"Victoria's Garden"

On a visit with friends from my sewing group to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in 2006 four of us purchased "Victoria's Garden", a kit from Petra Prins from the book by Marsha McCloskey and Sharon Evans Yenter entitled "Blended Quilts From in the Beginning".

Although the fabrics are not all the originals from the pattern they are all lovely and came in a be-ribboned box.  The finished quilt measures 76 1/2" x 88 1/2" - certainly one for the long-arm!

"From the floral bouquet print cut 6 1/2 " squares"

Paired double four-patch units sewn together to make
16 patch blocks

Strippy blocks sewn together in pairs

And here are the remaining double four-patch and strippy blocks
which, together with 4 set aside four-patch units for the corners, make up the component part.









Assembly is next on the agenda!

Needlebook

Take a Ted Baker Make-Up Bag...

add Space Dyed Fabric, stand back and enjoy!

Inside of bag showing flap enclosed pocket with sections for pencil, marker pen, etc and  zippered pocket

Just love how the Lime Green fabric adds a little "zing"

My Pincushion is filled with Ground Walnut Shells and to retain the shape of the central Yoyos I've enclosed buttons and stitched through them to attach.

Are you able to see the lovely little Bird Zipper Pull?
(must remember to remove the protective film!)

Nearly forgot this dear little Tape Measure nestling amongst the Yoyo fabrics!

"Seaside Rose"

Each time I visit my collection of Seaside Rose fabrics for Moda by 3 Sisters I pick up this little block left over from a quilt made for a neighbour's daughter some years ago.  Zara now lives in Portugal with her parents and I wonder sometimes whether she still has her quilt.

You may recall my friend Ann's DIL still doesn't have a bag, so over a cold and rainy Bank Holiday I decided that Seaside Rose must shine again.  My collection of bag patterns includes one by Sarah Wellfair of Goose Chase Quilting called "5 Fat Quarters".  The pattern gives 3 sizes and the middle one was perfect for finally using Zara's Block.

I used fusible Vilene 640 for the outside fabric and fusible Vilene 630 for the lining. 

Pretty lining and, of course, a pocket completes the bag.
(Sarah's pattern includes instructions for fitting a zipper panel along the top, but that's for next time!)

I'm a little sad to see this block leave and hope Ann's DIL will enjoy using her bag.

Sarah is author of the "Simply" books - Simply Squares, Strippy, Bags, Christmas, Charming, Scrappy, Gifts etc.

A Tote without Charm!

Ann, my "Pink Friend" was so delighted with her birthday bag that she asked me to make a similar one for her daughter in law "but not so pretty".   Sadly, I've failed the test and Ann now has 2 bags and her poor DIL has nothing because Ann can't bear to part with either!!

The design has been taken from Charm Square Tote Bag pattern by The Bramble Patch, but instead of using Charm Squares I've taken a solid piece of fabric from my Moda Seaside Rose collection and quilted wavy lines using Valdani Hand Dyed Variegated thread "Early Spring", which matches the fabrics so perfectly.

Cream webbing was used for the handles, to which I attached a strip of Seaside Rose fabrics down the centre and machine embroidered into place.  A divided pocket was added for good measure.

Another year, another birthday for Ann

Tree Peony versus Ann's Bag??

I think you will agree the Tree Peony steals the show...easily damaged by rain and wind, but a joy to behold for the special moments they are in bloom.

Until it's demise last December I was a member of Daisy Chain's Quarterly Craft Club and have a stack of padded envelopes containing various projects. 

The rose patterned and green fabrics are "Simplicity" by 3 Sisters for Moda and the striped one "Seaside Rose".  The bag measures 17" x 13" and has a 3 1/2" gusset, which makes a change from the usual "box" style corners. 

Ann, my pink friend (remember the silk hearts last year?), has 3 summer holidays to look forward to and I hope her bag will be useful.

Open wide Zippered Pouch

Feel sure you'll remember this fabric by French General for Moda "La Petite Odile" which I used for my Sewing Basket and Sewing Accessories Kit.   I sometimes take these with me to Group Meetings, but felt I needed something larger for storage of cutters, scissors, pins, pens and pencils etc and another for my current project's  threads.

The large pouch measures 14" x 8" and the smaller one 10" x 6"and are taken from an online tutorial by Noodlehead.  Vilene H630 was used to stabilise the smaller pouch and H640 for the larger one, which gives slightly more body

Certainly a bag full!!

Chateau Hexagon Mystery Button of the Month

In the middle of 2013 I enrolled for Lynette Anderson's new Mystery Button Block of the Month Club.  Lynette chose a French feel for this project, which featured garden scenes each having a hand-painted button from Australia.

The wallhanging measures 26" x 37"
Cosmo threads have been used throughout.
Quilted using a very thin wadding and invisible thread

Month 9 - Chateau Hexagon

Who lives in this grand home somewhere in France?

Month 1 - Birdhouse Corner

"Such a pretty part of the garden, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and Mrs Cat is prowling"

Month 2 - Sampler Block

A little alphabet sampler style had to be included on this quilt.

Month 3 - Flower Barrow

This old wooden style wheelbarrow reminds Lynette of the one her Grandad used to use in his garden. "Grandad was always outside, he used to grow lots of vegetables and flowers.  His garden fork often had a bird sitting on it watching and waiting for a worm"

Month 4 - Cranky Geese

When Lynette was 9 she says the school she attended had geese to guard the lawns, they were very cranky geese and no-one put a toe on the grass for fear of being hissed at.

Month 5 - Hollyhocks & Roses

Lynette's grandmother used to grow hollyhocks in her cottage garden.  They grew tall and pretty against her flint and brick walls. 

Month 6 - The Flower Patch

Lynette says she loved watering the flower patch, running out to see if the seeds had sprouted and then as the little plants grew strong and tall waiting and hoping that they would have flowers"

Month 7 - Lilypads

"Little pond with its lily pads and flowers in the middle of the driveway that leads to "Chateau Hexagon"

Month 8 - Welcome

"The entrance to Chateau Hexagon has a grand but neglected feel to it, which is why there are wild flowers growing by the entrance gate.  The French poodle button looks so proud with her pink collar and sweet French haircut". 

Can you see the date and my initials added to the wrought iron-gate?  I have so very much enjoyed making and stitching this gorgeous quilt - thank you Lynette.  It is now being offered as a kit with patterns, fabric and buttons at Little Quilt Store.