A rose by any other name …

 Stone the crows ... I started a new quilt project!

This is my practice block for Stone Roses – a downloadable pattern that I purchased last week from Love from Beth.  Each block is foundation paper pieced.  I’ve decided that this is a great scrap stash buster, and since I’m on a mission to get rid of all my scraps, it’s another smash.

The foundation paper piecing went well, but the centre of my rose turned out to be quite baggy.  I tried ironing and steaming it into submission but ended up unpicking and re-sewing a couple of the wedges.  This meant that the centre template was far too big, and I had to draft my own.  It doesn’t quite match up and I’m thinking of re-doing that – perhaps with a red centre – as the fussy cut sunburst seems to be a bit overwhelming.  Mind you, I’m very happy with my first attempt at needle turn applique!  The unfinished block is 14.5” square (something the pattern does not tell you).  I love the block and I’m eager to finish this as another wall hanging.

While this is a practice block, it will make it into the final quilt, because I decided to use that gorgeous forest green leafy fabric as the background to all the blocks.  That fabric came from the leftover backing on a quilt I made for my friend’s birthday in June.

Gorgeous forest green backing.

I found the pattern on Anorina’s website Samelia’s Mum.  Fresh Diamonds is a free downloadable tutorial.  I can’t remember the range of the charm squares I used.  The background fabric is from the same range – lots of crazy flying birds!  The tutorial was easy to follow, and the quilt top sewed up quickly.  I stitched in the ditch around all the diamonds and finished off by tying the centre of each square inside the diamond with six strands of a deep red embroidery floss.  The batting is 100% wool.  I love how this quilt turned out – warm and snuggly – and it now lives on the back of my friend’s couch.

Speaking of practice blocks, I made another one from a mini quilt called Square Dance by Little Lady Quilts a few months ago.  I like it so much that I’ve decided to make a small quilt from the pattern. 

Love the frog, fried egg, and the ants!

Two blocks down - who knows how many more to go? 
Squares cut 1.5" - to finish at 1"

Problem is that as I never intended to make a quilt from it, I’ve run out of the black and white polka dot print, and I can’t remember where it came from.  I’m on the hunt for something similar – as long as it’s a close match, I don’t care – it is a scrap quilt after all!

I’ve made a practice block for another quilt that I admired by Cathy at Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting back in 2020, and that will also be turned into a scrap quilt.  This is the Arrowhead Puzzle block.  For the practice block I cut my squares 2.5” and I like the effect, but I’ve decided to go with a 3” square for the quilt.  This block won’t make it into the final as I also need to find some fabric for the background squares.  For now it’s a good placemat.  The background fabric will be the only purchase I make as the rest will all come from scraps. Although I do have something that might do – trouble is I don’t like it which is why it’s languished on the shelf for far too long. More on that next time.

I’m finishing off with some pics of my sewing room.  This is actually the lounge room in my new house, but I decided that I wanted to keep bedrooms free for when the boys and my grandchildren come to stay.  So rather than keep a room that was little used as a sitting room that I just walked past (I have an open plan family/dining/kitchen area that I use all the time) I turned it into my sewing space.  The shelves are from Bunnings and were really easy to put together.  The plan is to use the wall above the low shelf as my design wall, and when that happens, I’ll just bolt the low shelf onto the top of the high shelf.

I love it here as I get all the northern sunlight streaming through the window during the day.  It’s time to put some quilts on the walls:  Trees will be one.  The other is my favourite of all time that I made in 2014.  I called it Litmus Paper and it is from a Valorie Wells pattern in her book ‘Simple Start: Stunning Finish.”

Non-sewing friends always ask why I have the long table in the centre of the room rather than under the window.  It’s because I like to be able to access both sides of the table.  Sewers will know why.  By the way, this is an old receptionist table from a doctor’s surgery.  Over the years the top became warped and rough.  I went to a sale of industrial sewing machines after a curtain shop closed down locally.  (I missed out on getting a machine, unfortunately).  The owners had all their sewing tables covered in stick on vinyl floor tiles because it gave a smooth, shiny surface for fabric to slide over.  I took that tip and bought my own tiles from a local hardware store.  It works brilliantly and solved my warped and rough table-top problem!  It wipes clean easily and is barely marked by pins, scratches etc.

Now, to cut the next block for Stone Roses – horrible name – I’m thinking of something better.

Next post will be about two upholstery projects I’m attempting with two ‘dead men’s armchairs’ I bought for $15 each from the Salvation Army.  And a couple of other things besides ….

Have a great week everyone!

Linking up to the Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More.