Fiona's 4000

Back in April I clocked up 4000 Followers over on Instagram so I decided to host a little giveaway.  As I had just completed my Circle Game Quilt, I decided to offer the winner a custom made mini quilt or cushion cover of their favourite Circle Game block.  

Here is a copy of my original post with the T&Cs: 

@BendigoLioness : "Wow, my counter has just clicked over the magical 4,000 followers! I cannot thank you all enough for the support, encouragement, laughs, friendships & inspiration that you all give me. As promised, I have decided to offer a little giveaway to celebrate. 🍾 I know that a lot of you have shared my journey as I have made my "Circle Game Quilt" over the past 12-months. Many have commented on it, some have conspired to "steal" it 😜 & some have offered to buy it, but sorry, I won't be parting with this baby - it was my therapy after the death of my purr-baby Gemma and has helped me to cope with the anguish of her loss. However, as a way to say THANK YOU I would like to make one of you either a mini quilt or a cushion cover in the colour scheme of YOUR CHOICE, based on one of these blocks (I'll let you choose which one too). Yep, I will custom make it for you! 😃 

To enter: 

1) Regram this picture on Instagram with the hashtag #fionas4000 

2) On your regram tell me how I can colour your world - what is your preferred colour scheme? (Some examples: brights, mono, pink with purple polkadots, low volumes with a pop, whatever YOU want. Individual designers not guaranteed but I will do my best to accommodate your colour preferences). 

3) Please state your preference of "mini quilt" or "cushion cover" on your regram. 

🔸I will close this off on Saturday 09 April 2015 at 5:00pm AEST & after verifying entries will aim to announce the winner during #saturdaynightcraftalong . 

🔸Entries open to all Instagram friends & followers worldwide with a public account. 

🔸No private or giveaway accounts & human accounts only please 🙀 I will contact the winner directly to get further details from you before I start to make your prize.

🔸 For the record this giveaway is purely of my own and is no way endorsed by @jenkingwell . "The Circle Game" is a licensed pattern by Australian designer Jen Kingwell and I have bought the pattern for my personal use."

@nanaani83 - Anita Sharp was the winner

The winning entry was number #6 which was Anita Sharp from Fresno, California (USA). 

Anita is a fellow Kaffe Fassett fan and she requested a mini quilt made from bright jewel tones.  She chose block number 13 and after consulting with her on colours & fabric options, I set about making her prize.  

Anita's finished prize.

#Repost @nanaani83 with @repostapp.

・・・

This thank you is a few days late, and I hope that the lovely Fiona @bendigolioness accepts my apologies.

I was the winner of her 4000 follower giveaway, and she created this incredible mini-quilt just for me! The colors are so vibrant and beautiful- absolutely stunning, and her handwork is impeccable!!!

Miss Fiona also included some Australian tea, an adorable spoon rest, and a variety of chocolates that I have had to protect from the maws of my greedy menfolk! 

Fiona - I absolutely love this package - Thanks from the bottom of my heart!!! 💗💜💙❤😻 

#fionas4000#instagramfriendsarethebest 
Pattern by@jenkingwell 
Fabric by #kaffefassett

Savanna Safari Quilt

In my former life I was a Travel Consultant & business owner and I used to specialise in travel to Africa.  I have many fond memories of my many adventures throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya and Malawi.  One of my absolute favourite safari lodges was Savanna Lodge - an exclusive 5 star lodge situated in the internationally famous Sabi Sand Reserve within the greater Kruger National Park conservancy in South Africa.  I stayed here back in 2008 whilst on vacation and loved every minute of my visit!  I decided to name this quilt in honour of this wonderful lodge, and hereby bring you "Savanna Safari". 

Click on photo to view my photos of Savanna Private Game Reserve on Flickr.

I decided to take this quilt with me when I met up with Anne recently in Kyneton and we snuck in a quick photo shoot despite the cold and drizzly day.

Outside Kyneton Museum

Outside Kyneton Museum

I just loved the organic rawness of this gate

This lovely stone wall was just outside the entrance to Kyneton on the corner of the C793 & Burton Avenue.  View of the front of the quilt.

This lovely stone wall was just outside the entrance to Kyneton on the corner of the C793 & Burton Avenue.  View of the back of the quilt.

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Quilt Specs

Name of Quilt - Savanna Safari

Pattern Design - made up of mixed patterns by TartanKiwi & Quilt Art Designs.  Refer below for further details.  Quilt layout design by me. 

Fabrics Used - This quilt has been entirely made using Cotton & Steel fabrics. I have used mostly the "August" range by Sarah Watts together with some Cotton & Steel Solids and Basics.

Technique - all blocks are foundation paper pieced

Quilting - I had this quilt professionally quilted by Linda at Ladybug Quilting in Bendigo.  The edge to edge pattern she has used is called "Slick" by Lorien Quilting, and she has quilted it using a beige Rasant Thread #1222.

Quilt Size - 64" x 84"

Photo courtesy of @LadyBugQuilting

Photo courtesy of @LadyBugQuilting

Photo courtesy of @LadyBugQuilting

Tartan Kiwi's Patterns

• The Leopard is based on Juliet's pattern "Big Cat" measuring 12" x 24".  I originally pattern tested this for her back in February 2015 however I remade it later in the year using Cotton & Steel.  My original remake is now on the back of the quilt because I ended up resizing the pattern by 150% and rotating the cat so that it faced to the right instead of the left.
• Mr Lion - I was one of Juliet's original pattern testers when she designed "Lion" - this is a large block at 24" I originally made this block back in February 2015 and he was the inspiration for the rest of the quilt.
• The Zebra is a pattern called "More Zebra Mania" and measures 20".  I pattern tested this for Juliet back in July 2015.  At the time I had an idea to make a large quilt but had no overall design in mind hence the green background.

In addition to these test blocks, I purchased the following patterns from Juliet:

"Giraffe" measuring 24" x 30", "Elephant" measuring 24" and "Hippo" measuring 12" x 30"

Quilt Art Design's Patterns

Once I had made the above blocks I felt that I needed to add more animals to the quilt top.  I have never written my own pattern before so I went googling and stumbled upon Janeen's designs.  Originally Janeen had each of her animals available for individual sale on Craftsy, however she has since combined them into two multi packs called "Animal Safari Patterns E Book 1" and "Animal Safari Patterns E Book 2".  The individual blocks are each approximately 12".  

The blocks that I have used are:

• Rhino 2 - in E Book 1
• Buffalo 1 - in E Book 1
• Lion Cub - in E Book 1
• Warthog 1 - in E Book 2

Laid out on the floor at Mum's house

Laid out on the floor at Mum's house

Savanna Safari

Pick Up Stitches - Kyneton

On Monday 6 June I meet up with my friend Anne Boundy for lunch in beautiful Kyneton.  

Located approximately 85Km from Melbourne in Central Victoria, Kyneton is a thriving country town in the Macedon Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east.  The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire.  Kyneton has become renowned as Victoria’s foremost country destination for good food with first rate eateries dotted throughout the town.  Some of the finest Bluestone buildings to be found in Victoria are a main feature of the town and date back to the Gold Rush era when Kyneton was a major supply town for the diggings. The Museum displays items from a bygone era in an authentic setting.

Kyneton is just under 1-hour away from Bendigo via the Calder Freeway. 

We enjoyed a very yummy lunch at Little Swallow Cafe (58a Piper St Kyneton).   I don't know how long we sat in there chatting after we had eaten.

Mmmmmm Coffee!!!!!

Our lunches - Anne ordered a pulled pork burger and I ordered French Toast with a spiced pineapple & nut compote.

Miss Snow Minty (Anne's bilby) shared my lunch. French Toast.

Indoor selfie - me & Anne

Outdoor selfie attempt

Another outdoor selfie attempt

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Pick Up Stitches

Pick Up Stitches have been servicing customers with an indulgence in both knitting and patchwork supplies for over 6 years. They have over 3000 bolts of fabric in 4 rooms, with an exceptional amount devoted to flannel fabric.  They also have a large selection of local and imported yarns on offer (brands include Patons, Cleckheaton, Heirloom, Rowan, Katia, Sirdar & Touch Yarns to name a few) however they are currently in the process of transferring many of their yarns to a secondary shop location.  They also offer regular Stitch’n’Sew days and patchwork classes.

Fabric galore!

Smile Anne!

Embroidery threads & sewing notions

Anne did your husband give you access to the credit card? 

What's left of the wool - most has been moved to their second shop

The front room

View from the front room & yes that heater was lovely and warm!

Sewing notions near the front counter

30 Piper St, Kyneton Vic.

Phone: 03 5422 6614 

Open 7 Days a Week 10am until 4pm

http://www.pickupstitches.com.au/

The Circle Game Quilt

My completed Circle Game Quilt

Further to my post the other day, I realised that I hadn't provided any specs about my Circle Game Quilt.

The pattern booklet.  Available through all good quilt shops.

Pattern: "The Circle Game" by Jen Kingwell

Fabrics Used: 

• I have used a mixture of fabrics by the Kaffe Fassett Collective which includes Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs.
• The black & white spot is "Spot On" design #14868 by Studio RK for Robert Kaufman
• The grey is "Architextures" by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman.  I think it was the "Shale" colour. 
• The charcoal is "Quilter's Linen" screen rint D#9864 by Robert Kaufman
• The Sashing - is a Kaffe Fassett print called "Freckles".  It looks yellow in some photos but it is actually a very pale lime green with flecks of red, pink, brown and green through it.

Techniques: Jen's quilts can be made using a variety of techniques and I am sure that everyone does theirs differently.  I estimate that at least 85% of this quilt was sewn by hand.  There were a few simple blocks which I machine pieced but mostly I hand sewed them.  I did machine piece the borders and the sashing.  It has taken me approximately 12-months to complete this quilt.  

Quilting: I have hand quilted this quilt using Aurifil threads in a combination of 40wt, 50wt and 28wt that I ordered through Ms Midge.

The individual blocks:

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Block 7

Block 8

Block 9 - this is one of my favourites

Block 10

Block 11

Block 12

Block 13

Block 14

Block 15

Block 16 - another one of my favourites

The finished quilt top:

Here is the flimsy hanging up above my bed prior to being quilted.

Miss Amity's "schexy pose" - it's a shame I had the window open when I took this photo as the wind blew the right hand side, but Amity's pose is just too cute!

Basting & Quilting:

My mother helped me baste the quilt in the craft room at her retirement village.

About to pin baste

Ironing and basting

These are all the Aurifil threads that I used to hand quilt this quilt.

Hand quilting

Hand quilting

Hand quilting with Aurifil

Hand quilting with beautiful Aurifil threads

When I was too tired to hand quilt, Miss Amity took over for me ;0)