Here's one I made started earlier

It's quite astounding how time can pass by and you don't notice that something was missing until you accidentally find it.

After buying a new (larger) floor rug on Saturday, I realised that I was going to have to move the living area furniture slightly. Can you picture me huffing and puffing and pushing and shoving trying to move heavy couches (torture)?

Unfortunately, once the first piece of furniture was moved, I was horrified at how dirty the floor was underneath.... which meant that each and every single piece of furniture had to be moved so I could sweep and mop underneath (insert much more huffing and puffing and lots of forehead slapping).

Anyway, once I cleared the various baskets of junk from the top of my blanket box, I thought I'd open the lid and see what was inside.

One very old unfinished lap quilt....

I couldn't quite remember when I actually started this one, but it was way back before I even started to blog (or knew anything about quilting).

As you can tell by looking at it, none of these fabrics are quilting fabrics. There's cotton drill, vintage sheeting, cotton voile, curtain fabric with blockout backing etc...

The colour in the red drill bled into the other fabrics in the wash, and there's uneven shrinkage all over the place.

Just did a search through the archives and found this image of the blocks lying on top of my kitchen bench from September 2007. I took a photo at the time so that I could remember the placement, before sewing them together.

Now that it's getting close to five years old, I'm thinking that it might be high time to add some binding and finish it off.

But, what colour and what pattern? Plain, spots, stripes?

A Quilting Bug

I mentioned yesterday that I'm doing some contract project work this week.

Well, one of the lovely ladies (who wished to remain incognito during this photo shoot) in the office is also a crafter. She's going to become a Grandmother for the first time later this year, so she's been working on a quilt for the new grandbaby.

Sorry for the blurry iPhone photo but I was snapping quickly in the office while we were playing show and tell. Oh, and after show and tell we ate chocolate mud cake that one of the other lovely ladies had bought in for morning tea (you see - this is why I miss my work soooooo much sigh...).

Can you see the cute little bugs and dragonflies? They've all been fussycut and pieced together, and she's quilted in the ditch all the way around. So completely and utterly adorable!

A quilty replica

It's birthday season around these parts, so time to get cracking on some handmade gifts.

First up is a little dolly quilt / sleeping bag and matching pillow for Lily. I made one the same for her older sister many moons ago.

Every time I make something that even remotely resembles a quilt, I always joke about how you have to cut the fabric up into teeny little pieces just so you can sew it all back together again....... but seriously, I do love a simple patchwork quilt top!

Luckily Bec popped in for a visit just in time to do the heavy lifting (ie. retrieving the massively heavy snap press from the garage)

There are three snaps on each side to convert it into a sleeping bag.

I think dolly looks quite comfortable.

But, the proof is in the playing... and one of my little weekend visitors just couldn't resist!

My B-Fabulous Quilt

It's Brianna's Birthday today, and a perfect time to show off her magnificent lap quilt!

A little while ago, she hosted a fabric giveaway on her blog featuring fabrics from the Kate Spain Terrain collection. I had my fingers and toes and everything crossed as I desperately wanted to win (I mean seriously... all those pinks and oranges were screaming my name).

Well, imagine my delight when I found out that I was the lucky winner!

But what was even better about this particular giveaway is that B-Fab was well aware of my penchant for procrastination, and my lack of skill and motivation in the quilting department.

So, instead of just giving my the fabric, she transformed it into this absolutely beautiful lap quilt.

I love it (who wouldn't)???

I'm saving this one.... (not for the pool room), but I'm putting it away with my hospital suitcase, so that I'll have something soft and snuggly and comforting when the time comes.

Thankyou so much Brianna. I hope you have a super fabulous birthday!!!

The Giant T-Shirt Quilt

Brianna (or B-Fab as we like to call her) and Bec

Yesterday was deemed to be the day of quilting the giant t-shirt quilt (although I somehow managed to forget to actually tell Bec about this particular part of my plan before she arrived)....

The first step was the congregation of about a million safety pins.... the big wooden bench made this much easier (thank god).

Then the quilting began (notice how I'm not actually doing anything much other than snapping photos?)

Quilting is hungry work, so it was time for a homemade pita bread pizza break!

There was also cake.... there has to be cake (and the host always gets to keep the leftover cake - but that might just be a rule that is in place when I'm the host).

We decided to put the child to work....

....and reminisced about Bea from Prisoner (please note that it's not actually turned on).

There was a looooooot of quilting, before it was finally time to start on the binding.

Mmm lovely binding.

We finally finished the entire quilt just after dinner time thank goodness! I would never have been able to finish this without the wonderful help from Brianna and Bec. I'm indebted to you two ladies! I learned a lot about quilting today and had lots of fun too.

I don't have any photos of the finished quilt just yet, so I thought I'd share the out-takes instead - enjoy!

Getting Quilty - Part 2

While I was toiling away stitching Lucas's quilt....

Beccasauras was putting in double the toil making new quilts for my twin nephews....

They were both so excited when I arrived with the quilts on Saturday. Zane was the first to greet me in the hallway, so he had first choice between the two. They both ran to their bedroom and put their new quilt blankies on their beds - it was very cute to watch!

I love how they're both so different, but still match perfectly... co-incidentally, much like the twins personalities

I tried to get a decent photo, but trying to make three toddlers stop moving and smile at the camera is an impossibility!

Here they are saying "Thankyou Beccasauras"

Getting Quilty

It's not very often that I take on a challenge of making a quilt..... but little bubba Lucas who turned one on the weekend, has a very lovely auntie who asked me to make one for him.

The request was for something bright and colourful so it can be used as a pram quilt or a playmat. Luckily, bright and colourful just so happens to be right up my alley.

I had a few prints from the Michael Miller Bot-Camp range in the stash which I absolutely adore. I added in the various polkadots to add some more pop!

Keeping with the space theme, I added some stars as a backing fabric.....

Happy Birthday little Lucas!

My creative space

I picked up my new (second-hand) sewing tables on Tuesday, so the craft space is now undergoing it's millionth re-arrangement in four weeks. Well ,that number may be just a little over-dramatic, but it certainly feels like the millionth time to me!

In the meantime, I have this little hand quilting stash beside the couch, and the quilt is laying over the couch, so I can pick it up whenever I sit down to watch some telly.

More magical creative spaces right here at Kootoyoo....

Handmade Help - Quilting Bee

Quilt on bed at Sewjourn - handmade by Jan

I received a lovely email thismorning from Jan at Sewjourn.

Jan is organising a quilting bee next month to make handmade quilts for the bushfire survivors. Even if you're not a quilter, there are many ways that you can contribute:

Quilting Bee

It’s almost impossible to imagine how it must feel to face the task of rebuilding after losing your home in the Bushfires. But we are hoping to contribute in a small way by making and donating quilts for people who have lost their homes. So please come along to our Quilting Bee. There are lots of ways you can contribute:

• Come along for all or part of the day to sew
• Donate fabric, batting or backings for use
• Make any 12 inch block and send it in and we will make them up into quilts on the day
• Make a Scrappy Log Cabin block - Emma has a good tutorial here
• Offer to machine quilt one or two quilts for us
• Offer to hand quilt a quilt
• Offer to hand sew a binding or two
• Come along to make calico bags for the quilts
• You might have a half-done quilt top you are happy to donate to be finished off
• Spread the word - please pass on to all of your crafty friends
• We particularly need more batting and backings though and are happy to list down the businesses that support us so if you think of anyone you can ask please let me know.

When: Saturday 21st March 9.30am - 4.30pm
Where: LightHouse, Ashburton Uniting Church, 7 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton, 3147

What to bring: Your sewing supplies, fabric, lunch. Morning and afternoon tea provided.
Contact: Jan Joseland on 0409 964 755 or info@sewjourn.net.au

It would be great to see as many people come along as possible so if you are free please consider joining in.....and the bonus is not only are we helping out in some little way but it's sure to be a really fun day!

You can also find the information right here on the Sewjourn blog. Please pass on the link to all of your friends who may be able to help out.

The rescued quilt top

You may remember this quilt top that I rescued from the oppy in November last year.....

Someone has spent hours and hours lovingly constructing it......

Quilting Mick let me know that it's a bargello quilt (I had to google bargello .... sorry but I have very little idea about anything regarding proper quilts).

Anyway, it's been sitting amongst a pile of fabric ever since I bought it. But then yesterday, I saw this post over on Handmade Help calling for quilters and / or quilting supplies. I emailed the Waverley Patchworkers - info(at)waverleypatchworkers(dot)com(dot)au , and the fantastic news is that I can send them the quilt top, and one of their fabulous quilters will transform into an amazing quilt to give to a bushfire survivor.

Alls well that ends well.....

Honest opinions needed - more options added

I have a dilemma.

One of my girlfriends is due to give birth to her second baby at the end of next month, and she doesn't know whether she's having a boy or a girl.

After she had her first baby (a little boy), she bought this Michael Miller clown fabric, and the red spots, and some blue checks with the intention of making something for him.
She never got around to using it, so she gave it to me instead, assuming that I would use it to make something for my nephews.

Luckily for me, she doesn't read the blog as she's not much of an internet gal, so I'm safe in blogging about her surprise pressie..... and what I'm really planning on making with it.

My dilemma is making fabric selections for a baby quilt that is gender neutral. I have absolutely no problem in co-ordinating fabrics for boys or for girls..... but when it comes to making it unspecific, confusion sets in.

I'm starting with the clowns, the red spots, and the green checks.

Then I added a blue and green spot.....

....and then a really light blue check

Would this really suit a boy or a girl, or does the addition of the blue make it too boyish?

Updated:

This is what I love about the internet. I've got some fantastic suggestions.... and quick as a flash!

So this is another option - Clowns, Yellow, Blue & Red

Or Clowns, Yellow, Green and Red

or Clowns, Yellow, Black Stripes, and red.

Another birthday gift

Here's a birthday gift for a friends little girl who is turning 2 next Saturday. This was 'On My Desk' last week.
Her brother received a Buzz Lightyear drawstring bag so she's getting a Princess drawstring bag (with drawstring sewn in and pull tags for the ribbon).
I also added a pom pom from my my pom pom making session a few weeks ago!

Inside the bag is a scrappy patchwork dolls quilt that I made way back in February and a princess pillow that I made this week. Her baby doll should be nice and warm for winter now!

Finished!

Mr CurlyPops is hard at work in the garden today so I've been inside finishing off this quilt



It's not the traditional real type of quilt. It's a patchwork top, a layer of polar fleece in the middle and then a piece of plain flannel for the back. It just needs a wash and then it's off to it's new owner.

I also made this little patchy pillow to go with it!

A cool change

The cool change has finally hit Melbourne (until it heats up again tomorrow anyway).

Today I had to move into the kitchen yet again as it's the only room with air-conditioning.

I started on this quilt top which is going to Mum's house for when she's on babysitting duty. The border is a nice thick corduroy. I'm hoping to finish it off tomorrow.

Libby received her pay it forward gift yesterday, check out her excellent modelling on her fab blog!

Now, I'm going to go and savour the cool breeze and open every window and door in the house!

One birthday present.....completed

Sorry for the dark photos but the light is fading for the night.

This is the completed dolls quilt for a friends daughters birthday. This was the first time that I ever made binding. I usually just use the pillowcase method where you put right sides together, sew, and then turn inside out and sew up the seam. This one is so busy that I think it really needed some plain binding around the edges.

I added three snaps on each side so that the quilt can fold in half to turn into a sleeping bag. I figure that undoing and doing up the snaps will also provide hours of amusement (here's hoping anyway).

Have a nice weekend!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to one and all. Hope you have a lovely day (and with any luck receive lots of chocolate).


This is a sneak peek of a WIP birthday present for a friends daughter. It is going to be a quilt for her favourite doll. I'm going to add snaps so she can convert the quilt into a sleeping bag when the doll is in her pram.