Christmas Quilt - Jim Shore

One night late, after blogging (of course)... about 1230am, I climbed into bed. I quickly checked my emails...and i had just received a Newsletter from the Fat Quarter Shop..30% off Jim Shore Christmas fabric....AHHHHH How did i miss the release of this!!

I don't know about you... but i am a HUGE Jim Shore fan! I absolutely LOVE his decorations... and there is only one person that probably loves them more than me...My MUM! So, when i saw this new line of his fabric released and nearly gone... i grabbed 2 Fat Quarter Bundles, 2 Santa Panels, and about 12 Yards of his co-ordinating fabric....

Enough to make 2 Christmas Quilts... one for me...and one for my MUM for Chrissy! I was so excited to be able to grab the last of it...  However, my hubby didn't quite share my excitement at 1am!

I'm going to start on my mums quilt first.

For the design for her quilt...I'm taking inspiration from the Quilt Pattern on the coat of one of the Wise men figures...

Ive decided I'm going to sew my quilt in blocks....5 Rows down, 4 blocks across. I'm going to alternate this star block with a plain block... This plain block will feature the big round Santa's cut from off the panel....you can see a few of them in this pic...

I will add a pieced border of some sort..... and maybe use these star blocks again in the corners.

I have a few different collections of Jim Shore Decorations... Santa's, A gorgeous Nativity, Snowmen...I remember a few years back when i had a few decorations...I jumped on the Internet and i searched high and low....for fabric i could use to make a Jim Shore Christmas Quilt. There was nothing then....but i am so happy there is now. You can see Jim's complete range of Figurines and fabric from his shop HERE.

How are YOUR Christmas Gifts coming along???...

Wee Wonderfuls - Mermaiden Party!!

Friday night + 5 Girls + 1 sewing machine + Fabric + Hillary Lang's new book,Wee Wonderfuls + Pizza, Chocolate, Cake and Ice cream =

Mermaiden Party!! 

From Left to Right.... Mine, Kate's, Sierras, Kaila's, Jordy's, Kaila's...

 My cousin Kate, recently was sent Hillary Lang's New Book.... Wee Wonderfuls. I have NEVER been interested in doll making before... but that all changed after a brief look through Hillary's Book..

There are so so many gorgeous little dolls to make...

And what better way to spend a rainy Friday night??

So, the 5 of us.... Kate, my cousins Kaila and Sierra, and my little sister Jordy and I...all spontaneously decided to go to Kate's to make Mermaidens.

AND..

They took a little longer than expected. Perhaps it was because we were all sharing one machine, or maybe because most of us had never made a doll before, or maybe because some had never used a sewing machine before... or maybe it was the chocolate, ice cream and pizza...or maybe it was because of

Kaila and Jordy...

 

By The end of the night...we made it this far.... 

and once finished and added a bit of bling.....they were off to their photo shoot at the beach. Courtesy of Kate...

We had such a blast!!! I have ordered a book for myself from HERE... and if your after just the Mermaiden pattern?? You can find it HERE....xx

Christmas Gift Ideas??

What is everyone making for Christmas Gifts???

This year i really want to make some handmade Christmas Gifts for the Girls in my life....

Mums, Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters, Friends....

BUT, I have been really struggling with what to make?? I have been searching blog land..for some inspiration... and i thought i would share with you...some of the great tutorials i found....

Ruffled Tote Bag

 

Gathered Clutch

 

Hair Straightener Travel Pouch

 

Kitchen Hot Pads

 

Best Friends Gift Bag

 

Quilted Pot holders/Oven mitts

 

Mini Make-up Roll

 

Coasters

Alfresco Bowl Covers

 

Reversible Beach Bag Tutorial 

Garden Gloves  - Heather Ross 

 Glasses Case

 or  

This one...

There are lots of websites for Crafty Handmade Gifts....

Sew Mama Sew

 

Let me know what your making this year for Christmas....... and i spose if i cant decide... there is always an apron or a Quilt!! xx

Too Quilt or not to Quilt???

Quilting, can sometimes be a little bit of a dilemma! DO you Quilt it yourself? Do you take it to someone to be professionally Quilted? If you choose to do it yourself ?or send it off?...What design do you do? Do you Straight line Quilt it? Stipple? Other Free Motion designs? Thread Col? How long is it going to take? Is it going to make the quilt too stiff ? Will it be enough? Your skill level? Do you try something new??

(Click on the picture to enlarge to give you a better view on stippling)

  For this quilt i wondered back and forth...and decided to I was going to bite the bullet...Quilt it myself and try stippling.....

and you know what?? I Loved it!! It was my first time stippling... so i was very nervous... on my Bernina 440..i have a Stitch regulator..which i think made it easier for me to get it even. I have found, when you have a large solid coloured background...an overall design works best. My seam lines disappeared..and although this was a machine pieced design, the flowers bulk up and look like they have been appliqued on.

 

It was quite quick too... I have taken it safe many times before, and straight line quilted a fair few of my quilts. But for a quilt this big... Stippling was really quick.. Only took a couple hours! Well maybe 3!....Once the centre was done.. the outside borders needed something.. I straight line Quilted 1/4" Inch from the seam on the white border....

 

I am a little undecided how to Quilt the flowers....I have hand Quilted one... but not sure if its worth the effort..I'm thinking maybe i will do the same design, but on the machine??? Any advice?

The next Question?? What is it going to look like on the back?? For this quilt i didn't want the quilting to show up on the back....and I'm pleased...

It Doesn't! Now all is left is the binding...and writing up the Pattern!

...i Hope everyone loved the Quilt Festival as much as I did!! There is soo much amazing talent and inspiration out there! xx

P.S. Sorry the pictures are a bit dark,...its been raining here and dark for days...and this was as bright as i could get them on photoshop! Ill have some better pics when its ALL finished!! xx

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Curlicue Crush - My New Quilt and Pattern

I have been so excited to show this quilt to you!! And Thanks to Amy, I'm thrilled to be able to enter it in my first Blogger's Quilt Festival!

My New Quilt 'Curlicue Crush' - is made from Anna Maria Horner's latest fabric range - Innocent Crush. I fell in LOVE with her new range (like everyone else!!!) and wanted to design a quilt that would showcase her amazing fabric instead of chopping it up into small little pieces...

This quilt uses the traditional technique of corner to corner curved piecing... But just revamped into a funky retro design. I have loved experimenting lately with curves... there are so many amazing designs that you can create...

The Story behind this quilt?? Well, its really a story behind Quilting.....I have had a difficult year this year...In March this year I lost a child. My little baby boy, just two days old...Our family has had a hard time and Quilting has provided me with an escape. Something positive to think about. To keep my mind active... A couple months ago I started designing patterns and selling them from stores and from my blog and have been overwhelmed by the response. I feel relaxed and at peace when i sew....

So for this Quilt, I quilted it all by hand...As much as I LOVE the designing process.... Hand quilting would have to be my all time favourite. I LOVE being able to sit with my kids and family and sew... there is something therapeutic about hand sewing. I quilted in the ditch of the main bauble curlicue shapes and then emphasised this curlicue shape in the centre of each one.

My family love it and have put in their orders for this Quilt Pattern in a Christmas range...We think it looks like Hanging Christmas Baubles!!

This Quilt Pattern is available now from my shop.

Thanks so much for stopping by.... Have fun checking out all the other great Quilts from the festival....

I know I will !! xxx

Finished Quilts

One of my favourite things to do when i come across a new blog, is to check out their finished quilts.. I have found as i have been searching blog land...its a great way to get a feel of their creativity and style and a HUGE source of inspiration..
So for those of you who are new to my blog.... Here is a collection of my finished quilts..(and a couple quilt tops). For those of you who have been following over the last few months since the start...here's a recap. I'm also planning on making a new title at the top... Finished quilts..

'Eden's Garden' Quilt

Quilt Pattern Available Soon

'Sand Castles' Quilt

Quilt Pattern Available here

'Star Jewels' Quilt

Quilt Pattern Available here

'Rolling Meadows' Quilt

Quilt Pattern Available here

'Diamond Bouquet' Quilt

Quilt Pattern Available here

'Birds Of Paradise' Quilt

 

 Quilt Pattern Available Soon

 'Hungry Caterpillar' Quilt

 

 Baby Quilt

'Dick and Jane' Quilt

   

'Brown Bear' Quilt

I have a NEW Quilt to show you... the sneak peek from last post - It will be my quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival..... Is your Quilt Ready??? Begins Friday!!! xx