Early Sunday morning

All images taken by the energetically enthusiastic Photographer's Assistant age 11.

Get pedalling

I've been playing with these.

Actually, there's another one but I forgot to photograph it

It's Ride by Windham Fabrics

And there's also these but I didn't use them in this particular quilt

I cut them up into 4 1/2" squares, randomly sewed them together and added in some 3 1/2" 'cycle tracks' to make this.

I straight line quilted with the walking foot down the 'cycle tracks' and did swirling circles over the rest of the quilt.

I know purple isn't everyone's cup of tea but I do like it. When I first started quilting I was obsessed with purple and it's fair to say I have a well-curated, historical purple stash.

And I also added in some more of the Windham Chartreuse solid that I used in the previous quilt to lighten things up a bit. The binding I felt added just a bit more zing.

Almost forgot the back. One width of fabric wasn't wide enough so I spliced it off centre and added in another  strip of the turquoise Ride fabric.

And that was it.

Job done.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday

Bye Bye

Bye Bye Birdy is a new fabric line from Windham Fabrics.

I used my Quick Curve Ruler and Jenny's tutorial to make curved 8" by 6" finished blocks. You need to watch this video and this one if you want to make the block.

Then for the square blocks (Chartreuse by Windham Fabrics) I cut these 6", grabbed a plant pot, drew around to get a circle, cut out, eyeballed the placement on the plain fabric and then raw-edged sewed them in place with a short running stitch very close to the edge.

The stalk/straight blocks; the background fabric either side is cut 2 3/4" and the black and red fabrics were cut just over 2".

And on the back I added a few extra blocks.

And even though the backing fabric is not from Bye Bye Birdy I had to use it really.

And the binding is a Chicopee green just to echo some of the bits of green in the feature fabrics.

And the quilting is just straight line up and down to echo the vertical shapes.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday

Oh, and I'm featured over on Amy's blog today if you want to hop on over.

While the cat's away...

...the mice will play.

Except in this instance, it was a rat.

Thoughts on bags

Aside from quilts, I like making bags.

They are the quick win of the sewing world - an instant shot of gratification.

I always seem to make this one.

But if truth be told, it kind of looks like a quick win bag.

And I felt the time had come to expand my bag-making repertoire.

Too many squashed bananas and leaky pens mean I always try to line bags with laminate fabric

So this time around, I decided to make the Perfect Quilted Tote by Oh Fransson.

It was, on the whole, a well-written pattern with some nice touches included that I had not come across before in my limited bag-making experience - like securing the lining and outer bag at the base as well as obviously round the top.

When it came to the lining I knew I wanted it laminated but I also knew I didn't have any laminates that would match so I decided to make my own.

You need Vilene Lamifix Fusible. I bought mine here. However, in my enthusiasm to buy it, I didn't see the all important word 'matt' when really I should have bought 'clear.'

Here you can see the difference it makes.

By this stage though I just decided to soldier on and remember for next time.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday

I made just a few minor tweaks to the original pattern: I lengthened the straps by about four inches and I used jute rather than fabric handles because I just prefer the look.

I think it produces a nice, sturdy, professional looking bag which is good enough to give as a gift.

Which I am.

(P.S. I meant to thank everyone who voted for my quilts in the recent Bloggers Quilt Festival. I was very touched. Thank you.)