A quilt for Harriet

Today I'm sharing a second little bassinet quilt made using spare blocks. I had intended to make a larger scrappy trip around the world quilt in these colours but after four blocks I decided that I wasn't in love with it. Instead I chose to make a version with 8 prints in each blocks and use up some of my hoarded jelly roll strips.

Rather than abandon the test blocks I decided to turn them into a little bassinet quilt for Harriet. She seems pretty pleased with it :)

As you can see, she's almost outgrown it. Luckily I have a nice big pile of WIPs and test blocks ready to turn into more baby quilts.

Linking up with the 2017 finish-a-long as this was one of my quarter 3 proposed finishes.

Kat

A quilt for Gregory

Just a quick post to share a bassinet quilt I made for my little man, Gregory. With two little babies my sewing time is very limited so I've been turning old WIPs and leftover blocks into tiny baby quilts. This one was made using some hourglass blocks I made a few years ago (expert quilt holding by big brother Rupert).

I kept the quilting simple with a back and fourth line in the background squares only. Although it feels like I only just finished it, he's already outgrowing it.

Linking up with the 2017 finish-a-long as this was one of the projects I aimed to finish this quarter.

Kat

Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap Extras

I'm linking up again with the 2017 finish a-long and sharing some swap extras that were on my quarter 3 list of proposed finishes.

When making mini quilts for swaps I often start with the extras (little gifts that are included with the mini quilt) because they are often fun to make and there is less pressure than when making the actual mini quilt.  For the Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap my partner made it really easy for me to decide what to make her. In her submission she indicated that she loves caramello koalas and collecting mug rugs to brighten up her desk at work. Naturally, I made her a set of mug rugs with little pockets to hold the caramello koalas.

Another handmade item I included was a swoon block pin, made using a Dandelyne mini hoop and some cross-stitch supplies.

One of the swap requirements was to "prettily package your parcel" so I went a bit OTT with the wrapping, making a handmade box for the mug rugs (I used some woodgrain paper in line with the barn quilt theme) and added a pretty handmade tag.

My partner loved her extras and I enjoyed making them for her. And that is why I love participating in swaps, despite having my hands full with two small babies. In fact, I may or may not have just signed up for another one :P

Kat 

Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap

 I've just realised that I haven't yet shared the mini quilt that I made for my Aussie Mini Barn Quilt Swap partner. I was assigned Andrea (@thehummingcat on instagram), who suggested that she'd love a mini quilt in grey, red and navy. I used prints from the Bonnie and Camille Daysail collection to create a simple star block mini quilt.

I ended up dragging my family to the Collingwood Children's farm so that I could get a picture of the mini in a barn (I think taking photos of quilts can be just as much fun as making them).

My little man was happy too - a trip to the farm usually involves watching cows getting milked, cuddling guinea pigs and eating icecream. In an rare sequence of events, I also managed to make a PL spread about the day.

I'm linking up with the quarter 3 finish-a-long post as this mini quilt was on my list of proposed finishes for this quarter. Stay tuned for the details of the extras I made for this swap.

Kat

September SBT50 challenge

Today I'm also sharing a page I made for the September SBT50 challenge. This month we have a beautiful bright moodboard to inspire you:

I was inspired by the silhouette of the ballet dancer to scrap a pic of me from my ballet days. I used papers that included elements from the mood board (music notes, paint texture, butterflies etc.) and made a vellum pocket to hold a recital booklet that my Mum kept for almost 30 years!

It's not too late to play along - entries are open until midnight 30th September. We'd love to see how this mood board inspires you.

Kat

September ARTastic challenge

I'm quite late in posting the September ARTastic challenge, but better late than ever, right? This month our challenge is to create something inspired by our feature artwork (Peter Graham's bright and vibrant painting called Monaco Coast) and to use paint.

I was inspired by the beach scene to scrap a photo of my boys at the beach. I've used watercolour paints in the background and have chosen colours that match the colours in the painting.

The inspiration for the paint work came from a lesson in an online class by Paige Evans. I used a large star shape as a mask and covered the background with a coat of gesso and splattered lots of different watercolours.  I usually avoid adding lots of mixed-media artist but I quite enjoyed this technique and am really pleased with how it turned out.

There's still a few days to play along with the challenge, and two great prizes up for grabs. I hope you'll give it a go.

Kat

A quilt for Lou

I'm linking up again with the Blogger's Quilt Festival (hosted by Amy of Amy's Creative Side) and sharing my most recent quilt finish.

This quilt was made for a friend of my sister, who requested a lap-sized quilt with a white, tan and coffee colour palette and lots of free-motion quilting in the white areas. While brown is probably my least favourite colour, I enjoyed working with something different from my usual pallette.

For the pattern I chose the Coral pattern (designed by Angela Walters), except I scaled it down to make it lap-sized. I really like the tessellating pattern, and how easily it comes together (it'd just simple squares and HSTs).

I also had a blast playing with different free-motion quilting designs in the negative space. I usually just go for a simple all-over design, but for this quilt I used about 10 different designs.

One day I might make another version of this quilt with some brighter colours. However, I've got about eleventy billions WIPs to finish first!

Kat

Geode quilt

I'm only about three months late, but I thought I'd join in the Blogger's Quilt Festival (hosted by Amy of Amy's Creative Side) and share the Geode quilt that I finished in June this year.

When Alyce (of  Blossom Heart Quilts) put a call out for pattern testers for her new geode quilt I was very quick to put my hand up. I'd seen a sneak peak of her quilt at a sit and sew day and was keen to give it a go. For my version I used a scrappy mix of Carolyn Friedlander prints and I love how it turned out.

The quilt is big (80 inches square), and I was heavily pregnant with twins when I started the quilting, so I chose a simple all-over quilting design. I used a sharp stipple (my first attempt at this design) because I thought it would work well with the shape of the blocks. I was pleased to find that it was quick and easy to quilt so I'll definitely be using this one again.

I actually went into labour halfway through the quilting so this quilt sat half quilted on my dining table for about 6 weeks. I finally got it finished and bound it with another Carolyn Friedlander print. It's now getting lots of use on our bed.

If you are interested in making one of the quilts, check out the Geode QAL that Alyce will be hosting next month. I'm very tempted to join in and make another one :)

Kat