Back to Front Quilt - Part 2

Well- some weeks just don't go according to plan. This week has been one of those weeks. So my plans to sit and sew and play around with fabric squares and triangles have gone completely out the window!!! I have a feeling that you all can relate to these sentiments in some way. That's life !

So today I am hastily putting together my blogpost with the progress so far of my Back to Front Quilt. The process of quilt making always appeals to me, and it is where I find a lot of joy. It's where the creativity is awakened and where it is takes flight. 

The Back to Front Quilt as you know is my interpretation of Brigitte Giblin's Back to Back Quilt which can be found in her gorgeous new book Feathering the Nest 2 which you can find by visiting her website here.

I decided to do a modern Australian take on the quilt. Here are my fabric choices - looking very neat and tidy .

Being a back to front kind of girl I made the back first and this is how it looks so far.

All it needs are side borders of an indigenous print which I will add when the  front is complete and I know the measurements needed.

Now to the front, which starts with squares and triangles like this on my sewing table - no more neat and tidy- ha! 

And then the play begins putting units together, maybe triangles alone....

Or maybe like this... 

Yes - I like this , so I keep on going...

You see where this is heading....I love this part where you can play around with colour and shape and design away letting your heart and eye decide what makes you happy.

Finally I decided on this...  Sorry about the poor photo quality, but you get the idea .... There is a cool secondary pattern emerging now and I LOVE IT.  Do you? I hope so . It came as quite a surprise to me as I was playing around. 

Now I just have to piece it together in rows and finish the back and I will have the back and front done ready for quilting together. But that task my friends is for a week when there is some peace and calm in my world - which may not be for a while .... 

I hope that you have some time for some gentle stitching , or some wonderful quilt viewing this week. The Hunters Hill Quilt Show is on this weekend if you are lucky enough to be in Sydney.

Happy sewing, love Miriamxx 

Back to Front

I have just spent a wonderful few days at the Camyr Allyn Homestead in the Hunter Valley with my very special quilting  friends and the talented Brigitte Giblin as our teacher. How lucky am I! Being masterful multi taskers we admired Brigitte's quilts, we talked ourselves silly, we ate like kings, AND we also managed to do some sewing. Under Brigitte's expert guidance we got down to stitching.

I set myself the task of adapting one my favourite quilts 'Back to Back' from Brigitte's latest book Feathering the Nest 2 , which you can find at Brigitte's website, by clicking here. 

Here are photos of both sides of Brigitte's quilt 'Back to Back' , which is a true celebration of colour, fabric and scrappy happiness. 

I decided to use an eclectic mix of prints based around an Australian print theme for my interpretation  of Brigitte's quilt.

Being me, I tackled what will become the back of my quilt first. Brigitte and I  sorted lots of triangles

And here is the result so far.....

There are two Aboriginal print panels yet to be added to either side of this quilt back so that it will eventually match the front in size. I love where this quilt back is  heading. It has a fresh contemporary feel and I am so happy with it so far. These prints will be used again for the quilt front  along with the addition of more aboriginal prints and jewel toned shot cottons. 

With such beautiful surroundings, I just had to take the quilt outside, fighting against quite a strong breeze...

Much to the amusement of the local wildlife...

There are many more squares and triangles cut ready for stitching for what will become the front of the quilt

Thank you wonderful friends and Brigitte for lifting my spirits and for your inspiration,

Happy sewing, love Miriam 

This week's blogpost has been styled by Louise Flint