Some Better Day...

Today's sound track:

Change is going to Come- Otis Redding

Don't give up- Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush

Some Better Day- I am Kloot

Tracks of my tears- Smokey Robinson

Mona Lisa- Nat King Cole

Do what you gotta do- Nina Simone

Do you realise?- Flaming Lips

Today is one year on. x   

Preparation

Its that time of year when all crafters are busy making for family, friends and fairs.  I am in the midst of family present making so I thought I would do a quick post with my Christmas free makes and tutorials plus a few patterns in case you were looking for a project (surely you haven't enough on your plate!).

Star Bright pot holder- free pattern

Ho Ho Ho banner- easily adapted to other ideas- free pattern

 Scandinavian Christmas Tree Pillow

 Winter Woolies Paper Pieced Pattern- In my Etsy Store

 Candy Cane Paper Pieced Pattern in my Etsy Store

 Mini Tote Bag- the basic shape, free pattern

 'Sew Very Christmas' pattern from Sew-Ichigo- 'Noel' and 'Candy Tree'

Free mat tutorial here

And elsewhere, I have seen two ideas that have really caught my eye.  Lynne has a daily Quilt Barn Advent Calendar to download, colour in and make. (Lynne's photo below).

Reene of Nellies Niceties has a stunning free Animal Crackers Tree Skirt pattern which is totally adorable. (Reene's photo below). 

I am currently stitching two large floor cushions for my brother and nephew- the tastes of an 8 year old and a 32 year old are surprisingly similar.  My brother requested a Mondrian randomness to a squares design plus some chambray-I then saw Elizabeth's Catvent quilt along and fused the two ideas by substituting the basic cat block for some of the squares.  This looks like it is random but I drew out my design on Touchdraw first so I knew what to cut and where it was all going.  There is lots of fussy cutting, cute fabrics and little in jokes.  The cat fabric is the new Lizzy House Cat Nap range- soon to be available here  I think (I bought a quilt market bundle from Annie).

Don't forget there is still time to get your 10% Liberty fabric discount at Jo's shop with the code VERYKERRY10 (expires 15th Dec)

And last but by no means least, Kerry's Very Berry Christmas Cake Recipe.  A rustic cake for marzipan lovers (chunks of marzipan baked inside), squidgy deliciousness, dairy free (optional), no need to ice and can be baked close to Christmas- it doesn't need dressing with booze.  Happy making xxx

12 days at Eternal Maker: 12 Offers until 12th Dec!

I thought I had better get a wriggle on with this offer, 12 days of bargains at Eternal Maker- all these discounts work until 12th December!

time for a peek at what some of the things you could buy…

My fav buttons:  Button Company Ornament kit

My fav dash: Clover Wonder Clips (the more the merrier)

My fav bundle:  Blue Bird Park Kate and Birdie for Moda

My fav Pattern/kit (hard choice): Straight Stitch Society, Feed the Animals purses

My fav Japanese fabric (another tough one): Kei Geo Ribbon (would be amazing as binding)

Fav French fabric: Mas D'ousvan blue/beige (love this!)  a whopping 20% off all these.

I know, I am salivating here too and don't forget the basics like Aurifil on a three for two- serious bargain.  Quick, lookie!  Plus free gift with every order, offer until the 12th Dec...

Liberty Diamond Ring

A long time in the making but finally finished: Liberty Diamond Ring quilt.

This started when I first saw Alexia Abegg's pattern  a few quilt markets ago.  Lots of people commented on it at the time although I haven't seen many versions of it made.  It does require a lot of background fabric but it is a great showcase for stunning prints like Liberty lawn and it was easy to follow. No pairing of print and colour is repeated in my version- all are different.  When I received an Oakshott Impressions stack I knew it was just the thing for this design. 

Details:

Pattern: Diamond Ring Quilt, Green Bee Patterns, Alexia Abegg

Size; Throw, 72" square

Background: Robert Kaufman Quilter's Linen in Grey

Coloured Fabric: Oakshott Impressions, fat eighth stack (diamonds and scrappy binding)

Prints: Liberty lawn (some from here) and a couple of Lecien Memoire a Paris Lawn prints (similar here and here)

Threads: Pieced with Aurifil 50wt, quilted with Aurifill 28 wt with 50wt on bobbin.   I used the Simply Color small box of colours for the heavier thread.

Batting: Hobbs Heirloom

For the quilting, I stitched the ditch on the diamonds and around the circle.  For the centre, I found a geometric faceted diamond cut drawing and drew that on the centre with a Chakoner- Japanese chalk device.  It worked well, sufficient to see and removed easily.   I used a Hobbs Heirloom batting for the first time.  It is lovely and light to use, the lot is a little thicker than Quilter's Dream Blend and it needs closer quilting (at least 3 ½" apart). I stitched using a range of colours in the centre.  The outer border was quilted in concentric circles and with grey and with lines radiating out from the diamonds.

The binding was scraps of the Oakshott Impressions joined together.  Oakshott makes a lovely binding as its so light and responds beautifully to an iron and holds its shape as you turn the binding.  I machine my binding and use Roxanne basting glue and Clover Wonder Clips to help with this.

The backing is a warm light twill, maybe wool cotton.  It was a car boot sale find and is lovely and soft.  It is a gift for a family member (let's say no more in case they are reading).

The photo shoot involved all the family, you can see us all in this shot!

Love Liberty Local

I am lucky living where I do.  Its a pretty little city, a short drive from the beach and has the bonus of a friend selling Liberty so should I ever run short, I am only minutes away from a carefully curated supply!  

Jo, aka 'A Life in Lists' has been running her Etsy shop for some years now and her choice of prints is sublime, just the right mix of new and traditional.  It can be a fine line with Liberty between edgy digital prints and old lady chic and Jo is definitely on the right side of this.  She is becoming a part time sponsor here, a new occasional position for small businesses, and has 10% discount up for grabs for my blog readers  with the code VERYKERRY10 (expires 15th December) and she ships worldwide.   Having had the pleasure of seeing all the stock in person in Jo's sewing room I shall take you round her virtual shop, starting with charm packs.  The 'Random' pack is a great place to begin, a quality street, bit of everything selection of 36 x 5" squares:

She also has a beautiful low volume pack which contains many of my favourite quieter prints.  This one literally makes me sigh:

She has a similar but more masculine and modern grey/blue charm pack. 

See what I mean about her stock choices!  If you see anything you like in a small cut that you have suddenly decided you must have more of for clothing or quilting or whatever , let Jo know and she just might be able to get hold of it for you.  I see prints in her shop that I don't see in elsewhere!

If a charm pack is not enough for you, there is the bundle option, 8 fat eighth cuts of your choice, (there is also a 4 option and a mega 18 colour wheel option:

I think my favourite classic print is this green Betsy.  I've used it in my Diamond Ring Quilt (post on that coming very soon) and as a trim on clothing.  The colours are beautiful, I am always drawn to those aqua and green tones, and this is the right level of ditsy floral for me. 

Equally stunning in grey, Betsy

 There are prints aimed at children, small scale cute motifs with huge appeal to children and grown up 40 something women too.  This is called 'Cars', you'd never have guessed right?

Hello Kitty, another Liberty favourite for children and adults.  I saw a toddler child in one of my classes with this fabric as her coat lining!

Or this in Hello Kitty in navy (I have some of this secreted away…)

This is a larger scale print from the annual art range- different 'personalties' designing for Liberty, this is Ornithology by Edwyn Collins from Autumn/Winter 2011.

More art prints, 'Philippa' by Grayson Perry- lots of little bicycles and this print is named after Grayson's wife.  I've made a tunic from this print, great for clothing.

A more recent collaboration is with Jamie Oliver and Rachael Pedder-Smith, this print is called 'Truly Scrumptious' also available on a dark navy background. 

This is one of their more unusual prints with huge amounts of detail which in my head works for quilting and clothing and is a long way from the traditional designs. 'Flora Bo D'

And here are some of Jo's prints in action with Oakshott's Impressions and Quilter's linen in grey: my just finished Liberty Diamond Ring quilt.

Black Friday, here, there and everywhere!

Its Black Friday and bargains are coming thick and fast online so I am offering some here for 48 hours, starting with 500 Quilt Blocks, 20% discount on the hardbacks I have left- green with purple writing (far right on pic) £10 £8 + £2 postage (UK only).  

If you would like a copy please email me (link in side bar) and let me know the name for the bookplate and your paypal address and I will send you an invoice.  This offer is open for 48 hours!

Over at Sew-Ichigo, we are offering all our patterns at 20% off so if there is one you have been wanting to try, this is a good time and 'Sew Very Christmas' is perfect for gift bags, mug rugs and more:

Again, this offer is for 48 hours only and is in our shop with the code blackfriday , and in our Craftsy shop and Etsy: no codes needed on these, the prices are already changed.

And to finish, an ongoing offer, 20 % off everything at Saints and Pinners.  Here's a rainbow of fabrics to whet the appetite:

Red: Triflora Lipstick, Anna Maria Horner

Orange: Mind's Eye Toast, Anna Maria Horner

Yellow: Darla Gingham Yellow, Tanya Whelan

Green: Coreopsis Lime, Anna Maria Horner

Blue: Kaffe Fasset, Water dots

Indigo: Kaffe Fasset, Shot Cotton Smokey

Violet:  Framed Shadow, Anna Maria Horner

Enjoy your savings xxx