Hello, lovely readers, welcome back to Bonjour Quilts. Happiness reigns because it’s once again the weekend. Keep reading for all the latest news around these parts.
What I’m Sewing…
Well, I’m not allowed to say. Yet.
It’s one of those collaboration-projects-that’s-revealed-later. But before I can get to later, I have to do all the sewing now, which is what I’ve been up to this week. Even though I can’t show you the project, I can show you the beautiful layer cakes (10″ squares) that were sent to me to work with.
I’m very fond of the fabric that the ladies of Ruby Star Society (RSS) produce, so I was happy to have the chance to work with one of their latest lines.
Pivot Fabric by Ruby Star Society
This Pivot fabric is the latest line from Rashida Coleman-Hale, one of the RSS designers. It is a really playful line with some zinging, saturated colours that are perfect for modern quilts.
Isn’t that just a happy colour palette? No sad quilts being made with this Pivot fabric, that’s for sure!
I’ve made the decision to work with the warmer side of the colour spectrum for this quilt. It will pop very nicely against a background of RSS Speckled in Teal (a favourite background fabric of mine). To make sure I had enough of the warm, I also included a layer cake of the Pixel fabric line, seen below.
I left out the blues/black prints in the Pivot fabric layer cake and supplemented with the warmer squares from the Pixel line. Perfect.
I must say that I am very enamoured with the Wildflower print in the Pivot fabric line. I just love the artwork and the colours selected for each of the colourways – soft black, golden hour (yellow), playful (pink) and natural.
Isn’t it a beauty?
The Quilter’s Planner
My Planner is still getting a great workout this month!
The Quilter’s Planner peeps have also released a new product called the Quilter’s Planner Design Book. Basically, given that we’re now in June and you’ve probably got a calendar, the Design Book is a place to keep all your projects (both ideas and actual) in the one place. It doesn’t have the calendar and the pattern pages, instead it focuses on all your quilt designs and quilt intentions. And as it doesn’t have a calendar component, it’s super useful forevermore (not just 2024)! You can find the Quilter’s Planner Design Book over in their shop.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have a quilt block pattern in the calendar version of the Quilter’s Planner. I was the April block designer. As part of my role as an ambassador (ahem) for Quilter’s Planner, I had an interview with Lindsie, the owner/designer of the Planner. We have a good chat about everything quilting, and the cats even wander in every now and then. Hopefully I’ve managed to embed the Youtube video below:
To make this interview work for both of us (me in Australia, Lindsie in US Mountain time zone) I did this interview at 5am. So as not to wake up the whole family I made a makeshift video spot in my lounge room with my iPad.
I was a little concerned about the light and the cats. Light, because I started the interview in pitch black and then had the sun rise through the interview (fortunately I don’t think the lighting changed too much). Cat-wise, I was concerned that they might get their morning zoomies and knock over my iPad. Thankfully, they were very well behaved! By the end of the interview they were actually both on my lap, just out of camera. I took the photo below of the set up in the lounge once the interview was done.
Yes, it’s a glamorous, Youtube life that I live.
Around the Interwebs…
Here’s an interesting article and podcast on The Rajah Quilt, sewn by convict women while they were being transported to Australia. The Rajah Quilt is currently on display at the National Gallery of Australia, in Canberra, until 25 Aug 2024.
Loving these beautiful embroidery works (both completed works and PDF patterns are for sale).
Some creative art, made with paper by a French artist.
Two off-topic articles that I enjoyed – one on creativity, and the other on an easy way to inject some joy into life.
Reader Quilts…
I always love to see quilts you’ve made from Bonjour Quilts patterns so please keep sending them in! Either email (Kirsty at BonjourQuilts dotcom), or tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Jill sent me a couple of photos of two amazing quilts she’s made. First up is a Triangle Twist lap quilt with the lovely combination of coral and turquoise. That turquoise print is spot on!
Jill’s next quilt is a version of the When You Wish…baby mat. She made it in beautifully saturated colours that will liven up any nursery. You can find a tutorial on how to make this baby mat here (or buy a pattern for larger sizes here.)
Juliet finished her Go West quilt and complemented it with some fantastic, modern straight line quilting. I think it really suits this pattern without taking away from all the triangle action happening in the design.
Roselyn sewed up a version of Hello Hearts! in beautiful scrappy rainbow. Love the swirly heart quilting design, too!
Resharing this amazing photo by Suzie of the five Diamonds in the Deep quilts she made for her five children. Five quilts is a feat in itself, but this photo is also just so clever, it deserves to be admired. I love how each quilt has its own personality, especially chosen for its recipient. Honestly, I get a little teary when I think of 5 children sleeping under a quilt pattern that I designed. The best feeling ever. ❤️
Cats’ Corner
Some sleeping beauties for you!
One lovely reader did email me and say that she would love to see the cats’ eyes. I know! I do try but when they’re not sleeping they are usually zooming around the place or refuse to look in the direction of the camera (rude). But here are a couple I managed to get the other week.
On the topic of felines – here’s a question for those of you that have houseplants and indoor cats. Do you have any plants that co-exists peacefully with your fur babies? Google does tell me some options, but I’d love to have real-life recommendations from you. So far any flowers I’ve had in the house have all been chomped on to varying degrees. (I always make sure they aren’t toxic to cats before I bring them in the house.) If you have had success with any plant varieties, I’d appreciate your advice!
Have a great weekend!
That’s it from me this weekend. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of quilting or some other creative pursuit. Until next time,
Kirsty x
Anxious to see your secret project!
Not too long now!
I have an African violet plant and my cat leaves it alone.
Thanks for that Ann. They are very pretty and the soft leaves might be good with our cats, who seem to like biting crisp things like paper, cardboard, crunchier-type leaves.
The story about the Rajah quilt is amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
You’re most welcome. I feel sad that they never got to quilt it, though. Maybe they hated basting too!
So much wonderful stuff! Love the kitties of course – always entertaining. Thanks for making the video! Nice to “meet” you! And then there is always your bonus stories. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed it all, Joan!
What beautiful fabric! I can’t wait to see what you’re working on. I just moved and am unpacking so I’m enjoying other peoples projects greatly while I can;t do my own! I don’t have any advice for your beautiful kitties – when I had cats, I was lucky they left my plants (I only had a few) alone!
Hi Linda, you’re so lucky that your cats aren’t interested in plants – I wish they would send a memo to mine! Good luck unpacking (not fun, I know!) and hopefully you’ll be back sewing in no time.
Great Blog and loved the interview.
Good work at 05.00 hrs!!