'bohemian on point' quilt

And here's my finish no.9 for the year, 'bohemian on point' quilt top, and I love it. I've used a scrappy selection of both Anna Maria Horner and Outback Wife fabrics, and repeated a few fabrics too. Some blocks merge, some are busy, and others are a definite light/dark combo.

I had it professionally quilted by Leeanne from quiltmekiwi in an edge to edge pattern called 'sweetheart'. I love how the quilting almost sinks into the quilt, letting the piecing & yummy fabrics remain the focus.

I made up a scrappy backing using leftover fabrics and rediscovered a useful fabric in eggplant for my binding, from 'mostly manor' collection by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. My finished quilt measures approx. 54" x76".

Definite vibe of bold & bright colours still happening around here!

And joining in with Julie from julielou with a little 'dahlia spam' 

until next time, Linda

'meadowland' quilt

I've got another finish to share this week, my 'meadowland' quilt. I've had it professionally quilted by Leeanne from quiltmekiwi in an edge to edge pattern called 'waterdrops'. I love how these curves add a soft whimsy feel to the sharper angles in this quilt.

As you can see, I've used quite a quirky scrappy selection of fabrics, lots of soft greys, Liberty, Tilda, C&S, and favourite ginghams, along with my hoarded - very few - vintage fabrics and a couple of doilies.

The backing is a wide floral dandelion fabric in 2-tone greys. And, rather than going for the final 'pack a punch' look, I went with a soft mauve AMH print for my binding. The quilt seemed to want a pretty pastel finish. My finished quilt measures 53" x 76". 

Loving my vintage bits & pieces together with just a touch of modern charm here.
Linking up with Cynthia for 'oh scrap' here
and with Alycia for 'finished{or not}friday' over here
and with Wendy too for this weekend's 'peacock party' here

Until next time, Linda

spotted in a crowd ...

I'm working on a couple of things at the moment, including this new project - 

spotted in a crowd . . . oops no, in a field of wildflowers!  

Let me introduce my new favourite WiP just now (= getting all my attention) and features a scrappy selection of floral prints and a very intense colour palette of pinks & gold. My inspiration came mainly from Bari J's ig feed over here - loving the colours in her new modern maximalist master bedroom makeover!

{collage posted with permission}

I've made a few adjustments to the 'quilty stars' pattern. My quilt is smaller, 3 blocks by 3, mainly because I didn't have enough stripe to go any bigger! And I've also altered the size of my sashings & borders slightly.
Unlike the pattern, my center squares are all in assorted bright pinks not white, plus the sashing is stripey instead of white as well.

One thing I have started doing recently, is to liven up my old scraps with a designer treat, and I've been dying to use this AMH animal print somehow. somewhere. It ended up being my background throughout the quilt. {for more pics of "spotted in a crowd" fabric see here.}

Here's a few progress photos . . .

If you've been following me on social media {here} 
you may have seen one of the first blocks I made. 

See here over on ig for lots of other versions of this versatile 'quilty stars' pattern
And, if you love a bit of animal print in your quilts, 
check out Marisa's feed over here for a great 'wedding ring' quilt WiP

Until next time, Linda

bookclub in the garden

This weekend we had bookclub in my daughter's garden.

Oh, and I guess you are wondering about which books I shared . . .

'The Girl on the Page' by John Purcell was one book several of us had read over the past month. It's a behind the scenes look at the world of book publishing.

Amy Winston is a hard-drinking, bed-hopping, hot-shot young book editor on a downward spiral. And you can't help but love her.
In order to save her job, Amy is given the unenviable task of steering literary great Helen Owen back to publication. When Amy meets Helen & her husband they are conducting a silent war of wearing each other down, and Amy is about to meet challenges she has never before had to face.

I didn't want this book to end!

"The Unwanted Guest' by Shari Lapena was a book I'd ordered from the library ages ago, I was 500 out of 700 holds! So I'd waited a lo-o-ong time for this one.
Imagine - it’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. Then the weather takes a turn for the worst. And someone is murdered.

This book had a lot of similarities to an Agatha Christie or the cluedo game (the classic mystery game - "a grand mansion … a dastardly murder … a gathering of suspicious characters.WHO, with WHAT weapon and WHERE?").
It was very readable, I got hooked in and read it in no time.

I've also had a little run on easy lighthearted reading lately.
"The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" by Abbi Waxman was witty and whimsical. Nina feels her life is just how it should be. Organized (she had a daily planner), clutter free and filled with everything she enjoys! She works at a bookshop, plays trivia on a team with her friends, and comes home to her faithful cat Phil.

When a lawyer contacts her to tell her that her father has passed away and that she is in his will, Nina is stunned! She never knew her father, not even his name! Suddenly Nina is thrust out of her comfortable shell...

"The Overdue Life of Amy Byler" by Kelly Harms was another lighthearted read, featuring family dynamics, friendships and romance. And again, one that several of us at bookclub had enjoyed.

Overworked and underappreciated, single mom Amy Byler needs a break. So when her guilt-ridden husband, who abandoned her 3yrs ago, shows up and offers to take care of their two kids for the summer, she accepts his offer and trades rural Pennsylvania for New York City.
Usually well balanced, sensible and mild mannered, Amy finally lets her hair down in the city that never sleeps. She discovers a new life filled with culture, sophistication. With a little help from friends, she also has a few blind dates, and ends up facing an impossible decision.

Can't share anymore!

We had a young reader join us too, so sweet.

Until next time, Linda