French General Moonlight - sounds like the name of a race horse!

Ta da ... I am finished!

Made with French General fabrics (more then one line) and using the Moonlight pattern by Gerri Robinson, from her book A Cut Above.  Quilted by Vicki Jenkin.  (78" x 78") 

This is such a fun pattern, made with squares and stripes it was very easy to cut out and make.  All the time I was cutting through I was worried that with the beautiful patterned fabrics I wouldn't get a good contrast.  However I am delighted with the end result.  I love two coloured quilts and red with cream is a great combination.  

My favorite part of this quilt is the pieced border!  My friends know that I normally use a 2 + 6 " combination border...everytime!  I cannot think of another quilt where I actually pieced a border, so I am very pleased with myself.  Although it felt odd to not be putting the big stars into the centre of the quilt!  To ensure I didn't change the pattern I made the stars first!

The other reason to celebrate this quilt finish is the fact that it used lots of lovely gifts - my friend Ann gave me the book, Sharryn gave me a layer cake of French General and my mother gave me some FG yardage.  

Happy quilting Sue.

Progress finally

This quilt (Moonlight by Gerri Robinson in her book "A Cut Above") is made with French General fabric and has been back from the lovely long armer Vicki Jenkin for weeks!  Finally I found my box of left over FG to cut and sew the binding.

  

Its such a treat to have a lovely quilt to hand stitch binding down at night, when its still cool enough to want a quilt on your lap.  The weather has warmed up but a lack of rain has caused me to hold off planting much in the garden, and I have had to start hand watering it is so dry.

Having said that it was freezing cold over the weekend and I just hid in the house as much as I could.  I have been frustrated for months that I couldn't find anything in my sewing nook so I attempted a clean up.  I moved fabric from box to box, upended cupboards, whined about the lack of space and project boxes and made a big mess. I say attempt, because I am so easily distracted that when I found some projects I stopped cleaning up!  I did some unpicking and sewed borders on two projects then dumped them both in a box that I promised myself would be my go to UFO box.  LOL will see if that makes a difference in finishing UFO's!  

This mini cake stand quilt (12") was not a UFO, just a favorite orphan block.  I added two more rounds, quilted it minimally and put the binding on. While I think it deserves more quilting then it received, I am happily calling it a finish for now!

Happy quilting Sue.

French General finish

Firstly the exiting news in my house is that I am a winner! A prize winner :) Judy sent me a lovely box of sewing goodies for guessing the closest weight of her new grandchild! 

Second exciting news...the budgies laid eggs over Easter....so we will have babies of a different kind at our house in a few weeks!

Third exciting news...

French General flimsy finish...these are the centre blocks as I was sewing it together!

Clever trick from the author - make simple blocks in a large size, to form the border.  I say this because I always stitch on plain borders, because I am too lazy to piece something.  But when I was busy piecing the body of the quilt,  I didn't think anything of making these easy star blocks.

Finished flimsy front.  I promise that I did iron it before I took this shot!  But admit to not picking off all the threads...way too many threads on this top, not sure where they all came from!

from the back :)

Happy quilting Sue.

Red and Cream quilt at Christmas time, not for Christmas!

The lovely Ann from Periwinkle Patchwork gave me this book back in May.  I have read it several times and changed my mind about which quilt to start several times!

When the moons of time, motivation and organisation aligned, it was this pattern I chose.

I have made the chain blocks. 

 And started piecing the stars.

Then distractions crept in, in the form of Christmas baking, 

 and decorating!

As enthusiastic as my boys were, finishing the decorating of the tree is not their strenght!

The bigger issue with this project is that I am in danger of running out of fabric...shock horror! One assumes that a personal collection of French General fabric is endless, but when it is squirrelled away for long periods of time, you forget how much you actually have.  My bad, not checking measurements (of patterns or requirements) is my weakness, but starting new projects is my strength! 

Having said that its just a red/cream quilt.  I am sure there is more red fabric in my stash, somewhere!  And if there is not, well more shopping required?!

Happy quilting Sue.

New books and a finished flimsy

DH brought me this book for Mothers Day.  He is a gem, as I was in awe of this exhibition, but the photos online where never enough.  The book records each quilt from the exhibition and the clarity is perfect if you are game to try and reproduce one!

Gifted to me by good friend Ann from Periwinkle Patchwork, this book focuses on patterns that use pre cut fabrics ranges like charms and fat quarter bundles.  These patterns are perfect for me as I have a few in the cupboard begging to be used.  Now I just have to pick one and get started!

I had a little win with one UFO.  This snowball lap size quilt top finally got a border.

I found this print in the sale rack at Spotlight, and its a Jo Morton!  I dont love brown, but the red and gold save it from being dull and all the colours pick up what is in the quilt and just make it work.

I have sorted out the backing, now just need to find the time to pin this quilt.  Not my favorite stage of the process, but now winter has well and truly arrived I am happy to do some quilting on my domestic machine.

Happy quilting Sue.