Cultural Fusion Quilts blog tour

Welcome to the second to last stop on the blog tour for Sujata Shah's first ever book, Cultural Fusion Quilts A Melting Pot of Piecing Traditions.

I'm really excited about this book and what a pleasure and an honour to be part of this blog tour after following Sujata's blog, The Root Connection for many years. I've always admired the quilts she has made with her unique sense of style and colouring. This book gives a view into her world, her inspiration and her root connection.

There are fifteen quilt patterns in the book and when I got it, I wanted to rush to the fabric stash and sewing machine and make them all. It's been a long time since I've been inspired to sew a quilt by machine but this book had me pulling fabrics right away and warming up the machine.
The instructions are very clear and there are step by step diagrams to help out as well as suggestions for fabric selection and different setting variations for each of the quilts.

This method of stacking fabrics, cutting then switching them and sewing is a whole lot of fun. In fact it was a joy to be doing just that. There was no need for rulers, templates or pins to piece the blocks which makes the process of making them very speedy.

It was hard to pick a favourite out of the book but in the end I decided to work with the shapes similar to the ones in this quilt. The same shape with slight variations are also used in some of the other quilts so I knew I would have lots of options for setting them.

I made a few practice blocks to decide how I wanted to proceed. Hence the block on the left has a skinnier shape than the one on the right. No matter, they can all be used.  I really love the slight curves which were so very easy to sew.

As Sujata states:

Be curious

Be bold

Be spontaneous

Be creative

Be intuitive.

I made the blocks using mainly Kaffe Fassett and Phillip Jacob fabrics in the red family because I have a lot of those and then I chose some very old greys along with black and whites out of my cupboard for contrast. It felt good to make use of my fabric stash.
When cutting the fabric stacks, you get negative and positive blocks. I decided to put aside the ones that have the black and greys in the center shape for another quilt that will look totally different.

I played around with settings and added the lime strips because I kept thinking how much like leaves the shapes were and I do love hot pinks and lime together.

This is the finished quilt top which looks like funky trees, it's lap sized and approximately 60" square. I did buy the border fabric as it had the look and colour I was after. I love it a lot and I thank Sujata for gently guiding me to experiment and for inspiring me to make this quilt. I plan to use some perle cotton thread to hand quilt it when the weather cools down here in Australia.

If you would like to go into the draw for a chance to win a copy of the book, leave me a comment and I'll draw a  winner in five days time.

If the winner is a US resident, they will get a hard copy but if the winner is international, they will receive the E-book version.

 

Here is a complete list of the blogs participating in the tour, some of them are still open for comments and the chance to win.

 

Tuesday December 2 Sujata Shah @ C&T Publishing

Friday December 5 Rachaeldaisy @ Blue Mountain Daisy 

Saturday December 6 Lori Dejarnett @ Humble Quilts
 
Sunday December 7 Casey York @ The Studiolo  

Monday December 8 Malka Dubrawsky @ A Stitch in Dye   

Tuesday December 9 Sherri Lynn Wood @ daintytime

Wednesday December10 Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville's Quips and Snips

Thursday December 11 Jake Finch @ Generation Q

Friday December 12 Jan Burgwinkle @ Be*mused

Saturday December 13 Janet Treen @ Quiltsalott

Sunday December 14 Lindsay Conner @ Lindsay Sews

Small Pieces Spectacular Quilts giveaway

I was thrilled to be invited to be part of the blog tour for this second book written by authors Mary Elizabeth Kinch and Biz Storms. I own their first book and loved that so I knew this one was a must have.
The book starts off with some wonderful examples of antique quilts and there are lots of tips and tricks throughout the rest of the pages that make sewing small pieces a snap.

All the quilts are ones that I'd love to make but there are two in the book that call my name.

As it happens, they're both string pieced but with different methods.

The cheddar background in "Go With The Flow" is dynamic don't you think?

I also love the cover quilt, " Pumpkin Peel" which is a clever variation on two patterns I'm familiar with, Orange Peel and Double Wedding Ring.

I thought it would be fun to try and do a variation of the Pumpkin Peel pattern. I started by thinking that a doll quilt size would be a great place to start. The block for one quarter of the quilt is close to forty inches which is bigger than I wanted to go.

I decided to try shrinking the elliptical pieces to see if they looked workable and settled on a 60% reduction. That looked great but it also shrunk the seam allowance.

I made some new templates out of plastic, excluded the seam allowances then used a quarter inch brass wheel to redraw them.

I like to use a tearaway vilene for paper foundation piecing which I prefer over paper. I can see through it and it does come away easily with small stitches.

You may not have noticed but I roughly drew some guidelines following the angle of the arc so that my strip piecing wouldn't go wonky. I didn't actually use the lines for stitching, just for angling my seam allowance on the strips if I needed to.

Here's a tip if you do use paper. The ipad is a great little tool to have next to the sewing machine as it acts like a mini light table so you can check the pieces are lined up correctly.

I'm loving the rhythm of paper piecing and it's looking pretty good to me.

I'm thinking by now that if I do just the small arcs instead of the double arcs as in the pattern, that would keep the quilt small.  I'll cut the background about 22" -24" which would be the size of the doll quilt I'd want. As you might know, red is my favourite colour so why not use it for the background?

Then again, I love the cheddar too, what would you choose?

Before I make that decision, I'll carry on and mark my seam allowances on the front ready to applique the arcs to the background. Here I'm using a Clover chalk pencil.

What if I make a couple of the bigger arcs and see how they look attached the the smaller ones? I'm not finished playing just yet.

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on August 19th.

There's still a few stops on the blog tour for a chance to win a copy of the book plus I've included all the blogs that have participated so far. There are lots of  tutorials, reviews, tips and fun interpretations of featured projects to check out.

First stop, Sew Mama Sew

July 31 ~ Wonky World

August 10 ~ See How We Sew

Aug 20 ~ Amy's Creative Side
Aug 29 ~ Supergoof
Sept 3 ~ Quilts in the Barn
Sept 11 ~ Stitch This/Martingale
Sept 17 ~ Quilting with the Past

In addition, Mary Elizabeth has ten giveaways on her blog that is open until the September 25. Go here to enter.

On my needles

It seems like ages since I could sit down and blog, we had a long weekend and lots of family visiting so I've been snatching moments to play with my projects.
I've been knitting with gorgeous Noro Kureyon wool to make squares for an afghan. I've become sensitive to wool and can't wear it as a garment but I do like to play with knitting needles.

The changes in the colours are just delicious especially when I knit the squares from the outside and inside of the balls every so many rows.

You probably recognise the pattern as the Lizard ridge, free at knitty.com.
The bubbles have been likened to wee boobies but when the blocks are blocked or washed, they disappear. I may not even block them because they look so good.

I spent the whole day yesterday at the Sydney quilt show and still didn't see everything. I did catch up with some favourite people and picked up some loot. I bought Brigitte Giblin's book from the Quiltmania stand. There is a quilt in there that I'm mad for. Brigitte has started a blog which gives a whole lot of valuable information about the quilts she has in the book and how to's on English paper piecing.

I could have bought at least four books at that stand but settled on this one by Reiko Kato because it has lots of wonderful purse patterns.

I didn't think I'd buy any fabric but after a lot of deliberation, I weakened and bought a block of the month with fabric kitted up so this is for the first month.

I'm not going to say what it is until I have a block made and can show you since it's hand piecing (eeek) with reproduction fabrics and that's something that will challenge me. Lets just say that I probably need my head read because it's a biggie project and I needed the kit because I just know I don't have enough of the repros in my stash.

I'd better carry on with this Trailing Vines panel which is nearly done. I'll be posting the next installment sometime in the weekend for those of you stitching along with me. I'll also try and do a post on how to tackle really skinny small leaves soon.

I have three other projects on the go at the moment, how many are you tackling?

Lovely things

Aside from quilting, I do enjoy doing hardanger when I can find the time. I haven't spent much time on it this year but made these two decorations for a Santa swap for my sewing group. I'm promising myself to make more decorations for next year since these were so much fun to do. I say that every year but I've already ordered a couple of things so there will be no excuses.

I was blown away by this lovely lot of goodies that arrived in the mail last week from Tara over at Sew Unique Creations as a thank you for sharing something of mine. It was a big surprise and thrill I can tell you. Thanks a million Tara, I love it all to bits.
The book is a wonderful read and makes me think that maybe my quilts I make for family do have stories attached to them.

This book is a Christmas gift to myself that arrived in the mail today. It is truly inspiring to read about Martha Skelton and her quilts, I'm going to savour it slowly and make it last. What an amazing quilter, I'd love to be like her.

I'm not doing any Christmas sewing, the time has gotten away from me but I am plugging away at some hand quilting because summer has left Sydney so I'm making the most of quilting weather.

I'm going to put the next Trailing Vines quilt panel on hold until January just because of time restraints. I have no idea how many people are downloading the pattern or how many have made a start or going to make a start but I'm sure nobody has made the two panels yet. I'll be working on my next one after Christmas and hope to put more information up as well at the same time.

Bits and pieces

One of my little grandaughters is about to turn five soon. One day when her Mum was sitting and stitching, she expressed her need to do the same but a four year old with a sharp needle isn't the best idea when there are younger ones hanging around.
I remembered the sewing cards we played with when we were young and on one of my excursions, I scored this adorable Moda set complete with two plastic needles and some wool. Perfect for popping in the birthday parcel.

My daughter has since found this site that has some colourful cards you can print out for the young ones. They can use a large tapestry needle which doesn't have a sharp point.

Check out these ribbons I couldn't leave without, I thought they'd be great for the gathered clutches so many are making. The tutorial is over at Noodlehead. Or maybe something else?

I've also had some lovely mail after some button pushing lately. This fat quarter collection is McKenzie by Dena Designs.

I love how the black plays with the pastels, it takes the sweetness level down a notch.

I'm all for some of the simpler patchwork designs with a scrappy look and wow fabric so also felt the need for some reading material to inspire me.

I did promise myself  free motion Fridays and today I have been playing with leaves and filler designs in the one piece. It's starting to feel like thread doodling with a needle. I didn't find the leaves hard to do at all and just followed the instructions on the Patsy Thompson Vines And Leaves Vol 2.

I hatching a plan and that's to make the next piece cushion sized, I think it's about time these threads went into something other than practice now.

Just dropping by for a chat

I'm just popping my head in to have a natter about all sorts of things that have been going on. I just got these two books in the last couple of days. The Encyclopedia of applique by Barbara Brackman is one I've been meaning to get for awhile. It's a great rescource book full of sketches of applique blocks and will be usefull when deciding on blocks for a design.

The cookbook is self explanatory really, I need to have a go at the macarons now that I have a new oven. I'll let you know how that goes. Macarons are the new cupcake it seems. This one has the easy method, not that Italian, thermometer, meringue, bound to go wrong method.

I picked up this piece of fabric at the LQS which I thought could be very useful for broderie perse,. It's Broderie Perse by RJR, an older line. You don't need to see the few Kaffes I got, it's more of the same luscious stuff I've shown before.

OK, it's confession time, I've taken the process pledge as you can see from my side bar and I've been holding back, I'm ususally a die hard needle turner who uses a toothpick on the side when it comes to applique but I've been harbouring secrets from you my friends. Yes it's true, I've been feeling guilty and it's time I fessed up.

That's not freezer paper templates you see in the photo below, it's Floriani Stitch 'n Wash fusible tearaway. The glue used for the fusible coating is water soluble.

I've been speeding up my sewing on the Stars and Sprigs blocks by using this product

I iron the reverse template to the back of the fabric and use a glue pen to fold and stick the seam to the back. It's important to use lower heat with the iron. I'm going through those refills fast!

I can then just pin my pieces as I need them on the background and sew away to my hearts content. It really has sped up the process, works brilliantly for simple shapes and it's not messy. I feel like a traitor to needleturn but I think I'll get over that, I'm just open to using more than one method.

After I've finished the piece, I wash all the glue out and slit the backs of the shapes to remove the tearaway with my tweezers.

This border I'm doing should be finished in a couple of days, it's been great doing lots of leaves, I love them. I also love choosing those way out colours. I think this is my favourite leaf.

Cut from this fabric, it was placed so that the colour change occured inbetween two sections. It's Aurora by Brandon Mably.

I thought I'd show off my absolute favourites, these ones have so much pattern that you get more bang for your buck when cutting out pieces. This one is Coleous from Phillip Jacobs.

Shell Montage, again a Phillip Jacobs.

Varied leaves, Phllip Jacobs. I love that all these come in six different colourways.

I hang my head in shame because I've been remiss in showing you this giveaway I won from Elaine at Soggy Bottom Flats. So sorry Elaine. I love it because it's a wool pincushion kit and you know I love pincushions. The wool might stop the rusty pins in our sometimes humid weather. Elaine has some kits in her Etsy store if you'd like one.

I was really lucky and won this fob from Kaaren. Now my scissors look flash! I love the bird charm. Thanks Kaaren.

That's not all, I must be having a lucky streak, this RAK (random act of kindness) came from  Anna at Thimbleanna. I left a comment on her blog ages ago about how much I'd love to get my hands on one of these colour cards and she remembered. What a kind gesture, thanks so much Anna.

Haven't I been chatty today? Finally, Happy 125th Birthday to the fabulous Scandinavian designer Josef Frank.

This one looks so much like Kim McLean's leaves, how could I not be impressed.

I'm feeling inspired.

I decided to mix things up a bit with the Stars and Sprigs pattern and tackle a border. There are four of them of course so making one now will break the monotony later on.

I have the very center section stitched, lucky I love appliqueing leaves.

I think it took about three evenings just to get the stems down. I'm really loving  the effect of the different browns used. I'll have to remember to do that for another quilt.

I'm not bothering with an overlay this time. I'm marking the pieces on the background with a washout pen and since I'll wash the basting glue I use out afterwards, it'll cause no problems. I think it's sped up the whole stitching process too.

I have two more of the sprig blocks completed. I'm surprised at myself, being so focused on this one project.

I took a trip out yesterday with Mr Quiltsalott since he's on holiday. I  especially wanted to visit Material Obsession which is about an hour and a half away. I needed him to navigate since I'm rubbish at finding my way anywhere.

I felt like a celebrity shopper, the ones that have the stores open just for them because we were the only ones in the shop.

Unfortunately Kathy wasn't there, I always seem to miss her when I go. I did meet the lovely Liesle who I enjoyed having a good chat to. I'm sure that creativity oozes out of the walls there when you see what quilts are lying around.

I was on a mission and that was to stock up on a few Kaffe, Brandon and Phillip fabrics. Gotta keep the stash replenished you know. I used to buy fat quarters, then I moved up to half metres and now I find I want a metre of the ones I love.

There was another ulterior motive actually and that was to get my hands on some raffle tickets. I elected to put my name in the hat to do a workshop with Kim McLean. I'm crossing my fingers and so I call these tickets my Willy Wonka golden tickets because it doesn't hurt to think positively. I really got very excited to see the quilt that she's offering as the project.

I've been feeling inspired lately and I'm wanting to come up with some ideas for a quilt. I have some initial thoughts that need developing and have been poring over some books to spark my imagination so these ones are the reading material for this week.

At some stage I'll have to get the pencils out and put something to paper, I'll let you know how I go with that.

You've seen it all over blogland and now I have my copy in my hot little hands. What an amazing pattern and of course I had to have it but I have no plans just yet to stitch it.

It seems like I've had a colourful week and I've been enjoying the birds visiting. This one is a Rosella and we've been getting quite a few of the other natives as well. I'm putting out a few sunflower seeds for them which means they visit most days.