Kaffe Fassett Comes to Wales - Quilt Exhibition, Lampeter - Part 1

Kaffe Fassett Quilt Exhibition - Welsh Quilt Centre, Lampeter, 2013

During our trip up to mid-Wales we took the opportunity to visit the Welsh Quilt Centre, in Lampeter where they are hosting an exhibition of Kaffe Fassett quilts, on until 2nd November 2013. 


Welsh Quilt Centre Exhibition - Kaffe Fassett Quilts

It was a beautifully curated exhibition, with the quilts suspended from the ceiling, so you could see both the front and back. 


Imari Plates Quilt - Kaffe Fassett

Kaffe Fassett is known for his unmistakeable colourful quilts, and the colour and his fabric designs do most of the talking.  It is hard not to be drawn in by the vibrant colours.  On the other hand, fanciful quilting techniques are not the order of the day, partly maybe because they would be lost in all that colour.


Kaffe Fassett Applique Folk Art Quilt, Welsh Quilt Centre 2013

Lots of clever ideas using tone and colour, and plenty of inspiration.  I imagine few of us have been able to restrain ourselves from buying a few fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett's fabric.


Calico Kate, Quilt Shop , Lampeter, Wales

No fear.  Right next door to the Welsh Quilt Centre is a lovely quilt shop, Calico Kate.  There are eight rooms of quilt fabric, including a WHOLE ROOM of Kaffe Fassett prints.  What a find!  I came away with a few Fat Quarters - it was the least I could do to keeping the economy going.

Kaffe Fassett Quilt Exhibition, Welsh Quilt Centre, Wales

After spending a couple of hours in the shop and at the exhibition it was time for lunch.  Do you see some more subdued quilts in the background?  You will have to wait until next time to hear about those ...

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 68 visits the Elan Valley, Wales

Block 68 - Nearly Insane Quilt at the Elan Valley, Wales

As you know, my blocks tend to travel far and wide, and recently Block 68 has travelled to Mid-Wales to the Elan Valley, and here it is posing with one of the reservoirs in the background.  

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 68

When preparing this block in my Electric Quilt software, I wasn't really happy with Salinda's design, so it has gone through a few alterations.  The centre strip was originally small strips, it is now it is a set of five QST's.  Also the long strips have been divided into three. In fact, now that I have referred to the original diagram, I have changed it quite a bit ... my prerogative I guess.  Just in case the Nearly Insane police are out there, the original design had 32 pieces - I have increased it to 46.

Red and Cream fabric scraps

With all the 'design' changes, it allowed me to make this another scrappy block.  My red and cream / white scrap jar provided me with plenty of options, and I love the way that the scrappy blocks bring the different tones of red together.

You may also be interested to know that I have started on Block 18.

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts!

NUMBER OF PIECES: 46
DIFFICULTY:3 /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1.25" (76mm) x 7/8" (23mm) x 7/8" (23mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle, 6" (152mm) x 3/8" (9mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Scraps

Liberty Love - Clover Clamshell Accessory Case

Clover Clamshell Case - Liberty Fabric

There have been a flurry of new Followers of the Fabadashery blog in recent weeks - welcome.  I have been  busy visiting your blogs to see what you are all up to, and have noticed a couple bloggers have been working on projects using Liberty Fabrics.  Blue Moth has made a cute  Mini Hexagon Pincushion in some Liberty fabrics, like the one I made a few weeks ago, and there are also lots of Liberty goings-on over at Knotted Cotton. Do go and visit.


Liberty Tana Lawn Fabrics

Anyway, all this Liberty loveliness made me pull out my Liberty Tana Lawn stash, to ponder over the potential for a little Liberty project.  In the end I opted for another Clover Clamshell Accessories Case, like I made a few weeks ago. 

Many years ago when I used to travel up and down the country on the train, my essentials pack included my Walkman, a few audio tapes, and spare batteries.  To hold all these bits I made a zipped bag out of the Liberty "Ianthe" design, which I had hand quilted.  Well, times have moved on, and I decided to make a clamshell case to hold my iPhone earphones, this time covered in the Liberty "Wiltshire" fabric design, with the inside fabric from the Ella, Red Rooster Range.


Clover Clamshell Accessory Case - Padded Forms, Inner and Outer fabrics

Second time around, the Clamshell Case was easier to make, and the Tana Lawn cotton meant that I was able to get a lovely sharp finish.  Once I cut out all the pieces, it was packed up for a 'found' moment.  In the end the 'found' moment was whilst watching the first episode of the new series of Downton Abbey on Sunday evening.


Clover Clamshell Case - Earphone Storage

A neat storage solution, and a quick and easy project - I can see a few more of these being made.
Joining up with WIP Wednesday!
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 13

Nearly Insane Quilt - Blocks 7, 78, and 83

These are the blocks from Draw 12, which marks the halfway stage on my Nearly Insane journey.  I think I am finally getting the hang of balancing the tones for these Nearly Insane quilt blocks, ensuring that I am getting deep, midtones, and lights into each one. 

It is just as well that I am, as I have just made the next lucky Draw ...

 18 - 65 - 68 - 86

Draw 13 has THE BLOCK in it!  Block 18 is the one with the most pieces in it - 229 pieces in total.  The most I have done so far for these 6 inch blocks is 120 - which I quite enjoyed ... Putting these many-pieced blocks together is not difficult, just more time consuming.  However, just cutting the 229 pieces is going to take time. 

I had better get off the blog and get going.
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 93

Nearly Insane Edge Blocks: 88, 93, 96, 97

Another round up of the more recent Edge blocks from the Nearly Insane Quilt, featuring 88, 93, 96, and 97.  As I have said before, there are two of each for these, but I have found that they are all very similar anyway, and they don't have the complexity of the full blocks.  They are great to do if one of the more 'meaty' blocks have taken a long time.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 93

Despite its name, my Nearly Insane Quilt is actually the one thing keeping me sane, as it is the only stitching I am managing to do at the moment.  I have a few projects I would like to do, but in the back of my mind I am reserving some time around Christmas ( ... yes, I said Christmas) to do Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Mystery Quilt - has anyone heard if there is one on the cards?


NUMBER OF PIECES: 12
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle 4 1/4" (108mm) x 3" (77mm) x 3" (77mm) 
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 1 (25mm) x 3/4" (18m) x 3/4" (18mm) 
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Calico
Holiday Treats Red Packed Peppermints by Timeless Treasures
Polka Party Petite" (Buttercream) Lakehouse Dayz Collection by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods (LH05037)

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 7 at Coronation Exhibition at Buckingham Palace

Block 7, Nearly Insane Quilt visits Buckingham Palace, London

Here is Block 7 of the Nearly Insane Quilt on a trip to Buckingham Palace. 

We took a trip up to London at the weekend to visit the Coronation Exhibition, which was part of the annual Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace.  The main attraction for me was knowing that Queen Elizabeth II's  Norman Hartnell designed Coronation dress was going to be on display, along with some of the jewels.  The dress was absolutely breath-taking, and it was lovely to see the construction and embellishment on a couture dress from the 1950's. Most of the pictures from the time are in black and white, so it was lovely to see it in technicolour - there was also a colour cine film of the behind the scenes being shown. No photos allowed unfortunately, so use the links in this post to see the official photos.

As a young girl I used to pour over a book we had on the Queen's clothes, which included colour photographs of the embroidery samples that were used on her dresses.  As the Queen, I *assumed* that her dresses would be covered in diamonds and pearls.  It was only a few years ago, when I visited Buckingham Palace for the Dress For the Occasion exhibition that I realised that the dresses were not decorated in real diamonds and pearls, but in the same bugle beads and mother of pearl that we all can buy in the shops.  Some of the dresses from the 1960s even had plastic shapes for decoration! What an anti-climax.  Nevertheless, it is always a pleasure to see beautifully hand crafted couture gowns, and there was also a display of the real bling that she wore to accessorize the dress on the day.

The Coronation dress had plenty of fine embroidery on it, including beading and goldwork done by the Royal School of Embroidery.  The Royal School of Embroidery still exists and is based at Hampton Court Palace in London.  One of the Fabadashery Blog Followers, Emily, is lucky enough to live nearby and often shares the progress of the embroidery workshops she attends.


Block 7, Nearly Insane Quilt

Back to Block 7.  I was lucky enough to be a passenger on the journey to London, so I managed to get the block stitched together, which is why I was able to take the photo in Buckingham Palace gardens.  Not a tricky block, only 36 pieces.

As always linking up with Connie at Freemotion By the River, where she hosts a lovely friendly Linky Party.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 36
DIFFICULTY:3 /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 3" (76mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm) x 2 1/8" (54mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (26mm) x 11/16" (18mm) x 11/16" (18mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Little Spots Red, Pierres Famous Travelling Circus, Michael Miller
Tangled Threads in Apple Red on Cream, Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater for Moda
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
White spots on cream

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 83

Block 83 Nearly Insane Quilt

Can you believe it - this block marks the half way mark with the Nearly Insane Quilt blocks.  In my original plan I worked out that there are 25 draws, with 3 full and one half block, to get the quilt top complete, and as we are on Draw 12, and this the second block .... yes, we are half way through. The pieces of paper in my Nearly Insane Bowl are gradually diminishing!


Nearly Insane Draw bowl

I am really trying to get the light , medium and dark fabrics into each block, as they work better in the overall quilt.  I am also looking forward to when I have enough blocks to start sewing it together.

Lately, I have been in a hurry to get these blocks done. To be honest it has been a struggle to get just this block done this week, with one thing and another - well, mainly work, it really felt like I was stealing time to get it done.  Nonetheless, it is a finish.


Joining Up with Crazy Mom Quilts

NUMBER OF PIECES: 65
DIFFICULTY: 4 /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/8" (10mm) x 3/8" (10mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle 4" (100mm) x 13/16" (72mm) x 13/16" (672mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Red Sprig on Cream (Unidentified)
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224
Spraytime (Scarlet) by Makower #2800-R06
White on Cream Print
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 78

Block 78, Nearly Insane Quilt

After my recent 120 piece block, the next one I have chosen to do only has 9 pieces in it.  You would think 9 pieces was easy, but I found that with this particular pattern I spent a lot of time trying to choose fabrics that would show it to its best.  Also I have done a very similar one already, Nearly Insane Block 13, so I wanted to make it look different. 
Originally , I had a plain calico centre square, but once it was together it looked insipid, so I unpicked it, and fussy cut one of the Red Hoops from the Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater collection.  For 9 pieces I can't believe the mental strain it has caused!


Red and Cream quilting fabric.  Do you recognise it?

Also there is a new pretty fabric in this block.  I don't have information on what it was called, but I have a faint memory of it have a school related title in the collection.  Does anyone recognise it?

I picked it up at Patchwork Direct, near Bakewell in Derbyshire, when I was away a few weeks ago.  The shop is housed in an 1928 Wesleyan Reform Methodist Church, and had a great choice of fabrics, particularly the Kona Japanese fabrics.  I thought I was very restrained just to come away with a fat quarter of this fabric.

Linking up with Connie at Freemotion By the River

NUMBER OF PIECES: 9
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square,1  1/2" (37mm) x 1 1/2" (37mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 7/8" (22mm) x 6" (151mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Red and White Scandinavian Snowflake Fabric
Somerset Shirtings c 1890 by Julie Hendrickson and Nancy Gere, Windham Fabrics # 35205
Red Daisy Fabric (unidentified)
Red Hoops (5493-31) Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater for Moda

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 12

Draw 11 - Nearly Insane Quilt Blocks, 6,17, 42

Here are the completed Nearly Insane blocks from Draw 11.  These three blocks, 6, 17 and 42 add up to 250 pieces in all, with one block just 21 pieces, another 120.  I think it is the variety that keeps you sane!

Draw 12, has pulled out the next blocks as

7 - 78 - 83 - 93

Nearly Insane - English Paper Piecing Travel Packs

I have been getting my house in order with regards my Nearly Insane Quilt progress.  In my 6 Month Progress Report, I mentioned a few outstanding issues with regard the outer edge cornerstones, and the zig zag border.  Well action has been taken, and as you may be able to see I have not only cut out the pieces for all these, and put them into their travel bags, but I have also already prepared the next four blocks.  At 'work' I think all this reviewing would qualify as 'professional reflective practice'.

Old Cutting Mat

All this activity with the rotary cutter has been vastly improved with the introduction of a new cutting mat.  For quite a while I have been having problems cutting my fabric.  I thought a new blade in the rotary cutter would do the trick, but no.    The reason for the trouble was that the mat has been used so much that there are vast crevasses missing from it, so blade was skipping on those sections. I had to admit to myself that my old mat had passed it best.

New Cutting Mat

So at the NEC Festival of Quilts, I invested in a new cutting mat, and everything is working like a dream. 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 42

Block 42, Nearly Insane Quilt

Gradually the number of pieces in each draw seem to be increasing.  Last time, the most pieces in these 6" blocks was 110, Block 42 has 120 pieces.  It was easier to do that its neighbour, Block 43, which had 100 pieces and got 9/10 for difficulty. It took time to do, but the finished result is worth it.  I like the colour combinations, with the dark, medium and light fabrics, and the complex pattern which makes the block look more interesting. I hope you appreciate all my matching points - I spend a lot of time coaxing the little bits together.

Suzi the Cat - My Nearly Insane Helper

Fortunately, I had Suzi the Cat helping with the cutting - she helped me cut out the 56 little cream triangles for this block.


120 pieces in a 6 inch block - Nearly Insane Quilt

In fact, there were lots of components in this block: 32 different flying geese units, Ohio Stars, 4-patch's, and I used 5 different fabrics, so there was quite a lot to check as I went along.   The components reminded me of Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt which I did last Christmas, which then got me thinking, maybe  I could make a miniature Easy Street Quilt using English Paper piecing ..... insane.

Block 42 Reverse - Nearly Insane Quilt

Moving on, here you can see the reverse of the block as I was giving it a good press with the steam iron. I am not too concerned that it will distort because of the paper, and this block, in particular, has a lovely malleable feel to it with all the paper pieces still in it.

Another great addition to the overall Nearly Insane Quilt.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 120
DIFFICULTY: 5/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (32m) x 1/2" (32mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Designer Beads (Red) Freespirit for Westminster Fibers
Quilters Basics, Stof
Polka Party III by Holly Holderman, Lakehouse Drygoods #03035
Apple Line Red Swirl by Alice Kennedy for Timeless Treasures  #C5710
Cherry Sketch Basic Collection by Timeless Treasures #C8224

Joining Up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts
 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 6, Ohio Star Variation





Block 6 , Nearly Insane Quilt, Ohio Star Variation



Here is another Ohio Star variation representing Block 6 of the Nearly Insane Quilt.  It feels like deja vu.

 

Only 21 pieces in this one, which classifies it as EASY. As I do most of my stitching whilst travelling, these 'easy' blocks do not take too much of my concentration, and there are some that I don't even remember doing, as they come together so quickly - this is one of them.    I know the next one has a few more pieces ...

 

I have used a Scandinavian style fabric in the centre, where the pattern looks like it has been pieced, to add a bit of complexity to this block.

 

150th Anniversary Dear Jane Quilt Bag

Since my trip to the 150th Anniversary Dear Jane Quilt Exhibition in Nantes, France, in April, my Dear Jane bag has been my storage of choice for the fabrics I am using for the Nearly Insane Quilt.  It is lovely and big, and they have been piled in and piled out many times.  The bag is also inspiration for perhaps the next project ....

NUMBER OF PIECES: 21
DIFFICULTY: 1 /10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1/2" (12.5mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 2.5" (63mm) x 2.5" (63mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Red and White Scandinavian Snowflake Fabric 
Red and White Floral (Unidentified, purchased from The Shuttle)
Prairie Paisley by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
White on Cream swirl print (unidentified)

Linking Up with WIP Freshly Pieced

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 97 and Cornerstones

Nearly Insane Edge Block 97

The Nearly Insane Quilt is set on point, so along with the blocks there are these triangular blocks which go around the edge. These edge blocks are no where near as complicated the main blocks in the quilt, so they get done quite quickly.  Also, most of them are repeated twice.  However, I did have a bit of a hitch this time around.  Although they look VERY similar, the triangles done in the Bias Check, are a slightly different size (on my pattern), but I didn't find that out until I had sewn them on.  So then I unpicked it ....

2" Canoe Block Cornerstones

Also the 6 Month Progress Report allowed me to review areas that needed attention, which made me realise that I was lagging behind on my cornerstones and sashings, so I have spent a bit of time catching up on these.  Now have 30 cornerstones done and 75 sashing strips complete.  I am not sure how many NEED to be done, but I do know I printed enough paper templates, so I am just working through them. I also started to take out the inner paper pieces from the cornerstones - I can see that is going to be quite a time consuming job in the future.

It is time to do some more fabric cutting for these.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 15
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 3/4" (18mm) x 13/4" (18mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square 1.5" (38mm) x 1.5" (38mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS: 
Cream Bias Check Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5495 11
Redwork Rendevous by Alex Anderson for P&B Textiles
Red Pin Dot (Unidentified)
Cream Pin Dot (Unidentified)