Pillow Talk Swap 6 - Put Your Sunnies On!!

I've finally completed my partner's pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap 6. I've participated in a few block swaps before but this has been my first real swap. I've really enjoyed seeing what everyone has been creating for each other in the flickr group.

My partner did say that she likes bright ... so BRIGHT it is ....... I hope you like it partner!!

The front of the pillow is made with Sandi Henderson's Henna Garden prints and Kaffe Fassett shot cottons. I have straight line quilted it and it fits a 20 inch pillow form.

The pinwheels on the back are also Shot Cottons and Henna Garden and the main print is Asian Circles in yellow by Kaffe Fassett.

Here's one of the 3D pinwheels close up. They were really easy and fun to make!!

 The colours are a little off as the sun was so bright, it's not quite so fluoro in reality.

This is the first time I've used a zip closure in a pillow and I must admit I was a little afraid at first, but it came together really well and I will definately try it again. I used this tutorial.



I hope you enjoy it partner ... if not, feel free to send it back. This bright rainbow pillow has sure been putting some sunshine into my days!!

Happy Blogiversay to me!!

This time last year (on September 6th) I started this blog!! Prior to my quilting blog I had a personal blog and I didn't really post that often so I thought this blog might not survive through the first few weeks. This is my 78th post!!

Sometimes I've blogged often and other times infrequently depending on what life has thrown at me, but the reasons that I have continued are that I have loved having a record of my creations and how I have changed and improved over the past year or so, and also the feedback from others in the quilting community. I have really enjoyed meeting so many people through the blogisphere and I have appreciated every one of you that have left a comment, sent me an email, or become a follower. Many of you have given me so much inspiration through your own blogs! 12 months ago I couldn't have imagined having 100 followers, I admit I was pretty stoked when I had just a few non-family followers.

SO THANK YOU!!

Here are a few things I have achieved in the past year:

1. I completed my first "real" quilt and made a few more.

2. I have participated in a few Bees and have just commenced my first ever swap.

3. I have gained confidence in my fabric selection. I no longer feel that I have to go with a particular fabric range rather than picking out individual fabrics that I love.

4. I started my journey into free motion quilting and have improved greatly with straight line quilting.

5. I have way too many projects on the go but have realised that it doesn't matter. What I love most about quilting is trying something new and practicing new skills, rather than just concentrating on the finished product.

Here are a couple of other things that I've realised lately:

1. Many of the things I have made and gifted I have not taken photos of.

2. I have made many things for others, yet I have made nothing for my husband, myself or our home (except for a couple of pincushions). Our couches are screaming out for some colourful cushions, so once I've finished with my present commitments this is first on my priority list to rectify.

Here are some of the things I had gifted to my sister Ellen but not taken photos of until now:

My favourite cushion/pillow I have made for her. It's her favourite too and lives on her bed.

Here it is wth one of the other cushions I made for her last Christmas.

Here's the other cushion I made for her last Christmas. Kate had made the There's a Square in There quilt (behind) for their wedding nearly 12 months before and I knew I wanted to make a cushion to coordinate. The circular flying geese and wonky nine-patch cushion live on their lounges in their living room.

Here are all the cushions together ...

The two Henna Garden cushions were generously bought by Ellen for the Queensland Flood Appeal Auctions. They are going to live on their daughter Ella's bed.

There were a few other things I didn't get around to taking photos of, but I did take some of this journal cover.  I adapted it from this tutorial ...

 Here is the inside cover .....

So my plan for the next 12 months is to keep a better record of what I create, including taking more photos (maybe I should also think about labelling my quilts too), and also making some things for our home, especially a quilt for my husband. He has put up with a lot of "does this fabric go with that?"and "what do this think of this block?", not to mention all the fabric I have bought and all the time I spent quilting over the past year -  to not have a quilt of his own.

What are your quilting plans for the year ahead??

Winner!!

(I tried to post this a few hours ago but as I was copying and pasting the random number generator icon we had a blackout and I lost it ... so here we go again ..... lucky I wrote the winning number down) 

Wow, thanks to everyone who dropped by my blog over the last couple of days and especially to those who left a comment, a whole 286 of them!! When I asked my husband how many people he thought entered my giveaway he guessed "20" ... not even close ;)

I started replying to all of your comments but in the end I've run out of time, but I do appreciate each and every one of your lovely comments and it was nice to learn more about what fabrics, quilt blocks and crafts that you like!

This was my first time making a dresden plate and I loved the experience. It definately isn't as hard as it looks, in fact I have started making a dresden plate baby quilt and so far I think it looks great (I'll keep that for another post). I used this tutorial (with a few minor adjustments).

So I suppose you want to know who won the giveaway!!

Congratulations to commenter 129 Sarah from Kiwi Gets Crafty!

 Sarah said...

129

So pretty! I'm not a quilter, but at the moment I've been teaching myself to crochet :)
Thanks for the giveaway

May 24, 2011 1:55 PM

 

Please email me your postal address and I'll get the pillow cover in the mail to you ASAP!

Thanks once again to everyone, I wish I could have shared something with all of you!

Giveaway Day!!! CLOSED

Yay!! I love Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!

Welcome to my blog, whether it's your first time here or you're a regular visitor!
Last year I didn't have a blog so I wasn't able to participate in giveaway day, so I'm so excited to be a part of it this year!!

'So what is the giveaway?' I hear you ask .......

 I am giving away this dresden plate pillow cover (pillow not included). It is 18" square and is made from Denyse Schmidt fabrics (mainly Flea Market Fancy) on a white solid background .....

I love how girly it is :)

The backing and binding is from DS Quilts new line Picnic & Fairgrounds .....

So if you're interested, all that you have to do is leave a comment. I'd love to know what your favourite quilt block is at the moment (if you're a quilter), or fabric line, or anything else that you'd like to share about yourself and your craft is fine too :)

Please ensure that I have a way to contact you if you win e.g. if your blog doesn't link to your email, please leave your email address in your comment. If I can't contact you I will pick another winner.

This giveaway is open to all (internationally) until Wednesday 25th of May 2011.

Good Luck!!!