Here goes - my first doll quilt

DQS 10 - the first attempt
Originally uploaded by Petitselefants

I have agonised over this one quite a bit. You see, I always thought I would do a tree for the DQS, but it seems this is a pretty popular idea and I didn't think I wanted to do be seen as derivative. But then I realised, even though there are quite a few trees appearing in the swap, they are all quite different. And, moreover, everyone seems to love trees, I'm sure I can't go too far wrong with this.

I'm very happy with the colour palette I've chosen, which is a little outside my comfort zone (I would normally have gone with one tone, rather than so many). So - mainly pastels, but then a few reds and oranges to add some contrast, and I like it! The fabrics are almost all Amy Butler (Love) and Kaffe Fassett, plus some Valori Wells.

So far so good! Check out the growing pool of doll quilts over at Flickr.

Blissful, and a clever girl

One of my very favourite designers is Camille Roskelley. She makes the most beautiful quilts, has a beautiful family and look at that, a polka-dot armchair! I have her first book which is packed full of said beautiful quilts and I can see myself making pretty much every one of them over the next few years. Oh, and she also designs fabric for Moda - how clever! Bliss is the current line, I have a growing stash of it. I also love her previous line Simple Abundance, which featured in this quilt.

Anyway, she is running a giveaway on her blog at the moment. I would love to win, mainly because I cannot get enough Bliss in my life, and perhaps you would too. Head over there and leave a comment which specifies what your dream is.

DQS10 - Let the fun begin!

DQS10 Inspiration Gallery
Originally uploaded by Petitselefants

I have been dying to be part of the Doll Quilt Swap on Flickr almost as long as I've known it existed. I love the fact that like-minded quilters will make beautiful little pieces for each other, it gives you the chance to stretch your creativity but just focus it all entirely into one small piece - so the results are more often than out totally amazing. There have been so many beautiful little quilts pop up in the DQS photostream, it's mind-boggling what people can come up with and translate to a tiny quilt.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to have been picked to participate in this round. We haven't been allocated partners yet, but I've already been thinking about what I might make. I've put together this gallery - with the purpose of pulling together some beautiful pieces that I'd love to emulate and also show my partner the kinds of things I like.

If you haven't checked out the DQS Flickr stream - go and have a browse! There's also a blog. One of my extremely clever Flickr friends Lynne has got a post there at the moment. If I could come anywhere near her fantabulous quilt she made in the last round I will be hyper-ventiliating.


And now to a spot of sewing. This month it's Krista's turn - she sent some beautiful natural linen and a selection of yellow prints, all completely lovely. Funny that I have never thought of yellow as being a very interesting colour to work with, but I really enjoyed working with these. I think I might need to start collecting a few yellow pieces. Hmmmm. The theme for Krista's month is circles and I obliged by drawing different size circles onto stitch-and-wash, and appliqueing them to the linen. I hope she likes them!

Happy 2011!

I've been notably absent from these parts in recent times. The last few weeks of the year were a little hectic - starting a new job and having visitors staying for Christmas does not a relaxing December make! On top of that I somehow got a terrible cold which knocked me over for a while (but all the while still having to work etc). Anyway, all of a sudden it's January. And 2011. Amazing. But don't get me started!
December was a shocking month, in weather terms. It rained and rained and rained. Then it rained some more. After seven years of drought, this came as a bit of a shock. Unfortunately we had planned a little mini-holiday to the beach at this time. Here's a shot of the boys enjoying the beach, in between rain periods. Luckily we were staying in a fabulous house which had lots of space for everyone to spread out in - the rain didn't really matter and we all had a lovely time.
Needless to say, my sewing ambitions for December were unfulfilled. I managed to complete my package for Modern Swappers - will have to post on that later. And I finished my blocks for the 3x6 mini-bee, and Amanda's blocks for FMB2. As well as a little doll quilt for the MiniQT swap which was heaps of fun.
And now onto 2011! I couldn't possibly let the first week of January pass without starting another project now, could I? In recent weeks I think my husband has started to realise the enormity of my obsession and exactly how many projects I have on the go. Top of his list that must be finished, come hell and highwater, is Finn's baby quilt. He's 4. I know.

Anyway, in the interests of short posting I will leave that here for now and return soon with a post about my swaps received and sent, and also about my quilty plans for 2011. Plus some pics of fabric purchases. Only little ones. I promise.