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?


I am linking up with...

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....

Sunday Stash #12

This coming week's Zakka Style project is making good use of my Katie Jump Rope scraps and selvedges...but more on that later.

When I was planning and cutting fabrics for the 'Kaleidoscopic Kites' pattern, I found that the Fat Quarter bundle I had bought from eaudebean on Etsy did not have the full range of greens. I was able to find a nice Spotlight range, Denyse Schmidt green vine to also throw in but not much else.

So to Etsy I went and found some of the rare Katie Jump Rope green prints at Blijie Oliphante. Store owner Kit was kind enough to include the sweet 'ribbon flower' print as a special request. 

This week 'I love Patchwork' arrived from the Book Depository. Mystery class teacher Lisa had showed me her copy and I went right home and ordered it. Authored by Rashida Coleman-Hale, it is her first Zakka style book, and it has 21 small Zakka projects to make.

So once the hand quilting (and there has been hours and hours of it this weekend) and binding of the 'Fussy Fairytales' quilt is done I can finish the cutting preparation on 'Katie Jump Kites'. I can't wait!

What's new in your stash this week?

April Finishes

This month has seen me:

• learn how to sew a zipper. So pouches are in abundance at my place. 
• learn to make fabric covered buttons. Heaps of fun.
• make my first ever bag. Despite sewing the handles on upside-down the first time.
• join the Zakka Style Sew- Along. Learning the joys and pitfalls of sewing smaller items.
• skip this month's hexagon blocks with the Craftsy BOM.
• cut into 'my precious' Denyse Schmidt stash.
• realise that half square triangles are cantankerous creatures.
• meet my lovely blog buddy Kristy at a Mystery Quilt Weekend.
• make use of my collection of selvedges.

All the while listening to or watching some great series' on SBS on demand, ABC iview, dvd, or the History Channel - Coast, Who do you think you are? Australian Series 2, Is the West History?, Barbarians, Ken Burns' The Civil War, The Civil War Journal, The First World War, Gallipoli, Anzacs, Narrow Escapes of WWII, and Downton Abbey.

1. Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt - cut into 15/4, 2. Fussy Fairytales - basted 30/4, 3.  Fussy Fairytales - back 28/4 4. Mystery Quilt - top finished 27/4, 5, Diamonds in Squares QCA Bee -  5/4

6. ZSSA Zig-Zag tote - 10/4 7. ZSSA Sewing Kit - 20/4, 8. ZSSA Pin Cushion - 17/4, 9. ZSSA House Pouch - 12/4, 10. Small zipper pouch - 2/4.

11. Large zipper pouch - 6/4, 12. Pocket zipper pouch - 28/4, 13. Selvedge zip pouch swap 1 - 16/4, 14. Selvedge zip pouch 2 - 16/4, 15. Large selvedge zip pouch - 26/4

So now to plan my new 'to do first' for May. Yikes!

How did you go in April? 

I am linking up with....

Sunday Stash #9

50 Followers Give-Away

Firstly I have to start off this post by saying how amazed I am by the response to the 'French General - Petit Odile' Charm Pack Give-Away. I am trying to respond to all the folks but I fear it is going to take me a while. This humble little blog has nearly doubled its 'followers' in 4 days! I think Kristy is experiencing similar volumes. If you have not entered my give-away yet, you can click here and teleport to the entry from last Wednesday. If you have not entered Kristy's give-away  then click here as well. Entries close this week at 8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday 18th April.


The Unsinkable

Secondly, I have to acknowledge the historical significance of the date above. It's been 100 years since the majestic Titanic set sail from Southampton and into the history books for all the wrong reasons. My own grandmother, who was born in Portsmouth Army barracks,  remembered the shock of the event as she was 11 years old in 1912.


I have previously shared that Duncan wrote a great article, on the anniversary of the sinking, for his Student Newspaper. He is a walking encyclopaedia of facts on this topic. He can reel off the stats without having to look them up - how long she was, how many decks, passengers, survivors, number of lifeboats, name of rescue vessels and ones that didn't. You get the picture? Having Aspergers is like a Fact superpower. (He will always be on my team at Trivia nights). His interest in the Titanic started when he received the gorgeous pop out book called 'Titanic Ship of Dreams' for his 6th birthday. It has morphed into an interest in all ships since.

Last night he asked his father and I if we could set eh alarm for 2:20 this morning.
"Why?" we asked.
"Because that was the time that Titanic sank 100 years ago."
I responded, fearing the alarm ringing at that ungodly hour. "Um, actually that was 2:20am local Newfoundland time." Phew!
So then he used the internet 'time zone' converter to calculate that it would correspond to 2:50pm Australian time today. And he remembered to pause at that time today. He is very special.

This book was c0-written by a local man, Steve Hall. His wife runs the school canteen where I volunteer twice a term. This is the signed copy he donated to the school library. It's so weird to have a world expert living in Ballina NSW!


A Little Bit More of Katie Jump Rope - KJR

Can anyone pick the odd FQs out?

Today's Sunday stash is more of a supplement to my Denyse Schmidt collection. I was missing a few FQs from the Katie Jump Rope line, so I ordered them earlier this month. During the week I received my order from Clay Deal on Etsy.

However, even as I cut into the KJR stash this weekend, I realised that I was still missing a brown and some dark green fabrics from the line. A quick Etsy search, and I was able to order these from Bilje Olifantje. Kit was also kind enough to track down the 'green ribbons' fabric for me too!


Katie Jump Kaleidoscopic Kites - KJKK


I started drawing up plans for my own 'Kaleidoscopic Kites' quilt using the FREE pattern designed by Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts. It is such a lovely and striking pattern. I was inspired by this version in KJR by Kelly of Kelby Sews. I am not sure I could ever be a quilt designer - I am far too mathematically challenged. Whilst using grid paper to make changes to the  colour order, I made 3 mistakes and had to draw it up all over again. It was so frustrating.

My favourite fabric from the KJR line

Anyway after finishing the planning stage, I slipped in a NEW rotary blade and proceeded to cut "My Precious" stash of KJR Fat Quarters. It wasn't as hard as I thought it might have been. Maybe I haven't been hoarding it long enough!

Delicious selvedges to make a pouch with

It was a time consuming job but I got to watch an Episode of 'Coast, Who do You Think You Are? and Is the West History Part 1 & 2'. We are moving into the second week of school holidays. My husband and I  shared the kiddy duties today as we were both sick of them fighting. He got time off to go into town for a coffee and I got sewing time later.

Here's how they were earlier in the day looking all happy and cosy together on the couch watching tv. Believe me, this is a rare shot of all three together. The quillows were ones my mum made for each child. They love them.