Round the World Blog Hop

I was asked by the lovely Margreth from Quiltstudio 22 to join the "Round the World Blog Hop" and I thought why not?  I love the idea of getting to know more about one quilter to another other than their beautiful quilts they make.

1) What am I working on?

Currently I have been working on my English paper piecing Star quilt that I started about 2 years ago.  It's a very long on going project but one that I enjoy working on when I don't feel like sitting in front of the sewing machine.  It is also a great way to use up scraps and play with different prints, colours and fabrics with abandon inhibition.

2) How does my work differ from other its genre?

Having only started getting into quilting three years ago, it's hard to define how my work differs from others.  I am still in the process of discovering what my 'signature' is.  However...

I do love simple geometry type quilts as I feel it makes a lovely interesting play of fabric and in my opinion by far the best way to showcase the fabric.  For example this simple Half Squared Triangle Baby Quilt,  Snowball Baby Quilt and Madeleine's Quilt

I am starting to love using print on print fabrics as I feel it gives a simple block an interesting story to tell.  For example this Economy Baby Quilt 

I also do love working with colours.  I think colours whether bold or subtle would be one thing that I enjoy playing with the most.  For example Pinkylicious Wunderland Quilt and Summer Love Quilt

Last but not least, I do love hand stitching.  Even though it's a long process, I find that by adding some hand stitching, it adds another dimension and texture to the quilt top.  Here is an example of a hand quilted baby quilt for Olivia

3) How do I write/create what I do?

For me quilting is a hobby that I enjoy very much.  It is sort of my relaxation time when I am not studying and working full-time.  It is also a great a way for me express myself creatively.  

I draw countless of inspiration from Instagram and the quilting community on Instagram.  I also draw my creativity from nature, images, prints and colours.  In addition, commission quilts allows me the opportunity to explore with the client they types of prints, colourway, pattern and style which allows me to be adventures and suggest styles that both the client and I could potentially explore.

4) How does my writing/creative process work?

My creative process starts from either a fabric collection, a pattern I see online, objects, patterns and colours around me or inspirations from other quilters.  Then I would start drafting the pattern on Auto Cad, playing with the block to create a design that I would resonate with.  After that I would add in colours from the fabric that I intend to use it with.  It helps in visualising how the fabrics would talk to each other together with the intended block.  

When I am satisfied with the design, I will tend start on calculating how much fabric I would need and cutting measurements.  When all that is done, the fun part begins when I cut into the fabric and start assembling the the quilt top together.  Here is an example of the creative process I go through to the end product for Under the Sea Quilt

I hope you have enjoyed reading a little about my creative process and where is all comes from. 

The next person that I would love to continue the link to the blog hop is Mary from Molly Flanders Makerie.  Mary is an amazing talented quilter.  She inspirational, always generous with sharing her skills and her contribution to the quilting community is one to treasure.

Thank you for stopping by and giving me your time to read this "Round the World Blog Hop."

Jacqueline
xx

Snowball Quilt

I might be a little late in blogging about snow as we are well and truly into Spring now.  However, I couldn't resist the chance to showcase this finished snowball baby quilt that I had taken photos of but have not found the time to blog about it till now.  Also, I could not resist showing the quilt captured against the snow up at beautiful Lake Mountain for a day of cross country skiing.

I finished the top early in the year but due to school and work commitments, I haven't had time to quilt it until a few months back.  In addition, I was also tempted by making other quilts such as Under The Sea Quilt, Economy Baby Quilt and Flowering Snowball Quilt.

The quilt is composed of Bonnie and Camille 'Happy Go Lucky' fabric range.  I especially love this range because I have a love for the colour navy.  The colourway of red, orange, yellow and navy makes this quilt pop against the light greens that I had added from my stash.

I kept the quilt to a minimal with diagonal straight lines along the splay of the block.  I am happy the way it has turned out as I was having a hard time deciding how to quilt this without being too complicated.

I think by far, this is one of my favourite baby quilt.  Perhaps it is the colours that resonates with me or it could be the simplicity of the quilt showcasing the beautiful fabrics.  I am thinking of making a bigger size for myself some day.

Quilt Facts:

Finished size: 40.5" x 49.5"

Quilt top: "Happy go Lucky" by Bonnie and Camille in Mum in red, Jump in white and navy, Garden in White, Bloom in Orange and Yellow, Heather Bailey in Nicey Jane Hop Dot in Cream, Nicey Jane Church Flowers Green and Lottie Da in Vintage Rose in Lime, Small Gingham Green by Riley Blake Design and other remnants that I have on hand

Backing (not shown): Ready Set, Color! in Red and Orange Squiggles

Binding: Small Gingham in Orange by Riley Blake Design

Batting: 100% cotton

Machine quilted.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend

Jacqueline

xx

Sew Along

Flowering Snowball Quilt

I have always wanted to participate in a sew along but I have never had the time due to school and work commitments.  However, I couldn't resist this Flowering Snowball Along organised by the very talented Mary at Molly Flanders Makerie

Sewing curves has been on my 'To learn' list so I thought this would be a great way to conquer my fear of it.  Mary has a great tutorial on it and once I sewed my first curve, I was hooked!  It wasn't as scary as I had imagined it to be.  Following it step by step made it easy so I didn't freaked out about it.  If you have always wanted to try to sew curves and have put it off because you fear it... I encourage you to try this.  This sew along has broaden my quilting technique and style.  Now to find some time to hand quilt this during summer holidays.

After conquering my fear of curves, on my list of 'To make' quilt is a Glam Clam quilt which I can't wait to tackle now that I have gained some confidence in sewing curves.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend ahead.

Jacqueline
xx

Under the Sea Quilt

This year the blog has been a little neglected, not because I don't have much to say, more so that I have not have much time to quilt of late due to juggling school and work at the same time.  However, I did managed to churn out this boy quilt.

It is a commissioned quilt - lucky for me, the mother of this boy that would soon use this quilt was not in the hurry to have it made phew!  I love not having deadlines and quilt as I feel when I feel like having some fun, or more like when I have time to sew.

Now, lets talk quilt... The requirement for this quilt was to migrate from the baby quilt to a boy quilt which can be used till he is too big for it, favourite colour is blue and he loves sea animals.  So begun the search for fabrics - the fun part.

I have used different tones and width of blue stripes on the outer border of the block and offset it with grey and black and white fabrics on the inner block together with some blue alphabet fabric splashed around the quilt.  The center squares are a mixture of cute sea creatures and scattering of red alphabet fabric to balance out a blue hue quilt.  I also did add one to two off white screen printed pods among the blue and red centers.

I did a very simple horizontal and vertical line quilting as I wanted to keep it simple and let the blocks be the attention of the quilt

I continued the 'under the sea' theme for the background fabric which has the cutest whales playing under the sea.  You can view some of it here on my Instagram feed as I documented a little about the process.

As for the binding, I have used a simple black and white tiny gingham.  I love a gingham binding.

Quilt facts:

Quilt top fabrics

'A is for...' from Learn the Alphabet in Blue and Red

Clown stripe in Blue and Luna by Michael Miller; Navy and Aqua half inch stripe by Riley Blake Design

Half Moon Stripe in White and Charcoal from Uno by Stof House Designer

Stitch Circle Haze from Mod Basics by Michael Miller House Designer

Flight from Waterfront Park by Violet Craft

Sea Life from Happy Drawing by Ed Emberley

Silver Tarnished from Westwood Acres

Backing fabric - Scenic in Multi from Sea Breeze

Binding - Tiny Gingham in Black from Mod Basics

Batting - 100% cotton

Finished quilt measuring approximately 65" (1.6m) x 81" (2.m)

Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Baby to Boy Quilt

It's been a while since I did any blog about my quilt world.  Unfortunately there wasn't much going on other than trying to juggle full time work and study for the first semester that had passed.  It was a big struggle but I made it through and have since started trimester two but with one less subject. This meant that I could spend some time making some quilts before the year ends.

During semester break, I had started on a commissioned quilt for a boy quilt.  I had made Matt a baby quilt when he was born and now that he is starting to grow into a young boy, his mother had commissioned me to make him a boy quilt.

As I have mentioned before, I find making quilt for a boy a struggle but this quilt has been fun to make.  I have yet to quilt the finishing quilt top but here is a sneak peak of what I am currently working on at the moment.

I am savoring every stitch and moment in the quilt making process.  I miss having the time to make and to explore design ideas.  However, there is a dim light at the end of the tunnel with my studies.  Soon I will have all the time in the world to indulge in it (until something else creeps into my life!)

If you want to continue seeing the progress of this quilt, you can find me on Instagram

Thank you for stopping by.

Blogger's Quilt Festival 2014

Another year of the fantastic Blogger's Quilt Festival.  

This is a great festival to have a look at the array of beautiful, creative and inspirational quilts.

Here's my submission for the original design quilt - Flutter Your Wings

This is my very first own design of flying geese. I love the way the arrangements gives a sense of wings fluttering in the wind.

This quilt is hand quilted following the flow of the design to further accentuate the idea of wings fluttering in the sky.

More photos and information on material, fabrics, and dimensions can be found here

Here is the link to Blogger's Quilt Festival website.  

Hurry up and come join in the fun as today is the last day to submit your designs (23rd May).

Economy Quilt

And so I started the year with joining an 'Economy-block-along' on Instagram.  I couldn't resist after seeing so many fantastic economy blocks popping up on my instagram feed.

This is my first quilt for 2014 - I love using up remnants and scraps that I can find in my stash to produce a quilt that is, to my surprise, turned out to be rather lovely.

I have used Rita's tutorial from Red Pepper Quilt and though it is time consuming with the constant trimming, it worked wonders to get all the blocks in the right size which made it super easy to put it all together.  I love this method because the blocks are trimmed to the correct size and it causes less heartache when putting the quilt together.

A simple green squiggle backing fabric is used to balance out the playful quilt top.

I have used the remaining of the 'Modern Bliss' fabric from the commissioned quilt that I did last year plus the scraps that I received from Amanda from Westwood Acres Fabric and some other fabrics I have in my stash.

A white solid farbic is used as binding.  I wanted something simple to frame the interesting play of the fabrics within each blocks which I thought worked effectively.  I am beginning to love solid fabric as a binding option at the moment.  I have also quilted this quilt on a diagonal to keep it simple and to avoid adding too much detail to the already playful quilt top.

Here are more photos of the quilt in better lighting:

Quilt facts:
Size: 40" x 50"
Quilt top fabrics: Remnants from Modern Bliss fabric bundle by Andie Hanna for Robert Kaufman, scrappy remnants from Westwood Acres, Pezzy print in Orange and Red, Stella Dot in White/Pink, Potted Spring Orange by Jason Yenter, Woodland in Pine and Assortments of Grey fabrics from Westwood Acres Silver Tarnished bundle.
Backing: Ready, Set, Colour! Green Squiggles by Crayola for Quilting Treasures
Binding: Kona White Solid
Batting: 100% cotton
Machine quilted

Thank you for stopping by xx