firecracker quilt reveal

 This must be some kind of record for me

three quilt reveals in one year?!

My camera does not like red

apologies if my pictures burn your retinas!

Enjoy...you know the protocol..

 The juicy bits.

Firstly I'm shocked that I finished this all in one year

especially as its hand pieced and hand quilted!

This quilt began after I had a purge on all my scrap fabrics.

Some how I had all these heavy woven fabrics

rather than throw them out I decided to make something from nothing.

The red and the cream were given to me by my Mum (as they do).

The denim was a skirt that I ripped.
The turquoise was a curtain from my last home.

The navy floral was a junk shop find

and the stripes came from another quilt back.

The quilt backing is a vintage sheet from the same junk shop.

Quilt measurements 75" x 60" 

diamonds 8" at the widest point. 

Quilted with cream anchor perle cotton 8.

I quilted lines that exploded out from the middle star

to add extra fireiness.

Lastly the name.

I soon realised as I began this quilt that I was going to keep it 

red white and blue.

As my birthday was a big one this year

I started to call it my celebration quilt.

But then my friend Mary

told me that people whose birthdays fall near July 4th

are called lil firecrackers.

And so I found the perfect name!!!

ps. this quilt is so heavy...man!

back in the hoop

 For a couple of weeks now I've been 

quilting quilting quilting!!

I first hand basted the quilt sandwich with my favourite
heirloom 80/20 cotton blend wadding

and a perfect vintage sheet from my stash.

I find it works well to roll my quilt like a scroll when I'm basting

so I'm not distorting the layers by kneeling on them.

 Painted that wall mustard in summer!

 I have returned to the hoop.

I was a renegade for awhile...that was until

I realised it was okay to have more than one thread on the go!

I'm also using masking tape to guide my lines,

I'm not looking for perfect spacing

but straight lines are a must for this quilt.

 Multi threads (Lucy!)

I have chosen to exaggerate the explosiveness of the design

with the perle cotton 8 

I hope I made the right decision.

It reminds me of that White Stripes

Seven nations army video.

four cornered firecracker

What a perfect day for a quilt shoot!

This is my english paper pieced firecracker quilt top.

As its a heavy doodeee piece I was worried the quilting may be tough.

But no worries, this little sample was easy enough.

I have found the perfect backing

from my stash (of course)

Its a vintage sheet

not one of those soft over washed ones

but quite a heavy draped one....

love it when a plan comes together

especially without leaving the house!

The wadding is 80/20 cotton blend which I get from the cotton patch.

And the animation was made at gifmaker.me

Celebration, firecracker or magic carpet?

 Wow its been awhile since I've shared any progress of this project.

Another quilt made entirely from scraps,

this time I'm using heavy duty fabrics.

 I had been putting off making the corners of this quilt,

but I've done it, no biggie!

 As I mentioned this quilt is entirely made with remnants,

so I stumbled for a while trying to find the last piece.

I tried the floral above, but found it lacking the punch.

 So I stuck with a solid heavy canvas

which adds more strength!

I still have some way to go...

as they say...'Rome wasn't built in a day'!

And so to the name?

It began as a celebration quilt but then my pal Mary 

said that my birthday in July made me a lil firecracker....

..but now I think it looks like a magic carpet!!

the post with many names

 Wow what a week

not only did I turn 40 

I managed to get Audreys giveaway gift to her

and also receive a surprise present of my own!

 I've only known Audrey a few months

she blogs at Quiltyfolk

and I have to say I admire her work immensely.

Its always challenging when picking someone to make a gift for

and then realising just how talented said person is!!

Like a little puppy hanging off the tail of a great dane!

I know Audrey wont mind being described in that way

because I think shes a bit silly, like me,

which is why I went out on a limb and called her mini

Audreys kookoo quilt,

purposefully leaving out an apostrophe for ambiguity.

 Audrey is a traditional quilter who is currently evolving towards a modern slant,

which I love to see, so I tried to give her a mix.

The centre octagon was appliqued on to calm the trippy effect of those stripes

I think I managed to get both our personalities in this quilt,

the plaid binding was definitely an Audrey touch.
Another little one adopted out,
I think I should have a reunion one day with all my
minis that have flown the nest!

 The very same day that I was shipping Audreys gift

I had a lovely surprise gift from my pal Susan at Patchwork and Play

all the way from Australia in a matter of days!

 This perfectly beautiful LIBERTY union jack cushion cover

made by Susan is a wonderful addition to my home.

I love it thankyou so much Susan!!!!!!
ps. sorry I didnt wait for my birthday before opening my parcel
but come on would you wait??

This was a post of many names

Celebration week

Giving and receiving

Spreading love

What goes around comes around

July 4th

or 

Over the hill?

Or maybe my life truly beginning.

I'll let you decide

xxx

good things come to those that wait...

 Over the weekend I resurrected an old friend.

I'd forgotten how tough hand sewing heavy fabrics is,

I would rather be getting on with my Liberty shell project

but I'm not quite set with the final design.

I started this quilt to use all the old fabric that has lingered here for too long.

Therefore the quantity of fabric I have dictates which one 

gets used next.

I have decided to keep with the rounds,

 I think it already looks like something from a western

so I'm avoiding a cliche star quilt.

Earlier in the year I bought a washable glue pen

with the intent of making my life easier.

Being a traditional girl I have resisted

until now...

Instead of basting my fabric with thread

 I've stuck the template to the fabric as seen in the middle pic.

The glue seems quite a weak solution

I guess so you can wash it out and remove your papers

without difficulty.

I will let you know how it goes.

Anything to save my fingers would be great

especially with these heavy weights!

wordless wednesday

*back view with papers still intact.

shhh....

the return of secret squirrel!

less is more

  

mini mojo quilt reveal

My mojo quilt has found it's way to it's new home in Australia,  

so I am at last able to share it with you.

It is actually called Susan's Mojo 

after my friend Susan asked me to send her 

some mojo..

and so another quilt is born.

I am very proud of this one

I think it is my best work to date.

In fact I think I work best when I know it's a gift....
must be the love!

 

 

The nitty gritties

This mini is hand pieced using the English paper piecing method

although the pattern from Linda Sewards Country Quilts book

is machined.

I have used a mix of modern and vintage fabrics,

the back is a rosali print from ikea

and the binding is my fav Joel Dewberry herringbone.

The quilting is also a mix of machine and hand quilting.

The size approx 25 inch square.

 The label is hand embroidered.

Thank You xxx