My book challenge, and some sneak peeks...

The other day I shared with you that I had given myself a challenge for the next twelve months, and the inspiration for the challenge came through Sarah Fielke's latest book of gorgeous quilts, "Quilting from little things..."

This book is not just a book of 12 amazingly creative and funky quilt patterns, but it also teaches techniques. Before you make any of the larger quilts in the book, Sarah shares a pattern for a mini-quilt as a practice of the techniques she'll be using in the main quilt.

There are 12 large quilts, and 12 mini-quilts - all different, all lovely, some incredibly gorgeous!

As I am a self-taught quilter and stitcher, this book offers me 'classes' in new (to me) methods and diferent blocks that will gradually challenge me as I work through the levels.

The first mini quilt is 12 inches square, and consists of four, 6 inch pieced blocks. Every square in the block is a mere 1" completed, so this particular challenge is one of patience and care with tiny piecing.

One finished, only three more 6" blocks to make!

The finished 12 inch mini quilt will look like this...

 I intend making 1 mini-quilt per month, and perhaps next year I'll make on the large quilts?

If enough time can be found next week I'll finish this and show you. 

Just a thought, but if you also have the book perhaps you'd like to join me in this (ad)venture?? Leave me a comment if you can. :-)

~~~~~

The reason my time is scarce has more to do with some deadlines I have than with home and school at the moment. I have basted my newest quilt design, "Circles of Life"...

...finished the machine quilting...

...and begun the hand quilting.

The plan is to have it finished for June. I can't wait to show you!

~~~~~

A few other things taking my time are this sneak peek of a Christmas project...

...and finishing all the available blocks for "Things We Love" BOM previously shared by myself and the other former Gum Tree Designers. 

This one is Dawn's...

...and this is Fee's. 

I have done my borders and sewn the two top rows together...

When it is finished it will be a lovely remembrance of our time together. Don't forget, the blocks will only be available from the Gum Trees blog until June 1st. You can get them all HERE.

~~~~~

It's constant rain here today and tomorrow so Mr E and I are lamenting a no-riding weekend. Bother. Bother indeed.  

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

From me to you - two freebies!

Thank you for all your love and hugs over the closing down of the Gum Tree Designers. Time heals all things, even dreams that don't come completely to fruition, and from today it is time for me to look forward and embrace the doors that open in the future. I will have time to play once more, and I intend for that play to be exciting for myself and for you!

Many Gum Tree followers were concerned that our BOM, "Things We Love" would not be finished, so most of us girls have decided to give you our remaining blocks to download and stitch up. You already received my first block in February and today I am sharing with you my 2nd block for "Things We Love"...

~ a bowl of blooms~

 

 

Fee and I are the only Gum Tree girls who were stitching all the blocks for the quilt so keep checking on us over time to see how our quilts finish up. I'm so pleased that I will have this reminder of the group. :-)

You can download ~a bowl of blooms~ HERE, and if you missed my first block, ~a happy home~, you can download it HERE.

Dawn is sharing her blocks right now, so hop over and download her cuties. Vicki will have hers up later in the week too, and keep checking on Fee because I know she intends sharing her second block as well. 

~~~~~

Remember that I had my Morning Glory Tea Cosy published in Australian Homespun magazine last month? Well, this month's issue is at the newstand and it features my matching Morning Glory Tea Cupboard!

 

 

(By the way, that gorgeous quilt on the cover is Lisa's design so this is definitely a wonderful issue!)

I promised you that once this second part of my set was published I'd have a freebie for you to complete the set, so today I have the pattern for my matching set of coasters that you can download!

Morning Glory Coaster Set is a free download HERE.

~~~~~

Once I started on the Morning Glory set a year ago (there is a looooong time between the design being finished and having it appear in print) I got carried away because I loved the design so much. Another three items were made but this time for use as a coffee set - a tablecloth, French Press cover, and a small table mat. I used different fabrics and added some beading....

 

 

 

They have all been hidden away for most of this last year, but now they are in the light of day again and able to be used. I am quite excited about that!! :-)

Well, I have a family to feed and some plants to repot so I'll see if my other skills allow us a good meal and some lush blooms. Fingers crossed! :-)

Hugs

Jenny

xxx