Blogger's Quilt Festival - Highland Star, a quilt for Anne

The second quilt I'm entering in the Blogger's quilt festival is very different to any other quilt I've made for a couple of reasons.

The fabric would not be my normal choice and the process of making it stirred very different emotions than usual and I'd like to explain those differences.

We start with this man

This is my Uncle Eric.  He was a wonderful man, kind and gentle with never a bad word to say about anyone.  He loved his family, his friends and was always there for anyone who needed help.  Unfortunately a few years ago he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and despite the best efforts of his doctors he died in September 2012.

Understandably my aunt, Anne, was devastated and I felt at a bit of a loss to know how to help.  We are a close family and as a child I was at boarding school as my parents were expatriates and during half-term holidays I would stay with Anne & Eric but I now live in Cambridgeshire, some distance away from the Scottish Highlands where my aunt lives.

So I asked my Mum if she thought Anne would like a quilt and I suggested I could use some of Eric's shirts.  Anne said she would so I got going.  I wanted to use a traditional quilt block and I found a tutorial by the fabulous Bonnie Hunter called Smokey Mountain Stars which seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

It wasn't plain sailing as some of the shirts were polyester cotton blends and one was lyocell and as a result the fabric shifted much more than I was used to with quilting cottons but it all turned out well in the end.

I've made quilts for babies, for a wedding, for my kids, because I wanted to try something new or just because I loved the fabric and I've always enjoyed the process but the making of this quilt allowed me time and space to reflect on my uncle's life in a way that I don't think I would otherwise have done and for that I will always be grateful.

I called the quilt 'Highland Star' as everyone used to say that Eric was a true Highland gentleman.  I'll be delivering it this weekend when we are up in Scotland.  Hopefully my aunt will like it.

Quilt stats:

Name: Highland Star

Size: 56" by 64"

Quilting: Free motion loop by me

Fabric: Shirts and various Kona & Makower solids

Category: Throw quilt

Thanks for stopping by

Sarah

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Starburst

Its that time of year again when quilting bloggers around the world show off their quilts and tell the stories behind them.

And as an added bonus this year Amy is letting us each enter two quilts which is great because I really wanted to show off my two most recent finishes, for different reasons.

My first quilt is Starburst

I follow Melissa of Happy Quilting and love her style so when she started the Starburst quilt along earlier this year I was very tempted to join in but held off as I had various other quilts I was trying to finish.

However halfway through I found out that one of my oldest friend was getting married (this coming Saturday) and that was all the excuse I needed.  I had several Juggling Summer prints that I had purchased and I felt they would suit my friend's style so I ordered some additional fabric and jumped in.  I chose the main backing print as a nod to the traditional double wedding ring pattern.

I love this quilt, so much so that it will be a big wrench to give it away.  I love the pattern and the fabric and I love how it represents how far I have come since I first started quilting.  It is definitely the best quilt I've made and while it is still far from perfect I am really happy with it.

I quilted it all over with a loopy free motion design.  I'm still a novice at FMQ so I stuck to the design I feel most confident with but I took my time and it was definitely an improvement on previous attempts, particularly as this is a big quilt at 82" by 82".

It is also the first quilt I've labelled.  I used a tutorial by KarrieLyne of Freckled Whimsy and I really like the subtlety of it.

Quilt Stats:

Name: Starburst

Size: 82" by 82"

Pieced and quilted by me

Fabrics: Juggling Summer by Zen Chic and Kona Iron

Category: Bed quilt 

Thanks so much for stopping by

Sarah

My new favourite bag!

Hello!

Thought I would do a little post featuring my latest finish (I finished it a couple of weeks ago but I am just not very good at finding the time to blog at the moment).

I was lucky enough to win a competition at Fabric Yard last month and choose a metre of Echino Buck in turquiose as my prize.

When it arrived it was so lovely I knew I wanted to use it to make a bag and as luck would have it I had recently purchased the Velocity Girl bag pattern from Sara at Sew Sweetness.



I am so delighted with the end result - it makes me smile every time I pick it up and the wealth of pockets means that I don't spend 10 minutes rummaging around whenever I need something. 

The pattern was clear and easy to follow and when I was a bit uncertain about one step (due to me being a bit dim) a quick email to Sara got a response within hours - seriously good customer service!

In fact I love it so much I made another one for my Mum using a Zen Chic Juggling Summer print and she loved it too (unfortunately I forgot to take a photo).

I'd definitely recommend this pattern and I look forward to more Sew Sweetness bags in my future.

Bye for now
Sarah

2013 Finish-A-Long Q2 Goals - the one where I bite off more than I can chew!

Hello!

Well after a rather disappointing first quarter I have high hopes for Q2 as well as some trepidation!  Three of my WIPs must be finished this quarter and I'll definitely need to be more organised if that is going to happen.

So without further ado here is my list:

1) Crafty Cooks Apron

I signed up for the Crafty Cooks Apron & Recipe swap and posting deadline is 30th April so this is my top priority.

My fabric is cut out and I made a trial apron to iron out any design kinks so I'm confident that a couple of evenings of sewing will sort this one out.

2) Starburst quilt

This quilt is going to be a wedding present for one of my oldest friends.  She gets married on 25th May so it has to be done before then!

The top is finished and fabric for the back has arrived so I need to piece the back, baste, quilt (no idea how to quilt it) and bind.

3) Mother-in-law's quilt

When my MIL was here for Christmas she asked if I would make her a quilt.  She offered to pay for it but my husband & I said it would be her birthday present.  Her birthday is at the beginning of June.

The blocks are now pieced but I still have to assemble the quilt top, and quilt it.

4) Memory quilt for my aunt

While this quilt doesn't have a deadline per se, because we are going up to Scotland for the wedding it would be great if I could take this one as well and deliver it to my Aunt.

Blocks are all pieced (including replacements for the dark red blocks shown above after I decided they were too dominant) but the top needs to be pieced, borders added, find backing fabric, quilt.

5) Simply Color cushion

This little stack of HSTs will become a cushion.  I've included it as knowing me I'll get weary of all my quilts and want a quick finish.  I've got fabric for the back and a zip so fingers crossed I'll get round to it.

So there we go. Quite ambitious but hopefully achievable - all I need is to knuckle down and sew like a mad woman!

Off to see what everyone else has planned.

Bye

Sarah 

Finish along Q1 results

Hello,

Well leaving it to the last minute but here is my progress report!  I set myself a reasonable goal of four items (post here) at the beginning of the quarter but I've only managed to finish two.  Both kids have been sick and then I caught a flu bug at the end of February which left me totally wiped out for a couple of weeks afterwards.

On the plus side I managed to complete a new quilt top and make two bags - just a shame they weren't on my list!

So here we go

1) Siblings together quilt

Finished!

Although only just as I finished the binding this morning!



I'm soooooo glad it is done and annoyed with myself for letting it sit so long.

2)  Memory quilt

Not finished.

I have made some progress - all the blocks are done and I have a layout (I've actually remade the dark red blocks in pale blue as the red was too dominant).  This one will roll over to Q2 as we are going up to Scotland at the end of May and I want to take it up with me.



3) Alice Mixtape Quilt

Not finished.

In fact no progress (well I now have backing fabric) and this one won't make it into Q2 as I have other more pressing things to do.

4) Lynnebob Squarepants pillow

Finished!

I had no excuse with this as it was the smallest item on my list.  It will shortly be posted off to its new home.


So all in all I'm okay with how things have turned out but I've got big plans for Q2 - lets hope that things go more smoothly the next few months!

Bye
Sarah

I have been sewing...

...just not blogging.

Things have been ticking along in our house but a combination of more illness (I feel like a broken record) and half term meant that my time to do things other than work, kids, house etc has been limited and so I've spent in sewing!

So apologies if this is a long post but I thought I'd get down all the stuff I've been up to in case it is another 6 weeks before I get round to posting again!

First up I have made some progress on two of my finish along 1st quarter goals:

Lynnebob Squarepants pillow

Finished!

It is made using Lynne's tutorial and part of a charm pack of Verna by Kate Spain.  The back is a cotton/linen mix from Backstitch and it is bound with a Lizzy House jewel print.

It is about 24" square and apologies for the flat picture but I don't have a pillow form that big!

Memory quilt

I have finished making the blocks for the memory quilt I'm making my aunt and I've decided on a layout.



I changed the outer blocks slightly from the original design adding plain blocks as I felt it was a bit too busy for my taste.  I'm pleased with how it is shaping up - just need to press on with sewing it all together!

One of the reasons I'm not as far along with the memory quilt as I thought I might be is because I was seduced by the Starburst quilt along organised by Melissa of Happy Quilting.  I love Melissa's style and had bookmarked the Starburst tutorial when it first appeared but although I was sorely tempted with the quilt along started I held firm and stuck to trying to finish my WIPs.

That all changed at the start of February when I found out that one of my oldest friends is getting married in May - now I had the perfect excuse to jump on board!  I had some Juggling Summer by Zen Chic that I bought from Annie when the Village Haberdashery had its open weekend last year and so I bought some additional prints and dived right in.  I decided to go for a different layout using three blocks rather than four and Melissa's assembly line method meant they came together really fast - I finished the quilt top in a week, definitely a new record for me!



It is 80" square and I adore it.  I will definitely use the Starburst tutorial again - I think one big block would make a fab baby quilt.

I've also been keeping up to date with the Sister's Ten BOM.  Here are my February blocks:





And I've signed up for a fun swap run by the lovely Fiona of Celtic Thistle stitches and Sam of A Cup of Tea and a Slice of Cake (who I'm sure is equally lovely!).

Who doesn't need a new apron!



Right well that was a massive post - I definitely need to post more often!  I am off to the Duxford Quilt Fair on Saturday so maybe I'll have some fabric goodies to post about!

One last thing - my real life sewing pal Jill has just started a blog so if you have five minutes drop by and meet her at  The Nocturnal Stitcher.

Bye
Sarah

Sickness, snow, more sickness......

Yes that has been my life over the last couple of weeks *sigh*

First off the little lady threw up at nursery a week past Tuesday and so was excluded from nursery for 48 hours (Tuesday-Thursday  are my working days) and because J was away with work I had to take time off/work in the evenings so not much sewing last week at all.

Then there was snow last Sunday night which meant school was closed on Monday and Tuesday (not very impressed about the Tuesday - for the second year the wee chap's school was virtually the only one who couldn't get their act together and was closed a second day).  So much snowman building and sledging and hence a worn out me!

And then on Thursday the wee chap was poorly and I was up half the night with him.  I'm hoping that is it for a while but who can tell!

I did manage to get a little bit of sewing done (squeezed in to the odd little gap).  I have been pattern testing for Kirsty of Quiet Play - her new Just My Type alphabet is great and she asked for words for a charity quilt and I was assigned

It is the most complicated paper piecing I've done but it came together really easily and I already have a plan for another project using the patterns.  I'll also be looking forward to see what the final quilt looks like.

My only other sewing this week has been decidedly out of my comfort zone.  It was the wee chap's turn to have Patch, the class bear, over the weekend and since we were going to get the kids new shoes Patch came too and had his feet measured (with obligatory photo - and our thanks to the Clarks assistant who played along!).  But then of course the wee chap wanted Patch to have shoes too so I had to cobble (forgive the pun) something together.  Luckily after a couple of false starts I came up with something not too horrendous!

At least the wee chap was happy!

And finally to my giveaway - sorry it has taken me so long to pick a winner!

Despite my best efforts I cannot get the Random.org box to show but the winner was number 3

Emily of strawberry patch

A slightly intimidating result as Emily makes wonderful pouches of her own but hopefully she will find a use for her prize!

As for my blog name - in the 6 months before I started the blog the wee chap was obsessed with Mr Men books and in one of them (I think it is Mr Silly or Mr Nonsense) is the line 'You Silly Banana' and that became his favourite phrase to say to me or J if he thought we had done something funny.  So when I started this blog it was a phrase that came to mind.

No one guessed exactly by Amy of Amy's Crafty Shenanigans came pretty close so there will be a little something winging her way too.

Hopefully I will have more sewing to report soon.
Bye for now
Sarah