More News from 2022

 Other exciting things happened in 2022 that I don't think I have ever shared.  My local quilt shop - The Country Yard was having a bit of a change around of staff and I offered to work one day per month to help things along.  I got offered the opportunity to create a new project!!  Woohoo, my dream job.  Jumping straight in the deep end we decided to offer the It's A Lot Quilt as a BOM project with three different colour palettes to choose from.

This was my original selection - what we called Retro Vintage.  Based around a Basic Grey print from the Cidar range... I don't think all the prints are shown here but you get the general idea.

We broke the quilt into a basic nine patch so each month was a square made up of various simple units.  This quilt is a scrap quilt - so the challenge was to recreate the scrappy vibe within the BOM programme and not be too prescriptive.  What I do love about it is that everyone is going to end up with a different quilt - we have suggested people add to their fabrics from their own stash... so potentially there could be some VERY different versions.

I fused the applique pieces onto Block 1 to illustrate how it could potentially look but these were never blanket stitched.

The second palette was a dreamy blue and brown version based around the floral prints shown on the left by Lella's Boutique.

This gave a more restful overall feel... although it has higher contrast.

I have just started blanket stitching adding the applique elements to the Retro Vintage version. Although the pattern uses needleturn applique I am doing fusible applique with machine blanket stitch - using a mid grey aurifil thread for all the elements.

It really does add an extra depth to the overall design. 

The only problem with sewing along to create a shop sample is that you actually have to finish things!!  I am onto the fourth block so I am counting that as a win.  Although I start back at my day job tomorrow... and we are already planning 2023 shop projects... hmmm, will have to see how that goes :0).

Taking the scenic route

 Sometimes life throws curve balls.  What I thought I would be focussing on at the start of this year was not necessarily what I ended up sewing.  Although isn't that every year 🙄.

You'll be pleased to know I finished my #apqresolution  for January - binding my Patchwork City quilt.

I did the big stitch binding technique and although I've yet to master the little cross on the corners I am happy with the overall effect.  Full disclosure, I did finish this on the last day of January 😁

The project for February is WIP number 7 which is creating the backing and basting The Amsterdam Star quilt.

Part of the reason it took all month to finish my goal was getting sidetracked with a baby quilt.  My boss had his first grandbaby and i decided it was a great opportunity to sew a gender neutral quilt.

And so we have the Tiger Plant quilt.

It's a generous size.

And gave me lots of opportunities to do some FMQ on my new machine - there were some hairy moments but nothing some more practice won't fix.

Some fun animals on the back and a scrappy binding (also big stitch) but mostly in this awesome green.  Serendipitously the baby was named Ivy 😱, and yes... A tiny girl 😊

I have also been involved in a project for my local quilt shop and here is a little sneak peek but more about this next week.

So February goals means making another block in my Monika/Suz rainbow challenge 🌈.

Another row in my Sidewalk Chalk quilt which is my #cutitupwithmolliesparkles project.

And somehow fit in another block in the project below of which I can't remember it's name 🤔🤔🤔.

So not much going on here... What's happening at your place?