Starting The Week With A Big Goodbye

Yes this week is the last week on Plum & June's 'Let's Get Acquainted!' Blog Hop

The blog has been so much fun; Beth has done a marvellous job hosting the event and I think all of us that have participated have shared and learnt and grown in both our quilting and blogging over the 26 weeks.  I've made some great new blogging friends and one or two have also become firm friends now outside my blogging/quilting life so I've lots to thank Beth for.

To round up the series here's the final burst of blogs and tutorials for you to have a wander around:

Handling Shashiko Thread tutorial from Cynthia at A Quilter by Night

Phone Pillow tutorial and Tissue Cover tutorial from Diane at From Blank Pages

Party Monster T-Shirt tutorial  from Laura at Waffle Kisses
How To Share Photos From Flickr Onto Your Blog from Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts
Christmas Yo-yo tutorial from Lynne at Bouts Choisis
Lasagna Quilt tutorial from Stacey at The Tilted Quilt

Jaime at Stitches to Sprinkles

Allegory from {sew} Allegorical
Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles
Nat at Made in Home
Francine at Mocha Wild Child
Lyanna at Purple Panda Quilts


and finally a very big

thank you Beth 

from ChrissieD :)

Back To Some Serious Quilting

After all the exciting and scary stuff that's happened over the last week or so, yesterday I was glad to get back to my quilting 'To Do' list.  Admittedly I wasn't totally idle last week, taking the opportunity to hand bind several quilts but it was good to get the cutting mat out and be a bit more creative yesterday.

Siggy Block

First up I made a siggy block using a great tutorial by Rachel Griffith of ps i quilt.  It's part of a project that Liz of Dandelion Daydreams is putting together as a thank you to Beth at Plum & June for hosting the 'Let's Get Acquainted!' Blog Hop which is coming to an end next week.

Philip Jacobs for Rowan.  Westminster Fibers #PWPJ42 'Primula' and Kona 'Azure'

Kandinsky Challenge

Secondly, I set about my NYC Metro Mod Guild challenge to take along to our December meeting.  I posted about the challenge here a few weeks ago but just to recap we each took a square image cut from a Kandinsky painting - it's 1/30th of the painting.  We've been asked to reproduce the image to 6" on a 6.5" fabric square using any media - paint/paper/fabric/etc and it doesn't have to be washable.

The original image and instructions

On the left: Neocolour image on fabric square and on the right: Finished textile art square

 I created a background colour image on cotton fabric using Caran D'ache Neocolor II - water-soluble wax pastels, wet the colour through with a paintbrush and set it with a hairdryer.  Then I added some tissue and handmade papers, then a small amount of sheer and netted fabric and free motion stitched over these areas. 

Another job done and ready to take along to our next Guild meeting :)

Once the blocks are all pieced together at the Guild I'll see if I can share a photo of the finished art quilt with you. 

Bear's Paw Block

Finally, in December it's my turn to be Queen Bee for the NYC Metro Mod Bee so I wanted to trial my chosen Bear's Paw block.  There's a lot of history to the Bear's Paw block and rather than write it all again here anyone interested can read this Quilt Patterns Through Time piece on Womenfolk.com.  It's larger than the normal 12.5" block measuring up around 16" untrimmed and, although there's lots of pieces, it's very fast and easy to make using a chain piecing method.

Here's my finished block - my chosen fabrics are a print from Tula Pink's The Birds and The Bees called Swallow Skies in Storm and a solid Kona Cotton Sage. 

front and back views of my trial Bear's Paw block

Need to crack on now with writing up my instructions for making the block, cutting the fabric and packing it ready to post out to my December Bees!

And you can click this link to see all of my NYC Mod Quilt Guild Bee Blocks and Challenge Blocks/Quilts.

 

 

Let's Get Acquainted

Last week I was asked if I'd like to move forward my 12 November slot on the Plum & June's Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop to Thursday, 11 October. I jumped at the chance - not a hope of me creating a new tutorial by then, I thought, but I'd just posted one that same evening and maybe not that many would already have seen it, so with that sorted, here I am.

For anyone who doesn't already know me, I'm Chris, I'm English, and I've been living on Manhattan's doorstep since 1 August 2011.  Thank you for visiting, and an extra big 'hi' to anyone who's also taking part in the P&J LGA Blog Hop.  Thanks also to Beth, who is Plum & June, for organising what has turned out to be one heck of a fantastic 6 month Blog Hop marathon :)

View From My Roof Garden

Tatty the Havapoo

For 20 years, I've been married to my worst enemy, Simon - since this Blog Hop started, I've wanted to say that as I can't quite believe just how many quilters are "married to their best friend" ;).  It's Simon's fault that I'm living in America and that I've given up so much to be here.  I admit I've done quite a bit of kicking and screaming along the way, but the problem is I kind of like it now and don't want to leave, but let's just keep that between us as there's a lot more mileage, yet in him not knowing!

I have one dog, Thatcher (known as Tatty to her friends and named after a woman I have much admiration for - Margaret), and then there are my three children.  Jack is 23; he graduated from uni in July and has since completed an intensive teacher training course and started teaching English at a school in Seville, Spain. 

In the middle, I have Joe, who is 22, and he too graduated from uni in July.  He's about to move to live in London as he's an aspiring actor, so if anyone knows of any roles suitable for someone bearing a remarkable resemblance to a young Hugh Grant, send me an email.

My youngest is Flicky, she lives here in America with me and today is her 18th birthday.  This is a significant birthday in England as you are now considered an adult in all respects and legally old enough to buy alcohol.  Unfortunately for Flicky, we live in America, so she won't be celebrating her big day in quite the same way that all her friends back in England celebrate theirs.  Still, I hope this shout out for her via my blog will ease her disappointment to some extent, but somehow I don't think so!!!

These photos were taken in Manhattan on Christmas Eve 2011, the last time the five of us were all together.

As is the way in my day-to-day life, I've just realised that I'm talking on and on about my family and haven't told you anything really about me, so ...

I've been sewing and knitting since I'm too young to remember.  I watched my mum knitting and then when I was about 7 I had a go myself in my bedroom.  I made a jumper for my teddy bear, Bruno, using scraps of Mum's leftover wool, and I remember how shocked she was when I showed her what I'd made as she'd had no idea I'd been watching her and learning.

I have always been artistic and creative but was pushed down a more academic route at school, as we pretty much all were back in those days.  I tailored my own clothes in my teens and 20s and then made everything for my babies as they were born, and finally, in 2006, I gave up office-based work and went back to college.  I studied Art & Design, following my creative dreams, later specialising in Ceramics and then moving into Textile Art. 

When we moved to the States, I booked myself on a quilting course and started quilting 1 year and 6 days ago today, and I haven't looked back; I've written more about learning to quilt on my blog post My Very First Ever Quilt.  I started blogging on 28 April this year, and you can also find me on Facebook, Ravelry and Pinterest - please come and have a look :)  Hopefully, my green card will arrive any time now, allowing me to set up my Etsy shop and start selling my work as my current visa doesn't allow me to earn money.



I'm an NYC Metro Mod Guild member, and I'm in their Mod Bee with my Queen Bee month, December, coming up fast.   When I'm not quilting, I can often be found at my LQS in Manhattan, searching out fabrics, attending classes and chatting with friends.  I also like to go to the NY Philharmonic Open Rehearsals on Wednesday/Thursday mornings. If you're visiting NYC and love classical music, this is an excellent way of seeing a concert for $18.




I'm counting down the days and weeks to QuiltCon, Austin, Texas, in February and hope to meet up with lots of you there so I can put faces to all the wonderful people I've met through blogging.  Be sure to let me know if you're going too :)




Here's a quick list of answers to Beth's original suggested questions for the Blog Hop:

Favourite quilting tip(s)
Using 2 small spare pieces of fabric, chain piece on and then off your main fabric piece saves thread, and the machine foot doesn't have to go up and down as it stays engaged.  That's hard to explain in writing, so I'll have to sort out a photo tutorial!!!

Favourite blogging tip(s) 
Don't write long wordy posts - this tip is very tongue in cheek as I'm the world's worst  ;)

Favourite fabric (or wish list fabric)
Currently, Aqua La Femme by Melissa Crowley and a Betsey Johnson plaid that I'm using to make a lofty quilt for Flicky to take off to uni with her next September.

Favourite craft book
Piecing, The Piece o' Cake Way by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins
a 'how to' quilting book recommended by my first quilting teacher, the fabulous Christine Janove.

Favourite book (or book you are currently reading)
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Both of my two grandads, as teenagers, fought in the WWI trenches and survived The Somme.  This book gave me my first insight into what shaped them as men and helped me understand the subsequent impact on their offspring ... my family.

Favourite children's book
Unless he was working, my Dad read to me every night while I was growing up, and every night I asked for the same story - Old Mister Glue-Pot from Tales of Green Hedges by Enid Blyton. 

Favourite quilting tool
I can't pick one as I have three that I love so much I did tutorials on using them.
June Tailor's Shape Plus Cut Ruler and Bloc-Loc and Rotating Cutting Mat

Favourite music to listen to work to
The Wanted, Neon Trees, Cee Lo Green, LMFAO, Katy Perry, Jesse J, Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Taio Cruz, oh and better mention One Direction as Flicky and her friend Maud run a fansite about them, Maud and the Dods.

Favourite TV shows to work to
The Great British Bake-Off

Strictly Come Dancing
Project Runway
The Good Wife

Binding
99% of the time, I machine the front binding and hand sew the back.

If I'd only known 
What excellent, encouraging people are out there sharing the same interests and equally keen to share their knowledge with you too.

Other people on the Blog Hop this week and next:
Tuesday, 9 October: Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy and Foster from Foster Reviews It
Thursday, 11 October: Marit from Sew, love, live
Tuesday, 16 October: Vicki from Quilting Lodge Blog and Liz from Dandelion Daydream



The official theme of the Blog Hop is novelty prints. Fortunately, I posted a tutorial last week using 2 novelty prints - Echino Deer Patchwork in Purple and Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket for Moda. Here it is, A Laminated Mug Rug, for those who are still awake to finish reading this!

and finally, finally


Happy 18th Birthday, Flicky xxx

Summer Posts and Tutorials on the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop

 

Finally back from England and another 2 weeks have gone by on Plum and June's Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop.

Be sure to check out the latest blog posts and tutorials:

Modern Sewing Machine Cover tutorial from Colby at Sew Quilt Explore

Travel Coin/Key Tidy tutorial from Fiona at Celtic Thistle

Charming Trees paper piecing pattern from Fiona at Finding Fifth

Baby Quilt tutorial from Audrey at Hot Pink Quilts

Growth Chart tutorial from Michelle Renee at Quilt Matters

Interlocking Tiles Table Runner tutorial from Jennifer at GH Quilting

Discovery Box tutorial from Danny at Mommy for Reals

Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop Update

Busy, busy, busy travelling around England and last night finally had a moment to catch up with Plum and June's Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop.

Be sure to check out the latest blog posts and tutorials:

English Paper Pieced Hexies tutorial from Jenelle at Echinops and Aster

Paper Pieced 'Holiday House' from Julie at Bedsheet in the Kitchen

Travel Bingo tutorial from Rebecca at Sew Festive Handmade

Shuffle & Sew Placemat tutorial from Marti at 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks

How To Make A Dresden Plate Block from Kati at Kati's Quilting (a personal favourite and can't wait to give this tutorial a go)

Claire from Sewing Over Pins

Hexie Mug Rug tutorial from Caroline at Quilting in the Cold

Crib Sheet with Piping tutorial from Jamie at Sweet Baby Jamie

The Princess and the Pea Pocket Cushion (Part I) from Janine at Rainbow Hare Quilts

A Weekend Full of Sunshine

This past weekend I've completed three quilts and done a six quilt photoshoot on our roof garden in crazy, hot sunshine.  Needless to say, I'm shattered but very glad to have everything finished, especially as two of the quilts, Surprise Projects I & II, are on a very tight deadline.  The third is my Sparkle Plenty Quilt, designed by Loft Creations.

The pattern is easy and fast, especially when you use the two tools I introduced you to in my tutorials, Charm Squares - An Easy Way To Cut Multiples Quickly and Using A Bloc-Loc To Cut Half-Square Triangle (HST) Squares.  What's also amazing about the pattern is how different it looks depending on the fabrics chosen.  There were 7 quilts well on their way to completion in our final class, and not one looked like another, and it was all down to the fabrics - but one thing they had in common, besides the pattern, is that they all looked great.  

And here she is; I know she's mine, but I think she's stunning, and I'm delighted with her.  I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

 

And here's a late addition to my post in response to Leo's comment - a photo of the full view from my roof garden :)

and finally, a view from my living room and, yes, we can't wait for Macy's 4th July fireworks - it's our first year here for Independence Day, and I think we've got the best seats in the house :)

Related Posts:

Tutorial: Charm Squares - An Easy Way To Cut Multiples Quickly

Tutorial: Using a Bloc-Loc To Cut Half Square Triangle (HST) Squares 

Did Thursday and Friday Sparkle? Yes, Plenty! 

Disclaimer:

This post is for informational purposes only; no payment or commission is received on click-throughs, and opinions are my own.

   

Let's Get Acquainted!

I've spent the last two evenings and day hand binding two quilts - my Surprise Project II quilt and my Sparkle Plenty quilt.  Almost there now but the light has faded too far and my eye sight just isn't up to it so another hour in the morning should see it all done.  One thing I must remind myself of in the future though is not to quilt a black binding onto a black border with black thread - it's very, very hard work and the weather has conspired against me all day with darkened skies and thunder and lightening storms.

 

My day was brightened up though by discovering the 'Let's Get Acquainted! Blog Hop over at Plum and June.  The idea is that twice a week all of us involved in the Blog Hop visit two named blogs who will have done a post related to a quilting project - it doesn't have to be a full tutorial but will have photos and descriptions so that others can have a go at making the same thing.  If we're not already, then we'll sign up to 'follow' the blogs and we'll leave lots and lots of comments.

My assigned date on the schedule is the final week - 12 November, so I have some time to prepare and just enjoy meeting everyone else and reading all their posts.

The Blog Hop started back on 21st May and with 4 blogs a week I've got some catching up to do on what's gone before but I've made a head start and today visited:

Kelsey from Kelsey Sews - The Dress Shirt Dish Mat Tutorial

Erin from Billy Button Designs - Cup Hugger Tutorial

Nik from Bold Goods - Sugar and Spice Baby Blanket Tutorial

Suzanne from SuzClaas - Bean Bag Tutorial

Mina from Kindaquilty - Stretch Quilt

You too can catch up with everyone via their blogs (as above) and I've also linked to them on my 

Pinterest Board 'Blog Hop - Let's Get Acquainted!