Moving Houses!

Just thought I'd better pop by and let you know that I've moved my quilting blog home over to Blossom Heart Quilts. We've just recently moved to Japan, and with it, decided to start afresh and commit to making this quilt blogging thing work. I hope to see you all there!

Valentines Mug Rug: Candy Love Hearts

Needing to make some goodies for a Valentines Day Swap, I saw this tutorial for a mug rug on Craizee Corners and decided it would be perfect! But I tweaked it a bit so it wasn't so big (and square - therefore easier for this hot and tired mumma!), and so I didn't have to try and find a red that matched the pinks I'd chosen, haha!

I've called it the Candy Love Hearts mug rug... the mix of candy pinks makes me think of those little candy love hearts with messages of sweet nothings printed on them. Awww. This is a great design to show off some geometric-style prints for contrast and fussy-cut squares!

What you will need:
1 - 3 1/2" square of white-based print
2 - 2" x 3 1/2" each of light pink and dark pink
4 - 2" square fussy cut dark pink

Finished size - 6" sqaure.

Sew your pieces together like this - white square to a light pink, the other light pink to a fussy cut square, dark pink to a fussy cut square, and a fussy cut square to each end of the other dark pink...

The usual night time sewing bad lighting!

Then sew together pieces A, B, and C and finger-press the seams open:

Join this to piece D, pressing seams open again.

Damn it!

So, once you quilt and bind (I chose a pale pink and simple stiching in the ditch to show off the geometric prints), it will look something like this:

Here's hoping my Secret Valentine likes it... my second swap ever and I'm a little nervous! I've got one other thing I'm going to try and make to send with it, plus some of the inspiring candy love hearts.  Fingers crossed it's received well!

Are you making anything special for Valentines Day?

Blogger's Choice Fat Quarter Bundle

Laura at Quokka Quilts has teamed up with the Fat Quarter Shop for an incredible giveaway - to win a Blogger's Choice Fat Quarter Bundle created by YOU! Except it's not just a fat quarter of each, it's a whole half yard of each fabric - 12 prints and 3 solids.

So of course, the problem is choosing which fabrics, where to start, what colours... so I decided to start with Kate Spain (my favourite designer!) and some Terrain. But what colours? What designs? Well, my stash could do with some more orange and purple, so we started with Bloom Seedpod. Then some Stream Aster for something a little less orange. And it just grew from there. I'm a big Moda fan too, but I was brave and ventured outside their ranges to find some gorgeous stuff elsewhere!

I knew that there should be a range of prints within the mix - some big, some medium and some small. Some big and out there designs, and some more simple prints to balance out the mix. As for what colours I went with, there's the obvious orange and purple, but then I picked out the gray in the LouLouThi Fox Trot Stockings to soften the colours up, and added dashes of blue as a coordinating colour to make the orange/purple prints pop and to coordinate with Terrain.

In left to right, top to bottom order, these are the fabrics I've chosen!

1. Bloom Seedpod, Terrain by Kate Spain for Moda #27095-13

2. Clementine Shadow Stripe, Dazzle by Melissa Averinos for Andover #5418-Y

3. Melon Jewel, Dazzle by Melissa Averinos for Andover #5416-L

4. White Bleached, Bella Solids by Moda #9900-98

5. Foxtrot Stockings, LouLouThi by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit #AH44-FOXTR

6. Mist Flower Shop, Hometown by Sweetwater for Moda #5461-26

7. Neutral Tarika, Taza by Dena Designs for Free Spirit #DF90-NEUTR

8. Gray, Bella Solids by Moda #990-83

9. Stream Aster, Terrain by Kate Spain for Moda #27093-17

10. Aqua with Cream Beaded Curtain, Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott for Moda #18077-16

11. Seawater, Natural Elements by Patricia Bravo for Art Gallery #NE-123

12. Light Jade, Free Spirit Designer Solids #S83-LIGHTJADE

13. Yellow Diamond Leaves, Morning Tides by Mark Cesarik for Free Spirit #MC13-YELLO

14. Orange Petal Dots, Decadence by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake Designs #C2636-ORANGE

15. Juicy Grape, Oval Elements by Patricia Bravo for Art Gallery #OE917

Table Runner - First Quilting and Binding!

So it's been almost 3 months... I'm just slack. But I'm posting daily over on my personal blog! Anyway, this table runner is a present for a relative who reads my blog, is on Facebook, etc. So I want to share it now with some people, but have to do so secretly here *wink*

This was the first time I actually properly quilted... wasn't too bad a job! But don't look too closely, those fussy about straight lines and no puckering on the back. It also revealed how off some of my piecing was... Oops. Oh well, live and learn! And in such bright colours, you don't really notice unless you know what you're looking for. The fabric is Bloom by Moda (I think... I lost the card for it!), nd the backing and binding is from Spotlight.

I quilted around the inside edge of the pieced border, then around the triangles, then around the inside rectangle.

 

Giveaway Roundup!

Samelia's Mum is having a few giveaways this week! Some gooooorgeous fabric up for offer.

There's the Buttercup charm pack by Moda, and the Michael Miller fat quarter bundle so far, I'll update as more come! Go check 'em out.

Taggy Toy

Fourth time lucky, I finally got this right! First time, I sewed the ribbons the wrong way - instead of sewing them on the Right side, facing in from the edge, they hung out over the edge. I tried 2 different ways to make it work... nup. So, I cut them off, sewed them on to another piece of fabric the RIGHT way around, and yay! It worked!

It's had a lot of use already!

Finished Products!

I got my hubby and camera back on Monday, yay! Thus, I can finally reveal my first quilts! (And when it's cloudy and rainy outside, what do you do?? Use your suede-ish chair - they stick to it perfectly!)

Fabric: Puttin' On The Ritz (Moda)

Backing: Pink quilter's flannel

This quilt top I simply backed in quilter's flannel, no "meat" in the quilt sandwich or any binding. I'm not going to try quilting and binding for the first time on one I'm giving away! I did stitch in the ditch between the first two rows either side just to hold the flannel on better to stop it separating.

Disappearing Nine Patch
Fabric: Spotlight

Backed in one piece
Sandwiched with quilter's flannel

Once again, no quilting or binding, although this one is "sandwiched" with quilter's flannel. Felt so soft and lovely, I want one for me now, lol! But next on my list is using my new patterns and fabric to make Christmas presents! And to finish off those darn pinwheel blocks. Note to self - use easier method next time *sigh* I AM getting better though, hurray!

Winner winner!

I just found out I won THIS! I chose the 'Grass' pack, as I don't have much green in my stash.

Jane from Want It, Need It, Quilt is awesome. $30 layer cakes and jelly rolls anyone? Or how about $10 charm packs? Not to mention getting a Flurry by Kate Spain layer cake the other day for just $25. I know, I'm so excited to make something with it! What, I don't know, but something. Amazing. Beautiful.

Remember this fluffy mail? From Jane. With FOUR freebie charm squares (I originally said 3, but there was another stuck to the back of one!) And with my Flurry layer cake came another 5 Christmas flannel charm squares. She's so lovely, that Jane! And waaaaay to tempting *sigh*

So please, go check out Jane and tell her I said hi!

Giveaway Roundup!

Here's some of the latest giveaways I've found... including one of my own:

Here's my giveaway - a handmade-by-moi gift just for you if you pay it forward! There's 2 spots left, be quick!

Melody over at The House on the Side of the Hill has a similar giveaway celebrating her blogiversary - a handmade gift each month for a year, plus a $25 voucher to Want It, Need It, Quilt! My favourite quilting store!! Ends September 15th.

Laura from Quokka Quilts has a special Aussie giveaway - an Australian animal fat quarter! Would make for some great applique, I reckon. And a bonus handmade mugrug if you would like it! Ends September 7th.

First Blanket Finished!

I've "downgraded" the baby quilts I've been making to baby blankets as I decided to back them (originally in polar fleece) in quilter's flanellette. So soft, but thicker than normal flannellette. And I've finished the first one! Again, I'm sorry, no photos :( I'm Sally-No-Camera until Monday. And I need to get the other one done by then too so I can give them on Tuesday!! Can't wait for that part!

Just had to share the joyous words-only news :)

Giveaway: Paying It Forward

I saw this lovely idea on the equally lovely Sharon's blog. And so on the off chance there are actually 3 people who read this blog...

1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people that comment on this post. It will be a surprise and you will not know when it will arrive.

 

2. I will have 365 days to get this surprise to you. The catch? To get a goodie from me you must play along too! Share the giving love on your blog by promising to send a handmade goody to the first three people comment on your blog post.

3. You must therefore have a blog! OR... in case some Real Life friends read and want to join in... use your FB status ;) Just tag my other blog's FB page so I can track it!

4. After commenting on my post, you have to go post this on your blog/Facebook.

 

Don't stress if like me you're new to this whole handmade swap thing, or to the handmade thing full stop! I'm not guaranteeing anything incredibly amazing, because I'm not that good. But I promise it will be made with love!

Pinwheel Fail!

My husband is away with our camera, again *sigh* So you'll once again have to take my word that I've been sewing! But maybe it's for the best so I don't have to show my beginner's shame, hehe.

I bought my first pattern - Little Charmers 5 by Anka's Treasures - to make Christmas presents with. Before tackling the table runners, I decided to try making the Pinwheel quilt using my City Weekend charm pack and yardage of white I had bought. Ugh. Cutting the triangles from the charm pack were ok, but the cutting the yardage is doing my head in! My first pinwheel block was wonky, seams not aligned properly - one white triangle was totally off centred, and when squared off, was 7" instead of 7 3/4"! Oh well, onward and upward! Thankfully the table runners don't use triangles!

Like, I would love to try this kind of quilt out:

My Blue Heaven by Quiltville

But all those triangles?! Oh no. No no no. Well, not until I get a fabric die cutter!! *hint hint Santa*

PS - I promise to post photos when my camera returns to me :)

WIP: Baby Girl Quilt

Here's the baby quilt I was talking about last week! Using Putting on the Ritz by Moda. This is the original layout I did. I took a photo, then had another play around. I got hubby's opinion, and he voted for the second one.

Both hubby and my mum thought it looked nice and random

But it's not random. I can't stand it being entirely random - it needs some sort of pattern for me! I have since sewn it together... and added an extra row on each side to make it wider! I'm going to back it in polar fleece, but Spotlight has sold out of it! That's what happens when you wait until the fourth day of a sale to go in. Oh well.

And here's what I spent some birthday vouchers on:

Spots and Solids

I'm thinking hexies! All washed and dried, now to just press and cut. And cut. And cut!

Giveaway Roundup

Yeehah! More giveaways in the online world of fabric...

Maureen Cracknell Handmade has 2 yards of Anna Maria Horner fabrics to giveaway, closing 10pm (EST) Sunday, August 21st. They're just divine!

p.s. i quilt has a Promenade fat quarter bundle on offering. Love the colours! Winner will be drawn Monday.

Green Fairy Quilts is having a charity giveaway - a couple of free entries, but bonus entries if you donate towards their charity trip! Such a brilliant idea. Head on over and at least check out what they're up to. What wonderful people.

As usual, if you have one you'd love to add, let me know where to find it, what's on offer and when it closes - must be open to international readers!

The No-Photo Progress Report

My husband's gone away and took the camera with him, and all my photos! But, I've finished the top of this baby boy quilt and have the material to finish it off. I've decided not to put any batting in so it's lightweight for summer (he's due in December).

I've also sewn up the top for the baby girl quilt using the Puttin on the Ritz charm squares I got the other day from Want It, Need It, Quilt. It's just a simple patchwork - sewed 25 squares together... After debating the layout for a few hours! Still need to go get the fabric to finish it off. This baby's due in November, so I won't put batting in this one either. That and I'm kinda scared to try it for the first time on a gift quilt!

I also have an exciting BIG project coming up... which you can get involved in too! Quilts for a great cause :)

Once I get the camera back, I can share the photos with you!

Giveaway Roundup

This week has brought some beauties along!

Possum Blossom Patchwork has a Candy Pack of papers of your Candy Hexagon paper piecing. What a brilliant idea!! Be quick though, closes 9pm (Australian EST time) tonight.

Dianne has a Little Apples jelly roll on offer over at Random Thoughts do or "di", which closes midnight August 18th (California time). I already have a Little Apples charm pack flying through the mail, and this would be the perfect "sashing" for a project in mind!

Anyone found some others they'd like to share?

Quilty Chatter: Fabric Stash, Craftsy and Mail

My last post was wondering about how to organise my meagre fabric stash, knowing that it will only get bigger from here. A lovely reader sent me to a post on Sew We Quilt... Wow. One giant stash, super organisation:

So much fabric, and this isn't even all of it!

Teresa sorts by size, then by colour/style/pattern/collection - whichever is more appropriate for the fabric.

 

And then there's the scrap stash, organised in a similar manner and divided into Wee Bits, Strips, and bigger scraps:

I am just so impressed! And jealous. I don't know that I can ever see myself having such a huge stash, nor can my husband I'm sure! But then again, I'm sure every quilter starts out saying that... Hmm... An inspirational quote about stashes from her that I love - My stash is only good if I can find things!

I've also just found a website that is kinda like a craft version of Pinterest called Craftsy. But more interactive and has classes and tips and all sorts of things! You can share projects, comment on other people's projects, "Like" and "Share", etc. I found this quilt which has inspired me to try a similar layout with another baby quilt I have coming up which is in baby blues, pinks and greys...

I like how the darker and lighter squares are arranged in mini blocks of sorts... randomly ordered if you will. My baby quilt will be much smaller, so I'll have to see how it goes. But I do like ordered randomness. You can find my rather plain and nothing-done-yet profile here!

And last but not least today is that I ordered something from an online quilting shop for the first time this week and it has already arrived! MUCH thanks to Jane at Want It, Need It, Quilt. Incredible prices (charm packs for $10, layer cakes and jelly rolls for just $30!), great service (helped me via an email convo about her 1" hexie template) and quick delivery. And on her blog at the moment, you can find some great giveaways - Fat Quarter packs and a BabyGO!

Puttin' on the Ritz (Moda) and City Weekend (Moda) charm packs
1" fussy cut hexie template
4 bonus freebie charm squares - thanks Jane!

Fabric Stash: How to Organise?!

Currently, all my fabric is folded and stacked in 3 piles on a shelf in my wardrobe - washed, used for photos, and awaiting to be used/washed. No further organisation into size, colour, nothing.

{insert photo here... too cold and achey to get off couch for photo... yep, I'm feeling lazy today!}

It's totally up to me as how to organise it - free reign from my organisational husband. Wow. So far it's mostly 1m-long (just over a yard) pieces, but I'm starting to get in smaller pieces. So I need inspiration. Ideas. Hmm, Pinterest maybe?

 This is my favourite so far. It would suit my small collection, and utilises clear plastic containers from around the home. Not that we really have any spare, but it's certainly a cheap option.

Source

How do YOU organise your stash??

My First Big (ish) Quilt!

A good friend of mine is due to have a baby in December. She has two girls already, and this is her third. The day she found out that she was going to be having a boy, I just knew I had to make her quilt/play mat for her litle man! Popped over to Spotlight, and hey presto - two matching bundles of fun material that were perfect for a little boy.

5 darker/busier prints

4 lighter/plainer prints

I decided to once again do a Disappearing Nine Patch - simple, easy and effective pattern! My original plan was to have the 5 darker/busier prints on the X of the nine patch block, but I decided on this layout instead:

So far, I have sewn all the nine patch blocks together. Next is to cut them in quarters, arrange, and sew them together. Then work out what I want to do with the binding and backing...

This Week's Giveaways!

Because there are just so many awesome giveaways around the place for quilters/sewers, I wanted to get them all in one place for us all to find. I'll add to the list as I find more! And if you'd like to add your's to the list, please contact me (blossomheartblog {at} gmail {dot} com) with the details: your name, giveaway URL, prize and closing date. Must be open for international readers! And feel free to add a button for extra prettiness :)

Up first is found at 1 Choice 4 Quilting. On offer for 3 lucky winners is a layer cake or jelly roll of Summer House and 2 layer cakes or jelly rolls of Meadow Friends! Closes Monday August 8th at 10:00PM EST (America).

Next is a charm pack, also Summer House! from Craizee Corners. Also closes Monday August 8th at 10:00PM EST (America).

The Intrepid Thread has an awesome Blogiversary giveaway - a Little Apples jelly roll, a Modern Log Cabin quilting book, and 2 fat quarter packs! Closes Friday August 5th August at midnight.

Sara at Growing Stitches has a one year subscription to American Patchwork and Quilting and a charm pack of the Ruby line by Bonnie and Camille on offer! Closes on Tuesday August 9th 10:00PM EST (America).

 Little Cottage Comforts: On the Go! Baby again: a giveaway and some free patterns for you closes this week, so be quick!