Black Red & White Quilt

I have been in Quilting Block Swaps Australia since January this year and I started by collecting black, red and white blocks in any design.  I wasn't really sure what I would do with the blocks when I chose that theme but as time went on I decided I would give the quilt to my husband's eldest daughter, Angela and her husband, Erik as a Christmas gift this year.  That made me decide I really needed to add a few blocks and get it finished soonest or I would never get it quilted in time, particularly seeing as I have planned to give my Craftsy BOM quilt to her daughter Serena for Christmas as well.  Well at least I can't worry too much about that one until October so I decided I needed to get this one completely finished by then.

So far it has made it as far as a completed quilt top:

It was a bit difficult to get a great photo of it as the weather outside wasn't conducive to my usual patented clothesline method so first I tried on my bed above. Only problem is I couldn't get square on to it! So then I tried my son's bed which is only a double so the edges hang over but at least you can see the blocks a bit better:

I was so lucky finding the somewhat eye-popping border fabric.  It does look a little less psychedelic in real life!

I would like to mention the lovely quilters who contributed their blocks. Assuming the blocks are numbered from left to right starting in the top row:

• Block 2 - Leena L from NSW
• Block 7 & 14 - Elaine from NSW 
• Block 9 -  Beth H in Qld
• Block 10 - Cathy C from SA
• Block 12 - Sue B from SA- our group co-ordinator

The two blocks made by Elaine have become very special to me as sadly both she and her husband were killed in an accident in the month after sending me her blocks. I think of her every time I look at the blocks.  You just never know what is around the corner do you?  Rest in peace Elaine.

I have made the back for the quilt. In the sales at Spotlight I found some great black, red and white striped fabric for the back which has an almost flannel feel to it.  Only problem it wasn't quite enough so I went for an off centre contrast section to bring it up to size:

Again, I have to say the camera does this fabric no favours!  Do you like the little appliqued block in the corner?  I was busily searching on Quilters Cache for block patterns and inadvertently printed out (and made) a 9" one - doh! So I thought I would use it on the back.

Now I just need to wait for some nice weather so I can get it sandwiched together as I do my quilts outside on my picnic table!  Then get stuck in and quilt it before October when the next quilt will need doing! That and finish off several other projects for Christmas too - not sure this was a good idea!

Block Swap Goodies

Well today the postman was my favourite person!  I received both of my August Quilting Block Swaps! My first swap partner was Noelene from NSW who asked for a log cabin half black on white and half white on black with a red centre.  This is what I made for Noelene:

This is the block that Noelene sent to me, along with a colour co-ordinated card!

I had two swap partners this month and my second swap buddy was the lovely Ruth from Idaho in the USA. We had some lovely chatty emails over the month! Ruth is new to the group this month and hadn't really any set ideas for her block other than suggesting a Churn Dash with an Australian twist. Luckily I happened to have some Australian wildflower fabrics leftover from other projects so this is what I sent Ruth:

Ruth then sent me not one but two blocks as she was worried they weren't good enough! I think she's selling herself short, they are both lovely!

I'm not sure which one I like most.  I love the flowers and the lovely red fabric on this one:

But I do love my blues! Hmmm, maybe this one is my favourite after all!

Thank you to both Noelene and Ruth for your lovely blocks and welcome to the group Ruth!


I have four blocks now in this pattern, I'm looking forward to seeing what other colour combinations people come up with over the coming months.  Here is what I have so far:

My idea was to have a really colourful, cheery quilt at the end.  I think its definitely heading in the right direction don't you?

Terrific Spring Fling Giveaway!

Quilting Block Swaps Australia is having a great giveaway, sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop. Its a Spring Fling giveaway and you can win a jelly roll of Cameo by Amy Butler. I would so love to win that!  If you would like to enter just pop over to the blog here.

Good luck!

Been Missing!

I really haven't been doing much posting lately! I have to say I am normally a really healthy person but over the last three months I have had three colds, the last of which really knocked me around a bit.  Just to gild the lily today I have a dose of gastro - terrific!

One lovely thing happened today though - a surprise squishy parcel in the post - who doesn't love those?  Couldn't have come on a better day for me.

I received my lovely surprise from Fabric Direct after I made a comment on a post on their Facebook page a while ago - ironically about everyone in the family being sick!

What was my surprise?  A charm pack of Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille from Moda.

Lucky me - now to work out what to make with it!  Thank you Eve at Fabric Direct!

Craftsy BOM for August

Well I've been very slack at posting lately, not sure why just didn't have much to say I suppose! Anyone who knows me would be laughing at that but there you go!

Today I worked on the Craftsy BOM blocks for August, the Ohio Star and the Double Star.  I quite liked the Ohio Star but was having an off day today as far as my 1/4" seams go and had to fiddle with it a bit. Still not exactly perfect but close enough for me.  The Double Star was a little bit the same but just with the outer flying geese.  Anyway here they are:

Only four more to go now!  Here is what I have so far:

Still not happy with that one on the bottom right, its so much darker than the others and just doesn't seem to fit.  I'll have to see, might have to make something else and swap it out.

My Red, Black and White Quilt is still waiting for one more block.  I haven't received my July block from Encarna in Spain yet so I'm waiting to see if she made that option and if not I'll have to whip up another block to give me 16.  I did find the perfect fabric to use as a border though so I trialled it with some sashing and with and without a red peeper border to see how it looked.

Here it is with a red narrow border before the outer border:

and here it is without it:

I remember when I took these I preferred with the red, thinking I would probably use the red for binding but now looking at these I think I prefer the look of the black against the zig zag fabric.  What do you think?

Speaking of block swaps I have two for August, Raelene in NSW and Ruth in Idaho.  Raelene is after a log cabin in black on white and white on black with a red centre and I'm waiting on some fabric to arrive from eQuilter.com so I can start putting her block together.  It just so happened I had ordered some black and white fabric before I found out what I had to make and now I'm glad I did as I'm sure it will be just what I need!

Ruth is a new swap member and suggested a Churn Dash block and didn't really have any firm ideas about colours but suggested something Australian.  It just so happened I did have some leftover fabric from the Under the Australian Sun 1 & 2 range by Leesa Chandler and so I've made her Churn Dash using these.  I haven't mailed it to her yet so I won't post a photo until I know she has received it.  I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise of her first swap!  I hope she likes it!

Anyway, that's where I'm up to at the moment.  Have a great week,

Happy Sewing!