Stepping Stones IV

Although I've made three previous Stepping Stones Table Runners (a pattern by Krista Withers and me) in my book Make It, Take It, they've all been gifted. It is a project that people always respond to very positively at my trunk shows, so I thought it a good idea to make another one for my upcoming teaching trip to the Maritimes.

The other ones were also made with Heather Ross prints; they are so cute, visually interesting and fun to fussy cut!  I've traded the froggies for unicorns on this one, using the Far, Far Away line.  As with the other runners, this one has Essex linen in natural for the background.

I've quilted it just like Krista's accompanying instructions in the book for Ghost Shape quilting using a walking foot. I marked the ghost shapes and a few of the long, straight lines with a Clover disappearing pen (that evaporates in about an hour, depending on the level of humidity in the air).

I don't often buy fat quarter sets of fabric lines, so when I do splurge it is usually because I have an idea and want to use the prints together in a project. What I always forget to do is also buy a 1/2 yard of one of the prints to use as a binding for that project. Luckily, I had this two-tone Carolyn Friedlander print that works perfectly with the blues in Far, Far, Away. Hopefully, next time I won't forget the binding!

Not-So-New New Acquisitions

Mad About Patchwork has a bundle sale going on! I had a look around last week and could not believe the great stuff on offer.

I quickly launched this honey into my cart:

Leah Duncan's Gramercy line for Art Gallery Fabrics. The hand is gorgeous and I love the graphics. 

I don't have a clue as to why I thought I could live without Far, Far Away. I guess at some point I tried to talk myself out of buying "hype" fabric.  You know what I mean...the hotly anticipated new lines that filled social media for months before they were even printed. I honestly had the same feelings about Cotton & Steel, but guess what? They are incredible prints with amazing colours on fabulous substrates. What's not to love? I'm glad I changed my mind, because now I have this gorgeous stack to admire in my sewing room:

Heather Ross' Far, Far Away (reprint). I never noticed how absolutely gorgeous that Frog Prince print in the palest of blue and pink is (bottom left corner). 

I am so very late to both of these fabric parties, but very happy to have had the chance to pick them up at a great price. I have no plans for any of this fabric. None, whatsoever. Sue me. That's why they call it a STASH.

Someone else likes stashed fabric, too. Look what Lysa does with other people's stashes - in this case mine! 

Time to Stock up!

I am your friend. Friends tell friends where to find the deals.  Just in case you haven't heard yet, Marmalade Fabrics is having a massive sale!  Tammy is making way for exciting fall shipments. Lots of great deals, including Loulouthi by Anna Maria Horner for only $6.99/yd and 40% off Far Far Away by Heather Ross and Ruby Star Rising by Melody Miller.

And there is more news, Tammy is now selling Marmalade Baubles - gorgeous earrings, necklaces and scissor fobs made with real (brand new) bobbins and beautiful fused glass. I've just placed an order for scissor fobs to have on hand for retreat door prizes!  I have a feeling they may just be this year's Sewing Summit and QuiltCon must-have accessories.

  

Happy shopping!

Fantasy Becomes Reality

You know when you really love someone else's work and you sort of make a little wish that one day, if you were really, really lucky a little morsel of their talent would make it's way into your life?

Well, I got extra really lucky at retreat when Krista (aka K2) brought along this sweet little fantasy quilt just for me!

Krista's a huge fan of Heather Ross and she uses Heather's motif-driven fabrics to great effect in her collage quilts. Every quilt feels like an image from a beautiful dream. It doesn't get much sweeter than two unicorn friends hanging out under a fantasy fruit tree.

Birch bark is one of my favourite things in nature. Ever since Girl Guides, when I learned that fallen birch bark is nature's most efficient fire-starter (and also makes fun notepaper for letters home!). I also learned that you are never, ever, to peel it off a living tree, right kids? It's okay to cut birch fabric though, especially for friends. Isn't that one birch tree strip on the right edge genius?

Completing everything is the lovely, swirly quilting over all the special fabric scraps that make up the background of this mini quilt. I've got it hanging directly across from my sewing room chair, so that whenever I look up I can admire my special gift.

Thank you, Krista. I just love it!!!

For those of you that have asked, Krista doesn't currently have a blog; she's a flickr swapper-extraordinaire under flickr id lolablueocean. Rumour has it that a blog may be in the works. I will be sure to let you know when she gets it up and running!