Sew and Tell.

Just a quick post to show you the finished Kaleidoscope quilt. I stayed up until 4am last night working on it (was robbed of an hour due to the switch over to Daylight Savings Time) and then got up this morning at about 8am to finish it off. Needless to say I am now in a zombie like state.



The kaleidoscope block presents so many different style options but rather than having strong, definite circles I wanted a scrappy look so the circular effect is subtle and elusive. I am really pleased with how it looks - but it took a lot of unpicking to get there! First I had that light blue colour that read white to unpick, then I decided to make it bigger (not that that involved any unpicking, just the opposite really) and then I fussy cut a border print that just looked wishy-washy (sorry - there are no photos of that blandness). After unpicking that border I made an emergency trip to Hettie's to buy a navy blue fabric for the new border - I like the way that the dark fabric now frames the quilt.


I enjoyed making this quilt and in particular the challenge of the 45 degree triangle pieced border but I couldn't have done it without my side-kick Frasier. I have a 7" DVD player next to my sewing machine and when I sew I play Frasier to keep me company and now I measure a quilt's complexity by how many seasons I get through while sewing it. This quilt has a rating of 3 and a half Frasier's as it took me through seasons 3, 4, 5 and the first disk of 6.


Until next time,

Shontelle.

Sunday Stash

Hello Again,

Well the day at Hettie's was lovely. I didn't make much of a headway into the Weekender Bag (so called because it takes a weekend to cut out :)), but I did manage to cut out all of the outer and most of the lining. We are going to Kangaroo Island for a family getaway in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping to finish it by then so I can appear organized and sophisticated on the ferry journey.

I thought I'd give you an update on the apron challenge. Not many takers so far - surely there must be some apron lovers out there? I bought the fabric for mine today and thought I'd share it with you.


I love the floral fabric and have been admiring it for months wondering what to do with it. I think that the apron is the perfect project and the colours are just perfect for spring. I was planning to get eloborate and applique a bird on the pocket and make it reversible with another bird embroidered on the other side....but I had a stern word with myself and decided to pull my head in. I don't know how to applique and there are only 10 more days left in the month. So it will be plain but pretty.

This week I have also aquired these fabrics-

They are for a quilt that I have floating around in my head. The pink and green are from Hettie's and the lavender and blue are from The Patchwork Apple. I still need a couple more pinks, greens and some yellow which I will hopefully pick up at the Quilt and Craft Fair in November.

I also managed (finally! after looking everywhere - should have just gone to Hettie's first) to find some plain homespuns to go with the Sherri Berri Christmas charm pack I bought a few weeks ago.


I bought it to make this advent calendar designed by Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson.


The pattern is free to download from her blog or from Sew, Mama, Sew. I am itching to make it, but I have about 20 projects ahead of it on my list. At least I have got the fabric I need and I know that it is sitting there waiting for me.

Lastly, I was thrilled to see this hanging up at Hettie's today -

It is a quilt called 'Starburst' that I designed for our June retreat. Lorraine is stocking my patterns and it made me feel a bit giddy to see it displayed in her beautiful shop.

Bye for now,

Shontelle.

A different kind of Church

Hi everyone,

I am so excited! Today I am having the day off!! My friend Amy's mum owns this fabulous shop:


and today we are going to have it all to ourselves. Bliss! I can't wait to have the opportunity to look at the fabric without any distractions (although this could be dangerous to the credit balance) and then spend the day sewing with my friends in the big workroom.

To complete the projects I have planned for today I think that I'd need a 48hour working week - but we'll see how we go.

I have a few things to tidy up (binding, labels etc) and some fabric selections to make. But my main aim is to make a headway into transforming this lovely fabric:




into this lovely bag:

I think I am dreaming, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Happy stitching,

Shontelle.