Daisy Days Blog Tour: ' Desert Windmills' Quilt

Today I'm delighted to kick off the promotional blog tour for my lovely friend and fellow Riley Blake designer Keera Job's first fabric collection, 'Daisy Days'! Keera has kicked the ball out of the park with this pretty and cheerful floral line, which just happened to be perfect for my new quilt pattern, 'Desert Windmills'.

This collection has shades of prints across the whole spectrum of the rainbow. Blue features rarely in my sewing - but after working with Daisy Days I've decided that's something I'm going to have to fix going forward! Loving the blues and navies in this line.

My new quilt pattern is based on a cushion I made ages ago for another blog tour - the pattern for which is also available in my shop. Ever since then I wanted to make a large rainbow quilt based on the same design, in ombré shades. The pattern contains 12 blocks - alas I didn't have quite enough Daisy Days fabric to make the full size quilt so mine is 3 x 3 instead of 3 x 4. I also used a few extra blenders to accentuate the ombré effect.

The grey bias stripe binding and green dot backing are from my 'Sweet Orchard' collection for Riley Blake - perfect colour matches with 'Daisy Days'! I straight machine quilted this quilt myself using my favourite Aurifil 50 wt thread in 2410 Pale Pink. This is my go-to thread colour now instead of white, as I like the subtle femininity it adds to projects and it works well with natural linen also.

I hope you liked my project for the Daisy Days' blog tour! To celebrate the launch of this collection, I am offering my 'Desert Windmills' digital pattern in my shop for this week only at an introductory price (25% off). You can download it here. Paper patterns are also available for wholesale ordering through Creative Abundance (Australia) and Checker Distributors (US).

Here is the full schedule for the Daisy Days blog tour over the coming weeks. Lots more Daisy Days inspiration to come from some wonderfully talented designers!

Tuesday 25 July  Keera Job - www.keerajob.com/blog                   

Tuesday 1 August  Sedef Imer - www.downgrapevinelane.com                  

Tuesday 8 August  Amy Smart -  www.diaryofaquilter.com                   

Tuesday 15 August  Amanda Herring -  www.amandaherringdesigns.com           

Tuesday 22 August  Samantha Dorn -  www.aquapaisleystudio.com                     

Tuesday 29 August  Emily Dennis -  www.quiltylove.com            

New Haircut & New Bag for Alice

Alice has been asking to have her hair shorter 'like mummy's' for a while, and today I finally caved. The long locks are gone, and she is delighted she can wear it 'down' to kindy now (instead of pony tail or braids). I can't believe how grown up she looks all of a sudden! And don't be fooled by these sweet looks - she is a head-strong little minx and a real outdoorsy tomboy, with a very feminine taste in outfits. Despite the cold weather we've been having she spends most of her time in the garden with the chickens, dressed in a tutu and gum boots.

She also has a new bag that I made for her, and a new bunny (not hand-made - it's from Mamas & Papas). So we took the opportunity to take some pics in the garden.

The sweet doll applique on the bag is the Annie Doll pattern by Sweet Calico - you can find it here. It comes with instructions to turn her into a doll - though Alice decided she preferred to have it on a hand-bag instead.

It's been an exciting week as I've been planning my new sewing studio, which will be built in the garden! I found a studio design that I love, and luckily it's built by a company only a few km away from us (photo credit: Emma Fleetwood Photography). Having my own bespoke studio is a true dream come true for me, so I am taking my time planning it and trying to future proof it as much as possible. So many decisions to make, but so much fun at the same time too!

I also received some of Nadra Ridgeway's new collection, 'Arbor Blossom' for Riley Blake. I love all of Nadra's fabrics and I have a fabulous plan for these which I hope to share with you soon. So much pretty fabric to sew with, so few hours in the day!

Patchwork Quilt Along - July Block

The July block has just been released in Fat Quarter Shop's annual charity quilt-along, and it's called Propeller! The free pattern is now available on the FQS blog.  Download it now and don't forget to donate just $5 to Make-A-Wish if you do so!

I made my blocks for the month, then for the first time since starting this quilt along I laid out all the blocks on my design wall to see how they looked together! This isn't the final configuration, and there is no sashing, but I can begin to see how the quilt will look when finished!

You can also check out the quilts other guest bloggers are making by visiting their blogs, here's the full list. I was so saddened to hear of one of my co-bloggers, Renee Lange (Sewn With Grace) 's sudden passing just over a week ago. We never met in real life but had become friends through social media and I was always so inspired by her work and outlook on life. My deepest sympathies go to her family and loved ones at this difficult time.

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl (@jedicraftgirl)
Amy of Diary of a Quilter (@diaryofaquilter)
Andy of A Bright Corner (@abrightcorner)
Bonnie of Cotton Way (@bonniecottonway)
Camille of Thimble Blossoms (@thimbleblossoms)
Debbie of Happy Little Cottage (@happylittlecottage1)
Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)
Heidi of Buttons and Butterflies (@buttonsandbutterflies)
Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)
Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)
Pat Sloan of PatSloan.com (@quilterpatsloan)
Renee of Sewn with Grace (@sewnwithgrace)
Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapevinelane)
Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)
Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)
Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)
Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

If you would like to join this quilt along, bookmark the quilt along page on the Fat Quarter Shop blog, and visit on the 15th of each month to download that month's block pattern. You can share your progress with other quilters  in the Patchwork Facebook group and post your blocks using #patchworkquiltalong on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Enjoy!

'Perspective' Ombré Quilt | Aurifil Artisan

In the latest issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine you will find my latest modern quilt - which I named 'Perspectives'. It's an ombré design of nested squares set on point for a bit of added interest. It's simple and effective, beginner-friendly, and the best part about it is - it's super fast to piece, it can be put together in just one afternoon!

The fabrics I used are a delicious blend of Riley Blake Confetti Cotton solids. They are my go-to solids which come in a huge range of colours, and so soft and luxurious. This quilt is going to add such a lovely touch of colour to our living room, and coordinate well with all the dusky pink accents!

I am also proud to report that I am now an Aurifil Artisan, having joined an exclusive group of talented designers and sewists who love sewing with Aurifil Threads products! I was sent a lovely welcome pack all the way from their headquarters in Italy and look forward to discovering new Aurifil colors and trying out sewing with all the different weights of their beautiful threads. One of the first things I did was to pick colours to coordinate with my new collection, Sweet Prairie for Riley Blake, which is coming to stores around August (slightly later in Australia). Stay tuned for some sweet projects to come!

I've been a bit quiet on the blogging front and social media this month, as things have been really full on in the design studio. I finished a new fabric collection (coming out next year), been working on my paper pattern series which will be available from next month, and working on a new BIG project which I can not quite talk about yet (soon I promise!) So not much sewing has been happening lately - I'm determined to make at least a few small things though as next week will be busy again, this time planning and starting the build of my new studio! Yes, it's finally happening (pinch me) - we are now well and truly settled in our new home, I mean we even have chickens! So we can now turn our attention to all the improvements we've been planning since we moved here. Exciting times ahead!

"Girt By Sea" Quilt Along

“Australians all let us rejoice

For we are young and free

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil

Our home is girt by sea”

“ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR”, NATIONAL ANTHEM OF AUSTRALIA

Welcome to my round in the 'Girt By Sea' Quilt Along! I'm so proud to be part of the team of Australian designers who created this incredible medallion quilt, celebrating this wonderful land that we live in. The name of the quilt was inspired by the Australian national anthem - for those of you who are not familiar, 'girt' means 'surrounded'!

This all Aussie collaboration was organised by Modern Makers Retreat and features unique rounds (from the centre out) by Jodi Godfrey, Keera Job, yours truly, Alyce Blyth, Emma Jean Jansen, and Peta Peace. The quilt celebrates this special land with inspiration drawn from its rugged mountains, sweeping rural plains with bountiful produce, a multicultural heart beat, and of course the beautiful ocean surrounding it.

The round I designed is the third one (from centre outwards), with the leaf and circle appliques. It features the two elements from my logo, and was inspired by the beautiful wine region that I live in (McLaren Vale, South Australia). The round elements represent the fruits of the land - we are indeed so lucky to be surrounded by not only miles and miles of vineyards but fruit orchards of all manners. The views are incredible and t's truly one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

The pattern comes with a placement chart for the circles and leaves so you can position them precisely if you wish, but this round is also one where you can give your imagination free rein, and lay out the elements in whichever way you desire! Take at a look at this version made by Jackie Gillies, one of the founders of Modern Makers Retreat, and a true master of the rainbow quilt. I love how she organised the leaves and circles to create a really striking border.

I used the fusible interfacing applique method when I made the circles and leaves for this quilt. The pattern has detailed instructions on this, and also the raw edge applique method for those of you who may be more comfortable with that and want speedier results.

The Girt By Sea quilt pattern is available to purchase here. There is also a monthly sew along that you can join, with prizes for each round! Here's this month's prize - a signed copy of my book Quilt Petite. It's not too late to join us, as there are several months still to go and more prizes to win. Enjoy!