Kona Quilt Challenge

Modern Quilt Guilds across the world are taking part in the Robert Kaufman Kona Solids Quilt Challenge! The challenge is to use all 43 colours on the quilt! We can add prints & other fabrics but the Kona Solids must remain the focal point of the quilt. The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild chose the solids in the dark palette. So here is what I came up with...

Another TEA theme... BIG SURPRISE! I hardly ever use solids and if I do they are usually neutral linen-cotton blends so this really was a challenge for me! Although they are not colours I would normally work with, I am quite pleased with how my quilt turned out!

Someone mentioned that I actually went ahead and used the solid fabrics to create prints such as in the polkadot teapot... I didn't notice before but they are right! I made some ribbon with a tea quote especially for this project using my fabric labesl tutorial. Adding the trims, ribbons, buttons & embroidery definitely added some PatchworkPottery style!

And YES! I managed to use all 43 colours on the front! Some of the teacups were even made with three different colors!

Enjoy your afternoon tea & quilted crafts :o)

House, Leaves & Teacup

Here are a few more gifts that I made for friends & family. I made this sweet little Welcome Wall-hanging for a friend. The background and main part of the house are all pieced.

All the other small pieces including the letters, windows, doors, birdhouse and hearts are raw edge applique with fusible web. Note the mismatched socks hanging on the line ;o)

I noticed than I have been adding a lot more embroidery to my creations now and I am enjoying the hand-sewing immensely! I believe my method of embroidery is different than the regular hoop method. I make the quilt first and add the embroidery as the last step. Working from the top of the quilt, I sew through the top fabric and some batting and I avoid piercing the backing fabric. It works for me!

And of course I always love to add buttons! I usually finish the back of little wall-hangings with these little corner pockets sewn into the binding. Just add a small stick and it's ready to hang!

These scrappy Leaf Potholders are for my Mom on Mother's Day! I whipped them up yesterday using a tiny bit of my green scraps. I actually had no idea that these would turn out to be leaves! I started out sewing scraps together in a crazy quilt fashion :o)

I made the mini Teacup Pouch for my daughter. She said she needed somewhere to put her chore money :o)

Enjoy your afternoon tea & quilted crafts :o)

Cotton & Thyme

My SpringTime Bag pattern can now be found in the Taiwanese quarterly quilting book: Cotton Life no.5! This one announces that SPRING has finally arrived with all the daffodil and tulip colours and flower prints galore!

Cotton Life is written in Chinese but includes photos for each step of every project so it very easy to follow. All measurements are in centimetres and includes full-size templates. Each issue includes 28-32 projects including accessories, clothing, housewares, bags, quilts and much more!

I was surprised to see my name on the front cover and I love how they designed my page! Take a sneak peek inside before you purchase a copy from my SHOP.

Here is a closer look at all the details. There is a flowerpot pocket on the front of the bag...

and a little birdie on the back...

and the pattern for the Butterfly Keychain is included!

The bag is also fully reversible if you decide that you want to go plain.

I was out in the sunshine all day yesterday preparing the gardens and planting early veggies. All of my window sills are full of herb, veggie & squash seedlings. Did I mention that "my time (thyme) is up"?!?! Enjoy your SpringTime!

Enjoy your afternoon tea & quilted crafts :o)