DIY chic geek quilt

When my 7 year old son asked for "a periodic table quilt" for his next birthday, I was a bit flabbergasted. Where to start???

But trusty Mary came up with the perfect idea ..... get Michelle to print the design with her fancy shmancy (and extremely awesome) new fabric printing business and ask Cindy to help out with creating the digital file. (I LOVE my crafty friends!!!)

So I went along last week to Frankie & Swiss headquarters to experience the magic in person and the amazing light and airy space took my breath away!! Here's a few examples of the space and the amazing pieces on display ...

 

This is the beautiful dress made by Cindy. 

Look out for Cindy's classes where she teaches how to make this dress!!!

   

    

   

Yep, that's Cam's fabulous 'Granny Square' fabric

   

   

   

   

 So once we had the file just right, we started to print ...

 

And to give you an idea of scale, here is Michelle and her lovely sister Jacquie setting up 'Flo', the huge printing machine .... 

 

 

 

Yesterday I sewed on a border and ... voila .... instant single bed quilt top ...
 

 

 

   

 

Now I just need to find the perfect backing fabric and get it quilted and bound before January.

I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!

So what do you think? Do you have a chic geek in your life who would love this in their bedroom? Maybe as a cushion?

Andi xx

Book review and GIVEAWAY!

You know Kathreen don't you? She's the WhipUp chic!!
And she's written a quilt book. Yay!!!

The first section of the book looks at communal quilting projects like quilt bees, friendship quilts, etc. Lots of great ideas here!

In the spirit of this communal project, Kathreen asked a number of bloggy quilty folks to be involved in creating the quilts for this book. My contribution was to sew the quilt top for this quilt ...

 

The second part of the book gives some quilting basics followed by the main section of the book with quilt projects using pre-cut fabrics. Everything from charm squares to jelly roles to fat quarters.

When I buy a quilty type book, I usually just peruse the pictures for inspiration rather than reading the 'how-to' bits ... so I really LOVE a book with fabulous photographs. And this book doesn't disappoint in the photography department ..

 

   

   

Like what you see? Well you might be lucky enough to win a copy of this book ... courtesy of  publisher Chronicle Books!
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you look for in craft books! (No "pick me" comments please!)

Also, please make sure you include an email address and let me know where in the world you are.

I'll draw a winner this Friday 18th November.

This blog tour has been going for a week or so already but if you would like to visit any of the blogs on the rest of the tour, you can find the whole list with all the links over at this post.

Happy blog hopping!
Andi xx

Edit 18/11/11: The prize has been drawn and comments to this post are now closed!

Bag in a day!

2 Saturdays ago (I know ... I'm a rotten blogger these days ....sorry for the delayed update) I spent a fabulous day with a bunch of ladies eager to learn all about bag making from the master herself.

I have made a few bags before but knew that I had A LOT to learn about finishing things off nicely, using interfacing and other tools of the trade.

Nikki's studio was literally dripping with gorgeous samples and inspiration ..

Nikki is an excellent teacher. Always encouraging and always with a clever little trick to teach.

Here we are busily working away ....

 

   

   

Hi Cathy!!

Here's my work area .... do you detect a bit of a colour theme? (I'm so predictable!!) 

 

Nikki was also a very patient and calm teacher ... even when I accidentally steamed up her cutting mat causing it to buckle. QUICK .... get the weights on to it!!!! (Coolest weights ever!) 

 

And here are some of our finished products: 

 

   

Can you guess who this belongs to? He he!

 Thanks Nikki for a gorgeous day. I learned so much and had a lovely time doing it.

 

Nikki and Cathy have more shots in their blog posts. (You MUST check out Cathy's gorgeous bag. Somehow I managed not to get a shot of her gorgeous fabric).

Have a lovely Tuesday and try to drop by again tomorrow for a book review and GIVEAWAY!!

Andi xx

Sewing therapy

Been stitching! Helps me to feel better.

This quilt will be a gift for Jake's teacher after 2 years of magnificent teaching and support. Jake has come so far in the last 2 years and I give his teacher a significant chunk of the credit. We are so very grateful.

When I asked her about colours she answered that her couches were neutral coloured with red throw cushions (PERFECT!!) but then added that her bedroom was blue and yellow. "I really love blue and yellow" she added hopefully. Not so perfect in terms of the colours I like to work with but I hope I have found a combination that will work in either room.

Fabrics are mostly from Denyse Schmidt's "Picnic and Fairgrounds" range from earlier this year with a few other staples in the mix.

Attempting to channel the great Red Pepper goddess of quilting with this one. This quilt in particular!

Now on to basting and quilting. Hopefully I'll get it done soon so I can relax a little before our family birthday season is in full swing.

Happy stitching to you and yours.
Andi xx

Thanks

Thank you to everyone who has left beautiful and supportive comments on my last post.
I have read all your comments and have appreciated every single one ... even though I haven't responded to them individually. I hope you understand.

I am feeling ready to move forward and need to step back into crafty blog posts. Good therapy I say!

As part of my moving forward process I will lock this post to comments and will close comments on the last post.

Thanks again!
Andi xx

My Abba

I've been wondering how to write this post. I have no real answer so have decided to just write and see what comes out.

On Friday October 7th, just before he was due to leave for synagogue services for Yom Kippur, my Dad had a massive stroke. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance where he spent the night in the Emergency Department. The next day we realised he was continuing to have strokes and had so much damage to his brain that he was not expected to survive more than a day or so.

He held on for another 3 days and passed away very peacefully, surrounded by love and support, last Tuesday. We held his funeral and memorial services yesterday.

I'm exhausted.

There's so much more to tell.... about my Dad and his amazing life.... about my family and how we have supported each other ... about my pain at the loss of my Abba (Hebrew for 'Daddy').... but this doesn't feel like the right time or place. Equally, it doesn't feel right to just press on with this blog without acknowledging events of this past week.

 

This memorial candle will burn in our home for seven days.  Maybe after that I'll feel ready to get back to this space.

Until then, cuddle your loved ones tight and live your life fully and with purpose. That's my plan!

Andi xx