My Secret Obsession...

The wonderful Kerry of Very Kerry Berry is hosting this fun link up party where we all get to talk a bit about our secret obsessions!

I first saw the incredible artwork of Ashes and Snow in a magazine a few years back and was so moved by the beauty of these photographs.

It is so worth a visit to their website and have a look for yourself.

And in case you were wondering.. none of these photo's are superimposed or digitally edited it's amazing!

I know this is supposed to be about non sewing obsessions but can you blame me for throwing in a picture of my biggest obsession at the moment?

I'm happily quilting away it's so smooth I can't believe it!!

x Leila

about rain, a bird & some hexies

Autumn has started while summer never really came.

I feel like we've had nothing but rain ever since summer break started {that's not exactly true, but close!}

I've really missed  the long summer's days and lazy summer nights I was so looking forward to. We've only went swimming once!

Still I don't mind staying in so much, it gives me more time to sew.  My little man however is seriously bouncing off the walls these days.

I think we're almost ready for school to start again!

x Leila

A bunch of P's Quilt

My first free motion quilted quilt is finished! {can you tell I'm proud?}

A little info:

Fabric is Aviary by Moda and simple white cotton {no brand or designer}

It measures approx. 52''x52'' { 130x130}

I chose stippling all over for the quilting {don't look too closely!} The result is not perfect, some very odd looking stitches in places, a bit of thread build up on both back and front and some puckering as well. But, I still love it!

It's a lovely soft & kinda romantic quilt that would be great for a summer pick~nick.

Enjoy your day!

x Leila

What do you do on your first week of summer break?

You get ill!
Or at least that's what my little man did.

Lucky the weather wasn't to great either. So in between nursing my boy back to health I sewed ~ what else is new!




The result, two new pillows.



Pillows prove to be the perfect size for me to practice free motion quilting. I must admit I made one more pillow but it failed miserably. It looked fine before I started quilting it! But a change of thread worked wonders. I was using a polyester machine thread and switched to cotton. I couldn't believe the difference it made in how my stitches looked.



But a change of thread worked wonders. I was using a polyester machine thread and switched to cotton. I couldn't believe the difference it made in how my stitches looked. I'm pretty pleased with myself that I dared to try something other than just stippling! {in contrasting thread colour I might add}




{Proud pillow on top of new storage cabinet.}

Oh and birds are my new 'thing' see how long that one lasts..!

X Leila

It was love at first sight...

when I decided to put together a pinwheel and some 1" squares for a new pillow. This is definately a combination I will use again.



Still practicing my free motion quilting but I'm getting braver and bolder.



Even though my stitches are still a mess and the tension isn't all it could be, I did it and I'm overall happy with the result.



I'm thinking a larger pinwheel in a more contrasting colour with the white and these cute 1" squares next time. Perhaps there'll even be a quilt in this.

Enjoy your day!

Free Motion Quilting

Last week I got myself a shiny new free motion foot. In my mind I saw myself stippling quilts effortlessly with graceful swirls and perfect pebbles...It would make my life so much more easy I would be able to quilt my quilts in a fraction of the time it takes me to hand quilt them. I saw myself worrying over what to do with all these quilts I'd make - I'd run out of space!
I was so wrong! lol!
Have a look at my first feeble steps in the world of free motion quilting..



I feel like a spider on roller-skates trying to control my speed, feeding the fabric and trying to make something that vaguely resembles a pattern. And the stitches! I can't manage two stitches close to being the same length! I'm practicing a little each day now, hoping and praying to the Goddess Seamstress that I might be worthy of acquiring this skill.




I've found this wonderful blog on free motion quilting lots of great video's on how to do pretty much anything related to free motion quilting and lots of designs { wich are much too advanced for me at this moment}

Meanwhile I still have to baste 'somewhere where the orchids grow' . I've been ill and so has my little monster so I didn't get a chance to go out and buy wadding and backing fabric yet. Can't wait to start quilting it! Although I do think I'll stay on the safe side and hand quilt.

Be back soon!