Sew Along Avalon Retreat - 2013

Sew Along Retreat! Such a FAB weekend!

Well what a beautiful weekend we had last weekend at our first Sew Along Retreat!  There were a large number of lovely ladies who joined us at the Avalon Homestead in Toodyay for a weekend of sewing, laughing, inspiration and well who could pass up any chance to have your meals cooked for you for three days!  We started the weekend with a Mystery project - these sweet Strawberries - a great way to get to know one another!

There were many projects that people had brought along as well as the Log Cabin Workshop that we taught on the Saturday morning.  So many beautiful blocks started to come together - some over late nights and early mornings.

There were no two quilts the same with lots of colours and textures and treasured heirlooms being created!

Aside from Log Cabin Quilts there were lots of other projects being made - with Advent Calendars, Raggy Quilts, Disappearing 9 Patch quilts, Cushions, Bags, Aprons and even a Tutu!  We had such a wonderful weekend and it was great to meet so many new people.  You can check out my face book page for all the photos of the weekend.  There were ladies there who had never sewn before as well as lots of experienced sewers so to share and inspire each other.  Claire and I are now busily planning our 2013 Retreat with details out very soon. 

Of course all wonderful weekends come to an end and now it is head down and tail up as Perth Upmarket is only 3 weeks away.  With my Smiling Santa's on the Postcards I have to get serious and get cutting and stitching some felt decorations - always fun!

Back in the "sewing" of things!

A long time ago I started and finished this Robert Stitchery from Kristen Doran.  I love her designs and how her stitcheries come to life in many different forms. I always knew who it was going to go to but I was not sure about what I was going to make with it.

Then inspiration struck me - with an overflowing scrap bucket I set about pulling out all the scrap red, black and blue fabrics I had.  Cutting them up into 3inch squares and then sewing them all up I came up with this quilt top to incorporate the Robot Stitchery.

I had been holding on to the backing fabric for a while and knew that there would one day be just the right project for it to be used in.  It made perfect backing for this little quilt.  With some stripy binding I am very happy with how this all came together. 

Finishing one project marks the beginning of another.  As I don't have boys myself I have always found it harder to choose for boys than for girls but when I cam across this "Dont be afraid" range of fabric I knew I had to get some and before long I had put together this quilt top.  Now to decide how to quilt it!

Here is the Ripple Blanket I have finished for my daughter.  The pattern from Attic 24 - Ripple Blanket is just delightful to work.  Once you have this pattern nutted out it just is so pretty.  I find the repetitive design as one of the reasons I most like it - you work up a rhythm and then it just grows and grows.  I have learnt from this project that planning out your projects before you start them is always a good idea.  I started this blanket with one idea in mind but as I didn't have enough white from the same dye lot to continue the way I had started/planned a few modifications and and them I was away again.

Claire and I have been busy putting together new ideas for our Term 4 Sew Along Classes.  This is one of our new Christmas designs which we are currently working up.  I love the days where we just get to create and bounce ideas off each other.  We always have so many ideas and designs but cutting it down to a few always prove tricky.  

Keeping me very busy at the sewing machine has also been my Felt Character Christmas Sacks.  Even though it is only September I have been making orders for quite a few families.  I hope that Santa is going to be excited to fill up these sacks while on his round this year.  These sacks have gone off to a family for a special Christmas treat this season.

Around the world and back again!

Well you would certainly be forgiven for thinking that I had forgotten that I had a blog!  Truth is that I have been on an overseas trip in the meantime and then getting back to everyday life has been keeping me from getting around to blogging.  

So what have I been up to lately - well  I was lucky enough to head to the United States to spend some time with a special friend and her dear family.  Among so many highlights was a trip to New York.  On the top of my list of things to do in New York (besides heading to the top of the Empire States building to see if Chuck Bas was waiting for me) was a trip to one of my favourite shops - Purl Soho .  I have loved this store from afar for a while and so enjoy reading there blog that to actually walk through the doors and see it for myself and do a spot of shopping was very exciting.

Here I am outside the doors to heaven - Purl Soho

So back to home and I admit it has taken a little longer to get some serious sewing done.  Here is the first big project I have been working on.  These fabrics are currently on the sewing table being made into a new quilt inspired by one of my favourite quite block - Drunkard's Path.  Of course with a modern twist!  I love how all things re-invent themselves and the Drunkard's Path block is one of the first quilts I ever made so it has a special place in my heart.

I have been replenishing my stock of Hairclip Hangers with lots of new Rainbows, Owls, Babushkas, Cupcakes and Butterflies.  With Perth Upmarket now a month away it is time to get my Sew on and create.

I have finished my ocean inspired Ripple Blanket - I am loving this crochet design from Attic 24.  While some may think that the repetition of such a design is its downside - this is what I love most about it.  It is very calming and relaxing to work through the stitches and see this blanket continue to grow.

In fact I love it so much here is one I have started for my daughter.  She choose the colours and I am constantly being asked about its completion date.  Good thing there are still a few cold winters nights here this season. 

And no - I must have just missed Chuck!!!

Time for a Retreat!

Sew-Along are proud to announce that we are holding our first weekend retreat!

. . . and what a treat it should be! Two full days of uninterrupted sewing in a peaceful & beautiful environment.

So what’s it all about? . . .

Claire Turpin Deisgns together with Tied with a Ribbon will be running a mystery workshop on the Friday evening which you are welcome to join. It will be a great way for everyone to get to know each other & to ease us all into the weekend!

There will be a quilt workshop on the Saturday morning but if patchwork is not your thing, then we will be opening up the entire library of Sew-Along patterns so take your pick . . . it could be a great weekend to get a start on some Christmas projects!

It will be a great weekend filled with fun, laughter and inspiration and you won't even have to cook a thing all weekend.

Bookings open Friday 8th June at 10am & will be done on a first some first served basis & numbers are limited so don’t think about it for too long!

If you want to get your head around all the info, facts & costs click on the Retreat Link.

For a booking form and the Pattern catologue you can email - tiedwitharibbon@gmail.com

An empty slate!

Well some exciting progress - I have finally finished all the projects that have been lurking in the deep dark depths of my cupboards!!! Yeah - not only does that equal a whole lot of satisfaction for me but I guess that means now I can start lots of new projects!  Such a wonderful never ending creative cycle!  These scrappy squares have finally been all sewn together to make a sweet little lap quilt.



I had made a few extra blocks but decided on the smaller size in the end for a little lady!

And I could not go past this multi-coloured striped fabric that just went beautifully for the binding.

This Liberty Bliss scarf went to a dear friend this week to celebrate her birthday!  I love this pattern and now having made a few still think every time that they all look very different with colours picked for their new owners just especially.  I love the Rowan hand knit cotton for this scarf - it is just the right weight.

I have one happy miss eight with the hexagons I had been working on all finished and sewn together.  I made a few more than I had initially planned as I just wanted to make it that little bit bigger as a great snuggle blanket. 

To trim the edges I used the white to double crochet around the edge and then two of miss eight's favourite colours from the blanket for the final two double crochet rows around the edging.

These birds are for a very special God daughter of mine.  they are going to make a quilt that is inspired by stars.  I have only the hanging strip left to sew on this wall quilt so I will hopefully have some more pictures for you soon.

This quilt is our newest project for our Sew Along classes.  It is a Log cabin quilt sashed with silver satin and with some Liberty fabrics to give this quilt just a little luxury.  If you have been to learn to sew then check out our Workshops for all the upcoming classes.



Getting through the unfinished projects!

I actually feel like I am making some progress.  As I have dedicated this year to finishing all the projects that have been sitting in the cupboard some what started but left to the side I am making headway.  Here is the top of my Candy Girl quilt all ready to be quilted.

I love the textured white fabric I used for the backgrounds. It gives a more dimensional look to the flowers. This quilt had been in the cupboard for about a year so it was great to see this one finished and nearly ready to be loved and used.

I also put the finishing touches on the Dr Suess baby quilt I made.  I am in love with stripy binding at the moment!

I kept the quilting simple on this one so that it did not take away from the busy patterned fabric - just alternating two colours of stitching.

The next UFO that I have re-visited are these scrappy blocks - I know I started these 12 months ago and after a great start they were left to the side. 

I have started making some more to make these 11 inch scrappy blocks into a quilt.

 

Another project that I have started more recently that is well underway to being finished is my crochet hexagons.  These hexagons are for a crochet blanket for my younger daughter and while so far the colours are working out differently to how I first pictured the project I think it will suit my daughters personality just perfectly.