Thursday 15 May 2008

Fingers crossed !

I warn you now I'm feeling chatty - I think because I haven't managed to get to my quilt group for 3 weeks I'm having the urge to have a quilty chat with people who understand the lingo - lol ! My family - god bless them - don't really get it although they do their best. I can see their eyes glazing over ever so slightly - ha !


Anyway thanks for all the suggestions - the general concensus is for piano key border. A lot of you said I should finish off the edges with another goose to complete the sashing. You know what ? You're right ! That's exactly what I should do before I go any further. Only trouble was I knew I didn't have much of the dark purple left. I measured my meagre scrap and worked out I only had enough for 16 more flying geese instead of the 24 I needed. A visit to the fabric warehouse was called for. Now I was lucky a few weeks ago when I had run out of a particular fabric I needed so I was not optimistic this time. For those of you who don't know this place sells fabric by the piece and sometimes they only have ONE piece of a particular fabric. Off I traipsed and what do you know ? I found some more !!! YES ! It's about a yard and a half so I will have enough to use in borders as well. The quilting angel was smiling on me today - lol !


I also came away with these.



Look at that green print ! That will go great with the frog fabric I bought last week. I quite fancy a froggy bag although my kids will definitely disown me. Mereth had a fantastic old-fashioned bonnet on her blog recently. I jokingly commented that I must get one to mortify my kids. Now a frog bonnet would certainly do the trick - lol !! They already think I'm a few sandwiches short of a picnic :-) I really need to get out a bit more....


Enough being silly... Here is what I came up with by using my charm pack.




It is Moda Allspice Tapestry and all I added was the 2 setting fabrics. I used a light and dark cream for a bit of variety. I think some of these fabrics are a bit samey so it needed something plainer to break it up a bit.


I tried to pick 2 contrasting charms and from each pair got 2 9-patches, 2 strips and 2 end bits. Like so :- Each 5 inch charm was cut into 4 strips measuring 1.25 inches.




Once the main middle piece was done I used the plain fabrics in the pack for the little border and pieced together the end bits and strips for the side border. Any squares I had not used in the 9-patches were quartered and sewn together for top and bottom borders. I'm dead chuffed with this. Any scraps left will go into the back. It only measures 18 by 24 so will either go on the back of an armchair or if Jason is very lucky I will hang it up by his computer - what a good wife I am. I told him this and he looked a little baffled - lol ! I want to quilt this soon probably by hand as it is nice and small.

I have also been doing a bit for my ALQS hosted by the lovely Kate. Sometimes when you have so much fabric you can be a bit over-awed about what to use - I know I am. So I decided to use an old trick taught to new quilters. Pick a nice fabric and pick out colours from it to use in the quilt. I'm sure you all know about this. Heres what I picked




I love this as I have a great fondness for paisleys and I think the colours of this are nice and cheery. So this is what I'm using as inspiration.


Forget to mention my lovely chicken.


Every time I go shopping I chuck my loose change into my pottery chicken that sits on my windowsill. When she gets a bit heavy I count out the coins and change them at the bank. Today I had a little count and got £55 ( about $110 ) bagged up. So really my little trip for fabric cost nothing. I have been driving Jason mad all day talking about my "free money". I told him I was buying him lunch with my free money etc. I know it's not really free but I do like to wind him up now and then - lol !
If you've made it this far well done and you deserve a coffee or some chocolate or whatever your vice is.
Take care xx

27 comments:

sewkalico said...

Oh those eyes poking out through the leaves are gorgeous!!!! You have to do something with it soon - I can't wait to see what.
Know what you mean about the family glazing over!!!!!

mereth said...

You do seem to have luck at the warehouse, it pays to go and look. I think a froggy bonnet would be just the ticket to embaress the children, but I don't know that I'd admit to knowing you either! Welsh Quilter? I don't know any Welsh Quilter.....!
I love the little quilt, it's a real cutie. I've been thinking it would be good to make some small things for decorating, just for a change. And speaking of change, good on chooky for hatching that little nest egg, it gave you a nice day for free.

Calidore said...

Ohh love the green fabric with the eyes.....it's so cute. I can see that as a bag and my family would probably disown me too.....vbg. As for the charm pack - what a fantastic way of using it in a quilt. I'm very impressed.

Unknown said...

Your charm quilt is just gorgeous, congrats on getting the extra for the geese. Well it's obvious I have a US keyboard, no pond symbol here, but that was a good little chook. Hmmm frog bonnet, how long did you say it's been since you chatted to quilters?....lol...

meggie said...

Lovely post. I LOVE that little quilt from the charm square pack.
Love the green fabric too- what fun!

A different sort of Chooky 'egg money'!LOL.

Pam said...

That little quilt is so cute! It is from one charm pack? How wide did you cut the strips for the 9 patch? I think you did a lovely job on it - an inspiration for sure!

Gina said...

I love the green fabric. That would look great in a bag.
I've got a pot in the kitchen aswell. I put in 20p pieces and £2 coins. It's my money for the NEC quilt show. I normally have a couple of hundred pound to play with after a years saving.

love and hugs xxx

Helen in the UK said...

What great luck to find the purple again ... and the eye fabric is too wonderful!!
The charm pack quilt is wonderful - great use of all the little left over bits too.
OK, so it may not actually be FREE money ... but it 'feels' free, so that is all that counts!!! Like a scrap quilt is make from 'free' fabric too. Sometimes it is the simple things that please us most :)

Ali Honey said...

I think you should be as chatty as you wish - that's just what blogs are for.

The "eyes," certainly have it!

Your work is lovely and you seem to get lots done. I do enjoy coming over to visit!

Julia said...

My family may glaze over too, but I just keep talking. LOL
I love that little eyes peeking out of the greenery. How cute!!!
I do that with my change too! In fact, my jar is just about full. Time to count it and head to the quilt shop!!!
Your little charm quilt is adorable!

Unknown said...

I am laughing out loud. My DH is asking why I am laughing! I think you are a GREAT wife, both planning to hang up your quilt where your DH has his computer AND buying him lunch for your free money, what more can he ask for?

Floss said...

I love the little charm pack quilt, love the way you used every piece of the fabric. Also think the green fabric is terrific, I think it would make a lovely bonnet. LOL, what are mum's for if not to embarrass their families.

jovaliquilts said...

Your hiding frogs with the big eyes fabric is fabulous! What fun. I think you should use it for whatever you want. My husband jokes that the kids embarrass us often enough, we should have a turn to embarrass them!

Teresa said...

I just love your little charm quilt.

Your leafy fabric is cute as it can be although I think the eyes might keep me up at night if it were in a quilt, lol. How about an attic window block? Then they would be peeping in the window.

Kim said...

Thank you so much for sharing all of this wonderful quilty talk!! I know how you feel. :) I just received two charm packs for my friend, Julia and was wondering what I might make with them. I really like what you did. Thanks for posting the how-to's for it. :)

Anonymous said...

Such a pretty little quilt, and I've seen that glazed look too!
I love the paisley fabric, so many possibilities with it.

Lynda said...

I'm afraid I too wouldn't have been able to resist the frog fabric! And free money is a well-known phenomenon in this house too. Isn't it everywhere?!

*karendianne. said...

I'm totally in love with paisley and this is fun, fun, fun!

Libby said...

OK, call me nutty but I swear that eye fabric (or one very similar) is featured in a favorite gees bend quilt of mine. I'm looking around madly for a picture...

Chocolate Cat said...

Glad you're enjoying your 'free money'!! What a great trip to the warehouse. I LOVE the green fabric with the eyes. It is so cute. What a fantastic quilt with the charm squares. It's given me some great ideas.Think I'll go and have that coffee you say I deserve now!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I love the little quilt you made with your charm pack! It is wonderful!

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Just love your quilt made from the charm packs.....very striking....

Mary said...

Love your charm quilt! Its just darling. Great idea, shopping with your chicken savings, I may have to try that myself!

Gypsy Quilter said...

Really love your little quilt and those borders are fantastic!

Mama Spark said...

I have that Allspice jelly roll. I love that fabric. Your quilt is just beautiful!

Holly said...

Hi Angie, I love everything you make. I subscribe to your blog even though I don't think I have ever commented before. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your bucket bag tutorial. You said to your readers to let you know if we make one. So here I am letting you know I made one out of thrift store shirts and I love it. I posted a picture on my blog if you want to see it. I'm going to make another smaller one more purse size. Your quilts are an inspiration. Okay, now I'll return to my lurk mode :) Just wanted to say thank you.

Anonymous said...

I love your charm quilt. I'm going to be tempting to make one this winter. I hope it looks as beautiful as yours!
Missy