Patchwork Christmas Decorations

I don't know if it's too early, but I have had Christmas on the brain! I haven't stopped dreaming up quilts and decorations I want to make for the festive holiday. Perhaps it's the sudden change in weather we had? normally we have quite an extended summer in September here in Cornwall, though this year was quite different and it seemed to turn to Winter almost overnight. Whatever it is, I'm thinking it's a good thing as every year I leave all the Christmas making to the last minute and never get half my list of things done. I'm *really* hoping this year will be different, as I have a whole host of things I want to make and share. 

Do you ever think so much about something you want to make that you literally obsess over it? Well, I do - only sometimes though. Case in point, the Radiant Star block. This design is featured in a Christmas quilting book I acquired over the summer. I've thought about it so much and even went to the trouble of buying in the Kona solids Tomato and Willow for my Sew and Quilt shop! I can't stop looking at it, it's one of my favourite things I've made :) I really love the traditional quilt blocks, combined with the crisp red and green solids. Now I know the piecing is far from perfect! but actually I really don't care so much. Normally it would bother me but I just can't wait to get it quilted and hung up on the wall somewhere!

Next up on the list of things to make were these padded tulip hearts. I love this little block, and thought they would look really cute in country style hearts. I took some photo's of the process and once I figure out how to transfer a paper template I've drawn out onto the computer for you all to download for free - I will share the tutorial! (if anyone can enlighten me with this sort of thing it would be much appreciated!).

I'm excited to get cracking on more festive things! Have you started yet? xo

Double Irish Chain Quilt Top Finish

I finished my double Irish chain quilt top a little while back, and I had planned to take some photo's of it outside but unfortunately we've had some pretty miserable weather recently, so we'll have to make do with a couple of indoor shots that I took quickly this morning before work :) This is the biggest quilt I've made yet, it's huge! measuring roughly 85" square it will be perfect for our king-size bed. 

Although the top has been completed for some time, there's no sign of any basting going on. I think I'm putting it off as I'm totally freaked out by the size of it. Also, I've been procrastinating whether I should add a border to it? I actually forgot about it initially, but I think it might be a shame not to do something as it will be such a special quilt for us? I've picked out the perfect backing, It's a vintage sheet I've been saving for just the right occasion. It really brings out the bold yellow and aqua colour scheme.

So now I officially have two quilt tops in the works, I think this officially makes me a quilter!

Vintage Fabric and Linens 2013 Round-Up

You may be wondering why I'm doing a 2013 round-up in September? Well, I find most of my vintage fabrics and table linens during the Spring/Summer period in charity shops and carboot's. So, as the summer season is winding down for the year I thought I would check in with you guys to share all the lovely things I've gotten so far!

I know a lot of my readers outside the U.K. will be bemused with my 'carboot' talk so I will get the explanation out the way - carboot sale's or fayre's are an organised event, usually on cricket or rugby pitches etc where people fill up their car's with things they wish to sell (also dealers) and sell it out the back of their car (trunk); which we call a boot in the UK - hence the name ;) It's great fun, and you never know what you're going to find! Over the summer I try to attend two a week in my local area, weather dependent of course. Sometimes it's great and I pick up a whole bunch of fabulous things, other times I walk away with nothing. Though I would have to say this year has been pretty good!

So today I thought I would share with you just the fabric and linens I've acquired. I've got a house full of other bits and bobs, so maybe I'll show you those in a later post ;) above is the actual fabric, mainly cotton but also a couple of silk and my favourite one on the right a bright red 'bri-nylon' (as my mum called it) apparently it was very popular in the 60s and 70s. I think it would make such a cute dress, so I've been saving it for just the right pattern once it comes along.

These are curtains I've come across on my travels. I love them so much! So much so, I won't cut into them. The bottom three I think, are 1940's - unfortunately I shredded the stripe green one in the washing machine :S so not usable for curtains anymore but I did whip up a piped pillow for my living room, phew! The top one is a lovely kitchen inspired print from the 50s and the checkered one is 60's - I'm guessing from the orangy/brown colour palette. 

Not many vintage sheets this year. Although I am getting fussier, and I have left behind 'vintage' one's I already own and other's I would have picked up in the past. I think people are realising how popular they are and holding out to sell them on Ebay perhaps? 

Now for the tablecloths! I've collected pretty tablecloths for a few years, but fully embraced the new collecting hobby this year :) I'm rather impressed with this stack! 32 so far! The cotton and linen printed kind from 50s/60s are my favourite :)

Though I also have a weakness for any with pretty embroidery on! and we don't seem to have a shortage of these in England, well at least in my neck of the woods anyway. I appreciate all the workmanship that goes into creating each one so I think I'm a pretty good home for them.

Did I mention I like checks and stripes too? Yeh, I know ... I'm one pile away from becoming a hoarder!! What do you like to collect? I'm always intrigued. Not that I need any more ideas! ...

A Very Special Baby Shower

Yes, it was my very special friend Laura's baby shower on Sunday, so she needed an extra special gift! After a bit of research I decided upon Noodlehead's divided basket. It was the perfect storage for nappies and baby bits that don't always look so pretty in the nursery - so this seemed like an ideal solution! I think it will certainly brighten up the nursery with the cute Suzy Ultman print, which I've been saving for the perfect project! :)

I think lovely Laura liked them!!

The basket came together quite quickly; once I had spent *hours* auditioning fabric choices! For that reason I omitted the front pocket for the basket as I couldn't find a perfect match (and didn't have enough Suzy U print). The pattern is very clear so you don't feel lost at any stage, and there's lots of helpful photo's to keep you on track. Though I did struggle a lot with the top-stitching around the edge, it took me three attempts to get it finished! I used regular pins but Anna suggested using Clover wonder clips so I may have to invest in those for next time ;)

To make it a little more inviting I filled it with some baby bath toiletries and rubber duckies :)

A few day's before the shower I decided to make a baby quilt too. We don't know if it's going to be a boy or girl so I started pulling a bunch of my low volume fabrics I've been hoarding for too long - which I figured would be ideal for a neutral baby theme. I had planned to make a 'trip around the world' style design but miscalculated the fabric I needed, so in the end I came up with this design ...

I strip pieced 6 rows of prints, and then alternated them - if that makes sense? Perhaps I'll make another one and do a tutorial. I really did enjoy making this. I love making quilts for people when you know they will be loved and appreciated for years to come :) The backing fabric is Happy Go Lucky, Aqua Skip - and I think it might just be the most perfect backing ever! It works so well with the patchwork top, straight line quilting and being a neutral colour for boy/girl. Also my friend has a weakness for mint and turquoise, so it really is perfect! I hand sewed the binding in the nick of time Sunday morning! using Kona Snow. 

Too many photo's? oh well! I love them so I just couldn't help myself. xo