A Shadow Quilting Sample

So as well as setting up my new website www.quiltcandy.co.uk (with a little help from my husband) I have been working on another quilting sample for my City and Guilds Coursework.  Sticking with the social media theme, I decided to use the fun and colourful Picasa logo;

 

This time I had to put together a shadow quilting sample.  Bascially the design is the 'wadding' which comes through a see-through top layer.  It's a fun technique but to me it does seem a shame to 'dull down' such bright colours...applique would look much better!  But there we are, shadow quilting is what's required, so shadow quilting is what I've done. 

Close up

 

Next up, tied quilting!  It's nearly finished, I just need to add the finishing touches.  All I will say is, it's based on this logo...

 



 

Do you know what it is??!  Me neither until not long ago!  Come back soon to find out and to see my tied quilting interpretation...

Oh and don't forget the giveaway!

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2012

It was easy for me to choose which quilt to submit  for the Blogger's Quilt Festival. 

 

 



 

It had to be the one that I am most proud of, and the one that took me the longest to hand quilt this year by far.

It's my Vintage India Baby quilt. 

 

I had great fun putting this quilt together.  As soon as I saw the fat quarter bundle on the internet I just knew I had to have it and I knew instantly that I wanted to make a quilt that was as bright, colourful, busy and detailed as possible.  It only took me two afternoons to design and piece the quilt top, but several weeks to hand quilt it.  I know the the quiltng on the red panels stands out the most in these pictures but every single panel is hand quilted, that's why it took me so long.   

Here are the stats:

Finished quilt measures: 102cm x 82 cm
Special techniques used: hand quilting
Quilted by: Sarah Ashford
Best category: baby quilt, hand quilted quilt

Are you entering a quilt this year?  If so, good luck!

Dolly Needs A Quilt

First of all, a HUGE thank you to all those lovely people who have shown me encouragement and support in my new venture, Quilt Candy, it is appreciated more than you know :-)

If you don't know what I am talking about then please do take a look, www.quiltcandy.co.uk and also find me on facebook  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quilt-Candy/297065567075042

And don't forget the giveway! A personalised prize not to be missed, still 7 days till it closes!

It's been a very busy and exciting week so far but I have still managed to make a little quilt for dolly;

 

 

 

It was fun to have a quick finish, and using the quick pinwheels method, (have you tried it?) it came together in no time at all. 

Over the weekend I hope to work on another City and Guilds sample. 4 down 2 to go.  I shall post more about that soon.

What are you going to be working on this weekend? x

Launching Quilt Candy...and a BIG Giveaway!

So I have been making and posting children's and baby quilts on my blog for some time now.  And no, they are not all for my children, dear as they are.  They are in fact for my new business.

 

I would like to introduce...Quilt Candy! www.quiltcandy.co.uk

 

 

 

 

I hope you like what you see! 

 

And to help me celebrate the launch of Quilt Candy, I am hosing a very special giveaway.  I am offering the winner the chance to choose ANY book of their choice from Amazon, relating to sewing/patchwork and quilting, up to the value of £12.00! 

 

For example, you might like this one;

 

 

Or this one;

 



 

Or this one;



 

Whatever you fancy.  As long as it relates to sewing, I'm happy and it's yours!  Entries welcome worldwide :-)

And there are 3 chances to win!  This is what you have to do. 

1) Visit Quilt Candy on Facebook, 'like' the page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quilt-Candy/297065567075042 and leave me a comment on this blog telling me you have done so

2)  Follow Quilt Candy on Twitter https://twitter.com/QuiltCandyGirl and leave me a comment on this blog letting me know you have done so

3) Share the Quilt Candy website/facebook page/twitter link (one or all!) on your own blog/facebook/twitter (feel free to use any of the images in this post) and leave me a comment on this blog letting me know you have done so.

 

 

The winner will be drawn using Mr Random Number Generator on Friday 2nd November, at around midday.

 

N.B Please make sure that you are not a 'no-reply blogger' and that I have a means of contacting you if you win, so I can send you your book of choice!

 

Thank you so much for supporting me in this new, exciting adventure, I really do appreciate every single one of you.  And thank you to all my lovely friends who have already been too kind with your comments.  It really means a lot.  Best of luck with the giveaway!

Sarah x

Newsvine Time

Well I promised another sample soon, and so without further delay, here it is.  Based on the Newsvine logo, which until recently I hadn't even heard of, but I chose because I liked the colour.

 

From this...

 

 

To this...

 

To this...

 

 



Luckily it didn't take me too long to do, so now it's onto the next 3 samples.  3 down 3 to go!



From sandcastles to samples

On a little family outing yesterday afternoon, we came across the most unexpected and breathtaking exhibtion of sand art.  Take a look at this castle!

And there's more. 

 

 

And here is the man himself...who goes by the name of 'The Sand Wizard'.  None other than World Champion Sand artist, and I can see why!

I couldn't help but bombard the poor man with questions and his answers were fascinating.  Apparently he learned he could make 'castles' when playing in the sand with his daughter when she was young...and has been doing it ever since.  He is World Champion and travels the world; (off to India next week) he doesn't use normal sand but builder's sand, and the sculputures get sprayed with a glaze to preserve them from the elements.  He doesn't even plan them, just works them out as he goes along!  And apparently the castle took him 17 days and about a month for the whole exhibition.  See told you I asked him lots of questions!  It was great to meet him and learn more about what he does, and such a lovely surprise as we had no idea he was going to be there. 

 

Anyhow, onto sewing realted business, and this week I have been focusing on my City and Guilds coursework.  The theme of the module I am currently studying is 'media' and I have decided to focus on 'Social Media'.  Here is my Suffolk Puffs sample, which is meant to look like a famous logo, I hope you can guess which?!

 

 

I have also finished the Trapunto/stuffed quilting sample, again using another famous social media website as a basis for the design...

And now I am working on an English quilted sample based on the Newsvine logo.

No, I hadn't heard of it either.  Until I did some research on social media logos and decided I like the colour.  So I shall be working on that tonight while watching Downton Abbey.  If it's as good as last weeks installment, I might not get much sewing done!

My friend's on the hop!

I just have to tell you about my great blogging friend Liz of Dandelion Daydreams, whose day it is on the Let's Get Aquainted Blog Hop!

 

 

Please check out her page, I know she would be thrilled to meet you, not to mention the fact that her work is completely gorgeous and stunning.  She is one talented lady.  And only been quilting a year!

 

Liz has also written a fab tutorial for a darling little flower keyring - a perfect little stocking filler for Christmas. 

 

What are you waiting for, check it out!

 

http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.com/2012/10/lets-get-acquainted-blog-hop.html

 



 

 

And if that's not enough incentive, she also has a giveaway running, to win some gorgeous fabrics...

 

http://lizofdandeliondaydreams.blogspot.com/2012/10/g-is-for-giveaway.html

 

Hope to see you over there! 

 

 



Name that Towel

We've all been there before - get in the shower, jump out and reach for a towel and...wait a minute...which one is mine, I'm sure it's this one...actually it could be this one..no it's this one...oh this one will have to do!!! 

 

Well my friend Kate has come up with a soloution to stop her children's towels getting muddled up...putting their names on! 

 

So she asked me to applique her boy's names onto some gorgeous white fluffy bath towels, which I did, in bold navy with white stars...

 

 

 

 

Here are some close up's;

 

 

 

It was a bit of a challenge getting such large towels through my machine, but hopefully it was worth the effort as there will never be any towel confusion in the bathroom again.

 

 

For a Beautiful Baby...

Remember I went to a baby shower a few weeks ago...well the baby is here!  Little Amelia was born on Sunday, weighing 9lb exactly. 

Of course I had to make her a little something...

 

My Lizzie-Kate cross-stitch patterns come in handy once again :-) 

 

I had the honour of meeting baby Amelia last night and she is completely adorable.  She has one proud mummy, daddy and big sister. 

Welcome Amelia! x

Patch and the Pirates

Today I  am writing my 101st post...wow that's a lot of writing!  Thank you so much if you are a follower, I hope I have entertained you enough to stay with me for the next 101 posts!

 

It has also been a very productive weekend on the sewing front.  I made 3 blocks for a quilt I am working on for a publication, but unfortunately I can't share any pictures with you, which I am gutted about because I am really pleased with them and I just love the fabrics I am working with. 

 

This week the gorgeous Out to Sea fabrics by Sarah Jane arrived, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on them.  I do eventually plan to make a cot quilt with them, but for now, I decided to make a little blanket for my daughter's new canine friend Patch;

 

 

 And so you can see better...

The white basket is a new purchase too, and so now Patch, basket and blanket sit proudly at the bottom of my daughter's bed. 

 

Does anyone else make quilts/blankets for cuddly toys, or is it just me??!!