Pantone Radiant Orchid "Soft kitty" pillow

The linky for the Pantone Radiant Orchid challenge opens today and this is my entry for the "mini" category. 

I based my fabric selection around the central print which is from Aneela Hoey's new "Hello Petal" range and has some very cute kitties on it hence the name "Soft Kitty".  

Also, being a bit of a science nerd myself, one of my favourite TV shows is The Big Bang Theory - some of you may also recognize the reference to the song which Penny sings to Sheldon when he is ill. 

I have quilted this pillow in dense straight lines radiating out from the centre - I thought this was kind of appropriate for the "radiant" orchid challenge:) 

I used a King Tut pinky plum coloured thread for the dense quilting which gives the pillow a great texture.

I bought this lovely cream and purpley spotted fabric the other day and it was just perfect for the backing.

Along with a tiny spotted print for the binding.

This was my first time doing a hidden zip in the back of the pillow -  I will definitely be using this technique again. 

 I haven't really been a pink or purple fan since I was about 7 years old so using these colours was quite a challenge to me but I have really enjoyed sewing with them for a change.

And my very own soft kitty Simba even made a cameo appearance for the pillow photoshoot:)

Stats:

Pattern: Scrappy Swoon originally by Bonnie and Camille

Size: 20 inches

Fabrics: Denyse Schmidt (Chicopee, Hope Valley), Lizzy House (Hello Pilgrims Jewels in Purple), Anna Maria Horner (Field Study), Sandi Henderson (Meadowsweet- Henna garden in Raspberry), shot cottons (Fuschia, Aubergine and Plum), Aneela Hoey (Hello Petal: All my Kitties - Sweetie) and a Prima solid in Ivory.
Quilting: Straight lines using King Tut thread colour #952 

Linking up to the Pantone Radiant Orchid challenge hosted by Adrianne @ On the Windy Side, and Anne @ Play Crafts, in the flickr group and also to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.

This project was also on my FAL Q1 list so I am linking up with Katy @ The Littlest Thistle.

Kirsten.

WIP Wednesday

The scrappy Swoon block for the Pantone Radiant Orchid challenge is sewn and for the quilting I chose a King Tut thread in a pinkish plum colour which I think matches the fabrics well.

Now that I have done this dense straight line quilting, I am planning on making this block into a pillow/cushion.

So are you making something for the Pantone challenge project this year? The link up will be open from 14-21 March so I need to finish my project this week as I also have another one on the go.

Linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Kirsten.

FMF Lounge pants

One of my favourite fabric designers is Denyse Schmidt and I really love her Flea Market Fancy fabrics which fortunately were recently re-released for those of us who weren't into sewing the first time 'round!

So when I found some of the Bouquet print in turquoise locally I bought some to make some PJ/lounge pants from. These were my first attempt at making clothes since my teenagers were little but were fairly easy to sew as they just have an elasticised waist and drawstring tie.

Now we are coming into autumn here Down Under, these comfy pants are perfect to wear during the cooler nights. This fabric is actually made from rayon so is lovely and soft and drapes beautifully.
This is one of my FAL projects for the first quarter FAL hosted by Katy at The Littlest Thistle.
Also linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory.
Kirsten.

Aus Mod Bee Butterfly blocks

February was Danielles' (Petitselefants) month to be Queen bee in our Aus Mod Bee group. 

She chose the lovely Butterfly block using the tutorial by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts.

She sent out a great selection of fabrics to use and even made up some templates for us to use which was great!.

I hadn't made these blocks before but they are really fun to sew.

 So this brings us up to 12 months of making blocks for the AusMod bee . It has been a so enjoyable making such a variety of wonderful blocks for this great group. 

I am still in the process of sewing together the Chicopee feathers blocks that everyone made for me back in May.

Quiltjane has photos of her finished Refractatorium quilt and Pennys Lizzy House quilt in progress is here. There is also more in the flickr group AusModBee or on IG with the tag #ausmodbee.
Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quiltstory. Kirsten.

Pantone project progress!

For the Pantone Radiant orchid challenge, I decided to make another scrappy Swoon-inspired design and I have just finished sewing all of those HST's together.

I used a variety of purpley toned fabrics including Chicopee and Hope Valley (Denyse Schimdt), Meadowsweet: Henna Garden in raspberry (Sandi Henderson), Hello Pilgrim Jewels (Lizzy House), Field Study (Anna Maria Horner), shot cottons  (Plum, Aubergine, Fushcia) and the cute kitty print from Aneela Hoey's Hello Petal range in the centre of the block.

Just need to get on with the quilting on this one now...

Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.

Kirsten.

Happy mail!

Earlier this week I came home from work to find that a huge box had arrived in the post. I unpacked it excitedly and saw that from the card that it was from Kathy @ craftyKat who is one of my fellow bee members here in Australia.

She had made the most fabulous aeroplane bag with a matching fabric basket and pouch for the Sew Sew Modern Swap (4).Kathy manage to sneak in some cute elephant fabrics which she hadn't shown earlier as it may have given away who she was making for:)

(photo borrowed from Kathy's photo stream)

 The bag is such a great size and I can't wait to use it when we go away for a weekend getaway next month! 

 And then today, I received beautiful heart pillow from Lisa in Port Hope from the X factor swap. It is such an amazing design and quite stunning with the red, black and white fabrics.

Her Log Cabin Love pillow looks lovely on our red couch and is just perfect for Valentines day! Thanks you so much to Lisa, Kathy and also to Karen (quilting fairy) who was our swap mama for the SSM4 swap and Tiina who organises the X factor swaps.
Kirsten.

WIP Wednesday

These pretty purpley fabrics, along with a few others I decided to add in, have now been turned into a bunch of HST's for the Pantone Radiant Orchid challenge.

Resulting in a pile of lovely trimmings....

Linking to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Kirsten.