Half a quilt top and some FMQ

For the first time in ages, I've actually had a really productive week. Apart from finally finishing Finn's quilt, I've made more than half of my Groove quilt top. This piece measures about 37" x 70" (a bit over half of the quilt) - there is another section that joins on the right hand side. I am really, really happy with how this has come together - and how quickly :o)

I spent a couple of hours today beginning the FMQ on Sweary Tula. So. Much. Fun. I'm kind of worried about how it will all pull together, but I like what I've done so far. I started in my comfort zone with some echo shells

and pebbles

And then experimented a bit with some wavy lines and pebbles radiating out from the 'K'. The texture is really cool - I think I'll play with this idea a bit more!

Although it's already late (as of today), I'm hoping to finish off Sweary Tula by early next week and get it posted off to it's new owner. If I can bear to. I have a deep affection for this quilt, and it will be hard to let it go...

Hope everyone is having a brilliant weekend - it's the first day of spring for us, and it was gorgeous!

xx Jess

{QAL} Block 6 - Windblown Square

Jess has written up the tutorial for the 6th block in our quilt along - the Windblown Square.

I love this block! Have fun making it :o) I'm going to try to catch up on all my blocks this weekend...

xx Jess

Finn's Quilt - a Finish!

I am so happy to have finally finished this quilt. I actually started this one back in March, intending to enter it into the Festival of HSTs - but then decided to enter Outfoxed on the High Seas instead. So it sat as a pile of squares for months. I put the top together earlier this month, quilted it and then had a major binding fail. Following that, I had a bit of a tantrum, and kind of ignored it for a few weeks (in my defence I was waiting on some black Kona to arrive to make the new binding ;o) ). And then yesterday I bit the bullet and put the binding on. And it took all of an hour - a lesson to me to get these quick jobs done and not let them drag on forever while a nearly 8 year old harasses me daily about when his quilt will be done...

So. Some pretty pictures! First of all, I am SO glad I took off the green binding and rebound it in black - it looks so, so much better.

It's quilted using 50wt Aurifil thread, in straight lines following the zig-zag pattern - 1" apart in the coloured section, and alternating 1" with 1/4" spacing in the black (my favorite part, actually!). The black is still covered in batting fluff - I think next time I'll use grey or black batting when making a quilt with this much black. I'm not sure I'll ever get all the fluff off.

 Quilts are so much easier to pose than children ;o)

For the back, I used a huge piece of Bright Light (I think that's what it's called) by Alexander Henry that was sitting in my 'backing' stash. It is a great back for a boy quilt - and it's such gorgeous quality fabric! I used white 50wt Aurifil in the bobbin, and it's blended in really well, so you only really see the texture of the quilting from the back.

Quilt Stats:
* Quilt measures about 52" x 70"
* Designed, pieced and quilted by me.

xx Jess

Festival of Hexagons - Zoe's quilt

I've decided to enter the Hexy Vine mini quilt I made for my daughter Zoe into the Festival of Hexagons.

Stats:
* Mini quilt measures about 30" x 25"
* EPP hexies have been appliqued to the quilt, and then I extensively FMQ'd it and quilted Zoe's name onto it.
* Background is Kona Stone, fabrics include Heather Bailey, Anna Maria Horner, Lizzy House, Amy Butler, Denyse Schmidt and others.

xx Jess

Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop

Today is my turn in the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop organised by Beth of Plum and June. If you're a blog-hopper, welcome and thanks for visiting!

I've written up a tutorial for how to make this quilt for my stop on the blog hop. If you make something using it, please let me know - I'd love to see!

So a little bit about me. I'm a 32 year old stay at home mum to three kids (7, 5 and 2). I have a partner who works interstate a lot - he's been away about 80% of the last six months. Way back before kids, I worked as a scientist so quilting really appeals to my inner maths geek ;o) Quilting and blogging is my me time, and helps to keep me (mostly) sane :o) I live in a pretty small city, and I don't know anyone who is into modern quilting, so blogging and the online quilting community are my way of connecting with other quilters. I love that I've made so many quilty friends through blogging - it's definitely my favorite part of blogging! 

A few of the things I've made...

I've been quilting for about a year now. I generally have a few thousand projects on the go at once - if you're interested, you can check out my current WiPs - I even updated it!

I am currently co-hosting a QAL with my friend Jess - we're only 5 weeks in (it's going to go for 24 weeks or so) so if you'd like to join us, it's not too late! The Fat Quarter Shop have generously offered $250 in gift certificates, and we have three categories in which you can enter (one is for small quilted items, so you could just make one block and still enter to win!) It's been a lot of fun so far - we have a Flickr group if you'd like to check out what everyone's making! 

Favorite blogging tip - be yourself. 

Favorite fabric - right now (because it arrived today) it's these beautiful newspaper roses by Yuwa. They're destined for a future quilt, once I work out what I want to do :o)

Favorite craft book: Probably 'Quilting Modern' - so much inspiration in that book!

Favorite book: The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - amazing book. I'm an avid fantasy reader :o)


Favorite quilting tool: my rotary cutter, when it has a new blade!


Favorite music to listen to while quilting: Muse. 


Favorite TV show while hand stitching: Dollhouse or Firefly.


Enjoy the rest of the blog hop, 
xx Jess 

A birthday (and a winner)

My baby turned two yesterday. Total cliche I know, but I still can't believe she's changed from this (a few hours old)

Into this beautiful little girl. She is the best combination of girly (love her new doll house) and tomboy (current fire truck obsession) - it's a lot of fun to watch her grow up!

So we had a little party for her on Sunday, complete with my totally amateur cake making efforts (total George Pig fan!) That expression is her seeing the cake for the first time, so obviously amateur is okay :o)

 And I owe you a winner of the Sew Me A Song giveaway (yes, very late I know!)

Mr Random chose #60, who is Sarah who said:


60. Sarah said...

I'm loving the tea time prints too

Yay Sarah! I've sent you an email :o)

xx Jess

You can call me crazy...

Given my really fantastic track record with QALs, anyone would think I'd steer clear of them. But I'm a sucker for a QAL. And I had already bought the pattern for this, and worked out what fabric I wanted to use before the QAL was announced. So I'm (probably stupidly) joining in the Groovy QAL organised by Alyssa.

As soon as I saw this pattern I fell in love. I'm a bit of a hippy and major fan of the 60s/70s so it was a no-brainer to make it someday. To top it off, I've had a few yards of this print sitting in my stash (originally bought to make a skirt before I started quilting) and I decided it would make the PERFECT back for Groove.

I loooove the colours in it, so I grabbed my Kona colour card and decided on (from top) Azure, Willow, White, Chartreuse and Black. And my lovely parcel arrived today from the Fat Quarter Shop!

And you know, because I've got nothing else to do, I will be attempting to get it done before the end of the QAL. Yes. I definitely have a few screws loose :o)

Oh, and because I always have to fill my flat rate satchel to the brim, these half yards of Madrona Road text prints somehow jumped in too...

Wish me luck! No, really, I mean it (and Jen, you can stop laughing now!)

xx Jess