BOM 31 - To Russia With Love

I thoroughly enjoyed making this block and although to any knowledgeable person it looks nothing like the hammer and sickle, it still suggested that Russian symbol to me. 

If you want to pick up the free block go here and use the coupon code BOM4Me

New Wedding Quilt Border

Well have been working on the border of the wedding quilt again. Must say if nothing else my Illustrator skills have improved :-) it still needs more work but I think I am heading in the right direction.... well I like it and that's a start.

Hmmmmm ... wedding border sewn

Well I have now sewn three 'eggs' for the border of the wedding quilt and must say that I don't like it. I had sewn one of the eggs with the coloured sections being single pieces but it was a definite failure. This one took a few more blocks for me to make up my mind. Apart from the colour I don't like the fact that they won't flow. Rather they will be like eggs on a rock and that is definitely not the look I'm searching for. Oh well back to the drawing board.

100 Blocks Cover

Well doesn't the cover of the upcoming Quiltmaker 100 Blocks look great? I know it's not the clearest but trust me it will be a great magazine to have. 

From the past magazines I have made several of the blocks and even blew one of the designs up to full cot size and made a baby's quilt - from just one design. It was Gertie the goat by Sue Marsh from Whistle Pig Creek Productions and she has had a design in every edition of the magazine. Check out her designs here and you will understand why she is so popular.

Anyway if you want your own copy of the magazine check back here on 5th May and then join in the blog hop being run by Quiltmaker. Every blog you visit gives you a chance to win a copy of the magazine or one of many other wonderful prizes. Mind you make sure you have some time to spare as you will lose many hours checking out the blogs.

Photographing Your Quilt

I have been a bit slack today and not feeling like quilting at all so spent some time surfing the net. I thought it was about time that I improved on my photographing skills. I am able to crop etc quite well but figured that if I spent more time photographing correctly in the first place then I would need to spend less time cropping and fixing later. 

In case anyone else wants to improve their photography skills in regards to quilt photography not other types of photography here are some good places to start. Both of these blogs are for the average person using normal camera not whizz bang expensive can do anything type cameras. Hey there is even explanation on using a phone camera. 

So grab a coffee and off you go...

1. The first stop is Quilty Pleasures a blog run by staff from Quiltmaker. This post is by Shayla who loves to photograph quilts. Her tips are a perfect place for the beginner to start with.

2. Another fantastic blog is by Holly Knot on the blog Shoot That Quilt! Holly has been offering tips to quilters for many years now so check it out also. Holly covers everything you need to consider from camera, lighting, closeup and even a gallery of wrongs :-) 

You will also find links to some great resources.

Wedding Quilt Border

Have been designing the borders for the wedding quilt off and on   .. well more off than on in truth ... for a few weeks now. This doesn't look too bad. Must try making it up and see how it looks in real life. Mind you the corners aren't right yet but will work on that ... soon. 

I really  must get stuck into this. The wedding is in two months. I suppose the problem of deciding that I couldn't finish it in time is that now I don't see the urgency to get if finished but must get back on to it.

My Block is in Volume 11 of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks

It's hard to believe it but I just received an email telling me that my latest submission has been accepted into Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks series. Isn't that exciting. Looks like I will be receiving another mug. 

I can't remember what the block looks like, as it is so long ago that I sent it in, but if you want to win a copy of the magazine so that you can check it out yourself then stop back here on the 5th May as visitors on that day will have a chance to win their own copy.

Khanam's Surprise by Joy Cook

Khanam's Surprise by Joy Cook

An advantage of having so many friends who also quilt is there is usually someone who is willing to make up a quilt design. Khanam's Surprise is a block which I designed for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks series. 

I made it but wasn't fussed on some of the colours I chose. Joy saw it in the magazine and wanted to try a new technique I have been encouraging my friends to try and so this was the perfect project to learn it on. The technique is where you print the sewing and cutting lines on the back of the fabric using your inkjet printer. After printing it is then a simple matter of cutting along the dotted lines and sewing along the solid lines. 

Joy had some difficulty with the method as we were unable to find the settings on her computer to set the printing for 100% but once we overcame that it was full steam ahead. 

If you like the look of this pattern it is available here. 

Collection 30 - Where Did That Name Come From?

Collection 30	We have all had to make that choice as to which path to follow as we progressed through life. Some Choices were good while others...well we all learn something from each situation.	C30 Choices
Isn't WinterGrass just so lush and soft on your feet?	C30 Winter Grass	When you don't know what to do, do you ever just wander along and listen to those voices speaking to you. Voices from your past and voices from your friends or even Voices in the Stars.
C30 Marmalade	There are many things that you and I remember but it is such a cruel world when we watch our loved ones succumbing to the ravages of dementia. I always thought if a person had to have some ailment inflict them that dementia would be the best. They don't suffer even though all those who love them do. After watching my mother in the earlier stages I now realise how wrong that belief was.	C30 Voices in the Stars
Marmalade, loved by one and all... even special bears.	C30 I Remember	The threat of nuclear war was ever there in the 70s and 80s and even now war threatens to explode in many places around the world and in times like this what do our politics do.... Increase the spin rather than action. Yes History Repeats.
C30 Story Entwinded	I just love a good book where you start out with one idea and it changes continuously as each Story (is) Entwined in the next.	C30 History Repeats