A Star is... FINISHED!

Yippee!  I am happy to present my first finish for 2014 - a sweet baby quilt dubbed "A Star is Born".

 

Truth be told, I actually finished this one weeks ago... but I've been particularly lazy since then, if you hadn't already noticed.  Sorry about that.

As you can see, the design consists of wonky stars in a random layout - navy and green predominately, with a few baby ones in orange and red for some extra interest.

I kept the quilting simple with a big 'X' through the middle and then lines radiating outwards, 1" apart.  I love this quick and easy design.

As this quilt is destined for a little man I had a bit of fun with the backing fabric and used some sweet and colourful dinosaurs.  I love them!

For the binding I stuck with my go-to stripes (also used here and here).  It matched perfectly!  Unfortunately that was the last of that fabric.  :(

This baby quilt finishes at 40" square and will be gifted this weekend.  I hope he loves it.

E.

Linking up to TGIFF, hosted this week by the uber-talented M-R of Quilt Matters


Yes, I am happily crossing off my first finish for this quarter's FAL.  Fingers crossed this is a sign of things to come! ;)

Another Personalised Cushion

Earlier this year we welcomed our latest niece into the family - which means, of course, I made a quilt (this one) - so when it came to thinking about Christmas gifts I couldn't stop thinking about a personalised cushion to match.

I decided on a rather simple patchwork construction, using all the same fabrics as her quilt.  I wanted it to match without being overly matchy-match.  If that makes sense.  I'm not sure I quite achieved that but fingers crossed it isn't too much when they are paired together.

For the initial, I stuck with a dark pink solid, attached in a raw edge applique style.  I do so love this quick and easy method and, well, it gives me a chance to practise my FMQ.

I also stuck with simple when it came to the quilting - straight lines 1/2" from each seam.  Quick, easy and effective.

The binding is just the same solid used for the initial.  I think it frames the madness of all those prints really nicely.

And, then, for the back I just had to use the adorable print which inspired the whole colour scheme of the original quilt - these owls by Ann Kelle.

So cute and wacky!

As per usual, a zipper finishes it all off.

The final size is a rather large and cuddly 22" square - with a 24" insert used in these photos, as that's what I had on hand (hence the extra puffiness).

And that's it - all ready to travel east next week for the big day.  Hope Miss L likes it!

E.


Linking up to Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts.

Also crossing this personalised cushion off of my Making Christmas list.  You can see my latest update post here.
 

AND... I'll be linking up to the party for the Cushion for Christmas Blog Hop at Ms Midge.

A Most Unusual Bear

I was first inspired to make a Bear Paw quilt when Lucy and Janine joined forces and announced their relaxed, no-pressure bear-paw-along, waaaay back in May.  I straight away wanted to play along but it wasn't til a few weeks later when (1) I found this gorgeous Paddington Bear fabric... 

... and (2) a good English friend announced her pregnancy... that a plan was formed.

Here's a rough sketch of what I was thinking...

... and here's how it, kindly dubbed "Paddington's Paws" finished up, at roughly 40" x 40".

It is definitely bright and colourful.  Just perfect for the little man born just a mere 2 weeks and 2 days ago.

Even though I've been a bit brave recently and have started experimenting a little more with new-to-me quilting techniques - I kept this one quick and simple with my usual go-to wavy lines.

Maybe not the best choice to truly showcase the Bear Paws blocks but I do quite like the crinkled effect it finished with.

A stripey binding completed the look.

I have discovered that I'm quite partial to a stripey binding.  Unfortunately I originally had this fabric pegged for my wonky stars quilt - so fingers crossed I still have enough!

Lastly, here it is being modeled outside by my wonderful hubby.  I just can't decide which is cuter. ;)

And, yes, that is a "truffle shuffle" tee.  It's one of his faves and everyone seems to comment on it.  I still have no idea what it's all about...

E.

Linking up with TGIFF over at Quokka Quilts. 
 

Happily, this is also another finish from my Making Christmas list.  I think I'm still on track!  Watch out for an update tomorrow.

Toffee Shards

I have to admit, I am in shock... BUT... Toffee Shards is finished!  Can I get a 'whoop'?!

Making this baby quilt (measuring 38.5" x 38.5") has been an eventful journey.  My original concept was shattered toffee, in honour of Le Challenge, back in June/July.  It was pictures like below that inspired me.

To (sort of) achieve this look, I went with a simple HST design, in a variety of yellow and brown solids... but, even though I had the top finished in plenty or time - I forgot to link up.  Doh!

After that... I totally fell out of love.  They aren't "my" colours.  I wasn't feeling it.  It just wasn't happening.  I tried a number of times to start quilting... but each attempt ended in complete frustration and time with the unpicker.  Ugh.  So... Toffee Shards languished.

Thanks, though, must go to my hubby and the lovely Kristy who continually encouraged me to get this done AND for Making Christmas (yes, I'm ticking this off of my list!) for pushing me that extra little bit I needed.  It worked and I was happily able to gift it yesterday morning, to a gorgeous 5 month old boy.

To continue with the shattered toffee theme I ended up settling on simple, crazy lines (yes, my go-to quilting at the moment) which helped turn this unloved piece into something nearing completion and starting to warm my heart again.

Then I just finished it off with more of the orange-y solid, which really makes those colours pop.

As the Mum not only loves neutrals but also green, I chose this adorable dinosaur themed fabric for the back.  It is perfectly boy-ish!  Funnily enough, I have since found out that it is actually Buddy, a character from TV's Dinosaur Train.  Hmm... who knew??

Sorry about the shadows but this was the quickest photoshoot ever - on the way to gift this quilt.  Nothing like doing things last minute!

Anyhoo... YAY!  It's done.  I am happy, happy, happy.  :)

Thanks again to those who helped me stop procrastinating... and to Lucy & Nat of Le Challenge for being the inspiration behind the whole idea.

Speaking of Le Challenge... I'm jumping back into the fun this month with the theme STRIPES.  With such an easy subject that can go in soooo many directions (*groan*) there is absolutely no excuse for you not to join in and create something awesome.  There is a $25 Fat Quarter Shop voucher up for grabs so check it out!

E.


Linking up with TGIFF, hosted last Friday by Jen of Quilter in the Closet.  You only have a few more days to get in your finished entry for OctoberQuest so quick sticks.  :)

Duck, Duck... Bag

The amazing Wendi of Shiny Happy World recently hosted the first Finished Stitches Embroidery Challenge - and I was lucky enough to be able to participate.  Yay!

The premise was simple (originally blogged here) - purchase one of Wendi's fabulous embroidery samples and then finish it off by making it into something.  Anything.  Whatever.  All we were required to do was finish it.

When the shop opened I was quick to snap up my favourite of all Wendi's designs - Duck, Duck, Robot (pattern available here).  I then had to wait patiently for it to arrive (thankfully the project deadline was extended as international post can be sloooow) but, believe me, it was worth it.  I was not disappointed!

 

I had originally planned to use this in a cute little cushion, with the embroidery in the centre and then a log cabin or some such surrounding it but, after much umming and ahhing, I ended up settling on a fun and definitely colourful library bag.

Wendi's original stitched design features prominently as the front pocket, and is then teamed with this fabulously bright alphabet fabric, which also features on the back.

For a bit of interest I also cut out some of the letters to spell out BOOK BAG underneath the ducks and robot.  These were then appliqued on and stitched around in black, to echo the quilting on the fabric.

The lining adds even more colour with these orange and white swirls and the whole bag is finished off with some tone-on-tone dark blue handles.

Easy!!

And here it is in action.  A perfect Christmas present (with a store-bought book not the library ones!) for a soon-to-be-1-year-old, little boy,. Start them young, I say!  :)

As is my usual modus operandi, I've just scraped into the deadline with this one, with projects due today.  Phew!  Voting then opens tomorrow, with some fantastic prizes up for grabs.  Exciting!!  If you are interested then head over here to see all the finished projects.  There are some beauties!

Thanks to Wendi for being soooo generous with her gorgeous samples.  It was fun!

E.

I'm also happy to report that I have officially ticked off the first item on my Making Christmas list. Whoop!  Yes, it was a total gimme, but it still counts I tells ya!  ;)


And, because I can, I am going to be super cheeky and link up to last Friday's TGIFF party, over at M-R's.  Ok, it's not exactly Friday but it is a finish and I am thankful... ;)

Cutie Scootie Patootie

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to spend a glorious month exploring Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with my brand-spanking new husband... so... when Fiona announced the Holiday Memories Mini Quilt Competition I just had to enter.

Much to my mother's horror, I've always been fascinated by motor bikes and the like.  Even as a little girl I was known to wind down my window at traffic lights to tell the black-leather-clad, bearded bikie next to us that I liked his bike.  So, needless to say, the craziness of the streets of Vietnam and - ALL THOSE SCOOTERS - was rather exciting for me.

I mean, they are EVERYWHERE.  Watching it, it looks like total chaos but somehow they make it work, without too much hostility.  Oh, and the amount of people and/or objects they can fit onto one, itty-bitty bike is truly impressive.  Everyday we would see a new sight that would make us giggle and exclaim in awe.

Of course, I was super dooper keen to have a ride but, after the Bali Scooter Incident of 2012 (that's another story but let's just say that I was in trouble when I came home with a few scrapes and bruises), I had promised my Mum not to ride/hire/drive/play on/touch any scooters or motor bikes.  BOO!

Bali 2012.  Riding a pink scooter!  :)

This time, I was a good daughter and obeyed the rules (well, actually, my husband had also been threatened so he kept me in line) but I couldn't resist being a little cheeky and sending this photo to Mum, after just a couple of days into the trip.  ;)

She wasn't impressed.  ;)

Anyway, regardless of the lack of a ride (again... BOO!), the image of the scooters and the craziness of the Vietnam roads has really stuck with me.  Therefore, for my Holiday Memories entry, please let me introduce the Cutie Scootie Patootie cushion / pillow.

This baby measures a generous 20" x 20" and will become a floor cushion for my soon-to-be girl (that could actually be a boy but oh well...).  Regular readers will have no doubt noticed the same colour scheme that I am using for these blocks because, as my energy is severely depleted at the moment, I couldn't help but kill two birds with one stone.

The scooter itself is paper pieced, using this fabulous pattern by Shape Moth.  I then got brave and tried some FMQ pebbles.  This was a totally new thing for me so they are far, far, far from perfect but, as it will be staying within this house and will be hopefully be much loved by a littlie, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to let-go and give free motion quilting a shot.

In the interests of keeping it real, here's a close up.  Feel free to skip over this photo as quickly as possible.  ;)

Oh well, we all have to start somewhere.

The log cabins were then added in a QAYG style - a method I've been meaning to try ever since watching the first few lessons of the Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags class on Craftsy.  It was fun, easy and very quick!

After that is was just a simple matter of whipping up a back (with a zip for ease of washing), sew on a label and add the binding.

And VOILA!!

I love, love, love it.  It is so bright and fun and scooter-licious!  And look how perfectly it goes with the crocheted blanket my Aunty made me when I was a bub!

Only thing that concerns me - if my daughter (ok, ok or pink-loving son!) ever gets a bike license I may have to face the wrath of one very angry Nanna.  Or two?!  ;)

E.

For more details on the Holiday Memories Mini Quilt Competition, and to link up your finished projects, see this post.  Be quick, though, as the linky party closes very, very soon! 

 

Also linking up to this week's Paper Piecing Party over at Kristy's house.

 

AND... also linking up to TGIFF, hosted this week by Laura of Quokka Quilts.  That also means that this cushion is entered into OctoberQuest - a month long challenge.  Four birds, one stone???