Colourful Quilt Creation

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Artist and crafter, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Colourful Cosy Lap Quilt, Crazy Patchwork Quilt, Creative moment, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilting, Patchwork with tiny scraps, Picnic Rug Blanket, Snooze Blanket, Unique Colourful Creations

…..using up new, but, tiny off cuts of fabric…..

A little over a week ago, I finally tipped out my bags of leftover cotton fabrics, with full intent to use them ALL up in one project (how wrong I was on that though)!! I’d been keeping the bits quite orderly in separate colourway bags… but then….came face to face with this unruly scrappy looking pile………

Somewhere….within,  lay my next project   ;-0

Not daunted by their tiny sizes, my main concern was to make something with some kind of symmetry in the final finished piece, whilst also avoiding putting too much thought into choosing every single piece to go next to the last as I sewed, otherwise it would never get done….. So, I tipped the piles into a kind of colour ‘blob area’ next to the sewing machine, all within arms length, where I could just grab a piece randomly and stitch away wherever it would fit in and around the ‘crazy patchwork method’ I had decided to go with…. For some stability I decided also to stitch them onto some pre-cut small squares of cotton wadding, which I later trimmed back to neat 5.5” square

Things were definitely looking very colourful by now 😉

For this project, I had made a pact with myself,  and decided I wasn’t going to go and buy Anything!!!!….it would all have to be done from what I already had! So, I picked a lovely lime cotton print which seemed to keep the super colourful theme on track… after measuring to make sure there was sufficient to cut all the remaining squares I needed, I realised I would have just enough to bind too, if I pieced five lengths together  😀 ……Already doing a happy dance and I’d not even started sewing the squares together lol

Once assembled into a large panel, I used lightweight synthetic wadding and added a cream cotton backing before hand quilting over the entire piece…

….believing…’you can Never have too much colour!!’ … I added in a lovely bright blue around the border, which I think, added just the perfect balance to the whole look and completed by hand stitching down the lime binding  😉

Another cosy colourful creation completed! 

At 42” x 60” it’s the perfect size for a Snuggle snooze blanket/Lap quilt/A single bed topper…OR even a super picnic rug!

I’m super happy with this little quilt which emerged from the scraps…. though, I still have issues with my left overs ;-/  Although I made 42 (5.5 x 5.5) squares…In the end, it didn’t even look as though I’d used any from the pile at all!! On that basis, I reckon there are at least another 20 quilts waiting to be ‘discovered’ in the scrap bag….better set to again then  😉 !!

Skew Whiffy Snooze/Lap Quilt

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Art, Artist and crafter, Blues, Bold Vibrant lap Quilt, Brushed cotton quilt, Cosy Colourful Quilt, Craft from scrap Fabric, Crafty, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Electric blue cotton fabric, From scrap waste to desired object, Hand quilted snooze blanket, Hand quilting, Inspiration, Lap quilt, Patchwork, Patchwork throw, Quirky Fabric creations, Skewed square panel designer quilts, Snooze Blanket, Super Soft Cotton Quilt

I appear to have slipped back into ‘skew whiffy’ mode this past week or so  😉 Spurred on by the sale of my first ‘skew’ panel design quilt, over in my Etsy store, earlier last week. So, naturally, I hot footed it down to the local fabric store to see what goodies I could find for a new version…usually, any excuse to go fabric shopping, but!!!.. this was…a needs must!!

A new exciting colourway for my ‘skewed’ squares design lap quilts. After a manic rummage through the bottom level of fabric cottons in a display unit at the local fabric store, I’m sure the staff thought I was trying to make myself a little den/nest and move in…LOL…(in fact, thinking about that idea – what sheer heaven that would be?? and, just think about how much I would save in fuel travelling there and back??!)  Anyways, I meander…with age, that seems an increasing activity these days  😉

I had set off with a perfect menu of colours for the new quilt in my head…probably due to seeing most of them the last time I visited the store?! Though it’s very much a case of, buy it now !!!!…if you want it kind of store, as it may never make another appearance here again – which at the time I didn’t… as I was doing other projects..So, naturally of course, the colours I hoped for had gone 😦

I shall keep a look out for the colours I wanted every time I go in from now on, and hopefully will eventually accumulate them for a future version  🙂

The fabric, I had set out for, for this project, was brushed cotton/soft flannel to make a really soft cosy quilt again. The store selection on this visit, on the bottom shelf, was very sparse and threw up only a few lime green prints, a vibrant blue and a shadowed cream/lemon, a yucky mustard speckle and a dark bottle green too. Dismissing the mustard I plumped for two lime green prints, the dark bottle green, vibrant electric blue and the shadowed lemon/cream after remembering I had some small remnants of salmon pink flowered brushed cotton and some flowery blue too – how much?? I had no idea at the time…but, thought I could fudge them in somehow!

Having collected my chosen fabrics I then stood at the cutting desk.  ?????…????? Of course if you know me, I don’t work from patterns, just thoughts and ideas, plus, this kind of design is quite random, so, when asked..”How much do you want cutting?” Well, I quickly estimated and thought of a number for the lemon/cream, it being for the backing, borders and strips too….I estimated the finished quilt being approx 57 inches as of the one just sold, so asked for 60 inches PLUS 3/4 of a meter (that’s confusing in itself – though the cutter didn’t even flinch and measured out then snipped and ripped!) I decided on a metre of the blue as I wanted the big squares and strips, then 1/2 metres of the three greens

Boring as this may seem..it WAS a complete Guesstimate of perfection!! When I returned home to cut I wanted the warp for the long stretches of borders around the finished panels, so as not to twist out when sewing them in…AND OMG!! I had just ONE inch to spare between the two long borders = two borders halved = 1/4 inch play each end of the strips…YAY my planets lined up once again – Happy Dance!!

Lots of happy therapeutic stitching of skewed squares later, teamed with the electric blue panels and a complex work out of my limited salmon pink equated into some very vibrant patchwork panels…but a good three days of hard work and it’s ready, and now packaged, for a new loving home… 🙂

I have just enough to make two matching little throw pillow covers, then who knows…???…maybe the cut scraps can be made into little mug rugs.. waste not want not….and create wondrous new things from bits and pieces…watch this space 😉

A beautiful unique bouclé fabric Shoulder Bag and Cosmetic Pouch Set

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Applique, Artist and crafter, Artistic creativity, Boucle fabric, Brass D Rings, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton fabric, Crafty creations, Flower Buttons, Fun with fabrics, GRABABARGAIN2016, Hand quilting, One off designs, Polka dot fabric, Shoulder Bag and Cosmetic Pouch Set, Stripy fabric, Synthetic wadding, Unique Designer handcrafted items

A Unique Boucle Shoulder Bag and Cosmetic Pouch Set

Whilst crafting away on the lovely Shoulder bag above, my Dearest happened to pass by as I was attempting to turn the long handle, by no means an easy feat!!…given the thickness of fabric and narrow two inch wide gap to send the 30 or so inches through. At some point in my concentration and brute force, I seem to remember hearing, ”…trying to lay an egg love??…” To be fair laying a whole clutch of them would have been easier!! But persistence paid off in the end 😉 LOL…That, and having just cleared the local haberdashery of all their large D Rings meant I just needed to make another little bag set!

The quite conservative exterior, gives way, to…a blast of happy, stripy colour inside. All fully lined, even the internal zipped pocket! So, makes for a perfect shoulder bag and pouch set!

Sandwiching synthetic wadding between the boucle and stripy cotton fabric gave a lovely soft, hand quilting effect, with just enough texture to make the bag even more interesting

After finding a couple of super large buttons during my haberdashery scouting trip, I couldn’t resist, and, found it matched perfectly in colour to the pink and black polka dot cotton fabric I had in my stash…something about spots and striped shouldn’t be together??!! Anyone else remember their mother drilling that info to them at a young age?? Anyways, I set about creating a large turned boucle flower to applique as the central feature with the button being used to anchor all in place. After adding the internal zipped pocket, to form three main compartments, and the small open pocket, perfect for keys and the like, and a magnetic clasp, I then added the polka dot binding before joining all together with the lined matching gusset, which also houses the D Rings for the long shoulder strap. Once all the hand stitching was completed and the binding turned back, some small left over pieces of fabric made their transition into a little cosmetic pouch, also with a little turned through boucle flower detail and simple stud fastener.

Soft Quilted loveliness…Bursting with… ‘Happy Colours’!!

What a wonderful way to brighten your day! Every time you open up into the colourful interior, gives a happy boost to the day!…Or, is that just me??!?

The simplicity of the reverse, though, still showing up the gentle hand quilting texture effect.

Lots of love, lots of hand sewing and all at a super amazing promotion price !! Packaged and ready for shipping!! It would make a lovely unique gift for someone special perhaps?! As The Festive Season, creeps ever closer….. take advantage of my Etsy Shop limited discount voucher code …….!!!!

GRABABARGAIN2016 Is THE 15% discount voucher to use on all orders over £20.00 GBP (sorry, doesn’t apply to shipping fees) in my Etsy Shop, running only until the 1st December, 2016!!! So, Grab A Bargain while you can 😉

Okay!! I only have another 16 D Rings left!!…Wonder what will be next then?? Maybe I will have to shelve my bag designing for a week or so, as I get to grips with a commissioned meter high gigantic stocking 😉

Cute and colourful, quilted patchwork cushion cover.

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Appliqué dog cushion cover, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Beautiful handmade gift ideas, Button flowers, Buttons in craft, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Colourful creations in cotton and on canvas, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Dachshund Feature cushion, Embroidery, Felt, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilting, Hand stitched patchwork, Patchwork and applique, Patchwork cotton prints, Patchwork pillow/Cushion cover, Sausage dog throw pillow, Shop early for Christmas, Totally unique handmade patchwork creations, Unique handmade fabric items

My completed little Sausage dog/Dachshund cushion cover 🙂
If you saw the last post, you’ll see it has moved on slightly, a bit of stem stitch embroidery, lots of blanket stitching for the hand applique, some simple hand quilting and a green border were added before the cream cotton envelope backing to finally complete!
Such a cute feature cushion cover….looking at the rest of the pre-printed squares still left, there could be a couple more in the future!! 😉 

Finally finished this little feature cushion at 9.0 am this morning to allow for the rest of my busy day….. 🙂

Red Star design Patchwork tote/bag and…..place-mat set too!

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Artist and crafter, Buttons for decoration, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Colourful cotton creations, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer tote/shoulder bag, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilting, https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/carenscanvasandcraft, Multipocket bag, Patchwork tote Star design

Red Star design patchwork quilted tote/bag.
After recovering from my little oil painting marathon ;-), which are all still weeks away from drying out yet, I couldn’t resist rummaging around with some small odd shaped offcuts I had. First I had one idea, then changed my mind for another, in the end I worked the two simultaneously…firstly, here’s the tote…..
After some head scratching and lots of measuring I decided I had enough red print and cream and black print fabric to make a small tote…proper patchwork style 😀
After making six patterned samples of the star design, I once again decided to give the tote a reversible wear option, using one of the panels diagonally for the reverse….(see below) four for the front and the remaining one became the multi-pocket feature – perfect, none left out or lonesome! Having hand quilted both sides, I’d made sure I had enough fabric for the lining to match as well on this bag. A couple of finishing touches, were adding some coordinating buttons to strengthen the multi-pocket and as a feature on the front of the magnetic clasp flap. It’s really turned out beautifully, well I think so, and I love the colours together 🙂
secondly, the other make…..patchwork pin-wheel place-mats

Using one of the other star blocks for the reverse

And, the sixth one for the multi-pocket 🙂

Set of 4 patchwork hand quilted mats and coasters 🙂
Quite a busy week all in all!

Patchwork landscape and applique sheep tote

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Applique sheep, Art, Artistic, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafts, Fun cute, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilting, Handmadde and designed tote, Patchwork tote, Sheep design fabric bag, Tote

Combining some of my original ideas and patterns I decided to use some recent offcuts from my last project and create a colourful and cute fun tote. I never tire of my little sheep in pink wellies and they seemed just perfect for this new project. After forming the patchwork landscape I cut shapes from felt and hand stitched them into place….That little sheep is sooo proud of her little boots! 😉

Inside there is a useful multi pocket, with one large open pocket and a coordinating zip on the other, adding colour to the inside of the cream cotton interior.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity I decided to add a little sheep on the reverse as well…

The whole tote has been hand quilted, a little magnetic clasp for extra security on the centre flap and a few little heart buttons finish off the new design perfectly! A Pretty and practical and unique little creation! 🙂

A fun little cotton fabric tote made from a few offcuts, bits of felt, lots of stitches and little heart buttons 🙂

‘Flying Goosey’ Quilt Number 2 – proving a point to myself…that I’m not getting slow in my old age (Not that old really) !!!

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Applique, Applique hearts, Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic, Artistic moments, Arty, Bed topper, Black red cream patchwork, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton fabrics, Cotton wadding for a traditional feel, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Creative patchwork and applique, Elegantly designed patchwork quilts, Fun creations, Fun with fabric, Hand quilting, Lap quil, Lovingly handmade patchwork and crafts, Modern patchwork, Original, Original art, Patchwork, Patchwork and applique, Patchwork and quilting, Patchwork quilts, Patchwork throw, Printed cotton materials, Quality handmade items, Quirky, Something from nothing, Stylish quilt, Stylish quilt designs, Traditional quilts with new design, Unique, Unique creations, Warm and cosy quilts

In well under two weeks I have a result! From the humble beginnings of four cotton fabrics which I selected – to a finished little beauty! Lovingly hand crafted and hand quilted with ever so many stitches it could never, ever, EVER fall apart 🙂

My newest creation! Flying Geese and appliquéd hearts lap quilt number 2 actually finished yesterday, but my camera broke down – and here’s me thinking it’s the quilt design that is jinxed !!!  Maybe it’s just me…..!

My four chosen cotton print fabrics….after lots of hunting through mountains of materials at the fabric shop I eventually chose these four to go together. Tasteful, Simple, Rich, Stylish and Elegant! As soon as I had them in my arms all together, I could already see how the new quilt would look in my mind’s eye! The only thing delaying me from starting, was some good old fashioned hand washing of the fabrics to rid them of any excess dyes! No sooner dry and ironed…..let chopping, piecing and quilting begin 😉

I always think it is a good idea to make another ‘Goosey” quilt until I reach 5/31 geese border strips…then I sigh my way through the next 26….knowing, it WILL be worth all the effort – at the same time trying not to think of all the hand quilting to come ;-/ !!!!

A little hand sewn label, to let generations hence, (should it EVER become an Heirloom piece 😉 ) know who and where it was made! A little touch I probably should have already been adding to my lovingly hand-crafted quilts…better late than never though ! As a seller on Etsy I have become aware of just how many vintage quilts there are, and, it’s important to new makers like myself, and a must, to let people/buyers know that they are NEWLY made rather than vintage…..though, I hope and feel my own designs show a contemporary style anyway! As much as I love patch working I do feel sometimes people just add too much (colour/mix of fabric designs/ confusion etc,etc (this is my opinion only-others may feel differently and we should all have our say, I think), I do like some structure to what I design and make, though others may too have other tastes, which is of course absolutely fine too! Whilst I realise in the olden days, Patchwork items were made out of what was available and maybe in short supply, it is now a luxury to go and buy new fabrics to create such items today. Though it is my belief that by buying only small quantities of each fabric I am still forcing myself to create something out of very little – even if it is all new material!

I look out proudly at my latest achievement as it gently blows in the wind after its final wash before going off to my Etsy shop! I do hope it can eventually make someone happy…..and of course warm and cosy! 🙂 I certainly sewed many, many hours during its creation (on average, I reckon I work for 2 pence per hour including material costs!!!!! Minimum wage would make it only available to the Billionaires of the world – I’m not sure they shop on Etsy?!?) and incorporated lots of sweet dreams into it too! – they are include free of course!!!  😉

My biggest challenge so far!!!

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Applique, Applique hearts, Art, Art and craft creations, Art and design creations, Artist, Artistic moment, Arty, Beige and cream fabrics, Broderie anglaise fabric flowers, Capturing a couple's memories onto fabric, Cotton patchwork fabrics, Crafting with buttons, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer patchwork quilts, Embroidered Sharpei, Embroidered Shih tzu, Foundation piecing patchwork, Fun with fabric, Glastonbury, Great Hall Mains, Hand quilting, Handmade Patchwork and applique, Lap quilt, Matrimonial quilt gift, Memory quit, Original, Patchwork, Rome, Subtle coordinating colours, Trevi Fountain, Unique, Wedding gift

AND…HERE IT IS!!!! The GRAND unveiling of the commissioned designer handmade and hand quilted totally unique… Matrimonial/Memory patchwork large lap quilt made for two!!! 

Having been granted permission to do a post from A Lady who commissioned me, I can now, after the Happy Event of their marriage, of Nathan and Kim that is, show their designed and handmade gift as well as Wishing them a Long and Happy Life Together! 🙂

I was very recently approached by A Lady, who had heard of me, by word of mouth (always the best recommendation I feel !!!) to see if I could create something extra special as a Wedding Gift for her Son and future Daughter-in-law, Something,which they could treasure as well as being totally unique and relate only to them ?!? WOW – A challenge and a half…My sleeves were already rolled up! 🙂

During our  consultation session together, and having shown many examples of what My Lady thought she might like to have handmade for the excited couple, she finally did a ‘flip’ on her first thoughts, especially after seeing pictures of the two commissioned lap quilts I made for my friend Jackie, another WordPress Blogger with outstanding photography images, find Jackie at   http://iamlostinthot.wordpress.com/about/

”LOSTINTHOT” Personalised Designer Handmade and Hand Quilted Custom Order 36” x 48” ART Lap Quit.

Commissioned Elephant Lap Quilt. Handmade and hand-quilted with custom design applique elephants hearts and flowers.

So My Lady finally opted for a large lap quilt – big enough for two! YAY! What an opportunity for another creative moment  🙂 !

After My Lady’s decision was made, we talked through what the requirements for the quilt panels would be……..Here is my brief;

*A fabric panel of the Trevi Fountain, Rome (The spot of the proposal)….Gosh, thought processes are in motion! Then, some simple embroidery naming the  the venue and date of Engagement alongside…

*A fabric depiction of the Happy Couple enjoying Glastonbury 2014 in ‘Wellies’ and sun glasses!…A testy challenge!! Also, embroider  venue and date…

*An embroidered depiction of their two ‘babies’ a Shih tzu and a Sharpei with their names too….OMG I was getting a little worried…..;-/!!!

* A small vine of 3D fabric flowers running around the Wedding venue panel, Oh! And a couple of random 3D padded hearts…

*A fabric constructed panel of the ‘Great Hall at Mains’ a slightly wonky wooden beamed Tudor barn which was to be the Wedding venue….Plus ”Mr & Mrs…and the date… ””””’fainted!!!!!!!!!!””””’

After picking myself up….and a few good deep breaths. I felt I could attack this challenge!  I agreed it would be perfect as their totally unique Memory Quilt, all we had to do now was discuss a colour scheme ;-/…

to which, the conclusion was to be;

*Creams, whites (for the bride’s gown (no clues as to which the Bride would be wearing ,so let’s use both..)

*beige/ deeper creams (to match their living spaces and their décor)

*A pink flowery headband (as Kim wore at Glastonbury …Oh, and wellies and sunglasses too!)

*Grey (for the Groom and party’s suits)

now came the ultimate challenge……!

*was it, Pistachio, or mint, or jade green, or light sage, or… or…My Lady gave it so many descriptive terms ??? My lady wanted a colour match as close as possible to the ribbons on the invitations, which in turn matched the waistcoats of the Gentlemen party, to be the main accent colour in the quilt…

All nice choices! But, I was running on a very tight time scale, five weeks to a completion date and still awaiting a colour swatch before I could start, or, even buy any fabric… OMG… the perspiration was stating to bead as I awaited a colour sample, Could I get it done in the time frame? Would My Lady be happy ???  Now, I was really worried!  Had I taken on, for the first time, something I thought was more than I could chew….. ;-/ ?

At last, I got to see the colour of ‘green’ which was to symbolise the waistcoats and be the accent of the whole quilt, as fast as I could I was off to the fabric store, all I needed to do now was to find ”that green” beige/creams and greys that would go together….only a small extra challenge then. 😉

I picked my fabrics VERY carefully and used a perfect piece of fabric for the hearts which just by chance and good luck, was a deep grey with just a flecks of brown and cream on it but which also went extremely well with the ”green”, I hope you agree, the overall colour effect is quite subtle and coordinated ?!? I set about designing, and came up with a simple eight panel design surrounded by border strips of different sizes, in order to bring all the fabric colours together. My Lady had a specific order to which the panel pictures should be on the quilt, though with a gentle suggestion I sent out my first draft for the design and her approval, meaning her original choice of wanting four large panels had been developed and divided up into eight . A picture panel and smaller appliquéd heart panel alongside to include all the requirements and requests which My Lady wanted on the quilt 🙂

My suggestion was approved!!!YAY!!!  So, my  cogs of creativity were set in motion…

All the fabric applique shapes are turned back double fabric pieces, thought the Great Hall has been foundation pieced starting in the centre and working outward, incorporating some of the beams into the foundation and appliquéing the larger final ones. The hearts, dogs and Trevi Fountain have simple embroidery done in a ‘sketch style’ with little stitches here and there, apart from the Glastonbury panel, which has pieces so tiny, so I used a type of double sided adhesive before hand stitching the applique pieces in place! A simple cream cotton backing and unbleached soft 100% cotton wadding was used to give a traditional feel. Once sandwiched together, I hand quilted the whole panel.I added the stem stitched vine around the Great Hall panel and made some Broderie anglaise fabric flowers attaching them with a coordinating button to the quilt  Finally I added a binding of the same fabric as the inner panel borders and hand stitched it down.

What had I been worried about ?!? I still had two weeks until the deadline and it was finished 🙂 !!! But My Lady was still to see it…..

Having taken a couple of photos, just to show My Lady her commission was complete, I contacted her, with full intentions of taking more and clearer shots of the quilt hanging from the washing line. But, as it turned out the weather wasn’t allowing for this, after the glorious weather, it had decided to rain…a lot! Then, My Lady couldn’t contain herself, she didn’t want a preview over the internet she NEEDED to come and see it straight away !!!!!

My Lady arrived early the very next day!  I presented my designer quilt for her inspection…and stopped breathing simultaneously….

Her face was a picture, she was totally ”thrilled to bits”’  🙂 🙂 🙂 YAY! Then she told me, ‘…..it is so much nicer than anything I could have ever wished for! The colour combination Is perfect, (bear in mind, she hadn’t seen the fabrics I had chosen) I love the overall design….the quality is superb and in such a short time too…In fact I am speechless, it’s just wonderful…PERFECT!!!’ 

 As well as all My Lady’s lovely comments, I did get quite a few hugs too 🙂 So I think she liked it 😉

 

I breathed a huge sigh of relief, It was simply the best feeling in the World, to know I had accomplished all My Lady’s thoughts and dreams onto a fabric panel and made her so, very happy too!!! 🙂 Just hope the Happy Couple like it now!

 

A couple more pictures of the panels…

 

The Trevi Fountain

 

Lexi and Marley

 

Glastonbury 2014

The Great hall at Mains, Lancashire UK

3D  fabric flower vine

Broderie anglaise fabric flowers attached with a coordinating button to the quilt panel and a stem stitched curly vine

 

Appliqué fabric heart

Appliqué heart

Appliqué Heart

 

Commissioned Elephant Lap Quilt. Handmade and hand-quilted with custom design applique elephants hearts and flowers.

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Appliqué hearts and flowers, Appliquéd elephants lap quilt, Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Bottons, Caren's canvas and craft, Colourful cotton elephants, Commissioned custom orders, Cotton wadding, Crafty creations, Creative, Creative crafter, Creative crafting, Designing my own pattern ideas, Embroidery threads, Fun creations, Fun with fabric, Hand quilted custom quilts, Hand quilting, Handmade patchwork quilts, Lap quilts, My Etsy Shop, Original, Patchwork, Patchwork and applique, Patchwork designer quilts

”Show and Tell” – 36” x 48”  Elephant Lap Quilt                                                             *NB  I MUST POINT OUT THAT THE CIRCLE ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE QUILT IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CAMERA FLASH AND NOT A BLEMISH ON THE QUILT! In all my excitement I didn’t notice it until I put this image on WordPress, by then, I had already shipped the quilt!!
This is one of the finished commissioned Lap Quilts which I promised I would show as soon as it arrived at its new home! 🙂

 

YAY! I am so pleased to be able to share with you all, a post about one of the commissioned custom order lap quilts, which has just been given full seal of approval,  by my lovely, Dear friend, Jackie! 🙂 Jackie has a couple of brilliant sites here on WordPress, which I follow avidly, her photographic work is absolutely stunning and I urge you all to pop over and have a look through her wonderful archives                                http://iamlostinthot.wordpress.com/about/

Jackie’s more recent WordPress site, Fun with Filters, has some amazing artistic effects placed over the original images, this is a link to one of my favourites        http://iamlostinthot2.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/iphone-snap-steampunk-hummingbird-v-2/     though to be honest, all her images are my favourites, it was hard to choose, but I decided on this one! 🙂

Firstly, I want to Thank Jackie immensely, for commissioning me to design and make her two (36” x 48”) custom order quilts! Not only that, but with trusting me completely, with all the design ideas, fabrics and colours, she really was in the dark from placing the order to seeing the final finished product, in both cases!

Jackie,  asked me to make a lap quilt for her cherished, two year old granddaughter with ‘Elephants’ as the theme and one for herself, with full free reign!!! Wow! I was sooo excited and a little scared too, what if she didn’t like them? But, thankfully, Jackie absolutely loved them both when they arrived in the US yesterday! 🙂  In fact, I have taken this ‘quote’ directly from her email,

”They look even better than they did in the pictures – your work is superb!!!” 

I was very very happy, as you can see, 🙂 🙂 :-)!!! Though, to be fair, my photography does leave a lot to be desired!

It was a fantastic opportunity for me and I loved every minute, from the first pencil sketch design to buying whatever palette of colours I chose, making all the double layered,  ‘turned out’, applique pieces,  right through to the very last quilting stitch!

Thank You so much again Jackie, for giving me the creative craft challenge 🙂

YAY!!!  I have just received another commission custom order, after my client saw your two designs! – my portfolio of lap quilt designs is set for an increase, again – this time as a Wedding gift!  🙂

 

 

Handmade and hand quilted large patchwork bears and bees lap quilt

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Art, Artistic, Arty, Bears and bees lap quilt, Caren's canvas and craft, Colourful creations, Colourful patchwork quilt, Crafty creations, Cute and cuddly quilts, Fun creations, Fun with fabric, Hand quilting, Handmade patchwork quilts, Lap quilt, Lovingly handmade quilts, My Etsy Shop, Original, Unique

bee colourful quilt !

Somewhere in my moments of creative madness, I latch onto a little idea…and then go off and make several for good measure!

Since making the little owl quilt for my mum, this seems to now be the case where lap quilts are concerned! Not something that happens over night as in small creations, but just over a week from start to last hand quilted stitch. This larger than normal (45 x 68 inches) lap quilt is just about as colourful as you can get! With cute little bears and bees in the centre of each panel too!

It is certainly something which should last for decades – if not centuries 😉 , as I reckon I must have put over two million stitches into its creation!

Bear and bee centres

Hand quilted detail

Since making the ‘little owl’ and now this ‘bears and bees’ lap quilt, I have been lucky enough to be commissioned to do two more! Not only that,  but…given free reign to design, create and chose everything about them all based on one word briefs!

I couldn’t have been any happier!

What this space! The big unveil of the two finished quilts – coming soon 🙂