Wednesday 31 August 2016

100 days 100 blocks

Instagram is great for inspiration, community and fun, but such a distraction!

I saw the #100days100blocks tag surface and catch on, like wild fire. So I just knew I wanted to play along too. In case you haven't seen it, it's a quilt along only on Instagram and organised by Gnome Angel, Sunflower Quilting and Sweet Little Pretties. Quite simply the challenge is to sew a block a day for 100 days using Tula Pink's City Sampler book.

I have had the book for ages and aside from browsing it many times I have never done anything else with it. This was the perfect opportunity. I have also been hoarding a bundle of Reel Time fabrics by Zen Chic. So the perfect time to use some stash too.



The sew along started on August 17, so we are two weeks into it, and so far so good. Generally I have been sewing the block on the day. I am trying to stay prepared by making sure I always have the next 3 blocks cut and ready to sew. They sew up so quick, I find it's choosing the fabrics that take me the longest time! Helping me out are these mini design boards. Although, I will confess that I have actually sewn some of the blocks due to be posted around Sept 1. We move house that day and I feel the chance of sewing is pretty slim! So I have a couple of blocks either side of that day done to take some pressure off.




Here are my first 15 blocks:




I am really liking where this is going. And hoping I can keep up with the schedule.


If you are on Instagram you can follow along with my progress at createthepoint_100blocks.

Thursday 25 August 2016

Hedwig -- Harry Potter QAL



Hedwig was such a great choice for one of the first blocks in this quilt along. I loved making her and the pattern, as always, was great.






And I completed her just in time for the next 2 blocks to be released today. Check out Soma's quilt along at Whims and Fancies. Thank goodness we have two months to complete the next two blocks, September always seems to be a busy month.

Happy sewing!

Saturday 13 August 2016

Hermione's bookcase -- Harry Potter QAL



It's been almost two weeks since the first two blocks of this quilt along were released, but I am finally making some progress! Just in time for the next two blocks to be released! :)

The QAL is being run by Soma at Whims and Fancies, the details can be found here, for anyone interested.

First up on my cutting board is Hermione's bookcase.


Image from Whims and Fancies

I am pulling all the fabrics from my stash for this one. With all the pieces cut up in a neat pile there seemed rather a lot!



This is a large block at 24" x 12". Although some pieces are quite small. That pretty little moon is only 3.5" square and made up of 31 pieces !!





The pattern has 4 pictures on the doors, and that moon is one of them. The pattern suggests fussy cutting pieces of fabric for these space. But when I saw Soma's block with the moon, hat, star and vile I just knew my collection of fabrics was not going to provide me with anything close to those.

Soma so very kindly provided some extra patterns for these pieces. And I am so thankful and touched by her generosity, they are excellent and make the block perfect.

And the final block does not disappoint! Here it is.





Next up is Hedwig, but I'm not sure I'll get that one finished before the next two blocks are released later this month. Because, see all those totes sitting there in my messy sewing room, they need filling!




We are moving house on September 1st , just 5 days before the kids start the new school year! Not perfect timing, and certainly not of our choosing! The joy of renting.

Off to prep Hedwig in the hope I can finish him before the move, good to have a deadline. 

Happy sewing!