Quiltmaking one year on...

I didn't begin blogging until October last year, but started my first quilt at a workshop at Sewco a year ago TODAY! This is what I've made in the last year:

Nine quilts - Funky Stripes, Babushka Irish Chain, Waters of our Minds, Jo's quilt, Partisans' quilt, Fairy quilt, Raspberry lime splice quilt, Hearts and Floral Bouquet.

Six table runners - here and here and here.

Six Xmas wall hangings - here.

Six placemats - here

Three skirts - here

Three pairs pants - here and here

Two dresses - here

Two bags - Mermaid bag and Amy Butler Frenchy Bag.

Two aprons - here and here.

One pin cushion - here

And some toys - Babushka dolls, four Purl frogs and Moopy bunny .

Phew! It's been a busy year of stitching and creating! I have loved it.

New Japanese double gauze fabrics

I love these new fabrics over at Kelani Fabrics. I used double gauze that I bought at Sewco for Lily's dress. It's so so soft and was easier to sew with than I expected. As they say on Yo Gabba Gabba - "Try it, you'll like it!".

Philosophy for a 21st century crafting mumma

In her luscious book The Gentle Art of Domesticity, Jane Brocket highly recommends the book Thrift to Fantasy (2005) by Rosemary McLeod. Jane describes it as:

"The book of the exhibition in New Zealand in 2005. Fabulously illustrated and well-researched text about the gentle arts in New Zealand during the heyday of homemaking. Beg, steal or borrow a copy".

With second hand copies for sale on Amazon from US$118 (!), I was lucky enough to borrow a copy from the BCC library. I've just started reading it, and already feel like it's a window into the lives of my matriarchal lineage here in Australia during that time. I was particularly touched by these two paragraphs on p. 27-8:

"My mother eventually left for the city, and ceased to be a small town and country woman. She embarked on many new and sometimes outrageous adventures. yet throughout her short life she never ceased to make textile objects in the tradition of her mother, and her mother before that. She expressed something profound about her belief in her own self-worth in this way, as I see it, and it was the one area of her life where she met with nothing but success and pleasure.

"I should this think is still common to keen practitioners of these crafts. Their skill is an island in their lives, a solace and an avenue to self-expression that might otherwise have no opportunity to surface. But it's also a skill that ties them to other people, a kind of sharing that weaves stories within families and communities. A textile object is history you can touch, which may become threadbare, but which can survive, given the chance. It may survive longer than you do".

In a nutshell, this is exactly why I am currently so enamoured with quiltmaking, sewing and creating - and feel so drawn to sharing my experience of this online while reading about those of others. Anyone else feel the same?

New Amy Butler & Liberty gorgeousness

Am hyperventilating after just stumbling across the Westminster site and seeing the new Amy Butler range. They won't be out until September - I say waaaah but my credit card says phew! I love the nouveau-ness of Fuschia Tree and Passion Lily. There are also some new Liberty fabrics out this month.

Yee-ha!

Ever since I spied a pair made by my friend, I've coveted a cozy pair of fleece pants. I bought the fabric last Winter and finally finished them! They're extra comfy with a waistband made of lycra. Perfect for lazy Winter days, now that the weather is turning a little chillier.

Fabric democracy

I stumbled across this site, Spoonflower and I think it's amazing! You can upload your own designs for fabric and have it printed on your choice of size and type of fabric. They really don't look that much more expensive that what we pay in fabric stores. I see it as the democritization (is that a word?!) of fabric production.

Wish I had some graphic design skills! If you are like me, you can click on Shop, browse the fabric designs of others and have them printed up. People are just so creative. I especially love the doll patterns category!

Mary has a (not so little) quilt

I had a WONDERFUL day today, meeting my dear friend's Sarah's gorgeous 4 week old daughter Mary. She is soooooo cute! And she has such a strong, beautiful mumma. :-)

I finished their quilt last month, and I have been SO excited to give it to them and share it here! I made the Floral Bouquet quilt out of the book Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam Lintott and Nicky Lintot. I used a jelly roll of Snippets by American Jane by Moda and also a white Jelly Roll Basics by Moda. It's the largest quilt I have ever made (60 x 88 inches). So for the first time I used the services of a professional quilter, the delightful Barb Cowan of The Quilt Connection. Lily picked the hearts quilting design and I think it turned out beautifully.

It was really lovely to give a quilt to Sarah, who has stitched her love into so many quilts for many of her friends and family.

Mother's Day Amy Butler Apron Overlay

I enjoyed every minute (even the long periods of "reverse sewing"!) of making this Apron Overlay by Amy Butler for my wonderful Mum. It's one of the designs in her Barcelona Skirt pattern. Mum chose the fabrics from Sewco in her favourite colours.

The exterior side:





The reversible side:





Now I can't wait to make one for myself!

Oh, pants!

Sale at Pink Chalk Fabrics

I stumbled across this store last night, and they are having a sale with some great bargains...Pink Chalk Anniversary Sale