Homespun Block of the Month 2018

Today I'm super excited to be able to reveal the large project I worked on with my sister Sarah last year. 

A little more than a year ago Homespun Magazine asked us if we would like to design a quilt for their 2018 Block of the month program. We were both thrilled and honoured to be asked to do such an important project as there have been some seriously talented and famous designer before us!

We got to work immediately! Fortunately I was visiting home for Christmas so we put together our design, divided the work so we were ready when the fabric arrived. 

We were so lucky to work with the new Tilda Lemontree collection. It's just gorgeous, if you haven't seen it yet check it out at your nearest supplier.

The first issue is out on newstands this month with the first block. I haven't received mine yet but will definitely post some photos when it arrives.

The quilt includes a variety of tecniques, from needle turn applique, embroidery and traditional patchwork piecing.

I'm definitely considering following the monthly program and remaking the quilt. Call me crazy but I think I'll do it!!!

We hope those who decide to make this gorgeous quilt enjoy it. We would love to see your photos and know how it's going. You can tag us on Instagram @roxycreationsbyrachel and @roxycreationsbysarah . We would love to hear from you!

If you don't live in Australia, there are many stockists of Homespun in Europe and the US. Another alternative is to buy the magazine in digital form. Just pop over to Homespun's website here for all the links. 

Do you want to stay in the loop? If so sign up here to receive discounts, first dibs on new products and sales, freebies and tutorials.

Cot Quilt for Nicolas

Recently my friend asked me to make a baby quilt for her cousin's baby. They love cars so this is what I came up with. It was thoroughly enjoyable to make and I love the way the colours turned out. The designs are machine appliqued with a contrasting thread, I love that effect and then I hand quilted it. The pattern is my own.

In the pond quilt!

A lovely quilt made for a little boy Enea. Pattern is my own. All applique is by hand except for the lettering and the quilt is hand quilted. I really love the way the colours and pattern turned out!

Large kantha bag

Finally, finally, finally i found time and energy to start making up some ideas I've had for a while. I've been wanting to make some large bags for some time with my kantha quilts I have. Here is my first one, a large bag great for so many purposes. It can be used as a beach bag, yoga bag, diaper bag, overnight bag or as a shopping bag. The list goes on! Even my 9 year old said she wants one! Available in my shop.

More Kantha makings

I forgot to mention in my previous post that these bags are so versatile you can use them as lingerie bags, cosmetic bags, hair accessories bags, sewing bags, knitting bags and even in the kitchen to store plastic shopping bags, potatoes, bread and so on.

This bag was made with strips of different fabrics woven together.
 

Above are a patchwork drawstring and zipper pouch made with kantha remnants.

Finally I also made a few cushions, some are already sold.

 
 

Drawstring bag love

Lately I've been enjoying making drawstring bags. They are so useful and so much fun to make. The latest are made with vintage kantha quilts and are going in my shop.

Gorgeous snuggly cot quilt

I started this gorgeous quilt some time ago, then became busy and forgot about it! I found it a while ago and finished it off. I love the colours. I put a thick batting in it so it's very snuggly! rather than doing regular quilting on it I knotted it here and then with embroidery floss.

 

Happy creating time

Last week I had some time to create something new, so exciting!!!! I made this gorgeous crib stroller quilt will a 40x60cm pillow to match. Of course Lulu, who's 9, said she loved it and wanted a quilt like that! Her favourite colour is green so I may have to put my thinking cap on! I machine appliqued the elephant and stars but then hand quilted it with embroidery floss.

 

Kantha Love

We all love Kantha quilts in our family. I bought my first one at the Sydney Quilt Fair earlier this year. At the same fair, we came across a Sydney shop called Cash Palace Emporium which imports beautiful items from India and Japan. On the weekend, mum and I went to find Cash Palace Emporium and we were not disappointed. Just diving up to the shop evoked great excitement with the most amazingly colourful window display of devine items and a huge pile of red toned Kantha quilts right at the door.

Upon stepping inside, it was sensory overload. There are piles and piles of Kantha quilts, embroidered cushions, vintage trims, clothes, jewelry and much more. I just didn't know where to start but very quickly gravitated towards the pink pile. I knew that there was no way that I was going to leave that shop without buying my second Kantha quilt. The hard part was picking just one. Below are my two Kantha Quilts. They are both stunning!

We got to meet the lovely Elaine Townshend owns and runs the shop. She very happily let us rummage through a massive box of scrap Kantha pieces and pull out what ever we wanted. I got a whole heap for only $5....... bargin!!! Some of the many scraps that I bought are below. Mum bought lots too and is making a wall hanging. Once she is done I will blog it.

I also bought a beautifully vintage embroidered cushion. There were many pretty ones but my son liked the Indian elephant god- Ganesha so we picked the one below.

She had lots of vintage Japanese Kokeshi dolls so I couldn't resist one of those as well. Now that I have one, I think I will start a collection. I love the vintage dolls.

You can follow the store on Facebook but I strongly suggest that if you like vintage Indian textiles and you are in Sydney, then you visit the store. It is located at 139 Catherine St, Leichhardt, Sydney, and is open from Monday-Sturday, 10am - 5pm. You will want to go back regularly as Elaine goes on buying tours quite often so she always has new stock.

Elaine Townshend at Cash Palace Emporium

Applique quilt blocks

These are some applique quilt blocks I've prepared for a customer. She is going to make up the quilt with some fabrics she has. i hope she likes them and will send me a photo when the quilt is made!

W.I.P.

This is definitely an epic project. I started quite some time ago and literally haven't picked it up for more than a year because I was too busy with orders. Going home and seeing mum's progress has inspired me to pull it out and get working on it. 

Initial inspiration for this project has come from wonderful Pam Garrison I so love everything she does. Go and visit her blog to see her beautiful work.

Vintage embroidery with new embroidery!

 Vintage fabric heart applique and detail of a Browyn Hayes embroidery from one of her books.

 Appliqued, raw edge hexies using antique handwoven Italian hemp, linens and pieces of vintage embroideries. I still have work to do here there will be some embroidery here and there.

 More hexies placed near a gorgeous monogram mum gave me.

Could be anything quilt!!!

I made this pretty summer quilt the other day. It doesn't have any batting and is reversible. I hand quilted it with perle thread to hold the layers together. I used all of my favourite pretty girlie fabrics. It's very versatile as it can be used as a light cot quilt, throw, playmat, picnic blanket and the list goes on.

Picnic rag quilt

Last week I finished this order for a customer. It's a 50'x60' rag quilt, my own deisgn. I never made one before so I watched a few tutorials before I began. It was so much fum to make I just loved it! I was very sad to part with the quilt as it turned out so pretty so I think it will definitely have to add it to the long 'to make for Lulu' list I have! The great thing about these quilts is on one side they are very textural and on the reverse side they look like a patchwork quilt.

My client had very specific ideas about colours and theme at the same time allowing me to adjust theme so they would work together. That said I love how her ideas turned out! More photos on flickr and Facebook.