Material Obsession 2

Very frustratingly we still don't have internet, and am not sure when it will be back on.... aagh! But I really wanted to share with you this fantastic book before the baby arrives (although I have a feeling she'll be late like my others!).

Material Obsession was the first ever quilting book I bought. I loved it! Its a beautiful book, great photography, fabulous designs, and wonderful hand quilting. I often (still) flick through it for inspriration, particularly on hand quilting. So when I was sent Material Obsession 2, by Kathy Doughty (of Material Obsession) and Sarah Fielke (of Sewn) I was delighted to find that this book is just as fantastic as the first -loads of quilting eye candy that brings traditional designs to life. It is a grown up version of their first book - in that I mean they have moved on from squares and rectangles to more sophisticated designs and that use a variety of techniques such as foundation piecing and hand piecing. I have much to learn when it comes to traditional designs and techniques, so its great to have a book on my shelf that steps me through it with plenty of diagrams and full sized templates (no enlarging on the photocopier!). The quilting basics section at the back of the book is excellent, and I particularly loved the section on working with colour. They have a great explanation for warm and cool colours - its warm if it reminds you of the sun (red, yellow, orange) and its a cool colour if it reminds you more of the sea (blue, green, purple) - easy! The 'basics' section also contains info on choosing fabrics, threads, using different rulers, fussy cutting, foundation piecing, various applique methods, step by step hand quilting (they taught me to hand quilt), and binding. They really know their stuff.

Here's some of my favourite quilts in the book:

The beauty below is Kathy's all time favourite quilt. I'm keen to try foundation piecing, and make a smaller version of this quilt.

And this amazing one is Sarah's favourite quilt ever. She used 350 different fabrics - stunning!

What a labour of love this one would be. Each star has 72 little kite shaped pieces sewn by hand together.

I wanted to try all of these quilts, but I decided that due to lack of time I would try my hand at hand piecing the star on this last quilt. I'm a little ashamed to admit that this is the first time I've tried hand piecing, or using a template for that matter!

I decided a cushion would be best for my first attempt.

I found it a little tedious cutting out all the fabric using a template, as many of them were fussy cut, but I was surprised that I loved the hand piecing part so much. It was very restful and so portable. The cushion came together much more quickly that I had anticipated.

I need more practice getting all the seams to match up nicely, but I enjoyed the process and I could see myself making a hand pieced quilt in the future.
 

Ofcourse I hand quilted this one. 

Its going to my sister, Erin, to go with her wedding quilt.

Thanks to everyone who has commented, emailed or bought my patterns. I really hope to get back to you soon :) Thank goodness for free WiFi at McDonalds!

Gone for a while

Due to changing internet providers I wont have internet for a couple of weeks. I don't know how I'm going to cope with that, but it might actually be a good chance for me to focus on some other important things right now (like getting some rest!). So if I don't respond to your emails or comments, you'll know why.

Mum and dad left yesterday morning on their mission to Finland for our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm so excited for them, but I will really miss them, particularly when the new baby arrives. Mum was a super star and finished off this gorgeous knitted blanket for her yesterday using these yarns (just in time!).

It is beautifully soft, I just adore it. I feel ready to have the baby now - I just can't wait to wrap her up in this.

I love you mum and dad, and I'm so proud of what you're doing! Rug up, I've heard its cold up there in the arctic circle!

I have so much more to share with you including a quilt in Australian Patchwork and Quilting, a project out of Material Obsession 2, my finished Heather Ross Lightening Bug quilt, and another fun curvy quilt using Saffron's bugs range, but I'm getting dirty looks from the people in the library where my kids are running wild as I type this, so it might have to wait. Hope to see you soon!

Erin's Wedding Quilt

This will be my last wedding quilt in a while. I can't believe my three youngest sibling have all married within the last 12 months! It's wonderful to see them all so happy with their special someone.

The idea behind this quilt is that there's a side for Rory, and a side for Erin, and they each have a little of each other within their heart. You can see a pic of the whole quilt top here. I made it long enough that it can sit on the end of their bed, and they can both cuddle under it on the couch. I think its my biggest yet.

Its always nice getting a good reaction, and they even liked the back!

This one was entirely machine quilted - straight lines on the sashing and borders and free motion stitching on the blocks. I found this was much easier than trying to free motion quilt the whole quilt. I only had to focus on one small section at a time. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I love that binding.

Erin and Rory's wedding was wonderful. It was a hot day - 35 degrees - so the kids were a little wild :)

But the bride and groom were just radiant. These are my siblings, along with my newest brother in law... Welcome to the family Rory! You have yourself a stunning bride there!

And here's a pic with all of the in-laws and kids... and we're still growing!

I love being part of such a big and close knit family and it was fantastic having everyone in one place at the same time, particularly as mum and dad will be leaving on their mission to Finland in a few days! Time is going waaaay too fast.

Sherbet Dreams Winner

I had a wonderful time reading about all of your childhood memories. It brought back so many of my own, like

• when the neighbours had a party, my sister (whoever I happened to be sharing a room with at the time) and I would dance in the dark in our room instead of going to bed
• all of us kids hopping into mum and dad's bed on a saturday morning, just to chat
• making home made murder mystery movies complete with adverts (they are such a crack up!)
• pretending I'm asleep when my older sisters got home from dates so I could hear all the goss
• listening to dad's made up stories (he told the best stories and now tells them to my children)

I could go on... but I think you'd like to see who won "The Pips".

Well, Nancy, you're the winner of half a Sherbet Pips layer cake and my Sherbet Dreams pattern. Congratulations! I'll be in touch to get your address. Thanks to everyone who entered, and for your kind words about my quilt :)

Talking about childhoods, another one is close to starting ... only 4 weeks to go...

 

The wedding  on the weekend was wonderful. I'll share more pics soon.