Housekeeping

So I said I would get to the outstanding quilt that was on my design wall and I did.

It was the start of a BOM (Block Of the Month) from Material Obsession but I didn't actually know what the finished quilt would look like until the package arrived. And when it did, I sort of hummed and hawed.

I think I'm done with applique and I felt the fabric they sent was far too nice just to cut up in string strips so I vacillated between convincing myself I needed to finish it off right now and putting it aside for another day. In its defence, it's an excellent method of learning different techniques.

But with The Big Room Clean I made it my mission to finish it.
So I did.

My Way.

I finished probably two thirds of the blocks and managed to incorporate them all bar one.  I added in the X and Y blocks because I needed to get that urge out of the way. I've only got it temporarily out of the way. I enjoyed making them so much I see a whole quilt of them in my future.

The Flying Guess I added in just because I like them. I used this method - Speedy Piecing Method B - which gives very accurate results with no waste. The key to the instructions is to use a scant 1/4 seam allowance. If you don't and make it anything more, then you won't end up with the nice sharp point.

I know.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday 

Now I know I'm on sticky ground here when I say the reason I thing this quilt 'sparkles' is because the addition of, wait for it...BROWN ;-)
There seems to be quite a bit of aversion out there in quilty blogland to brown but to me, it adds an indispensable hue to quilts.

These are some of the browns that Material Obsession sent with the BOM.

For me, they add a neutral warmth that you can't get from black or white; you can pick up on the additional colours that appear in these prints and to me, they don't read as just brown. I see purple brown, chestnut brown, chocolate brown, caramel, golden etc etc.

In other bits of housekeeping - thank you to everyone who sent me pictures of my quilt hanging at QuiltCon. I was chuffed to bits and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone's blog posts about the event.

I was also completely gobsmacked that someone bought it -someone who reads my blog. We've had some lovely email conversations to and fro about it and I shall leave it up to the buyer to decide whether they want to out themselves here and admit to buying it!

I also realise I offered up scraps from this blog post and haven't yet followed through.

If you're still interested I randomly screen grabbed this one:

Liz, if I don't get to you first, please email me with your address.

And finally, if I could go back to mentioning Material Obsession. Kathy, the owner, is recovering from breast cancer surgery as well as celebrating 10 years of M.O. Please feel free, if so inclined, to pop over and send her your best quilty wishes.

And that's it.

The design wall is bare, the sewing room is tidy and it's time to make another creative mess.