Thursday, 2 June 2016

Bravery Plus



“Bran thought about it, ‘Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?'
'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.”

― 
George R.R. MartinA Game of Thrones

I think my current favourite design is the Swiss cross – simple, effective, versatile and on trend in interior dec circles in a Scandi – Mid Century Modern crossover kind of way. I must make at least one otherwise my life won’t be complete! A-a-a-nd here it is in the very graphic black and white colour scheme.



I aspire to taking the perfect quilt photo and to that end I avidly read all of Debbie’s (at A Quilter’s Table) photoshoot posts. In her latest instalment she wrote

It's a curious thing - as I've shared these over the last few months, I've been surprised how many comments I've gotten from readers being fearful to take their quilt out 'in public' for photoshoots such as those in today's post. With the possible exception of the one taken in the Swiss alps, it seems to me these photos might have been taken in 'everyday' settings - even perhaps locations stumbled upon while the quilt-maker was out and about. I know when hubby and I go out for a photoshoot, sometimes we have a destination, but just as often we drive around looking for an interesting setting. And honestly, rarely do we spend much time in one spot. We often stroll nonchalantly to our target area, snap a few times, and off we go. Most people ignore us, and if they do pay us any mind, they are only complimentary - and maybe a little envious. So really, it's not scary at all!



Challenge accepted! Actually, I’d been scouting photo spots in a lunchtime walk radius of work for months and I was ready-ish to take the plunge. So with heart pounding and hands sweating, neck swiveling to check for approaching members of the public... wait, what’s supposed to be my attitude here? Defiantly proud? No-o-o, too far off my true feelings about this quilt (I’m happy with it and I absolutely love it but I know where the faults are). I know, BRAVE. I can manage that for a short 5-minute photo snapping session...  and then scurry away quickly to recover from the adrenaline rush.



The rest of the photos were taken in the relaxed setting of home and I’ve attempted a bit of styling with a potted lavender that I haven’t got around to planting yet.
Hope you find the courage for your own challenges, no matter how major or minor they may be in the grand scheme of life.


Linking up to My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday, Creative Wednesday at Faith and Fabric and Fabric Frenzy Friday at Fort Worth Fabric Studio


Fort Worth Fabric StudioMy Quilt Infatuation

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Long Tall Jack


I'm a sucker for a large scale floral and a long-time fan of Jane Sassaman’s work, so when I saw the indigo ‘Prairie Chic Meadow Mix’ fabric, well… I had to buy it. And if it’s a large scale print there’s not much point buying only a small scrap amiright? It had to be yardage.



Once in my hot little hands I spent time stroking it lovingly, laying it out on my bed so I could see it in all its loveliness and  whispering to it “Aah beautiful fabric, you are too gorgeous to be relegated to just a back. You, my pretty, must be the star…” and the perfect pattern idea had to be the often drooled over Double Fat Jack quilt by Lyn at Lily’s Quilts (tutorial here).


I wanted it to be throw size so I got the calculator out and cranked the size up to 54" x 70". Actually it should’ve been bigger but I needed extra length for the diagonal strips and having already cut the fabric and with no extra left over... I had to make the central cross narrower.



A good idea is worth doing at least twice so I bought some more and whipped one up for my sister as well. And whipped up is the operative word here - they are fast to put together!



They’re both straight line quilted – you can see the detail better on the backs, the String Quartet flimsy for my more floral version.



And a large scale Wonky Plus block version for my sister.


I’m linking up to Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Fabric Frenzy Friday at Fort Worth Fabric Studio