Friday Finish - Hands of Time

You know those people that think quilting is for girls - usually they are our male friends that couldn't think of anything worse than having to put a quilt over them when they are cold...

Well I think I solved the problem with today's finish - the "Man Quilt."

My father in law has been very ill and I wanted to make him a quilt to put over him as he was no longer mobile. I wanted something with a classic and simple design that he would consider to be more like a blanket and then he would actually use it. You see my father in law is a very manly person always wearing his flannelette shirts, watching sport on TV and listening to talk back radio.

I couldn't resist a full fat quarter bundle of Eclectic Elements by Tim Holtz. I ended up using 23 of the 24 fat quarters for this quilt made primarily with 8" finished squares. Left over pieces were made into scrappy binding.

I backed this with a super soft midnight blue minky and ended up leaving out the batting as the quilt was rather heavy just with the minky. It was quilted by my trusted longarmer with a simple swirly design that came up beautifully and didn't distract from the business of the fabric.

The finished size was approximately 71" x 83" big enough to also fit his king single bed.

I'm linking up with these fun places today Crazy Mum Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday hosted today by Afton at QuiltingMod.

 

Till next time....happy sewing....

 

xx Jenny

Sunday Stash - Low Volume Fabric

I am absolutely in love with my low volume bundle I just received from the wonderful Vickie from Sugar Spun Quilt Designs that I just had to post today.

 

I order most of my fabric from the US and living in Australia I have learnt very quickly to make the most of the postage costs so always try to pack as much fabric in a satchel as possible.

I tasked Vickie to put together a package of low volume fat quarters for me and she did not disappoint - 38 all up. Included were fabrics from Riley Blake, Art Gallery, Moda, Robert Kaufman and more. All premium quality quilting weight cottons.

My favourites would have to be the Japanese Yuwa Live Life collection the text prints in this range are superb.

I have never worked with low volumes I have bolts of white in my studio so this will be a first for me and I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

Not sure what I will make with these yet but hoping I will do the fabric justice.

It's Sunday so I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash weekly linky party.

Till next time.....happy sewing....

xxx Jenny

Friday Finish: Baby Love Quilt Set

Today I wanted to share with you my completed Baby Love quilt set. I bought some  Littlest by Art Gallery Fabrics a while back and was just waiting for inspiration. The fabric features large bunny rabbits and I wanted to make sure I chose a quilt design that would make them shine. The design suited them perfectly with the large panel top and bottom that allowed all the details of this cute fabric to show.

 

 

I also had some beautiful and soft grey shot cotton that matched up with the peach hues in this fabric creating a lovely soft feel to the quilt.

I had bought half yards so with the left over fabric decided to make a nursery set including two fabric wall canvases and some matching bunting.

 

The pattern would also suit other fabric ranges that have a large print included. I have some gorgeous Marine Too fabric by Dan Styles for Birch fabrics that I think would look perfect for a boy. Check out the prints here.

 

The set is currently available for sale on my website at www.jacksroom.com.au. If you would like to make this yourself my PDF pattern is available here.

 

I'm linking up with these fun places today Crazy Mum Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

 

Till next time....happy sewing....

 

xx Jenny

Sunday Stash: Marine Too

Having little boys I just couldn't go past this fabric when I first saw it. The range is called Marine Too by Dan Stiles for Birch fabrics. It is 100% certified organic premium quilting weight cotton and lovely and soft to touch.

There are 10 fabrics in the range which showcases both small and large (actually very large) prints.

 

Both the turtles and the whales are super cute with little love hearts between them.

There are also some prints with submarines, anchors, crabs, ships and birds. I'm loving the brightness of these prints they just scream fun and happy to me!

 

I haven't got any specific fabric in mind for these just yet but as the prints are quite large I'm thinking some simple large strips or perhaps bordered squares. I also bought some extra yardage of the whales which I can't wait to use as backing.

 

Till next time....happy sewing....

 

xx Jenny

25% off All Moda Fabrics - A Sponsored Post

My friends at the fat quarter shop have let me know they are currently offering 25% off all Moda Fabrics with coupon code: MODA. This is a fantastic opportunity to get some of the fabrics you have always been wanting.

The Fat Quarter Shop features high quality quilt fabric for quilting, sewing, crafters and fabric enthusiasts of all ages. They have one of the largest ranges I have seen including fantastic pre cuts.

This offer will last until 07/18/14 11:59 PM CST so don't miss out!!

If you are a Cotton + Steel fan The Fat Quarter shop has the entire range now available here.

So what are you waiting for....

Let's get Acquainted

Hello and welcome to my little part of the blogger universe. Today I wanted to share with you a little bit about myself as part of the Plum and June 2014 New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop.

My name is Jenny, I am a mum of 3 boys and I live in Sydney, Australia. I have always been a handmade crafty person thanks to my mum but I didn't get into quilting until a few years ago when I visited my local quilt shop and saw a quilt hanging up and thought I'd love to make that for my son's bed, so I bought the kit, made it and have never looked back....it still sits proudly on his bed.

Fast forward 2 years and I am embedded into the quilting world. I love the online community and the generosity of fellow quilters who are always more than willing to help with advice on just about anything. I started my own business Jack's Room where I take quilt commissions from both customers and recently Australian magazines the first being published next month yay !! Take a look at a sneak peak here.

My style is still developing but I always work to showcase the fabric being used, often taking traditional quilt blocks and putting my own spin on them. Here are some of my quilts..

 

I have also just begun teaching at my local quilt shop and am in the process of publishing my first pattern for a baby cot quilt. My most challenging quilts at the moment are my baby clothes memory quilts difficult to work with so many different fabrics but so rewarding in the end.

Now for some tips...

Blogging Tip
"Post when you want to." When I first started blogging I was trying to post at least 3 times a week and keep to a schedule but what I found was my posts were forced I was trying to come up with things to talk about all the time and it was hard work and not such an interesting read. I find that it's easier to post when you want to, when you have something you want to share, and others will really appreciate an honest and thoughtful post.

Quilting Tip
" Change your rotary cutting blade often and I mean OFTEN". It's amazing the difference a sharp blade will make to your finished product not to mention your sanity !!

And lastly a question for all my readers....

"How did you get into Quilting?"

Be sure to check out some other fantastic new bloggers who also have some tips for you.

Elli @ Lovelli Quilts
Marcie @ Marcie's Quilt Therapy
Sharon @ Motherdragon's Musings
Cynthia @ Cynthia's Creating Ark
Jane @ Jersey Jane Quilts
Sally @ Wonky Patchwork
Bee @ Pink Almond Quilt
Debbie @ Quilting Makes My Heart Sing
Leanne @ Devoted Quilter
Karen @  Capitola Quilter

Sunday Stash - Sphere

I was fortunate enough to receive a set of fat eighths from the Sphere range by Zen Chic For Moda from my friends at the Fat Quarter Shop recently. For me this fabric is very different as I'm yet to quilt with such a modern fabric design.

I have fallen in love with the colour palette particularly the beautiful blues.

There are also some lovely greys in the range and some yellow for that pop of colour.

Also included are these two lower volume prints.

I have selected a range of 25 fabrics and made a test block so I'm ready to start my new quilt.

It's Sunday so I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash weekly linky party.

Till next time.....happy sewing....

Behind the Scenes

Whist I feel so honoured to be able to have my quilts commissioned in magazines it also means I am very limited to what I can share about them. But I wanted to share at least a little bit with you...

So I've been working very hard behind the scenes on a few commissioned quilts over the past month. Some wonderful Australian quilting magazines will be displaying my work from September onwards and I will make sure I share all the details once they are published.

This is what I can share...

My king sized churn dash quilt will be appearing in Down Under Quilts in September in all her glory. This one was made for my sister for her 40th birthday and she has lovingly parted with it for a few months so it could make it's way to Brisbane to be photographed.

This super cute red and white quilt is also featuring in Down Under Quilts Christmas edition and is still a work in progress on my sewing table. Details about the fabric can be found here.

This quilt has been sent off to my amazing longarm quilter and is in the process of being quilted which I am hoping to get back to bind next week. This is my original design and is made with the gorgeous Garden Party Tango by Iza Pearl Design, details here. Homespun magazine will be showcasing this in their January 2015 publication.

Another Christmas quilt - this one an Advent Calendar for Love Sewing Australia a fantastic new magazine which has lots of sewing and creative ideas including quilts. This was something different for me a quilted wall hanging with little advent pockets to count your way down to Christmas. My son has already made claim to this one when it comes back from the publishers. The quilt will feature in the magazine's October edition. Fabric was Solstice by Kate Spain, more details here.

I also have another quilt yet to be started but fabric ready and waiting for Love Sewing Australia which will be a beautiful cot quilt featuring appliqued butterflies which I can't wait to get started on.

Why work with magazines...well I absolutely love being able to tap into my designing skills without any restrictions and utilise the beautiful fabrics I have in my stash. It's a chance to quilt what I want in my style not to mention it's lovely recognition for the hard work that goes into all our quilts.

With all this work going on I have no idea why I am starting new things but after much feedback I am also releasing some patterns of my own for sale and launching a new website. Not to mention spending time on the weekend teaching classes at my local quilting store. I would say I'm currently living the quilting dream !!!

Till next time....happy sewing.

Sunday Stash - April Showers

Following on from my previous post about the Camille Roskelley Trunk Show I thought it rather fitting that my Sunday Stash be from one of her fabric ranges.

I was fortunate enough earlier on in the year to receive a fat quarter bundle of April Showers from my friend's at the Fat Quarter Shop. There are 40 fabrics in the range and my fat quarter bundle was put together with 20 of the prints.

I fell in love with this fabric for the cute umbrellas and raindrops and loved Camille's Raincheck quilt made with this range. I have additional yardage of the grey umbrella print which I plan to use as backing.

There are some great stripes and spots in the range too. I love the diagonal stripe and can see many a quilt binding made with these.

 

 

I grabbed additional yardage of the red stripe to make some pretty binding and some of the grey umbrella print which might go into an outer border depending on the quilt design.

I'm not usually a fan of florals but I quite like the larger floral prints in this range.

I think this one in particular will make a great backing for a quilt.

When I first received the fabric I had a quilt design in mind that featured appliqued raindrops but after seeing a similar design I had put the fabric back on the shelf until now. I have opened up my trusty book of blocks and am looking for inspiration for this quilt design.

Hopefully I will have a design together over the next few weeks that I can share.

It's Sunday so I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash weekly linky party.

Till next time.....happy sewing....

The Camille Roskelley Trunk Show

Swoon Quilt

I was fortunate enough to grab a last minute ticket to Camille Roskelley's trunk show this week. Here we all had the privilege to see her quilts close up and listen to her talk about her design process both for her fabric line and her quilts.

I'm sure you are all familiar with her works and the very famous Swoon quilt above but I thought I'd show you some of the other wonderful quilts we saw during the show.



Raincheck Quilt

She designs fabric with her mum Bonnie for Moda under the Bonnie and Camille name. She has a new range coming out in approximately two months which she is very excited about somewhat similar in style to April Showers using sailboats among other things, that she drew inspiration from an old feed sack. I have a full fat quarter bundle of her April Showers from the Fat Quarter Shop which I can't wait to crack open in the next month and design a quilt with. I just love her Raincheck quilt made with this range.


Niner Quilt

Dwell Quilt

round&round Quilt

As you can see her quilts have a simple but classic style about them. She likes to take traditional quilt blocks and put her own spin on them when designing her quilts and often uses scrappy binding and large florals for backing.



Spools Quilt



This last quilt is make up of all blocks that she has made from previous quilts. It's like a test block quilt and I love this idea.

Well that's it for me hope this picture post gave you some quilting inspiration.

Till next time....happy sewing....