Sunday, March 29, 2015

Natures Journey...just in time!

Blocks for March are done and dusted...and just in the nick of time!



I was VERY late starting on these this month...in fact, half the month was over before I even gave them a thought! Luckily, I had all my supplies sorted and ready to go...it was just a case of finding some motivation to get stuck into it :) A bit of late night tracing, some early morning stitching and I'm up to date for March...thank goodness, because Chookyblue is cracking her whip hard!

I probably should start preparing my April blocks ready for stitching, but I have so many other projects on the go at the moment...know the feeling? If only I could stitch all day.....

TTFN xxx

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Scandinavian Rose...in pictures.


Those of you who have been visiting my blog for a while will know that I love to make BIG long-term projects. Especially quilts.

Occasionally I finish one off, and while I was missing-in-action from my blog during 2014, I actually finished off a few!




 A dear friend hinted to me recently that she would love to see a bit more of my Scandinavian Rose quilt, and since she asked nicely, I thought I just might take some photos ;)

Scandinavian Rose is a pattern by the very talented Rosalie Quinlan. It came as a series of pre-printed stitcheries, and I also ordered a fabric pack to match her original version done in pinks and reds.



I didn't LOVE the pinks and reds, so I ended up ditching them altogether and dived into my box of Bonnie and Camille scraps instead. There's a lot of Bliss, some Ruby, and also some Tanya Whelan Delilah pieces in there too. It really was just a mash up of my favourite colours...pink, turquoise, red and apple green, with lots of polkadot goodness as well.  Go with what you love, right?



The stitching took me months and months, and the piecing took me even more months.

Then I decided to quilt it myself (what was I thinking???) and it sat for a fair bit longer.

Totally love the back of it...which is probably the only thing that kept me going!


 I learned just how much patience was required to cross-hatch all those tiny little squares...and it turned out to be a real test of mine! I bit off sections at a time, and just kept at it....and at it...and at it!


My cute little assistant offered lots of encouragement along the way...she is just SO helpful!



I didn't think I would EVER get to the end, but one day, I did! I finished it off with a solid turquoise binding, which I think really made the colours POP.

 Funnily enough, I really miss having Scandinavian Rose to stitch....long term projects are definitely my thing :)

TTFN
(ta ta for now)
Susan xx