Bowl Me Over Bag

My Bowl Me Over bag is finished and I love it.

The front

The back

The pattern is Bowl Me Over byAnnie, and the fabrics are Skylark by Margot and Elena for Tokyo Milk - part of Freespirit Fabrics.

I've used the same fabric in two different colourways throughout the bag, with a complementary pink trim for the bindings. I machine quilted the panels with hot pink Aurifil before I started to assemble the bag.

I included the easy access pockets on one side of the interior, but skipped the zipped pocket on the other side of the interior.  I felt it already had enough pockets, and another pocket was just going to add to the bulk I needed to sew through to complete the bag. I used Soft and Stable trhoughout - as recommended in the pattern.

Annie describes this bag as "fun to make".  Mmmm...... stressful to make is possibly more like it! There are a lot of pieces, and if you use a fabric with a directional print you need to take extra care with the cutting.

The instructions are all very clear, but the whole process takes time.  I spent a whole week on this bag, sewing for 3 or 4 hours each day.  Some may say I'm a perfectionist, but I wanted it to be as good as a bought one, so I took it slowly, and took breaks before I made a mistake.

Here are some WIP photos:

The exterior pieces - front and back

The reverse sides of the front and back - the inside of the bag

Preparing to seal the inside seams. I hand sewing the binding down. 

Clover clips to the rescue

So yes, it took time to make this bag, but I'm very happy with the result.  I love these fabrics and this bag pattern is a great way to show them off.

Look out for me and my bag at the Sydney Quilt Show this year!

Cartwheel quilt - and the Peacock Party

This week I've been working on my Cartwheel quilt.  It's a pattern from Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Grandeur book.

Before you run off to start one similar, I have to warn you that the background Parasols fabric is out of print and very hard to find now.  Each time I share a photo of this to the Kaffe Fassett Facebook group a lot of people go hunting for the fabric, and end up disappointed.  There's no secret stash of it in New Zealand either - I was just lucky to have a friend who bought it when it was first released, but never got around to making this quilt.  I bought it off her because I've had the book for years and always loved this pattern.

I've finally applied all my ric rac, and yesterday I appliqued down the centre motifs that cover the points where all the spoke meet.  Once those circles are on I could cut away some of the bulk on the back and the quilt lies flat now.

I do love the rainbow ric rac.  It just adds to all the craziness!

I still have to find some striped fabric for the borders, and applique more motifs on the edges, but I'm almost finished this top. I'll hand quilt this one because I don't want quilting going over the ric rac.

Now it's your turn to share what you've been up.  Feel free to link up a recent blog post in the Peacock Party.  Thank you to all the loyal followers who have been linking up week after week.  I sense a little community is developing here and appreciate you returning week and week.

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Smoyg - and the Peacock Party

Last week I started something new.  It's the Smoyg table runner that I've had tucked away since June last year.

I bought this book and the kit from Yvette Stanton of Vetty Creations at the Sydney Quilt Show last year.  Yvette writes beautiful embroidery books.  She researches the origins of different styles of embroidery, and then writes it all up in a book, illustrates it with beautiful photos, and writes patterns for everyone to try.

This book is all about pattern darning from Norway.  The stitches themselves are very simple running stitches, but the Norwegian people developed very interesting patterns which are featured in the book.

I've chosen to make the band sampler because it includes a wide range of patterns and colours.  I didn't want to spend months stitching a piece in just one colour! The thread is Laine fine d'Aubusson by Au Ver a Soie - fine tapestry wool for those who don't speak French.

The special thing about pattern darning is that the stitches are made vertically.  Normally we work horizontally across the fabric, but in this case it's all done vertically.  Counting is super important, because a small mistake will stand out from the clean diagonal lines.  Sorry this photo isn't great - it's a very cloudy day today. I'll post more photos as this piece grows.

So, that's what I've been up to.  What's everyone else been up? Feel free to link up and share a recent blog post below.  I didn't get to visit any of your posts last week sorry - I promise to visit the ALL the posts this week though.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Peacock Party and a new scarf

Well, another week has flown by and it's time for the Peacock Party again.

The temperatures are starting to get cooler now, so I've started knitting a scarf.  I love the scarf on the cover of this Rowan pattern book, so I'm making one for myself.  Of course the fact that Kaffe Fassett designed these colour ways probably explains why I like it!

As you read this I'm currently in Napier on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.  If you've sailed around New Zealand on a boat cruise you might have stopped at Napier.  There's a lot of vineyards in Hawkes Bay, and we're going to be visiting at least 3 of them.  I'll report back next week!

So, onto the Peacock Party.  Feel free to link up a post showing what you've been up to recently.

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Is it possible to have too many Kaffe Fassett fabrics?

I went to one of my local quilt shops for a browse this morning.  Their shelves were filled with beautiful Kaffe Fassett fabrics, but I know there's going to be even more next time I go because the latest Kaffe releases are arriving in NZ this week. 

It got me thinking about how much Kaffe I already have stashed at home.  Maybe I need to dedicate next year to just sewing with Kaffe fabrics!

I've seen some beautiful quilts in the Kaffe Fassett Facebook group recently.  Yesterday I saw one on Instagram by Jeanette Bruce @goneaussiequilting that almost glowed.  I did a quick search for the Moss Garden pattern and found that it was a free pattern included in this grouping here on Quilt Inspiration blog:

from Quilt Inspiration blog

Even though I've got about 10 Kaffe Fassett books on my shelf, I had a browse through the free patterns and found some that looked quite straight forward.  I've downloaded six patterns and might just use one of them for my next Kaffe quilt. 

After I've finished my  Cartwheel quilt

and my Green Diamonds quilt.

I hope you find the link to the free patterns useful - especially if you're a Kaffe fan like me.

Peacock Party

No travels this past weekend, but I am going on another adventure next weekend.

We have to be at our destination at 1pm, and it will take at least 4 hours to drive there, so we need to leave home at 8am to allow time for a coffee and a stop at a quilt shop.  Yes! I've negotiated a stop at a quilt shop before we've even left home.

So, what will I take with me for a weekend away?  I'll take my tapestry because it's easy to see in rooms with poor lighting.

I purchased this Kim McLean tapestry at the Sydney Quilt Show last year.  Kim is well know for her Glorious Applique quilt designs using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  Now Kim has designed some gorgeous cushions and I'm enjoying making this one called Giraffes.

The kit came with DMC tapestry wool, and I"m doing tent stitch as recommended by Kim.  It gives great coverage and I'm really happy with how it's progressing. 

The kit even came with a lovely canvas carry bag so it's quite easy to put everything in the bag and take it on holiday.

I only started this in October last year, but I'm hoping to finish most of it before the 2019 Sydney Quilt Show in June.  Then I might be able to justify buying another kit because I love them all.  You can see the full range on the Crewel Gobelin website - they have exclusive rights to sell these designs, but they do post internationally.

It's lovely to see new people linking up to the Peacock Party each week.  Our little community is growing!
Feel free to link up a blog post showing what you've been working on recently.

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Peacock Party - and a trip to Auckland

Yes, it's true! I'm never at home.  That's what it feels like at the moment.  And my summer travels aren't over yet because I'm going away in March too.

Last weekend I went to Auckland for 4 nights.  I had some work things to do, and some family things too.  It was very hot, so I was thankful for the car's air conditioning as I raced all over Auckland.

Here's a few photos from my time in Auckland - first the city sights, then mum's quilting, and then mum's garden.

The Sky Tower

Chinese New Year lanterns inside Sky City

Auckland Harbour Bridge on a gloomy day

Mum's Lucy Boston blocks - look at her fussy cutting!

Mum's Mischief quilt - made from a pattern by Karen Tripp

Excuse the bald patches on the lawn - it's been very dry.

One of the lush green areas in mum's garden

Now it's time for the Peacock Party.  On the plane back from Auckland I sat next to a lady who had just arrived in NZ from Vancouver.  She was saying how much snow she'd left behind.  I resisted telling her I knew all about it via my blogging friends! So feel free to update us only what you've been up to this week - shoveling snow? or trying to keep cool?

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Peacock Party - and a trip to Christchurch

Last weekend we went to Christchurch for a family birthday celebration.

I posted the photo above on Instagram and many people commented on the unique paint job on our Air New Zealand planes.   There's a silver fern on the body of the plane (our national symbol which is also on the All Blacks' rugby jersey), and a koru on the tail of the plane.

The koru (also on the wing tip) is a spiral shape based on the unfurling silver fern frond. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattooing, where it symbolises new life, growth, strength and peace. (thanks Wikipedia)

We visited Hagley Oval and the Hadlee Pavillion to check out the cricket facilities in Christchurch. They were preparing the wicket for a match that day.

Then we went to the Botanic Gardens and had a stroll.  It was already getting very hot by 10am.  It reached 28C on Saturday = 82F.

The visitor centre, cafe and museum are all new since I last visited the Botanic Gardens.

We watched other people punting and kayaking.

Then we went to the Arts Centre for a coffee.  These beautiful buildings were started in 1878 and were built for Canterbury College which later became the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch.  The architectural design style is Gothic Revival.    

So, that's a little bit about Christchurch for those who have never been.

Now to the Peacock Party.  Thank you to everyone who continues to link up.  The Peacock Party is developing a loyal following and it is growing week by week.  I hope you're discovering new bloggers through it too.

What's everyone been up to this week?  I haven't got much to show after a trip away, but hopefully things will settle down here soon, and I'll be back to being productive with my sewing again. I look forward to seeing what everyone else has been sewing.



  



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