Finished Quilts

Saturday 2 November 2013

running to keep up

I'm not a natural runner - my chebs are too big for a start... there's a health and safety issue right there.  Anyway, I feel that I am having to run and run to keep up with my bee obligations.  Just as I clear one lot, a whole other bunch thud onto my to do list (or rather start shouting that they're late!). It's one reason why I opted out of the current round of Pillow Talk. 

But I have been tempted by another bee after an invite from the lovely Joan.  She was one of the first quilters I had contact with when, a few years back, we participated in a fabric swap organised by Sew Mama Sew.  He work is impeccable. I was stoked when I found out that she was part of the QATWII bee and even more pleased when she invited me to join the Friends with Additions bee she is mama of.  It's a kind of travelling quilts bee, which I think will be real fun as well as a challenge.

I chose Yoshiko Jinzenji as my inspiration and pulled together this inspiration mosaic
Friends with additions inspiration mosaic
cool huh?
Then came the design and making of the starter block.  I used her cipher quilts as a kick off point and designed my own paper piece templates in EQ7, chose some bright fabric and came up with this...
 
pigpen cipher code....how knew?!
It says "enjoy the journey" - which is appropriate in many ways.  I'm stepping into new territory with this kind of design but what better way to start a new journey than with quilty friends.  It's also a call to arms for my bee buddies, who have already expressed a little trepidation with my inspiration mosaic.  Don't stress, just enjoy :). And, my quilt block is about to head off to Switzerland for the first stop of its global journey.  I am really looking forward to seeing it come home as a completed quilt top.
 
Another little make this week that kind of snuck its way in after I couldn't find anything nicer in the shops was this little peasant dress made as a 4th birthday gift for my niece, Grace May...
 
got to love the foxes
Thank goodness the wee man decided on a 3 hour nap that day!  I'm hoping she (and her lovely mum) will think that the upside down foxes on the back and one sleeve is an innovative design feature #oops.
 
Back to the bee block grind! 

9 comments:

  1. gorgeous dress. your cipher block must have taken forever!

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  2. Love your starter block - very brave idea indeed and it must have taken ages like Sarah said, but I look forward to adding my bit to it (sometime next year)! I love the dress too! One of my favourite prints ever :) xxx

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  3. Wow I love how you are doing something really different and going with some new ideas. Looking forward to seeing you soon x

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  4. a pretty little dress I am sure your niece will love it. Great colours in your new block

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  5. Wow...pigpen cipher code.....this will be an amazing quilt.

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  6. I love YJ, her (?) style is phenomenal, I love the simplicity of it, well done, and try not to drown in bee commitments!

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  7. Good for you. trying something slightly left of centre! Can't wait to see how it all pans out.

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  9. Okay, so the first attempt to post this was a fail! I am not sure what happened there.

    I can hardly wait to get your block. Yoshiko Jinzenzi is a fabulous minimalist artist and your quilt is sure to be amazing. I am very much aware of how much time gets sucked down the black hole that is bee participation, but I hope this one will be well worth our efforts.

    Such a sweet gift for your niece (lucky girl).

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