Tried a new 'thing'

Thursday means linking up with T.N.T Thursdays at Happy Quilting.  This week I can share with you that I tried a new way of ironing my blocks.  Sounds pretty unexciting but let me tell you it was a light bulb moment for me!  Pressing open instead of to one side is my new thing and I'll be sticking to it!  Let me share with you why: 

It all started with the sashing on my Mod Sampler quilt.  I didn't want the seams to show through the white so I decided to press my seems over to the darker fabric side instead of all one way (which would have been logical and easier when I ironed it all out!  Hindsight is a wonderful thing).  Once I had done my sewing, I realised that I then had seams going left, right, then right again etc. - it was a nightmare to iron!  All pressed one direction would have been better.  Or so I thought!  

So, when I created my Week 1 block for my Sew Into Solids quilt block, I thought I needed to do something different...better.  On my 'Antique Tile' block I pressed my seams open.  Open?  I had never done that before so I thought maybe I should try something new.  Like I said, I had never done that before but with my experience of pressing my seams higgledy-piggledy to one side playing on my mind from my Mod Sampler quilt, I gave the 'pressed open' a go.  BRILLIANT! 

I pressed the seams open which was easy and helped keep everything nice and neat.

Antique Tile block

The block turned out great in my eyes.  I'm just so pleased that my corners all matched up apart from one which was only 1 millimetre off.  Success in my eyes!  Important too, I think, in an all-solid block as there is no pattern or print to distract the eye away from poor sewing.   Yay for me for trying something new. 

And then by chance I happened to read a section from "The Modern Quilts Sourcebook" by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr that said to always iron your seams open.  There are a number of  reasons of why they recommend ironing seams open [page 93]. These include:

• more even wearing - basically there will be two layers of fabric which will wear more evenly than three layers (of fabric and seams) created from pressing to one side
• improved precision - especially in areas where many fabrics intersect
• points are easier to match - using pins through the seams (diagram page 95)
• more even quilting - there will be less bulk at intersections which means you can quilt through them, therefore adding durability to the quilt

So that confirmed it - I'm definitely convinced :)

 

And in other news, I went to the Country Living Spring Show today and was very impressed.  Lots of up-cycled homewares and garments, shabby chic items and garden things - a feast for my senses - so I came away excited and inspired.  The weather was perfect for a wee bimble up to Raystitch where I bought a yummy American Jane Pezzy print and Klona (yes, Klona - not Kona) bundle plus some lovely linen/cotton fabric.  I think I may need to go on a 'fabric diet' soon!  Maybe next week....

 

And there you have it - a great day and I tried something new.  Happy sewing :)

 

 

WiP Wednesday - Antique Tile

Yay for Wednesday!  I have tomorrow off work to go galavanting around London and to the Country Living Spring Fair at the Business Design Centre and I may even pop in to Raystitch (since I'll be in the area...ish).

So, it was a busy week for me!  I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced WiP Wednesday, so here is my Wednesday re-cap: 

I finally got the top done for my Oh, Fransson Mod Sampler quilt.  A big 'ahhhhh - it's done' for me!  Check it out here and I've added another picture just below.  I made the quilt slightly bigger than her 'recipe' (pattern) and still have some square-in-square blocks for the back, which is yet to be done.  I am nearly 100% in love with it, but the more I look at it the happier I am [big smile].  These aren't my usual colours - I'm a plaid girl remember - so I'm getting used to it!

I ironed it - honestly! 

Also this week, I finally set up my "amyinuk Etsy shop", which is currently empty - but please do check it out soon as I have plans to add some hand-made-home-made-yummy-goodness soon!  Plus I went to the Stitch & Craft Show on the weekend and got some fabric that I think I will use for my Fat Quarterly retreat swap goodies - so stay tuned for those!  They are another WiP.

And lastly, I have finally started my blocks for the Sew into Solids gang over on Flickr.  I've started with a Fresh Lemons Antique tile and I am happy with it :)

I'm 'sew' impressed with my accuracy at the points - they all matched up perfectly apart from one which was only about 1 millimetre out!  Yay for me!  I'll share how I got them that way soon. 

I chose Kona solids.  Picture taken with the sun shining through the curtains - ahhh spring!  

All in all I had a productive week. And with some time to myself tomorrow - who knows what else I can accomplish!?  Have a great Wednesday. 

P.S.  Here is something a co-worker brought back from Canada for me.... one of my FAVOURITES!!  Rainbow Bit/Confetti Cake - lucky me!! AND a box of Kraft Dinner Spirals.  Supper and dessert - sorted! 

Monday Monday Monday

Monday, Monday, Monday.  Yup, it was one of those Mondays...  'Nuff said.

On a positive note,  I went to the Stitch & Craft Show yesterday and did a bit of retail therapy (bought two really cool canvas-type materials which may become a tote bag), looked at 500+ quilts for inspiration, and treated myself to a yummy lunch (with dessert)!  Ahhh Sundays!  Much better than Mondays.  Here are a couple of the quilts on display:

I thought this one was great - probably because of my love of plaid I think!! 

I quite liked this one too.  Squares are always good! 

This is the largest collection of lap quilts I've ever seen in one room!  Must get to the NEC one day.

Another positive thing today is that I'm linking up with Sew Happy Geek's Manic Monday Linky Party.  My Manic Monday 'share' is that I have finally set up my Etsy shop amyinuk.  Check out my new tab at the top of my blog.  My shop is currently empty but this is a huge step for me.  I hope to have some things in there soon, provided another Monday like today doesn't get in the way (it was definitely manic)! 

And I'm also linking up with Canoe Ridge Creations for {Sew} Modern Monday.  I am soooo very pleased to finally tell you that my Mod Sampler quilt top is FINALLY finished - YAY!  Here it is:

Ahhhhh... feels so good to finally be done!  Well - almost.  Still need to quilt it. 

Mondays are so much better when you link up!  So, one more link for you:  Sew Many Ways 'sew darn crafty' link party.  Enjoy.

And on that note, have a great Monday evening.  Happy sewing!

Liebster Blog Award!

I had the honour of being awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Sydney of Syd the Wyd last week.  Thank you very much Sydney - I am so touched that you like my blog of quilting, crafting and gardening!

So, what is the Liebster Blog Award you may ask?  I shall tell you! 

The Liebster award (German for favourite) is for bloggers with 200 followers or less.

As a recipient of the award, you have the chance to thank and link back to the

blogger who gave it to you as well as pass it along to five other deserving blogs.

I now have the privilege of selecting five blogs in return that I think deserve this award.  This is really tough because I follow some fantastic blogs - and so many of them are newbies like me!!  So, here are just five of my favourite blogs (who also have fewer than 200 followers) so I hope you stop by and check them out!  In no particular order:

• Made With Moxie http://thatmoxiegirl.blogspot.co.uk/
• Ladybug Quilting http://ladybugquiltings.blogspot.co.uk/
• [removed as nominee preferred not to be tagged]
• Selfsewn http://selfsewn.blogspot.co.uk/
• Sewlandia http://sewlandia.blogspot.co.uk/

You all rock!  Thank you for blogging about your crafty projects and providing me with inspiration to create my own things.  I started my blog because it was on my '2012 bucket list'.  To make one quilt in my life was what I had on my '2009 bucket list' and I am so pleased that I did (thank you to Karen - Highview Crafts).  I became hooked - the fabric, the patterns, the maths (arrggh) - the POSSIBILITIES!  I was quickly drawn into this magical world of quilting.  And as a super side-effect, I am now part of a blogging-quilting-community which I love. 

So there you are.  I can hear the music playing so it is time to wrap this speech up and leave the stage!  

Liebster Conventions:
1. Thank your award presenter on your blog and link back to him/her.
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog.
3. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that you think deserve to be recognised.
4. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too!

The one with fabrics in...

Even the packaging was awesome!

Oh my days - what a fabric feast I am having!!  My package from The Village Haberdashery arrived this morning and I squealed with excitement - the poor postman made a hasty retreat!!  I couldn't resist opening it just to PEAK inside and can you believe it I actually waited until I got home for lunch to spread the contents out and drool!!  Such self constraint, yes?  Even the packaging it arrived in was yummy (can they make that into a fabric??!!). Here are some photos of the pure fantastic-ness that I now have in to play with all weekend.

A {few} Kona solids, some thread and some fun bird fabric.



Oh yes - some Ruby Star typewriters!

And here is the whole lot in a yummy-scrummy stack.  Lucky me!

Wellllll...which ones should I use first?  I might just keep re-arranging them over and over again and admiring them!  Once I've had enough of that I think I will work on my first solids block.

On Sunday I'll be checking out The Stitch & Craft Show in London.  There will be a display of some of the quilts that have been made for the Olympians who will be participating in the London games this summer.  I can't wait to see these and get some ideas and inspiration. 

So, I will catch you later - I'm off to admire my new fabrics [thanks again Annie]!
P.S. Tomorrow is National Quilt Day!!  How will you celebrate it?

WIP Wednesday, again!

Can you believe it is Wednesday again?  I feel as though I had a good sewing week.  Though I didn't finish anything per se, I did make some noticeable and noteworthy progress on a few projects!

Recap:  I managed to sew extra Mod blocks to make the quilt bigger, I sewed all the small sashing bits onto the blocks (see picture) and I will attach the long sashing momentarily.  I resolved my dilemma and did a test run of what the name badge will look like for my (secret) recipient of the name badge swap for the Fat Quarterly Retreat.  I can't share it with you yet - but soon!!  Also, I have decided on what I will make for the sample swap for the FQ retreat as well.  Plan A has been hatched (also a secret, for now).  I have to make four of the same thing to exchange at the retreat with a mystery partner.  How cool is that!!??  And daunting... Quilt Dad is in the group. 

I am sooo close to being done...

I also got the grass cut, chopped a thorny thing down, pruned a whispy thing, and tidied up a hedge in the garden - so I got a few WIP's crossed off in the 'garden' department too!  The weather was so nice that I couldn't help myself.

Pottery class update - I shall add a comment here when I return later tonight!!  Fingers crossed my large smooth coil pot turned out...  I always go to class with a small amount of anxiety and trepidation, wondering what I will find. 

And best of all, I did some shopping which also crossed a couple of things off one of my lists!  I visited The Village Haberdashery's new website shop = scrummy!!  Several metres (phew - not yards hahaha) of fabric later, I now have a selection of solids on its way to me so I can start sewing blocks with 'Sew Into Solids' group, and I also bought the fabric for my Noodlehead 241 Tote bag.  I am a happy girl.

One more thing - GIVEAWAY!!  The Village Haberdashery is having a giveaway - check it out over on Canadian Abroad's website.

On that note, have a great day and I hope you managed to finish a WIP this week.

Inches, metres, yards - oh my!

Well, I got myself in a muddle.  Inches, centimetres, yards, metres...  Metric vs. imperial.  Imperial vs. metric - arghh.  In 'Harry Hill' style - I like fabric in metres.... but I like fabric in yards.  Which is better?  FIIIIIGHT!!!   I think I have a winner.  Imperial.  I think.  I like it when the pattern calls for a '4.5" square' but hate when it says '1 yard'.  I know cm's because of school but most sewing things are in inches... unless you buy fabric in the UK which is sold by the metre...unless it is a fat quarter which is then cut to the quarter yard size!??  We mix imperial and metric on a daily basis here in the UK.  Miles per hour on the roads, millimetres for rainfall, Celsius for weather temperature, metres AND yards for fabric!  No wonder I'm confused.

I had GOOD intentions to complete my Oh, Fransson Mod sampler quilt top this past weekend but the garden, the (gorgeous) weather and deciphering units of measurement all got in my way!  A feeble set of excuses I know, but I did manage to make 6 more blocks for the Mod sampler and I did some sashing... but not much!

New set of Mod blocks - with SOME sashing attached! 

I'm linking up with Canoe Ridge Creations for {Sew} Modern Monday, even though it is Tuesday today, and also with Sew Happy Geek's Manic Monday!!  Where has the month gone?  I have so much I need to get done but not enough hours in the day to do it all!  Hope you are all getting 'stuff' done. 

TNT Thursdays - belated

[Experiencing technical difficulties so am hoping this post will finally publish!]

Over on Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day link up I discovered the blog Colour Me Quilty where I found Happy Quilting and her Trying New Things Thursdays (TNT Thursdays).

 

All of this reading prompted me to try to make my own blog button.  Alas, I got stuck at the 'what should my button be' stage and am still trying to think of something clever and catchy.  I'm already joining in with some very clever people for WIP Wednesday, TNT Thursdays and Fresh Sewing Day Friday - so what clever button and theme could I come up with?  Nothing yet.  :-)     

Anyways, HAPPY THURSDAY [now Saturday - sorry] and have fun 'trying new things'!

Finish it Up Friday

Phew - it's finally Friday.  What a long week.  The full moon made it extra weird and my theory about my mood being affected by the moon prompted Mr Crafty Shenanigans to say that I am a "lunatic".  Ha ha ha.

So it was a good thing that I started -and finished- my wonky log cabin homework block for the London Modern Quilting Guild 'March Challenge' on Monday when I had the time, energy and space (decorators were in painting so my tiny sewing space was awfully crowded with stuff from the rooms being painted), otherwise nothing would have been created.  My way of celebrating a 'finish' (though small), is to link up with Crazy Mom Quilts and her Finish it up Friday linky.

In other news, here are a few pictures of my final Oh, Fransson! Mod Sampler blocks that will be stitched together with some yummy nice crisp white Moda sashing THIS WEEKEND*.  I need to decide which way I will sew these together and cut all the white strips as well!
*this may or may not happen but it is the plan so if I don't do it please will someone yell at me? Thanks so much ;-)

I plan to sew and do some simple gardening this weekend.  What are you planning to do?


Mod Sampler blocks in colour order and type of block order.



Blocks placed in block order row by row, but in random colour order.

Mod Sampler blocks randomly placed. 
This is the one I like best - what do you think?

Non-sewing WIP completed!

Yay me!  At pottery class tonight I collected a pot that was in the kiln last week.  I love it (but see ways I could have improved it - but we are our own worst critics aren't we?).  I used my 'Jax stamp' that I made to stamp all my pots with as my 'signature' and filled the impressions with black clay slip at the leather hard stage and then bisque fired it.  The following week I then sprayed it with New Shiny White glaze which gives a shiny white glaze with iron coloured speckles all over, a reaction of the glaze to the iron in the clay apparently!  The rim has dots (and I love dots) on it so all in all I think it turned out ok.  There are eight Jax-dog impressions on the pot, some better than others.  It is a bit deep to be a water dish for the dog though - so what should I put in it?  Lindt-Lindor chocolate Easter eggs perhaps? 



My 'Jax-pot' - sorry for the photo quality!



My 'Jax-stamp' - sorry for the photo quality!

Homework - WONKY LOG CABIN

Ta-dah!  I've done my homework.  There is only one problem... I got carried away and made it bigger than it was supposed to be!  Oops.  The LMQG March Challenge was for the finished block to be 8.5 inches or 12.5 inches.  I made mine 15.5 inches, so it looks like I will have to make another (they are addictive - I warn you) which follows the challenge guidelines.  I'll let you know how I do!! 

Now that I see it here, I find the solid orange and the dusky pink print combo at the top of the block too heavy and too wide/thick, especially since they sit on top of the eyeballs of the owls.  Poor owls - they look a bit worried, don't you think!!?  I used eleven scraps of fabric from my 'scrap swap baggie' then raided my nicely-organised-by-colour-and-each-piece-ironed scrap piles for the other fabrics. These fabric scraps are now all over the place and no longer in any colour order.  Drat.  I wish I could be less messy when I sew!

I took a photo of the block on a piece of black fabric so the light turquoise on the left side could show up better than it did on my light carpet.  What a difference!  I quite like the black and would consider using black sashing between blocks if I were to make more.  Hmmm, something to think about anyways. 

That's it for Monday.  Time to tidy up my wee sewing space so I can do it all again tomorrow!  See you soon :)  

Ahhhh....Sundays

Aren't Sundays the best?  Despite this one being cold, rainy, super wet and quite windy, I thoroughly enjoyed it!  The best bit was meeting up with the London Modern Quilting Guild group for our 3rd meeting.  I chatted with a few of the new members today which is great and got to see some awesome sewing by a very talented group!  Oh yah - I bought a few bits of fabric from Tricolette where the meeting was held.

We shared our February Challenge items which ranged from a hot water bottle cover, a wall hanging or two, a mug rug, a set of coasters, a few bags, some cushion covers, a couple of quilts and a fabric basket to name but a few.  The challenge was open to interpretation and though many of us were not 'Valentine's Day' types of people, we managed to create a wide variety of awesomeness! Well done everyone!  The March Challenge is:

Using your bag of scraps from the swap, your own scraps and/or your favourite fabrics, 

create a WONKY LOG CABIN block or a CRAZY block that measures 8.5 inches or 12.5 inches

(finished size).  Feel free to create both blocks if you like!  We will share our creations at

the April meeting.  The aim is to use up some of your stash to create something fun,

colourful, wild and to perhaps take you out of your comfort zone.  Tutorials can be found on Tallgrass Prairie Studio, comfortstitching, Quilt Dad and Ellison Lane. 

Show & Tell of our February Challenge was a lot of fun because of the different variety of things shown.  I am learning a lot from seeing what other people are making/creating which has inspired me to make a few things I never thought I would want to do (I'll be making a fabric bunny one day soon, inspired by the one Sarah brought!).  

Scrap Swap contents - so much fun!



Close-up of some of the fabrics - aren't they great?

We also did a "Scrap Swap" today which was pretty cool and was a change from last month's 'ugly fat quarter swap'.  We each brought a sandwich bag full of scraps (scraps no smaller than 2" each) and we each took a different baggie home.  It was funny how we all got so excited for a baggie full of scraps!  Thank you thank you thank you for my bag of scraps.  I see some Sherbert Pip in there, some pinks I am in need of and I love the dog and number fabrics!  In fact I can see myself using EVERY scrap in there.  I think a few more wonky stars will be made soon.   

All in all a great day.  Let me know what made your Sunday special :)   

New kid on the 'blog' / Small Blog Meet

As a new kid on the 'blog', I get excited about practically everything!  I love seeing what everyone else is up to.  I get a lot of inspiration this way plus I get to see what is on trend right now (fabric and sewing patterns/ideas).  Over on Lily's Quilts she has shared a way for us new - or small - blogs to meet each other and see what we are each doing.  Her blog is amazing so I recommend a visit to her site PLUS visiting some (or all) of the other blogs who have linked up.  If you have found me through this 'meet' - yay to Lily's Quilts!  I hope you become a follower :)  Thanks!

The LMQG is meeting tomorrow and I have my February Challenge item all ready to go (Red scrap fabric basket) plus a bag of scraps to swap.  I'm part of the social committee so I just need to type out the March Challenge and I'm ready for tomorrow.  I love being part of a group again.  I shall leave you here with a picture of my Shaggy (rag) plaid quilt. 

Front of the Shaggy plaid quilt.

Detail of the back of the Shaggy plaid quilt

Modern Quilting magazine draw winner

Thank to everyone who entered my first draw!  It was great to find out where you are in the world and thank you for all of your comments.  Just a side note for you - the Modern Quilting magazine can also be purchased as a digital subscription so for all of you that live somewhere that may not stock it, do investigate the digital option.  What a modern word we live in! 

The random.org widget picked "thorngrove" as the winner so my congratulations to you!   I will be emailing you soon to get your mailing details!  I hope you enjoy the magazine (it is beginner-friendly) and have fun entering into this big world of modern and traditional quilting.   She wrote:

thorngroveFeb 27, 2012 08:05 PM

I've just started getting into quilting (and need all the help I can get)! ;-D

Have a great Thursday everyone.  I will end here with a photo of my favourite quilt (this was my second quilt that I made)!  Here is my plaid log cabin with scrappy band on the back.  Enjoy!


Pattern called 'A Gift to Myself' - plaid log cabin quilt

The back of my plaid log cabin quilt. 

WiP Wednesday

  



They call it WiP Wednesday so I have decided to confess all of my WiP's.  I have put them in list form so I can cross them off as they are finished.  This is the plan anyways!  Here is my confession:  

   

Current sewing WiP's: 
1. Mod Sampler quilt (top DONE - just need to make back, baste and quilt)
2. Union Jack quilt (1 block complete, 2 cut out ready to be sewn and 1 partially sewn)
3. Place mats (only tops complete)
3. Wonky stars (9 blocks completed, loads left to create!)
4. Wonky houses (5 houses and 2 trees completed so far)
5. Table topper (needs to be quilted then binding added)
6. Denim hot pads (cut out ready to sew)

Current pottery WiP's:
1. Three trees to glaze
2. Three bowls to bisque fire, then glaze UPDATE 22 March - two in kiln, one recycled!
3. Coil pot to bisque fire, then glaze UPDATE 22 March - out of kiln, just needs glazing and firing
4. Bowl and vase to re-glaze/repair
5. Welcome sign (needs decorative wire to attach stoneware stars)
6. Buttons
7. Secret project :)

Projects waiting to be started/have stalled:
1. Noodlehead 241 bag
2. A quilt using diamond shapes in Amy Butler Love fabrics (just need a push to get going on this one!)
3. Peppermint Neck Warmer from "Fresh Quilting" (almost all cut out)

'Earmarked projects'/inspiration piles/'one day I'll make these' projects:
1. Frog fabric cot quilt (need a pattern idea)

2. Purple, green and grey improv quilt (need some more grey fabric)
3. Joel Dewberry quilt using Aviary 2 (just need some olive fabric and a pattern idea)

4. Kaffe Fassett fabric quilt (I have been hoarding some of the shot cottons and striped fabrics - yum!)

5. Plaid quilt using pattern from "Scraps and Shirttails"
6. Black & white quilt (have been collecting fabrics)

Here is Jax 'helping' me with a bit of inspiration.  Awww so cute!  Am I the only quilter who doesn't own a cat?  

Happy sewing and a big thank you to everyone who entered my first draw!  Winner announced shortly.