Talking Half Hexi's

Today I'm talking Half Hexi's over on the Sizzix Blog

and Friendship braids to be more accurate.

This little cushion was snuck in between all the final customer Quilts and Christmas preparations earlier this week.  

I hope you'll pop on over and take a look at the other side and see how to make those cute little braids too!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

and 

a Happy Creative New Year!

from my home to all of yours

Just in case you hadn't heard ....

one of the reasons I have been absent, is that the quilting business has been really busy. 

I was thrilled to be asked way back in the summer to put some time aside for my lovely friend Katy for some secret stuff.  

Turns out it was quite a big deal, and I am so proud to have done my bit to help her take her new line of fabrics Priory Square for Art Gallery Fabrics to Quilt Market! 

So I just did the quilting, and the brief as always, was just a simple all over.

But this was for Market!  Really, the world and his wife was going to be there! 

So, this is what I did ...

the big quilt, well, it was all about the fabrics, so they never got quilted, but I made sure the quilting made them stand out with really tight little feather swirls in the background. 

I stuck with the theme, I know Katy loves feathers, and when this one arrived...

I just knew that a big feather heart would be perfect!

It was so much more visible from the back, and I am thrilled that it is also visible in the Look Book too!

There was also a small baby quilt ...

and the Voile in the center ....  oh so very soft!

The other news I had was there was to be a thread collection with Aurifil too! 

So I rustled up a cushion to go with the big quilt.

Thanks to Jacqui at Hantex for sending me fabrics so I could finish it off!

I also was asked by Jacqui to do a banner of some sort for Katy's booth

I was sent the marketing images to go from. 

So in true last minute style I decided to go big or go home, 

I printed the main image out onto fabric sheets, but poster size, instead of the A4 image I had 

joined up the sheets

loaded her up and quilted the heck out of her!

its hard to see, but those really are tiny little feather swirls

I put an invisible binding on the quilt to finish it off right at the edge of the print

This was a total surprise for Katy she had no idea I was doing this, and I have to say, I was the proudest person in the world to see photos of my little piece of Priory Square showing up on Instagram during Market.  

Another of those moments where you know you stepped up and did good! 

you can read all about Katy's Market experience here and here

If you don't have any Priory Square yet, you really do need some in your life.  its now available in the UK shops, Simply Solids, The Village Haberdashery, Plush Addict to name but a few!

I hope its on your Christmas list!

This is not a sponsored blog post, it is purely me, loving what my friend does, and happy to be a small part of it :)

Getting my Christmas List on

I've been getting ahead of the game!  Yeah!  I know some of you will be shocked at that statement,

So if you want to know how, and see what pile of loveliness I made with these ...

Head on over to the Sizzix Blog here 

to see how my preparations for my Christmas Lists have been going, 

And the good news is, there is still time for you to get on top of your Christmas lists too!

Sizzix Christmas Blog Hop - Day 5

Well, its that time of year again, and this years  Sizzix blog hop is focusing on gifts.  If you haven't already got a clue what to make, then there are already some great ideas from the Sizzix team already!

Monday 18th November: Jo Carter http://www.twoowls.typepad.co.uk/

Tuesday 19th November: Katy Jones - http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.co.uk/

Wednesday 19th November: Jessie Fincham - http://messyjessecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/

Thursday 20st November: Angela Southey - http://www.sizzix.co.uk/blogs?id=4f79aefffb60b56634000456

Friday 21nd Trudi Wood - Me!

Saturday 22nd November: Mercedes Jiménez Campuzano - http://mercedesinspain.blogspot.co.uk/

I am always so last minute when it comes to hand made gifts, and this year is no exception.  However, I have a great little 'go to' gift idea that will come in handy for the last minute 'oops, did I miss you out' or the person in the office you have in the secret Santa and haven't a clue what they like!  Or better still, your favorite person, just because you can!

So for my gift, I am using my scraps, because I have way too many, I've chosen scraps from the Modern Maple Leaves quilt.  (there may be an ulterior motive here!)

The 2 1/2" square and the 4 1/2" square Dies

from my scraps I cut 2 1/2" squares, in fact 16 in total

I sewed these into 4 patches, and then quilted them, with scraps of wadding 

(I used a double layer of 100% cotton wadding as that was what I had to hand at the time)

When they were all quilted I used the 4 1/2" die to cut the quilted patchwork into the right size. 

I also cut 4 more 4 1/2" squares for the backs, from some more scraps (left over backing fabrics) 

Laying one backing square on top of the quilted 4 patch, right sides together, I stitched around the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a small gap (approximately 2 ") for turning.  The pokey stick (a chopstick) is ideal for easing out the corners 

I clipped the corners to reduce the bulk, and turned the little coasters right sides out.  

Press all seams and ensure the opening is folded in and pressed.  

Top stitch around the edge of each coaster approximately 1/8" to finish and to seal the turning gap. 

and before you know it, a set of coasters,  just perfect for giving!

Now how quick was that!  Even I can manage a few more sets before the big day!

There is a competition to go along with the blog hop, be sure to go enter, there are some great prizes to be won. 

The competition is open to all residents of the UK and EU excluding Ellison employees. The products listed cannot be exchanged for goods, or towards the purchase of goods at any retail outlet. It cannot be exchanged for cash, or replaced if lost or stolen. An alternative prize may be given. Winners will be chosen at random on Closing date: Friday 28th November at 10am GMT. The decision of the judgement is final and no correspondence will be entered into.Your details will be processed by Ellison Europe (Creators of the Sizzix brand).

October gone in a flash

Its been so long since I did a summary blog post, its about time don't you think!

So whilst I've not been around much, I have been busy

I managed 5 customer quilts, 3 of which were custom quilted

then there was a little bit of secret sewing, now known as Market prep for Katy

there was a cushion too, but I will do a separate post about this lot, I think its fair to say Priory Square is very special and deserves a little more attention.

and of course I finished one of my own quilts

Which I already blogged about

and a small teachers gift at the special request of the teenager

So, whilst you may have got the impression I was ignoring you all, 

I was indeed a tad busy!

So, I am going to link this up with Lynne at Lillys Quilts for  Fresh sewing day, 

See you there!

A finish at least!

I have so much to catch up with for blogging

But at least I can show you a finish.  

Remember this from my FAL list?

I know, its only been on there all year!

( Know that because that fabric loaded on the long arm was the first fabric loaded up on it when it arrived back in January!)

 I first started this quilt way back, on my very first visit to Lynne's, and finished the blocks in July 2011!

Anyway, back in September, in between customer quilts and before the teaching started back, I hunted down a suitable backing and loaded it up for a little 

special me time!

look, all fancy rulers and everything! 

and this Aurifl 2026 was just perfect for those soft buttery yellows

so before I went off to the Brit Bee Retreat, I found fabric from my stash, lets face it, thats not difficult, and I may still have a good selection of Sunkissed by Moda in there, and I got this baby to the point of hand stitching the binding down.

so I could sit, listen to all the chatter, eat cake, because its never a retreat without cake!

And finished this baby off!

And I love it!

So there you have it, 2 blog posts in a row after a noticeable absence!

Lets see if I can catch up on few other things that have been happening too!

Keep your eyes peeled!

Autumn Leaves - Modern Maples

I can't believe its been a month since I last posted!

(I'll remedy that later!)

But for now, Lets talk Autumn, and if you would like to take a look over Here at the Sizzix blog today, or any other day for that matter,  you'll be able to see, and read about how I played with these lovely fabrics .....

taking a modern block, and am very close to turning them into a quilt for the season.

Pretty Paisley Daisy

So today starts a new adventure for me,  and you can find all about it and the Paisley Daisy I've been playing with as part of my Stitch Gathering Preparations

and you can read all about it Here!

In fact, you might just find me there on a regular basis.

Just sayin'!

Pea Room Block of the Month - August

Is it really June since I posted?   Shocking!  

Where did the summer go?  Mustn't complain, it was such a good summer!

So catching up then,

The first block is Northumberland Star
just take a little extra care to follow the directions for piecing this one
(just sayin')

and the second is Rising Star

Honestly, this one is so quick, and very satisfying to make!

I'll see what I can rustle up before the next meeting, 

you may want to stand by for a little paper foundation piecing :)

and the winner is ....

my apologies for my tardiness in getting this posted

My holiday was fabulous, though it seems such a long time ago now!

anyway, back to the winner of the Imagine Quilts giveaway

from Dana of The Old Red Barn

I asked the teenager to pick a name, and she chose Archie the Wonder Dog!

Helen Said: 

 Archie the wonder dog said...

I love the quilt in the second photo (Elephant Parade?) and think that would be the first of many projects I'd make from this book!

29 August 2014 13:37

 

So if you'd like to email me Helen so I can get the thread sent to you and pass your details onto Dana for an E Copy of the book.   Congratulations! 

and thank you to all of your for your patience :) 

Imagine Quilts

So my friend Dana, of Old Red Barn recently wrote a book,

and I am thrilled she asked me to be a part of the blog hop for the books recent release by Martingale

Its a fabulous book, and as soon as a copy arrived in the post, 

I just wanted to dive right in and make a couple of the quilts

The great thing is, I know its just not me that feels that way!

Its so hard to pic a favorite, but I have been so inspired by Dana's book

I had to jump right in and gather fabrics for a quilt

straight away!

and then I cut, even though there is stuff I HAVE to get done!

Dana is such a lovely person, and over the years we have become great virtual friends,

ever since those early days of the Old Red Barn QAL on Flikr

She has such a beautiful eye with the camera 

and equally eloquent with words

So if you fancy winning an e-book version of this very special book,

thanks to the very Lovely Martingale people

and

some fabulous Aurifil thread

Then please just leave me a comment, 

just the one,

if you are a no reply blogger, then please make sure I can get hold of you with your email address in the comment too.  

(i'd hate for you to miss out)

I will draw the winner Friday night

Giveaway is now closed, I have drawn a winner and will notify you when I can get back to my laptop. 

Thank you all for your lovely comments

T x

Rapture Star

So my Rapture Star has been on my FAL list for some time

It needed to be done in time for Festival, 

With all the piecing going on, my quilt got put to the pile,  

When I loaded it, I wanted to do it justice for a competition, but just looked at it for weeks (ok, 2 weeks) before I quilted it.  

And when I did get round to quilting it, I had made the decision that it would not make it to Festival, as I still had Nels quilts to do, and well, the paid work comes first right?

So I just quilted it with feathers, no plan, just did it

on and off, no fuss

and I love it, not the best quilting, backtracking or anything like I wanted for it, 

but thanks to Moira and Mary and a binding party, whilst I quilted the EMMQG entry

my Rapture Star made it to Festival

This is another Whopper at 84" square

Fabrics are Rapture by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics with Pure Elements in Snow from Art Gallery fabrics as the background. 

The pattern was from a Moda Bakeshop pattern Candy Flower pillow by Julie Hirt that used Mini Squares (2 1/2") 

but I went large and super sized those squares somewhat!

There is some AGF on the back and so this quilt feels amazing!

So that's another one off my FAL list!