Log cabin quilt continues.

Log cabin quilt, 

Oh how I have missed thee... 

Please don't think I had forgotten you, 

you've been on my mind a long time.

I placed the first stitches in you years ago,

and kind of hid you in a cupboard for a while,

and packed you up and moved you.

But don't think this was how it would end.

I was just waiting for the right time to reconnect with you again, 

and oh have we reconnected old friend.

As I promised, this year I will dedicate more time to my quilting as well as my garment sewing. So on New Years Eve I decided to end 2011 as I meant to begin 2012, with more quilt sewing. I dug out my log cabin quilt I began working on in 2009, and sorted out the different fabrics that I had cut into 1" strips and piled into a paper bag for storage. I had forgotten how much I loved the blues, reds and creams. I was also a little shocked to see just how many 1" strips I had actually cut? I must have been in a bit of a cutting frenzy that weekend.

Over the weekend I added 16 blocks to my 14 already sewn up - that's 30 total now! yippy!

My MIL had fun arranging different combinations (oh and that pinwheel quilt? I promise to share more on that soon).

 ~ A diamond / square arrangement, I really wasn't sure about this ~

 ~ The more traditional log cabin layout, I like this one ~

These blocks are foundation pieced using the template found here. I simply copied the image to Microsoft word and enlarged it to a size I was happy with. There are many good tutorials online on how to foundation piece. Here is a good video that explains the basics. (Tip: Always use 'foundation paper' to sew with, as normal paper is too thick. Foundation paper can be found on eBay).

A log cabin quilt is the perfect quilt for someone who enjoys the sewing process but is apprehensive about making a quilt because of the quilting involved. A log cabin quilt can be secured using the tradition tie method, which does not involve any quilting. The tying method is a legitimate way of finishing quilts and was employed in the past by women who wanted to make up utility quilts quickly.

Are you inspired to make a log cabin quilt too?

Also, it's been such fun connecting with you all on Ravelry! Who knew there were so many sewer/knitters out there :-)

Sam xox

Retro quilt complete.

My retro quilt on our queen sized bed - what was supposed to be a smallish lap quilt for the couch turned out bigger than expected!

It is too hot again today to do any sewing (why does it only get this hot on the weekends?!?). I finished my retro quilt top and thought I would share a few photos with you. I know these photos don't look much different to the photos I posted before of just the quilt top, but trust me it's finally finished :-)

It's hard to imagine ever needing a quilt as I type this in the final month of summer, but I know winter will creep up much too quickly and I will soon be thanking myself I have this beauty to lie under.

As it is so hot and we don't have air conditioning, I decided to finish this quilt by tying instead of hand quilting (that is more of a winter hobby!). Just like handing quilting and machine quilting, tying is a well used quilting technique. The technique itself dates back hundreds of years, and is a way of finishing off quilts that are made to be used and are needed quickly. While I did not need this quilt quickly, it will definitely be one will be in regular use this winter - it will be a 'snuggle under a quilt on the couch' quilt.

I decided to tie my knots so they created a decorative 'x' on the quilt top, with the knot fastened on the underside. An alternative way to tie a quilt is using a basic reef knot.

For the backing fabric I used a yellow and white daisy printed sheet I found in a thrift store last month. I had enough of the fabric left over to also use some for binding the quilt, which turned out to look quite nice.

I hand stitched the binding down to give it a neat look. I am thrilled with how easy this project was, and the fact that I was able to make a quilt completely out of vintage fabrics!

If you are wondering where I sourced the amazing fabrics I used for the quilt top, I purchased them all from Etsy shop Zwizzle at a very reasonable price.

Sam xox

Quilt group.

You would never guess what happened to me this week!

This week I have been attending training for work at a conference centre in the city. The training has been great but ... I wouldn't be blogging about training now would I?!? During the lunch break yesterday I was chatting away with a group of colleagues and out of the corner of my eye I spied a beautiful blue and white bow tie quilt. After closer inspection I noticed that it was draped over a chair alongside a number of other quilts.

I ohhhed and ahhhed at the quilts and my colleagues looked at me confused. I confessed to them that I was quilt mad and already my blood was pumping a little quicker just being in the presence of such beautiful quilts! I caught the eye of one of the ladies standing near the bow tie quilt and she waved at me to come in and look.

The conversation that followed felt warm and familiar. She explained that they were displaying the quilts to the monthly Kings Cross Art Group who wanted to see the quilts. I lamented that I would love to be part of a quilting group, but did not have any friends who quilted. She told me that they were the Eastern Suburbs quilters. I almost fell over - because I live in the Eastern Suburbs!!!!!

The ladies were very excited and told me all about the things they do together as a group. We exchanged more 'quilty' conversation then I was given a hug and a hand written invitation to join their group and I was on my way...

In the spirit of this quilty post, have a look at these beauties available on Etsy at the moment.

36 Vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden Blocks from roryunraveled

Vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt by ricracandbuttons

Vintage Dresden Plate quilt by tresreneestudio

Vintage Double Wedding Ring quilt by somewhereinntime

Quiltmaking for You by stellabystar

Sam xox

Prints Charming.

For anyone living in or near Sydney, listen up. Prints Charming is holding a Spring Fabric Sale!

Details as follows:

Saturday 4th September

9:30 - 2:00

2 Young Street, Annandale

Those of you not living near Sydney, do not dispair. You can get your Prints Charming fix hereby visiting their blog, and if you like what you see, consider buying their book:

Different countries have different book titles and covers...

In the US it is called Sew Charming --> click here to have a look on Amazon.

In most other countries the book is called Prints Charming --> click here to have a look on Amazon.

Just in case you were wondering, I am in no way affiliated with Prints Charming, I am just giving the recommendation because I love their style :-)

Sam xox

Grand cooking plans.

First things first!

I had to buy a new rotary cutter today as I trod on my old one, and managed to snap it in half! Fortunately it was closed so no damage was done to my foot. I have a quilting plan up my sleeve... thats all I will say :-)

I had a nice dinner with Michelle at her place last night. She made a Garlic Butter, Prawn and Bacon Pasta, and it was delicious! She found the recipe on the Taste website.

After dinner we watched P.S I Love You (cried most of the way through it) and read some of her Julie Child Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook she was given for her birthday last October.

Last weekend Michelle had a sleep over at my place because Jamie was away, and she insisted she bring Julie&Julia for us to watch. I felt it had a similar feeling to Devil Wears Prada, what with Julia and her husbands relationship dramas, but ignoring that I thought the film was really good. I didn't realise Michelle had the cookbook, so I was super excited to see it sitting on her bookshelf last night.

She is yet to cook anything from it, preferring to read through it first (I think she is up to page four hundred and something of the total seven hundred or so pages). We think the first recipe will be the "Duck boning one" - more for the experience rather than how it will taste! My brother (who is the master chef) assures me it is totally easy, I think his words were something along the lines of "You just rip the bones out of the little *** and then chuck the whole thing on the hot plate..." Right Tom ... I'm sure that is the impression Julia Child wanted to get across too.

Michelle did point out one problem with our goal .... we don't actually know where you can buy a whole fresh duck...

Lets hope we don't try the mature partridge recipes!

Sam xox

Michelle's first quilt.

Michelle is making a quilt!

After looking through countless books and magazines in the Kelly Quilting Library, she came across a 'crazy patchwork' quit that she loved. There are 25 8" blocks in this quilt, and each block is foundation paper pieced using the block pattern below.

The quilt is called "Victorian Wedding" and is based on the old tradition of making a quilt from precious lace and fabrics as a wedding gift. Well, we just liked the style!

Jamie seemed slightly distressed that he now had more than one woman quilting in his house!

Michelle began constructing her first block...

She was a pro on the sewing machine!

And at using scissors!

And here is what she achieved in a few short hours!

Aren't they beautiful!

This quilt is sure going to be a beauty!

Congrats on beginning your first quilt Michelle!

Sam xox

My finished quilts.

Does anyone else find that they finish more quilts that are gifts than they do for themselves?

I want to share with you some quilts I have finished over the years.

This wall quilt I made for my Nan for Christmas in 2007. I also made one for my mum for mothers day in 2007. In Nans I used pink fabrics, which had a really nice result. In Mums I stuck to a country theme, which made the quilt look totally different.

This is the only photo I have of mums quilt. I really should take a better one!

Next up is the wall quilt I made for my other Grandma for her 80th birthday in November 2008. I chose a nice combination of fabrics and was pleased with the result. I forgot, however, to sew the hanging rod pocket onto the back of the quilt before I gave it to her! I told her I would put one on, but she was so excited about getting the quilt that she thumb tacked (pinned) it onto her bedroom wall. Perhaps not the most traditional way to display a quilt, but at least I know she loved it!

For Christmas of 2007, I made Mardi and Pop a Christmas wall quilt. It is called Rudy and Me.

And finally, here are two quilts I made for myself.

The first is a simple three block wall sampler. I made the blocks by hand.

This is by far my favorite though - my Wreath of Flowers quilt. This little baby is made up of 163 1/4" hexagons and took me moths to complete. It is sewn by hand and has to be my best quilting achievement so far. I entered it into our local show this year and won first prize for it. I got the blue ribbon and $5 prize money. Oh, and a certificate!

Sam xox

A previous post from 31st December 2007 (part 2).

Here are some pictures of the quilt I made for my Nan for Christmas...

You may recognise the pattern.... it is the same as the one i made my Mum a couple of years ago. You can see it here behind me, Jamie, and my brother.

I have changed the colours to pink to suit her taste and new house (they recently moved here from the UK).

Busy with the appliqué.

I hand quilted Nans quilt by echo quilting around the applique and quilted a 1/4 inch in from the pieced boarder. Here is a close-up of some of the hand quilting...

Sam xox

Craft day today.

So the girls and I got together again today for Craft Day.

Myself, Michelle and Mill.

We began by doing a Yoga class at our local University Gym. It was really good! My favorite position was one in which you sit legs tucked under, knees apart, and then stretch forward along the ground with your head on the ground. So comfortable!

We walked back to my place and got on with our craft!

Mill is still working on the latchhook rug she is making. Michelle knitted a bit of her scarf, and also hunted through my cookbooks for Xmas chicken recipes for our upcoming Xmas in July party we are having at her place.

I worked on my M is for Mudgee wallhanging quilt (quiltlet?).

As some of you might remember I fell in love with this quilt in the latest issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting. Ruth Buchanan who designed it made it from a charm pack names "Cornucopia" by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda. I love the fabric in the quilt she made so hunted around to see where I could buy a charm pack. Found some on the American eBay site and the pack arrived on Friday!

I have sewn the background together, and at craft day today I made all the 1/4" bias strips for the flower stems.

Its so cold here at the moment. I love my slippers and heater!

Sam xox