Gone To Earth

and the winner is...

Remember these little beauties?

...Daisy Chain fabrics... (Link)

Do you remember the questions I asked about fabric bundles and ways of presenting fabric in the shop? Well, your answers have been brilliant, really thought provoking and completely useful. Thank you!

I've added the numbers into the 'Random Number Generator'. It's not as pretty as a hat or even a bowl, but I suppose it's completly impartial and incapable of acting in a preferential way towards pieces of randomly folded paper.

So, adding in the numbers of all the comments I received and clicking the button.....

... and 18 is Penny...

So, Penny if you'd like to get in touch with me... I'll get these fabrics off to you.

A little Sewing...

Thank you for all the thoughtlful, interesting and very useful comments you've been adding to my 'giveaway' post. Some of them I will start to do over the next week or so, others may take a little longer, but I will do them. If you've any more ideas please just keep adding.... and of course join in with the giveaway.

Remember this little block ...

Well, it's grown a little bit... and now it looks like this

It's made out of one large log cabin block (18 inch block), which I backed with fusible fleece and just quilted simply around the 'logs'.

Making the block used some of all those many small bits of fabric that get left around here. The back I made out one 18 inch square of fabric, so I can't really call that a 'scrap'.

All the fabrics are from Amy Butler's Daisy Chain range, (apart from the plain/solid colour which is 'Blue Raspberry' from Moda) and I used a mix of the softer blues and the really intense indigo's and turquoises'. When I first started sewing this block together it was going to be an envelope back cushion cover but I succumbed to the temptation of the ties.... I'm quite pleased with the ties :).

So, does knowing that this is an 18 inch cushion help give an idea of the pattern scales of the fabric I used, or does the fact that I've used them in a patchwork block confuse the issue?

There are always questions to answer when you drop in here aren't there? But, it's proving to be a really interesting conversation...

Speak soon...

Fabric Giveaway and a question or two...

I've been busying myself today putting together some new fabric bundles for the shop, which always gets me thinking. I know it isn't necessarily easy when buying fabric on-line, computer monitors don't always reflect true colours. Plus, it's not always easy to work out how large the fabric pattern is etc.....so how can it made easier?

... some gorgeous blues in these designs...

Some people, I know are brave enough to ask for samples... quite sensible if you're trying to match fabric with some that you already have or putting together a quilt. But is there anything else that might help given that we don't (yet) live in a Star Trek like world where samples can be 'beamed' across the airwaves in a nano second!

Does it help to see the fabric used in a completed project? I'm thinking particularly, of those designers who blog and produce sewing patterns using their own fabric lines, plus the multitude of other crafters who also blog. I know that sometimes that sends me off looking for paticular patterns and designs. Does this wealth of 'visual' information help you to have the confidence to mix and match fabrics for yourself? Would shopping on-line for fabric be more difficult without this?

What kind of information do you look for in fabric descriptions? I try to include a description of the colour but that of course is quite subjective. I'm going to resolve some of these issues with matching and contrasting some of the 'pink', 'roses' 'fuschia' and 'green' type colours in some of Amy Butler's fabrics by getting some of her 'solids' fabrics. But they've yet to arrive. I've also been wondering whether it's useful to include care information; details of washing and drying etc. ? At the moment I only supply this if I'm asked for it.

For now anyway, I'm holding on tightly to the belief that fabric bundles help. I get a great deal of pleasure in putting fabrics side by side and seeing the effect they have on each other, which is why I think that the bundles are helpful. (... did you think I was just being self-indulgent, tsk, tsk) Also I think that it gives you the opportunity to see the patterns side by side, you can see the sizes of the fabric prints in relation to one another and you can get an idea of how they interact and 'work' together.

These fabric bundles from the Daisy Chain range are based on Amy's own colour palettes. Look I even got a bit carried away and took a more 'draped' looking photograph to accompany them, just to show a little more of the fabric you understand.

But is that enough?

I should love to hear what you think about all this.

In the meantime I'm sticking to putting fabric bundles together.... it's fun, playing with the prints and the colours.... and I've all the Midwest Modern, Heather Bailey and Anna Maria Horner fabrics to work my way through....

So, how about a giveaway ? I haven't had one for a while. How about this?

and of course it's more drapey partner.

All you have to do is respond to this post by leaving a comment and I'll use the 'random number generator thingy' to randomly select a number.... and that person will be the winner of some lovely fat quarters.... all this excitement will take place on the 23rd September which is a Wednesday.

Speak soon

Amy Butler softwares - Sewing on CD

This is what I was waiting for... Amy Butler softwares.

Now despite a great deal of temptation, I do manage not to have a personal copy of everything that appears in the shop. But I do like to have tried out a selection of the patterns. It helps me have an informed opinion to share if I'm asked for advice or help. This can be good or bad but as least for the most part my answers are based on first-hand experience.

This was too much to resist though: Amy Butler softwares contains 22 sewing projects on a CD - that's 8 quilts, 3 table runners, 7 pillows/cushions, 1 floor cushion and 3 bags.

...Carry all Carry anything bag - big, roomy and beautiful

...Something to get my teeth into. They're all new sewing projects and they're all designed by Amy Butler.

There are also nine bonus projects in case that's not enough sewing but these are actually the 'free patterns' on Amy's website, which are PDF's to download and use. You'll find those here (Link) They're at the bottom of the menu.

I've often said in the past that frequently the most time consuming part of any new sewing adventure for me is the selection of fabrics, which colours, which designs. You change one element and the whole look changes, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's inspired and sometimes ... well ... you start again.

It's also true that often that's part of the fun, but equally it can just get frustrating. Something that 'softwares' allows you to do, which isn't as easy when armed only with a paper pattern, your imagination and maybe a few fabric swatches, is to try out your ideas. It's possible to design using the software tools and 'virtual swatches' of Amy's fabrics to experiment with different colourways and different prints, giving you a good indication of what your completed project would look like - before you start spending on more fabric! (Please click on the images to make them larger.)

... I like the graphic impact of this solids quilt...

The sewing projects on the CD are self-contained and can be printed off as PDF's to use just as any paper sewing pattern or instructions you might purchase. There's also an inspiration gallery on the CD so you can see the projects in different colourways and in use in different settings. Loads of gorgeous photographs just like you'd find on Amy's website. All to help get the 'sewing' tastebuds drooling!

Softwares isn't just a new way of presenting a pattern/instructions for you to print out however, it comes with a set of software 'tools' which allows you to customise the original projects and add a little of your own creativity into the mix. Some projects are more 'customisable' than others. For instance, there is a great deal more that you can do with the quilts, pillow/cushions, and table runners than with the bag designs. But there's still a great deal of fun to be had!

...a gorgeous table runner... each set of instructions also tells you what fabrics (with fabric codes) were used in the example so that you can replicate it exactly if you wish...

Not everyone will want to alter the projects, but if you get tempted the CD contains some quite detailed instructions as to how to go about modifying and adding your own creative twist. You can add borders; plain or patterned, alter the sizes of the finished project, print out a pattern and get the fabric requirements for your version. You can choose to 'fussy cut' your fabric and the program will work out the fabric requirements. You can even try out different threads to get an idea of what the quilting would look like.

...the same table runner but I've added a border, one of the pre-designed border styles, using the tools available in Amy Butler 'softwares'

If you're a quilter who's ever used EQ6 software you'll already be familiar with this method of designing and because 'softwares' has been developed with the 'Electric Quilts software company', Amy Butler 'softwares' is compatible with EQ6. What this means is that the sewing projects on the Amy Butler 'softwares' can be imported into EQ6 ( you will need to save the projects in Amy Butler softwares first ) and modified using the full design functionality that EQ6 offers.

.. look what I did to that gorgeous quilt design - I swapped one of the blocks for a four patch block which gives this quilt a slightly different look.... I could also experiment with patterned fabrics if I wished

In terms of system requirements, It runs on a PC using windows XP or Vista but will run on a Macintosh running Windows plus virtualization software (such as Parallels) (Umm! better persuade the children to let me at the PC then! Never easy....) More detailed system requirements are given on the shop. You will also need to be able to use Adobe Reader 7.0 (free) or higher for the PDF patterns.

But enough chatter, I hope to have something to show you that I've made using the designs soon, so I'd best get started......

Waiting....

The children have gone to school and it's really, really quiet in the house .... and I'm waiting....It's an 'in anticipation' good type of waiting but I do so wish they'd hurry up!

In the meantime I'm sewing, because that makes me focus on other things; mixing colours, pattern and the scale of the prints. Building the block as I go, trying to keep it interesting, balanced and pleasing to the eye....

That reminds me, absolutely ages ago I acquired this book; Denyse Schmidt Quilts. If you haven't come across her books then you may recognise her name as the designer of 'Katie jump rope' and 'Flea Market Fancy' fabric collections.

I've made quite a few of the projects out of it; the scarf, the 'closet sachet', the coasters, but then I guess it got left on the shelf. Until I journeyed into Woolywotnots' book forum where it was one of the books of the month. (September's book list is here and 'Doodle Stitching is one of them ... oooooh! Now that's another lovely book.)

I love Denyse Schmidt's designs they always seem so completely uncluttered, not too busy, not too hard on the eye yet absolutely eye-catching and extremely desirable. She often works just with plain/solid fabrics placing all the emphasis on the patchwork design itself and not on fabric print or collection. She explains how she achieves that balance in her book.

But i wasn't intending to review the book at all, I wanted to point out the wonderful little trick she shared about constructing log cabin blocks.

If you've ever worked on one of these blocks in this fairly random style you might also have encountered the problem that comes from turning the block around to add more 'logs'. It's just so easy to lose where you are in the block and consequently you have to sit and work out exactly where the next 'log' should go.

The secret solution to this which Denyse Schmidt shares, is called the 'compass pin', and like all precious little tips it's simple and inspired. You put a pin into the centre piece with the pin head pointing away from you.

.. can you see the red topped flower head pin in the centre 'log'?

Keep the pin there whilst you work. Whenever you lose track of where you are, just turn the block until the pin faces away from you and there you are back in the right place.

I've a few more logs to go before I finish this block. It's pleasing me so far.....

Oh! there goes the door bell.....

.... and for my next task I'm going to need a PC......