Paperie by Amy Sinibaldi - Blog Tour

Sometimes a fabric range comes along and it is just magical - just the perfect prints in the most delicate and beautiful colours.  Amy Sinibaldi's first fabric range - Paperie for Art Gallery Fabrics is just stunning.  I was so excited getting to work on this Blog Tour with these prints.  

I have been a long time fan of Amy and her creative work.  She has such an inspirational style all of her own and this range just exemplifies this.  This range, inspired by her love of books showcases individual prints that match and co-ordinate in harmony with one another.  Striking dark colours that perfectly compliment the softest pinks and peaches .  And can I say that her "Stamped" text print is about to become my new favourite background print.

As soon as my bundle of fabric arrived I quickly set about sewing one of my "Cotton Reel Pincushions" while I decided what larger project I would make from these prints.

This Butterfly Charm Block was the start for an Undercover Maker Mat.  I have been wanting to make this pattern since I first saw Nicole's from Lillyella make hers.  Paperie worked beautifully to create the individual pockets and Mat. 

I just adore this range and I know it is going to be a well loved fabric addition in your stash.  I have several other projects planned for Paperie to add some other accessories and I think my girls would love a dress made with this range.

If you would like to win a pack of Charm Squares from Amy, then head over to my Instagram account @tiedwitharibbon and leave a comment. If you are not on Instagram then leave a comment below as to what you make like to make from these sweet fabrics to enter.  Winner will be chosen at random. 1 comment per person please.  EDIT - Giveaway now closed and winner has been announced by random number pick from all comments and IG comments over on IG.

Jemima x x

Paperie Blog Tour

January 25 ~ Heidi Staples of fabricmutt.blogspot.com

January 26 ~ Kerry Goulder of kidgiddy.com

January 27 ~ Cheri Lehnow of tinkerwiththis.blogspot.com

January 28 ~ Sharon Holland of SharonHollandDesigns.com

January 29 ~ Jemima Flendt of tiedwitharibbon.com

January 30 ~ Michelle Curtis of chellesquilts.com

February 1 ~ Christina Egner of onelittlepooh.net

February 2 ~ Ali Brorsen of BecauseofBrennaClothing.com

February 3 ~ Kristine Lempriere of townmouse.typepad.com

February 4 ~ Nicole Young of lillyella.com

February 5 ~ Lori Landenburger of sewpsyched.blogspot.com

February 6 ~ Jennifer Chon of sunnyincal.com

February 8 ~ Melissa LeRay of ohhowsweet.com

February 9 ~ Megan Jimanez of quiltstory.blogspot.com

February 10 ~ Faith Essenburg of saranaave.wordpress.com

February 11 ~ Renee Lange of sewnwithgrace.com

February 12 ~ Sedef Imer of downgrapevinelane.com

February 13 ~ Kristyne Czepuryk of prettybyhand.com

February 15 ~ Heather Andrus of quiltstory.blogspot.com

February 16 ~ Stacy Olson of stacyolsondesign.blogspot.com

February 17 ~ Erin Cox of whynotsew.blogspot.com

February 18 ~ Amy Sinibaldi of nanaCompany.typepad.com

Latest Pattern releases

I truly do love creating quilting and sewing patterns for people to make for themselves.  I strive to make my instructions clear, easy to understand and suitable great for all levels.  Here are some of my latest Quilt patterns.

Ocean Stars - this quilt was originally featured in the June 2015 issue of Quilters Companion.  A great quilt design to use up those bundles of fabric you have been stashing.  

A star inspired quilt with a strong pattern set against a solid background.  No matter what colour scheme you use - this quilt will be a stand out.  

Ocean Stars is available as a PDF Downloadable pattern from my website here 

Ocean Stars Quilt Pattern.

Or available to purchase wholesale through my Distributor - Creative Abundance if you are a store looking to stock this (or any of my other) patterns. 

Kiss Chasey was featured in the November 2015 issue of Homespun.  This design is about quilting from the heart.  How we love to make quilts for those we love.

A great design to feature a range of fabrics or you could even make a good dent in your scrap basket, making each heart different.  

I have used a blue Chambray with a dark blue dot for my background to make my fabric choices pop.  This would look sweet with low volume backgrounds or any colour you choose.

A great quilt to make for a special occasion or to celebrate an event such as a Wedding or for Valentines day or just because.

Image from Homespun Magazine

Kiss Chasey is available as a PDF Downloadable pattern here

Kiss Chasey Quilt Pattern.

Or available to purchase wholesale through my Distributor - Creative Abundance if you are a store looking to stock this (or any of my other) patterns. 

Happy sewing

Jemima x 

Sew Along Retreat - September 2016

Book Review - Latest Quilting and Sewing Titles

At this busy time of year there can be nothing better than relaxing with some reading to get you all inspired for your sewing and crafting in the new year.  

These book have been on my list and with some quieter days I am looking forward to spending more time reading them.  Thank you to Capricorn Link Australia for sending me these copies to read.  All review opinions are my own. 

Tula Pink Colouring Book

Lets just say this book only just made it into the house before several pages were taken out (there are perforations so this makes each sheet easily worked on its own) by my girls.  This has illustrations from each of Tula's ranges and a variety of styles to colour depending on the complexity of the drawings.  I can see the girls and I spending some time colouring together over these school holidays.

Simply Stitched Gifts by Cynthia Shaffer

I have been absolutely in love with many of the sewing Illustrators I have seen over on Instagram this past few months and this book is great to give the background on all the technique needed to sew Free-Motion projects with confidence.  It includes great step-by-step photos to show you how to create a variety of different stitching's that can then be turned into lots of projects.  The photos are nice and clear and well set out.  I have been wanting to give this technique a go and with all these tips I feel much more equipped to give it a go.

Tis the Season to be Felty by Kathy Sheldon with Amanda Carestio

Although this book has only just arrived in the days before Christmas it already has me thinking of the beautiful projects that I can make for next Christmas.  There are a variety of felt inspired projects that even my girls will love sewing.  Sewing with felt is a great way to get kids involved in sewing and the decorations are so sweet in this book that would be great to gift to other at this time.  Such festive decorations to trim your house with.

Patchwork Essentials - The Half Square Triangle by Jeni Baker

I have been a long time fan and blog reader of Jeni Baker from In Color Order. She has always been one of the blogs I have followed and love her style and design work.  As soon as I knew she was writing a book I knew this would be on my list of "must reads".  Her book contains so much information to read and actually walk you through many of the processes such as choosing colours, the maths made easy of quilting and beautiful photos and illustrations.  Jenny has a lot of quilting and sewing knowledge behind her and this book is well worth getting hold of to build your own quilting skill set.  There is even a sketch chapter where you can colour your own designs. 

Jemima x  

AGF Stitched Event - Locket Quilt

One of my favourite ranges that I fell in love with at Fall Market was Paperie by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics.  This is Amy's first range and - wow - it is ever so sweet and just the perfect assortment of fabrics.  The colours are delicate and bold and each print complements perfectly.

Being invited to work on the latest AGF Stitched Event together with Fat Quarter Shop has been great fun.  The latest Quilt design - Locket Quilt is a large scale block design that works so well with this range.  The Locket Quilt pattern (available free) can be found here.  Along with a Video Tutorial  - here.

These blocks came together quickly and I decided that I would turn my Locket Quilt Blocks into a Table Runner.  The colours in the prints allow the pattern to stand out and have sewn up well in a row which slightly differs to the pattern's "on point" block formation.

I quilted around the shapes using tramlines in matching Aurifil Thread colours.  

You can find the Quilt Kit to make this Locket Quilt and Backing Set all over at Fat Quarter Shop.

Here is the list of all the other participating Bloggers for you to check out the Locket Quilts and projects they have made.

Angie of GnomeAngel

Jane of Quilt Jane

Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting

Cara of That Crafty Cara

Natalia of Piece N Quilt

Sinta of Pink Pincushion

Heather and Megan of Quilt Story

Christina of Sometimes Crafter

Melissa of Happy Quilting

Caroline of Sew Caroline

Happy sewing

Jemima x 

Top 5 Tools!

I often get asked about the Tools and Equipment I most often use in my own Sewing and Quilting.  So I thought that a blog post might be a great way to share my Top 5 Pics.

I looked carefully around my sewing room and thought about those Tools, Gadgets and pieces of Equipment that I always use.  The tools that would be great for any one to add to their equipment toolbox for making sewing better and easier.  These are my go-to's!

Bloc-Loc Rulers - I sew a lot of Half Square Triangles and Flying Geese blocks in my Quilting.  These rulers have changed how I sew them and I will never go back.  There is an inbuilt channel in the back so that you can line up your seams so that you are able to trim down your HST's or Flying Geese down to the correct size with perfect points every time.  While some may see the trimming as an extra step I think it makes for a much more professionally finished quilt and saves you battling to match up points as you sew. 

Bloc-Loc rulers are widely available, come in a variety of sizes and can be found in most Local Quilt Stores or easily online.

Clover Fork Pins - These are the best little gems of pins for when you are working with seams that you have pressed open.  They slide either side of the pressed seams to hold the seams perfectly as shown below.

Clover Binding Clips - I have to admit that I don't actually use these Clips for binding but for so many other uses within my sewing room.  I love using them for English Paper Piecing to hold my fabric covered papers together (as shown below).  I use them to hold groups of fabrics together when sewing.  I use them to hold Linings and Outsides of projects together while top stitching such as in Bags or Fabric Baskets - anytime where regular pins are filly to work with.

Clover Pressing Mat - when I spied this little mat at the Craft show earlier this year I have to say I hesitated at buying this.  I don't like Gadgets for the sake of it - I like products that work and will be used regularly.  Well this has been one of the best items I have bought in a long time.  I often sew hems, casings and turn down fabric.  This Pressing Mat means I don't have to take my tape measure to the ironing board overtime with me anymore and I just fold over the fabric to the required length and press.  Seriously this is well worth getting hold of if you sew lots of hems, sew lots of zips into things like cushions or other projects or make casings for things like drawstring bags.  This has become one of my most used tools in my sewing room.

Clover Black Gold Needles - Appliqué/ Sharps No 9 - I do a lot of hand sewing.  These are my needles of choice for English Paper Piecing, any mending, sewing my binding down or anywhere I need to use a needle and regular thread.  These glide through your fabric and have a nice flex as you work but are not flimsy.

It is easy to get caught up buying Gadgets, Tools and Equipment that end up on the shelf, not being used.  Tools that help make your Quilting and sewing more enjoyable are a great investment in your love of sewing.  

All these tools are ones I use the most.  It is coincidental that most of these items are Clover brand.  Just my personal preference (I have not been sponsored for these opinions.)

Happy Sewing

Jemima x x

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Smitten Quilt - My English Paper Piecing Adventure - The final chapter!

I can't believe I have stitched the final hand quilted stitches into my Smitten Quilt.  This quilting adventure has take me most of the year but I have never more enjoyed hand stitching and hand quilting.  

When I first started this quilt - fussy cutting was not on my agenda.  I had only bought Fat 16ths of my fabrics so this mostly wasn't possible with that size of material.  However as the year went on and I got my hands on some larger pieces of fabric just perfect for fussy cutting I could not resit adding in a few here and there.

I have always loved Hand quilting and as I went along English Paper Piecing the top I knew that I wanted to hand quilt this as wee.  I tried to make the hand quilting quite random, some hexagons are quilted around all sides and some not at all.  

For Hand quilting I used Aurifil 12 wt threads in a variety of colours.  Mostly matching fabrics and coloured threads as I went.  These have a beautiful sheen to them and the perfect thickness for hand quilting.  I also used Tulip Embroidery Needles - Sharps.  These have the perfect flex and size to the needle for such a big task.

I came across this "April Showers" fabric by Lewis and Irene earlier this year and purchased enough for the backing.  As soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect for this Smitten.  I then placed a few fussy cuts of this sweet girl into the front to tie them both together.

I am definitely Smitten with this quilt and I hope you have loved reading about my adventure along the way.

Happy Sewing 

Jemima x