Eating my words

Do you remember this little Swoon quilt top I made in July?

Here's what I said about it at the time:

"It's very busy I'll admit, much busier than I would usually go for, 

but I think I kind of like it in a not-very-me sort of way."

Um, I might have to eat those words.  I've had plenty of time to consider this quilt top as it was left aside due to some unanticipated quilting commitments I took on in late July.  But the more I looked at it the less I liked it.  Just too busy for me and although I thought I could get over it, I couldn't.  Has that ever happened to you?

My plans originally had been to make this quilt and donate it to Bee Blessed so I really didn't want it to go to waste.  I thought that maybe if I could re-work it a little then it could possibly become a quilt that someone could love.

So, a little deconstruction back down into the original block elements, a little bit of biscuit coloured sashing and scrappy binding and Swoon is now a quilt I would actually be quite happy to keep.  It no longer gives me a headache trying to work out where to rest my eye amid the mass of clashing pattern, and I am happy that Bee Blessed will have a better quilt to share with someone who needs it.

All in an afternoon's work

Today was a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, so no work for me!  After a lazy morning catching up on google reader and general hopping around websites, we headed out as a family into the sunshine (yes, actual real sunshine!) to climb Slieve Croob which is not too far from where we live.

I promise there was sunshine in spite of all those clouds!

See the fabulous views from the top.
Those are the Mourne Mountains in the background.

I have never climbed Croob before and, usually preferring flat(ish) beach or woodland walks, felt that after all that exertion I had earned an afternoon in the sewing room.

I gathered six of the lovely Melissa Averinos Swoon fqs which I won from Mandy at Simply Solids in a giveaway last year

and "allowed" myself to be distracted from what I actually went up there to sew (will have to show you that another day). Instead, inspired by this quilt I had a go at the Yellow Brick Road pattern.

After some nifty cutting of 6 fat quarters

I had 20 blocks of three varying designs

and not long after, a little quilt top measuring 36.5" x 45.5"

It's very busy I'll admit, much busier than I would usually go for, but I think I kind of like it in a not-very-me sort of way.  Oddly, when I had the fabrics in their little fq bundle I had the impression that this quilt would turn out to be quite brown, but actually it's quite purple among the yellow and orange and green.

I've been playing with possibilities for borders but, not having any more of the Swoon it would have to be a solid and when I tested them, they look so empty compared with the business of the quilt.  My son suggested just keeping this quilt small and adding an orange binding and I think I might just follow his advice.

The Yellow Brick Road pattern was a great pattern to work with.  The cutting instructions are clever and there's very little wastage.  It probably works best when the fabrics are more contrasting than these ones, but it's got a slightly modern feel to it and it can be whipped up into a top in just a few hours.  I will definitely be trying this one again.

SWOON Fabrics

Here are some pics of the Melissa Averinos Swoon fabric fqs graciously offered by Mandy of Simply Solids in her February giveaway - aren't they lovely?

12 gorgeous fat quarters!

Bold patterns and rich colours.

It's hard to describe the depth and richness of the colours - they're truly beautiful!

Every few minutes I change my mind about which one is my favourite.  If you fancy some for yourself pop on over to Mandy's store (she's the exclusive UK stockist of these) and spoil yourself.  Thanks again Mandy for the opportunity to win these lovely treasures!

Now I just have to come up with a cracking project to make use of these lovelies!