Colour Brick Complete!

Well here it is - the finished quilt for my nephew:

Front (that's me, bottom right!)

Back - hubbie did well to battle the winds we've had today!

I went with a single quilting line down through the 'mortar', rather than two as per the original pattern.  I wasn't confident about the fabric I'd put on the back staying 'pucker-free' with two lines close together, so I chickened out and just did the one line.

Pic is a bit dark, sorry.  The buttons have designer names on them which B should appreciate!

My nephew is a trendy, stylish (soon to be 13) guy, so I know he'll appreciate the designer elements of the quilts, not to mention the fab, bright colours which he likes.

This was my first time using the colour brick pattern, but I really enjoyed it and would like to do it again in a completely different colourway.

If you fancy having a go yourself, there's a great step by step tutorial here by Stitched in Colour. Also, you can see lots of other colour brick quilts here in Flickr (you will need to look through the pages as they are intermingled with Bottled Rainbows Blocks).

Next project? Something small I think!

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

Well this is Northern Ireland after all!

It's not so much the rain, we're doing the classic 'grey sky' thing that we do so well here.

You've heard of the Kona Solids range e.g. Kona Ash, Kona Charcoal.  Well here's a new shade Kona could add to their collection - 'Kona 'Irish Sky' grey'!

The only blue I saw yesterday was this -

I had to duck in between showers just to photograph it!

This is the back for my nephew's colour brick quilt (ignore the uneven bottom - to be trimmed!).

Unfortunately I didn't have enough Kona Ash to cover the back, so went with a pieced blue/brick idea instead, using the Kona Ash for sashing again.

I've never made a pieced quilt back before, and I'd be lying through my pants if I said I enjoyed the process!  But I am pleased with how it looks. 

Binding made and ready to go!

I just hope the quilting pattern doesn't make the back look like a complete shambles.

Waiting on the wadding to arrive and then I can get started.  Oh joy!

Brit Swap Update

A few weeks ago I signed up to a Brit Quilt Swap, where we make a small quilt (no bigger than 24" square) for an assigned swap partner. 

What makes this really fun is you don't get to find out who is making for you, until you receive it in the post (early July)! 

Uber Mama is Lynne from Lily's Quilts, and with her efficient team of Mamas, they have spectacularly organised a large group of us with like minded swap partners. 

Last night, at 8.26pm exactly I received THAT email, the one telling me who I am to make this mini quilt for!  How exciting - I was fit to burst!

So after stalking my swap partner on Flickr to get an idea of her likes and dislikes, I had so many ideas whizzing through my head that I dreamt all night about it!!! 

At least I have some time to plan a design.

The rules are - I'm allowed to blog about what I'm making, but not who I'm making it for (well I could, but then I'd have to kill you!).

In the meantime I've plenty to keep me busy with my nephew's birthday Colour Brick quilt.

Kona Ash sashing is on.  Really pleased with how it's looking so far.

I'm waiting on more wadding to arrive, so hopefully I'll get cracking with the quilting later this week.

For now I need to make the back with the leftover Ash & Kaffe fabrics.

Bye for now!

Colour Brick & other pressies!

My nephew turns 13 on 8th June, so I thought I'd better get my skates on regarding his birthday quilt.

I'm following Rachel Hauser's tutorial for the Colour Brick Quilt Along she did last year.

Rachel has an excellent & detailed tutorial over on her blog, but I'll just give you the edited highlights of what I've done so far.

Step 1: Cut out 55 'bricks' & lots of sashing:

A mixture of Kaffe Fasset & others from my stash!

I decided on Kona Ash for the sashing - more boyish than white I think!

Step 2: Chain piece the vertical sashing strips to the bricks:

This is one VERY long chain!!!

Just looks like a mess so far!

Step 3:  After ironing the sashing seams, lay the bricks out in rows & decide on your design:

I'm just going 'random' with my design, no set pattern.

Step 4: Join the bricks in rows & iron the seams:

Half bricks are created for the edges by cutting in half 5 overhanging bricks.

So, that's as far as I've got.

Next step is to start adding the horizontal sashing (12 strips!).

I'm really pleased with how this is shaping up.  My nephew is a stylish & trendy young lad, and his bedroom is bright blue, so I hope think he'll be pleased!

Thank you pressies!

Yesterday my girls were wonderfully blessed by a huge bag of clothes from some friends in our church. 

3 young, talented, trendy and extremely generous sisters had a clear out of their wardrobes and brought the donation to us!  It was like Christmas come early! 

So to say 'thank you' to our friends, I'm making them each a make-up purse based on Flossie Teacakes' design.

Fabrics selected

 All cut out and ready to go .......

I haven't tried this tutorial before so am looking forward to making some new gifts.

There's always Johnny Depp!

I haven't blogged since Monday and you would be forgiven for thinking I've been doing dang all!

Not true!

I taught 3 classes.

Took my daughter to hospital to have her big toe nail removed (ouch!).

Gave a talk and presentation at my local MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) about Oasis & R2B quilting classes.

Made the first block for Ms May in the Brit Quilt Bee (not allowed to show pics yet until Ms May receives all blocks from all other calendar gals!)

Cut out the bricks for my nephew's birthday quilt:

Thinking of pale grey sashing?

Okay so not much happening in the sewing front, but tonight I'm consoling myself with some of this ...

and some of this ......

Purrr!

Baskets Galore!

Here are some pics of the cute wee baskets my Friday morning class have been making:

Aren't they adorable!  Well done girls!

Kaffe Fasset Fabric Bundle:

I ordered fabric for my nephew's birthday quilt from Gone to Earth & it arrived today! Yippee!! 

The purple at the front is for a pencil case gift!

Their website pictures are very true to the colours of the fabrics when they arrive.

My nephew is a very trendy, stylish almost 13 year old, and he's already approved these prints (without realising they were for him!). 

Just need to decide on a solid to break them all up, and a design. 

New Fabric & Picnic Rugs

The postman almost got a hug from me this morning!

It's so rare that I order brand, shiney new fabric, but I stumbled across a fab UK fabric website called Gone to Earth.

They have great deals on fabric bundles by well known designers, and their P&P is first class (literally!).

Here's what I got:

Heather Bailey 'Nicey Jane'

I was originally thinking of a picnic blanket with these beauties, but can't bear the thought of using it for that!

Will design something special to show off these lovely prints.

And here's a wee peek at a picnic blanket I am working on.





My crude design!

I was given a metre of Kaffe Fasset fabric a couple of years ago, but have to admit I didn't like it much!  (It's the orange, zig-zaggy, floral print - I'm sure it has a proper name!). 

I am a bit adulterous when it comes to using fabric, I'm more than happy to mix designers with whatever else I've got e.g. the blue floral was a vintage sheet from a charity shop!

I've made a few changes since taking this pic.  Will have more to show you all soon.