Saffrons Blog

 

 

This quilt is for Baby Lucky (my nickname). Since the parents found out she was a girl they have called her Lakshmi. She is due any day now, so I gave this to her mum for her baby shower, it is now draped over Lucky's very cute cot in anticipation.

The quilt is much nicer in real life than my pictures (sigh). Quilts are so challenging to photograph. I dream of having that one place in my studio set up for taking pictures. That perfect wall, that perfect space.

Using a similar quilt pattern to the quilt I showed last week, I decided I could work on the patterns that bit more by playing with the balance of colour and sizes of the blocks. Experimenting is fun for me. I am planing on working this pattern up to be a cot sized quilt. So double the size of this one, this baby quilt  is a meter square or there abouts. I hand quilted it with white pearle thread so it feels soft and snuggly.

Fabrics that I have used are the Infinity Flowers range with some baby pink Kona and the lilac is from the Magical Lands.

I am watching Games of Thrones at the moment. Have you watched it? It is is so very exciting. Though I do close my eyes through the bits that are... and sometimes I even have to hum loudly to block out the noise.

 

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Rainbow Jelly cups are easy peasy to make.

It's nice to have a variation in colour. So pretty and for a colour fan like myslef, fun to make.

 

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Today I was chatting to Courtney Turner who is the creator of Silver Nutmeg & a Golden Pear Designs from Tasmania. Silver Nutmeg is a cottage business selling vintage inspired accessories, home wares, and children’s clothing and toys.

Courtney lives in Tassie and grew up in the Huon Valley (Southern Tasmania) helping out on the family farm growing and harvesting seasonal vegetables and produce. Courtney's mother taught her and her two sisters to sew from an early age, she still remembers with glee the pride she felt when she completed her first quilt (even though it was very croocked and nowhere near perfect). She says with a laugh!

She continues on with this tradition by encouraging her 3 busy children to sew and create. Her daughter Indy entered one of her quilts into the Craft Fair last year. And Martin her husband can often be seen running their stall at the amazing Salamanca markets in Hobart, which often brings a laugh from customers seeing a large man with tattoos selling children’s clothing.

Courtney says "I simply adore the freedom of making and creating and have a freestyle mindset with this process, apparently my polish grandmother worked with this same independent style.  My Grandmother on mum's side of the family immigrated from Europe when she was young to escape the war. They were booked to leave on a ship to the USA but my mother was unwell so they missed that boat and caught the next one heading to Australia instead".

"I believe the ability to be able to make something with your hands and use your imagination to create is an important skill to have and one I have taught my own children". Hear hear.

 

 

You can find Courtney most weekends at the Salamanca Markets or online at her blog. She is currently developing an online store, in the mean time she is happy to take custom orders, so contact Courtney here.

Give Away

Courtney is kindly offering a generous give away of a unique Silver Nutmeg Designs little lady dress in Owls Nesting fabric – (in your particular size).  With a cute pair of complementing hair accessories. To enter pop over and like her facebook page and leave your details in the below box. 

 

 

The Winner will be chosen on the of 20th of April and contacted via email. Good luck oh and let your friends know please.

Visit the blog Silver Nutmeg and a Golden Pear Designs.

Like her Facebook page here.

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 Join Wordless Wednesday's at Plushka's by adding to her list.

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To keep me company I bought these two illustrations from Claire Cimbora, a Canberra-based illustrator, who designs under the label Schmooks.

I have rather happily and quickly stuck them to the wall right next to my shoulder, yes still in their cellophane wrappings while I ponder on how I will frame them. I do have a thing for most animals, elephants and pandas are right at the top though.

I love that Claire uses digital technology in her enchanting world of make-believe in which her characters come to life. Characters which now are enchanting me.

 

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This quilt I swapped for a hair cut as my hairdresser Kylee was going to a baby shower and I offered to make her a quilt. The Mum-to-be is African so I thought she would love some vibrant colours for her baby. It seems she did and I'm excited to think the quilt is going to be wrapped around a soft new born baby in a few weeks.

This week we booked our stand at the Sydney Stitches and Craft show in June so I do need to think of taking a few new quilt kits along.

I finished reading my latest novel, sadly as it's been a few months since I last enjoyed a good read. Now my nights will again be filled with stitching and crafting and designing new stuff. Not such a bad thought...

  

I'd like to turn this one into a pattern, though for a cot size or single bed. What do you think?

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We went to see the Lorax in the newly renovated Manly Cinema yesterday. The Lorax is one of our favorite books. My friend Megan and Sequoias friend Ashkia gave Sequoia this crafty toy for her birthday, inspired by those trees those wonderful trees. 

While making the Truffula Tree necklace today we pondered the film  I liked the movie when it followed the book the animation is beautiful. Though the beginning and the end are made up, I suppose to make it a 90 minute feature.

I think we will make a feature of this necklace it's so pretty. hang it on the wall so we can see it every day.

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Sequoia took the softie panels to school for her news. Which was promptly followed by many play-dates and me teaching her little class mates how to sew them up. One of them, Alison, asked for a horse softie, so I encouraged my daughter to design a horse for me. Her drawing of the horse turned into a birthday card with Alison gallantly riding her pony wearing a very fine helmet and a delightful expression on her face, so sweet I had to laugh out loud. I decided I should print it onto fabric.

 

 

 

We scanned the drawing into the computer at 600 dpi. Enlarged the drawing by 100%.

 

Printed it out onto printable fabric. Waited 20 minutes for it to dry. Peeled off the backing.

Then we sewed it into a cushion. Happy Birthday Alison. 

 

 

 

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I have seen various creative ways to label quilts. One I loved was upcycling old doilies, which are embroidered with the time and date of the finished quilt. I also like the personalised printed labels that are printed or woven and often say "made by with love." Antique lace re-purposed as a label gives a vintage feel. Some sewing machines can sew words which also is fun.

I am still to find my label style so to speak, my nature is to keep experimenting. This one uses selvages from the quilt with a handwritten name and date. Next time I might try to print the name in a different manner as my handwriting is very ordinary.

I have hidden a few pieces of fabric behind the label so that if the quilt is damaged it can be used for repairs. That's not my idea but comes from Nancy Finkle Hughson from Waterford, Michigan who chats via facebook. Good Idea, huh?

I am still obsessed with Kvothe's legend. I visited the fae realm last night with him as I am well and truly into the second book The Wise Man's Fear. What a writer is Patrick Rothfuss, he has me awake very late.

Do you label your quilt?

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This is the baby quilt I made for my dear friend Rani and Lincoln's daughter Matinka. Matinka was born two weeks ago and this week I enjoyed a special afternoon holding her.

I gave her the quilt, which was enjoyed very much by her older sister who smoothed it out and sat on it playing cards.

Rani and I lived together while we studied for our degrees at RMIT in Melbourne. Rani's room was always bright and colourful. Her walls were completely decorated with prints and patterns, there was no white wall visible—it's all about bold colours for Rani. With this in mind I designed Matinka's quilt. It's a a fully patterned quilt with a modern feel, using pink tones for the baby girl yet it's bright enough for her mum.

I mixed a few fabrics I bought from Patchwork on Pittwater with my Magical Lands. I just love how the yellow and pink spot goes with the range.

Trimming the quilt and arranging the blocks

Finally, I hand stitched the quilt with the Tutti-fruity thread in variegated colours. To make the stitching pop I decided to stitch in parallel lines half a centimetre from the seams of each block in contrasting thread. Lovely and mediative stitching. Oooommmm.

 

Congrats to the happy family. After showing friends this quilt I have been asked to make a few commission quilts like it, which is great. Once I finish these I will post them here.

Saffron x

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