Jumping to it....

My long term Katie Jump Rope quilt is finally a finished project! I think it's been on the go for nearly two years if you count the process of purchasing the fabric. Measuring 70" x 63", made from 5" blocks featuring about 26 fabrics from the range and quilted in straight vertical lines about 3/4" apart, this quilt has lost none of the charm that I imagined it would have. It's very vintage...slightly at odds with the 'mod' back that features a range of solids in co-ordinating colours pieced together in strips. The binding is the bandana print in blue which I acquired after the top was pieced otherwise it would certainly had been included. However, using it only as binding frames the quilt beautifully. Now back to the work in progress pile!

Wonderland delight.....

After a lively conversation with M, one of R's friends, about our mutual love of pretty much anything Alice in Wonderland, particularly the completely out of our price range, Marc Jacobs ballet flats, I purchased some Alice in Wonderland fabric off eBay. The seller didn't know the source but I think it's Kokka. It doesn't have a brand but instead has the most divine selvedge with little houses depicting the colours used. So when M's 14th birthday rolled around yesterday I made her a little covered note book and a co-ordinating pencil case. The pencil case measures about 43cm across x 33cm high, large enough for a ruler and the plethora of stationery these girls have to carry around to each class. I added a gusset to the bottom to help it stand up on her desk. The note book worked out really well and I love the little ribbons that I found in my 'must keep that for something' tray. Both received seals of approval from R....in the form of 'that's sooo cute, I want one too!'.And on the floor at the moment as part of my mission to finish off UFO's, my Katie Jump Rope quilt. It too has been in the wardrobe (of shame) since January 2010! Looking at it again, I haven't lost any love for it since I decided to cut into this precious fabric....just as well! It's now basted and ready for quilting.....soon!

Skipping Girl....

I have been working on my Skipping Girl Katie Jump Rope quilt for ages and that's not even counting in the time that I dreamt of owning a quilt with these fabrics and the time it took to acquire the fabrics.

I cut the squares out in October 2009 and pieced the front in January 2010 school holidays. It has been folded over a coat hanger as a flimsie since then.

The reason it stalled again was because I just could not decide on a backing that would do these gorgeous fabrics justice.

I bought fabrics on line only to discard it once it arrived. I bought others from various stores only to decide they were too brazen for these subtle 'working class' prints. It was a dilema.

Then one night, or maybe it was the wee morning hours, as I tossed and turned in one of those wretched half awake sleeps I seem to have these days, I suddenly remembered the batch of solids that I had just purchased for my Munki Munki quilt. By jingo....so many of these colours were very similar to those used in the Katie Jump Rope range. And as solids, they weren't going to compete with the prints.

I had around 15" left of my matching horde so I cut strips of 10" and 5". I thought these widths were mathematically appropriate given the front squares were 5".

So......

Wash the dishes, dry the dishes,

have a cup of tea.

Don't forget the sugar.

A-one, a two, a three......

I'm thrilled! The Skipping Girl quilt is now back on the agenda for a finish!