Friday, December 14, 2012

A mini for Manda

Mini Quilt for Manda - BA{m}S Swap

Here is my completed mini quilt for my last swap of the year - the Bee A {modern} Swapper end of the year holiday swap. I have to say that I am really very happy with how it came out. This pattern is Design Studio pattern by Charise Creates.

And I did stitch a lovely needle for that machine, but it was in the parking lot, minutes before I mailed it, which was 20 minutes before closing time on the last day to mail. Oh and I had to unwrap the parcel first as I had forgotten, even though I had send myself an email reminder  the night before when I was too tired to stitch it nicely. So I don't have a picture with the needle.

Mini Quilt for Manda - BA{m}s Swap

My partner was the Manda, who sometimes blogs at Manda Made Quilts. Manda is one of the mamas for this whole bee/swap group and has done a lot of work over this last year keeping the group fun and on track. She had put this Design Studio pattern by Charise Creates in her mosaic and I decided that since she wanted it, she would have it.

I had used a part of this pattern earlier this fall to make a pincushion, and I just repeated the sewing machine fabrics as I really love them. That little label on the sewing machine says Manufactured Specially by Latest (unreadable) Methods. The black fabric is one that actually features the Eiffel Tower but I worked around that to get the flowers and leaves only.

When I found the fabric for the quilt in progress, I was so pleased. It is a print from Jay McCarroll's Habitat, and has just the right scale for this scene.

Mini Quilt for Manda - BA{m}S Swap

The dress fabric is from Centre City by Jay McCarroll, I thought it would show off the folds, look fun and contemporary, and quilty too. The text Sew print and the outside border text is from Mama Said Sew, by Sweetwater. Both the Sweetwater and the Jay McCarroll prints are some of my very favourite fabrics, which I wanted to share in this swap.

The fire engine red (I think it is Kona Tomato) background works so much better than I would have expected. I had learned, via Katherine, that Manda was partial to a red room, and that is why I kept the front of the mini a secret, it is sort of a big give away.

DSC_0067

When I reached this stage, I auditioned borders. I am not good at borders, as I don't really like them on most quilts. I realized that by using the black for the machine and the red for the walls, I could, and really needed to, use quite "heavy" or strongly coloured borders to balance those elements. The inner aqua is Essex linen from my Mod Pop quilt and the binding is a Kona from my pile of blues. The black is one of the Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater text prints.

BA{m}S Swap - Ready to wrap and mail

Here is the back, again. The Katie Jump Rope Denyse Schmidt print is really nice displayed like this. The mini is about a 14" square. And, that is also the triple zip pouch that I sent along as the extra - it uses my new Winterkist fabrics which are so fun and colourful. I packed the pouch with some bits from my sewing room - scraps, ribbon, buttons, and such.

Manda has received this package, and I know she loves it. It was a pleasure to make this for her. I am going to call this a Friday Felicity and link up with Felicity at Felicity Quilts.


That is my last swap package to send for the year. I still have one coming to me in this same swap. I am going to remember to focus on the message in my in-progress No quilt as new swaps come up, I really want to spend some time in the coming year trying new things on my own schedule and focus. Maybe I need a No quilt for my sewing room too?

Enjoy your Friday. Tomorrow at my house is for baking cookies and shopping, making lists, checking them off and such - yikes!

Leanne

30 comments:

Michele said...

What fun! Love the quilt on the quilt!

Little Island Quilting said...

I really like this and think the fabric you used for the quilt under the machine is inspired...if that makes sense!

Rachel said...

I absolutely love it. Paper piecing terrifies me, though. Your fabric choices are brilliant!

elle said...

You are way too clever. All those pieces boggle my mind. Excellent job!

Canadian Abroad said...

Your fabric choices just make this pattern even better. Lucky partner!

Toni said...

So beautiful, Leanne! You always do choose the perfect fabrics!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

wow, the paper pieced pattern is so beautiful. You have a very lucky partner.

Sarah said...

I love it! so cool.

Heather D. said...

Amazing little quilt Leanne.

Fiona @ Poppy Makes said...

Wow! It's gorgeous Leanne!

Samantha said...

Love this pattern, I just printed it out the other day :) You put it together so beautifully! I want to do a swap next year. I haven't done one yet.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

It's terrific, as are you!

Thearica said...

I love this little quilt and the backing fabric is scrumptious!

Ramona said...

Gorgeous - love that you used the red background - really makes everything else pop!

Teje Karjalainen said...

That is so wonderful! What a fun design and so well done! Great colours and the black border is very good! x Teje

Heidi Staples said...

Leanne, this is just adorable! I love what you did with this quilt, and I love that pouch that goes with it. I'm trying to take a break from project swaps for a while myself. I love doing it, but the pressure and deadlines kind of take the fun out of things when there's too much going on...

Shocking Hocking said...

just brilliant - lucky recipient!

Susan said...

You have such an amazing eye for the design elements Leanne! This is a brilliant piece if work! Not sure how you could bear sending it away!!

Katy Cameron said...

It looks fabulous! I love that pattern, and the fabric for the dress works perfectly in the folds of the skirt with the angle you chose.

Catherine said...

It's fabulous Leanne!

Debbie said...

Very very fun! You did a wonderful job with all the details!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Absolutely perfect x

Manda said...

I'm the lucky ducky. I stare at it, knowing I could never ever reproduce anything as beautiful. Each section I look at because my favorite part. I love the "quilt" under the sewing machine, I love the sew fabric in the dress form. I love the dress on the form, the border fabric, the red room. I don't think anyone has ever put so much time in effort into anything for me. I told Katherine I would be creamed with it, but perhaps not. I'll love it forever. And as soon as I have a spare minute, I'll get you a picture of the needle, which is also ADORABLE. I'm just in from work, and I have to go in again in 8 hours, working every day next week, and I homeschool, and chase Ba{M} swappers. This quilt (and I guess the friendship of Katherine) has made all that chasing worth it ;) More than worth it, because although I whine, it hasn't been that bad.

Marg said...

It is simply stunning Leanne. What fabulous fabric choices, they are perfect.

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Wow Leanne, your fabric choices are perfection! That 'quilt' fabric is amazing - and I love how you've used the different value sections within it (badly worded, sorry!)

Judith, Belfast said...

Love that pattern! Your fabric choices are perfect L! Jxo

felicity said...

Every last thing about this is perfect, Leanne. I love it all! Thank you for linking up to Friday Felicities with this stunner!

Annabella said...

The mini is just completely adorable!! I love everything about it...and the stitching in the car lot and the opening of the package is just what I would do too :-/

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Love your swap quilt...the black and white sure pop.

OPQuilt said...

What a treasure. You really excel on details--dress fabric is perfect, as is the fabric for the quilt and sewing machine.

I read her comment--looks like is really happy to have such a masterpiece!

Elizabeth E.
opquilt.com