Funky star

I finally got time to make my January block for the Lucky Stars BOM. I really love Tula Pink's Salt Water line and wanted to try and make blocks with solids that would play nicely with the fabric I had.

The block came together really well. I like the mechanics of paper piecing (although it always feels a bit like cheating sewing along lines) but I have trouble visualising what fabric should go where - but I'm happy with how this one worked out.

Hexi bee blocks

Our Monday Modern group is making bee blocks for Laurina this month. Laurina wrote up the most amazingly detailed tutorial and as a result my blocks seemed to come together like magic. In this block 60 degree triangles are sewn together to make hexagons.

 I really enjoy making bee blocks for people - it is such a great opportunity to try something new and put fabric together in ways I would not think of myself. I have put my bee blocks together and begun quilting which has reminded me that quilting is not really a comfortable summer activity!

Choices

I've been working on this little project for a while it seems. I want it to be a wall hanging for a friend, but I keep changing my mind about it - I don't know about you, but it seems harder to make decisions when you are trying to work out what someone else might like!

I finally have the blocks put together - now I just need to make a decision about a border. Dark or light - what do you think?

Elephant Showers {a finished quilt}

Here is the quilt I made to donate to charity. I used Elizabeth Hartman's Scattered Squares pattern, which is available as part of her Inspired Modern Quilting class on Craftsy. I wanted to use fabric from my stash, including the elephant fabric which I bought ages ago for some reason, long since forgotten!

For both the backing and binding, I used fabric from good old Spotlight who have had some good sales recently. The backing is actually Christmas fabric, but I quite liked the little wrapped parcels and I don't think it shrieks Christmas.

As usual I wasn't sure what to do with quilting - I started off doing a double echo of the seam lines, then because the squares are quite big (5.5" finished) I decided to cross-hatch as well to give it more texture. I am warming to cross-hatching - have you seen this gorgeous quilt made by Adrianne? Even though I still don't love the quilting part of quilt making, I moan about it less in my head and I even manage to feel quite pleased sometimes when little quilty patterns emerge (totally unplanned of course!).

My basket (does not) runneth over

In keeping with my resolution to keep the WIPs under control in 2013 (because, ahem, I'm supposed to be finishing my thesis), I have a genius new system. All WIPs go in this basket (which is about 13" square so it fits blocks in nicely). That way I can keep an eye on them, and actually notice when they are piling up. My previous system of one hundred different storage places meant I could play all kinds of mind games with myself! A simple basket. Genius.

Holidays

I'm just back from a lovely road trip type holiday - sunshine, surf and loads of fresh produce from roadside orchards/market gardens. Bliss.
I decided while I was away to try and be a bit more methodical with my sewing this year instead of flitting from one project to the next. I had whipped together a simple quilt top to donate to a family affected by the cyclone which hit Hobsonville not long before Christmas, which some of our Monday Modern group wanted to do. It is partially quilted, but I'm getting there. It has to be finished before I work on anything else. That is the new rule.

I also had some lovely fabric mail waiting for me when I got home. I spent a long time before I went away trying to find something I liked for the back of my bee quilt and finally settled on some nice Denyse Schmidt Chicopee (Ladder Dot in Fuschia). I can't wait to get this put together (not showing it until its done, sorry Monday Modern friends!!)

And here is a picture of a Christmas present reject!

I made this pyramid purse for my niece (7), but when I showed it to one of her cousins (10) before I wrapped it up, I got a very lukewarm reaction, and a 'what's it for?' It does look cute - I love the mice, but the shape does make it less than practical. So I got niece something else instead, and the purse is just sitting round looking pretty. I got the pattern over at You SEW Girl for anyone interested, it was quick to make and an easy and clear pattern to follow.

Happy New Year!

I've seen lots of lovely mosaics around of 2012 sewing accomplishments - some people seem to get an amazing amount done!
No quilty New Year resolutions from me, just one very strict cease and desist instruction to myself with regards to fabric purchasing (I think you all know how that one goes!!) I have got a few plans in my head though for sewing in 2013 and a more immediate 'to do' list which I have compiled visually :-)

Wishing you a happy day this first day of 2013!