Spring Quilt Festival 2014 - Exeter Westpoint

'Brick Lane' Medallion Quilt by Village Fabrics

At the weekend I made a trip to Exeter to visit the Spring Quilt Festival at the Westpoint Showground.  It's a small show, but when you need a quick quilt fix it is the ideal tonic.

'Delft Floor Tiles' by Alice Webb

This blue quilt was a small hanging by Alice Webb.  It caught my eye as it reminded me of my on-point Nearly Insane quilt, and little projects that could emanate from it in the future.  I often have a small 3" block in my hand as I construct the full block and think how cute it is.


'Enchanted Garden' Quilt by Rhianon Taylor

Every time I go to a quilt show, I am usually at a certain stage in my quilting thoughts, and different things appeal to me amongst the exhibits. This time around it was quilting.  In terms of quilting on quilts, there was a lovely display of quilts by Rhianon Taylor, also blogging as the Nifty Stitcher. 


Detail - 'Enchanted Garden' Quilt by Rhianon Taylor

Just look at this amazing machine quilting. A full display of her work can bee seen on her blog, and no doubt it will be touring in future Grosvenor Exhibitions coming up throughout the year if you want to see it in the flesh.

'Baby Jane' Quilt by Sheila Lloyd

After my trip to Nantes last year to see the 150th Anniversary display of Dear Jane quilts, it was lovely to see another.  Sheila has pretty much stuck to the style and fabrics of the original Dear Jane quilt by Jane Stickle - it looked lovely.

Naturally I made a few purchases at the stalls.  I added a few fat quarters to my stash of neutrals from a charity stall, and bought the 'Little Black Dress 2' layer cake by BasicGrey.  The Japanese fabric was from a rummage bin - it has a striped design which I though had lot of potential ...

Cat Coaster - Giddy Sprite Designs

Also, whilst I was out and about at the weekend I also picked up this little cat coaster by Giddy Sprite.  Suzi the cat seems to have this expression on her face permanently at the moment - the birds outside are driving her to distraction!

 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 2

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 2

Presenting Block 2.  In the latest blocks, my Michael Miller Rail Stripe has featured quite heavily.  This is where the regular Draws do their duty in mixing up the fabrics.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 2

The number of pieces has increased from 21 to 36. The original pattern has 1" square blocks in the corners.  I have turned the into HST's (Half Square Triangles), and the same in the middle.  I am at the point with this project where if a block looks too dull, I just HAVE to spice it up a bit, to create visual interest.  I am keen to make as many blocks scrappy, so this block has 15 different fabrics featured in it.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 62 (Redone)

I have also made some alterations to another block. Whilst I thought I had included dark, medium and light fabrics in the original Block 62, from a distance you couldn't read the light, so the centre square has been changed to a light neutral.  It looks a bit too light in this photo, but once the neutral sashing is lined up beside it, I hope it will calm it down.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and with Freemotion by the River today.  Earlier in the week Lee at Freshly Pieced was part of Jennifer Sampou's Shimmer  Blog Hop with a chance to win a Charm Pack of some gorgeous fabrics.  I'm in - I'm just spreading the love!


NUMBER OF PIECES:  36
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle, 1" (25mm) x 11/16" (17mm) x 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1" (25mm) x 4" (102mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Rail Stripe Red, Michael Miller Fabrics
Scraps
Calico

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 86

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 86

Just a quickie to tell you about one of the Nearly Insane edge blocks, Block 86.  I think the flowery 30's reproduction fabric from the Chloe's Closet range really makes it look cute.


Canoe block cornerstones - Nearly Insane Quilt

I have also had a bit of sewing time to catch up with some of the cornerstones and edge cornerstones, and have managed to get these few done lately.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  14
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1 1/4" (31mm) x 3 1/2" (89mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Rail Stripe Red, Michael Miller Fabrics
Chloe's Closet 30's Playtime - Red Flowers
Solid Red, Kona
Calico

Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 23

Nearly Insane Quilt Blocks - 23, 25, 46

Here are the latest blocks from Draw 22 of my Nearly Insane Quilt.  They always look so pretty lined up in a row.  I also love how they all look so different.  Why do they look so different?  Because of my growing red and white fabric stash!



Red and white fabric stash

Since I started my Nearly Insane Quilt blocks back in February 2013, I will admit that my red and white fabric stash has grown.  Even now as I approach the final stages, my eyes are always on the look out for suitable fabrics.  It certainly justifies future red and white quilt projects, and over at SewCalGal she is continuing her celebration of Red and White Quilt Challenges.  The aim is to get this quilt top together for Part 3 - The Make It! Challenge.  Wish me luck!

The next blocks that have been drawn are

2 - 27 - 51 - 95

 

Joining up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 89

Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Block 89

Over recent weeks I have managed to complete quite a few Nearly Insane blocks, and edge blocks, so over the next few days I hope to give them each their own '15 Minutes of Fame', whilst I catch up with my blogging. These edge blocks are usually quite quick to complete - (this one has just 13 pieces), so they often get overlooked when I blog.  This one shows more evidence of fussy cutting on that Michael Miller Rail Stripe fabric.  Yes, I seem to listening to myself ...


Nearly Insane Quilt - Edge Blocks 89

Here is the block shown with its twin Edge Block 89.  When you see the blocks together it is a reminder of how patchwork allows the creation of infinite combinations of fabrics for different results. Today I am spending some time in my workroom preparing some of my Nearly Insane blocks, cutting out the fabrics pieces ready for stitching - a good excuse for playing with my red and white fabric stash and enjoy choosing those combinations. The clocks have gone forward today - for once I have excuse for where the time has gone!
 
NUMBER OF PIECES:  13
DIFFICULTY: 1/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square, 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle 1" (25mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm) x 1 11/16" (17mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Rail Stripe Red, Michael Miller Fabrics
Hearted Vine Red, Midwinter Reds, Minick & Simpson, Moda  14763-11
Mini red flower sprig - unidentified
Calico

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 46

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 46

There are several blocks in this style in the Nearly Insane Quilt, where the block is made up of diminishing squares (see Block 11, 39).  They are quite fun to do in terms of choosing the fabric combinations.  However, depending on the complexity of the English paper piecing in the centre, it can tend to make the straight edges bulge. This one isn't too bad. Altering the original block, I have added the cornerstones to the outside border, as it made it easier to negotiate the stripe on the corner. I was also careful to 'fussy' cut the outer striped fabric, so it is the same on each side - I think I am gradually learning ...

Block 46 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Originally the central star of Block 46 was going to be all calico, but at the last minute, I popped in a little red pindot - who doesn't like a little red pindot?  When choosing fabrics for each block I easily fall into the trap of just sticking to a few favourites, but in this scrap quilt, the more the merrier, so the pindot is a welcome addition.


Giant sweet jars filled with fabric scraps

Talking of scraps, my scrap jars have recently multiplied.  For this project I have been storing my red and white scraps in a giant glass sweet jar.  Even though this project is meant to be using up scraps, I seem to have created more in the process.  These jars are lovely for seeing what you have, and you can dip your hand right inside to pull out what you need.  Knowing how much I love them, my husband picked another one up for me as a gift from Baileys Home near Ross-On-Wye. What a great husband I have :)

NUMBER OF PIECES:  40
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle  11/16" (18 mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Rectangle  6" (152 mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Christmas Past  (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Reunion Cherry Sally's Skirt by Sweetwater for Moda #5473
Rail stripe Red, Michael Miller Fabrics
Cream with red pindot - unidentified
Calico


 

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 25

Block 25 (revised) - Nearly Insane Quilt

In the Nearly Insane pattern book by Liz Lois, each block is presented 'square', but in the actual quilt, the blocks are 'on point'.  Sometimes, what looks OK in the book, sometimes gets tipped off balance once it is transferred. 

Original Block 25 - Nearly Insane Quilt

The original Block 25 is one of the more 'individual' patterns of the Nearly Insane quilt, with points going here and there, which I quite liked, but once 'on point' not as much.  Therefore it has undergone a bit of makeover in my Electric Quilt software - you can compare the changes below (.... you will need to tip your head to understand what I mean!)

Revised Block 25 - Nearly Insane Quilt

I think overall it has added more pieces to the block, but I quite enjoy making the blocks my own.


Block 25 in progress - Nearly Insane Quilt

I completed this Nearly Insane block whilst enjoying International Quilt Day with the Quilt Show. Here is a photo of my little work station I use whilst I sew watching the television.  At the top you can see a pile of 'light' cream corner squares which I abandoned midway for a 'midtone' red ... this block really was a work in progress, going through many changes on its journey.

I have also had the assistance of Suzi the cat whilst completing this block.  She is perhaps a bit more interested in the plastic bag than the sewing ... I think she is trying to tell me it is dinner time.


Block 25 - Nearly Insane Quilt

Lots of blocks finished lately - surely it deserves a Whoop Whoop?

NUMBER OF PIECES:  101
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Triangle  3/4" (18mm) x 1/2" (13mm) x 1/2" (13mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Square  1 1/16" (27mm) x 1 1/16" (27mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
"Friendship" (Tonal Red) by Howard Marcus for MODA (Collections For a Cause) # 46130
Ivory on Red Cameo Bud Yardage # 14764 Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson, Moda
Cream Heart Paisley # 14766-15, Midwinter Reds by Minick & Simpson, Moda
Red pindot (unidentified)
Kona Red solid
Calico



Nearly Insane Quilt - Draw 22



Nearly Insane Quilt - Blocks 24, 73, 79

Crikey, we are on Draw 22!  I think that this means about 75% of the blocks have been done.  You can see from the Electric Quilt image below that there are more red squares than white ones, which can only be a good thing.

Nearly Insane Quilt - Electric Quilt 5 Software

Here are the next blocks that have been drawn

23 - 25 - 46 - 89

 

International Quilt Day - Report

Suzi the cat on the Butterfly Quilt

This is how International Quilt Day started out here at Fabadashery.  Suzi the cat lay on top of the butterfly quilt, whilst I lay underneath it, browsing quilt blogs and online quilt shops on my iPad.  I had a good browse of  What's New at the Fat Quarter Shop, and enjoyed a thorough read of some of the blogs I follow.

International Quilt Day - The Quilt Show - Free for 24 hours!

Like last year, The Quilt Show was celebrating International Quilt Day by offering access to their quilty shows for free for 24 hours.  It was great seeing quilters in action.  I knew many of the names, like Gwen Marston and Jenny Beyer and it wasn't too long until I was adding their books to my Wish List on Amazon. I also spent a lot of time watching the longarm quilt episodes ...

Nearly Insane Quilt blocks

With my Nearly Insane blocks needing to be done, I felt I could justify a bit of multi-tasking, by watching the TV and keeping up with my English paper piecing, and over the day I managed three blocks, which I will tell you about in due course.

Suzi busy supervising in the workroom

We had such a great time, Suzi says "Why can't it be International Quilt Day, every day?"

Check out all the other crazy quilty cats every Friday at Sarah Did It!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23 + Giveaway Info!

Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23

I am really squeezing in every bit of sewing I can at the moment.  A few weeks ago I prepared quite a few Nearly Insane blocks, by cutting out the templates and fabric - it really pays off having them ready to go.  I have come to learn that the actual preparation of each block is quite a time consuming part of the Nearly Insane quilt.  There are no repetitions, there are very few opportunities to cut in bulk, and each block is like doing a mini- quilt on its own.  I have mentioned that I am thinking of doing the Dear Jane quilt in the future, and I can see that that quilt has the same issue.


Nearly Insane Quilt - Block 23

This is another block where I have featured the Mama Said Sew fabric range.  When I first saw it over a year ago, it was the inspiration for the colour scheme of this quilt.  This block also features the red spotty fabric which is in the cornerstones and which make up the zigzag border.

BTW - One of my recent blog visitors who stopped by to comment was Cathy Daniel, an artist who creates patchwork-inspired homewares and handmade ceramics in the UK - she has a GIVEAWAY (closing 22nd March 2014) to get your hands on some of her lovely stuff.

NUMBER OF PIECES:  61
DIFFICULTY: 2/10
SMALLEST PIECE: Square  3/8" (9mm) x 3/8" (9mm)
LARGEST PIECE: Triangle  3" (74mm) x 2" (52mm) x 2" (52mm)
TECHNIQUE: English Paper Piecing (EPP)
FABRICS:
Red Hoops (5493-31) Mama Said Sew Collection by Sweetwater for Moda
Apple Red on Cream Sewing Guide Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater for Moda  #5490 11
Christmas Past  (14547) by Polly Minick and Lauri Simpson for Moda
Calico