A Long Overdue Blog Post with Another Glam Clam Quilt

Hello there,

Its been a while since I last blogged.  The whole of 2015 was focused on graduating from University and the whole of this year 2016 was juggling work, supervising at the student clinic and building up my private practice in Traditional Chinese medicine, and on top of that, trying to find some balance in life between work and play.  Needless to say, my quilting days has been numbered.  However, I am doing some form of sewing mainly English paper piecing and I am more active on Instagram.  I also hope to blog a bit more in 2017, fingers crossed I would have the time to share some of creative works with you all.

First up, I would love to share this baby quilt that I had made for my niece in 2015.  I was high on curves that year and used the Glam Clam design to the max.

Initially, this quilt was designed based on using a gradient effect but the description by Karen from Pieces of Contentment where she said "[The quilt] made an entire landscape with river, grass, hills, mountains, soft clouds and even a hot air balloon" best sums up this quilt design.

I have used the pattern and template when Latifah Saafir first introduce Glam Clam into the quilting world back in 2015.  She has now made the pattern into an easy to follow instruction booklet and a very cool Glam Clam template.  You can purchase both the template and pattern from the lovely Latifah Saafir Studio.  You can also find this quilt featured in the pattern booklet as variations to using this pattern (proud quilting moment!)

This quilt is mainly featured my all time favourite Briar Rose fabric collection by Heather Ross.  I only had Fat eight of each fabric collection so I had look into my stash to combine other fabric into the quilt.  There are some Nicey Jane, Sweet as Honey, Twice as Nice, and Catnap fabrics mainly sewed at the top of the quilt.

Up close of the fabric you can find lovely illustrations of frogs and bees and if you look closely you can find a grasshopper somewhere in the mix.  This quilt conjures up both whimsical and fun feelings with its bright colours, flowers and animals.

I have used simple grid quilting lines which produced a waffle effect.  This is probably my go to quilting style when I want it to be simple yet modern and I can't figure out how to quilt the end product.

This quilt now lives in London with my lovely niece Rosamund, whom I have been told by the mum that she uses the quilt as a blanket and for play.  That makes me heart swell with happiness when quilts I have made are loved and hugged constantly.

Quilt facts:

Finished size - 40" x 52"

Glam clam template size - 8" template ruler

Quilt top fabric - mixture of Briar Rose fabric collection, Nicey Jane, Sweet as Honey, Twice as Nice, and Catnap fabrics

Backing fabric - Wee Wanderer by Sarah Jane

Batting - 100% cotton 

Thread - 60wt Aurifil 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos

Jacqueline xx

Flutter your Wings

I started this quilt about 6 months ago and I am glad that it's finally finished to made it into the 'Finish it 2013'.  I think this will be the last quilt for 2013 because exams are looming and after that I take off for a long awaited summer vacation and to visit my parents back home.  Can't believed that the year have gone by so fast and Christmas is just around the corner yikes!!  Keep calm and breath! ... back to the quilt...

It is a simple flying geese quilt that flows in alternate ways.  I love how it makes the quilt look like wings fluttering in the clouds.

When I was started piecing the quilt together, I wasn't sure about the colour palette that I have chosen but I love the strong solid contrast of the blue/grey fabric against the softer palette of the fabric line.  It makes the flying geese 'pop'.  Funny how there are moments of clarity and doubt in the process of quilting.  Do you have these cross-roads when you thought to yourself... 'Is this going to work?  Does the colours go together?'.  One thing I have learned whether in quilting or in life is to always trust your instincts and go with it.  I am so glad I trusted my instincts on this.

I have hand quilted this quilt as I struggled with how I will quilt it using a domestic sewing machine.  To me hand quilting is my comfort and machine quilting is still something I have yet to come to grasp with.  I can only quilt straight lines at the moment, any more than that it is a challenge and one that I am not ready to embark on yet. Furthermore, I love the effects of hand quilting even though it takes a little longer to do.  Mind you my hand quilting is far from perfect but I love the imperfections as it gives the quilt character.

I love how hand quilting gives you that instant 'out of the wash' look to the quilt.  It makes the quilt feel all soft and snuggly.  I have used a solid binding in similar tone as I didn't want it to stand out as such.  I wanted the geometry of the flying geese to be the main focus and the hand quilted lines to accentuate the flowing movement of the flying geese.

I wished I had made it in a bigger size so I could keep it for myself but a baby size is a good way to test a new design.  I can't wait to make a throw size at some stage next year.  Might have to rethink about hand quilting it but who knows... I might be insane enough to just do it lol!

Quit facts:

Size: Approx 48" x 60"

Quilt top fabric: Bluegrey cotton linen, Heather Bailey Nicey Jane collection and Heather Bailey Wallpaper Roses in Ivory

Backing: Forest Friends Yellow Flowers

Binding: Pure Element Parisian Blue Solid

Batting: 100% cotton

Hand quilting: Perle cotton No.8 in Pistachio Green and Topaz Yellow

Thank you for stopping by!

Very slow Work In Progress

Now that semester 3 of University has started, quilting progress is going to be considerably slow.  However, there are two projects that I hope I will get it finished by the end of the year.  Hopefully if I can managed my time well, I am able to start cutting into my Anna Maria Honner voile to make myself a summer quilt but let's see how this few months will pan out.

This is a twin size surprise quilt that I am making for my God-daughter.  It is at the quilting stage and I am so in love with the colour vibrancy of this fabric line.  The fabric line is Full Moon Lagoon by Mobedell which is very pretty and so applicable for a young girl that is colour pink crazy at the moment.

 

So stay tune for pictures of the finished quilt in a few weeks time and happy quilting and crafting!

Thank you for stopping by!

Fabric Love #4

Bloomsbury Gardens by Liberty Lifestyle - what more can I say other than I have been swooning over this fabric collection for the longest time.  It was hard to decide which palette I wanted to go with as all of them were so beautiful.  I had to practiced a lot of restrained from going crazy ordering the entire collection as my piggy bank wouldn't have survived the trauma.  That aside, I am really happy with the selection that I had made.  I went with a mixture of natural brown and pastel blue and pink tones.  I think the color tones will make a soft neutral with a hint of pink and blue quilt which I can't wait to start designing for.

Happy quilting!