Have you heard about Spoonflower

Have you heard about Spoonflower?  They have been around for a while so this may not be news but for anyone who has not let me introduce you to them.

A little while ago I had a special request for a rather specific fabric that is going to be made into a quilt. I have used Spoonflower in the past but could not believe my luck at being able to find exactly what I needed.

Spoonflower is a website where you can print and sell your own fabric, you can purchase fabric, wallpaper, decals and even wrapping paper.  There are so many different designs and customisable options for what you are after.  You can even choose the type of fabric your chosen design is printed on to.

While I am keeping the aforementioned fabric I found secret squirrel for now here are some of the other fabrics that I could not resist. Here they are from the top down.

Doodle words

Say What?

Selvages on Sterioids

Tiny Selvages

I have not kept selvedges in the past so this is going to be a great way to get the look for some of those "Selvedge" projects.

These were shipped super fast and I am looking forward to incorporating these into some upcoming projects soon.  Let me know if you shop up a storm over at Spoonflower.

A Jungle Safari Quilt and new Liberty Cushions

The Jungle Safari Quilt I have been working on has been all finished.  Lots of colourful and bright squares make up this Cot size quilt.

The animals were the inspiration for this quilt - cutting them out of the piece of fabric and then co-ordinating lots of fabric prints and solids to match.  And although you cant see it - I have pieced the backed with some of the Jungle Safari print as well.

All quilted and bound and already delivered to its new owner.  I have also been working on an order for Santa Sacks - while it may only be July there is nothing better than being all sorted for the rush that is the festive season.  And you know how I love to be organised.  I hope Santa loves filling up this Sack!

With my love for Liberty fabric growing I pieced together these squares that will be turned into cushion fronts that I will be putting into my Etsy store once they are complete.  So soft and pretty are these pink inspired Liberty fabrics.

I have topstitched them using a Sulky Thread that has the slightest sheen to it to give it that touch of something special - just like the fabric itself.

Jemima x 

Diary of a Quilt!

Cutting

Quilt top complete

 

Pinning

Machine Quilting

 

I had been keeping this flannel for just the right project.  Perfect for backing for this quilt - so snuggly!

 

Binding

Sweet Animals Cot quilt all now finished. 

1930's Reproduction Fabrics Fireworks Quilt

My quilt top for my Fireworks using all  1930's Reproductions is now  complete.  There was a lot of time taken to match up all the points on the seams and with so many points this did take a while. 

 

I wanted the fabrics to be bright and crisp against the white and I knew that as this quilt was coming together there was going to be only one way to quilt it once the top was finished.

Not everyone is a fan of Hand quilting but I love it - I love how therapeutic it feels to sit and hand sew at a slower pace and mostly I love the look of Hand quilted quilts. 

 

 

 

So after purchasing some more colours in Pearle 8 thread to match the fabrics and now with the quilt all pinned I am ready to start hand sewing.

 

Jemima x

Cushions, Quilts and Blankets - Oh my!

With a special little girl celebrating a birthday I knew exactly what I wanted to make her.  This Blooming Flower Cushion was perfect for a large arm chair she has in her room.

And because I am in love with this Brown Sheep Fleece from Tangled Yarns - I knew this was going to be just the right weight and look yarn for this cushion. 

 

All finished is my Mary Mary quilt - I simply quilted it following the lines of the diagonals on the design.  I used a Gutermann Sulky thread to give the tram lines quilted on both sides of the ditch a bit of a sparkle.

 

 

And because I loved the Amy Butler lark fabric so much I could not go past using it for the binding.  I love how quilts look all folded up.

 

Another project I have just finished is this Crochet Ripple Blanket also by Attic 24 and again in the Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. (Not that I am predicable or anything) It is between Pram and Cot size as I wanted it to be that can be taken out and about easily.  This is for a new arrival due shortly. 

A finished Scrap Rug and other projects!

Thought I would share with you this Scrap Rug I made a few weeks ago.  It has now found its home beside my younger daughters bed.  This was a great way to have a serious stash bust. I went through fabrics that would be long enough for the project and used a heap of fabrics that I had that didn't really match anything, were left over from other projects and even ones that I had bought and just did not like as much anymore.  

By the time they were all platted into the rug they all just seemed to go and the colours are more visible than the prints on the fabrics.  I did go through quite a bit of fabric in this stash busting Scrap Rug. 

A new project I started this week was with some of these fabrics from the Amy Butler - "Lark" range.  I just fell in love with the beautiful large flowers and loved the red, pink and navy.  I went through my stash as well to pull out some fabrics to go with these as I had only bought a few prints from the range.

My quilt of choice for these fabrics was "Mary Mary"  by Janelle Wind.  She is a very talented designer.  I have made quite a few of her patterns before and they are always well written and I love how quickly this quilt came together.  

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to get away for the "Threads of Friendship" Retreat.  As many of you may know,  I run a few Retreats with my Sew Along partner Claire - so to actually attend one as a "sewer" was just delightful.  These 1930's fabrics were what I took to work on.  The quilt pattern for these is "Fireworks"  by Thimble Blossoms. 

There were lots of laughs and projects going on over the weekend as well as lots of lovely ladies who were doing all sorts of Crafts.  Including Photo Books, embroidery, quilting, crochet, dressmaking - there were lots of ways to be inspired.  Along for the weekend among many other women were Janelle from JanellyBelly Bags and Things, Claire from Claire Turpin Design and Lisa from A Spoonful of Sugar.  

And certainly last but not least - here is the Crochet Granny Square Blanket I finished and gifted recently.  

I made it for my Dad - choosing bright but homely colours to remind him of his childhood.  I used one of my favourite yarns - Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece.

I hope he loves it as much as I treasured making it for him!

Shop Update and a new Sew Along Blog

We know that not everyone can make it to our Sew Along classes - so I have updated our Sew Along Patterns in my Etsy Store so that you can now get these as Down loadable PDF Patterns straight to your inbox.  Great news as this means that no matter where in the world you are you can now stitch up a storm.  

The following patterns are available with more being added very soon.  Some of our popular Quilts and sewing projects are on there way.

Round Cushion Stack

Cafe Apron

Rainbow Fizz Quilt and Cushion

Table Runner

Tea Cosy

I-Pad Cover

Christmas Advent Calendar

Festive Christmas Trees Table Runner

Stop by and check out our new Blog for Sew Along.  Claire has been an absolute SUPER STAR in getting this Blog up and running.  This is where you will be able to find out all the latest that will be happening at our Sew Along Classes, Workshops and Retreats.  We are also planning on adding heaps of helpful info for you about fabrics, sewing machines and all sorts of other planned posts.  And if you have any ideas for classes you would love to see us run we are always welcome to ideas.  We love to know what you would like to sew - leave us your comments.

You can even check out our latest Quilt design - Under the Umbrellas.

I have also set up a Pinterest page - you can check out what has me inspired here.