May 16, 2010

Doll Quilt and A Little More

Woo hoo I finished (not) the Cheddar Cheese and Crackers doll quilt! I spent every evening last week piecing this beautiful and challenging CC&C doll quilt. This quilt was a quilt along project hosted by Lori of Humble Quilts. I loved it even more after I saw one hand quilted by Janet. DH was away on business trip this week, so I spent that time concentrating on piecing this quilt. It's not a hard quilt to make, but you really need to concentrate on the colour connections from block to block. I'm pleased to say that I finished piecing all the blocks without any mistakes. Putting the blocks together should be easy enough...! 

You need a designer's wall for this quilt. I don't have one so I hung a piece of flannel over my curtain rail and used that as designer's wall for this project. With superb instructions and photos from Lori it was easy enough to follow.

I took the designer's wall out on the deck this morning because I want to show you a bit of our grape vine that is in autumn colours. It's a beautiful time of the year. I love the deep orange of all the vine leaves. 

Remember the mini tumbler quilt I took with me to Japan? I started quilting a bit there, but only finished it after I got back. I didn't put a lot of quilting on, I just stitched in the ditch through the top and added a small branch around the border. I love it a lot now that it's finished. I'm planning to make a bigger one soon. Kathie is a great inspiration for me to make a bigger quilt. 

My interest in Japanese crafts started a long time ago, but it got more intense since we visited Japan in March this year. I have seen these cute thimbles displayed in fabric and Kimono shops in Japan, but not knowing Japanese I didn't know what they were until I came back and read Janet's blog about them. Janet had made a few herself and told me that I can get a starter kit from Ma Mercerie. You can see my first Japanese thimble made from the kit. It was really fun and I will make more myself from scratch, I hope. There is more information here if you are interested. 


I mustn't forget to mention about Blogger's Quilt Festival starting from May 21-28. If you are new to blogging, this is a great event to take part in, you will meet other bloggers, and make lots of friends this way. Click on the above image to visit Amy's blog  and sign up. Hope to see more of you at Blogger's Quilt Festival this year.

25 comments:

Lis Harwood said...

Ooooh, wow, I went straight to Ma M and ordered two thimble kits and a pincushion kit, watch my space! Love the Temari train site too, gorgeous things, thanks Nat :)

retdairyqueen said...

Lovely quilts
Have to say I relly love the hearts from previous post made from doyleys
Just lovely

Janet said...

What a lovely post Nat, the CC&C is looking gorgeous. Lots of piecing but oh so worth it. I love the tumbler quilt in such a nice setting. Your thimble is awesome, what a great job. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

QuiltSue said...

Love the quilts Nat, and the thimble looks great.

Anne-Lise at Rag, Tag, Bobtail said...

I love the tumber quilt! And the thimbles are great - maybe I'll have a go one day :)

My Creative House said...

Thanks for nice comment, I have enjoyed looking through your blog, so many beautiful things you make, love your little quilts, I am also looking forward to starting on Jude class.
Anni

kaiteM said...

hi Nat, the silk thimble loks interesting, i must try it. and the mini tumbler quilt has stitched up well, love the grape vine in full colour.
no weaving yet for me, i'm trying to get these qayg blocks finished first. only 4 to go now...k.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Wow Nat...gorgeous!!! Love the Autumn colours too...and that Mini Tumbler Quilt is great...You have been very busy, but that's not unusual for you...Dzintra♥x

Bron and Mark said...

gosh Nat, you have been busy! You have so many projects on the go!
hugs.
bron

Little Lady Patchwork said...

Hey Nat!

I just love what you have done so far on the cheddar cheese quilt. I love your color arrangements and they really make a difference in the overall effect of the quilt.

And your hand quilted tumbler quilt is another beauty!

Darlee said...

The thimble looks lovely. Not that I'd try making one, but certainly is intriguing.

Sue-Anne said...

I love your CC & C quilt Nat. It takes quite a lot of concentration doesn't it! Your tumbler quilt looks great and I love your little thimble. It looks fantastic.

Betty said...

The quilt is just beautiful and I can see what you mean about concentrating on it.

I love the tumbler quilt. I have that pattern and when I finish up all my unfinished projects I want to make one like it.

Willow

Terry said...

You seem to be focused again and in full steam ahead.
Like the quilts and the thimble is ah so Japanese. Beauty and functionality.
Have a good week.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous quilts and those grape vines were a perfect background.. I'm still jealous of your hand work LOL

Anonymous said...

What a darling quilt, Natima... you never cease to amaze me with trying out new things!! Good for you.

Hugs.

Astrid said...

Congrats on finishing the mini tumbler quilt - it looks great! The one you are working on is gorgeous - love the colors! What a cute thimble, I don't think I have patience enough for such tiny details - lol. :)
I miss the Norwegian autumn and autumn colors, too hot for autumn colors here...

Kim D. said...

Very pretty quilts Nat, looks like you're really making some progress. The Japanese thimble is really cute too.. Happy Stitching!!

Suedio said...

Hi Nat,

Really like your tumbler quilt - and your vine leaves are beautiful.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards, Sue

ria vogelzang said...

I must have missed this post.......
And I so love your dolly-quilt; she just looks so lovely!!
And what an artist you are!!!! What a lovely little thimble!!! You're just amazing!!!
I really love to know more about those cuties, so I'm'over to your link and learn more......
Have a lovely day and enjoy your garden! ;))

Valentina said...

How gorgeous, Natima! I love how it turned out, and the little tumbler is perfect!
Thanks for the reminder for the Blogger's Quilt Festival, I will give it a try!
xox
Valentina

Kim said...

I see you have been busy as ever.....lovely work Nat, I just love your creations and color sense.

Check out our wool crazy for a little giveaway by me :0)

Happy Sewing

*karendianne. said...

Oh my but isn't your CC&C so happy and delight along with your mini tumbler quilt. Gosh I love that. You quilting is delightful as well.

prashant said...

Lovely quilts
PPC Advertising India

Lori said...

I'm not sure how I missed this so I am glad you left me the link. Your CC&C is fantastic!!!
I love your tumbler quilt too. I have a couple of them cut but mine will end up into a small quilt:)

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