"High Tea" quilt pattern testing

A few weeks ago, Adrianne from On The Windy Side, put out a call for pattern testers for her lovely new quilt pattern "High Tea".  

The High Tea" pattern includes versions for sizes ranging from baby to Queen size -   I tested the Throw quilt /single bed size which finishes at 56" x 69". 

This size of the pattern calls for a couple of charm packs or 20 layer cake squares, along with about a metre each of the two background fabrics for the sashing.

This is really a fabulous pattern and it came together very quickly  due to the way the quilt is constructed, the main seams "nest" quite well and match up easily.

I had ordered a layer cake to use for this quilt which unfortunately went missing:( Then, as I was running out of time, I decided to cut my own charms from the "What A Gem" fabrics by Allison Cole, along with a few coordinating prints from Spotlight.

I really liked how well the navy, coral and emerald went with the grey and white solid background.

And the colours match well with my daughters room too.

Whilst this pattern is a great way to use up charm squares, it is also suitable for larger scaled prints.

This was my first time using the popular Britten number fabric from Ikea, which makes a fun backing!

So please go and have a look at Adriannes blog to see all of the other versions of the "High Tea" quilt pattern - I really love the original version of the quilt she has made using Bonnie and Camille fabrics!


Linking up with Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory. Kirsten.

Dragonfly Trail Tote

Earlier this week, Anna from Noodlehead designs posted about a new Trail Tote bag pattern on her blog. 

I loved the look of this bag and decided to go ahead and make it using some Cloud 9 Dragonflies in teal, which is one of the prints from the Rashida Coleman-Hale "Koi" organic canvas range.

Prompted to sew something this weekend by Amira and her IG tag #mycraftyweekendplan, I ducked out to my local craft store yesterday morning and bought a zip, teal thread, fusible interfacing and some black denim for the strap. I did however, forget to buy some piping cord so I have left that off the bag.

The lining is a the Scattered Newsprint in aqua from Collage by Carrie Bloomston which matched perfectly. 

And the bag is just the right size to be able to fit in all of my daily essentials including the appropriately named book that I am currently reading....

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory.

And also with the 2014 Purse Palooza @ Sew Sweetness.

Kirsten.

Broadway Musical palettes

This week Jennie has suggested to use Broadway move/musical posters for the palettes, so I had to use the Lion King as we are going to see it in December.

 And Chicago  is another one that we saw a few years ago at QPAC in Brisbane - it was fabulous!

Linking up with Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts.
Kirsten.

Pattern testing for Juliet @ A Tartan Kiwi

A few weeks ago, the lovely Juliet from The Tartankiwi blog put out a call for pattern testers for her newest paper pieced design. I haven't done a great deal of paper piecing but as this was an elephant I couldn't resist offering to try it out.

This was a wonderful pattern to follow and it all came together quite easily. And I was able to use a piece of the pretty new Denyse Schmidt Piccadilly fabric to fussy cut for the ear.

This is a 12 inch block and Juliet also has a larger 24" version available. She has also done a bear recently which is fabulous too! If you can, pop over to Juliets blog to see the other versions of the elephant and also the ones in the larger 24" size as they are all amazing!

Linking to Fabric Tuesday @ Quiltstory. Kirsten.

Rainy palettes

This week the theme is "Rain" for the palettes over at Porch Swing Quilts. We have a subtropical climate where I live in Australia, so over summer we usually get quite a few thunderstorms and I love the look of the raindrops on the beautiful Frangipanis in our garden.

And a little quilt made from the cute (free) mini Raincheck quilt pattern by Camille Roskelly @ Simplify using Umbrella Prints fabrics..

Linking up with Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts.
Kirsten. 

Finish Along Q4 lots to do list...

Well, we are up to the last quarter for the year and I have quite a few things planned. Firstly, some that I didn't get done last quarter..and then a few more projects leading up to Christmas.

 1. Poolside tote: now the weather is warming up here, I would love a larger beach bag as I never have enough room for all our gear!

2. Weekender Bag bag: I am using Chicopee fabric for this and have made a start on the side pockets already. 

3. A friend has asked me to make her some Noodlehead Super Totes which she will give as Christmas gifts and has left the fabric selection up to me so I am keen to try out a few new fabric combos:) I have already begun cutting the fabrics out and ironing on the interfacing...

4. Nova Tote by Three Owls Handmade:  I got some of the lovely Moonshine deer fabric at my LQS recently and am planning on combining it with some AMH...

5. A Sew Together Bag for a gift: I already have this one cut out ready to sew.

6. IG mini swap - I have already made a few blocks for this mini which is due at the beginning of December.

7. A birthday bag for my mum - quite a belated gift already as her birthday was a few months ago. I am using some of the beautiful "August" fabrics from Cotton and Steel, along with some Cloud 9 canvas.

8. Paper piecing project: I have the pattern printed out and some fabrics selected for this one which needs to be done fairly soon...

9. Sew Sew Modern 6 swap: This swap is not due for a while yet but I would like to get the items done before Christmas so I am not rushing at the end. My partner likes lots of colour so I am planning on using some Anna Maria Horner fabrics for this project.

10. And a last minute addition to this list: a quilt that I am pattern testing for a quilty friend "across the ditch" Adrianne @ "On The Windy Side". I have chosen some fabric to use as I dont think I have quite enough charms to make this pattern....

So that is my list for the last quarter of the FAL hosted by Katy @ The Littlest Thistle.
Kirsten.

October Palette

As I am in Australia, we are in the middle of Spring now so I wasn't sure if I could find an suitable photo for the "October" palette over at Porch Swing Quilts, then I remembered this autumny looking Artsy Trees mini quilt which I made back in 2011.

This design was based on a papercraft tutorial by a local artist, Loretta Grayson and I wanted to try to make a version in fabric for this mini quilt.  Linking up with Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts.
Kirsten. 

First Aid pouch FAL tutorial

As part of the 2014 Finish Along, Katy @ The Littlest Thistle hosts a week of tutorials and today on her blog I have one for a First Aid pouch.

 I used some low volume fabrics and scraps of red for the plus/red cross design.

So please pop on over to check it out - and I would love to see yours if you make one!
Kirsten.

Palettes

This week's colour palette over at Porch Swing Quilts is brown which makes me think of chocolate:

And a mini quilt in an autumny colour scheme:

Because we were on holidays and I missed last week's "French" theme,  this is a Paris themed quilt I made for my sister-in-laws 40th birthday a few years ago.

Linking up with Jennie over at Porch Swing Quilts...
Kirsten.

Finish Along project report for Quarter 3

There were 10 projects listed in my Q3 FAL list - a mix of large (quilts), medium sized (bags), and smaller (mini quilts) projects on my list for this quarter and I managed to get most of them finished.

1. Road Trip Case : done.

2. Red Letter Day quilt - done.

3. Red Letter Day mini  - done.

4. Birthday Super Tote: done! 

5. The "Phoebe" pattern is by Melly and Me and makes up a cute elephant soft toy - no further progress:(

6. The Poolside tote pattern - no progress:( 

7. AMB AMH Chicopee Feathers quilt - done! 

8. Mini quilts for a friend - both done! I used one of the "Spell it with Moda" letter patterns for the "T" and the mini "Round and Round" pattern by Camille Roskelley for the other. 

 9. Amy Butler Weekender: all I have done is made a start on the panels for the pockets :(

10. Sea Breezey Mini Quilt  - done!

So those items that had little or no progress will now move onto my Q4 list along with a few more projects which will I need to get done by Christmas!  Linking up with the 2014 Q3 FAL hosted by Katy at The Littlest Thistle.
Kirsten.