Sevenoaks Street Quilts: FAL

Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Half-Hearted Mini – A Finish!

Finally, I can show you the mini I made for the Modern Quilt Guild mini swap. Gorgeous isn’t it? Did I want to keep it? You bet!

This was my first ever swap and while I was expecting it to be a challenge to pick a project it was made doubly difficult by anxiety and nervousness. My partner, Deb from Brisbane (@sewologist) listed as her likes Liberty, linen and Bonnie & Camille fabrics and her favourite designers as being Sedef Imer and Amy Sinibaldi amongst others. My first thought was for Amy’s half-hearted pattern (it’s free!) but of course, I went looking for other options before finally arriving back at my original pick.

I downsized the original pattern, picked out all my best pink fabrics, and sewed it up.

The finished size of this quilt is around 23 x 25 inches (from memory) and is quilted using a serpentine stitch.

Luckily Deb says she loves it, so I’m relieved and happy to have been part of it.

This is one of my Finish-Along projects so I will be linking this post up for that.

And while I’ve got your attention and you’re thinking about how much you’d like to join in the on-line quilting community here’s a reminder that the sign up for the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers hop is now open.

I was part of this group last year and it was the best thing! I met some great ladies from all over the world who have been generous and supportive and who I now count as friends. There have been opportunities through it, the Bee Inspired group for one, and it was a real confidence builder for me.

If you meet the criteria and are still thinking about it make the move NOW! Sign-ups close on the 28^th… read all about it here.

Linking up to Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication, Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, and Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Monday, 9 January 2017

FAL Q1 GOALS

Well we made it into 2017 – hope your NYE was suitably celebratory – and even though all is not right with the world at least we don’t live in a totalitarian police state, censoring all cultural activity where the U.S. government pacifies the populace by broadcasting game shows where convicted criminals fight for their lives, as predicted in The Running Man.

Not usually being a person who has multiple projects on the go at once I haven’t joined the FAL before, this time I do have several projects in varying stages, not many, mind, but a few.

1. MQG MINI SWAP QUILT

This one is due in February, I’ve made the blocks, sashed it, quilted it, it just needs a binding, and it will be done. This should be an easy quick finish. Here’s a sneak peek.

2. I’m joining in the GARDEN SNAILS QUILT ALONG being held jointly on Instagram by @penandpaperpatterns and @gnomeangel. I’ve already made a few blocks, here’s a sneak peek of one that I made with the tail upside down *sigh*.

I’m thinking that I will turn these into a couple of mini quilts. I don’t know if they will get finished this quarter but here’s hoping!

3. I’ve made a start on my PAY IT FORWARD CRAFT gifts and I need to get these done this quarter. There’s no photo for these since it’s secret sewing…

4. SCRAP PROJECT/S I spent New Year’s Day sorting and re-organising my stash since it had gotten out of hand and the cupboard had become like the Bermuda Triangle. There was fabric in there, that I was positively 100 per cent sure was in there, that seemed to disappear without trace. (I also discovered that I’m down to my last ½ yard of solid white – I almost went into panic mode!) Since I’m in two bees this year I really needed to get things under control so I could find things fairly quickly. In the process of doing this I realised my scrap collection had outgrown its space and needed some serious culling before it becomes too overwhelming.

I’m still sorting through ideas but at this stage I’m thinking of making one large block per month with the aim of making a quilt top by the end of the year. On my short list is either a log cabin type block or a foundation pieced quarter circle block that will check one of my goals of learning to sew circles off my list as well.

I’m leaning towards the latter since it will be a no pressure project and make a good practice piece. I’ve seen one recently that is the inspiration for this idea but can’t seem to find it now. It’s similar to the Improv Fans quilt on this post from Stitched in Colour but not monochromatic.

I’m linking up with the new FAL hosts for 2017. Happy sewing!