My last post before Florida :-)

Firstly, I wanted to say a huge thankyou to everyone who commented on my post yesterday. I think making all the half square triangles had finally got to me!

I was very flattered that most of you said not to change anything but I decided to make changes anyway! I took out 3 fabrics completely and swopped them for a new one. The changes arnt drastic but I think it looks more serene and harmonious which is the look I was going for. Here is the new arrangement:

Im a little happier with it now, but I may still add/takeaway something else. Im just waiting for some new fabric to arrive.

Florida here I come!!! I am SO exited about this trip, not so thrilled about the 8 hour flight with a 2 and 5 year old but their ladybird trunkis filled with toys and activities should help!

So, what am I going to do without a sewing machine for two weeks?



Kandi very kindly posted a link to a fab website where you can print off your hexies for free and make whatever size you want. I didnt realise just how time consuming cutting all these out would be! If I had the time to wait for Mr postman I would have bought one of Kandis kits from her Etsy shop.

(Almost)Finally, I have been green with envy at all those people who went to the Spring Quilt Market in Utah. Reading that people were getting their hands on new fabric lines was just making me more envious that we are the last to get all the good stuff here in England. So, I decided to look into what might be going on a little closer to home and ended up getting one of these:



Yes! Im going to the festival of quilts in August!

Finally, I have added the blogpress app to my Iphone just Incase I just have to share something with you whilst I'm away and bookmarked google reader on my phone so I can keep up with all of you!

Wish me luck in finding some fabrics shops when I'm not in Disneyland!

AMH Lolouthi Love Giveaway

How could I not enter this giveaway over at Justabitfrayed , sponsored by pink castle fabrics.

My favourites are 10,19,22,25 and 29. It would be sooooo nice to win a giveaway one day!

Help! I need some advice on colour!

Im working on a quilt to be gifted to my sister as a wedding present. I really want it to be special but I'm finding it a challange working with someone elses chosen colour palette. The request was "duck egg blue with gold spun through it." When gold got struck off because you cant use cotton if you want gold, yellow was the substitute. I really like this yellow (third from the top) but it just didnt seem to be working for me no matter what design I choose, so I replaced it with something more subtle.

The trouble is I've cut all the squares now... oops! I think it would have looked  nice as a binding but now I cant get hold of that fabric ouch!!

I keep taking a break with these half square triangles,  I'v taken out 3 fabrics as it all looked a little to busy, played around with the design, completely changed it and have now reverted back to the original design. I think I've just been staring at it for so long I cant see what Im looking for to change.  I have a creative block! has this ever happened to you?. I think I need your help, so, what would you change about this?  Does it look to busy?  Does it need another colour?  or have I been looking at it for to long?

Any suggestions?

Bloggers Quilt festival

Today Im linking up to The bloggers quilt festival and for my entry I have chosen my Cathedral window quilt. The reason I have chosen this particular quilt is because I am not normally the sort of person to throw myself in at the deep end, so it was very much out of my comfort zone. I new it would be a challange for me to make as I am a relatively inexperienced quilter but I thought I would feel the fear and do it anyway! so for that, I am proud:-) I also thought I would never have the skill or patience to make it.

I have also chosen it because I have grown to love it even more since making it. My kids love playing on it, and its so bright and happy that I just love to look at it and take in all that colour.

>

There are so many lovely quilts at Amys Festival you really must go look.

Heather Ross Far Far Away quilt: done

So heres what I've been working on with that lovely far far away fabric.

As the double gauze fabric was very delicate, each square was backed with stabalizer. Each peice was then cut on the bias so that the pictures would end up correctly orientated.



I am pleased with how puffy the squares look and the quilting looks nice on the back too. During the process I discovered the wonderful hera marker. I was dubious at first, wondering if I would be able to see a crease whilst quilting in the evening. Never will I use a disappearing ink pen again!



Another discovery I made whilst quilting this baby was a quilting shop located literally 8 minutes drive from me in my own town!! How could I have missed this before!!!

A friend of mine had told me about this shop as she drove past it one day. Its the only shop in that road and a few roads away from the high street so I wouldnt have ever known it was there.

When my fabric marker ran out, I thought uh-oh im going to have to go out of town to get another one, then I remembered my friend saying it would save me some trips out of town and 10 minutes later I was on my way home clutching my hera marker and a few other additions!.

Although small, the shop was filled wall to wall with bolts of fabric and holds much more stock related to quilting then the big store I go to out of town. I spyed some quilting magazines and notions whilst there so I will definitely have to go back for more supplies.

So thats another one wrapped up.



until next time.
:-)

Waddipaedia - stops you going batty over batting

When I first began quilting I found the process of choosing batting tricky. There are so many brands of batting to choose from. So many thicknesses and compostions. Then theres terms like needle punched, thermal bonding, and scrim to complicate matters further!

Going by the books and blogs I have read the quilting world seems to favour the cotton batt because its natural, breathable and dosnt beard. Polyester batts are said to beard. The fibres can stick together and cause pills on the surface of your quilt. Cotton batt dosnt tend to pill although it is said to still beard to a certain degree.

You can get different types of polyester. There is bonded polyester which is more like fluffy sheets of fibre that can be seperated. Normally the cheaper type. Or needlepunched polyester which is much denser and closer resembles cotton batting. I prefer needlepunched as it dosnt tend to catch on my sewing machine foot. The packaging also says “Does not beard” or "resists bearding" Price wise this type is on par with cotton batting.

I have to say, despite what is said about polyester I think there is a place for it. As a newbie to quilting I actually quite liked the needlepunched version. I find it wonderful for large quilts as it is so light and I find that my batting isnt weighed down as much, pulling and distorting my stitches as I quilt. Polyester can also add definition and can give your quilt a wonderful puffy appearance. I love seeing a quilt that I just want to dive underneath as it looks so cosy.

A polyester batt dosnt need to be prewashed as it wont shrink. It is also quick drying so you dont need to put it in the dryer. I'm in the U.K, it rains a lot and if I used cotton in such a large quilt it would have to go in the tumble dryer, which would dull the colours of my fabrics. Cotton batting would also take days to dry in the winter and most likely, smell of damp by the time it was dry.

The jargon:

Scrim: some cotton batts contain Scrim. Scrim is a micro thin layer of polyester. It is used to make the batt more stable. The batt is then needlepunched to make it easier to quilt.

Thermal bonding is a process used to improve the strength of a batt. It softens the fibres at melting point so that when it cools, it hardens and creates a stronger bond.

Ok, so heres the good bit. The waddipaedia found on Asding.com details the composition, colours, loft, shrinkage, drape and stitch distance for each wadding, plus the suitablility for hand or machine quilting. I think its brilliant! I hope you find it useful too.

An award and 7 things to share about me.

I am so very naughty. I was given a versatile blogger award way back in November from Tina but it has taken me this long to post about it.

Thanks Tina and here are my 7 things to tell you about myself and so you dont doze off to much I have included pictures!

1- I LOVE the wizard of oz and all things wizard of oz related yet im yet to read the 14 Baum books, its on my list of things to do! (and I'm still kicking myself for passing up the chance to have these WOZ inspired shoes)

2 - The first thing I remember making was this tapestry, I think I was around 8 when I sewed it. It still hangs in my mums house in my old bedroom.

3- My mother was a seamstress, she used to make bridesmaids dresses and sew her own clothes.

4- My favourite holiday destination is Florida. and Im lucky to be going there in two weeks time and this will be my third visit!

5-Both my mother and father are Polish. I can understand every word but I cannot read or write it.

6-ferrero Rocher are my vice!

7-The Album I love right now : Adele 21

Here are 7 blogs I love and look forward to reading regularly:

1 -Red Pepper quilts- If theres anyone who dosnt know about this blog I would be very surprised!. It just screams inspiring, lovely quilts, lovely photographs, lovely Rita.

2 - Molly Flanders - When I found Mary through Flickr I though aha a hidden gem, now shes cropping up everywhere. Mary is helpful and kind and is a valuable source for quilting inspiration and her daughter Molly does some beautiful embroidery.

3 - Ellison Lane Quilts - I very recently discoverd Jennifer and instantly warmed to her blog. Like me, she is fairly new to quilting. Her quilting journey is remeniscent of my own, starting off with various makes for her children and discovering a passion for quilting. I look forward to reading more.

4 - Don't Look Now I have had SO many comments on my lilly Pilly quilt I feel like they really ought to be aimed at Kellie as its Kellies amazing patterns that make them what they are. I can only dream to free motion quilt like Kellie!. Kellie is also having a giveaway on her blog that closes tomorrow so hurry on over there.

5-Film in the Fridge There are SO many inspiring quilts on here, how could I not nominate Ashely.

6 Fresh lemon Quilts
The blog name says it all. Zesty, punchy quilts with gorgeous colour combinations.

7 -Jaybird quilts- Jam packed full of quilty lovliness, Julies blog is always inspiring.

Thanks for nominating me Tina and sorry the thankyou is so late!

And bend, and press..

No this isnt my latest exercise regieme but I've been busy pressing fabric and boy does my back hurt! I'v also been pressing my seams open. I like the results and it seems to be worth the effort but having thought about it I probably wouldnt do it if I was planning on quilting in the ditch as I'm not sure there would be much stability there.

I'm really looking forward to showing you the finished quilt, just waiting for some coordinating fabric to arrive for the back and then I can begin quilting.

I seem to have a problem at the moment where I cant stop buying craft related things!

Just look at these yummy felts....

....and these inspiring books...

I've also bought some supplies to try making my own design board but more on that later.

My spending is fast becoming a problem because in just 3 weeks time Im going to Orlando, Florida,(yipppeeee!). Not only will I be going with my husband and children, my inlaws are coming aswell so it should be really good fun.

Now ofcourse, I am exited about the whole disney experience but this time finding some fabric shops will be on my list of prioritys, so im trying to squirrel away some money to save for my splurge. So, my wonderful bloggy friends, where do I go? Does anyone out there live in Orlando?, what can you recommend??

xx