BYE-BYE DARLA!

I got my first custom order in my shop for a Darla baby quilt that I had previously sold. Fortunately, I had JUST enough fabric to make another. This little quilt is on it's way to the buyer. I love this fabric and I think I made four or five baby quilts from it! It's hard to say goodbye to her! She was definitely a favourite. Oh well, on to other things...

I finished my Heather Ross scappy log cabin blocks. I haven't quite decided what to do for the backing, but I have a few ideas. In the meantime, onto these...

Fifi and Fido! I spotted this fabric on my last trip to the States. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and managed to find it on Etsy. I've had it for a while and couldn't quite make up my mind what I wanted to make. I finally have a few ideas! They're having their bath right now in preparation for a good pressing and then a session with the rotary cutter!

WHAT ELSE I LOVE ABOUT QUILTING!

I love turning this...

into these...

I finally decided to cut into the only two pieces of Heather Ross fabric I ever managed to get my hands on - the bicycles and camper vans! I think the bicycles came in a kit and I didn't end up using them, and I got the camper vans a few years ago before I even knew who Heather Ross was. Anyway, I have been hoarding them for a long time, pulling them out occasionally to drool over them! I've paired them up with some pink and orange scraps for these free-pieced log cabins. I know I've mentioned this before, but this type of quilting has fast become my favourite! These blocks will be sashed with Kona white. Not sure what I'm going to do for the back yet...perhaps all white with one 'floating' bicycle or camper van. This little quilt is going to be ALL GIRL!

WHY I LOVE TO QUILT!

The possibilities are endless! I can make this...

or this...


or even this...



(not this...)






Lissie taking advance of some rare sunshine!

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I LOVE the endless possibilities - vintage, modern, simple, intricate. All I need is a little inspiration and an idea. I have been reading a lot of posts lately about inspiration. Where does it come from, etc? I find inspiration everywhere - a stack of colourful towels in a department store, changing colours outside my living room window, and, oh, quilts, of course! What inspires you?

BACK TO BASICS!

I spent a good part of last weekend cutting templates and fabric, trying to match points, etc. and was really feeling the need to get back to basics! I put this little quilt together one evening and quilted it with straight lines on the diagonal (quite a departure for me)! It was fun to just sit and do some mindless sewing. This one may go to the shop!

I REALLY DO MAKE QUILTS!

It seems like I haven't posted any finished quilts for ages. Anyway...here are two recent finishes from one of my favourite fabrics of all time - Robots by David Walker. These are the last two I'll be making from this line. Oh how I love these colours! These two are destined for the shop! It will be hard to say goodbye

And...

My stack is completed and I'm ready to get started on a new project. I showed you a few of these in my previous post. I'm happy with my fabrics and I'm ready to go. This quilt is going to be a real departure for me. I'm not used to working with templates and with these colours. I hope it works out! I'll post some blocks soon (hopefully)!

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

I've decided it's time to face my fear and give solids a try! I couldn't bring myself to go cold turkey so I added a print and a polka dot. This stack is earmarked for a tres moderne baby boy quilt. What am I so afraid of? Is it the lime green, the gray...I don't know. I keep putting them away and getting them out. They sit on my cutting table and taunt me - wash me, cut me, use me! This is going to be a real challenge for me. These colours (and the pattern) are waaaaay outside my comfort zone. I promise to post a picture of the finished quilt (and maybe a few sneak peaks along the way)! Wish me luck!

THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST!

I finally got started on my citrus Juice Boxes quilt. This is the third quilt I've made from this pattern and I LOVE it more each time! It took me FOREVER to decide if I wanted to add in Kona white or just use the prints. It's amazing how I can become paralyzed by these decisions. Sometimes I just have to force myself to pick up my blade and cut. In the end I'm usually happy with the results. I hope to have the top pieced this week.

In the meantime I'm having lots of fun with "sewing" projects. I've never considered myself a sewer per se, but I'm learning. There are so many fabulous tutorials out there and I'm enjoying the challenge (and frustration) of trying some of them out. My mom was a fabulous sewer and I regret not paying more attention when she was sewing and asking her to teach me. I just wasn't interested at the time. How I would love to have her expertise now. I'm not sure if I "inherited" her sewing genes - maybe time will tell!