Cultivate - Blog Tour

I can not tell you how excited I was to be asked by Bonnie Christine of Going Home to Roost, Designer for Art Gallery Fabrics,  to be part of the Cultivate Blog Tour  

How could I miss this opportunity!  I knew as soon as the fabric designs had been released that it was coming to live with me!  Well. Cultivate is my word of the year!  

So I already had this rather beautiful stack of fabric that I may have already made one quilt from, but unfortunately that one is still in the secret sewing category.

With a little bit of inspiration from this book by Amber Johnson

I had a little play around with one of the patterns in there.  Why do a baby quilt when you can do a bed quilt right? 

So this is the block, in the book it comes out at 38", but you know me, Keep it simple, so I rounded up the measurements to simple sizes, easy to work with, and less for my brain to think about, 

added in some extra sashing to tie in the four blocks, and hey presto

A quilt is born!  

a whopping 92" square quilt, and I love it!

I added some Pure Elements in White Linen as the background, and it adds a real sheen to the whole quilt.  

I had to wait for the rain to come, so I could get a photo, (there was a distinct absence of people around for quilt holding duties) and the sun just beamed in and blocked the view otherwise.

I used a wool wadding to give me great loft and definition for the quilting ....

cos, you know I'm all about the quilting!

and because this stripe runs across the width of the fabric, I cut it on the bias for the binding.  

I love using more than one colour of binding, and both colourways of this fabric work brilliantly, don't you think? 

So there you go, I have been cultivating my creativity with Cultivate, designed by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery Fabrics, and what a joy it is to play with such beautiful fabrics, just because, and for no other reason.  

I hope you will take the time to go back and see what everyone has been making during the Cultivate Blog Tour.  You can see the full list of talented participants here. 

Yesterday was Rachel over at The Floral Suitcase, she made some fabulous coasters,  they are so pretty!  

And tomorrow is the turn of Maria over at Villa Stoff Blog.  I cant wait to see what Maria makes, because I'm loving her holiday pics right now! 

(just so you know, this is my third quilt I have pieced, quilted and bound this month, more about the others soon!)

So much to catch up on

so lets start with July and Fat Quarterly Retreat!

I know, I know... back in the height of the summer heat

I finished my swap samples in time! 

these were on my FAL list, so that's one less project!

and as is now customary, I made a new bag!  

Lets just clarify that, I started the bag at 4pm the day before, all done by 8pm, just in time to pack for the morning! 

and I have to say I LOVE my Noodlehead Poolside Tote!

there may be another one in my future ...

I also managed to finish something else on my FAL list ...

this cushion for Nicky

we entered into a private swap last year at retreat, and so I needed to complete my end of the bargain.  I'm pleased to report the feathered cushion now resides in her sewing room.

Another one off the list!

And my Lovely Roomie made me this amazing draw string bag, 

its a perfect size for travelling with, and I have used it already!  Thank you Di x

I dont seem to have a picture of my swaps, but I received another, most beautiful drawstring bag from Di, some coasters from Soinia, and a teeny tiny bear from Penny. 

Whilst we were free Friday morning Di and I took ourselves off on a trip to the Village Haberdashery ... and we may have cleared the shelves of a little Cotton & Steel while we were there!

And there may have been an afternoon tea in the mix too! 

Oh, that is definitely one to be repeated!

Thank You Shev for organising us!

The Retreat was a roaring success, smaller, more intimate, and thoroughly enjoyable, meeting old friends, new friends, online friends, having fun together!

So that was July, some secret sewing, and some FAL finishes!

Sunday Sitrep

Well, its been a while since I did a sit rep, 

I thought it was about time for another

So since the arrival of the Long Arm, I've been playing

first up I loaded a practice piece

I went with some Superior So fine, its always a great player for thread, and the bobbin that was already loaded in the machine, and quickly moved onto some Aurifil Poly, and they both played nicely

and after about half an our and a meter of fabric, I was ready to load up a quilt 

I started off with some Superior Fantastico, but I was having issues, so after I had done one whole pass of these feathers, I changed back to So Fine and finished the job.

this isn't the best quilt I've ever done, but I did learn a lot

and so I loaded another, I was on a roll!  

I went back to the Aurifil Poly as it had played so well

and in no time at all I got this one done too!

But more on that in the next post!

In other news this week, there was a destash sale happening on Instagram,

thanks to Emily for organizing the #greatukfabricdestash

just some of the stash I dug out for the destash, 

thank you to everyone who bought from me and saved me from my overflowing addiction!

I was exceptionally good, I only bought these, and in the end, Fiona and I did a swap!

so technically, I didn't buy anything!

but I am a sucker for Art Gallery Fabrics!

and then there was a visitor to the house!

who traveled with her own hand made overnight bag!

there have been a few other things, you know what I am like, 

why do one when you can do ten things!

Happy Mail

So as part of the Finish Along

not only do we get to work on actually focusing and finishing projects, 

there is of course, a little incentive from the sponsors

and this last quarter I was lucky enough to be picked as a winner!

so a very big Thank You to Green Fairy Quilts for sponsoring us

and for my fabulous prize!

I'm looking for the perfect pattern to do something special with this, 

I may have to start something New!

Resting

As instructed I have been resting ...

and quilting ...

and teaching ...

and shopping ...

and a little more shopping ...

and baking ...

and today, Di came over, and we stroked fabric, drank tea, ate cake ...

laughed a lot, put the world to rights ...

and came up with a plan for some of that lovely fabric ...

oh and in between all of that, I made a start on my FAL Q2 list 

resting is quite productive :)

Ooops ...

seems I fell off the wagon again!

prepare to look away!

a visit to the LQS to drop off some samples resulted in these jumping in my bag,

seems that happens at lot when I go there!

there was a charm pack of Indigo Crossings too, but I cut into that before I got a picture of it! 

Ooops!

and these lovelies ... oh ....

Textures by Angela Walters and also Urban Mod both lines for Art Gallery Fabrics 

courtesy of The FatQuarter Shop

I've given my FAL Q2 list some thought, and I think I now have a plan :) 

and as I am now on leave from the day job for the next 12 days, 

lets see what we can get done around here ...

along with some well needed rest ... especially as I made a promise to a dear friend!

so expect to see some resting pictures too!

A good day

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day with Di, drinking tea, eating cake, and even some quilting going on, but mostly, lots of laughter and silliness!

and whilst this was going on, my recent order from FatQuarter Shop arrived 

and today was a good day ...

the air conditioning man called this morning, and I am all warm and toasty, or cold and chilly in the studio again, bliss!

but best of all ... this arrived home ... no thanks to a certain post lady!

if you are on instagram you may have already seen the bubble gum pink binding!

we'll just gloss over the fact that IOS 6.1 means my ipad has to go to an apple store to be fixed ...

and the nearest? Sheffield!  Thankfully Meadowhall, so at least I can find my way there! 

We have an appointment!

and today, I also managed to do some more on my to do list, and I'll share that with you later this week!

Monday Makes

I finished the quilting on Jeans quilt, in the nick of time ...

as she exchanged contracts on Friday and completes in the morning!

the removals are booked for 9.30 am

its been delivered and I am sure is packed away ready for its journey to South Wales in the morning!

Oh .... and she loves the quilting and the Superior Rainbows All Spice thread used!

Happiness all round!

So the plan ... One down

Submission is close to being ready to send, 

Scraps sorted and some already sent - partially complete me thinks 

Susan's blocks - one down, one to go

Swoon - still waiting

Mod Pop cutting - in progress, I have cut some fabric! 

so next on the list ?  

an appointment with these, but I won't be able to show you any more than this for now ...

sorry! 

and ...

turn these lovelies into a top, and get it loaded tut sweet onto the frame 

and... 

start something new of course!  

that should keep me out of trouble for a couple of days!

Tomorrow I'll tell you all about my visit from the postman!

To everyone on the East Coast of America, stay safe!

monday equals mail day

OK lets talk mail! 

firstly, I think credit should go to Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey for enabling me to find some of these beauties!

first up a Low Volume bundle from Pink Castle Fabrics  ...

and whilst I was browsing I found these Tula Pink Swallow fabrics in the sale section 

and then there was this moda marbles that I scored at the quilt group last month, thanks to Edwina at the Stitchery in Ruskngton, technically not mail, but an arrival after all ...

one or two frames for a blog hop I;m taking part in soon ...  

I may need to order more!

and some key fob hardware ...

and a few essentials ...

and then there were these buttons ... oh and I also got given some hand turned wooden buttons too, but forgot to take a pic of those

and I forgot to show you these lovelies that arrived a few weeks ago ...

I was so excited to get these, and the prospect of green bias stripe , oh, but I have to say I was a little disappointed with the green, which is more on the mustard side  ... oh well, still gorgeous all the same right?

and lastly there was this glorious bundle that arrived from Susan of Canadian Abroad, who just happen to be Queen Bee this month for the Brit Bee ...

I cut into them yesterday whilst I took a break from the quilting ... oh, they do make me happy!

so that was the mail, there was also a mahooooooosive roll of wadding too, but lets face it, that's no fun to look at!

I'll show you my quilting progress tomorrow, I had a surprise to two yesterday!

of fabric and fudes ...

well, lets start with the pretties shall we!

The week started well, with good mail 

and the Good Fortune of  a wonderful visitor ,  

which in itself calls for cake!  Right!

yes that's on a dinner plate! 

I can highly recommend Chocolate Mayonnaise cake, I used this recipe, if you are interested.

a wonderful day of crafty chat, playing with curves and cake ensued ;)

there has been a lot of this ...

and yesterday, well a morning spent out shopping!

Look away NOW!  

My lovely friends from Doughtys were in a town close to me!

and these Heirloom by Joel Dewbury made a dash for my bag!

I had a FQ pack of these in another colour way last year

plus a couple of rogues into the mix

the palest green was on my list since I've just made a mahoosive quilt with it as the background and didn't have enough left for a makeshift backing ... but now, the end of the bolt lives here and I can get on and  finish it :) 

the palest blue, just a pretty colour, the green is for backing, and the wavy stripe, oh I see this one being binding, don't ask on what yet, but it will come good I've no doubt!

other must buys were to stock back up on the white on whites which was almost depleted, 2 meters left of the last batch is never going to keep me going til spring!

so if you fancy a little shopping spree, you can find out if the Doughtys Roadshow is coming to a town near you right here!

and I came home rejuvenated and happy ...

in between more quilting, and texting, with a testing teenager,

 I came in last night thinking this didn't look right  ...

and it's NOT!

now, to engage a little reverse stitching and see if we can end the month on a positive note!