An Actor's Life For Me - Surprise Project II Revealed

So you may recall that there were two surprise projects and I've only revealed one so far.  Well here's Surprise Project II - this quilt called 'An Actor's Life For Me' is for my second son, Joe, and is for his graduation also - MDrama (Hons) Drama & Theatre Studies. Joe has also been studying for four years, Years 1, 2 & 4 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England and Year 3 he studied at UCSD in San Diego, California.  We have had many fab trips down to Canterbury over the years, which is such a beautiful part of England and we were really excited to visit him out in San Diego for a wonderful holiday last year.

The Graduation Ceremony was held at the spectacular Canterbury Cathedral, full of all the pomp and ceremony this venue is worthy of and afterwards we headed over to the Grove Ferry Coaching Inn at Upstreet for lunch with Joe's course mates.  The weather was pleasantly sunny which was most welcome in the middle of a very wet English summer.

Joe also received a generous cheque from Gran and from us his Graduation Quilt.  Here're some photos of him seeing his quilt for the first time (though he did admit to having his suspicions about receiving one as he's an avid reader of my blog and had put 2 + 2 together :) ).

And here's more photos of the quilt itself - and I'm thrilled to announce it was another great hit :)

For this quilt I wanted to include fabrics that are drama and acting related - both theatre and movies, I also wanted to make reference to Joe's time spent in both England and America.  I chose 10 fabrics: drama face masks; costume moustaches; 2x film negatives; 2x film reels; movie admission tickets; movie genre text; and finally 2 fabrics of the Union flag and the Star Spangled banner.  I placed the fabric in 5 horizontal bands of varying width on each side balancing the weight of the colours and designs and placing the country flags on opposite sides of the quilt.  Across the lower front right, I created a solid black section and machine embroidered Joe's name, degree and study dates.  The quilt is bordered and bound in solid black which pulls colours from each fabric and brings the quilt together as a whole. 

The quilting is straight line diagonally set squares creating a 'diamond' design. I used black thread for the machine embroidery and this stands out particularly well against the many white fabric backgrounds.

I named the quilt 'An Actor's Life For Me' as that has been Joe's dream since he could first dress himself- always dressing up as some character or another and putting on puppet shows and plays.  I have been the proud mum many, many times at Joe's performances: acting, singing, playing guitar and reciting poetry and I have laughed over and over when my husband, Simon, has been fooled by another of Joe's many accents and voices on the phone.  We have also become very used to having people come over in restaurants and on the street to point out how much Joe looks like Hugh Grant - just a smidgen of HG's success would be very welcome I feel and I think the world's ready now for a new, younger version!

I hope to have the opportunity to be there for much, much more and to see all Joe's dreams come true for him.  I once asked him what his backup plan is and he told me that he doesn't have one because he has to believe he can do it - it struck me then how just how determined, dedicated and right he is.  Don't forget Joe that I want a mention in your future Oscar acceptance speech ;) x

Related Posts:
Wherever I Lay My Hat - Surprise Project I Revealed

Disclaimer:

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

Wherever I Lay My Hat - Surprise Project I Revealed

Since May, I've been telling you all that I've been working on two surprise projects and I'm finally able to share them with you. I've been so excited for so long.

So here goes with Surprise Project I - this is a quilt that I've called 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' and is a gift to my eldest son, Jack, on his graduation - BSc (Hons) French. It's taken him four years, Years 1, 2 & 4 at Aston University in Birmingham, England and Year 3 he lived and worked in Paris. I loved visiting him in Birmingham but our time spent in Paris with him, being treated like a local rather than as an English tourist was very special and we have wonderful memories to share.

Before the ceremony, we gave Jack the quilt, his graduation gift from us, and he also received a generous cheque from Gran that will allow him to study for his CELTA Cambridge qualification in Seville this September.

The Graduation Ceremony was held at Birmingham Town Hall and afterwards, we were all taken on buses back to a champagne reception at Aston University.  It was a very enjoyable afternoon and the day was finished off with Gran treating us and our friends CB and JW to a fab evening meal at Pushkar Indian restaurant on Broad Street.  Jack, Flicky and JW then went clubbing in Birmingham whilst Simon, Gran and I went back to our very welcome beds :) .

and here're more photos of the quilt itself - which Jack loved so much he carried it to his graduation ceremony with him :)

I took my inspiration for the quilt from 3 fabric maps of London, Paris and New York - representing all the countries that have been 'home' to Jack during his degree.  I built the fabrics up using 2 English themed print designs of crowns and Big Ben's clock face, 2 French themed prints of Parisian images and advertising alongside some French song lyrics and then 2 prints of the New York skyline.  I interspersed these with a handful of other non-themed prints and solids in 3 horizontal bands for the quilt front and I repeated each fabric across the quilt back also.  Across the lower front left, I machine embroidered Jack's name, degree and study dates.

The quilting is alternating through horizontal and vertical on each fabric design and the 3 maps have diagonal quilting that turns back within each triangular section rather than crossing at the centre.  The quilt border has parallel quilting intersecting at each corner.

I named the quilt 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' from the extended saying ... that's my home ... as that is exactly how I think of my eldest son, who from the day he was born has been my little adventurer and explorer, always keen to learn more about everyone, everything and everywhere.  Now he's not so little and his adventures take him further and further. I hope his thirst for life continues and his time in Seville, and wherever life takes him after that, is successful and exciting, as well as everything he's hoping it will be and more. x

Related Posts:
An Actor's Life For Me - Surprise Project II Revealed

Disclaimer:

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

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!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon ...

... I don't really think it will be!  Heading off into Manhattan to The CQ for a free machining class with Christine Janove, can't wait :)

Bit frustrated at not being able to post photos and talk about what I'm doing at the moment because I'm busy working on Surprise Project II.  It's going well, all made up and this morning I started quilting it.  I'll be thrilled when the time comes that I can share Surprise Projects I & II with you all, not long now.

Stop Blogging; Start Making

This morning I've had a bit of a shock that has to spark me into action for the day - my June Bee Block fabric arrived in the post along with a class supply list for a course next week's LQS Free Motion Machine Quilting: Next Step and I see that there's prep-work required beforehand.  I'm starting to think that I'm a bit snowed under.

To explain, I've finished Surprise Project I but haven't labelled or photographed it yet and on Monday I planned out my top and backing sheet for Surprise Project II but I really must get on with making it now as my deadline is approaching fast, very fast.  I've not done any prep work for my Transparency Quilt course - final class tomorrow- think maybe that should become a priority today!  I've also had a class supply list for another LQS course that also starts next week, Sparkle Plenty Star Quilt by Stephanie Dunphy of Loft Creations and I need to put a bit of thought into my colourways/fabrics for that.

So why am I falling behind with all my quilting commitments - the answer is that I'm too busy pinning to Pinterest and following quilting blogs - so for the rest of today they're banned, it's the only way I'll get anything done though obviously posting to my own blog doesn't count! ;)

Here's a peep at the wonderful fabric selection that my June Queen Bee, Kim, has posted to me - batiks in stunning jewel colours.

Kim's requested two New York Beauty (NYB) blocks with the same or different patterns from a 10 pattern choice.  Here's a look at her guidelines (June Bee Block instructions) and she's also pointed us at an NYB Block Quilt Along which will be very useful.

Lots of points and curves so I'm going to get together with my friend M, who is in the same NYC Mod Bee, and we can give each other encouragement and support and put our thinking caps on.

While I've been busy swooning over fabric and quilt block patterns Tatty has achieved another puppy milestone.  After she realised only yesterday that she can jump on to the sofas all by herself, she has put her new found skills to the test and scaled the dizzy heights of the coffee table - and who can blame her for as we all know a crafty girl just can't live without her sellotape!


Related posts:
New York Beauty (June Bee Block) - Sunglasses Recommended!
Liberated Log Cabin - My August Bee Block

There's Nothing Like A Bit Of Quilting ...

Diagonal Quilting Detail on Backing Sheet of Surprise Quilt Project

Yes, it's true, I can confirm when you're feeling really low there's nothing like a bit of quilting to make you feel brighter.  Got stuck in to one of my two surprise projects last night and have really made headway in quilting it.  Just one small triangle left to quilt and then ready to bind.

I've done much heavier quilting on this project than I've ever tried before and I'm loving the effect, though my right shoulder isn't quite so keen!  Couldn't have managed at all if I hadn't kept my ironing board alongside my sewing table to give me that extra bit of work surface to rest the quilt on.

So here's a sneak preview - remember this project is a big surprise that I'm working on for someone but I don't think this close up photo of the quilted backing sheet gives anything away.

So Much To Do And Not Enough Hours In A Day!

I've spent the last two days learning how to do all this stuff, setting up my facebook page and this blog and linking my accounts on facebook, Pinterest and Ravelry. It's quite a task and really all I want to do is crack on with my latest quilt project - I'm very, very excited about this one, it's top secret for now but over the next few weeks I'll be able to tell you all about it. Bear with me for a while, I need to get my act together but I promise I'll be posting lots of photos with my posts very, very soon!