Stories Behind The Quilts - To Share Or Not To Share

It is Friday again and although I've missed a few I do have a finish to show

 

 

Sometimes there are stories to go with your quilts

I have written this post a couple of times for Friday but never quite finished as this little quilt has a sad story...it is the quilt that I finished straight after Mr One Wee Bird passed away a phrase I never thought I would be writing at the ripe old age of 42!!!

 

I certainly didn't think I would share such an awful," keeping it real" post, EVER!!! when I started this blog but I'm sharing because this crazy fabric, making,sewing habit and community that we are all part of is so kind and generous and welcoming.

This little mini was for my partner in the DQS14 swap and it quite literally saved me from losing my mind each night that I sat down and quilted it amid a SEA of tears

 

 

Every time I looked at this little group of bags to go with my quilt it gave me a sense of purpose that each night I had something to do and keep my hands busy

 

Mr OWB thought these bags were great and asked me to make one for his GoPro camera that he took surfing, fishing and diving with him.

 

I finished it and mailed it before the international deadline and am glad that it is not living in my house but has gone to live with someone who loves it as I'm sure it would break my heart to have to look at it everyday..... and she has sent me the most lovely words on it's story.

 

It makes you think about all the stories behind the quilts that you see...some may not have any ,but I bet ALOT do

 

Linking up with Amanda Jean and TGIFF

 

DQS14

Look what arrived in my mailbox today from Karen aka Sew Peachey

 

So, so ,so pretty all wrapped up in Red Letter Day by Lizzie House, which I don't have any of, and desperately wanted some of those ducks!!

 

Do you know how difficult it is not to rip into packages that you haven't purchased for yourself!!

 

then there is this BEAUTIFUL mini spools!!!!!

 

And all these other delicious things, Heather Ross key fob.....GET OUTTA TOWN CUTE!

Tape measure washi tape and chocolate....I had to sit down

For my first swap ever I can't believe how awesome it's been despite a few hiccups and one family tragedy ( not ready to share) and I really can't wait for the next one to begin...Quilty people are amazing,kind,creative,generous and generally bloody gorgeous....Thankyou Karen

 

linking up with Heather & Megan at for Fabric Tuesday

And Alyce for Sew Cute Tuesday

 

 

A Finish....But a Not So Great One

I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted but December work commitments and the silly season really kicked my butt this year.I do have a finish however...it all began with this

I was sooo excited when I got to join in on this round of DQS14, I got my partner, stalked her mercilessly through her blog and Flickr and all her favourites and when I thought I had a good handle on her likes and dislikes I was away!

I used this tutorial here by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts and everything was going perfect, I was ahead of time, points were lining up, seams were nesting and the quilting was some of the best I've ever done..LM (Lady Muck) was sewing like a dream

The stars were all aligning and I was already planning what cute extras I was going to pop into my Partners parcel when....please block your ears...#$%$*!!!!!!!...I randomly decided to iron the last line of empty space flat before I quilted it....no big deal...didn't check the iron, was late at night and had been quilting for two hours straight....somehow it was on the highest setting and I scorched the bottom left hand white octagon!!!!

Holy Mother of all things Shitty, lucky I am in the basement because it was not pretty I didn't take any photos cause I was freaking the frick out....the internet told me to Hydrogen  Peroxide the mark with the hot iron which was Amazeaballs and took the DARK BROWN mark out but after finishing the quilting and treating it with vinegar and then stain remover and several washes I have come to the conclusion that the Yellow is here to stay.... I AM GUTTED

 

Just for reference the quilting is 1/4" apart and each Octagon took between 20minutes and half an hour to do



So about 6-7 hours of quilting

It is not up to standard and I am in the process of making another Mini...I know! Bat Shit Crazy, but I just can't send it, luckily I have enough scraps to keep the same colour story going but the design is not as complex as  I simply don't have enough time left to meet the International posting deadline....Mr OWB can't understand how all this is fun?

The lesson is quit while your ahead and check the iron,check the iron, check the iron!!!!

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts and TGIFF