When "Stack and Slash" just doesn't cut it

I had a fabulous time at the show! Grace was very well behaved in her sling, although I did do a lot of jiggling. Even when Saffron took her for a cuddle, I found myself continuing to dance away!  I didn't bring my camera, so I have nothing to show you, but it was a wonderful day out catching up with friends - Becky, Toni, Saffron, the girls from Material Obsession, and Kelani Fabric - and drooling over fabric. We've only just returned from Sydney so I've been busy unpacking and trying to get back to normal. I wouldn't recommend travelling with a new baby, 3 year old and 5 year old by yourself but we made it! And it was worth it to spend time with family :)

Just before we left for Sydney I had an idea for a quilt using Saffron Craig's new Imaginary Flowers range. She had posted a photo of some lampshades done in her fabrics and they looked gorgeous, so I ran with that idea and "Lampshade Lineup" was born. Most of this was pieced between 11pm and 1am (the only time I have to myself nowadays).

First of all I tried using my trusty old "Stack and Slash" method, freehand curved cutting and piecing. However that kind of wonky, lopsided look just didn't go with the perfectly square lampshades. I've never seen a lopsided lamp stand (it reminds me of what you might come out of a beginners pottery class).

So I bit the bullet and created a template using a cereal box. I wasn't happy with the first one (a bit skinny in the middle), but with a bit of tweaking I came up with something that looked like a lamp stand whether it was right way round or upside down.

This is what happened when I didn't pin - puckers even a iron wont fix!

I initially thought of adding some extra colour to it, but when I lay it out it looked confusing, so I stuck to a consistent background colour.

Although it took a little more effort (templates AND pinning - what's going on!) I'm really happy with how it turned out (they really are beautiful fabrics - especially the "Lean to Stripe") and I'm looking forward to quilting it. I'm thinking of quilting mainly on the background. Feel free to offer suggestions.