BIG NEWS for Sew Fresh Fabrics!

Some very exciting news! Sew Fresh Fabrics has gone from strength to strength of late, so much so that Peg is launching a stand alone website on Monday 1st April - www.SewFreshFabrics.com!

To celebrate the launch of the new website, Peg is offering a couple of brilliant incentives. 

* The first 50 customers will get a 25% off gift certificate, good at the new site.

* "A Hundred for a Hundred" - a $100 gift certificate will be awarded to one of the first 100 customers, winner drawn at random.

So please stop by and browse her awesome new store!

Sashiko Cushion {Finish}

This one finally made it's way across the sea to the UK today, so I can show you the cushion I made for Nat in our little swap. After a few stumbles (and abandoning my original idea completely), I decided to use the sashiko panel I made for my tutorial in the Something New blog hop and make it into a cushion.

I cut a piece of batting the same size as the cushion insert (14" x 21") and used simple QAYG to add off-centered borders around the panel. The teal fabric is an Art Gallery solid - I've never used these solids before, but I definitely will again. They are just gorgeous - they have a really soft hand and remind me more of a voile than a quilting cotton. The texture once it's quilted is just to die for.

For the back, I used some Melody Miller typewriter fabric - which coordinates so perfectly with the solid on the front (and works really nicely with the thread colours I used in the sashiko).

Thankfully Nat likes it - but still, I'm pretty sure I got the sweet end of the deal with this swap :o)

The kids are on Easter break until next Wednesday, so I doubt much sewing will get done in the next week or so. I hope all of you who celebrate Easter have a great holiday!

xx Jess

Aspen Grove {Forest QAL Block 3}

This is another project I've been working on slowly over the last week (I lost count of how many hours it took - maybe 8?) - the amazing Aspen Grove block designed by Caroline of Trillium Designs. Living in Australia, I've never seen an actual aspen grove, so I had to do a bit of googling to find some images as inspiration. Some of the tree trunks in the pictures I found were mostly white with black markings, which is why I used the Madrona Road text print for the trunks. It is a little warped from all the long, thin pieces, but I think once the paper is off it should flatten out with a good helping of steam.

The background is quilter's linen, which I love - it gives a really subtle texture without distracting from the trunks and leaves. I really love this one :o)

I'm really happy I'm keeping up with the QAL so far - although I'm now going to be rushing to get my March bee blocks done over the next few days. Whoops. This paper piecing thing is totally addictive though, and I can't wait to get started on the next block.

xx Jess

A growing medallion

I've been working on this one on an off over the last week or so in between a few other projects - although I must admit it's been keeping me awake at night. Most of the decisions about where it's heading seem to be made pre-sleep :o)

The second border is pieced and on (it is actually square, I just need to learn to take better front-on photos ;o) ). Obviously I'm a bit obsessed with the whole text/low volume thing.

The next border is being worked on at the moment - there will be a narrow 'something' added before the triangles (not sure what yet, possibly black again?). I can't get my head around how long each of these pieced triangle strips will end up, so I'm making them first, and then I'll add the narrow 'something' (descriptive, hey?) to bring it up to the correct size. Not quite sure how I'll handle the corners either - but I think it will need to involve y-seams...

I have never enjoyed making anything quite as much as this one - it is just so much fun deciding what to do with each border.

xx Jess

Amitie Textiles Bring Me Flowers BOM

After seeing this image pop up in blogland a few times recently, I've taken the plunge and signed up for the next BOM at Amitie Textiles. I'm kind of excited and nervous at the same time - it will be my first foray into hand piecing and applique. 

Image from Amitie Textile's Blog 

There are a few spots left - if you're interested in signing up, all the details can be found here. 

xx Jess

Once Upon a Time {A Finish}

I've just finished sewing the binding onto this one, and I'm really happy with how it has turned out.

This was really enjoyable to quilt. I quilted it using Aurifil 50wt in a pale blue (5006), which matches the lighter blue in the jewel fabric really nicely, and blends beautifully into the quilt top. I quilted each of the squares with straight(ish) lines, and left the story squares unquilted.

When I pressed this one I pressed all my seams toward the story squares (which really helped me match up all those seams). This, combined with leaving them unquilted, means they really pop out from the quilt.

Simple pieced back using the same background fabric as the top, plus some Michael Miller fabric I had in my stash (Bloomies by Pillow and Maxfield I think?).

Bound using the same Lizzy House stripe as the story lines in the quilt top.

Design - from Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr's 'Modern Quilt Workshop' book (Once Upon a Time)

Size - 40" x 60"

Pieced and quilted using Aurifil 50wt cotton mako thread. 

Fabric - Lizzy House jewels in candy green, various novelty prints for the story squares, Lizzy House stripe for binding and story lines. 

Hope everyone is having a great week!

xx Jess

Feathers {Forest QAL}

Over the last week I've been working on the second block in the Forest QAL - feathers. I honestly think this is one of the most beautiful paper pieced patterns I've ever seen. If I thought I could do it with my sanity intact, I'd make a whole quilt of these.

Fabric selection for these was so very tricky. I looked at countless feather photos online trying to decide what palette I wanted to use, but nothing really clicked for me. I decided to make up a feather (not based on a real bird feather) but use colours that could be found in nature.

I'm pretty happy with how it came out - it doesn't sit especially flat, but I think once I remove the paper (after piecing it into the quilt top) and lots of steam, it (hopefully) should be okay.

xx Jess