i'm so excited to tell you all that we finally had some gorgeous weather here and i got the "bella collage quilt" photographed!! yay!!!! i heart this quilt. it was such a fun one to whip up. it's all about the fabrics on this one. i'm a huge fan of lotta jansdotter's work and fell head over heels for her new line bella. i wanted something that was a great beginner quilt for all you fellow newbies but also something that let you have some wild fun with quilting if you were more experienced. you know me...i'm all about a bit of wild fun :P
one of my main goals for designing the bella collage quilt was to enable the sewer to use 6 yards of fabric fully with minimal cutting. i'm always looking for a way to use full yardage (i gotta thing for it) and i'll admit it...i suck at cutting. so if i can't get a pre-cut bundle i tend to lean towards yardage and fun quilting to add some flair. the finished size of this quilt is perfect for one adult. i'm all for that. i believe in selfish sewing these days and heck if my toes are warm and i'm all cozy and snuggled i'm happy. when the hubs is out and i need a warm me up i go straight to bella now. she keeps me nice and toasty.
being a blogger i make collages a lot...and i mean a lot. so the idea came to me when i was trying to figure out how to preserve as much of my yardage as possible to just make a collage. i lurve it and it is going to be well loved by this momma in our little apartment. i've been snuggling up with it non stop since i finished hand sewing the binding on and it really brightens up my sofa (which is definitely not as nice, or clean, as my friends whose is pictured above).
: : 4 page full color pdf pattern complete with clear & easy to understand step by step instructions with bright photos and digitally drafted diagrams
: : instructions for a finished quilt including the tetris style quilting pattern.
: : fabric requirements, notions needed
: : a fun quilting/sewing experience :)
the bella collage quilt tutorial is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD here:
we had a blast photographing the bella collage quilt. this is one of my fave places in victoria. a beautiful lookout bluff that has 3 bright colored anorak chairs perched atop it. when you sit there you feel as if you're floating in the air above the ocean. it's one of my fave places to go and just breathe. it reminds me how amazing this place is and how to not sweat the small stuff. i can tell you that i needed it that day. it ain't easy photographing quilts peeps. i freely admit i stressed with this one. i wanted some shots that i could look back at and enjoy that weren't just for tutorial purposes. something to document that moment and our little family. i'm thankful the hubs & even the kidlets helped me out! i adore the pics and i get relaxed and calm just looking at them. i think one of these bad boys is going in a frame cause i need all the help i can get these days to just remember "to breathe".
so come, grab your fave quilt and a thermos of coffee and join me on the bluff...let's chat...and dream away an hour or two atop the ocean......
happy sewing from my home to yours! xoxoxo oh, and if you make one please upload some pics to our flickr group so we can all see your lovely quilts! i can't wait!
what do you think? do you think you'll make one? what fabric line are you crushing on that you would use? i can't wait to hear your thoughts!