The best kind of post!

My two year old had his birthday recently so was eager to open the package I received yesterday, I think he thinks all parcels are for him and was most disgruntled to be told 'No' this was Mummy's parcel!

After hours and hours browsing www.eclecticmaker.co.uk I decided to treat myself to a fabric pack of fat quarters.  The aim is to make a lap quilt for cosy film watching on the sofa this autumn and winter.  I want it to have a modern feel and I want it to reflect the rest of the living room which is a mix of contemporary and classic with the main colours being a dirty lime (sofas) and cream and light grey (walls & other bits and bobs).

SO.....this is what I've chosen;

Emily Herrick's Rustique Fat Quarter Fabric Pack

...and now I have to do something with it!  I think this has to be one of the hardest bits of quilting when you actually have to make the leap into a project.  Maybe one day I will buy a ready to quilt pack but not being quite sure whether something will work or not has to be more exciting.  I spent last night going through quilting magazines and rounded it down to four designs.

The quilt design I'm going to go with is one that was featured in Fons & Porter's Easy Quilts in the Spring 2014 issue.  The quilt is designed and made by Corey Yoder (who blogs as www.littlemissshabby.com) and in the magazine is called 'Gray Square Scramble'. 

Now the challenge is on to see if I can find time everyday to get this quilt going - I'd love to be able to watch a film under it by the start of advent or at least be kept warm by sitting under the sandwiched layers hand quilting it by then!  ONLY TIME WILL TELL.......

The Hungry Caterpillar Quilt

This next quilt was put together hastily with the onset of Winter.  Elias was born in September 2012 and within weeks the weather was getting cooler.  We had decorated his Nursery in the theme of the children's book by Eric Carle 'The Hungry Caterpillar'.

 A crib made for my brother Jonathan by my Grandad  was used again and a huge green leaf from Ikea stood over it.  The walls were painted sky blue and I made small pictures of the caterpillar chomping his way through leaves and all the other bits and bobs he eats (NB I could tell you - I know the entire wretched book by heart).

The quilt top was several simple 'Pinwheel' blocks.  I used two 'Hungry Caterpillar' fabrics and these were interspersed with a tablecloth which had belonged to my Grandparents.  Neither my Nana or Grandad are with us any more and so using something of theirs to help keep my baby warm felt right.  I think this is the reason I find throwing fabric away so hard, surely every piece is right for something!

This quilt was the first time I had used my new but old Singer Sewing Machine and close inspection would show it!  I'm still so new to patchwork and quilting that I couldn't tell you my preferred technique but given the practical need for this quilt I appreciated how quickly it came together because of the machine.

Soon it was time for Eli to move into his big boy bedroom to make room for someone else.  In February 2014 Caspar was born, and here is No. 2 son modelling No. 2 Quilt.