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)

Would You Like To Build A Snowman?

I recently helped out a friend in trouble who was a bit swamped time wise.  She had started to paper piece an "Olaf" from the movie "Frozen" (which I am yet to see) but ran into trouble.  Being the paper piecing junkie that I am, I offered my help which she gladly accepted. 

 

The completed Olaf block

 

The fabrics were all chosen & supplied by Sharon.  They were dropped off together with some chocolate & Aurifil and I set to work.  This block is definitely rated at an advanced level, because some of the pieces are quite small. However, they are necessary to achieve the level of detail.  The completed block finished at 10.5" with seam allowance.  

 

Sharon collected Olaf last Friday and the following day I was pretty excited to see this post on Instagram, she had turned it into the most adorable cushion for her daughter.

 

 

If you would like to find out more about her cushion, please visit Sharon's blog post:

Would you like to build/sew your own snowman?  The pattern is a free digital download by Sew Much Mischief.

Meet the Cotton Factory - Ballarat

On the corner of Clyde and Brougham Streets in Ballarat sits a lovely white washed studio.  It looks innocent and quiet from the outside in its idyllic peaceful setting, but don't let that fool you because all the fun and excitement happens within the inside of these walls!  This is a very special studio which is famed throughout Instagram-land amongst the crafting and quilting communities.

 

Many famous names are known to frequent this address including (but not limited to): Ric Rac, Sarah Fielke, Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink, Emma Jean Jansen, Gail Pan, Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry and Heather Ross. 

 

What is this amazing place you may ask?  It is the Cotton Factory of course!

 

 

Cotton Factory is the brain child of owner Alison von Bibra.  It is described as being a community sewing space within Ballarat which "offers space for people to come and sit, sew, knit, learn and connect with other crafty types".  The Cotton Factory offers classes in various types of craft including sewing, quilting, crochet, toy making, and handbag making.  They also host children's parties where children can "leave with something they have created themselves and new skills."  

 

Cotton Factory offers a selection of monthly clubs such as Aurifil, Cosmo and various designer fabric clubs.  When on the premises you can use the Studio space, attend classes or pick up supplies. Credit card facilities are available.

For those of you who are unable to visit in person, Cotton Factory has a small selection of items for sale via their website and also advertises items for sale via their Instagram Sale account . 

 

Owner - Alison von Bibra

 

Barbara and Jess shopping at the Cotton Factory

A quilting class in progress at the Cotton Factory

Sarah Fielke's "Enchanted" Quilt is currently on display.  Her "Enchanted" fabric range is available here for purchase together with kits and the pattern for this quilt.

View from the classroom area looking at the shop (left)

View from the classroom area looking at the shop (right)

 

Catching up with Jess in Ballarat

I had the most awesome day on Thursday!  I drove down to Ballarat with my co-pilot Mum (it's about 1.5 hours drive south west of Bendigo), and met up with my gorgeous "Quilty Sister" Jess as she was passing through on her recent road-trip from Queensland to Melbourne (she's on the home trek now).

 

Jess & Fiona aka "Scrappy n Happy" & "Bendigo Lioness"

Bendigo (where I live) is the top town marked on the map - it is about 1.5 hours drive from here to Ballarat.

We had arranged to meet up at Alison's shop - the Cotton Factory, and Jess had also arranged to meet up with Jodie from Ric Rac.  This was the first time I had physically met any of them (although we often chat online) and we had a lot of laughs!

  

Jess & Jodie from "Ric Rac"
(can you see Alison photo-bombing in the background?)

 

Alison (Cotton Factory), Jodie (Ric Rac), Fiona (Bendigo Lioness) & Jess (Scrappy N Happy)

 After our visit, strange posts started to appear on Instagram...
 

posted by Alison

 

posted by Jodie

 

Apparently I "cook, sew, have great hair & I give good muffin"... oh deary deary me...

After we left the Cotton Factory, Jess joined Mum and I as we visited the Crafty Squirrel and Gail's Patchwork Emporium.  It was here that we bid farewell to Jess. Mum and I then headed off to get some lunch and then had coffee & macarons at McCafe.  We squeezed in a quick visit to the Elephant Patch before leaving Ballarat for the journey back to Bendigo.  I will detail these visits in coming posts over the next few days, including our stop on the way home at Maldon. 

 

Macarons & Coffee for afternoon tea at MacDonalds

The Next Day:

I know that Jess hasn't had a chance to open the box of presents that I gave her yet, but these are the gorgeous goodies which she so generously gave to me (I didn't get a chance to open them until the following day):

My first ever box of Aurifil!  I was absolutely blown away when I saw these!!!!!   Yes, I cried!  Absolutely ecstatic!

A very yummy box of chocolate truffles from Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. 
The flavours are: Zingy Lime, Strawberry Delight and Marble Mint.

She also gave me some Cottage Garden Threads, some Tula Pink squirrel ribbon and a copy of the new release from the International Assembly.

  

I will post more details on each of the shops that we visited on our day out over the coming days; but meanwhile I will introduce you to Jodie & Jess.

 

Meet Jodie.  Jodie from Ric Rac is a toy maker based in Ballarat and she creates the most adorable toys from various fabrics including felt.  Her newest patterns "Bruce" the crafty carrier and "Tea Set" have just been released.  Please click on the link below to visit her blog and there is a link there to her store where you can purchase her patterns.  Her patterns can also be found in many quilt stores throughout Australia.

 

 

Click to visit Ric Rac

Meet Jess. Jess (Scrappy n Happy) is a Queensland based Quilter, Sewer, Mum & Blogger and is one of the most loveliest people I have ever met.  She is also a member of the Quilty Sisters.  Please click on the link below to visit her Blog.  Links to her Etsy shop and Instagram can be found on her blog. (Sorry Jess I borrowed this photo from your Instagram profile.)

 

 

 

Click to visit Scrappy n Happy