Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge Quilt

So enjoyed making a block each week for this quilt and, because I really wanted to set the blocks on point, I needed to find more blocks to make.  Quilters Cache is a great pattern resource.  The quilt has been made using up the last of many FigTree "Chantilly" fabrics - sorry to be running out of these as they're to pretty.

Jenny from AngelCake Quilting used Elegant Feathers on this quilt - a very pretty design that doesn't overwhelm the patchwork.

I bought another pretty FigTree fabric for the backing - FigTree yellows are lovely.

For the setting, I used Woodberry Way's design from her Chamomile quilt - the soft green Chantilly fabric suited this very well.

Week 8 of "Sampler Spree" - brown/tan - definitely my least favourite colourway but I do like the beige with the big florals.

For over 7 months I've been working very, very slowly on stitchery blocks for Vincent's cot quilt.  The quilt top is together and I'm awaiting the arrival of some batting so that I can quilt it.  Will be simple in the ditch quilting.

Running very late with this quilt - he moved into his cot last week.  Vinnie is such a cheeky boy, growing way too fast and I miss seeing him and his Mum and Dad as well as the rest of my family.

Lockdown Week 4

Feels like we've regressed and are back in 2020, except this version of the virus is way more infectious.  The university was closed last week and it was nice to have a week off.  Gulli has been spending some time here and I've enjoyed his company while supervising his homeschooling.

The Riley Blake Block Challenge quilt top is together.  I'm really pleased with how this turned out.  The Challenge contained patterns for 16 blocks - I used 14 because I felt that two didn't suit the on point setting.   The rest of the block patterns came from The Quilters' Cache.

Love this pretty Ella and Ollie FigTree fabric that I bought for the backing.

Last week I sewed the last stitches in the huge "Nine Patch Waltz" quilt top.  Waiting for the backing to arrive then it can be quilted.  I'll be very pleased when this is finished and off to its new home.

I look forward to Thursday mornings to find out the colour for the "Sampler Spree" blocks.  Very happy to be keeping up and using lots of FigTree favourite pieces.  One advantage of working from home is being able to cut out at lunch time.

The main part of my second "Stripe Me Lucky" quilt top and the flying geese for the borders have been made for a few months.  Sewed the flying geese together over the weekend and made the corners last night.  I love this quilt - so bright and happy.   The background is white with a little orange spot.

A little while ago an Instagram friend was selling off her stash - I bought heaps, including a layer cake of "Just Another Walk in the Woods" - I've had a bit more than a metre of the all-over print of this fabric for ages and was so pleased to buy the layer cake.  I'm making Thimble Blossoms' "Sugar Plums" - one block per day.  This is turning out to be so pretty.

Our online trivia is back in full swing and was so enjoyable last night.  I'm very grateful that we live in an age of social media, especially FaceTime.

Village

 I love this pattern - an opportunity to use so many favourite fabrics no matter the colour or design.  They all look so fun together.

"Think Spring" is a pretty design chosed by Jenny at AngelCake Quilting.  I love this cute backing fabric.

"Another Story" is together and ready to go to the quilter - this was a fun quilt top to make and I was fortunate to be able to swap fabrics with another two quilters so that added more lovely fabrics to the mix.

I think this lovely umbrella fabric will make a beautiful backing for Another Story.

Close up of the background and stripe border fabrics.

"Rainbow Baby" is also ready to go to the quilter.  I've been making a sawtooth star each day for a few weeks (sometimes two) and that has been very enjoyable.

The backing has been cobbled together with some large leftover pieces of this lovely bow fabric.

The final Riley Blake Block Challenge block was published last week.  Because I'm setting these on point, I'm not making the butterfly or heart blocks

and I've made an bunch of extra blocks so that there are enough to make a reasonable sized quilt.

These are the sashings and posts.  I'm using Woodberry Way's setting for her "Chamomile" quilt.

Life is very quiet now we're in lockdown again.  Hopefully it will finish as planned on 9 July and all my friends are going well.

This and That

Another couple of rows are ready to add to the Nine Patch Waltz quilt and I'm also making some more blocks to make the quilt wider.  This quilt is a special request and she wants the quilt to be at least 100" square - with another two blocks added to the width and the borders, it should end up around 102.5" sq.

"Rainbow Baby" reached halfway late last week and the next row (green) should be ready to add this week.

Last week's Riley Blake Block Challenge block

and last week's "Sewcialites" block - Passion designed by Carrie Nelson.  Two blocks to go.

 This month's "Shine On" Sampler blocks.

Finished up all the blocks for "Summer Days" late last week

and the quilt top was completed on Monday night - the yellow Sawtooth Stars are an addition to the original design and the quilt top is ~85" sq.

Three basketball games last week - two wins and one loss but the Hawks were already in the playoffs before the last game - very exciting.

One of my bosses is running for Lord Mayor in the September Council elections.  Had a fun time at a fund-raising trivia night on Friday with a bunch of friends.  Some of the Hawks were guest quiz masters.

Ended up having a quiet weekend at home (mostly in bed or the sewing room) with a cold, so no fun time with the family etc.

Gypsy Wife

My friend, Sarah from Patchworks Plus in Tasmania, organised a sew-along at the end of 2019 to make Jen Kingwell's "Gypsy Wife" quilt in 2020.  Sarah worked out a schedule of blocks to make each month and by the end of the year we would have a finished quilt top.

I kind of kept up but stalled when it came to putting the quilt top together.  I had bought 6 different greys from Sarah's shop but it took me a while to work out how I'd like to put them together.

The quilt was sent to Sarah for quilting - "Square Buns".  The linear design looks great.

Another row is ready to add to "Nine Patch Waltz" and two rows of "Rainbow Baby" blocks are sewn together - orange and yellow stars are next.  I don't have enough of either colour to make a whole row without repeating the fabrics 3 or 4 times.

Last week's "Sewcialites" block - "Bright" designed by Chelsi Stratton.  4 more blocks to go.

I'd like to set my Rile Blake Block Challenge blocks on point and will need more blocks than those in the Challenge, so I searched Quilter's Cache for more 10" finished blocks and made three last night.  I'm having to add more FigTree fabrics to the ever-dwindling bag of "Chantilly" fabrics.

A big weekend with little sweethearts T and H staying over for two nights.  Lots of fun and cuddles.  And then a great basketball game on Sunday evening.