A Finish & A New Beginning

Well here we finally have my first finish which I machine quilted with much trepidation & Kim, if you're reading this, I even managed the mitred corners on the binding! It's by no means perfect but I'm still learning.

Clamshell Prep

This weekend I started getting ready for the Clamshell club organised by Jossie.

Lots of templates had to be traced & cut out, (I decided to try Freezer paper)

then ironed onto the back of the fabric

........and more cutting out

finally I gathered the seam with a running stitch over the top curve of the template

then played around with a couple of layouts, still not sure which I will go for.........

all will be revealed on 30th June!

Klosjes update: I'm afraid I have to report none were stitched this week, but I have been piecing the blocks together, so haven't been completely idle!

Pay it forward

I've just signed up for Pay It Forward on Sandra's blog, so now it's my turn to host a Pay It Forward here. This is a lovely way to spread a little sunshine & happiness around the blogging community by sharing handmade gifts.

Here are the rules:

1. The first 3 people to visit my blog & leave a comment here on this post saying they want to participate will receive a homemade gift from me. You are allowed 1 year (according to the rules) in which to send out the gift, but I plan on making something & sending it on much sooner than that.

2. You must have a blog of your own to participate in the PIF.

3. You must post about the PIF on your blog & you must offer the challenge of a PIF.

By accepting my PIF, YOU agree to host a PIF on your blog, you will agree to send a homemade gift (within 1 year) to the first 3 people who sign up on your blog to participate in your PIF & so it continues.

Rouenneries by French General

I have been lusting after the Rouenneries range of fabrics ever since they first appeared last autumn, but really couldn't justify the expense at the time. Lately I've noticed that stocks are gradually diminishing, so in a panic, ordered some to have for a project some time in the future. How could I possibly make the best use of these & come up with something different to all the wonderful quilts being created with this fabric?

Cathi at Quilt Obsession has used hers to create gorgeous Drunken Path blocks out of charm packs using the Inklingo system. Doesn't this look delightful?......can't wait to see this grow!

Copyright images used with kind permission, Quilt Obsession

Below is a gorgeous quilt called Madeleine Grown Up by Nicole of Sister's Choice Quilts. Look at all those super star blocks which show off this fabric beautifully. Not content with this, Nicole has started another quilt called Elizabeth which is going to be another stunner!

Copyright image used with kind permission, Sister's Choice Quilts

Copyright image used with kind permission,Sue Daley

The beauty above is the lovely Waterloo quilt designed by Sue Daley . The pattern is available from Sue's online store Patchwork with Busyfingers & is a combination of English paper piecing, applique & embroidery......hmmm......very tempting.

This divine appliqued Fleur de Lis was designed (as well as the whole quilt) by Penny - The Dedicated Appliquist as the centre piece for her beautiful medallion quilt below. I immediately loved this, being French myself & having a weakness for this iconic symbol.

Copyright images used with kind permission,The Dedicated Appliquist

.........and last but certainly not least we have these two beauties created by Ann of Ann's Quilting Journey . Just look at those delightful little baskets above & this beautiful flower garden quilt below. I love the striped fabric Ann has used from the same range for her borders, it sets it off perfectly.

Copyright images used with kind permission, Ann's Quilting Journey

So much inspiration, but this wasn't helping me decide how to use my fabric to try & create something worthy, until last night ...........

This week I received Kaffe Fassett's book, Museum Quilts & whilst perusing it again yesterday evening, was immediately inspired by one particular patchwork constructed with clamshells & made into drapes for a four poster bed (which, by the way is currently on show in the V&A Quilt exhibition in London). So I was thinking that this would be a nice project (all be it long term) to do in various shirtings, then I had that light bulb moment........why not use my Rouenneries fabric?

A Clamshell quilt was another on my wish list for the future. There appears to be more interest developing in this patchwork since I first saw it mentioned by Karen here, who then very kindly directed me to Jossie's blog, who was also working on one. Jossie is planning on starting up a little group to keep everyone inspired & motivated.........so my decision was made for me, need I say more? LOL
I adore this design & am hoping it will work with Rouenneries, watch this space............

Happy stitching!

ps. forgot to mention the new French General range, Rural Jardin & coming soon, Lumiere de Noel.........oh dear, think I need to work lots more overtime!

Blooming Flowers

Isn't it wonderful that so many beautiful flowers are blooming all over blogland! Karen's participant list keeps growing week by week as more gardeners join in the challenge to make at least one hexie flower each Wednesday. Here are the latest additions to my garden for One Flower Wednesday.

I'm still having great fun fussy cutting these hexagons & am amazed at the pattern variations created from the one striped fabric........so far it seems like the possibilities are endless!

I've settled on this layout for the quilt that will eventually be created with these hexagons. They are appliqued to 8.5" white squares with smaller red hexie flowers as fill ins, which will also hopefully tie it altogether.

Finally.....

I've plucked up the courage to machine quilt this baby & it's coming along slowly but steadily. Just a little more to do around the edges then it's time to attack my first binding! Any tips on how to do this will be most welcome :)
The Klosjes quilt is steadily growing, 14 more added to the pile which brings my total to 130..... 90 of which have now been stitched into blocks of nine.

One Flower Wednesday & Can you resist a Bargain?

Well I certainly can't when it comes to fabric! So this is how I ended up with 3 metres of the above for just £10.00 last summer but when the package arrived I was a bit dissapointed to see they were metallic & shoved them in the cupboard thinking I'll make use of them some day.

Last week I came across this fabric again whilst looking for something else & saw it in a new light........wouldn't it be great for fussy cutting hexagons with all those different designs in the stripes?

I had been admiring all the beautiful hexi-flower gardens growing over the last few weeks & this was the perfect excuse to join in too! I believe the inspiration came from Karen who has encouraged stitchers to complete a flower each Wednesday & gradually watch their gardens grow, since then many more have joined in the fun.

I've been having great fun seeing how may different flower patterns I can create with this one striped fabric. I don't think I'll be setting these out in a Grandmother's Flower Garden layout though as it may be a bit too heavy on the eyes.......maybe applique them to a white background?


With all this hexi excitement, I haven't neglected my Klosjes as I'm still making up blocks of nine & managed a few more spools last week.
New total: 116 Klosjes (81 of which have been stitched into blocks of 9)