Siblings Together Bee quilt 2016

My Siblings Together Bee quilt for 2016 is finished (apart from the label which I really must do).

The block I chose this year used the Patchwork Wheel tutorial by Don't Call Me Betsy.

I decided on a scrappy style in colours appropriate for a girl.

As usual by bee mates sent some gorgeous blocks. There's a huge variety of different fabrics in the quilt and apart from individuals using the same fabric more than once there were no duplicates. It goes to show what a large variety of fabrics are available for us quilters to be tempted by.

Big thanks go to my generous bee mate Joanne Jones for sending me the binding as she knows I'm not a great fan of binding making.

I hope a young lady who is given the quilt at one of the Siblings Together camps in the summer will love it.

Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt for Siblings Together

In the first year of quilts for Siblings Together I joined a bee orgainised by Lynne of Lily's quilts. We were immensley lucky to be donated fabrics by Moda with which to make our quilts. For my month of the bee we used S'more Love by Cosmo Cricket and I had a few fat quarters and some scraps left. Last year I decided to make a quilt with these left overs but didn't have enough to complete a whole quilt. Here's where a group of kind, generous ladies came to the rescue. I posted a photo of the fabics on Instagram and asked if anyone had some co-ordinating scraps they could donate. Of course the answer was "yes" and within a few days I received fabrics from Julie, Carol, Catrin, Jo, Mary and Sonia. I made a Rail Fence quilt which I sent to Siblings Together in 2015.

I was still left with enough fabrics to make another quilt. As many of these were strips and small pieces I decided a Log Cabin design was the way to go. I had some left over strips of wadding left from previous projects which I cut into 11 inch squares, I then sewed the fabric logs directly onto the wadding (quilt as you go). I joined the blocks together and spray basted the backing onto this top/wadding piece. I quilted in the ditch between the blocks which was enough to secure the backing.
Et Voila, a quilt  for the 2016 Siblings Together camps.

A quick round up.

I've never been one to worry about how many quilts, cushions etc I make in a year but when I looked back on 2015 I was rather surprised, and admittedly disappointed at the small number of completed projects.

 The above cushion was started and completed in 2015 and the one below was started in 2014 but finished in 2015.

 I made this quilt for my husband, again started in 2014 and finished in 2015.

Quite a lot of my sewing time was spent on making quilts and bee blocks for Siblings Together, something I'm more than happy to spend my time on. This will continue in 2016 as myself and Nicky are going to continue rallying the troops on our Siblings Together Quilt Group blog and on Instagram,  as well as making quilts ourselves. I think I managed to send five quilts to the charity this year. Three of these were bee/group quilts I completed and two I made all by myself!

I plan to finish the next two quilt tops during the next few months. I just looked back on the blog to see when this one was started and was surprised that it was back in September 2014. It's now bigger than in the picture and I've started quilting it, although I've not done any for a while. I've cleared the decks in my sewing room ready to do some more this weekend.

This next one was started a few months ago. It involves both paper and curved piecing and has presented some "fitting" challenges which have required some pattern alteration but I think I'm there now. Another six blocks to go.

I'll do a proper post about this next one soon but briefly, the Strips bees are doing another round of the bee with a different theme and this is what I made to start off my quilt.

Bye for now, Maria

Siblings Together quilt group have a blog!

Another big gap since I last posted!
I'm still involved with the wonderful group of quilters making quilts for the Siblings Together charity. I've teamed up with Nicky to form a blog as a base for the group where we can inspire others to make quilts for the charity, share stories of the quilts we've made and much more.

Please go take a look, just click on this link, siblingstogetherquiltgroup,  and please leave a comment to let us know you were there.

Thanks so much, Maria

Pretty sewing time.

I mentioned previously that I was feeling the need to do some pretty sewing, so last weekend I did exactly that.

I was surprised when I realised that this cushion was started just over a year ago! It has sat around for ages waiting to be turned into a completed cushion.

The design is by Tacha Bruecher from the book Pillow Pop complied by Heather Bostic.

The little Union Jacks measure 4.5" by 2.5" and were quite fiddly to make but I do like them a lot.

The colours in this cushion inspired me to make another in similar spring / summery colours. 

This one is my own "design", if you can call it that as it's very simple.

I thought I'd  positioned the squares in an alternate pink and green pattern and it wasn't until the day after I'd completed it did I notice those three pink squares in the bottom left corner and also the predominantly green ones in the row above!

I couldn't resist this cute owl fabric by Michael Miller.
These two now sit side by side on our living room sofa but
 things do look best displayed in threes so I think I really did ought to make another...........

Sewing for Boys

I really feel like I need to get my hands on some girly fabrics and do some pretty sewing!
 Apart from quilting a girl's Siblings Together quilt most of my sewing time over the last few months has been with more masculine fabrics.

I've completed three boy's Siblings Together quilts and I made my husband a quilt for Christmas.
For his work he goes to car racing meetings in the UK and Europe and he often sleeps in a motor home or tent so I decided he needed a quilt to keep him cosy. He was rather alarmed when I first suggested it as I think he imagined a flowery number but I assured him it would be manly!

I went for a St Louis Sixteen Patch in a variety of masculine fabrics. It's been put to good use during his last couple of trips but spends most of it's time all bunched up, hence the creases. Why do men have the inability to fold anything?!

Here's the pieced back looking more creased than the front.

My most recent boys quilt is another for Siblings Together. Mary, one of the members of the ST Bee asked on Instagram for people to send her Home Sweet Home blocks (from a tutorial by Jera of Quilting in the Rain), which herself and a couple of  friends would make into quilts for boys. She received a huge amount of blocks as well as binding, wadding and backing fabric from generous quilters from far and wide. So many in fact that she needed more volunteers to put them together......hence another boys quilt to add to my list.

One of my least favourite parts of quilt making is making the binding. Luckily for me it was donated, by whom I'm not sure, but whoever you are I'm very grateful!

 The blocks for this quilt were made by so many people yet they have all come together to be given to one child who will hopefully gain some comfort from it.

Back soon with some pretty sewing !

It's not EPP!

I recently finished hand piecing my "Jazz hands quilt" and before I start hand quilting it I need to finish hand quilting my Strip bees quilt. Although I enjoy hand quilting sometimes I fancy a change and like to have more than one hand work project on the go at once. I'm sure you know what I mean.

So here is what I've been up to so far.

The blocks are from the digital version of "Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles, and More" by Kelly Ashton. I think the book intends for you to machine piece the blocks but I've used the book's templates and hand pieced them. For Christmas I received a gorgeous book called  "Wild Blooms and Colorful Creatures" by Wendy Williams which combines fabrics such as cotton, linen and wool to make beautiful quilts, cushions and bags, the main design feature being wool felt applique. I used this book as inspiration for the applique in the centre of two of the blocks.

I think I'll use the blocks in a new medallion quilt which I'm planning.

I've still been busy making quilts for Siblings Together. The latest top was made from fabrics donated by Mary, Julie, Catrin, Carol, Julie and Sonia along with some I had left over from a quilt I made for the charity a couple of years ago with fabrics donated by Moda. The design is Rail Fence.

As the quilt o metre in my side bar shows we're now up to 50 quilts with many more in the process of being made. If anyone would like to help in anyway do get in touch.

Bye for Now, Maria

In the Pink.

I started this quilt back in 2013 at a sewing retreat. The pattern is from a book by Pam and Nicky Lintott which I borrowed  from the library but I can't recall the title. Whilst I really like the pattern and individually I like most of the fabrics I'm not overly keen on how I positioned the fabrics together in the centre of the blocks. I also ran out of the light border fabrics and had to use a different one in some areas which I don't think looks great either.

I don't agree with giving dodgy quilts to charities but I decided to donate it to Siblings Together as I think the faults I see in the quilt probably don't bother other people and the overall look of the quilt is OK. 

 Believe it or not I bought the backing fabric especially for this quilt but didn't work out how much I needed and wildly under-estimated the quantity, consequently I had to piece quite a big panel to make it big enough.

The quilt o metre has now gone up to 19 finished quilts with lots of activity still going on with people making many more.

More Sewing for Siblings Together 2015

Most of my sewing time in recent weeks has been taken up with sewing for Siblings Together.

I've had the machine in my sewing room set up for machine quilting this quilt whilst I've taken over the dining room piecing on my other machine.

I recently purchased the Machinger's quilting gloves and I'd highly recommend them, they grip the fabric making it easier to move when free motion quilting, I also find them comfortable to wear. I purchased them online from Eclectic Maker who provide a super quick service which for me comes high up the list when choosing which of the many online stores to buy from.

This is the project which has taken over the dining room. I had some fabrics, which were donated by Moda, left over from the quilt I put together for the Siblings Together Bee a couple of years ago. I asked the lovely quilters on Instagram if anyone had any fabrics that would go with them which they would like to donate so I could make another quilt for the charity. Unsurprisingly I was sent some fantastic fabrics and I've started to put together this rail fence quilt. 

Mary and Hannah are both putting together group quilts using Home Sweet Home blocks from a tutorial by Jenna from Quilting in the Rain. People from all over the UK and abroad are sending them both blocks for them to turn into wonderful quilts. These are the blocks I put together for them.

The quiltometer is now up to 16 completed quilts with loads more in the process of being made. If anyone would like to join in please have a look at my last post for how you can get involved.
Bye for now, Maria

Siblings Together 2015

Anyone who may have stuck with me over the last couple of years may remember that I've been involved with making quilts for a charity called Siblings Together.

The charity works to keep children in England who have been separated by the care system in contact with their Siblings by arranging, amongst other things, residential camps where the siblings can meet up and spend precious time together.

"Sibling relationships are the longest lasting in most people’s lives. Allowing these to wither for children often already deprived of parental support is a real injustice to looked after children, and is likely to result in huge costs to society from the impact on life outcomes." 

 Quote taken from the Siblings Together web site

 Two years ago after a chance meeting with the charity's director, Delma Hughes, Lynne of Lily's Quilts put a call out on social media, primarily on Flickr, for donations of quilts to be given to the children attending the camps as a snuggly keepsake of their time spent with their siblings.

The charity even has a Siblings Together Quilting Group page on their web site.

This is a copy of a letter sent from Delma to some ladies who sent quilts to the charity.

The 2015 camps will be happening in the summer and Delma stated  above that 90 children were attending the camps last year and they are hoping to increase the numbers this year. A group of us have come up with the idea of trying to get 100 quilts donated this year. There are three quilting bees on Flickr making quilts and some people are also making extra quilts. I'm sure there are individuals beavering away making quilts too.

Would anyone reading this like to help? It would be fabulous if you could.

You could help by:

•  Donating a quilt
• Donating one or two blocks to a group quilt
• Offering to put together a group quilt
• Donating some unwanted fabric for someone else to make a quilt if you have fabric but not time
• Offering to make a quilt with donated fabric
• Donating fabric for backing or wadding.
• Spreading the word on social media or to quilting friends or guilds.
• Any other way you can think of.

The link to the Flickr group is here. This is where details of quilt sizes etc. can be found and people can chat about group quilts, fabric offers etc. and post pictures of quilts too. There may be a Facebook page in the near future too.

I've just finished this quilt for Siblings Together which I made with a lovely friend.

I finished this quilt top last year and plan to get it quilted in time for this years camps.

These are group quilts I put together. The one the right was made with fabrics donated by Moda.

I hope I may have inspired someone to get involved. The quiltometer in the side bar is the brainchild of Mary and will be updated regularly.

Still here.

I can't believe it's been five months since I last posted here so I thought it about time I gave anyone who might be interested an update about what I've been up to sewing wise. There isn't a large amount of stuff to show but I'll do it over a few posts. 

First off is a wall hanging I made for my parents for Christmas.

As inspiration I used a Craftsy Class called "Magical Blocks: Out of the Box" by Kimberly Einmo. The sampler quilt made in the class is a large bed size quilt but I made mine wall hanging size using my own layout with the original as inspiration.

 

I forgot to take photos before I gave it away and then forgot to take my camera when I visited at the weekend so these are rather poor phone photos.

The picture below shows more details of the quilting. I quilted different patterns in different areas of the quilt. It turned out fairly well but there's always room for improvement.

I have more to show when I get round to taking pictures of it. Here's hoping for some dry weather at the weekend and for a willing quilt holder to be available.

Bye for now, Maria.

Off to the State Fair.

It's time for a quick visit to the State Fair, although I do live in the wrong country.

I've been enjoying deciding which fabrics to use for the State Fair flowers. It's been fun doing some fussy cutting for them.

The fabrics used for the flowers above and for the top left flower in the first picture are by Nel Whatmore from her Secret Garden range.  

Here's how the flowers look with the chain blocks.

 I'm loving how different the quilt is looking to the original which you can see in my last post.

I think I've got ten more of each block to go. All good fun.

Maria.

Modernising tradition.

Recently I've been thinking about how we decide which quilts we make. For those quilters who read blogs and use Instagram and/or Flickr the choice is often swayed by what patterns/blocks are being promoted by pattern writers, magazines and book authors. It seems to me that many, and of course not all, of these designs which are hailed as being new and the "designer's" original work, are actually based on traditional designs which have been around for years.

Elizabeth from Occassionalpiece-Quilt has written a very interesting post about where quilters find their inspiration, she discusses the book "Steal Like An Artist" by Austin Kleon who states that "Nothing is original".

I was given this book a few years ago, it features quilts made between 1825 and the 1940's and includes quilts made from log cabin, stars, triangles including  flying geese, English paper piecing and more, all of which are techniques that are being used in today's patterns.

This Double Flying Geese quilt from the book was made circa 1875 but looks like it could have been made yesterday. It reminds me of a Roman tile floor.

This Drunkards Path quilt was made between 1910-1920, to me it also has a very modern aesthetic.

 I bought this book, Down the Rotary Road by Judy Hopkins,when I first started quilting in the 1990's.

Some of the quilts in this book also look they could have been made today, some 20yrs after the book was published.

I  went back to the book thinking I would find patterns different to those around today, however I found that most of the quilts are based on traditional blocks, just as many of the designs around today.
 As Kleon says "nothing is new"! 
  Elizabeth states that Kleon encourages us to note where our influences come from but to me this rarely happens and as I mentioned earlier so many patterns in books, magazines and online which are proclaimed as being new are not.  It is however a positive that the craft is being kept alive and that the old traditional blocks are still being used.

I decided to go back to  Down the Rotary Road  for my next quilt and thought it would be fun to pick a design which doesn't immediately appeal to me, probably due to the fabrics not being to my 2014 taste. Many of the quilts in the book, perhaps unlike the two above, are made from fabrics which would not appeal to most quilters today. I thought it would be interesting to see how different the quilt would look in completely different "modern" fabrics.
The quilt I chose was this one called "State Fair"

It consists of State Fair blocks alternated with chain  blocks.
Here's how my 2014 version is going so far. In the book the centre of the flower is an applied circle but I decided to make life easier and use a pieced snow ball block instead.

I find it fascinating how a quilt design can look so different when made from different fabrics.

Edit: After a comment on this post saying how clever I was to eliminate the appliqued circle I should point out it wasn't my idea, I found the idea here when researching State Fair blocks. After accusing other people of proclaiming old traditional patterns as their own designs perhaps I should practice what I preach!!

Spiral Strips Quilt.

I'm so pleased to have finished this quilt at long last, it's been in the making since January 2012. The design is  "Spiral Strips" from Jelly Roll Quilts: The perfect guide to making the most of the latest strip rolls, by Pam and Nicky Lintott. The fabric is Heirloom by Joel Dewberry. The Jelly roll consisted of fewer strips than that used in the book so I had to add some of my own fabrics.

 I did lines and lines of straight line quilting which seemed like they were never going to end. There were loads of ends to bury as there were numerous starts and stops as rather than just sew end to end I started from the middle square and quilted each quadrant individually.

As you can see I quilted a flower in the centre square but it was quite a struggle with all those seams so it was the first and last of the squares to get a flower.

 The back is also a Joel Dewberry design but I can't remember what it's called. I love the binding which is Bike Path by Alison Glass, I bought it a while ago with no particular purpose in mind and was thrilled that it went so well with this quilt.

I'm glad you can't see me whilst I was writing this post as there has been a lot of shouting and cheering as  the English men have just beaten the Aussies to the Gold medal in the swimming relay in the Commonwealth Games!! Well done to the women too who won the silver medal.

Summer Garden quilt.

Many years ago, not long after I started quilting, I made my Mum and Dad a small wall hanging. It now looks rather tired and dated so I thought it was time I made them a new one.

 I used the quilt "Garden Party" from the book " Making Quilts"  by Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession as inspiration and scaled down the size dramatically.   The original quilt is made up of a background representing the sky, the green bushy level and murky garden-bed layer.
For my background I used a colour wash method which was popular around the time I started quilting.

 I quilted the background with wavy lines using an aurifil  50 weight thread in light grey. I then applied flowers made from Dresden plates.

I had fun making the flowers with my new wedge rule, I can see more Dresdens in my future. I also enjoyed fussy cutting the fabrics.

This flower was machine applied, I left the points loose to add some texture.

It was a fun quilt to make and I quite fancy making a larger one at some point........after I've finished some other projects first of course.

Strip quilt detail.

Last time I said I would show in detail, the wonderful quilt top my strip bee friends made. After a year on the road it has returned home having been transformed into a beautiful quilt top.

 
I started with the row of wonky houses and then sent it off on its journey.

The first stop was with Fran who added a row of sweet little trees. I'm pleased that the houses look out onto a beautiful wooded area.

Next stop was with Jen who made a row of beautiful butterflies to flutter over the roof tops.

Jen designed the pattern herself. The wings are paper pieced and the sky made using a template.

Amy was the next to work her magic. Another talented lady who also used her own design, a row of beautiful roses for the neighbourhood.

The street is a very happy place, so, during its stay on the island of Jersey Sarah added a row of hearts. As Sarah put it, she included "a little bit of love shining down on the street".

Every street needs some kitty cat residents, the ones here even ride bicycles. They must be very posh cats as they come from Liberty no less!

Finally it was Julie's turn.She paper pieced some perfect little birds to fly over head, they even have their own house too, but as Julie pointed out she thinks the opening may be a bit too small for them to fly into!

I couldn't be more pleased with my new quilt top. Thanks so much to Fran, Jen, Amy, Sarah and Julie for all the hard work they put into it. It's been such a fun swap and I'm so glad you all agreed to join.

It's now up to me to finish it. I'm planning on hand quilting but must admit I'm rather nervous about sewing into their beautiful work, I think I'll start with my row.......
 Linking up with WIP Wednesday and Needle and Thread Thursday, links to both of these in side bar.

Maria.