for its colour."

It's taking me awhile, and thank goodness for the design wall, just wish I had heaps of squares all precut, ready to stick up there, reject, replace . . .

. . . which leads me nicely onto . . . scrap sorting

I've also been busy cutting up extra scrap squares, I guess it's a tidy-as-I-go effort too
- a novel approach for me,
but I'll let you know how it does go.

Linking up with Cynthia here for 'oh scrap'

my friday favourite #11

Happy Friday
It's been a bit colder these last few nights - time for another quilt on the bed

I pulled out this quilt today. Some of you will have seen it before
however, I thought I'd share with you just why it's a favourite of mine

It's one I bought as a quilt top at a show many years ago and was pieced by Juliet Taylor
It was a well constructed and colourful quilt top, a version of Kaffe's 'Fonthill Quilt'.

I had it quilted by Annette de Raat and then added the binding

Here's a few close-up pics, there's so much to look at.

Like that lovely 'cheddar' yellow for starters . . .

the different blue fabric combos . . .

and the little 'pops' of minty green . . .  

this unexpected softer pretty yellow print . . .

all those small 2" HST piecing in the centre panel . . .

and the assorted traditional pinks & purples . . .

Yep, it may be old fashioned but I do love it

hmm-m-m- it's quite a bright feature in the bedroom, hope mr D can cope :)

How about you,

do you have an old-ish quilt that you can't bear to part with too?

still sewing scraps

Sewing from my scrap baskets today . . .

A simple quilt with lots of surprises to explore . . .

Hm-m-m- doesn't seem to matter how many scraps I try to use up . . .

. . . there's always more
. . . you too?

Linking up with Lorna for 'lets bee social' here at sewfreshquilts

quilts across the ranges

I  spent the morning at the 'Quilts Across The Ranges' quilt show today,
the Western Quilters Circle Annual Quilt Show here in Auckland NZ.

It's always nice to see what others are making
and so great to catch up with quilters I hadn't seen for a while . . .

Play Time by Pat Green

Kaffe History by Sue Annandale

Eyes by Sue Hagan

A challenge from "all things Patchwork" just to use the one fabric

and a second version in a different colour scheme, using a Kaffe cabbage fabric . . .

Pink Cabbages also by Sue Hagan

Colour Squared by Denise Albert

Nesting Instincts by Sue Quayle

Tenby St Quilt #1 by Chris Thoreau

Delfts Blue by Ria Eckhardt

Victoria by Glenda Adams

Starry Starry Night by Carolyn Humphries

the Raffle Quilt

Hexagons by Sue Hagan

Floral Fantasy by Tracey Roberts

Tiled by Jean Ramsay

Sandra and her team from 'House of Patchwork' were there

with a pretty display of their latest Tilda fabrics . . .

 and Cheryl from 'all things patchwork' had a colourful display . . .

and Kerryn from the country yard up near Whangarei had a great display too . . .

I'll leave you with a few pics of my favourites from the show . . .

Succlent by Sue Quayle

A wonderful variety of texture with the fabric & quilting

Shirts by Sue Hagan

made from 2nd hand shirts - the 60th in a series

Medallion Quilt by Sue Hagan

using a challenging fabric

{see the centre section using an Anna Maria Horner fabric from her Mod Corsage collection}

A lovely way to spend a Sunday morning

Happy Sewing,

Linda