tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55450768640690402052024-02-24T16:34:15.612+08:00The Peony TeacupRamblings of a Wannabe Domestic GoddessTracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-62694707577169815562013-01-29T12:02:00.000+08:002013-01-29T12:02:48.136+08:00{Tutorial} Selvedge Spider Web block (for QCA bee #2)The inspiration for this block came from <a href="http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/spiderweb-tutorial-for-selvages.html">Tallgrass Prairie Studio</a>, but having just made a selvedge string block for Alex in the QCA bee #4 group, I really liked the way <a href="http://www.pleasant-home.com/2010/11/scrappy-2010-quilt-top-in-progress.html">Pleasant Home</a> constructed their block using single sided interfacing. So here's my take on a selvedge spider web block:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJcqWk8f2Ky2CLtJX5jXHbw_903v6ivQTdcuEuGaiIQsVGwfLflfwmSqhyphenhyphenJX6DopGsqhRcu6YwxTWtFe0WeZx2pTHAZVelDVzApfUZFMLeewHHCwwiVyOfIH7vi8vx3prqbyCLcq5Qoc/s1600/2013-01-17+00.07.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJcqWk8f2Ky2CLtJX5jXHbw_903v6ivQTdcuEuGaiIQsVGwfLflfwmSqhyphenhyphenJX6DopGsqhRcu6YwxTWtFe0WeZx2pTHAZVelDVzApfUZFMLeewHHCwwiVyOfIH7vi8vx3prqbyCLcq5Qoc/s320/2013-01-17+00.07.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You will need:<br />
13" square of single sided fusible interfacing<br />
A fat quarter or approx 20cm x WOF "Light Grey" Prima Homespun (from Spotlight)<br />
Assorted selvedges<br />
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Step 1:<br />
Cut the 13" square of interfacing in half diagonally to create two HSTs. Fold each triangle in half and finger press at the centre point. Using a pen (I used a frixion pen) and an acrylic ruler mark 1/4" up from the edge of the interfacing at the centre point (mark this on the non-fusible side). Also place a mark 4" from the top point on both sides. (see marks on image below)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ht4e_XHG1Pax1XPrrO3oyxcg-VR-5YNa1nSv-DWoGEChwHkBRS8-gSBsFWrjg4qBgoPg8OaNk9GvFtVhRIGtTpHaYmmjcz4QRjVjPiYqklZs95CWTtqDaOBYCsy9_p8t2q3etLPSx6k/s1600/2013-01-16+22.27.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ht4e_XHG1Pax1XPrrO3oyxcg-VR-5YNa1nSv-DWoGEChwHkBRS8-gSBsFWrjg4qBgoPg8OaNk9GvFtVhRIGtTpHaYmmjcz4QRjVjPiYqklZs95CWTtqDaOBYCsy9_p8t2q3etLPSx6k/s320/2013-01-16+22.27.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Step 2:</div>
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Place the acrylic ruler so that the 4" mark and the centre base mark line up along the 1/4" mark on the ruler. Mark this line (this is where you will line up your fabric for a 1/4" seam, and the dots are where the seams should be). Do this for both sides.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysXa-HDEOTGoJFq2v9ZCwf2wQb60ymCp-UIdzyFH1IqSwt1FY7FT6I-PBEcCcUTuH_EIByuDUHJwLx-7we8Pe2H9ez2IY6L2YlgkOCmK45TMSp9vi8uOwAhMDqGq98N5hS6cKM2E9cPo/s1600/2013-01-16+22.25.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysXa-HDEOTGoJFq2v9ZCwf2wQb60ymCp-UIdzyFH1IqSwt1FY7FT6I-PBEcCcUTuH_EIByuDUHJwLx-7we8Pe2H9ez2IY6L2YlgkOCmK45TMSp9vi8uOwAhMDqGq98N5hS6cKM2E9cPo/s320/2013-01-16+22.25.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 3:</div>
I used my interfacing to trace the kite shapes onto my "Light Grey" background fabric. I lined up one of the (red) lines that I'd marked with the straight edge of the fabric, then used my acrylic ruler to cut along the "top corner" of the fabric. Using my frixion pen I marked the points where the remaining red line starts/finishes. I then removed the interfacing (or you could fold it back, but be careful not to cut it!), matched up the two marks with my ruler and cut. Your kite shaped fabric should fit exactly into the kite shape you have drawn on your interfacing. I also confess that I CAREFULLY pressed part of the grey homespun onto the interfacing so that it didn't move around. You don't want to press too close to the edges though, or inadvertently touch the interfacing with the iron.. just saying!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU1fBq5MUwaB3k6fQ3T8tF-ThJMDecILT6F9wH5ZBOPGvl2RXvqvyAJbjxTKiX8_lrNzUc3MHJ_T455nT2T5N2OeTA2F3JK0zFiCwy5deQnQHoLpUIgPf8O5PgLr_mcNoFOf0sOZP33Q/s1600/2013-01-16+22.25.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbU1fBq5MUwaB3k6fQ3T8tF-ThJMDecILT6F9wH5ZBOPGvl2RXvqvyAJbjxTKiX8_lrNzUc3MHJ_T455nT2T5N2OeTA2F3JK0zFiCwy5deQnQHoLpUIgPf8O5PgLr_mcNoFOf0sOZP33Q/s320/2013-01-16+22.25.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 4:<br />
For both of the triangle sections, choose two selvedges that have atleast 3/4" of fabric design (1/2" will show after seam allowance). Place one selvedge right side down with the fabric edge aligned with the "Light grey" background fabric. Sew 1/4" seam. Gently finger press the seam open (or again, CAREFULLY press with the iron, but make sure that you only do along the seam line as you will need to be able to lift the edge of the seam to place the next selvedge under it). Take the second selvedge and repeat on the other side of the kite.<br />
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Step 5:<br />
As per <a href="http://www.pleasant-home.com/2010/11/scrappy-2010-quilt-top-in-progress.html">Pleasant Home</a>, gently place a selvedge with the fabric edge underlapping the selvedge edge. Make sure that there is enough fabric underlapping, especially on selvedges that have the fuzzy ends. Keep underlapping selvedges until you get close to the end of the triangle. use a scrap piece of fabric to cover each end (also underlapping the final selvedge). Now you can use your iron to press all the selvedges down onto the interfacing to hold them in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXnW5oCfq6dvHiuoNjSnOWHBNyJwwvvfnT6Md4Quu3hOuJj-GuxvqPakfnbVhGxRqmsk0hHXFqGA8fzC8T75B-TYgYMv2YBMmlz8Dwk1Yu03-ekH6zMJmw59y50cu3kKeUpsfPFUztKc/s1600/2013-01-16+23.33.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXnW5oCfq6dvHiuoNjSnOWHBNyJwwvvfnT6Md4Quu3hOuJj-GuxvqPakfnbVhGxRqmsk0hHXFqGA8fzC8T75B-TYgYMv2YBMmlz8Dwk1Yu03-ekH6zMJmw59y50cu3kKeUpsfPFUztKc/s320/2013-01-16+23.33.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 6:<br />
Top stitch along the edge of the selvedges. Make sure that you have caught the fabric edge of the selvedge underneath. Once all the selvedges have been secured you can turn over the triangle, align your acrylic ruler with the edges of the interfacing and trim down your block. You should now have two gorgeous selvedge triangles!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2Q0FA6GK3rw10pH_79B19bqs6g1hdfNPGRbK_A2ZF6LoComrXLAo0N7TeUGMT8HxyRjkONAc8b7x0s2ucFa471GsWv9R3b5NdCHxIeFpeV32npkU4rYGAHFo-1gv7T17B-PycOtqZaY/s1600/2013-01-17+00.02.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2Q0FA6GK3rw10pH_79B19bqs6g1hdfNPGRbK_A2ZF6LoComrXLAo0N7TeUGMT8HxyRjkONAc8b7x0s2ucFa471GsWv9R3b5NdCHxIeFpeV32npkU4rYGAHFo-1gv7T17B-PycOtqZaY/s320/2013-01-17+00.02.58.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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Step 7:<br />
Place the two triangles right sides together, making sure to match up the grey kite points. Sew 1/4" seam, making sure to pass through the points where the kite points intersect. Fingerpress seam open, then press with your iron from the right side. You will now have a finished 12.5" selvedge spider web block (12" finished in a quilt top). Don't feel that you need to trim the blocks down to 12.5" as I am happy to do that once I've received them.<br />
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Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-10910725694029338722012-12-24T12:57:00.000+08:002012-12-24T13:10:15.495+08:00Do you Craftsy?I discovered Craftsy at the beginning of this year when I read about the free Block of the Month they were running. Free? Sign me up! It just so happened that I'd gifted myself a fat quarter bundle of "Delighted" by the Quilted Fish for Christmas, so I was even fabric'd up and ready to sew. I also managed to convince two of my girlfriends to join me, so we've spent the year making blocks, trying new things, sharing success and failure in equal measure. Sadly, my quilt top is still in 5 rows.. but atleast it's in rows, not individual blocks! I had "more important" things on my pre-Christmas agenda, but completing my Craftsy BOM quilt will be high on my list in the new year. Belinda & Phillipa both managed to complete their quilt tops, and Belinda (who was embarking on her first quilting project) was optimistic that she could get hers completed by tomorrow. Last Friday it was still basted and waiting to be quilted. We'll see!<br />
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Needless to say, being the obsessive compulsive collector that I am, it wasn't long before I was signing up for other Craftsy classes left, right and centre. I think I've spent a couple of hundred dollars on classes... and I'm yet to *actually* do any of the classes that I've paid for... yet. I've watched the video tutorials for some, but I've had so much to do that I just haven't been able to commit to putting another project on my plate.. (haha, aside from the "quick" things I decide to do last minute!) That's another one of my resolutions for 2013.. finish my 2012 UFOs and unstarted projects that were on my To Do List, and take my Craftsy classes ;)<br />
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So far I've already signed up for Quick Strip Paper Piecing (which I've been watching and itching to try out.. it makes a New York Beauty seem so achievable!), Beyond Basic Machine Quilting, Machine Quilting: Free Motion and more, Quilting Big Projects on a Small Machine, Inspired Modern Quilts: 7 Small Projects with Big Style and some free workshops including Creative Quilt Backs, Sewing Machine 911 and of course the Craftsy Block of the Month! I'm going to be busy in 2013, aren't I?!<br />
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Unfortunately for me, Craftsy continues to tempt and tantalise me with new, exciting classes! AND they're having a SALE! Oh dear. I'm already trying to decide between Free Motion Quilting a Sampler (for ideas on how to quilt my BOM quilt), Big Techniques from Small Scraps, Color Play for Quilters and Hand Quilting: Heirloom Design & Technique. I hope Santa knows that he can get me a Craftsy class to put in my stocking!<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=363506&u=717230&m=29190&urllink=&afftrack=" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Daily Quilting Deals at Craftsy.com" border="0" src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/29190/300x250quilt.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer: I am a Craftsy Affiliate, which means that I earn a small commission if someone signs up for a class after clicking on a link from my blog. I also received a free class for signing up as an affiliate (or rather, I will once I can decide which one I want!). If you'd like to participate you can </i></span><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=253536&u=717230&m=29190&urllink=www%2Eshareasale%2Ecom%2Fshareasale%2Ecfm%3FmerchantID%3D29190&afftrack=" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20.981481552124023px;" target="_blank"><i>Join The Craftsy Affiliate Program Now!</i></a></div>
Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-79644054569784680552012-12-22T10:01:00.001+08:002014-04-21T11:36:57.785+08:00Quilts for Weddings and Babies..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A long time ago, before we were even dating, my husband and I moved into a share house with another one of our really good friends, Bryden. He has been friends with both of us, independently, for a long time (I met the boys when I was 15) but I generally think of him as my husband's best friend (although sometimes I refer to him as "our" best friend). Bryden has been like a brother to us over the years, with both of our families considering him part of the family too. He was there in the waiting room when we had baby #1, and before he met Carley, I spent many a night making sure he ate "real food" (because an iced coffee and a Mars bar is not really my idea of an acceptable daily meal!).</div>
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After dating a number of ladies that weren't quite the right fit, he met the lovely Carley. It wasn't long before they moved in together, and over the next 5 years they adopted a lorikeet and an eclectus parrot, bought a house, adopted another lorikeet and finally got engaged at our wedding. (Naturally Bryden was our Best Man.. and with our blessing he surprised Carley with a proposal at the end of his speech!) For their wedding present I decided to make them a quilt, and I asked Carley to choose some fabric that she liked. Being a girl after my own heart, she fell in love with Kate Spain's Cuzco line (it's those peacocks!) and chose the Hidden Stars pattern from my copy of <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Layer-Cake-Jelly-Roll-Charm-Quilts-Pam-Lintott/9780715332085?a_aid=peonyteacup">Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts</a> by Pam & Nicky Lintott. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbiTF5q7hZwz4WIku2hRApVRWqlreX4sIWhAm9c8sKRg02MZAYG8xRhyJrAAu6xhqNjBuXujB5Wm6KhyXmgetKS4DlTgZHsOLMgwpNWOhHOQaAw6xgGiaZvpnwhrc8rZeViep7N9YhO0/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbiTF5q7hZwz4WIku2hRApVRWqlreX4sIWhAm9c8sKRg02MZAYG8xRhyJrAAu6xhqNjBuXujB5Wm6KhyXmgetKS4DlTgZHsOLMgwpNWOhHOQaAw6xgGiaZvpnwhrc8rZeViep7N9YhO0/s320/002.JPG" height="320" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed quilt top, ready to baste.</td></tr>
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Carley's favourite colour is orange, and I found the perfect homespun at my local Spotlight store in their Organic Cottons section. There's nothing shy or quiet about this quilt!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_geHQzweECDJQtRG-Ea06sam8SL3L79Hy3JdW831v6PRvd1TZlKjB1XFOUxc80iaWswNbh4GFkaza_4gM8lK3d-sbahLyf9G-W7i13gCbftW9jCQ982hfg5vIWIikJdxgg7eEM4BE6AU/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_geHQzweECDJQtRG-Ea06sam8SL3L79Hy3JdW831v6PRvd1TZlKjB1XFOUxc80iaWswNbh4GFkaza_4gM8lK3d-sbahLyf9G-W7i13gCbftW9jCQ982hfg5vIWIikJdxgg7eEM4BE6AU/s320/131.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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I decided to emphasise the stars by hand quilting (also my first time hand quilting..) them using a variegated 12wt Aurifil thread #4648. I also machine quilted in a large cross hatch between the stars using 28wt Aurifil #2150 on the front, and 50wt Aurifil #2130 on the back. The stitching is virtually invisible, but you can see the outline on the back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbgX3jgZ2YdntWj44ZiM8wND4IwX3yLzTkdy0876nqJuO2pEc65ZhsluVQ0EWr58KhZdOhv4xc_hudshJUIU7pEl74rqCD4C9Vgby3OJ810-1_Sbufgw-oTKv7P4NqT7CSe3IKKlE2ts/s1600/134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbgX3jgZ2YdntWj44ZiM8wND4IwX3yLzTkdy0876nqJuO2pEc65ZhsluVQ0EWr58KhZdOhv4xc_hudshJUIU7pEl74rqCD4C9Vgby3OJ810-1_Sbufgw-oTKv7P4NqT7CSe3IKKlE2ts/s320/134.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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The quilt in backed with a smooth lemon yellow minkee with white spots. It's super snuggly and warm. I did learn a few things about working with minkee though.. 1. Pin basting didn't work for me. I had to unpick all of the quilting I'd done (and I thought I was nearly finished the machine quilting part too.. I was devastated!). 2. Spray basting plus pin basting works a treat.. that sucker didn't move or pucker or pleat again!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVmOSW0s3sPzuZjJB7ocO8Js7Fpo4jvU2AkQoLoslebohuJImvBz1bG74jMM5zj_qm-ca2AnN-LP2ESrpTSU_YOPIL1r1fYYN69uuqHy6vVRZqODNT5WvbyQ252CXh78ymfvF9L7Nos/s1600/178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtVmOSW0s3sPzuZjJB7ocO8Js7Fpo4jvU2AkQoLoslebohuJImvBz1bG74jMM5zj_qm-ca2AnN-LP2ESrpTSU_YOPIL1r1fYYN69uuqHy6vVRZqODNT5WvbyQ252CXh78ymfvF9L7Nos/s320/178.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I bound the quilt with the same orange homespun, and machine bound it using Aurifil 50wt #1133. I machine embroidered a label and then hand stitched it to the back of the quilt using the 12wt variegated thread. I them popped it in the wash with a couple of colour catchers just to make sure the colours didn't run, and it was good to go!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFDaafDNxpruu3xLuqPNw2Zl-LKWEVH6YGoI-eJovTtyGeLbHu40d1Nfy4s5CLFL1Nl4Mo8nczQ1uJzDK8_PbGrX6BVASfNC-p7Gv56cFCX5Pwe094TxYBZvRuhcns6OYxGOPnRuMJZE/s1600/135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFDaafDNxpruu3xLuqPNw2Zl-LKWEVH6YGoI-eJovTtyGeLbHu40d1Nfy4s5CLFL1Nl4Mo8nczQ1uJzDK8_PbGrX6BVASfNC-p7Gv56cFCX5Pwe094TxYBZvRuhcns6OYxGOPnRuMJZE/s320/135.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely you can see the stars on the back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXw7WADmJtBqmESFtcZoDEytF-9Wv9oP4dVwlm7Li5c_bEvJ4gd8bf288or6MK9PoQc-L9i0VxvjQ-_CCQd6iSbG6ffGtYVMltbthxcggHmFisrqDM4UMgZ1RaE3SFv5IN_8UFT37Wq8/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXw7WADmJtBqmESFtcZoDEytF-9Wv9oP4dVwlm7Li5c_bEvJ4gd8bf288or6MK9PoQc-L9i0VxvjQ-_CCQd6iSbG6ffGtYVMltbthxcggHmFisrqDM4UMgZ1RaE3SFv5IN_8UFT37Wq8/s320/140.JPG" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for wrapping!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaCDoL4hxV-A2Jv2lmoYqGyWebd0DcRNPib7wEdINy74Xbzcu-p4mBp0uMo4ggYGx0hyfL5YDloEkgfT-rp_dGI_L_vQtFnwarfjMrYtAM9KcT79PBMWWRa8vaiRAyYsYJpr4BO0ZKWM/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaCDoL4hxV-A2Jv2lmoYqGyWebd0DcRNPib7wEdINy74Xbzcu-p4mBp0uMo4ggYGx0hyfL5YDloEkgfT-rp_dGI_L_vQtFnwarfjMrYtAM9KcT79PBMWWRa8vaiRAyYsYJpr4BO0ZKWM/s320/161.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bride and groom</td></tr>
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The wedding was beautiful. Bryden's mum was the celebrant who officiated the wedding, and it was held in her gorgeous garden. The weather was perfect for the ceremony, although it rained all through the reception! Thank goodness for portable gazebos and carports! I'm very pleased to say that they were thrilled with their quilt, and took it on their honeymoon with them. I hope it brings them many years of warmth and comfort.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXqTnbq-tWXlZobGzvUaJzjLZZq9Qc98A8WlrZOGCLNgE6Z5s0tvgXfs5TjJ-iCzbVkStHW2xtkijD6om269_dc6ZttJNNdjc1dw1tH1s6lEbWj3AJVOWIKl5-dTBVQcZOPvyCOxDTT0/s1600/180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXqTnbq-tWXlZobGzvUaJzjLZZq9Qc98A8WlrZOGCLNgE6Z5s0tvgXfs5TjJ-iCzbVkStHW2xtkijD6om269_dc6ZttJNNdjc1dw1tH1s6lEbWj3AJVOWIKl5-dTBVQcZOPvyCOxDTT0/s320/180.JPG" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was also asked by one of my good friends, Linda to make a baby quilt for a friend of hers who was expecting her first baby. Linda is very crafty, but has never jumped into the quilting pool (yet!). I happened to have a charm pack of Deb Strain's "Meadow Friends" that was perfect for whipping up a quick baby quilt. We kept it simple with white sashing and binding. I backed it with a Denyse Schmidt print I had in my stash, and then straight line quilted it 1/4" out from the charm squares.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkj0eLU-dYNczILlnrDqVO0tTm9X9IwnMTlHNrokKDziJDZKgahEjEAIO-QXFXjH90SEtT-PgH3lV4h3ocy6Md_K2qfEE6YwUdTeQRgRFnIn2CLTgDjT8QjioETOG5go_ODwbhlixDhY/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkj0eLU-dYNczILlnrDqVO0tTm9X9IwnMTlHNrokKDziJDZKgahEjEAIO-QXFXjH90SEtT-PgH3lV4h3ocy6Md_K2qfEE6YwUdTeQRgRFnIn2CLTgDjT8QjioETOG5go_ODwbhlixDhY/s320/176.JPG" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
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It was very well received at the baby shower, and I've since received photos of the beautiful baby enjoying her first sleep at home, wrapped in the quilt. It warms my heart to see these quilts being put to good use :) I'm also ready and waiting for my husband to gift the blue and white quilt from my previous post (well, 2 posts ago) to his friend, and then my quilty heart will be full of joy ;) I think those will be my 3 final 2012 quilt finishes, but I've got a couple more lined up for early 2013 :)Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-5676248117607323462012-12-17T22:30:00.003+08:002012-12-17T22:30:47.241+08:00Aurifloss giveaway winnerThanks to everyone who stopped by and entered my Aurifil Aurifloss giveaway. I really enjoyed reading about all your experiences with hand tying :)<br />
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The giveaway has now closed, and I'm pleased to announce the winner, Marie W. who said "<span style="background-color: #f0f1f2; color: #424649; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Myriad Pro', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18.366666793823242px;">I have a patch quilt in bright colors that I want to hand tie. It will be my first. I was glad to see your tutorial." </span> Congratulations Marie!Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-37452428197961733832012-12-10T01:57:00.000+08:002012-12-10T01:57:43.503+08:00Aurifil Aurifloss Review {& Quilting Gallery Blog Hop GIVEAWAY}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways" border="0" height="200" src="http://quiltinggallery.com/images/blog-hop-party.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/">Quilting Gallery</a> is turning 5, and to celebrate they're hosting another <a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/">Blog Hop Party with Giveaways</a>! Last time there were over 200 blogs participating, with some incredibly cool giveaway items on offer.. make sure you don't miss out this time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8hIxDmMJrXB41drzgJKbDOXemJp2pg6DdMbJJNIRLkGjFUGYWxdQA4VY3ajLpUJhAgTZ7zBGwyO_M8wRYY6RPr527LTbwuLcc7y6fKLvFZ2IcAJkoRJS7d6OiH7nTj2mBV5AkVb-GpU/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8hIxDmMJrXB41drzgJKbDOXemJp2pg6DdMbJJNIRLkGjFUGYWxdQA4VY3ajLpUJhAgTZ7zBGwyO_M8wRYY6RPr527LTbwuLcc7y6fKLvFZ2IcAJkoRJS7d6OiH7nTj2mBV5AkVb-GpU/s320/177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I recently completed a quilt for one of my husband's friends as a thank you for helping us when we moved house. He spent a few days welding framework together for some custom desks that my husband installed in his office, and my husband asked me if I could make him a quilt as a thank you gift (Sure, no worries love! Let me just whip that up for you!).<br />
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I'd been dying to try out the "Raspberry Ripple" pattern out of Pam & Nicky Lintott's <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Layer-Cake-Jelly-Roll-Charm-Quilts-Pam-Lintott/9780715332085?a_aid=ThePeonyTeacup">"Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts"</a> book, which I'd received as a Mothers' day gift. This is the third pattern I've made from the book (and I've now made 4 quilts using patterns from the book, but that's another post!).. anyway, considering the book was an incidental purchase I'm very impressed with it!<br />
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My husband's only directive was that "Fritz likes blue".. so straight away I knew that Deb Strain's "Spa" range would be perfect. Not my personal style, but I am SO pleased with how the quilt top turned out. Having said that, I'm not sure that I'd make this pattern again because it felt like I was piecing FOREVER and it wasn't until the very end that I had blocks that were larger than 6.5". It was enormously satisfying to complete, but it seemed to drag on and I think next time (if ever!) I wouldn't bother making all the 9-patch blocks first and I'd just make large HSTs instead. (The effect of the 9-patch blocks is stunning, don't get me wrong.. I just prefer to see tangible progress within a few of hours of piecing, not what took me DAYS over WEEKS of piecing.)<br />
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But enough whinging, I really love this quilt and I'm a bit sad to be giving it away.. luckily I know it's going to a good home that will appreciate all the time, effort and love I've put into making it!<br />
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Once I completed the quilt top it was time to move onto the larger issue of how to quilt it? My domestic machine has a very small throat space, so the thought of anything other than SLQ was far too daunting, and even that would have been struggle town. I decided to think outside the square and try something I'd never done before.... hand tying!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9zKMba171s/UMRjHzL5d_I/AAAAAAAABlg/PcfQxnYiw_E/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9zKMba171s/UMRjHzL5d_I/AAAAAAAABlg/PcfQxnYiw_E/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Being an <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/SiteAurifil/HOME.html">Aurifil</a> convert (this quilt was pieced with Aurifil 50wt #2024) I contacted the rather debonair face of Aurifil, Signor Alex Veronelli to see if I could try out some of his new <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/SiteAurifil/FLOSS.html">Aurifloss</a> stranded cotton.</div>
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Aurifloss is a 6 strand embroidery floss made from long staple cotton that is gorgeously presented on a wooden spool. It's suited to all types of needlecraft including cross stitching, embroidery, crochet and applique as well as scrapbooking and hand tying quilts (and many other things I'm sure!).</div>
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Alex very generously sent me three spools, and despite this quilt being 64" x 80" I didn't even use a whole spool! So I'm giving one away for one of you to try out :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMpgs-k5mWmfCXKOUpBN2vADrysUFFFI4DOqOa0nI_tnJAvRi1Kh8FWR8FH-q_OfPuffOayFMAU3b1V0RCTXGyPn2Fjk7TjJWSjlPqNWKt2J3AhLHCF6chAQFrYnT3q_r9deAQ052hjo/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMpgs-k5mWmfCXKOUpBN2vADrysUFFFI4DOqOa0nI_tnJAvRi1Kh8FWR8FH-q_OfPuffOayFMAU3b1V0RCTXGyPn2Fjk7TjJWSjlPqNWKt2J3AhLHCF6chAQFrYnT3q_r9deAQ052hjo/s320/062.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinned, basted and ready to go!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUe2HA4HJmq88CrXGNk7VjeLHoKf4uT6bbAkCPA2idYmXInBgFR046A9lC_ES8iu1s9QNJzovG44aTJb09oSzdtxu1fiKENyAHAeKUn3akZv6Avwf5JY6eDLz4wTVIsCzdPJin4DUJkM/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUe2HA4HJmq88CrXGNk7VjeLHoKf4uT6bbAkCPA2idYmXInBgFR046A9lC_ES8iu1s9QNJzovG44aTJb09oSzdtxu1fiKENyAHAeKUn3akZv6Avwf5JY6eDLz4wTVIsCzdPJin4DUJkM/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having never hand tied a quilt before, I watched a number of youtube videos, googled a few blogs and referred to a couple of books to get a general idea. From there I went with the method where you take a small "bite" of fabric approx 1/4" apart with your needle (I recommend using a wool needle), and then do a little back stitch move where you take a second "bite" (as shown above).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeK8UnbumIdtA5KgD2CWsOv2YZxcDcGbBVFNSFNEz8ejt8Hp5sYopdE97IhSDx8641U21-G-yYaN8gc1E0x8maCwuodlqe5YPJJ07emGZwnRWUu96w0KG0Bdb2_MzwkSxUDZhEWuwTug/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeK8UnbumIdtA5KgD2CWsOv2YZxcDcGbBVFNSFNEz8ejt8Hp5sYopdE97IhSDx8641U21-G-yYaN8gc1E0x8maCwuodlqe5YPJJ07emGZwnRWUu96w0KG0Bdb2_MzwkSxUDZhEWuwTug/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I left "tails" of approx 2-3 inches, which I then tied using a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon%27s_knot">surgeon's knot</a> (which my research suggested was more secure than a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef_knot">square knot</a>). The Aurifloss was a delight to work with. It didn't twist and knot itself while I was trying to feed it through the fabric. It was easy to knot and none of my knots have magically undone themselves - always a good start! I look forward to trying out Aurifloss in my cross stitch and embroidery projects (I just need to stop quilting for long enough to get back to them!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GZUNEpgDKDrrkl-E-VjD3udGjGTsYhae8j1FmVkaVeaTAO2gl99FDusuxpy0yx1lVDzWNoQ7SDXPwkDMpoVefZ0K5zf82N9koMrcnaXg9aGmsgYPnUIbJ14z6OtQ66niHntP9a9jWYg/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GZUNEpgDKDrrkl-E-VjD3udGjGTsYhae8j1FmVkaVeaTAO2gl99FDusuxpy0yx1lVDzWNoQ7SDXPwkDMpoVefZ0K5zf82N9koMrcnaXg9aGmsgYPnUIbJ14z6OtQ66niHntP9a9jWYg/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of my (untrimmed) hand tied knots.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuHzHfqK6-_PrEi2WjQUC9Xrb9JOfGnUyO5doZC00cZ7gfuzcM0noRf43YugzuuoEtq-rAeVr4QEWZFrnUtrwE45nB2OMMx7eeX4tZ348a87Abgo3DVF4_R7QllwpNx0HxeiPmAaP4yc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuHzHfqK6-_PrEi2WjQUC9Xrb9JOfGnUyO5doZC00cZ7gfuzcM0noRf43YugzuuoEtq-rAeVr4QEWZFrnUtrwE45nB2OMMx7eeX4tZ348a87Abgo3DVF4_R7QllwpNx0HxeiPmAaP4yc/s320/005.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a closeup of the trimmed, completed ties.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIBOgjviU20YDwDys2lAqhCLaB7lcwS_HKxKMMPpcub1xAdn2Ol1woaYwiM2z7m7QT_90sWrGpAQui2E09765NxMNCh5zpyN7syn7bwg4rSdbK_15JV9WICgAeNUhnRZ2PGBUg-3KR4k/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIBOgjviU20YDwDys2lAqhCLaB7lcwS_HKxKMMPpcub1xAdn2Ol1woaYwiM2z7m7QT_90sWrGpAQui2E09765NxMNCh5zpyN7syn7bwg4rSdbK_15JV9WICgAeNUhnRZ2PGBUg-3KR4k/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This quilt exceeded my expectations - it turned out exactly how I envisioned it would. I love the clean crispness of the blue and white, it makes me think of Wedgwood china! I think the hand tying was the perfect way to "quilt" it so as not to detract from the overall design, while still keeping the layers secure. As an added bonus, hand tied quilts are supposed to get softer and snugglier as they're washed so it's sure to keep Fritz and Margot warm and cosy on these cold Summer nights (oh wait, you mean it's meant to be warm in Summer? hmm.. I don't think Perth got the memo this year!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicB3uB_XNDv0Bd0SgwjkrFVwyrD0S-IlykF_j3ShJFgmj8zUoqF2gUWjuEd7R8H-sd8wDxgBmFZ_mmMasrPUHPHwza4jVnWMO2_kFELeDbgvGZOI6fQWeEdgjpDvEacDLPpANd4aAjOdE/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicB3uB_XNDv0Bd0SgwjkrFVwyrD0S-IlykF_j3ShJFgmj8zUoqF2gUWjuEd7R8H-sd8wDxgBmFZ_mmMasrPUHPHwza4jVnWMO2_kFELeDbgvGZOI6fQWeEdgjpDvEacDLPpANd4aAjOdE/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished just in time for Christmas...</td></tr>
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Now that you've made it to the end of my post, I think you deserve the chance to be rewarded, don't you? I'm offering up a charm pack of Summersville by Lucie Summers and a spool of Aurifloss so that you can try it out for yourself. The giveaway is open from the 10th December until the 17th December (Perth time). The giveaway is open internationally, although I can't guarantee that you'll receive it before Christmas!</div>
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<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-14939284963937852702012-10-26T22:21:00.000+08:002012-10-27T02:14:49.598+08:00Jacky-Oh! Something Wicked This Way Comes..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm pleased to introduce you to my friend Jacky-Oh! He's a jack-o-lantern that has come to visit for the <a href="http://www.whimsandfancies.com/category/halloween-paper-pieced-2012/">Something Wicked This Way Comes</a> blog hop!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMmtnNYiVDvj_ubALdpEN0dmqDe6OM-zk1WuLxHFqURUtzqHdMgD4Y7DrYkVu6koQERXn1Nwv-ywbHL-TTo4dezLkX9abM7qnDR0MXKy1olT0C4dTPIBPK80dxX7ej1q-y-emaOOSM_c/s1600/JackyOh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMmtnNYiVDvj_ubALdpEN0dmqDe6OM-zk1WuLxHFqURUtzqHdMgD4Y7DrYkVu6koQERXn1Nwv-ywbHL-TTo4dezLkX9abM7qnDR0MXKy1olT0C4dTPIBPK80dxX7ej1q-y-emaOOSM_c/s320/JackyOh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was participating in Kristy from <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com/">Quiet Play</a>'s <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/practically-paper-pieced-potter-1-year.html">Practically Paper Piecing</a> blog hop when I heard that Soma from <a href="http://www.whimsandfancies.com/">Whims & Fancies</a> was organising a Halloween themed paper piecing blog hop. The catch? You had to design an original block. No worries... I'd just received a copy of EQ7 for my birthday from my husband, how hard could designing my own block be??</div>
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I knew straight away that I wanted to do a Jack-o-lantern block.. after all, carving pumpkins is one of our favourite Halloween <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/preparing-for-happy-pumpkin-day.html">traditions</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlcHB2WD2_Obwbn-24tOicGUdXzQqhgXA6sVfIm8EkIefmWPgl3pHZ7t4yK8abn2vnfD6R9hYIXbw5MSOohldrbDHQL85T_sEvavE9itCyVUd6uCGleSYnfXKh-wrQzB0DuISxgSJ9g/s1600/Jack-O-Lantern.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUlcHB2WD2_Obwbn-24tOicGUdXzQqhgXA6sVfIm8EkIefmWPgl3pHZ7t4yK8abn2vnfD6R9hYIXbw5MSOohldrbDHQL85T_sEvavE9itCyVUd6uCGleSYnfXKh-wrQzB0DuISxgSJ9g/s320/Jack-O-Lantern.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found a free stock photo of a Jack-o-lantern, imported it into EQ7 and threw myself right in the deep end! It took a few tries, but eventually I came up with a block design worth testing:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcjxQrEAGBxQLPIIodsOelMcgI6-QlQavj8jdofJC1gYu45odYUVSsrUwrkx-sOZiFg3us-RuwYfVlgSiU2IfRTzfdVeBAFNqxecZ2IFEEL6vGjE9aXVfwKjA2x-0FZU7gpxJNRNR9eI/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcjxQrEAGBxQLPIIodsOelMcgI6-QlQavj8jdofJC1gYu45odYUVSsrUwrkx-sOZiFg3us-RuwYfVlgSiU2IfRTzfdVeBAFNqxecZ2IFEEL6vGjE9aXVfwKjA2x-0FZU7gpxJNRNR9eI/s320/053.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
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He turned out ok, but highlighted the fact that very small lines in EQ turn out to be large lines in real life (the part where the left eye isn't actually a triangle - it's not my bad sewing, it was a design flaw!) So I went back and tweaked the pattern a few more times, adjusting his eyes and his teeth..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRFI2qKS2mMBH9tuRC6NSt4AtrZjk4fseCiScuHYDdAJ5IwgzPi3KnGiPv07C37siORY5trtRxIJcxB76r4WYNutaoW78CBcwP9tRTFV5mTkYXCCwsOiaV82ZfdT3ZZdFSz5nVT6GUoQ/s1600/JackyOh1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRFI2qKS2mMBH9tuRC6NSt4AtrZjk4fseCiScuHYDdAJ5IwgzPi3KnGiPv07C37siORY5trtRxIJcxB76r4WYNutaoW78CBcwP9tRTFV5mTkYXCCwsOiaV82ZfdT3ZZdFSz5nVT6GUoQ/s320/JackyOh1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vgdOq3u27N2s5XCge4h6-iGkPgKyguBl8Rz9Ou9n0ABdgQmqZe7yWPYyhpA-loGfS7tMRW4JOfOprlMtI0UsTfoCRuyFPCoKCg78kkDlVi60zKawc-o1qXf3Z8xQhmrcVQuOBs36MVE/s1600/JackyOh2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vgdOq3u27N2s5XCge4h6-iGkPgKyguBl8Rz9Ou9n0ABdgQmqZe7yWPYyhpA-loGfS7tMRW4JOfOprlMtI0UsTfoCRuyFPCoKCg78kkDlVi60zKawc-o1qXf3Z8xQhmrcVQuOBs36MVE/s320/JackyOh2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternate tooth position</td></tr>
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I printed out my new pattern, tested it out and voila! A delectably scary Jack-o-lantern!<br />
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I decided that my two blocks would make fantastic snack mats for Bean and Blossom, so I backed it with some super cute jack-o-lanterny goodness (Dem Bones, Carol Eldridge for Andover Fabrics) and ditch quilted it with some Aurifil 28wt thread. I regularly use Aurifil 50wt (this was pieced with white #2024) but I'd never tried out the 28wt.. As luck would have it, I had a spool of orange #2150 from a sample pack that I won some time ago.. and it was the perfect Halloween orange! The 28wt was an absolute delight to sew with, and while it's not super obvious in the quilting (because it's quilted in the ditch), it looks amazing on the binding. I chose a decorative stitch that reminded me of candy corn, to match the candy corn fabric that I used as binding. Seriously, this snack mat is good enough to eat!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdK7-oVflhVRvd-7rDIJlfB2uu4f7Uua0ItsvD4-9xi4EjDuh3yBd-rE7C5dMtVEhqe9qkHU_6cGMHXDOth5XHshrs_Eh3yRWteBD9rt0DlzIfKUuHjdBBPn84SKr6pJoKoZiqk83d2tU/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdK7-oVflhVRvd-7rDIJlfB2uu4f7Uua0ItsvD4-9xi4EjDuh3yBd-rE7C5dMtVEhqe9qkHU_6cGMHXDOth5XHshrs_Eh3yRWteBD9rt0DlzIfKUuHjdBBPn84SKr6pJoKoZiqk83d2tU/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jacky also looks super scary when he's backlit by the setting sun. No evil spirits will be visiting here!<br />
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To be safe around the children though, we might just illuminate him with our faux candle lantern that Grandma brought home for them.<br />
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If you like Jacky-Oh! and would like to make a pumpkiny friend of your own, you can find the <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/jacky-oh-paper-pieced-block/34489">pattern</a> for free at <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/jacky-oh-paper-pieced-block/34489">Craftsy</a> :) There is also an <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/jacky-oh-extended-edition/34503">"Extended Edition"</a> available for purchase that has additional templates to create a range of different pumpkin personalities!</div>
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Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-75847761184205324132012-10-24T13:48:00.001+08:002012-10-24T13:48:53.833+08:00Let's Get Acquainted!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">Hi! Today's my turn to "Get Acquainted" with you all in the Plum & June </span><a href="http://plumandjune.blogspot.com.au/p/blog-hop.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">"Let's Get Acquainted!" blog hop</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">. I'm sharing today with Megan from </span><a href="http://citystitches.blogspot.com.au/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">City Stitches</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; line-height: 21px; text-align: start;">, so don't forget to pop over and get acquainted with her too! </span></div>
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<a href="http://plumandjune.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Plum and June" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s494/PlumandJune/letsgetacquaintedfalltoo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">My name is Tracey and I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I'm a stay at home mother of two great kids who never cease to bring me joy and frustration in equal measure ;) I love to quilt, embroider, crochet and bake (fortunately the first 3 are calorie free!). I love to be crafty in general and I've tried most things along the way. I'm really lucky to have a great group of crafty girlfriends (we all met through playgroup when our kids were tiny) and even though our kids are now going to different schools we catch up atleast once a week to sew, craft, eat and chat!</span><br />
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Here are a few "fun facts" about me..<br />
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<b><i>How long have you been quilting</i></b></div>
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I've been sewing for as long as I can remember, but I only started quilting 5 years ago.. I made 2 quilts, and then had a 3 year break before taking it back up again last year. Now I've got a project list long enough to last me until I die! (It gets longer every day!)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><b><i>Favorite quilting tip(s)</i></b></span></div>
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People always say to measure twice, cut once. I cannot emphasise enough how important that is! But I also love spray starch. I discovered starch a couple of months ago and it has improved my accuracy quite a bit! And it smells pretty.</div>
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<b><i>Favorite blogging tip(s)</i></b></div>
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Have fun and stay true to who you are. Don't write what you think people want to read. Write what you'd want to read.</div>
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<b><i>Favorite fabric (or wish list fabric)</i></b></div>
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I am a huge fan of Kate Spain and Bonnie & Camille. I've always coveted "Terrain", but I don't actually have any in my stash - I only "discovered" designer fabrics as "Good Fortune" was being released. </div>
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<b><i>Favorite craft book</i></b></div>
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I love Joanna Figueroa's "With Fabric & Thread", although I've made quite a few quilts from Pam & Nicky Lintott's "Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls and Charm Quilts" book.</div>
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<b><i>Favorite book</i></b></div>
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My favourite authors include Diana Gabaldon, Stephanie Laurens and Julia Quinn. But I'll read virtually anything, and I practically devour books! I'm currently reading "The Scarpetta Factor" by Patricia Cornwell.</div>
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<b><i>Favorite children's book</i></b></div>
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I love Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway tree books. I have two of them from when I was little that I read to my children. They love to hear about the Land of Presents, the Land of Goodies and the Land of Take What You Want the best!</div>
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<b><i>Favorite quilting tool</i></b></div>
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Of course my sewing machine would have to be my favourite quilting tool of all time.. but my Accuquilt GO! cutter is pretty high up on my list!</div>
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<b><i>Favorite music to listen to while quilting</i></b></div>
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I don't often listen to anything while I'm in my sewing room as I need to get some portable speakers.. occasionally I'll remember to take headphones in with me, but I'm usually too lazy! This last week I've been using my sewing machine on the dining room table so I could have the quilt top laid out on the floor as I put it together, and it was so nice to sew with the TV on, or the radio. I think I need to ask Santa to bring me some speakers for Christmas! I love to listen to Pat Sloan's APQ Radio podcasts in the car though.</div>
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<b><i>Binding - by hand or by machine?</i></b><br />
My first two quilts were done by hand, but when I got back into quilting last year I saw a fab tutorial for machine binding using a decorative stitch (sew binding to back of quilt, then fold to front and secure with a pretty stitch) and that's how I do all my quilts now.</div>
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<b><i>If I'd only known - what you wish you knew about blogging before you started your blog</i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I've noticed that a lot of people have said they wish they'd known more about Blogger vs Wordpress, but to be honest, I still don't really get the difference. I mean, I understand that Wordpress has more customisable functionality.. and I'll confess that I actually signed up for both. And I think I even posted my first couple of posts on both. (Although that might have been for my other blog, Needles in the Haystack) But I found Blogger easier to wrangle, and I don't have any plans to change (at this time). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I wish I'd known that there was this awesome quilting blog world earlier. Like when I first started quilting. I've had other blogs in the past, but I never knew how much great stuff was out there. I wish I'd had more of a clue!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>I'll have a brand new tutorial for you in a couple of days - it'll be my turn to show you my paper pieced block in the "Something Wicked This Way Comes" blog hop on Friday! I'm pretty excited to do the whole big reveal.. so stay tuned! In the mean time, there are a few tutorials on my <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/p/tutorials.html">Tutorials</a> page to keep you busy ;)<br />
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Don't forget to check out the other blogs that are participating in the "Let's Get Acquainted" blog hop - this week we have:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Oct 23</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Tracey from </span><a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #828282; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Peony Teacup</a> (you are here!)<br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Megan from </span><a href="http://citystitches.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #828282; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">City Stitches</a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Oct 25</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Kerstin from </span><a href="http://sunset-sewing.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #828282; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sunset Sewing</a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Jenniffier from </span><a href="http://jenniffier.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #828282; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jenniffier's Sometimes Creative Life</a><br />
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Thanks for stopping by xxTracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-50647873257464386482012-10-22T21:49:00.000+08:002012-10-22T21:49:55.992+08:00Book Tour - The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting TipsWelcome to my leg of the book tour for <a href="http://lovebugstudios.com/">Ebony Love</a>'s much anticipated debut book "The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting Tips" :)<br />
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Before we go any further I'd just like to say that unlike all of the amazing book tour stops before me, I'm not a professional/expert die cutter or quilter! I'm just your average 30-something stay at home mum who fell into die cutting rather like I fell into quilting - straight in the deep end and working it out as I go along! But the fact that *I* am not a professional is really unimportant, because as you'll discover (if you don't already know), Ebony is THE "go to" girl in the fabric die cutting world.<br />
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I wish that there had been a book like Ebony's when I was making my first foray into die cutting 12 months ago. My son "outgrew" his baby quilt, so I decided that it was time to make him a new one. I found some Harry Potter fabric squares on ebay (he's only a little obsessed!) and then went on to think about how I was going to put it all together. In Australian Patchwork & Quilting magazine I'd seen ads for the <a href="http://accuquilt.com/">Accuquilt</a> GO! cutter, which ultimately led me to research it a little online and decide that I needed the GO! (as opposed to the Baby) and the Drunkard's Path die. I'd seen this cool idea for a Split Drunkard's Path star block online and I thought it would be a perfect way to use my Harry Potter fabric. I did some price researching, and while it was cheaper in the US, the shipping to Australia would cripple me, so I sucked up the price difference and found a place over here that had a pretty good price, and as it happened, a sale on dies! Hmm.. surely I needed more than just the Drunkard's Path? I managed to convince my husband to order me the Double Wedding Ring, the Rose of Sharon, the Tumbler and the 2.5" strip die (the strip die was an after thought, but it was $58 down from $85 for the GO Baby compatible one, so I couldn't go past it!).. and then I snuck in the Sunbonnet Sue die when he wasn't looking.. Turned out that ordering the Tumbler die was the best thing I did for that quilt, because the fabric squares were too small to use with the Drunkard's Path die. But I found a way to make those stars anyway!<br />
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And that 2.5" strip die I bought just because it was on sale? Best. Die. Purchase. Ever. I use it with EVERY quilt I make (sometimes for sashing, ALWAYS for binding!). Ebony outlines a whole range of other things you can do with the strip dies, including cross cutting the strips to make diamonds or squares. I also picked up a few tips on continuous borders by cutting length of fabric (LOF) instead of width of fabric (WOF). Other sized strip dies are definitely on my "to get" list!<br />
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If I'd had Ebony's book before buying my GO!, I think that the section on choosing which die cutter to suit you would have been invaluable. I love my GO! but there are times when I wish I had something larger, like the Big Shot Pro - especially because it has the flexibility of using other brand dies (including the Accuquilt ones) which my GO! does not. I love Ebony's clear, concise comparisons of the features of each cutter, the number of dies available, the die compatibility of other brands etc. Having it all right there in an easy to read format makes it much easier to make an informed decision.<br />
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Recently I've been pondering the purchase of a smaller machine because while my GO! *is* portable, it's quite heavy and cumbersome when I'm also trying to carry bags filled with fabric and my sewing machine when I go to guild meetings etc. I'd naturally considered the Baby GO! because it will fit all my dies (except the DWR), but after seeing the <a href="http://sizzix.com/">Sizzix</a> Big Shot at the Craft Fair a few months ago I've been in a quandary. I loved some of the dies that Sizzix offered (like the multiple same size hexie dies) but I wasn't sure that I wanted to invest in a new system, especially given that the Big Shot will only work with my 5x10" dies (which rules out almost all the dies I currently own).<br />
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After reading Ebony's comparison section, I'm seriously considering the Big Shot. After all, I'll still have my GO! so it's not like I won't be able to use my 6"+ Accuquilt dies, and I could just take my GO! on those occasions when I need to use the dies that are too big for the Big Shot. Additionally I'd also have the opportunity to purchase Sizzix and other brand dies that catch my fancy.<br />
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Don't think that just because you've already got a fabric cutter that you won't need this book - I picked up so many tips and ideas when I read through it. Some of them were so simple that you'd think they were obvious, and yet it had never occurred to me that I might be able or need to do some of those things. I'd never thought about checking my dies for accurate cutting by using paper to do the first cut, or even filing those paper pieces for future reference (eg using applique cuts to audition placement on blocks etc).<br />
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There is something in The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting Tips for everyone. If you don't have a die cutter but are thinking of purchasing one, you should read Ebony's book before you make any decisions.. and if you already have a die cutting machine and want to learn how to get the most out of your die cutting experience then you won't be disappointed! I can't wait to get my hard copy so that I can make a few notes in the convenient sections Ebony has peppered throughout the book - perfect for all the extra tips I've been picking up over the course of the book tour!<br />
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Don't forget to check out all the stops along the way - there are even a few chances to win yourself a copy of the book! If you'd like to read an excerpt, Ebony has one available <a href="http://www.lovebugstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/media/BLBBookExcerpt.pdf">here</a> :)<br />
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<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: 'lucida grande', 'lucida sans unicode', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 16th</strong> – Ebony Love, <a href="http://lovebugstudios.com/blog" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">LoveBug Studios</a> </li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 17th</strong> – Jennifer Rodriguez, <a href="http://allthingsbelle.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">All Things Belle</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 18th</strong> – Marjorie Busby, <a href="http://b-quilts.com/blog/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Marjorie’s Quilting Bee</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 19th</strong> – Michelle Marr, <a href="http://mychellem.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Michelle’s Romantic Tangle</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 20th</strong> – Tammy Tutterow, <a href="http://sizzixblog.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Sizzix Blog</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 21st</strong> – Patsy Thompson, <a href="http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/blog/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Patsy Thompson Designs</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 22nd</strong> – Tracey Rampling, <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Peony Teacup</a> <-- You are here!</li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 23rd</strong> – Mary Fons, <a href="http://www.heyquilty.com/blogs/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Hey Quilty!</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 24th</strong> – Barb Gaddy, <a href="http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Bejeweled Quilts</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 25th</strong> – Katrina Chapman Kahn, <a href="http://sunshowerquilts.blogspot.ca/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Sunshower Quilts</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 26th</strong> – SewCal Gal, <a href="http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Insights from SewCalGal</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 27th</strong> – Vanessa Wilson, <a href="http://craftygemini.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">The Crafty Gemini</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 28th</strong> – Kelly Jackson, <a href="http://ihaveanotion.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">I Have a Notion</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 29th</strong> – Connie Campbell, <a href="http://conniekresin.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Freemotion By the River</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 30th</strong> – Gene Black, <a href="http://blog.geneblack.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">An Alabama Quilter</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 31st</strong> – Ebony Love, <a href="http://lovebugstudios.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">LoveBug Studios</a></li>
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">November 1st</strong> – <a href="http://amzn.com/1938889002" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">Book Launch on Amazon!</a></li>
</ul>
Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-69295956838611853812012-10-17T13:09:00.000+08:002012-10-17T13:13:58.575+08:00Sensational Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spring and Autumn/Fall are my two favourite seasons. I love the changing colours and the more mild temperatures. I think that Spring probably just manages to gain the edge over Autumn though, because Spring is an amazing, glorious riot of colour and scent.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornamental Plum Blossoms</td></tr>
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We live in an area where there are a lot of orchards, so Spring always brings a patchworked landscape of hills covered in pink and white blossoms. It's so pretty when the blossom petals start to fall and gather like pink and white snowflakes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple blossoms - I hope the birds don't get them all this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bobtail lizard staying cool under the agapanthus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous irises and lavender that we picked up at the local farmers market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they gorgeous?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Crimson Rosella just hanging out in our fig & mulberry tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone must have announced groundhog day... we went back to rain, and frozen toes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first poppies of the season</td></tr>
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I just love the poppies. They make me feel happy. The pink mop head poppies are my favourites (which I think I mentioned last year) and sadly we only got ONE single pink one again this year. I found a lady at the local markets who had some seeds for the pink poppies, so I'll have to scatter them in the garden soon in the hopes that next year I'll have more than one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lone pink poppy</td></tr>
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Last week we went to the local botanic gardens for a friend's birthday. We had a devonshire tea in the tea rooms and then let the kids run around and burn off some pent up school holiday energy! I keep forgetting how much I love the botanic garden.. which is dreadful as it's only 5 minutes from my house!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields of poppies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are lots of lovely water features around the park.. it's so tranquil and peaceful.. Except when you're chasing after 5 crazy kids!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pansies are such adorable flowers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could imagine that you were a million miles from civilisation..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wisteria at the Tea Rooms. Divine.</td></tr>
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And what could be a more tangible symbol of spring than baby chickens? Phillipa and I purchased 6x day old Golden Laced Wyandotte chicks between us in the hopes that we could graft them onto my broody bantam, Honeydew. Amateurs that we are, we tried too early and she hadn't been sitting for long enough, so now we're hand rearing them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 4-6 days old - some people have goldfish on their desks while they work, my husband had chickens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 weeks old - enjoying a week's holiday at Phillipa's while the kids and I spent a week with my Grandparents.</td></tr>
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The chicks are now 3 weeks old and are comparatively huge, compared to when they first came home with us. They have lots of feathers and are spending the days outside in our "chicken palace". They love it when we let them out so they can explore. They have no fear and will attempt to fly from pretty much anywhere! Another week or so and they should be able to spend the nights outside too. Unfortunately, getting the chicks didn't solve my broody Honeydew issue.. so last week we picked up some fertilised Araucana X eggs (the blue/green ones) from another breeder close by and she's now happily sitting on those. 2 more weeks and we should have another 4 chicks to add to our "family"!</div>
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The kids love the chicks, and I love that they have the opportunity to experience raising and caring for the baby chicks - especially now that the bantams are bigger and prefer to do their own thing (and Bean is much more comfortable dealing with the smaller chicks - he loves Honeydew but finds her too big to handle).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poppies, all out in their splendour.</td></tr>
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Ahh Spring.. what a splendid thing!Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-4917578648763927922012-10-16T23:24:00.001+08:002012-10-16T23:24:33.831+08:00September Craftsy BOM blocks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was quite looking forward to the September <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/">Craftsy</a> BOM blocks - curved piecing using the Drunkard's Path blocks! Naturally my first thought was whether I could adapt the pattern to use my <a href="http://www.accuquilt.com/">Accuquilt</a> GO! cutter and my Drunkard's Path die. Why yesindeedy.. with a little trimming.. and while trimming can be time consuming and tiresome, it *does* give better accuracy, so it all fell into place as if <a href="http://stitcherydickorydock.com/">Amy Gibson</a> had designed these blocks just so I could give Flo (my GO!) a workout!</div>
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Phillipa and Belinda also used Flo to cut their blocks, and we all pieced them using my Curvemaster foot. I *really* love that Curvemaster foot! No pinning, and magically accurate blocks. If you don't have one, and you want to sew something with a lot of curves, I'd highly recommend adding it to your toolkit.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September Block #1 - The Chain Block</td></tr>
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I decided that I just wasn't feeling the love when it came to the Cleopatra's Puzzle block, so I took inspiration from one of the other ladies in the QCA Craftsy BOM <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/148570255252809">facebook group</a>. Sheila had put her block together with the print fabric in the centre, forming the pinwheel.. which I liked..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aAXUTNHWUhyR2wzuGtV3Elg90FHpy3m3Kys7ycZ7edWlTeMY4dezOSoMRkUAnuVbx9QJEgD7K9dQJ41qY3QdT8uh_j8ZlLW1naK-xFE9S7JQnFivBKEgihNhxySI21fcNtRzkMm04Jc/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aAXUTNHWUhyR2wzuGtV3Elg90FHpy3m3Kys7ycZ7edWlTeMY4dezOSoMRkUAnuVbx9QJEgD7K9dQJ41qY3QdT8uh_j8ZlLW1naK-xFE9S7JQnFivBKEgihNhxySI21fcNtRzkMm04Jc/s320/141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
..until I laid it out in reverse, with the white fabric in the centre and the print fabric as the "background". I really loved how this block turned out, and once my plate is clear I'd love to play around in EQ7 with it as a whole quilt layout.. I think it would look awesome. But that's WAY down on my list of things to do atm!<br />
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I can't believe there are only two more blocks to complete and then it will be time to assemble to quilt top! The year has just flown by!Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-61937640418456628632012-09-25T20:09:00.002+08:002012-09-25T20:47:31.560+08:00Pin it to Win it!I'm not sure that Randi from <a href="http://www.freshsqueezedfabrics.com/">Fresh Squeezed Fabrics</a> knew what she was getting into when she decided to run a Pinterest competition.. I'm pretty sure that she's going to end up going broke from all the free fabric that she'll be posting out! Free fabric did you say? What are you talking about? Haven't you heard?<br />
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Well, the deal is this: Check out Randi's etsy store and pin any of her fat quarter bundles onto one of your pinterest boards. Get your friends to re-pin it so that you end up with a number of re-pins equivalent to the $ value of the bundle (eg $15 = 15 re-pins), and then you receive your bundle for free! Seriously? Seriously. The catch? You've only got until the 27th September (Thursday). Totally achievable!<br />
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The two bundles I've got on my wish list are (sadly, I can only "win" one! But I'll be happy either way):<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please re-pin:
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/150237337540556582/">http://pinterest.com/pin/150237337540556582/</a> </td></tr>
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A gorgeous <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/102447771/fat-quarter-bundle-berry-patch-misc?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share">berry coloured FQ bundle</a> featuring:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Quilter's Linen in Lavender, Robert Kaufman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Number Games in Bikini Pink</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Empire Weave in Garnet, Heirloom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Foliage in Outplayed, Outfoxed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Tufts in Outsmarted, Outfoxed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Dumb Dot in Candy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Jewel in Dark Blue/Purple, Outfoxed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Kona in Candy Pink</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/150237337540556637_m21TKCwI_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/150237337540556637_m21TKCwI_f.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please re-pin:
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/150237337540556637/">http://pinterest.com/pin/150237337540556637/</a> </td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/106091967/perfectly-perched-full-line-fat-quarter?utm_campaign=Share&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_source=Pinterest">"Perfectly Perched"</a> full line of fabrics by Laurie Wisbrun for Robert Kaufman. Super cute, and I just can't get enough of those chairs!<br />
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If you have your own pinterest bundle you're hoping to win, please leave me a comment with the link to your bundle and I'll re-pin yours too :)<br />
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Here's to free fabric, ladies and gentlemen! (And thank you for running an awesome incentive, Randi!)</div>
Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-71014993864647427652012-09-22T02:00:00.000+08:002012-09-22T02:00:46.028+08:00Getting things done..I pieced my July & August Craftsy BOM blocks simultaneously so that I could save time and feel like I was being really productive. I really like the effect of the traditional dresden plate (especially with the pointed ends on the inside too) but they were very fiddly due to their size. If I was making another one I'd probably have fewer wedges that were a little fatter.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July Block #1 - Traditional Dresden Plate</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July Block #2 - Modern Dresden Wheel</td></tr>
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I used the "mock needle turn applique" technique that we used for the May QCA bee blocks with the dresden wheel instead of using homespun to back the wheel in order to give the nicely turned edge. The added bonus being that I was able to use the interfacing to fuse the dresden wheel & centre circle onto the background fabric/wheel and then simply top stitch around the edges. Perfect!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August Block #1 - Ohio Star</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2ReIzQhY3ug4gKjwsj_kYtmrxDJJ838yssS6poIvi9yX0XQ3qkO1gDUPYW7fL2YDaUivGj0ZR-2ZtywLoqlnIFbFXSzECZGMWw2lyjEXusAgytGf3alkFOEf4Fg1e4Ag3ydctG5Giw/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2ReIzQhY3ug4gKjwsj_kYtmrxDJJ838yssS6poIvi9yX0XQ3qkO1gDUPYW7fL2YDaUivGj0ZR-2ZtywLoqlnIFbFXSzECZGMWw2lyjEXusAgytGf3alkFOEf4Fg1e4Ag3ydctG5Giw/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August Block #2 - Double Star</td></tr>
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The August blocks went together quickly and easily. I actually ended up completing them before I finished the July blocks. I love the double star block - this one turned out gorgeously light and pretty, contrasting with the equally gorgeous but darker and more mysterious block that I made for Anorina's July bee block. Definitely a block I'd use again. The Ohio star was very quick and easy to piece, and I loved the symmetrical effect I was able to achieve with the striped fabric in the hourglass blocks.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcklJlFrHdZecKTeaoY2dfIOqoAT7q801l7VrvYgwlj-ZLgh7q9Cm0kKFA849jcove65jpNj-HsSGLKUTS8oRIw2dBXzQ3is4Jqr6C8fMyhUwuJ4TMux1R1ks9M_KsEYG9RszE7AYlwyo/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcklJlFrHdZecKTeaoY2dfIOqoAT7q801l7VrvYgwlj-ZLgh7q9Cm0kKFA849jcove65jpNj-HsSGLKUTS8oRIw2dBXzQ3is4Jqr6C8fMyhUwuJ4TMux1R1ks9M_KsEYG9RszE7AYlwyo/s320/060.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August QCA Bee Block for McKenna</td></tr>
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Thank goodness the Feathered Star block is finished! It is such a beautiful looking block, but gave me such a hard time! Both Phillipa and I spent a lot of time cursing during construction, and even though I "completed" the block weeks ago, it looked terrible. I had to deconstruct it, adjust it and reconstruct it... and initially I just couldn't bring myself to do all that unpicking. This week I put my action pants on though and I'm pleased to say that it is now in McKenna's hot little hands. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My test block for the <a href="http://www.whimsandfancies.com/halloween-paper-pieced-blog-hop-2012/">Something Wicked This Way Comes</a> blog hop :)</td></tr>
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I finally managed to get a design banged out in EQ7 that I thought was able to be pieced, so I printed out my foundation templates and set to testing. Overall it went together exactly the way I'd hoped, and I just have a few lines to tweak before I make the second test block (hopefully the final block!). My husband thinks I should make some with different facial expressions... which I'll just knock up in all the spare time I have..... no worries, honey! Having said that, I have a couple of ideas on how I could tweak the block a little to give me atleast one more facial expression without a major redesign.<br />
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<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-44948237112601687732012-09-12T13:51:00.000+08:002012-09-12T13:51:09.219+08:00Giveaway winnersThank you to everyone who entered my Practically Paper Pieced/Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Giveaway and my Blogiversary Giveaway! I really enjoyed reading about your paper piecing efforts and what fan related paper pieced blocks you'd like to try.<br />
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I'm still working on my first paper pieced pattern for the upcoming Halloween paper pieced blog hop - it's nearly ready for testing.. I think! I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time.. what if it doesn't work?! At least I've got another month to get it right, right?<br />
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But you want to know who won the Aurifil Thread Card and the Thimbleblossoms pattern, don't you? Well, without further ado:<br />
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The winner of the Aurifil Thread Card, according to Mr Random Number Generator is Karen from <a href="http://sewwellmaide.com.au/">Sew Well Maide</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwCKyJU152hLfYPXeVvQBwRBEc4ryjnZIXuIecCLjAVjlZWdVHSMfnk4E-zpX3FvBvket8WILSiyYw3W_WUluCXwlYOzOEzBS0wqqzxVlSm9wYsOmGKl22SoHuTnx6KYZ-Y3-uNOtMUU/s1600/PPPG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwCKyJU152hLfYPXeVvQBwRBEc4ryjnZIXuIecCLjAVjlZWdVHSMfnk4E-zpX3FvBvket8WILSiyYw3W_WUluCXwlYOzOEzBS0wqqzxVlSm9wYsOmGKl22SoHuTnx6KYZ-Y3-uNOtMUU/s1600/PPPG1.jpg" /></a></div>
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And the winner of the Thimbleblossoms pattern is Laura, who chose the ever popular Swoon pattern!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sw-P0Kkq88pdDKA7FDxUjFtA-R42Wz4fTN6NiBmPJr9O235275k7IK8idEGVQOHZErw1IZXRk1RPl7b29ABj5H8a-1_sLXwarGyl0J5s_uFQrwsJ1UkqtKtDLwOb61jAtS0kGZ5yD8Q/s1600/BG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Sw-P0Kkq88pdDKA7FDxUjFtA-R42Wz4fTN6NiBmPJr9O235275k7IK8idEGVQOHZErw1IZXRk1RPl7b29ABj5H8a-1_sLXwarGyl0J5s_uFQrwsJ1UkqtKtDLwOb61jAtS0kGZ5yD8Q/s1600/BG1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKxr35Aj6LbQ_HZd0AbU8yKZIof3PZ7HQOAbdKdpuebMpULsxJOItpTK4p4qFkzXvDFBmJ-N5DAlxva5Xz3FH6n4VWXx5EQ_DDMde2vPIEj7sEnJyHmAdYyOPnyZs59UvyvD4kxJxPbs/s1600/BG2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKxr35Aj6LbQ_HZd0AbU8yKZIof3PZ7HQOAbdKdpuebMpULsxJOItpTK4p4qFkzXvDFBmJ-N5DAlxva5Xz3FH6n4VWXx5EQ_DDMde2vPIEj7sEnJyHmAdYyOPnyZs59UvyvD4kxJxPbs/s400/BG2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Both winners have been contacted. </div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;"><b>Congratulations, ladies!</b></span></div>
<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-31390155448068748532012-08-30T22:07:00.003+08:002012-08-30T22:07:11.152+08:00Sisterhood of the Travelling Stash, Part II (Farrah)A few months ago I was lucky enough to be a part of the inaugural Australian Travelling Stash, "Sasha" organised by Cassie from <a href="http://cassthecoolest.blogspot.com.au/">Cass the Coolest</a>. Sasha came to <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/sisterhood-of-travelling-stash.html">visit me</a> quite early on (I was the second person to receive her!) and I've been following her evolution as she has travelled around the country. I'm really hoping that once she's returned to Cassie, Cass will decide to send her around again!<br />
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Sasha was so popular, and such a success amongst the Quilt Club Australia girls that Bronwyn from <a href="http://stopthatowl.blogspot.com.au/">Stop that Owl</a> started another travelling stash, dubbed "Farrah" (happiness) the Fat Quarter Stash. Bronwyn sent Farrah off with 50 assorted fat quarters, and she's been doing making her way across the countryside. Since I had enjoyed participating in Sasha's Stash, I couldn't say no to participating in Farrah!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RrUvEtmDMmlbjD7t1LcTnt_QHi4r1lJkri-mIEkqTYtvkJkL09r7O-MjkB0mfd8_yRiRKrRq3zprgZl3enYV5ctWSCogWG20-zDqnJMZEOofBsQxR9IJfUSX0SZmuUMEEij48v8E-nA/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RrUvEtmDMmlbjD7t1LcTnt_QHi4r1lJkri-mIEkqTYtvkJkL09r7O-MjkB0mfd8_yRiRKrRq3zprgZl3enYV5ctWSCogWG20-zDqnJMZEOofBsQxR9IJfUSX0SZmuUMEEij48v8E-nA/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Farrah arrived on my doorstep on Wednesday, which was a *lovely* surprise! She'd just been to visit Waverlee from <a href="http://littleguineapigs.blogspot.com.au/">Little Guinea Pigs</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDhjgSdRNmh5YpU_YAnOC25vjrpRtKszzP5F5RxYyMyiYfD8xXc_ZMFE8zVCZVDpEpddlsnUn2zDvlBJytlOMtMjWt7oCRi-feY-HujgnfSxh5kuVjPKU3KPxlhT-Ypo3JqDlWejt1kk/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDhjgSdRNmh5YpU_YAnOC25vjrpRtKszzP5F5RxYyMyiYfD8xXc_ZMFE8zVCZVDpEpddlsnUn2zDvlBJytlOMtMjWt7oCRi-feY-HujgnfSxh5kuVjPKU3KPxlhT-Ypo3JqDlWejt1kk/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A healthy 1.974kg worth of fabric!</td></tr>
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Oh the anticipation! There's something divine about getting to unwrap presents, isn't there?<br />
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Once I'd unpacked Farrah I got to sort through and pick out all the pretties! Some of the fabrics were just so soft and lovely to the touch. It was a hard decision, but I finally narrowed my choices down to 17 fat quarters that I just "had to have".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhhk3hH1R_FKLuli8kcFGGFLeuM_EDA9DO1yvo_5lb9JR2_mkXTaiAcj0vKrqmwvmQ-6tR2e8WCVdrl1euSFteZaC0drQhrRfn2W3F29prt5ETv11GNM7phOg79WtKc-1BzIUSWY4n98/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhhk3hH1R_FKLuli8kcFGGFLeuM_EDA9DO1yvo_5lb9JR2_mkXTaiAcj0vKrqmwvmQ-6tR2e8WCVdrl1euSFteZaC0drQhrRfn2W3F29prt5ETv11GNM7phOg79WtKc-1BzIUSWY4n98/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those pretty fat quarters!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp_oooZBnKBLtLcFcGjX18FuClbM6_CdVG-jHOBbT5LYIEWzwjFbNGjVV5fM-B_VdwllsslC22TXVUqJxeFHELJNLxM1wqYnLQlvSrmvC38ltVHX-QfCFRDlmq2odFVaSQF7uM4-nP1I/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhp_oooZBnKBLtLcFcGjX18FuClbM6_CdVG-jHOBbT5LYIEWzwjFbNGjVV5fM-B_VdwllsslC22TXVUqJxeFHELJNLxM1wqYnLQlvSrmvC38ltVHX-QfCFRDlmq2odFVaSQF7uM4-nP1I/s320/031.JPG" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tower of pretties, all for me!</td></tr>
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Once I'd made my fabric choices I had to raid my own stash to refill Farrah's coffers. I hope they find a happy home in someone else's stash!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VjctBkpwsNhmPCYrMSS3I7F9P0Z8Fmrdmdhm8z7GPOKZ8UQEg1qs-69sP1jf16ma0olE9NXTTQF68TjRLzvTLiPpOd80sSiTu17sqoNYIKjQPcSiu-3avFEN-els9EPTU9Q7O_p5Kd4/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VjctBkpwsNhmPCYrMSS3I7F9P0Z8Fmrdmdhm8z7GPOKZ8UQEg1qs-69sP1jf16ma0olE9NXTTQF68TjRLzvTLiPpOd80sSiTu17sqoNYIKjQPcSiu-3avFEN-els9EPTU9Q7O_p5Kd4/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJENcShO7ytXnPACpJbDHPmJtQ5JSiu21TR4OVCAFlMdDo64rLJSnVV3lI9SRYLK9md8FHMhW1JkM1NYnG4y_RZ3rHeEYEHlDOWoy4CWm-2H7nQMEwXO2I_U9X5wgqFuOER0VizAAKRcI/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJENcShO7ytXnPACpJbDHPmJtQ5JSiu21TR4OVCAFlMdDo64rLJSnVV3lI9SRYLK9md8FHMhW1JkM1NYnG4y_RZ3rHeEYEHlDOWoy4CWm-2H7nQMEwXO2I_U9X5wgqFuOER0VizAAKRcI/s320/029.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye bye baby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vYwCLVGU5rld9Y-vmVN4jKRGSCP-MMw77iVFnKLCE-CSEaLpKmE7XB2li_VqpOfRmWt8Ey07nN2Fo4QfJR13IEHHzVf6qNufXTcwPyYLTnDcyL6hMShYc6X8fS6nOYTq3m1IbRHe8ZQ/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vYwCLVGU5rld9Y-vmVN4jKRGSCP-MMw77iVFnKLCE-CSEaLpKmE7XB2li_VqpOfRmWt8Ey07nN2Fo4QfJR13IEHHzVf6qNufXTcwPyYLTnDcyL6hMShYc6X8fS6nOYTq3m1IbRHe8ZQ/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farrah as she was when she departed - 2.006kg</td></tr>
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I mixed my fat quarters in with Farrah's, bundled her back up and got her ready to post off to her next stop... I can't tell you where she's off to though, it's a surprise!<br />
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<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-20619906262063514942012-08-30T20:52:00.000+08:002012-08-30T20:54:46.247+08:00Happy Blogiversary to Me! {GIVEAWAY}Yes, that's right.. it's been a whole year already.. funnily enough it feels like a lot longer!<br />
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As promised, I'm throwing another giveaway to celebrate 1 year and 100 followers. If you're looking for my Quilting Gallery Blog Hop giveaway for an Aurifil Thread Card, check <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/practically-paper-pieced-potter-1-year.html">this post</a>!<br />
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Today I have the pleasure of offering up a PDF pattern from one of my FAVOURITE fabric and pattern designers, <a href="http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/">Camille Roskelley</a>! But which one? Well, that's up to you!<br />
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Camille has some of the most adorable patterns, like...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/vintage-holiday-pattern-147-pdf-pattern">Thimbleblossoms</a></td></tr>
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or maybe..<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/flower-girl-pattern-151-pdf-pattern">Thimbleblossoms</a></td></tr>
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or even...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/charming-bibs-pattern-153-pdf-pattern">Thimbleblossoms</a></td></tr>
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and my all time favourite..<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/product/swoon-pattern-142-pdf-pattern">Thimbleblossoms</a></td></tr>
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To enter, you'll need to go to Camille's <a href="http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/category/pdf-patterns">webstore</a> and tell me which pattern you would love to win. One comment, that's it! I've decided that this giveaway will only be open to followers because I think that loyalty should be rewarded :)<br />
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Don't forget to leave me your email address, just in case you're a no-reply blogger - I'd hate for you to miss out because I couldn't reach you! The giveaway closes one week from today, on Thursday 6th September at 7pm Western Australian Standard Time.<br />
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So what have I discovered in my year of blogging? Well, for a start I've discovered that there are some amazing people out there in the blogosphere! I've made friends with some gorgeous, talented people, some of whom I've had the pleasure of meeting in real life. Through blogging I discovered the Quilt Club Australia facebook group, and through the QCA I've joined a bee group, and swaps and travelling stashes. I've also participated in other online blog based swaps. I've learnt how to use twitter and flickr. I've written tutorials. I've participated in blog hops. I've learnt new techniques, and along with my new skills I've developed more confidence. I've discovered that there's more to fabric than just "big box" stores!<br />
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I don't think I could accurately list all the things I've picked up along the way! Being a part of the blogging and wider online quilting community has changed the way I think about my craft. I am so lucky to have "met" you all, and learnt from the talented people around me.<br />
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On that note, I'll leave you with a few of my favourite finishes from the last year :)<br />
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<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-91665553334362151742012-08-25T18:30:00.000+08:002012-08-26T00:34:03.887+08:00Practically Paper Pieced Potter and a {GIVEAWAY}!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've really enjoyed seeing all the amazing paper pieced projects during <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/">Kristy</a>'s <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/p/practically-paper-piecing-blog-hop.html">Practically Paper Pieced Blog Hop</a>... and today it's my turn to show you what I've pieced!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nMsvmQo40Rerw_81pyJOcg6E5FqZwNonMTuUjxua2yiW9j028uBU_rem2z-06DthMk4e7k4w-W5KaZCqrbxvUK5tw7TFFDPYdZgnwOcIVu-tQl_gBUdWt77eEaMRBC5qoQQYO5hNurg/s400/PPP+Blog+hop+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2nMsvmQo40Rerw_81pyJOcg6E5FqZwNonMTuUjxua2yiW9j028uBU_rem2z-06DthMk4e7k4w-W5KaZCqrbxvUK5tw7TFFDPYdZgnwOcIVu-tQl_gBUdWt77eEaMRBC5qoQQYO5hNurg/s400/PPP+Blog+hop+header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I decided to make a coordinating cushion to go with the <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/harry-potter-quilt-complete.html">Harry Potter quilt</a> that I made for my son's birthday..</div>
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There are some great <a href="http://www.fandominstitches.com/p/harry-potter_6.html">Harry Potter paper pieced patterns</a> available from <a href="http://www.fandominstitches.com/">Fandom in Stitches</a>, so although I received a copy of <a href="http://electricquilt.com/online-shop/electric-quilt-7/">EQ7</a> for my birthday I just couldn't work out how to put my own paper pieced Harry Potter pattern together in time and went with what was already available!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original pattern, which I then cut in half and trimmed down so I could enlarge it.</td></tr>
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I decided that I wanted my block to be ~10 inches though, so I had to blow up the pattern using Phillipa's fancy multifunction printer's copy function. Perfect! I also coloured in my pattern so that I could keep all the pieces straight... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original size versus my enlarged (coloured in) version.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD60p1xInPWrYRAqIpdzX0LjVxIU9mTBJgh68GXkRAjoF6U1sFSZ7dQnz8Rdbqf_1Z8hDp8gzQ1OP0km2qnmLc2lSF589hcS_5xaJuP_zssc102SfqvJ1WoUv3oCMML9u0bmw77VoqhmY/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD60p1xInPWrYRAqIpdzX0LjVxIU9mTBJgh68GXkRAjoF6U1sFSZ7dQnz8Rdbqf_1Z8hDp8gzQ1OP0km2qnmLc2lSF589hcS_5xaJuP_zssc102SfqvJ1WoUv3oCMML9u0bmw77VoqhmY/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My fabric choices - scraps from the Harry Potter quilt, a gorgeous black swirly fabric I bought for the August QCA Bee block, and some charm squares from one of the rainbow swaps.</td></tr>
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... but I forgot to take into account that the pattern would end up backwards and I had to unpick and redo the blue section (because my husband was insistent that I couldn't just swap the Hogwarts crest around.. Bean would notice!).. once I'd fixed that up though it was relatively smooth sailing with only occasional unpicking required when I was being a bit too stingy with my fabric... it really does pay to be generous and then trim back - taking "short cuts" and being "thrifty" NEVER works with paper piecing!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Block complete.. So in love!</td></tr>
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With the block complete I decided that I wanted to add an additional ~1" border in the black so that it made the crest stand out a little more. To make the cushion cover I wanted a 15" front panel, so I used 3" strips in the blue mosaic print from the Harry Potter quilt to border the Hogwarts crest (this gave me plenty of room to trim back). </div>
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Using plain white homespun as backing fabric, I then quilted with a simple outline/ditch quilting around the "H", the crest (Aurifil 50wt #2130) and between the black & blue fabric (Aurifil 50wt #2620 - which I also used to piece.. I love this colour, it's so versatile for everything). </div>
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I made a simple envelope backing (2 panels 15" x 10" - both lined with the white homespun for strength and one with pretty binding, incase you wanted to know) for the cushion using the blue feedsack from the Harry Potter quilt. Simple, but effective. Not to mention that it helps coordinate the cushion with the quilt!</div>
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The cushion turned out beautifully - Bean is so excited and wants to have it on his bed straight away, which kind of scuttles my plans to give it to him for Christmas! So much for planning ahead. I guess I'll just have to learn how to use EQ properly so I can make him another cushion (it looks so lonely by itself!) as a surprise. I think I'll attempt to design a Gryffindor crest of my own.. but we'll see!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMKl9Ucp-hdLe5Zwf41DKDwJkhPYm6XqVnpQKgp5q0pobyNycypW8oRTg4QVvJSy3wAT_8IEL7hRwKpHnK1JNzLo33t06JBWD_q_x7HmNmAtUdELUVp5u6y7CWf6Ljs9cYbFW0tEZs0s/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMKl9Ucp-hdLe5Zwf41DKDwJkhPYm6XqVnpQKgp5q0pobyNycypW8oRTg4QVvJSy3wAT_8IEL7hRwKpHnK1JNzLo33t06JBWD_q_x7HmNmAtUdELUVp5u6y7CWf6Ljs9cYbFW0tEZs0s/s320/028.JPG" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cushion and the quilt meet for the first time.</td></tr>
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So there you have it! You could make a cushion like this with any stray paper pieced block, all you need to do is add a border to make it the finished size you want.</div>
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Oh.. I mentioned a GIVEAWAY, didn't I? It just so happens that next week is my 1 year blogiversary, AND I'm about to hit 100 followers.. all of which coincided beautifully with The Quilting Gallery's <a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/">Blog Hop Party</a>!<br />
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<a href="http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways" border="0" height="200" src="http://quiltinggallery.com/images/blog-hop-party.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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So to celebrate, I'm offering up an AURIFIL Thread Colour Card.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Source: <a href="http://www.aurifil.com/Aurifil">Aurifil.com</a></td></tr>
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To enter, all you have to do is leave me a comment. About anything really, but you could always tell me what kind of fan-related paper piecing you would love to try.<br />
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For bonus entries (which are entirely optional) you can:<br />
* Follow my blog<br />
* Follow me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThePeonyTeacup">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/tazaria">Twitter</a><br />
* Tweet, Blog or share my giveaway and leave me a link.<br />
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The giveaway will be open until Tuesday, September 4th at 7pm Western Australian Standard Time. International entries are welcome.<br />
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If I manage to hit the 100 follower mark, I might even throw another giveaway on my actual blogiversary date :)<br />
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Meanwhile, back to the Practically Paper Piecing Blog Hop.. don't forget to check out the other projects still to come:<br />
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<b>27th August - Fiona from <a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.com.au/">Celtic Thistle Stitches</a></b></div>
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<b>28th August - Anorina from <a href="http://www.sameliasmum.com/">Samelia’s Mum</a></b></div>
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And you can find the list of the other blog hop stops at Kristy's <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/p/practically-paper-piecing-blog-hop.html">PPP</a> page :)</div>
Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com116tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-6037008825594925592012-08-15T00:46:00.000+08:002012-08-15T21:32:58.424+08:00Playing catch up..Please don't confuse my lack of blogging for lack of activity... I'm pleased to say that we are settled in the new house (although there are still a few boxes haunting me) and the other house if FINALLY not my problem.. it's sold, settled and its new owners have moved in. Thank goodness. There were a few moments during the final moving/cleaning stage that were rather fraught with emotion/exhaustion. Have I mentioned that I hate moving house?<br />
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And my new house is unpacked enough that I have been able to sneak a few hours in my sewing room (my husband still thinks unpacking should be my first priority, followed by cleaning... but a girl needs to have some fun!)..<br />
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I don't think I ever revealed what I'd received in the QCA Handmade Swap. The lovely Jess from <a href="http://scrappy-n-happy.blogspot.com.au/">Scrappy n Happy</a> sent me the most gorgeous little sewing kit, complete with embroidery scissors, applique needles & thread. She also enclosed some chocolate (I LOVE the Cadbury Marvellous Creations - it's fully of popping candy fun!) and fancy coffee sticks so I could sit down and check my gift out properly. The sewing kit has a matching needle book - both using a print from Bonnie & Camille's Ruby line.. one of my favourites! I especially love the measuring "tape" on the front. Jess, you'll be pleased to know that I could not live without those embroidery scissors!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ykc099_Yy0DOrTfN8LJIxDuJqKbF94K4LI_1aSbHZ1v_kgxPPXSRUYadw-84ZJyaggaON_jKiIMImwttujv-Vnv4rWMDvDdOZPOs_r5_WGdh8gH7frp2FT6NUmoU0vKyueV2fBPoYwg/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ykc099_Yy0DOrTfN8LJIxDuJqKbF94K4LI_1aSbHZ1v_kgxPPXSRUYadw-84ZJyaggaON_jKiIMImwttujv-Vnv4rWMDvDdOZPOs_r5_WGdh8gH7frp2FT6NUmoU0vKyueV2fBPoYwg/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7rOVTFjtrChQUOVt5xvJfbACzgH4-FdDyP_6K077xwyXPd0QBTCxNYfGFYXhzI32loIGE90X0G4YTJ-sWv-8dmmhq6Kd0y-SoeATmkfyfkKcD3Rq9fvREi_mws1YANq2S-jvnVL3hjA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7rOVTFjtrChQUOVt5xvJfbACzgH4-FdDyP_6K077xwyXPd0QBTCxNYfGFYXhzI32loIGE90X0G4YTJ-sWv-8dmmhq6Kd0y-SoeATmkfyfkKcD3Rq9fvREi_mws1YANq2S-jvnVL3hjA/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All kitted out! Aren't I a lucky girl?</td></tr>
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Speaking of swaps, I posted off my #talknt Handmade Swap gift.. and it made its way to Utah to live with @catann40. I made a mini quilt using a Swoon block, and this time I remembered to add hanging tabs! I really liked the way the mini turned out - it was incredibly hard to send it away.. good thing I've got lots more of that fabric! (I've actually decided to turn "my" Swoon quilt into a quilt for my Granddad... hopefully I can get that finished in time for Christmas!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHItJ7l_a2l6GvO30R2JPytlrrGJZe5wGULuJn86BUTGNLxS4zgjXgpBj_jx4RCO-CHf275fDFKvbqG8O2nSnef0dSN4zROr3VoOeCBb7SeB9z7qXxheqIWKV3Rem-vPu0EgCpcPNY_ao/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHItJ7l_a2l6GvO30R2JPytlrrGJZe5wGULuJn86BUTGNLxS4zgjXgpBj_jx4RCO-CHf275fDFKvbqG8O2nSnef0dSN4zROr3VoOeCBb7SeB9z7qXxheqIWKV3Rem-vPu0EgCpcPNY_ao/s320/002.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closeup of my stippled quilting</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmkhLmP0tlb2gEIylOUZOYfjBhmStt1yBub7MPBnlVoJGHgqbK0WkEm3T_9VGwA3_6o6F4dPT_CuBVXk7XUumJXVfuvs6TyBPv4WttJe14kt2b4Esu_H8ytKprayLBM7i0lEO8mXZQbM/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmkhLmP0tlb2gEIylOUZOYfjBhmStt1yBub7MPBnlVoJGHgqbK0WkEm3T_9VGwA3_6o6F4dPT_CuBVXk7XUumJXVfuvs6TyBPv4WttJe14kt2b4Esu_H8ytKprayLBM7i0lEO8mXZQbM/s320/008.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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I am dreadfully behind on my Craftsy BOM blocks.. I haven't done the July blocks yet, but if it makes any difference I used the tutorial for one of the August blocks to make Anorina's July QCA Bee block (which I made last week. In August. Woeful.). Anorina asked for a 12.5" star block of our choice, in grey/black/white/orange. I found some gorgeous black swirly and "galaxy" print fabric at Textile Traders, and used some orange from my stash. Bean really liked the block, he thought it looked like a Harry Potter star (whatever that is!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yvyew91QSRNk3wac_KqG7l51M3f-cgyN-8r2QWwSrgD9BAP1VRfuila6h-Xcshxop3tCToGwEUxTDKKrsKOBrX6MkVwHkFOtojWmheBpaXVDPQ_GlgGbiqROd2QjMjYJoL4Pckqm4mQ/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yvyew91QSRNk3wac_KqG7l51M3f-cgyN-8r2QWwSrgD9BAP1VRfuila6h-Xcshxop3tCToGwEUxTDKKrsKOBrX6MkVwHkFOtojWmheBpaXVDPQ_GlgGbiqROd2QjMjYJoL4Pckqm4mQ/s320/006.JPG" width="313" /></a></div>
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I also made a start on McKenna's August block today. McKenna asked for a 16" feathered star block in the patriotic red, white & blue. So far I'm about halfway through cutting 48 1.5" HSTs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jxM1aXQEgKsPZ_IZssp7kkWeJ8OFZ8yBm1MKl1LTaK13sWq6-JsE_1s-pBbrKzj6nDmQJpdCqmn9CuyRcjfaN8jd1SyjAGGw7SPG_0gQpPV97qhBvw_lwM2KDxpk8CWr22YRjTbiX9o/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jxM1aXQEgKsPZ_IZssp7kkWeJ8OFZ8yBm1MKl1LTaK13sWq6-JsE_1s-pBbrKzj6nDmQJpdCqmn9CuyRcjfaN8jd1SyjAGGw7SPG_0gQpPV97qhBvw_lwM2KDxpk8CWr22YRjTbiX9o/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also finished piecing the nine patches for the quilt my husband wants me to make for a friend of his.. 64x 6.5" nine patches! Next I get to cut 64x 6.5" squares from my white background fabric so that I can turn all those nine patches into 128 nine patch HSTs. This quilt pattern is somewhat more labour intensive than the last two patterns I made out of Pam & Nicky Lintott's <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Layer-Cake-Jelly-Roll-Charm-Quilts-Pam-Lintott/9780715332085?a_aid=ThePeonyTeacup">Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts</a>. I think it will look really effective once it's done though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnXSHek2PcxAJqoxfejvf5IDyvzH4HN0KDGCDpAfzt6Aaa8yl3cbe0EBLw1FAyuCHaL2uopGxVaLNagcacZLDRnd2vBpa1QNUW4Eo8ZRP3CXUDfo_ayMWWV46j1A_01XfAt0dWeiGpp0/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnXSHek2PcxAJqoxfejvf5IDyvzH4HN0KDGCDpAfzt6Aaa8yl3cbe0EBLw1FAyuCHaL2uopGxVaLNagcacZLDRnd2vBpa1QNUW4Eo8ZRP3CXUDfo_ayMWWV46j1A_01XfAt0dWeiGpp0/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6 down, 58 to go...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5WDs7w0FjHWSxUR6tcVqNwWg6Jrstcd12kDw4V3ZAS80wWRzgGlHcCXsDkzXNfV6Mi-RcPxVkm9sI39wOjh-o2htQVaK21NhiSaVFJ9eZGQcmLCH273enBHw-m1S_ap5iVxlucnuTlI/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5WDs7w0FjHWSxUR6tcVqNwWg6Jrstcd12kDw4V3ZAS80wWRzgGlHcCXsDkzXNfV6Mi-RcPxVkm9sI39wOjh-o2htQVaK21NhiSaVFJ9eZGQcmLCH273enBHw-m1S_ap5iVxlucnuTlI/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">64 nine patches complete!</td></tr>
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And the last thing I've been working on is my project for the <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/p/practically-paper-piecing-blog-hop.html">Practically Paper Piecing</a> blog hop that Kristy from Quiet Play is hosting. I've actually finished my paper pieced block, and all I have to do now is turn it into a finished product. You'll just have to wait until next week to find out what it is!<br />
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<a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/p/practically-paper-piecing-blog-hop.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" Practically Paper Piecing" height="320" src=" http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7567265978_40b847df2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM17lILm1UUk2YX1XdlrCPfoohuz6y6lI7qZCoY5Sj7RCeEIHpwO0EUiwsRuxQdmnLFbUhL7zMef3KA_jxICjuX5lVl2NsekFZhyZ3WqxOpr5I8gvYGD-503wW8KUt-O3pAzwu5TSqkc/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM17lILm1UUk2YX1XdlrCPfoohuz6y6lI7qZCoY5Sj7RCeEIHpwO0EUiwsRuxQdmnLFbUhL7zMef3KA_jxICjuX5lVl2NsekFZhyZ3WqxOpr5I8gvYGD-503wW8KUt-O3pAzwu5TSqkc/s320/026.JPG" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a sneak peek for you...</td></tr>
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Linking up to:<br />
<a href="http://freshlypieced.blogspot.com/"><img alt="WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced" height="150" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/5159705972_49be14a673_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-23279752238993580212012-07-18T09:16:00.000+08:002012-07-18T09:16:11.076+08:00Hip hop, hippity hop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been very quiet here on the homefront, I know.. but actually, on the *home* front it has been anything but! In the last few weeks I've been madly trying to pack up and move one house and unpack another house.. and clean, entertain children (school holiday bonus), attend birthday parties, plan my own birthday dinner and the list goes on. </div>
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Sadly, this has meant not much time for crafting lately - but I *have* managed to baste both throw quilts (Buttercup & Vintage Modern) and have started quilting the Vintage Modern one, Not that I've touched it in days. Yesterday I spent some time finishing off my #talknt swap gift.. which is supposed to be posted around now! Just need to bind it and then it's ready to wrap and send on its way. Please forgive me for not having it finished already partner!</div>
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But assuming that I manage to finally finish all the last annoying little bits to do with leaving/cleaning the old house so that I can finally kiss it goodbye, my life should steadily return to normal (albeit with a giant pile of boxes in my lounge that are begging to be rehoused) and I'll have way more time to be doing the fun stuff! </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">In anticipation of the aforementioned fun, I've signed up to participate in fellow QCA member </span><a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/" style="text-align: center;">Kristy</a><span style="text-align: center;">'s "Practically Paper Piecing" blog hop that will be happening next month. I've got a couple of ideas in mind, and once my birthday present arrives (EQ7, baby yeah!) I should be able to finalise my project design and get on my way!</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s494/PlumandJune/letsgetacquaintedfalltoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s494/PlumandJune/letsgetacquaintedfalltoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm also participating in Beth from <a href="http://plumandjune.blogspot.com.au/">Plum & June</a>'s "Let's Get Acquainted!" blog hop in late October, so I've another tutorial to plan along the way :)</div>
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And to round things out, I'll also be participating in a bloggy book tour in mid October, but I won't give away too many details yet as I'm not sure if they're public.. but stay tuned!</div>
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In the meantime, I hope to spend less time trying to scrape through the day to day post-moving madness and more time sewing and blogging about it! I write an awful lot of blog posts in my head atm - when will they design a brain to blogger post converter??</div>
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<br /></div>Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-90555127775475202032012-06-28T10:43:00.002+08:002012-06-28T10:43:52.811+08:00Quilt Club Australia Handmade Swap Reveal!<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_Y0bfQYBUje5Xd4Zzb04IVkXyKi0IfMf4c18l6Zj3OUUlyTiChi6KWMvPq6R0ljTeDXKVi0AU6oAh9bjCLoThpqHzp34bvYWw0E160_Q3tO3vWEPhNrPMhRpmfteG4WRjdExoPIVLuhP/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_Y0bfQYBUje5Xd4Zzb04IVkXyKi0IfMf4c18l6Zj3OUUlyTiChi6KWMvPq6R0ljTeDXKVi0AU6oAh9bjCLoThpqHzp34bvYWw0E160_Q3tO3vWEPhNrPMhRpmfteG4WRjdExoPIVLuhP/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Caz @ <a href="http://theaccidentalquilter.blogspot.com.au/">The Accidental Quilter</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://theaccidentalquilter.blogspot.com.au/">Caz</a> and <a href="http://quietplay.blogspot.com.au/">Kristy</a> from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/200192843336376">Quilt Club Australia</a> group recently coordinated the inaugural QCA Handmade Swap. For the last couple of months we've all been secretly working on our swap projects and posting the occasional sneak peek in the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/147653128702772/">QCA Handmade Swap</a> facebook page.. but the time has come and projects are being received left, right and centre! <div>
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My secret swap partner was coordinator Caz herself.. who said she would like a doll quilt or a table runner, and loved <i>"Aqua, Teal, Red, Grey, Purple, Orange (not all necessarily together, lol)"</i>. As far as stalking goes, Caz and I are both part of the QCA Craftsy BOM Support Group so I already knew that after doing our April hexy blocks that she had fallen in love with EPP... and she'd presioulsy mentioned on her blog that she was making a quilt for herself using Kate Spain's "Good Fortune". Well hello! Good Fortune pretty much ticks off all those colours (except red) AND I just happened to have a bag of GF scraps from Kate Spain herself..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ioGznU6WhWnQtXTv2SlFVgrqEVedcm9SmUmHHhwZAm3LzFmJDk1bEDJdXA_jzTyIEblWvbJWiSvnii7ehlmo8qXns7cdNujdvATjKFsWonVcdJDK7-DgK6ogudCTH9UvBNxkwPSagwY/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ioGznU6WhWnQtXTv2SlFVgrqEVedcm9SmUmHHhwZAm3LzFmJDk1bEDJdXA_jzTyIEblWvbJWiSvnii7ehlmo8qXns7cdNujdvATjKFsWonVcdJDK7-DgK6ogudCTH9UvBNxkwPSagwY/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So I prepared myself a little take along pack (I'm not quite as organised as Caz, I haven't gotten around to making myself a Zakka sewing kit for my EPP... still using a ziplock bag!) to take to the markets with me so that I could be productive during the quiet moments.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-Dgy1nlbpm-q7Fg2WKPBvL8PdLFMgLZ0QiU9WsknHMzHTcWheCJanxAQIr7PhYxKsVkq0T-VemSytBtzwctHs08ih5AKCZpQIqeKNMvux7zmlbuLIMHFeatHTWJ6HUjqKrRIi2ICJ4/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-Dgy1nlbpm-q7Fg2WKPBvL8PdLFMgLZ0QiU9WsknHMzHTcWheCJanxAQIr7PhYxKsVkq0T-VemSytBtzwctHs08ih5AKCZpQIqeKNMvux7zmlbuLIMHFeatHTWJ6HUjqKrRIi2ICJ4/s320/074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see, there were enough quiet moments for me to pin and baste almost all my hexagons... infact there was enough time to baste them all, but my poor little needle clearly couldn't take the pressure and snapped in half with only 2 hexies left to baste! (insert swearing here - that will teach me not to carry a spare needle!)</div>
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Once I got home, found a new needle and basted the last 2 hexies I divided them out into orange/purple and then played around until I got them in an order that I liked before whip stitching them together. I knew that I wanted to put them on a grey background, and as luck would have it I had just enough left over from when I'd made my bee blocks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QreqE2Wjk36nbDWFMmcqG61qeqmXZN-4bOTDvexyIBF_5Vv4nMqEFJVx878E44_mCb0gXbviRAp3HaPxvxPq_4FxLZmFklbxlnjSe-26MamBXjwPRjYVsnuQFdyW9kFiutO7RPjeg_Q/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QreqE2Wjk36nbDWFMmcqG61qeqmXZN-4bOTDvexyIBF_5Vv4nMqEFJVx878E44_mCb0gXbviRAp3HaPxvxPq_4FxLZmFklbxlnjSe-26MamBXjwPRjYVsnuQFdyW9kFiutO7RPjeg_Q/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Naturally I appliqued them onto the grey using my sewing machine! But how to quilt it? My hexies were mirror imaged, so I couldn't echo the zig zag because it would clash in the middle, and I didn't really think an all over FMQ design would suit... luckily Phillipa provided me with some inspiration. The week before she'd made her sister a table runner for her birthday and she'd quilted it using a wavy stitch that her machine offers (sooooo need a new machine! Mine only has 21 stitches, and for a start, buttonhole is NOT one of them!).. anyway, she very kindly let me use her machine to quilt my table runner using the same wavy stitch. I wanted it to be fairly organic in that aside from drawing a line down the middle of the table runner to mark the centre point, I just eyeballed the distance between lines and didn't worry about whether the waves were matchy matchy. I didn't want to quilt over the hexies, which I think was definitely the right move.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdPuMM8eEtLvubZxFgTn1YjX44HwCAdBdzb3IdmM0B5uUhyphenhyphenMyA3RmXGFNC4QxyESrgxdoxWrt8Y9L8NMwBe7s9QQGVa5l1nBK0y8FRPy3j4u1bx0v0UqDF7VlCyKzLODZwy_JV3ZkODM/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdPuMM8eEtLvubZxFgTn1YjX44HwCAdBdzb3IdmM0B5uUhyphenhyphenMyA3RmXGFNC4QxyESrgxdoxWrt8Y9L8NMwBe7s9QQGVa5l1nBK0y8FRPy3j4u1bx0v0UqDF7VlCyKzLODZwy_JV3ZkODM/s320/011.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
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I cut some 2.5" strips from my GF scraps to make binding, and made a little label for my table runner using Daisy my embroidery machine (I remembered to applique that onto the backing - using Phillipa's buttonhole stitch - before I quilted it) and voila! It was complete!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvH8w7UpDEHo9mTZOdUXHYoVW946z1TUNEoA1ov6mpwH_bb1Rjwo7EWm_VrgVqVTdE6U_34ChD3ky51ZTefkHNLlEcIH0SPGtUqQTqCcf_1Mow6tKybAD46V_0uV7hAE59MNCKT8YHMc/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvH8w7UpDEHo9mTZOdUXHYoVW946z1TUNEoA1ov6mpwH_bb1Rjwo7EWm_VrgVqVTdE6U_34ChD3ky51ZTefkHNLlEcIH0SPGtUqQTqCcf_1Mow6tKybAD46V_0uV7hAE59MNCKT8YHMc/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I forgot to take any pictures of it all laid out nicely before I sent it off to Caz because I was trying to go with the whole sneak peek thing, but luckily for me when Caz received it she took some gorgeous photos of it and said I could share them with you all!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFP5Y3jctROIN7GVY2VjiMsRYwRN1RSfRta-GsC33dQhm8w00gBm0VPJWp29J4YfPvAPH5f53Xf3fPY1EBkx7RvVQroCsoanrAr16dsqEFZQ3IJhRyN3oTuL00QM3cXi4AphzsqKP_hsYI/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFP5Y3jctROIN7GVY2VjiMsRYwRN1RSfRta-GsC33dQhm8w00gBm0VPJWp29J4YfPvAPH5f53Xf3fPY1EBkx7RvVQroCsoanrAr16dsqEFZQ3IJhRyN3oTuL00QM3cXi4AphzsqKP_hsYI/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of Caz @ <a href="http://theaccidentalquilter.blogspot.com.au/">The Accidental Quilter</a>
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I am pleased to say that Caz was very happy with her table runner, and plans to use it on her dressing table to complement her Good Fortune quilt - how perfect was that?! I'm so happy with the way it turned out, and even more thrilled that Caz really likes her gift.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'm waiting ever so patiently for my postman to bring me my very own surprise gift.. stay tuned!</div>Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-90340788147484710622012-06-25T01:40:00.003+08:002012-06-25T01:40:34.519+08:00Tutorial: Chain Web Piecing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was reading a blog post a while ago that mentioned chain piecing in a web, but it didn't explain how to do it and when I went back to try and find the post I couldn't remember where I'd originally read about it. But I really liked the idea and decided to work it out for myself... and now you can do it too!</div>
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If you're wondering what chain web piecing is, it's a form of chain piecing that helps keep all your blocks in order and can be used for anything from individual blocks to piecing whole quilt tops (in row format). </div>
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The block I'm demonstrating with is the Starflower block made famous by <a href="http://ellisonlane.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/starflower-block-tutorial.html">Ellison Lane</a>, but I first used this with my <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/tutorial-split-drunkards-path-star.html">Split Drunkard's Path Star</a> blocks (as previously <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/on-roll.html">mentioned</a>) and I now use it as my default block piecing technique (as applicable - it doesn't really work with different sizes/shapes in the same block).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKTku-Y_csSI8bKlQyz8wt7sKg7WnOuP62-X6ia2JquVwBl6hF54Lfn-rhuW2x4HemMjg2I60yU7LRcPEZQLJlxA5SaM-sbHJW_iY_mLbrJECMxCoaQkEFma4BBnB-CPfa4CAdmZtvl0/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKTku-Y_csSI8bKlQyz8wt7sKg7WnOuP62-X6ia2JquVwBl6hF54Lfn-rhuW2x4HemMjg2I60yU7LRcPEZQLJlxA5SaM-sbHJW_iY_mLbrJECMxCoaQkEFma4BBnB-CPfa4CAdmZtvl0/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Start by laying out the blocks/quilt top to be pieced in your desired layout.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c-yYr88SFPnWYYlggIfKBF-lptMCLFTxMrrDH8jfP6elmPCW9w3rqxhxNK0lxJ4wCMR_LTubTZkdkM1anDs41lK62SjHXCtm2-tbagqePY1_q3EuDmeLccozw0C8aO7GAsV5qwqTza0/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c-yYr88SFPnWYYlggIfKBF-lptMCLFTxMrrDH8jfP6elmPCW9w3rqxhxNK0lxJ4wCMR_LTubTZkdkM1anDs41lK62SjHXCtm2-tbagqePY1_q3EuDmeLccozw0C8aO7GAsV5qwqTza0/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Place the 2 pieces from each row right side together as shown. Chain piece as normal, but do not cut once complete!</div>
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*I don't know why, but I always seem to start from the end of the rows.. there is no reason you couldn't start at the beginning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVbOj4quFt4Sdh7XXuBEuKoplBsl_dX5xieV6_2Z4OcIaze2A5lAcjhAYBbeAC_fzqr9Xoss87sK5zbXni5lfc1wA8ZpSZSb163dCdQ6UJqCFn0Fvy5w6jBFNDWawMHFH2O2BbsmscoI/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVbOj4quFt4Sdh7XXuBEuKoplBsl_dX5xieV6_2Z4OcIaze2A5lAcjhAYBbeAC_fzqr9Xoss87sK5zbXni5lfc1wA8ZpSZSb163dCdQ6UJqCFn0Fvy5w6jBFNDWawMHFH2O2BbsmscoI/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 3: Press seams open, or if you prefer to press to one side you'll need to alternate sides for each row.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYtau00UUYsf8_Jbb5sOCPPSpgAtMOX46qRO6zBnGcjiOa2LvQwfnKBwILTe4H6oMkhqN8SAIImYA3egURRuWvsJWbszmCPY5f_sGdW9lzxl8DhQ4h04RmNkO2IuV6YW3X_zEsX9iBI/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYtau00UUYsf8_Jbb5sOCPPSpgAtMOX46qRO6zBnGcjiOa2LvQwfnKBwILTe4H6oMkhqN8SAIImYA3egURRuWvsJWbszmCPY5f_sGdW9lzxl8DhQ4h04RmNkO2IuV6YW3X_zEsX9iBI/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Step 4: Lay out your still chained pieces right sides up, and then align the next blocks for each row right side down (as shown below). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV5ISY8U_29Bdp73bNLX7fr2MmU3RE5QGBWrEIvgd8QpsjhcOJ52_CVtfQGEBzxFNxzny4ik9-U9D4DMhEmF1S5bjAcQdgJpbtGZBWp56EoUoYDBALMdCA6Oz2Qbqxk0CQhtQQAXEUlc/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTV5ISY8U_29Bdp73bNLX7fr2MmU3RE5QGBWrEIvgd8QpsjhcOJ52_CVtfQGEBzxFNxzny4ik9-U9D4DMhEmF1S5bjAcQdgJpbtGZBWp56EoUoYDBALMdCA6Oz2Qbqxk0CQhtQQAXEUlc/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Chain piece as before and press seams.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUxZKt6rcw7HyOQ1EK_V4V1dWZkloX6CQ640lW6v7OLBgbl4b5JtxTM80uEzqHGb66XPObDfpnCiynYSSWxHUcUkw-OJYJKjYgdF9woPlbN4DuoUNZfmAJuuM5hAB_kVkaXZKrEpDvnQ/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUxZKt6rcw7HyOQ1EK_V4V1dWZkloX6CQ640lW6v7OLBgbl4b5JtxTM80uEzqHGb66XPObDfpnCiynYSSWxHUcUkw-OJYJKjYgdF9woPlbN4DuoUNZfmAJuuM5hAB_kVkaXZKrEpDvnQ/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Continue to repeat layout, (pin,) chain, press sequence for all blocks in the row.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DQZcRu6yuVykExObD9LzRfuDMvZg2dn42QiH8kwneVGfzo028c2c77rMIvuWjx_zFc6ScCcpV3u3q3AM-2URcQ6THAyxCBijdVcQW2dYH1xG6ymv9Mpf08yDkfVsd8BQ4fjY5DR9TNY/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DQZcRu6yuVykExObD9LzRfuDMvZg2dn42QiH8kwneVGfzo028c2c77rMIvuWjx_zFc6ScCcpV3u3q3AM-2URcQ6THAyxCBijdVcQW2dYH1xG6ymv9Mpf08yDkfVsd8BQ4fjY5DR9TNY/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Pin blocks if desired - this is a good idea to keep them in order if you have quite a few rows)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27zL9VWUwODE7JdKowstXEbDZdANXbm9kDop5T6JPwdyOXtYI1cLyGuc2YAM-GzeapUEhejT_1GLSk8z3HPZJ_s5YJRwb8aWEXj8YRKg6P-Mbgr5TXdJnwIfXV0V-V356nXUmtv0rFT4/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27zL9VWUwODE7JdKowstXEbDZdANXbm9kDop5T6JPwdyOXtYI1cLyGuc2YAM-GzeapUEhejT_1GLSk8z3HPZJ_s5YJRwb8aWEXj8YRKg6P-Mbgr5TXdJnwIfXV0V-V356nXUmtv0rFT4/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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(As you can see, it keeps the rows in order so you never have to worry about accidentally sewing them in the wrong order or upside down, and if you're chain piecing multiple blocks you don't have to worry about keeping each block separate so that you don't mix your blocks up because it comes together automatically.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0fpSLKhaFAcIlXrjbpV5MVcIq06e_RbJhdvEE9_65k5GJls_SWBdCZ1WAgyoD_zSQHUkc8XCEL1YOcAG_uANKamUbZT_nkqD-8ZKra1-tBhYbGykLWU1rw2PD2_ZhrABiqQWHFN97s4/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0fpSLKhaFAcIlXrjbpV5MVcIq06e_RbJhdvEE9_65k5GJls_SWBdCZ1WAgyoD_zSQHUkc8XCEL1YOcAG_uANKamUbZT_nkqD-8ZKra1-tBhYbGykLWU1rw2PD2_ZhrABiqQWHFN97s4/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once each row is complete, fold one row over and pin at seams. The beauty of leaving them chained is that all your seams are already roughly lined up!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9W_4ubPa_mMuUaLXCHijA4bB_BK4Djd0k7zFbLKAatOlhykN8c2gXlIDaDFf1_ud_MsJi_3b21kSHzrpYX70OxkEPddNxBQD0jYFLaVPBIt7yMkDAQAblbm9ikIy-s-wFCtssXfc99M/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9W_4ubPa_mMuUaLXCHijA4bB_BK4Djd0k7zFbLKAatOlhykN8c2gXlIDaDFf1_ud_MsJi_3b21kSHzrpYX70OxkEPddNxBQD0jYFLaVPBIt7yMkDAQAblbm9ikIy-s-wFCtssXfc99M/s320/031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To speed things up I like to pin two rows at a time and then sew. Press. You will find that at this point you will need to press to the side, or if you'd prefer to press open you will need to snip the thread chain to allow the seams to open up. I pressed to the side for these, but that's because I'm lazy and I never seem to have scissors in the right place at the right time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh1_NifXy0zyIvisPPl8NILPsfT8x3PTBv2OSKcaZNrlTFyQKRjOp8NNkkFK6UsLejMmz-nqcqiKPCqMvowAlEWkoJyHnu8evGIVUzBlEQGYQRmG5j4YGai4Ann5NzFTBRXZZ6Nbl_L4/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh1_NifXy0zyIvisPPl8NILPsfT8x3PTBv2OSKcaZNrlTFyQKRjOp8NNkkFK6UsLejMmz-nqcqiKPCqMvowAlEWkoJyHnu8evGIVUzBlEQGYQRmG5j4YGai4Ann5NzFTBRXZZ6Nbl_L4/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Repeat for all rows (in my case this only leaves one final seam to pin, sew, press) until your block/quilt top is complete.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUZ_uCwqMo7FV66B1OV2XglBgstDiS3zzD9O8kdixZ0X2G_aImJ2KNJVCLDdYGw_5emem_j4omBUhARDZDsRrbh6tQeZKG6Fcs1Pc5s5ZnHJ0yQSfEfMsfbPypvHUhNJU5D_0ARVvuaU/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUZ_uCwqMo7FV66B1OV2XglBgstDiS3zzD9O8kdixZ0X2G_aImJ2KNJVCLDdYGw_5emem_j4omBUhARDZDsRrbh6tQeZKG6Fcs1Pc5s5ZnHJ0yQSfEfMsfbPypvHUhNJU5D_0ARVvuaU/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's my completed block (visualise your block or quilt top here)..</div>
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Aside from being relatively easy, this technique really works well when you are piecing multiple blocks (eg Starflower or Split Drunkard's Path Stars) as you can chain piece all the blocks to the web stage, (cart them to a quilt guild meeting, or a bee group, or a friend's place as desired) and not inadvertantly mix block pieces up.. and then all you need to do is sew the final 3 (or however many) horizontal seams on each block and you're done! Streamlined, accurate, quick and easy - this lazy girl's idea of perfect piecing!</div>Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-85082962368368506872012-06-24T23:59:00.004+08:002012-06-25T00:01:25.187+08:00June Craftsy BOM Blocks<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSkcVKuetes_6syuq-PeDLiBPDVHGSQdO0XF_hNpTPsUy8hDgOggTk3CzgyYghEB-2o-iSxCHIQrVamQ3UCf1nVscIKMu3JOiNQelqDpWsnS3134aCER9nu_Hs0_e4Yo7RxjNI3aMoSE/s1600/CBOM11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSkcVKuetes_6syuq-PeDLiBPDVHGSQdO0XF_hNpTPsUy8hDgOggTk3CzgyYghEB-2o-iSxCHIQrVamQ3UCf1nVscIKMu3JOiNQelqDpWsnS3134aCER9nu_Hs0_e4Yo7RxjNI3aMoSE/s320/CBOM11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June Block #1 - Greek Cross</td></tr>
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I can't believe that we're over half way with the Craftsy Block of the Month blocks already.. Sure, the quilt won't be finished until Christmas, but November and December are sashing/ bordering/ quilting/ binding months which only leaves 4 months or 8 blocks left!
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I've really enjoyed learning new techniques and I can't wait to see how it will all turn out in the end.</div>
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This month's blocks were the "Greek Cross" and the "Octagon".. both very simple and quite similar. The "Greek Cross" caught my eye when I saw the printout instructions because I realised that if you simply change the colour placement of the blocks it's also the "Churn Dash" block! I bet you all knew that already, but for me it was a great illustration of how colour placement can completely change the way a block looks. I'm really loving the clean cut simplicity of the "Greek Cross" block.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0-P7o2VIa9mNaqcOpnAbKft90X_KTAssWXjDv7pFIzLN_YWwQtwn1g7rOH6VY8spNveO6cR0kHALHXgN2Dp7qSxcusSU80LUgSRYK8__Lj2zdFM3jK5qNqKj4qtrQ2fepjmOxr3_O9s/s1600/CBOM12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0-P7o2VIa9mNaqcOpnAbKft90X_KTAssWXjDv7pFIzLN_YWwQtwn1g7rOH6VY8spNveO6cR0kHALHXgN2Dp7qSxcusSU80LUgSRYK8__Lj2zdFM3jK5qNqKj4qtrQ2fepjmOxr3_O9s/s320/CBOM12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June Block #2 - Octagon</td></tr>
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I'll have to take a photo of all my blocks together, but incase you want to see them all in the same place, they're on my <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/p/2012-swaps-bees-boms.html">Bee/BOM Blocks page</a> - I noticed that the green dots seem to be featuring in almost all the blocks.. a fabric that I never thought would be so popular! It just blends so well with the other fabrics, yet still adding a little zing!<br />
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</div>Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-4850778918068501022012-06-17T00:27:00.001+08:002012-06-17T00:27:23.539+08:00Peach Blossom Perfection - A Desperate Housewife Quilt Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You may not have realised it yet, but it turns out that I'm one of those people who thrives on tight deadlines.. give me unlimited time and I'll procrastinate, but give me a short deadline and I'll surprise even myself! That's not to say that it's my preferred mode of action, it just seems to be the most productive!</div>
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Anyway, after completing my <a href="http://thepeonyteacup.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/tutorial-thrifty-housewife-desperate.html">"Thifty Housewife"</a> block for <a href="http://quiltjane.blogspot.com.au/">Jane</a>'s Desperate Housewife's Quilt I asked her how many blocks she still needed to reach her goal of 100 blocks in total.. and with a little help from the Quilt Club Australia girls, Jane was able to close the gap significantly (she has 6 guest blocks this week!). Still, she was one or two blocks shy of the total.. so naturally I offered to whip up another block because I had nothing better to do ;) (Haha, actually it was rather the opposite- this week/weekend is crazy busy, but refer to my earlier comments about tight deadlines!)</div>
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I pulled some of my precious Kate Spain "Good Fortune" scraps, my 1" hexie template (available for purchase in Jane's store!) and even fussy cut my fabric! I'll confess that the green print is a generic Spotlight print because none of my green GF scraps were big enough to turn into hexies.</div>
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To make one block you will need to cut:</div>
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6x hexagons in your "floral" print</div>
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4x hexagons in your "leaf" print</div>
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Jane's templates are perfect for use with 2.5" strips in addition to fussy cutting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDce53vpHszIiXqehyphenhyphenYsxo6yVffodt7tYDGgvJ73zqewiPvsrwNveY7p3iJ8LPmjA96zIrrIvUuF8u9RwHjj_fvpSOt3EFqAxylylvIvY41tFlWPnyQboS1e4GQBV-nTxZX_eWiLgAqUE/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDce53vpHszIiXqehyphenhyphenYsxo6yVffodt7tYDGgvJ73zqewiPvsrwNveY7p3iJ8LPmjA96zIrrIvUuF8u9RwHjj_fvpSOt3EFqAxylylvIvY41tFlWPnyQboS1e4GQBV-nTxZX_eWiLgAqUE/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Baste your hexagons and whipstitch as laid out above. (If you need information on how to baste & whipstitch hexagons, you should check out the <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month/50">Craftsy BOM</a> - it's free and Amy Gibson from <a href="http://www.stitcherydickorydock.com/">Stitchery Dickory Dock</a> has put together some great video tutorials. Hexagons were in the April tutorial)</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Starch & press (really, if you don't starch, please try it!) and then remove basting stitches and paper templates. Press again if desired.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuSnX0DnUqCBGSWaBgzAwATH-1L2JD4CmJUWTOE25Q_cxwi-t4LbWKn4Y-GZDdFFQAX9YwQNkhCxjTMhV5E6pYli7WjaVxS0PB72c4MWP8sYh2PAORSY2f-J5PvyjgRqIaqKKo61_yxI/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuSnX0DnUqCBGSWaBgzAwATH-1L2JD4CmJUWTOE25Q_cxwi-t4LbWKn4Y-GZDdFFQAX9YwQNkhCxjTMhV5E6pYli7WjaVxS0PB72c4MWP8sYh2PAORSY2f-J5PvyjgRqIaqKKo61_yxI/s320/028.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Decide on a background fabric and pin in place. Applique the motif on by machine or by hand as per personal preference. Your block is complete!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDQMrcfYxtrC-l6wx4LXwbISbk1k6oOWzFecEuBiMxWjhZVbGwSX0TOezl2zJMqUOf6wQ7gjsQuOngT7g3j6u-WpTouS3w0XymoIcgudxocS9Zh_629rDVNMj2u1cPp-pGzo_-vmBgI4/s1600/gfbhfhcb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDQMrcfYxtrC-l6wx4LXwbISbk1k6oOWzFecEuBiMxWjhZVbGwSX0TOezl2zJMqUOf6wQ7gjsQuOngT7g3j6u-WpTouS3w0XymoIcgudxocS9Zh_629rDVNMj2u1cPp-pGzo_-vmBgI4/s320/gfbhfhcb.png" width="320" /></a></div>
My husband was kind enough to put together a block (digitally) that shows what your block could look like if you took the time and the effort to fussy cut all your hexagons - doesn't it look gorgeous when it's all perfect and symmetrical?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_FGy3qBj6_OugQUafzD_HemAqQTlOQnzATkTEY-DlaC37KxJR76dQYpwqDOK4VK__HU_uLK7KwAlEtlehlOZYAu3rqkUAHzavcCGjwSZYQVrz49PtmiS2Y9O_fBjJ_XWfAjQGxgFoQs/s1600/cfhjbfjg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_FGy3qBj6_OugQUafzD_HemAqQTlOQnzATkTEY-DlaC37KxJR76dQYpwqDOK4VK__HU_uLK7KwAlEtlehlOZYAu3rqkUAHzavcCGjwSZYQVrz49PtmiS2Y9O_fBjJ_XWfAjQGxgFoQs/s320/cfhjbfjg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here is what a 4 block layout could look like! Thank you, husband ♥Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-44759804543704342372012-06-14T01:21:00.002+08:002012-06-14T01:21:23.032+08:00And the Liebster Blog Award goes to....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U86wgDGz_2pbboUW5_Gyt30ZU8CmpTSaNWWOEBhCP4z9yvMo9-1eWQbOkaYThZLWbticbH7DmVlEiD99hxRgfsAcaH-XWL2QAVwiPFMOkj5aASfUbdGPkKdgJ73lCwTC11KfdSfvXkU/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U86wgDGz_2pbboUW5_Gyt30ZU8CmpTSaNWWOEBhCP4z9yvMo9-1eWQbOkaYThZLWbticbH7DmVlEiD99hxRgfsAcaH-XWL2QAVwiPFMOkj5aASfUbdGPkKdgJ73lCwTC11KfdSfvXkU/s320/images+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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.. well, apparently <span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>me!</u></b></span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Caz from <a href="http://theaccidentalquilter.blogspot.com.au/">The Accidental Quilter</a></span></b> nominated me for the <b><span style="font-size: large;">Liebster Blog Award </span></b>about a month ago, and it is with many thanks that I accept ♥ (better late than never, right?)</div>
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The origins of this award are sketchy at best.. there isn't even a wikipedia page! (I'm amused to read how many people have also made reference to the fact that there's no wiki page, and yet there *still* isn't one... does this mean bloggers are too lazy to create wikipedia entries? Sadly, I'm not the person to do it either!) But I digress.. According to Google Translate "Liebster" means "favourite", and according to the other blogs that have received the award it also means "beloved" or "dearest".</div>
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<b>The general consensus is that the award is to be gifted to "up and coming" blogs of less than 200 followers that you enjoy reading and feel deserve recognition.</b></div>
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<b>The ettiquette of acceptance is as follows:</b></div>
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<b>1. Thank the person who nominated you... not only is it polite, but they deserve some love too!</b></div>
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<b>2. Post the award on your blog for all to see - don't we all love to share our wins?</b></div>
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<b>3. Gift the award to 5 blogs that you feel deserve recognition, sharing links to their blogs so that others might experience their greatness also.</b></div>
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<b>4. Leave a comment on each of the blogs you have nominated to let them know that they have won!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IuSlGLi5kzBRzQRbO0dDJFmd0bwpL4VPI4DCeH92Y5bOZr-raDUZZZNl2oyenZJ5g4GdPaiTy85Xuks4qcnnTZvqjQugcIN7D3yAJ6HGverkm0hTzDOKAzv2KvKyl2Dstu2NeuxiMdQ/s1600/images+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IuSlGLi5kzBRzQRbO0dDJFmd0bwpL4VPI4DCeH92Y5bOZr-raDUZZZNl2oyenZJ5g4GdPaiTy85Xuks4qcnnTZvqjQugcIN7D3yAJ6HGverkm0hTzDOKAzv2KvKyl2Dstu2NeuxiMdQ/s1600/images+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So without further ado, The Peony Teacup presents the Liebster Blog Award to..... *drumroll*</span><br />
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1. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>McKenna from <a href="http://textilediva.blogspot.com.au/">Textile Diva</a></b></span> - a fellow Perth Modern Quilter who has inspired me not only with her ability to transform red, white & blue in many different ways but also with of her hand quilting skills (what that girl could do at 15 will surpass what I will EVER be able to do!)<br />
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2. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alyce of <a href="http://blossomheartquilts.blogspot.com.au/">Blossom Heart Quilts</a></b></span> - you should really check out her gorgeous HST blocks.. so cheerful and bright!<br />
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3. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beth from <a href="http://plumandjune.blogspot.com.au/">Plum & June</a></b></span> - who is infact hosting a <a href="http://plumandjune.blogspot.com/p/blog-hop.html">"Let's Get Acquainted" blog hop</a> for small/new blogs that I will be participating in later in the year.<br />
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4. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sue from <a href="http://suesplaceinthesun.blogspot.com.au/">Sue's Place in the Sun</a></b></span> - a fellow Quilt Club Australia Bee Hive member. Sue isn't afraid to try new things, and it's always interesting to read what she's been up to :)<br />
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5. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Danielle from <a href="http://threads-n-mess.blogspot.com.au/">Threads 'n' Mess</a></b></span> - recently coordinated the QCA Rainbow Charm swap, and is now organising a Black & White Fat Quarter Swap... I can only aspire to be as organised!<br />
<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-25116125713454057722012-06-12T12:55:00.001+08:002012-06-12T12:55:12.492+08:00Hexagons and Wonky Log CabinsI was looking through my <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/">Craftsy</a> BOM block photos last night and realised that I hadn't taken any photos of my completed April & May blocks! (Or my June blocks, but I haven't even started those yet!)<br />
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So without further ado, may I present:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Block #1 - Hexy Stripe</td></tr>
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I very much enjoyed the Hexy Stripe block - I wish I'd thought to do what Phillipa did with hers and place the hexies on the diagonal so that I didn't have to cut any up! Infact, I enjoyed it so much that it served as inspiration for my QCA Handmade Swap project that I have under way at the moment.. more details about that another time, though (it's a secret!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April Block #2 - Sunny with a Chance of Hex</td></tr>
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This block was *so* easy.. I can't imagine anyone being intimidated by hexagons after trying this block.. hardly any whipstitching, and if you're as lazy as I am you will have used your sewing machine to applique them onto the background! Perfect for a beginner.. really! If you've never tried hexies, don't be afraid!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May Block #1 - Framed Wonky Log Cabin</td></tr>
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I *really* love how this block turned out! I confess to having fussy cut the centre squares for both of the May blocks, and I'm so glad I did. This is one of my favourite blocks so far, and I'd certainly use it again on another quilt. (This rather surprised me as I'm not really a super modern kind of girl.. or am I?) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May Block #2 - 5 Sided Wonky Log Cabin</td></tr>
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I really hated constructing this block.. the whole time I was bitching to Phillipa about how it looked crap and I didn't think it was going to turn out AT ALL. Clearly I was wrong, because now that it's finished I think it looks kind of awesome. I made the conscious decision halfway through to put the centre block <i>en pointe </i>and I think that made all the difference. If I ever made this block again though, I would start with a 5 sided centre block instead of a square.<br />
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I'm so happy with my fabric choice too - Delighted (by The Quilted Fish for Riley Blake) has such a great range in the colour palette which has given me so much flexibility in my blocks. I think my favourites are definitely the pinks, blues and greens... but the reds and yellows are striking too.<br />
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And now to do those June blocks...<br />
<br />Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5545076864069040205.post-78956028046317350842012-06-11T22:29:00.001+08:002012-06-11T22:29:22.173+08:00The Harry Potter Quilt, complete!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It just occurred to me that I never posted about the Harry Potter quilt once it was completed! I managed to get it done in time to present it to Bean on his birthday - yay! He was very pleased with it, and it has been on his bed ever since. He then promptly requested a Pirates of the Caribbean quilt for his next quilt, to which I replied that his next quilt is quite a way down my list!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using painter's tape to baste the backing fabric to the floor </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And some more painter's tape to secure the batting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quilt top in place, and ready to pin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinning, pinning and more pinning.</td></tr>
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I must have spent 2 hours pin basting this quilt.. I pinned every tumbler block, which was like 132 pins.. and then there were the Split Drunkard's Path Stars and the owls etc. My knees and my back were killing me by the end of it, I was walking like a little old lady! Even my fingers and palms took a beating. Next time it will be spray basting for a project this large!<br />
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On the upside, none of the pins were "in my way" when it came to the quilting, and it was quite therapeutic when I got to remove them finally!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centre section basted and ready to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gosh I love how the stars turned out - they're seriously my favourite part of the quilt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple ditch quilting</td></tr>
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I decided that the quilt really wouldn't suit an all over quilting design due to all the different elements, and the good old "stitch in the ditch" was really the perfect option. I bought two different threads, a mid-dark grey for the back of the quilt and a mid grey-blue for the quilt top. They ended up blending so perfectly that you almost can't see the thread.. and the back of the quilt looks amazing because the quilting really makes the design stand out even though the backing fabric is charcoal grey.<br />
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I did some free motion quilting at the top and the bottom of the quilt where the blue fabric sections are - I attempted a spirally wave type of design that turned out better than I expected (but certainly not pro by any means!). I think it adds some movement in a subtle kind of way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bed, ready to go!</td></tr>
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I know I've said that if I'd had any idea how much time, effort and thought/planning/quilt math would be needed to complete this quilt I probably would have sucked it up and paid $90 for a Harry Potter quilt panel on eBay.... but really, it turned out so much better than I could have hoped for and I'm really rather pleased with myself. It's definitely the biggest, most ambitious and intricate project I have ever taken on (it really makes their "baby quilts" look tiny and insignificant) and it's nice to know that I can pull off something more than a lap sized quilt.<br />
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Now I just need to do some work on that king sized quilt I'm going to make for the husband and myself! (Don't hold your breath for that to be finished any time soon - I've only made one Swoon block so far!) And before I do that I have some BOM blocks to catch up on and a couple of swap projects to complete.. it's kind of nice to not have a major project with a deadline looming!<br />
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Incase anyone is interested to note, almost all the pieces of this quilt were cut using my <a href="http://www.accuquilt.com/">Accuquilt</a> GO! fabric cutter, using the 3.5" Drunkard's Path, the small Tumbler and the 2.5" Strip Dies. That includes all the sashing and the binding (LOOOOVE my 2.5" strip die!).Tracey @ The Peony Teacuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02205298237172259774noreply@blogger.com6