Home Improvement

I have some photos of a couple of projects that I am working on at the moment. Above is a section of an afghan I'm making for our new red velvet couch. I thought I'd be a bit more daring and use a variety of different colours. So far I am very happy with the results. I'm thinking of making it about 8 by 10 squares just large enough to cover the couch seat.

I'm also working on a quilt for our new bedroom. We bought a new bed frame because Axel keeps on hitting his feet on the bottom of the one we have now. (I guess being tall is not always an advantage!)

Here is a catalog photo of the bed. We haven't actually got it yet, it's on order.

Our walls will be a light blue and the ceiling, skirting boards and doors are white so I decided on making a blue and white quilt with a hint of orange and peach for contrast. Here are some progress photos.

At the moment I just have the blocks finished (simple maple leaf blocks without the stems. Did I mention I hate doing the stems on maple leaf blocks?) I'm planning on adding a 3 or 2 inch white border around each block and then a 1 inch navy border, finished with another 6 inch white border. I'm also considering putting a border of triangles made from the left over blue and orange material. I will see how it looks after the first white border and see if it needs more colour.

Anyhow I hope everyone is well and enjoying the first month of the new year. I can't believe 11 days have already passed! 16 more days before I go back to work! I have so much to finish at home that I am no longer looking forward to getting back to work, I just want more time so I can get things finished!!!!!!!

Up Date on Block Swap

Finally Kathy the terrible block swap partner has finished the last of her blocks she owes. I am so sorry to the January partner who's been waiting 2 months for her block. I hope it's worth it.

P.S That's the first time I've made a maple leaf block with an applique stem.

Block Swap, I'm finally up to date!

Here are just some quick pics of two blocks I finished for my block swap partners. I'm actually about 4 months behind and have just finished catching up. I had two other blocks that I finished ages ago but haven't gotten around to actually posting until now. The two themes for these blocks are red, white and blue and earthy tone stars. I hope that my partners like their blocks.

I will have to post a photo of the blocks these two lovely ladies sent me, they are really quite lovely. Thank you both!

In Keeping with the Quilt Swap Theme

Just thought I would keep my promise and post some photos of the quilts I've made for my June and July swap partners. I don't know if they visit this blog so I'm not sure if this is going to spoil things for them. Sorry if it does!

Tea Pot theme- first time trying the blanket stitch option on my sewing machine. It's actually not too hard to use and also gives a delightful effect. I just have to work out how to go around corners neatly!

My swap partner asked for a calico small print and muslin block, this is my interpretation I hope it's what she was looking for. There's muslin over the other print in some areas. I think it's quite subtle and works really well. I was thinking it would make a nice block to built a wedding quilt up from, adding more muslin in the borders too.

Update on Quilted Gifts

Here are some photos of the finished baby mat. I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out, very colourful and I think playful. I like that I ended up making a 'neutural' coloured mat because if the have other children later, boys and girls, they all can use it! I do hope it proves useful to the parents. I know they have polished floor boards in the house so this would protect the child from the cold floor when it is playing- that's the idea anyhow.

I have also got some photos of the cushions I have been making. I have finished piecing the tops and putting the borders on. I am now contemplating whether I do quilt them or will the stitching make the tops too busy? I could dip stitch them but I am totally hopless at that and you can always see some stitches. Oh I don't know but I do have some time to think about it.

As you can see I have decided on making 4 cushions. I don't think I could fit more in my suitcase! Also I eliminated the green squares in the corners, I had cut them out and set it up with them in the corners but it acutally looked wrong. It looked good in the mockup design but in real life YUCK! don't know why but it just did! I think that gold/green material is what I will use for the reverse side.

Cushion Covers in the Making

I have been working hard these last few days crocheting, quilting and then quilting some more. My latest quilting project are these soon to be pillow cushions which I will also take with me to Germany. ( it seems my suit case will have nothing but handmade gifts in it and no clothes!) These will be for my boyfriend's parents to put in their lounge room. My boyfriend has sent me a photo of different rooms in the house and after having noticed their couches don't have cushions I thought that's where I could help!

Here is a photo of the room I am making the cushions for. I think I will make four, enough to decorate the place without over doing it and making it possible to carry them with me on the plane. If I have time, maybe some bigger fancy ones for the single chairs. See how I go.

This is my mock up design for the front of the cushions. I think I will make them with buttons on the back or maybe just get my mum to help me put a zip on them. I am not sure yet, but I think some nice brass buttons would finish them off quite nicely.

In their first stage, middle section done. So far I have done two middle sections, two more to go!

Baby Play Mat Quilt!

I have started making a baby/toddler quilted play mat for my boyfriend's brother's soon to be born baby. I didn't know the sex of the baby when I bought the material but since then I have learnt that it will be a baby girl. Anyhow the colours I chose are neutral, neither traditionally boys' or girls' colours but bright fun and almost tasty! I used my block book again but this time it let me down, the measurements were wrong by an inch! Thank God I didn't make that many before I realised they wouldn't fit together. I might use the spare bits as part of the border's corners. I've never made this pattern before so it's been fun and also quite easy because you just have one corner that has to match up.

Here is a photo/mock up of how I plan to finish it with the border. I was also thinking the purple material as the binding.

February Swap Block

For February's block swap my swap partner asked for a block that featured a star. I have used my new quilt block book to make a simple 9 patch star. Whilst my sewing machine has been playing up and causing me trouble using, the book has been easy to use! Here is a photo of the block. This is the first time I've made this block!

Awesome Quilt Blocks Book!

I love my new quilting book that Axel bought me at the Australasian Quiting Expo. It has patterns and measurements for 1000 blocks. All the measurements are seam inclusive so there's no need to add or convert measurements just cut out the pieces and viola beautiful blocks! There is a square and triangle section, hexagon section and some others which are more free form and for these they have the outline of the pieces which you then photocopy to size and use as a template. Here is a photo of the book and my first attempt at using the book. I also tried a product which is new to me- quilt basting spray an adhesive spray used instead of pining everything together. I don't think I like it that much as it makes everything quite stiff and doesn't completely keep the material in place. I think it will be good when making coasters or table runners but not blankets and larger quilts.

January Block Swap

This is the block I sent my January block swap partner. I hope it's scrappy enough for her as this is what she asked for in her description. The fabric is left overs from my sister's 21st birthday quilt and a toddler quilt I made for my neighbours' son. I am enjoying being part of the block swap and while I was disapointed not to get one from my November partner I did get one from my January partner and it is quite lovely. I will post a picture of the January block I received later as I have not yet taken a photo of it.

My First Block Swap

My swap partner asked for a block that had a nautical theme and this is what I have come up with. I chose the blue fabric because I thought not only is it blue but it has a bit of tone variation that makes a pattern which reminds me of the sea or water in general. I hope my partner likes it and can actually use it in her quilt. I've joined another two swaps since this one and am finding it exciting to be part of these swaps, sharing things we've made with our hands with others across the globe or in other parts of our own country.

I've never made a block like this so I am feeling a wee bit proud of myself, working it out and getting the size right without a pattern. OK it's not complicated or anything but I still can't help but feel like I've achieved something. Anyhow I hope everyone is doing well and not going slowly insane with all the running around and trying to get all that needs to be done for the holiday season.

First of Many Christmas Thingies

I have finished one of the table pieces I started last weekend. This one is for a friend. I hope they like it! I'm having a house warming on the weekend so I'm thinking I might try and decorate my room a little better because at the moment it is very 'daggy' for all those Aussies out there they will know what I mean. I was thinking I can at least make some pretty quilted cushions and square mats for the bedside table, bar fridge and top of the book shelf. I also thought an interesting vase with some flowers might help spruce things up. See if I have enough energy by Friday.