Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Here’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods, here at Bonjour Quilts.
What I’m Sewing…
It’s been a quiet week for me (more on that down in the Chez Bonjour section) but I’m a whisker away from finishing my collaboration project.
This is a fantastic “short cut series” quilt pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop, and it will be available to you on 13 August. That’s when I (and the other collaborating sewists) can show you our versions of the quilt. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone has made! I’m using layer cakes of Rashida Coleman-Hale’s beautiful Pivot and Pixel fabric lines. The colours are saturated and sensational. My background fabric is also a Ruby Star Society fabric called Speckled, in teal.
As the name “short cut series” suggests, this quilt sews up quickly and uses pre-cuts (in this case layer cakes, or 10″ squares). I’ve worked with Fat Quarter Shop before to showcase a ‘short cut’ quilt – you might remember the lovely Layer Cake Loop Quilt?
Here are the Wildflower prints from the Pivot line again, just because I love them!
Around the Interwebs…
Here’s a new-to-me tutorial on making a four-square baby quilt. It reminds me of a little sister quilt to my Scrappy Lattice!
Here’s some beautiful embroidery, and here’s a fun Instagram account – some works with beads, some with fabric, all with lots of colour!
Speaking of colour, I really enjoyed this 14min Youtube video on how a small French atelier creates gorgeous handmade pastel crayons. The colours (and the gradations of colour) are fabulous. The amount of love put into them is wonderful.
Off-topic but really interesting – last year you could have bought part of Anne of Cleves’ property settlement from Henry VIII. Could you imagine living in a house like this – incredible!! I would be too scared to touch anything, ha! [But if I find out it’s now an Air BnB I will be there in a flash.]
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.
Here’s we have Vic’s version of The Plus Side quilt pattern, a delight in pretty pinks with a dash of lime. I do so love a good scrappy binding!
And just because it’s so much fun to see how different people approach the same pattern, here’s JoAnn’s joyful version of The Plus Side. I love how her quilting echoes the orientation of her block diagonals. You can find more layout options for The Plus Side in this blog post here (the pattern has a printable colour-in sheet so you can have fun designing your own).
And here we have one more – this is Cheryl’s version with her blocks in pairs. She’s also designed her own borders and used the background fabric for binding – giving a clean, modern edge. Perfect!
OK, this will be the last one – this The Plus Side was sewn by Tandy in a radiating diamond layout. It really packs a punch with all those high contrast blocks.
Jackie sewed up a lovely rainbow version of the Scrappy Lattice quilt pattern. This pattern will put all your scraps to good use, as Jackie has done here.
Chez Bonjour…
I had some minor surgery this week which meant not as much time for sewing. Just run-of-the-mill stuff, but rest was recommended so I’ve been following doctor’s orders. I remarked to my husband that to someone born 200 years ago, being able to spend a few hours in hospital, have a procedure and be home for dinner with your family that day would seem like a miracle. This century is a great time to be alive (better than the 1800s -eek)!
In other news, the youngest child received a bean bag this week (a reward for a major room clean up and rearrangement). Guess who seems to love it the most:
But how could you begrudge him his bean bag time when he so obviously loves it.
And yes, there are already some teeth puncture marks in the cover. Why do they have to test everything by biting it?!
Cats’ Corner
That leads us into some final cat photos for those who love to see our Burmese. They send their love and hope you’re relaxing as much as they are!
Have a great weekend!
Thanks for dropping by the blog this weekend. I hope you have the chance to work on something creative for yourself this week. Take care!
Kirsty x
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Thanks for your regular doses of inspiration and the terrific cat photos!
Thank you, Andrea. I should be back to no good very soon!
Hope you’re feeling better – actually a couple days with your feet up…..just saying…..
Oh those lovely kitties!!!!!!! Didn’t do much this week – I hosted the class reunion (don’t ask the year) and now I can get back to actually thinking. I’m joining the kitties!
Oh my goodness, a class reunion is a big deal. I think you’ll need to put your feet up more than me, Joan!! Hope you’re enjoying a good rest!
I wish you a speedy recovery, and definitely rest! I so enjoy your blog, your creativity and humor. And of course, the cats! Warm wishes to you.
Thank you so much, Amy.
Hope you are doing well! Great job following doctor’s orders!
Trying to be good!
Bless! I do hope you are recovering well & thank you for still managing to get your newsletter out – it brightens my weekend to see what you (& the cats) have been up to. Healing hugs xx
Thank you so much, Arlene!
I really enjoy your weekly newsletters. The video of the handmade pastel crayons was very enlightening! I feel like I’m on a field trip when I read your blog. Thanks so much. I hope you are recovering well and back at the sewing machine. PS I love the photos of your beautiful kitties.
Thank you Susan, that’s a great comment – I love the idea of a field trip! The world really is a wonderful place though, isn’t it?
Love your beautiful kitties. Like your quilts also.
Thank you Barb!