Christmas Quiltie Goodies

A while back I showed off most of the quilts I'd received in swaps, etc, but perhaps not all the Christmas ones (as some were packed away). Now, of course, they aren't packed away, so it's a good time to show them off...  Today's selection is actual small quilts - the one above is from the Four Seasons Quilt Swap (Holiday Edition) and was made by Cecilia. 

This one wasn't actually made as a quilt, but rather as a block for a birthday block swap I did - I turned it into a miniquilt and have it with the Christmas stuff because it seems Christmassy to me. It was made by Helen, and what perhaps doesn't show  in the photo is that it's made with lots of folds and flaps, so it has really interesting texture to it. You can see some of that texture here, where I originally posted about it.

And finally (for today) this miniquilt, which was made for the Miniature Booty Swap (Holiday Edition), and made by Toni, the host, herself.

I do have some other holiday quiltie goodies, but if I show them now, what will I show tomorrow?

Yes, a couple more...

Here's one of the tops from yesterday - it definitely works better with a wider border, and the narrow blue frames it nicely, I think. It's still quite a small piece, and will make a good wall0hanging.



And this is the other thing I worked on yesterday, but I didn't get the batik stripe borders on until today. These tops have all gone together very quickly - even with sashing and additional borders, because the blocks themselves were all already made (including the blocks for the border in this quilt), putting them into tops is quite a quick process. These are 9" blocks from a batik & black swap - all the coloured fabrics are batiks (as are the border pieces). The blacks are an assortment of blacks and black-on-blacks.

I am down to just 4 or 5 sets of blocks which need making into tops - started with another group today, as it happens - I'd love to get all of them made up into tops by the end of the year. We'll see how that goes, though...

Now that's what I call progress...

So, keeping up the good vibe from yesterday, I decided to dig back into my boxes of swap blocks (which are getting emptier by the day - hoorah!) and tackle the blocks from the first Birthday Block Swap. Which finished a while back. Just how long a while back isn't info you guys need to have! Back in January, I had a good clearout and got rid of lots of blocks I thought I might never get around to using, but was left with a number of sets of blocks which still needed to be made into tops. This set of blocks was one of the big ones, so it feels good to have tackled them.

I had asked for blocks (any size) with a black or black-on-black background, and then solids, tonals, or handdyes. Any block, maker's choice. For one reason or another I ended up being in all three groups of the swap, so I got LOTS of blocks. Plus, as hostess, I did receive some extra blocks as thank yous. I got blocks which ranged in size from 2 3/4" square to 18" square (only one of each of those), with most of them being either 12" or 6" blocks, but some in between. I also got blocks with a wide range of black in the background. Consequently, I decided to divide the blocks up into several different projects.

The first, left above, is the 18" square, surrounded by 6" squares. I had received 15, 6" squares, so I actually had to make one for that piece, but that's ok; it was by far the best way to use those blocks.

The second piece (right) uses four 12" blocks which had backgrounds which weren't quite as black - they are all BOB prints, but just aren't quite as dark black and therefore, looked better together, rather than with most of the other 12" blocks, which I have used together. This piece also uses the one little tiny block which I received (kind of a joke, that one, but hey, I wanted to use it!). I think I will add another black border to this one, possibly with a thin blue one first (to complement the star in the centre). I know the outer border is too narrow, but I used all of that fabric I had. I thought it might work, but actually, it seems a little odd. Back on the work pile for that one, I think. But it's a good start, at least!



Then, I decided to use these three blocks (left) together in what will be wall hanging. They all use very muted solids (except the turquoise) for the colours and next to some of the brighter fabrics, they appear quite dull, whereas on their own, they really work. One was a 12.5" block unfinished (the middle) and the other two were 10.25 and 10.75", so the answer was to put borders around all of them, to bring them up to 15" square. One of the smaller ones actually had a black border around it, but I took it off and put a larger one on. The top and bottom blocks, which are the same block, came from two different people - no doubt why the sizes don't match. This is one of the challenges of swaps, of course.

Finally, I used a dozen 12" (finished) blocks in a top together.

There are actually a handful of blocks left over - six, I think - a few of them just didn't work in terms of size or colour in any of these pieces. One 12" block had a black where the printing was almost grey, so it didn't really coordinate well. I can't remember why the others didn't work. I think there were two 8 inch blocks, which were awkward size-wise. A couple of them might go on the back of one of these pieces (or more); at least one I will use as a mini quilt base in future. I don't mind having a small handful of blocks hanging around in case they are needed for something - it's when it gets into the hundreds that one worries!

I actually did some other work today, too, and started putting together another top from a swap of black and batik blocks, but I want to put one more border on it, and as I already have lots to show, I will save that for another day.

Still, looking back at all the blocks I had hanging around at the start of the year, I've made some good progress. Tomorrow is back to school and back to work for me - in addition to my lunchtimes, I have a few hours every morning until Christmas - this is good for the budget, but less good for my sewing time. But I'm sure there will still be the occasional thing to show...

Highly textured

The last two days worth of post has seen lots of textured blocks from the birthday block swap land on my doorstep. Yesterday brought me this beauty from Julie - the colour is fairly true onthe right, but a little weird on the left. Hopefully you can see some of the textures in the photo on the left - it's a bit hard to show how interesting these blocks are with mere photos (so you guys will all have to come visit my house and see them in person, I guess)...



Today brought me a block from Michelle (left) - all the point of the flying geese are actually flaps - and two blocks from Helen - the one on the right above, where I think you can see the textures fairly well (the orangey brown fabric is folded into little flags) though the colour is off again - the block is more purple and less blue than it appears here -

and the one below, which I have photographed from an angle to show you all the folds in it. This is a great block and must have taken a lot of work to get all of those folds!



They are all great blocks, really, and I'm very pleased with them all - and the others I have received this month. I think these may also end up being cushions, along with the two I've already made into cushions. It's true that I need some new cushions, but it's also true that all these blocks make great cushions because of the textural elements - you can really see them on a cushion - in a wall hanging, they might show a bit less well...

Cushions

I spent a lot of time today working on a project which can't be shown at this point (I seem to have a lot of those at the moment!) but before I did that, I turned two of my birthday block swap blocks into cushions. We got new sofas recently and got rid of some of the old, battered cushions when the old sofa went. I thought these two pieces would make great cushions... The cream coloured one is not from the swap, it's just a cushion.

Cathedral Windows

No time to get into the sewing room today, but I still have something to blog - this fabulous birthday swap block from Margaret, which came in the post. As usual, Margaret's work is fabulous, and I love the colours she has chosen for this block. As it's a highly textured cathedral windows block, it really doesn't need anything further doing to it, so I have simply hung it on a wall as is - it makes a superb mini quilt that way.

Thought you might like to see the back as well, as it's also quite funky. I particularly like the b/w fabric which echoes the shape of the cathedral windows on the front. And Wil, if you are reading this, no, you can't have it - I am quite happy to share bits of my black and white stash, but this would be going way too far!

Loveliness in the post

Here's another block for me from the birthday block swap - this one is from Anne and is just gorgeous - I've included the funky side photo to show some of the texture - the lower parts of the flowers are only attached at the spine, so there's a lot of scope for making them really pop when it's quilted.

I'm not at all sure what I will do with these blocks - something different with each one, I should think, as they really aren't the type of things which go together - but it will be great fun working out how I want to treat each one...

Things received...

So, here's what I have to show today - nothing I can take any credit for, but lovely things, nonetheless. On the left is the latest house to arrive for the Textile Challenges house swap - this one is from Betty - thanks, Betty!

On the right, another birthday block, this one from Terri, who has sent the block (the Cathedral Windows in the centre), some spare 3D bowties, coordinating batik strips, plus a book about making folded flower blocks. I felt quite guilty about the book, until I saw she got a real bargain on it... Anyway, can't be sure what I will do with the blocks yet - I want to see what all I get for the swap before deciding which blocks might be used together, if any - but the windows block would certainly be a lovely little mini quilt. Thanks, Terri!

Happy birthday to me...

OK, strictly speaking, it's not my birthday, but it IS my birthday block swap month, so I will get some lovely goodies in the post over the next few weeks - of which this is the first. I asked for people to make blocks any size, shape or colour they liked, but with a strong 3D element in them. How they acheived this was up to them. This block is from Joy, and although there are 4 folded flowers on the block, she has only folded one out and tacked it to show what I can do with them after quilting. Clever of her, as I will certainly want to quilt around them first. The block is about 16 inches square - I haven't measured it, just guessed. And it's done in the same colour scheme as the blocks from my last year's birthday swap, so I might very well combine it with a few of those blocks to make a nice little wallhanging. It's really great and I can't wait to see the rest of the blocks!

It was nice to get this in the post because although I did do some work today, it was just the quilting on the corn and beans quilt, which, while nice to work on and to look at hasn't really changed that much since the last photo I showed of it... I will spare you that, and show it to you again when it's done. I did make good progress on it - there's about 12 inches or so left to do - all down one side, that is. Perhaps later this week, though of course, tomorrow is back to school & work...

Batik day

Today's sewing largely involved working with batiks - this is not a big problem for me, of course. I fixed the edge of the NYB block (which only needed a bit of straightening in the end - not a new piece of fabric) and made this Goshen Star (10"), which will serve as the starting block for another round robin type thing I am taking part in - the Around the World Quilting Bee, hosted by Sadie. It's not quite like a round robin in that you don't have to do a round, just add a block each time you receive a round. And amazingly enough, the person I mail to is actually in the UK (the lovely Indigo Blue), which means that I won't have much at all in the way of postage costs and that it should get to her very quickly. I think this will be a lot of fun - the blocks we are making can be whatever we like, as long as they are the same size as the starter block - and of course, they should go with the block!


I also worked with some other batiks on another project which I'm going to keep under wraps for the moment - something small and I hope fun - there are a couple of possible places this project might be going, and probably in both cases, it's better not to show. Don't you hate those projects you can't show?

Stuff to show

Here's the New York Beauty block finished - yes, the dark green background in the geese row is a tiny bit wonky at the bottom - I will probably unpick it and put in a slightly larger piece before sending it. Otherwise, I think it's come out well. And it's the last birthday block - woo hoo. This swap has felt very long and somewhat tiring - not so much making the blocks as the admin stuff this time around, so I am quite glad to see it winding up. It's also produced some great blocks, which keeps me from getting too frustrated!

And here's the second Easter Sampler finished - this one's to keep. I will dig a few buttons or charms out to add to the larger empty spaces (the original had buttons included of course) - and then, complete. I hope that by next Easter I'll be able to remember where I put it if I put it in a "safe place" when finished... I won't be stitching this again, so if anyone wants the pattern, let me know.



Got some nice post today as well as doing a bit of work - this set of loot is some items I bought from Julie's etsy shop - isn't the packaging great? She showed the little notebooks on her blog, and I really liked them and thought one would make a nice gift (though I am tempted to keep it myself, lol) and when I went to her shop, I found this great bracelet. Wow. When the parcel arrived I also found inside this lovely hat/scarf pin included just because she's a generous and kind person. How nice is that! I have a few of Julie's other creations - a pair of earrings with little blue birds and silver nests on which I bought from her shop and a wonderful notebook which I received when I took part in her pay-it-forward offer, a while back. I love her work; something about it really appeals to me.



I also received these things in the post recently - the pieces from the resist swap I did a piece for recently (mine is the rubber-band shibori in the top middle) and a couple of ATCs - one from Wil - we swapped a while back and she waited to send hers until she posted the resist swap pieces to me; the other is from Kathy as part of the recycle spring swap on Fibre Art Traders, for which I made these ATCs. She also included a little book as a small hostess gift as she is taking part in my birthday ATC swap this year. As I said, a great day or two for post!

Still here!

Yes, I am still here and I've even done a little (but only a little) sewing this week - yesterday I made a start on another New York Beauty block for the birthday swap. This is the last block for that swap as June is my own month and hopefully I will be able to sit back and watch the lovely blocks roll in! This block is a 12" block in batiks, and is nearly done. I need to sew the flying geese arc to the corner (it's together up to the teal arc) then another small plain arc and then the other corner.

The little house isn't something I made, but rather something I received - my May house for the house swap on Textile Challenges. This one was made by Marie and I particularly like the red light by the door and the sun coming up over the edge of the roof. The three I have received so far are all very different, and all lovely. I have to say, this is a great swap - I thought I might miss the montly arch swap when it ended, but this is definitely a good replacement for it!

Recycle spring

Various bits and pieces done today, amidst the laundry, gerbil tank cleaning, mini-golf, roast chicken and other miscellany. One of the things was to do some ATCs to a recycled theme ("Recycle Spring") - this is a FAT swap, where we were to use only things on hand and recycle where possible. I have pretty much only used recycled items, except for the thread and a few pieces of vilene, though some of those are pieced from scrap.


I started with some pre-made backgrounds - these were from an abandoned project which was essentially some silk crazy pieced blocks with embroidery and beads on them - having decided I wasn't going to complete the project I cut all the partially completed blocks into ATC backgrounds. There were 9 of them left in my ATC box, hence 9 ATCs. I then added some plastic fruit netting in various colours, a metal punched shape (the metal coming from a tomato puree tube (a lovely goldish colour) an empty hand cream tube and the old standby, diet coke can) and a large focus piece, most of which came from deconstructed costume jewellery (my mother buys me big bags of the stuff at yard sales - most of it, I wouldn't wear if you paid me, but it's great for art and every once in a while, there's a nice piece in there to actually wear). The backs (which I haven't photographed) are also recycled, coming from my scrap paper drawer - I think they are bits of painted wallpaper which a friend passed along to me when clearing out some of her stuff.


They are all different (a requirement of the swap, but also, the nature of the design dictates some differences in this instance), but I have only given a closeup of one - you get the general idea.




I also put together the purple roses (actually I did this first, but whose counting) - in the end I went for a fairly straight layout with lots of white (or cream, technically) space around it so Sophie can adjust the block however she likes.


And later in the day, I even managed another set of ATCs - this was while I was keeping an eye on Alex in the bath - he doesn't need anyone there with him except to help wash his hair, but I do like to have someone keep a general eye or ear on him to make sure there are no tsunamis in the bathroom and so on. So I often take the opportunity to either fold and put away laundry or do some work - in this instance, the laundry was done, so I made another quick set of ATCs. These have paper at bottom - more of the paper I bought the day of the bloggy picnic - fabric at the top, a nice bit of Tilda ribbon, a skeleton leaf which I sprayed with Adirondack colour wash and a few bits and pieces. Sometimes less is more...


In another few days, I think I will post some ATCs to trade - I want to keep a few in reserve for the next few months of the birthday ATC swap, but it doesn't need to be all of them. But I have another set I want to make first - a monoprint challenge for Textile Challenges - I won't do an ATC sized monoprint, so I'm sure there will be several ATCs rather than just the one I need. Anyway, watch this space...

Purple Roses

Here are the two things I actually worked on today - I put the outer sashing on the cats - it will now have a sawtooth border around that - this will take a while to piece. I also started working a block with a purple rose theme for the April block for the birthday block swap - I have all the pieces ready (except the stems) - just have to work out how I want to put them together. I have used a pattern for a single rose, with bud & two leaves, but I decided to add another rose, so now of course I will need to fiddle around with it - I can't ever keep anything simple, of course! In the original pattern, the stem was pieced as well, but I may end up do bias strips appliqued on, as it may work better. We'll see - I'm going to try to get the piece together tomorrow, if I don't get too frustrated with it!

Variety show

Well, a nice productive day today, with lots of variety. The productivity is due to the rain, largely - if it had been nice, we might have gone somewhere; as it was, I organised a tons of photos on the computer & sewed; Geoff did some work, read, went for a run; the kids played on the computer & DS and did some work on their puffle houses (they have been creating with cardboard boxes & making little creatures out of pompoms - it's a whole town in the living room - I should really take some photos only they keep telling me they aren' t done yet...)

First order of businesss was this block in black, white and red, which is the March birthday block for Vicki - I know, it's late, but she's running behind herself, so I have put it on a back burner for a while. Finally got a chance (and the inspiration) to do it today).

And then I made some ATCs, using (among other things) a bit of the paper I bought at the craft shop at Millet's Farm on Wednesday at the bloggy picnic.

Then I went on to work on the April calendar page for the BQL challenge - handbags - which I shall put together & quilt tomorrow. It's only small - the blocks are about 5 inches square at the moment. The handles I shall leave free floating (mostly - will tack a couple down in places).

And finally, this piece on the right is a small sample for a "class" I'll be teaching - sort of. I offered to run an after-school quilting club next term (an hour once a week for 10 weeks) for the Year 4s. A lot of the teachers & TA's at school run clubs once a week - there's a minimal fee for the children to take part - and last term, there was virtually nothing for Olivia's year available, so I decided to step into the breach. I needed something which could be done by hand and which would be simple yet impressive. I decided to start with a small wall-hanging, the background being 6, 5" squares with small appliques (fused, then stitched over, but raw edge) with some handquilting. I confess to piecing the background on the machine for this sample (and likewise, will attach the binding on that way - in fact, I may take in my machine the week we do the binding - I will sew it down by hand of course, but can't quite see putting it on by hand - I know it's possible, but it's not necessary!) but I did do the quilting by hand (yes, really) to show that it can be done. It's not wonderful, but I think it's good enough not to be shown up by a room full of 8 & 9 year olds!

Amy's Circles

Here's my contribution to the birthday block swap for this month - a block for Amy, whose theme was circles. The block could be any size, and the colours were limited to blue, purple, green, black and white. Although I knew I wanted to start with a large white circle on a coloured background with a wave of another colour through it, I wasn't sure at all where I'd go from there - I made it up as I went along. I had intend to photograph every step, but of course forgot to photograph some of them; still, here's a bit of a view as it builds up...



I started (no photo) with a large white circle, which I machine appliqued (satin stitch) to the blue background. I then took the purple fabric and laid it across the white circle and cut a gentle curve with my rotary cutter. I stitched them together, then made another cut and stitched the pieces together again.



I then trimmed the block to 16" square and added a green circle. The next step was to add a slightly smaller light blue striped circle. Another striped circle followed, this one above the purple wave.




Then, the somewhat scary part - and again, I forgot to take a photo - I cut the block apart again to add the black wave - I made the first cut with the rotary cutter (through the black fabric as well) but because I knew I wanted this one parallel and very narrow, I cut the second cut with scissors using the existing black line as a guide. I then added the small blue stripey circle, followed finally by the small black circle. The black fabric actually has small black circles on it as well, adding to the circle theme.

I had originally considered doing something with lots of embellishments on this block, but I couldn't really find anything that spoke to me. Then I saw on someone's blog (can't work out whose now, though the funny thing is, despite the person not being in the swap, the colours were just right!) a block with circles and a wave running through and thought aha! and went off in that direction. If it was you who showed a block in these colours with circles in the last few weeks, do let me know so I can put them link in, LOL.

Woohoo - edited to say, it was Doreen K on whose blog I saw the inspiration - thanks for commenting Doreen - I knew I'd seen one somewhere.