Shine On Sampler

The "Shine On Sampler" blocks were made during a sew-along hosted by Bonnie and Camille last year and the blocks have been finished for a few months.  I'm on a bit of a finishing up kick at the moment and sewed the blocks together earlier last month.

Finished sewing down the binding the other night while watching the figure skating at the Olympics.

I sent the quilt to Karen for quilting - Modern Loops - it looks great.

The backing is a pretty floral from the "Shine On" range and the binding is from "Early Bird".

This was a fun quilt to make - lots of interesting blocks.

"Sampler Spree" quilt top is together and has been sent to Karen for quilting along with "Star Pop" and "Joyful".  

The border colour is actually more rockmelon than gold but it's hard to photograph at night.

Had a fun time on Saturday spending the day with Jenni, Kurt and Vincent.  It's so wonderful seeing Jenni and Kurt receive so much joy from their little boy.  Hard to believe he's almost 1.

Quilt Tops

After the dressmaking finished I started piecing "Master Plan", a quilt designed by Carrie Nelson, Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  I've had this cut out for a good while.

Spent a couple of days piecing 113 flying geese blocks (456 units) and 225 four patch blocks.

This quilt top has to be sewn together in rows so they need to be laid out before sewing all the pieces into rows - my design sheet isn't big enough so I think I'll do it in sections.

I was soon tired of all the pressing and trimming so thought it might be time to sew together one of the stack of blocks into a quilt top.

First up was "Shine on Sampler" from Bonnie and Camille's "Quilt Bee" book.

The quilt top together:

I moved around some of the blocks in the lower right-hand section so that the colours and fabric designs were more mixed.

Backing and binding:

Next up from the pile of blocks was "Loveliness" designed by Corey Yoder, Coriander Quilts.

I was walking by the quilt in The Pink Room when I noticed that one of the hourglass blocks was out by 90 degrees - it's fixed now.

Backing - the binding will be scrappy Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Before I tackle the next pile of blocks I'm starting "Joyful" - this was cut out last October.

I think this will be pretty.

Next blocks to sew into a quilt top will be "Floral Bouquet" - they are already set out on the design bed.

Backing for this arrived today so I hope to sew it up soon and pack it up with the other two to send to Karen to quilt.

Think I'm up-to-date now ...

Sugar Plums

An online friend was selling off most of her stash and I was able to buy a layer cake of "Just Another Walk in the Woods" fabric designed by Stacey Iest Hsu - I had a metre or so of the main fabric to use for borders and binding.  The quilt was finished last week

Streamer decorations by Little Sweetheart

The pretty hexagon print backing was also bought from this friend.

Karen quilted this with "Bowtique" - I really like this design.

Caught up on "Shine on Sampler" months 9 and 10.  One month to go then the blocks can be sewn together.  That will be 3 SALs I have to sew up.

The flock of "Feathers" birds is also growing.

Stitching down the binding on "Twin Stars" and hope to have this finished tomorrow.

Lunchtime Cutting Out

On the days that Gulli isn't here, I've been spending lunchtimes cutting out a couple of quilts.

The first one is "Electrolites" designed by Thimbles and Needles.  The blue fabric arrived earlier this week, so I was keen to make a couple of blocks as I wasn't 100% sure I would like it - very happy with the blue.

The blocks are set on point in the final layout so it appears all my flowers and stripes will be on the diagonal.

I also cut out some trackies for the little ones.  Jenni bought the bright bug fabric for Vincent and there was enough to make him a size 2 tracksuit and a little t-shirt for next summer.

Two European pillow-size shams to go with the Nine Patch Waltz quilt.

The backing arrived last week and I'm hoping to drop the quilt and pillow shams to the quilter in a couple of days.

Last week's "Sampler Spree" colour was Navy.  I have a very limited supply of FigTree navy and didn't want to have too many fabric repeats.

Month 8 "Shine On Sampler" blocks.

"Stripe Me Lucky" is together.  Michelle Mackillop has designed the best border - everything goes together like clockwork.

Close up of the orange-spot used for the background.

Made the final "Sugar Plums" block last night.  I'll add the final corner blocks when the layout is finalised so that there is more variety in the four patches these little squares make.

Latest lunchtime cutting out is "Twin Stars" using up jelly roll and strips leftover from "Nine Patch Waltz".  There is a lot of cutting when making this quilt from jelly roll strips - if I make it again I'll definitely not use a jelly roll.

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.