Modern Mini Quilt Contest - Plan C!

Hi! Remember me?? Well I'm back to share what I've been up to.  Complete with poor photos and excessive punctuation! You lucky things :)

I  will do a catch up post soon but for now, before I run out of time, I'm entering the Modern Mini Quilt Contest over at Ellison Lane Quilts. By the skin of my teeth I might add, as the linky closes in less than an hour! Eeek! I had grand plans of a super-gorgeous-awe-inspiring quilt I would make using a block that I've redesigned but after much dithering, frustration and indecision I decided to take a step back and let it go.  It just wasn't working, so that meant it was time for a new plan! I had a new idea that I was really happy with! Unfortunately by the time I had the good idea, I did not have enough time to make it :(

On to Plan C! I decided to enter my Mini DSQ.  Plan C Finishes at 15½ " x 20".




Modern Mini Quilt Contest Entry - Plan C,  15½" x  20".

Last year I joined in with the Dead Simple Quilt Along over at Lily's Quilts.  You can read more about it here and here.  While a bit late to the party as I was trying to finish this, I did put the top together in January(not pics yet sorry!). Then because I've decided to make a "Mini Quall of Fame" (more on that later!) and because I didn't have a big enough area to lay out the big quilt, I decided to make a little one to see how the colours played together and to try out a quilting idea.




Modern Mini Quilt - Quilting texture

Once I put the top together and after quilting I thought it was a bit plain and just needed a little something extra. So I decided to add some little pops of colour in the binding.

Modern Mini quilt - Binding Detail

I love this effect and will be doing it on the big DSQ too. It gives a plain back a nice pop.




Modern Mini Quilt - Plan C - back.



Modern Mini Quilt contest Plan C - Back binding

The big DSQ is still waiting patiently for its turn....


DSQ - Dead Simple Quilt

There are lots of fantastic Mini quilts already linked up, go and have a look.

Good Luck everyone!

Happy Birthday! Surprise - Secret Squirrel is Finished!



Dresden Plate Quilt- Quilting

Ok it's time I confessed and let the cat out of the bag, or rather, the squirrel! Confused? Well, do you remember the Secret Squirrel Quilt?  I actually finished it way back in October, had it quilted in November, popped the binding on a couple of weeks ago and posted it last week! 

It has made its way to a very nice lady. She is very important to our family, she is caring, giving, generous, always there for us and we love her very much. Happy Birthday Faye! 

Now I did take a few photos before I posted it but the only place I had high enough was under the old verandah and the sun was playing peekaboo with the clouds. So between that, the wind and my photography skills....  and yes it is straight and square, its just the wonky old curtain rod I hung it on that has issues.




Dresden Plate Finished Quilt Front

You'll have to excuse the circles, those centres have names of people in our family embroidered on them. Even though those hourglass blocks drove me crazy I'm really glad I kept them in and the pieced binding worked really well, its just enough colour to bring the centre out.



Dresden Plate Finished Quilt Back

I quite like the back, very minimalist with just a pop of colour. and yes, another of those annoying circles :)



Dresden Plate with Embroidered Centre

The other centres(the annoying circle ones) are embroidered circularish(is that even a word?!) like this one above.




Quilting Close Up -  Quilted By Desley Maisano

In this photo you can see some of the lovely quilting feather work done by Desley Maisano at Addicted to Quilts. You can see more of her work here.

Dresden Quilt Label

When I sewed the label on, I tried to fit it nicely inside the quilted outline from the front so as not to spoil the back.

Quilt Stats:   Finished size 75" x 87"
                     Quilt Number 5
                     Pattern - Based on the Moda Bake Shop - Plates for Your Table
                     Fabric - Colours - Plates and Binding - Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille
                                   for Moda
                                   Cream Spot - Mill House Inn by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda
                                   Backing - a wideback that didn't have details on the selvedge - sorry
                     Pieced - By Me!
                     Quilted by Desley Maisano at Addicted to Quilts

            
I am so happy to finally be able to share this finish, I've been feeling guilty misleading you by posting work I did ages ago.  I'm also happy to be able to give this to Faye. A fabulous quilter herself who whilst she makes many quilts for others and quilts a lot of tops through her business, has never( I don't think?) had one given to her. So even though I couldn't give it to her personally on her Birthday I'm very relieved that Australia Post didn't lose it and it got there on time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SECRET SQUIRREL!

How to Quilt in the Hardware store...

Now I love a hardware store as much as the next girl but when you're there with your husband and your eyes start to glaze over, what do you do?
Well you head off to the paint swatch section of course. Pick out colours that you think match your fabric. Then you take them home, cut them up and play with them!

 

DSQ Fabric Palette

Oh yeah, oops, even though I haven't shown you yet, these are the colours for my DSQ. I did buy a little bit more fabric but I'm really happy with all the solid colours together. I'm saving this quilt to do after Christmas but in the meantime it's so easy to play with the paint swatches.

DSQ Layout

Time to stop playing though, I've been feeling completely unmotivated this week and I need to get back to work.... 

 Apparently Dresden's do not make themselves.  Bugger.

Dead Simple Palette - I've definitely, almost certainly, possibly, chosen this one...

For the Dead Simple Quilt Along I've chosen(my fickle heart has seen others but I'm being strong!) the Autumn breeze as my palette.

Autumn leaf palette by designseeds

Those greys were tempting!

 

Barked Orange palette by Design Seeds

and this is gorgeous but seems more Autumny..

Autumn Breeze palette by design seeds

So this one, definitely this one! Oh yeah. We are approaching summer down here(Yuck!) and this seems the most summery to me, so this one it is. I can make it this Summer and have it ready to use by Autumn! Perfect timing. I do love it but those browny yellows might be hard to find. I might have to go and buy more fabric.  What a shame :)

Can't wait to see everyone else's!

Sew-Inspiration Sunday & Small Blog Meet & Fresh Sewing Day!

Sunday already? Where has this week gone, for that matter, what happened to September?? I'm sure it must have sneakily skipped a week somewhere.

I've been inspired today by Lynne of Lily's Quilts, her generous hosting of the Small Blog Meet means that I've got to meet lots of other people who have the same interests and who have recently started blogging too. Before I started blogging(instead of just reading) I didn't realise how much of their time it would have taken, not only to write the blog but to take the photos. Though maybe that's 'cause I'm a really bad photo taker and take at least 2 shots of the same thing - just in case! So to all those people who write the blogs I read and follow, Thank You, I really appreciate your effort!

I'm going to link up again this month to hopefully meet some more inspiring people :) If you're here visiting - Hi, nice to meet you!

I'm also doing my first link up to Fresh Sewing Day. If you haven't been yet, pop over to Lily's Quilts and have a look at what everyone has been up to. There is some fantastic stuff to be inspired by.

So this month:

60 degree diamond English Paper Piecing

I've cut out all the diamonds for my English Paper Piecing and punched holes in all the diamonds.

Dresden Plates

I've made 20 dresdens for the SS quilt and are about two hours away from 10 more. Sigh.

SS Quilt, Dresden Plate, Possible Layout

I've worked out the layout for the SS quilt, though I've just realised I haven't actually posted my decision -Sorry! (note to self - DO that this week!)

Toy superhero reversible cape

I've kept two small boys and their toys happy.  Though now I have to make some toy dog pyjamas...

Kid's potholder/oven mitts

And I've made a couple of kid size potholders to go with an apron and hat.

I feel like I haven't really achieved much this month so I'm hoping by the end of October I will actually have a finished quilt to show!

Thanks for visiting!

TH - Happy Anniversary, I Love You. x

Sew-Inspiration Sunday

Its been a long week, Yawn, but I have found a few things colourful and inspiring. Like this pixelated colour wheel quilt by Kati From The Blue Chair.

From the Blue Chair - Pixelated Colour Wheel

I love the colour in this one and that circular quilting!

There is a rainbow one on flickr that is fantastic. It's by lightceramics but I couldn't find a website or blog to go with it. I  like the way the strips work from light to dark in each colour. Have a look and see what you think.

Finally this one also caught my eye, the way those little trails looks like they're moving down the quilt.

A Few Scraps - Cascade Quilt

Not sure what these quilts say about me, but they do tell me I need some more colour in my life. Hmmmm, I might have to work on that as a quilty idea.  Well I'm off to bed now but I will be back soon with more of that Darn Dresden Secret Squirrel Quilt to show you all.

Secret Squirrel Progress



Dresden Plate - Hitch & Thread

First I'd just like to say a big HELLO to all who have visited through the small blog meet at Lily's Quilts.  It has been so nice to receive some lovely comments and some new friends.  I need to sort out some issues my google account is having and then I'll be able to come and say hi too! (Probably my fault, but either way it's not working that well!)

So while I haven't been able to visit and say hello, I have been quite busy.  I hope to get the secret Squirrel quilt top complete so I can send it off to be quilted, then have enough time to finish a Rocketship Quilt by November for the birthday of Big Brother. Some ninny(me!) thought for some reason a Dresden plate quilt would be fairly quick to make!

Here is my process and progress this week.

20 Plates with 20 wedges each = lots of wedges, lots of chaining....

Fun to play with!

et Voilà!

Dresden Plates - Hitch & Thread

Dresden Plates - Hitch & Thread

20, 8 3/4" Dresden Plates!

 

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Miniature Dresden Plate

Oh, and I made a tiny one, 'cause I might put some in the borders. The 5c(Australian) coin in the middle is 6/8".  The finished size is 2.25" eeek!!

Shhhhhhhhh,  Secret Squirrel!

Secret Squirrel Quilt - Update

I've been working on my secret squirrel quilt today.  It's for a friend of mine so I can't say too much here, as I'm not sure if she reads my blog but I'm really hoping she will like it, 'cause ya know, every girl needs a quilt!

Moda Bake Shop - Plates For Your Table

Now I found this Plates For Your Table Tutorial at the Moda bake shop, it has four parts but the one I'm basing this quilt on is the Dresden plate table runner.

So to have a break from cutting out all the wedges, my least favourite part, I thought I'd make one Dresden to see if I needed to adjust my seam allowance. While I'm trying to follow the pattern, I am varying it slightly by also adding a couple of little backstitches where the point of each wedge will be, for some extra security.  Ive also been making friends with the quarter inch foot Ella come with.  I have tried it before and wasn't impressed but this morning its been going pretty well.

After a little while I ended up with this. I was pretty happy with it, until....

I measured it :(  According to the pattern its meant to finish up at 8 3/4". Mine, as you can see above, is almost 10", as big as the square its meant to go on.

SO, I had a re-read of the pattern and yes, I had cut my rectangles slightly wider than required. That didn't matter. Then I realised that the ruler I'm using to cut my wedges, the Easy Dresden by Darlene Zimmerman-

might be different that the one stated in the instructions. So I had a quick look and sure enough it is.  Darn it.  I then hunted (for a fair while, since small people don't tend to file like I do) for the instructions that came with the ruler.  Once I found them I saw that my ruler suggested a half inch shorter wedge.  Aaaargh, more cutting....

But WOW! What a difference. The right size wedge, a slightly bigger seam allowance and it went together beautifully. Only 23 more to go...

For those who are wondering, I have used the same fabric as in the  moda tutorial.  I thought she'd like it and its got a nice variety of colours rather than just three or four. But remember if you know who its for, Secret Squirrel!

Sew-Inspiration Sunday. . .

I know, I know. Two posts in one day but since my blogging this month hasn't gone to plan, I thought what the heck...

The Little Prince Quilt by sticksandbubbles

I found this gorgeous little quilt through Modern Day Quilts.  This great site showcases one modern quilt a day and on Thursday had "The Little Prince Quilt" by Diana from sticks and bubbles.

I love the colours, the fabric used, that gorgeous, floppy ear which flips over to show a sweet appliqued letter underneath.  The simple quilting is perfect.  I'd love to make one. I just need a reason, oh, and time!

Sunshine and Simple Abundance

There was another beautiful day here last week. Perfect sunshine, lovely fabric(Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille for Moda),

and some time to cut it up uninterrupted!

I have a plan for this fabric, I just can't reveal it yet!!

I cut up 20 Fat Quarters and there was only that tiny pile of threads down at the bottom left from each one. Well, aside from the one where I made one teeny tiny mistake.....