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???