Salt Air Summer in the Park Quilt

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted anything!  Must still be in holiday mode, although despite only being home for a week, our time in Port Elliot seems forever ago.  Why is that always the way with holidays?  They seem to exist in a bubble.  You return home and it feels like you never left.

Even though there have been crickets chirping on my blog I have been going full throttle in the craft room.  This weekend I am teaching three quilts at a workshop and have been busily writing patterns and making the last quilt. It's not quilted yet so I have some rather glamourous shots of it hanging from my clothesline, and without further ado, here it is.

I made this quilt from the Summer in the Park video by Missouri Star Quilt Company and have written a wee pattern to accompany the video, which I will share with you in a couple of weeks.  

The fabric is Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket for Moda and it is just gorgeous.  So fresh and summery.  It's not a fabric I would usually go for but let me tell you a story (not a very interesting one, but stick with me - there's a giveaway at the end :-)).

I originally bought an Amy Butler Gypsy Caravan design roll because I REALLY liked a couple of the fabrics in the range, but when I unravelled the design roll and started to organise the fabrics in readiness to make this quilt  I decided that, although they are gorgeous, the range just wasn't cohesive enough for the Summer in the Park quilt.

And, as it turned out I needed 33 jelly roll strips to make this quilt and the Amy Butler design roll only has 30.  I was determined to make this quilt while we were on holiday so I made a special trip to The Quilt Basket in Victor Harbor in search of a new jelly roll.  When I got there, there were only about five to choose from so in desperation I grabbed the Salt Air jelly roll and I'm so glad I did because it is perfect for this quilt. 

 

As it turns out, I didn't even take the cover off my sewing machine while I was away,  I was too busy drinking tea on the verandah.  So the mercy dash to Victor was completely unnecessary - but, if I hadn't gone, I would never have bought this fabulous fabric, and that would have been a shame!

So, now for the giveaway.  I have one, slightly used, Amy Butler Gypsy Caravan design roll to giveaway to a good home.  There are only (27) 2 1/2" strips because I did use a few before I changed my mind.  If you would like to enter the giveaway just leave a comment telling me your favourite place for a holiday.  I will close the giveaway on Tuesday, 7th of August 2012, at 5pm Central Australian Time and draw a winner at random. 

I am linking up with Quilt Story and Freshly Pieced as usual, so head on over and spread the love!