A Fairytale Ending

'Fussy Fairytales' Quilt Pattern available as a downloadable pdf from Kate Conklin Designs

I started the quilting of 'Fussy Fairytales' on the 2nd day of the month and finished it on the 2nd last day of the month. That's a nice set of book ends right there.

'Far Far Away 2 & 3' fabric in cotton/linen blend by Heather Ross

Although the hand-quilting with DMC thread has been time consuming I have been able to develop hand-my sewing skills and fall in love with the results.

So here is the end of the Fairytale.

Just to acknowledge again that the piecing for this quilt was all done by my mum, Audrey McLeod. I only did the 'Snow White' block on the back.

Although our frames are floating, Kate Conklin has a tutorial on how to make the 'Fussy Framed blocks'

I am linking up with...

                           

                                                                

Merry Month of May

May Finishes

This month has seen me:

• learn the art of handquilting. Makes for a lovely finish.
• cut into my stash of Katie Jump Rope - twice.
• continue to enjoy the projects in the Zakka Sew-Along. And make some new blog friends through it.
• almost finish my second ever bag.
• fall in love with linen.
• finally finish the 'Fussy Fairytales' Quilt.
• Give the QCA Bee#1 Scrappy Log Cabin quilt to a deserved mum.
• Start hosting my own linky called 'Sunday Stash' where folks can exhibit their latest stash additions.
• Learn how to make my own 'button'.
• Hit 100 followers - and have a small give-away to say thank you.

Viewing - 'Titanic - the mini-series', 'Downton Abbey Series 2, Game of Thrones Season 1, The Voice Australia and Silent Witness.

Reading - The Third Reich Day by Day- Christopher Ailsby, Revolutionary Parenting - George Barna and The Hungry Ocean - Linda Greenlaw.

1. 'Fussy Fairytales' - finished 30/5    2. 'Fussy Fairytales' - back    3. 'FF' block and hand-quilting detail 
4. 'FF' - binding detail    5. 'FF' hand-quilting detail    6. 'FF' hand-quilting detail
7. Zakka Style Sew- Along - Raincloud Mug Rug - finished 14/5  8. ZSSA - RMR hand-stitching detail   9. ZSSA - RMR back
10. ZSSA  Itty Bitty Magnets in charcoal - finished 8/5  11. ZSSA - IBM in natural - finished   12. Katie Jump Kites - 56 blocks sewn 30/5
13. KJK block detail   14. ZSSA Patchwork Pencil Case (back)  - finished 1/5   15. KJK PPC front detail
16. Scrappy Log Cabin - binding 4/5  17. SLC - finished 4/5    18. SLC (back)

19. Craftsy May BOM - finished 4/5   20. QCA Bee#1 Disappearing 9 Patch 4/5  21. Five long-sleeved t-shirts - 22/5

So how did you go in May? Are you also linking up with...

Wet Wednesday WiPs

The past few days we have had heavy showers followed by bright sunshine. It makes consistent laundry drying impossible but makes great sewing weather.


Stem Messenger Bag

I am up to the second last section of the bag assemblage however I do not have the necessary hardware to complete the straps. I have put in an order from the Etsy store called sewingsupplies, however I am not sure how long it will take to arrive. But then The Patchsmith came up with a clever idea of going to an op-shop and buying an old bag to re-purpose it's tri-bar slider combination. So I may get a chance to do that in the next day or so.


Fussy Fairytales

I tried so hard to get this project finished by LAST Friday but even after 5 hours of hand sewing the binding I had only reached halfway. Hopefully I can finish by this Friday.


Katy Jump Kites

Today I was able to complete the further 19 blocks and now I have the layout of the quilt on my design wall. I had to tweak a few blocks just to spread out the pattern of the fabrics, but it did come together quite smoothly.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  binding half sewn on.

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - 56 blocks sewn

                                               - Messenger Bag - lining and outer sewn.
                                               

On Hold projects   - 0

So how are you going with your WiPs this week?


I am linking up with...

Flying a Kite

Fussy Fairytales

 I have been slowly working my way through tying the larger patches of un-quilted windows with flourishes of hand-quilting to highlight the features in the print. 

That's what make Heather Ross' Far Far Away prints so delightful to work with because there's always a little flower, owl or sock to embelish. 

I have only to make a few more panels secure and then I should be able to start making the binding.

Katie Jump Kites

Meanwhile I have been flying through the blocks of the 'Katie Jump Kites' top. I guess that I am just over half way now. Each block is so easy to put together with only 3 seams.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 0

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  hand quilting the larger sections

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - 37 out of 56 blocks sewn
                                               

On Hold projects   - Mystery Quilt - top pieced

How are your WiPs this week?


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Fresh Air

We've had some glorious dry autumn days this week. Crisp morning starts but lots of sun and a little breeze during the day - perfect for drying the washing on the clothesline. Yesterday I had a 2 hour job of sorting out 8 baskets of dry washing, folding and then putting away. I was successful in the latter stage by only 50%. I still have my basket, the towels, the sheets and the kitchen stuff to put away. 


And then there is the other aspect of domestic chore - shopping! I had to head into town this morning to purchase some long school pants, jumpers and groceries. Another hour of packing away groceries and it was lunchtime. Settle down for a tasty fresh ham, tomato and lettuce roll and reward myself with a 'James Taylor (whenever I see his smiling face...I have to smile myself) Live in Concert' dvd.


However washing and grocery shopping weather is not conducive to sewing. 


Fussy Fairytales Update

I have nearly finished hand quilting Fussy Fairytales. I am still concerned that the larger panels have too much unbasted fabric to contend with.  As quilt designer Kate Conklin hand quilted her original version, I wanted her opinion on what to do. So I sent her a message, to which she relied that some of the panels might be too big.

The largest section is 6"x7" and so I may have to add some more stitch-work to tie the quilt sandwich together. I can't decide whether to baste these sections with some kind of invisible thread, a short little basting knot or to highlight a feature within the panel. So more hand-quilting is in store for me. I don't really mind putting in the effort to get a more satisfactory finish. Plus starting next week, there is a new linky party each Friday for hand-stitchwork.


You can find all the details at...
                                                        
Katie Jump Kites

That is what I have named this quilt, a combination of the fabric line 'Katie Jump Rope' by Denyse Schmidt and the pattern 'Kaleidoscopic Kites' by Faith @ Fresh Lemons Quilts. I finished the cutting on Monday and I got just an hour and a half of sewing time today to start the patchwork.

The blocks are all made up the same way however, different in the fabric choice so I had to keep referring to the grid reference. They came together quite quickly and to have a new project to sew is a breath of fresh air. 

This week's stats:
Completed projects - ZSSA - Rain Cloud Mug Rug

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  hand quilting the windows and peekaboo                                           squares.

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - on cutting table
                                               

On Hold projects   - Mystery Quilt - top pieced

How are your WiPs going? 


I am linking up with....

An Itty Bitty Finish

Yes I am still hand quilting my 'Fussy Fairytales' quilt. I certainly hope to have it finished by next Friday. I have 5 large blocks and 16 peek-a-boo windows to do. So I am nearly at the end. The largest of my un-quilted areas are 6"x7" and I am a little worried that this is too large to leave. I am thinking of shooting an email to the pattern designer Kate Conklin as she hand quilted her version too.

Magnets in Steel Linen


I got a chance to finish up my second lot of magnets from the Zakka Style Sew-Along.


Handquilting

Trimming

Sewing the corners

Double stitching with a small stitch length

 Turning it right side out

 The smallest gap

 Slipping the magnets inside

 And sewing the gap closed with a blind stitch

And as the pattern says "Voila! One little sampler quilt."

I am linking up with....

Wiped Out Wednesday

I have not been 100% this week...probably operating at about 25%...so my WiP Wednesday post is being written a day late.


Fussy Fairytales


I have 30 large panels  and 60 peek-a-boo windows on the outside border to hand quilt.

On Sunday I had done 10 out of 30 large and 10 out of 60 small.

On Wednesday I have done 20 out of 30 large and 20 out of 60 small.

So it is a time consuming process. I still have basting pins in the panels that are yet to be quilted.

Zakka Style Sew-Along

 I still have a second set of Itty Bitty Quilt Block magnets to finish.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - ZSSA - Itty Bitty Quilted Magnets - 1 set

  

Currently in progress   - 'HR Far Far Away 2&3 Fussy Fairytales'  hand quilting the windows and peekaboo                                           squares.

                                               - Mystery Quilt - top pieced

                                               - Katie Jump Kites - on cutting table
                                               -  ZSSA - Itty Bitty Quilted Magnets - 1 set

New projects - 0

How is your list of WiPs going?


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