STANDING IN THE PATCHWORK SUNSHINE
A few weeks ago I was having a bit of a bad week and so I decided the best way to cheer myself up would be to make something for someone else; something patchwork related. At the same time there was an online swap being organised to promote the book; Little Quilts. Bingo!
I decided to sign up and have some fun making a surprise mini quilt. The swap guidelines specified that the mini you made had to come from the book, which is a brilliant idea for someone going through a creative dry spell like me at the moment.
I thought about which quilt to make for awhile and then decided on making “Cuttings” – a patchwork flower in a pot.
I wanted my partner to be reminded of sunshine and happiness when they looked at my mini and so I selected some bright modern fabrics that reminded me of summer fun.
I had some fun fussy cutting fabrics and was so thrilled to be able to use Heather Ross’s Briar Rose Bee for the center of my flower.
It’s like the little bee is collecting some pollen. I made every petal of the dresden plate scrappy and tried not to put the same fabrics beside each other. There’s a fabulous mix of prints and I’m especially crushing on the glasses and zebra’s.
It’s my first time using ric rac to edge applique and I have to say it’s a genius technique. (You can see how it’s done via Amy’s tutorial here.) I’ve rushed out and purchased some more ric rac so I can give it another go.
I went with a lovely (well I love it) blue background using Zen Chic’s Barcelona City Map (reminds me of the round-a-bouts here in Canberra). I have been hoarding my yard of this selvedge print from Spotlight for just the right project and I think it’s perfect as the pot (a nice nod to us all being quilters).
I’m so stoked with how this top has come together, I’m just procrastinating on how to quilt it (and what fabric to use for the backing and binding). So for now it’s going to live on the design wall while I work through some other things and think about it.
I’ve got so many things on my quilting to-do list at the moment (not to mention all the other to-do lists I keep around the house). I had big (BIG!) plans for September but they all seemed to go a little pear shaped and I haven’t completed anything off my quilting to-do list.
Lucky for me the recent long weekend gave me some time in the sewing room and I’ve managed to chip away at a little on most of these. I seem to be amassing a long list of backing and binding that needs to be done, which is fabulous as it means that there’s some big finishes coming up but it’s also a little nuts. (I cannot for the life of me decide on a binding for my Sea Breeze Mini.)
In true avoidance tactics I took advantage of one of my quilting inspirations, Quilt Jane, being in Sydney and played hookie for a day and did a road trip with Gemma (of Pretty Bobbins) to meet up with her and some of my other quilting crushes.
It was so lovely to spend time with (in order of left to right in the image) Caroline (of Nightingale Quilts), Gemma (of Pretty Bobbins), Jane (of Quilt Jane), (jazz hands belong to me) Lorena (of Lorena’s Patchwork and Quilting Notes) and her daughter (who is an amazing quilter in her own right). We all talked at a million miles an hour about our passion for quilting, what’s got us excited at the moment, how to get perfect points (Thanks for the tips Jane!), our dreams and goals and of course how fabulous Instagram is. (I was also pretty chuffed to be able to stand on a beach as opposed to land locked Canberra.)
It’s such a thrill and a luxury to be able to get together and talk all things quilting and I got to do it twice in the last week because I also finally got to meet the fabulous and stylish Cat (from Cat + Vee) while she was holidaying in Canberra. (Alas no photographic evidence as we were too busy gas bagging and missed the selfie opportunity!)
No wonder I spent more time in the sewing room in the past week then I have since finishing up Sewvivor. I was on a quilting contact high. It’s just a shame it didn’t give me super human finishing powers so I could have powered through my to-do list. Oh well, will just content myself with looking at my Patchwork Sunshine while it’s still in my possession.
As for my to-do list I’m scrubbing out the word ‘September’ and replacing it with ‘October’. Please tell me I’m not the only one with a massive to-do list!
I know I left a message on IG but just had to tell you again how much I love this little quilt – it really is sunshine and happiness !
Everything about this mini is great! The cheery colours, the ric rac, the bee in the centre! I’m sure you were happy while making it.
Super cute, I love it!
That is adorable!
I love that mini! It does look very summer-y and sunshine-y. I’m not usually a fan of ricrack, but I love how it frames the flower.
I love your little quilt and am off to read more about the ric-rac edging!
Thanks 🙂 The technique is really simple and gives such a crisp finish (I may just need to work on it being a “circle” and not some mutant circle type shape).
I keep catching glimpses of “pearl bracelets” in photos of your projects/stash. It’s just the best fabric collection ever and I’ve decided I need every colour in the range…..
That’s how I got so much of it – I purchased a bundle of it. I’ve held on to it for so long and have only used it sparingly, I love it so much and I’m so worried I’ll run out of it. I need some of the new tone-on-tone ones.
This is a lovely project! The fussy cutting is great and the selvage print for the pot is adorable!
Thanks Sarah – I’m really happy with it (so much that I think it’s going to be hard to part with!).
Love your flower mini! So cheerful and I love the way you mixed so many fun prints.
Thanks Laney – I love the scrappy look, I just don’t do it often enough so it’s always fun when I can work it in.
Such a gorgeous little mini!!!!
Thanks Midge 🙂
I have a massive to-do list as well! Always have…. Love your sunshine sunflower, absolutely vibrant
Me too… I like to be busy… I just don’t like being late on deadlines. Has to be a balance I guess (one day I hope to figure out that balance!) 🙂 Thanks 🙂
That’s a stunning mini; lucky swap partner. I wait to see how you quilt it, I have no idea what I would do!
Thanks Mary. Gotta say, I’m a bit stuck on the whole “how do I quilt it”. Maybe it’s time to step outside my comfort zone and try some hand quilting… Ack!
That flower makes the biggest smile spread across my face 🙂 My list is a long one too. At the moment I’m dealing with it by just not looking at it … do you think that’ll work?
Yeah, good luck with that, I tried that tactic last month… 😉 🙂
Love your mini quilt Angie – it is bright and happy. Your swap buddy will love it! Marie xxx
Thanks Marie. I hope so. I just need to get past my fear of ruining it by quilting it 😉
You are AWESOME!! I’m so sorry we didn’t think to take a pic – and the pic of the specs on the car-dash didn’t turn out at all! It was so great to finally meet you and have a good catch up – looking forward to doing it again sometime, somehow. Your mini is fabulous, I love all the fabrics you’ve chosen, someone will be very happy to receive it. Here’s to October being a good month to work through your sewing list. xx
That’s the risk with living life on the artistic knife edge, some times it just doesn’t work out. Muwhwhahahahahaha 😉 🙂 We will definitely do it again – soon! Thanks, I hope they love it too. I wish you the same for October – big things ahead! 🙂
What a fantastic mini!!!
Thanks Fiona! I hope they love it. I’ve been inspired by all the fabulous work your Secret Squirrel girls are doing lately.
I adore your little quilt – it is beautiful and so happy
Thanks Melody. I’m hoping they’ll like it too – a little bit of Canberra spring time! 🙂
I love your little potted flower of sunshine. The glasses are one of my favorites too!
I am also in the swap and did the Dolly Quilt. All I have left is the binding.
Thanks Kelly! Oh I can’t wait to see your quilt. The dolls looked cute, they were on my short list. The glasses print is just fabulous – every time I see some somewhere I buy more of it, I’m worried I’ll run out of it! 🙂