Stash Note 25

For this Stash note is only one word necessary. Cool.

Cool because it is the new collection from Melody Miller 'Ruby Star Spring.'
Cool because it is another superb collection by the very talented Designer.
Cool because I am probably the only one who has a half meter of the entire collection in the UK
Cool because we in the UK actually have the entire collection before the US for a change
Cool because the Eternal Maker stock them
Cool because I bought it at the Quilt Festival on Thursday and met Terri and Ceri from the Brit BEE

Look at this gorgeousness. Aren't the colours fabulous !

 And this bee is just something else.

Stash Note 24

Today I would like to share with you some fabric that isn't your typical quilting cotton. And it  perfectly fits with the release of issue No 6 from Fat Quarterly that is all about alternative fabrics.

The first stash item is this wonderful fabric that I bought in East London where I work around the area of Middlesex Street and Petticoat Lane Market. The area is home to a large number of African textile shops. I often roam these street but had not bought any fabric for quilting purposes there until last week. Often I find the prints to large or a little bit to traditional for a contemporary quilt.  But I came across a shop last week that had prints with smaller designs and this one here caught my attention in particular. The fabric is a 100 % cotton but is heavily starched which makes it feel rather stiff but softens considerable after a wash. The fabric is printed with a kind of wax technique and there can be small faults. The downside (is it really a downside ?) is that the fabric is only sold in larger quantities with the smallest being 3 yards, then 6 and then 10 yards. But none of this really matters because price is senational. I bought this 6 yard beauty for GBP 12 (in words twelve pounds).
I can't remember what the shop was called but if any of you wish to know I will find out when I have a wonder around there next time. The prints comes in various colours. 

Next of are those four fibrant hand printed pieces that I bought a while ago from Malka Dubrawsky at 'A stitch in dye'. Malka makes wonderful quilts in which she uses her own printed fabric and other quilting cottons together. She will have a fabric line coming out with Moda soon and I for one am keen to get my hands on the collection. I love hand printed fabric but they do have a price understandably.

And the last piece I'd like to share with you is also hand printed. This was bought in February this year in Stone Town on Zanzibar where I sometimes holiday. I love this print as it reminds me of coffee beans and that reminds me of spiced coffee at the Zanzibar coffee house and then I get what is called in German "Fernweh".

None of these prints have been made into something yet but I am sure inspiration will strike at the most unexpected moment.

Have a lovely week.

Blocks upon blocks

Well it is Sunday morning again and looking back at the week I must say I have been busy. I made one mini quilt (blogged here), and six separate blocks which is not bad going for a week that has been busy otherwise too. I even managed to go the Theatre to the see the delightful Domic West in 'Butley' which was fantastic.

So let me share with you what I have been up to.

First up are this weeks blocks of the Summer Series Sampler QAL I joined. I am doing this with my stash of Moda Cross weave, some Essex linen and a few bits and pieces of shot cotton.  I love the colours and texture of the Cross weave because they are so soft and subtle yet intense. This has been really enjoyable so far, fairly easy blocks but next week I guess will be some paper piecing which will be a first for me. I joined the QAL because it offers the possibility of working with a variety of techniques and of course because I love a good sampler. Favourite block so far is the Mosaic block ( could it be because it is entirely made from HSTs......surely not !)

Mosaic

Star of Virgina

Greek Cross

Second up is Project 51 (or is it 57 ?) but I can't talk about it. First rule of project 51 is that you don't talk about project 51, the second rule of project 51 is: You do NOT talk about project 51..... 

Brit Bee News

I am a member of the Brit Bee that started some three months ago and it is my first Bee ! You see I am not somebody who willingly joins into clubs and things. Two years ago I thought that I should not be running by myself all the time so I joined a running club in nearby Richmond. I did this for about a half year and then sort of fled because I just couldn't bear the constant talking and comparing and obsessing about times anymore.
I know clubs of any shape or form are all about shared interest but sooner or later they all turn to intense for me. 

So you can imagine that I would not be so keen to join a Bee but on the other hand I love the idea of helping to create 12 quilts throughout a year. So I joined the Brit Bee and am loving it (phew.....)

The first month we made blocks for Trudi who wanted us to make 2 blocks each of the LynneBobSquarepants.

Trudi meanwhile received most of the blocks and put the layout together which looks truly stunning.

Next on for the month of June was Fiona who asked us to to make here disappearing 9-patches and this is what I came up with:

A little bold with the white square but I think it brightens the finished quilt up and Fiona wanted us all to make different versions.

 

And now for the months of July it is my turn. I have requested the lovely Brit Bee ladies to make me a red and white sampler quilt with my favorite shot cotton from Oakshotts.
 
I am asking for two different blocks each using both colors and other than that give the Ladies creative Freedom. I already found out that this kind of brief is bliss for some and torture for others. Oh dear !!! My inspiration comes from this stunning quilt which also happens to be a Bee quilt.

I can't wait to receive the blocks back. This is so exciting.

Happy sewing everybody.

Judith

One "All the fish in the sea" quilt

.. done... as Gordon Ramsey would say if he would make quilts instead of delicious meals.

The pattern I used here is a very simple one, just stripes and I think this fits the pattern of the fabric perfectly. The fabric from Birch is 100 % organic and has a wonderful soft feel to it and the colours are bright yet warm. I paired the strips of the patterned fabric with solids, Kona schoolbus, Kona Caribean (my current favourite that I also used in the "Urban Circus" quilt), Kona robbin egg and a red and white I bought locally here of which I don't know the brand. On the back I used just solids with the exception of one pattern stripe. I love, love, love it.

I quilted it in straight lines in off white on the machine and then added some waves by hand in colours that match the colours of the quilt, orange, petrol, light blue and yellow. This make the quilt a little more playful.


The binding is put together from some leftovers from other quilts that happened to fit perfectly here. "All the fish in the Sea" is 50 x 42 inches (1.27 m by 1. m) in size which puts it in the baby quilt or 'fold over a chair to gaze at' category. Other posts regarding this quilt or fabric can be found here and here.
This quilt will go into the "Modern Relief Japan" auction that Heather  so kindly organizes.  So if you fancy winning this quilt then watch this space !! I actually won a quilt from Nova at the last Modern Relief Auction - so you see it is possible.