Friday 10 July 2015

Fairy Tale Swap–a finish!

Last week I showed you the extra handmade item for this swap, a project book from Aneela Hooey’s pattern.  Today I have the main swap item to share.  This is my Princess and the Pea mini-quilt called Wide Awake!
I signed up for the #SPDFairytaleswap on Instagram and the shipping date was last week so I’ve been paper piecing, making templates, trying out some fancy stitches on my new machine trying to make a Princess and the Pea mini in perspective!
My partner  loves bright, happy fabrics, no browns or muted colours so I chose some layer cake squares from Me and My Sister’s Hubba Hubba collection.  I designed the bed in EQ7 and foundation paper pieced the mattresses.
For the canopy, I drew it on blank paper following the lines of the mattresses and used the sides as templates to cut pieces.  I  backed the pieces with fusible web to iron in place and used fusible for the bed posts too.
I had the idea that while the Princess was trying to sleep on her collection of mattresses, a little dog would be curled up in his tiny bed snoring his head off!
I sketched out a dog based very much on Charly when she is all curled up and then used fabric backed with more fusible paper to put him and his bed together.  His name is Toby (Toby was our very first dog.  He was very snuggly and loved to curl up!)
To give the impression of the Princess being wide awake I had the idea of her counting sheep.  Funnily enough this month’s Love Patchwork & Quilting Magazine has a jumping sheep mini-quilt with templates so it was really easy to make the sheep!  When the universe gives you exactly what you are thinking of I think its called synchonicity!
I had intended to put in a dressing table and crown and a window with the night sky but it was getting a bit big and a bit fussy so I stopped at that and embellished the bed, to make it fit for Royalty instead!
I had fun using some of the speciality stitches to add hearts, stars and fancy scrolling to the bed to make it more like something you would find in a castle!
Finally a bit of quilting in the background.  I’m sorry now I didn’t quilt in some bricks or some straight lines.  I thought a large wiggle would melt into the background and not compete with the bed but I don’t really like the look of it, maybe the scale is too big?  Other than that I’m happy with how it came out and hope my swap partner likes it and the rest of the swap package!
I found this Little Red riding hood fabric on LoveFabric.ie and just had to buy him.  Claire thought he was cool but a little creepy!  I agree and I really like the way he is licking his lips! 
So this lot is winging its way across the Atlantic at the moment.   It was a great idea for a swap and I had great fun making for it.  Linking up to the Friday Finishes!

23 comments:

  1. Love it!! The design, colors, pretty stitches, all of it, wonderful!

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  2. It's beautiful Ruth. You've done a great job, especially achieving the perspective in the princess's bed. You've had a good time, by the looks of things, trying out the fancy stitches on your new machine too.

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  3. How cute is this!!!! Awesome job!!

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  4. How sweet! Love the bed...you picked a perfect fairy tale for this swap! Well done!!

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  5. What a great design! I really love the detail you put into the bed and canopy, and the sleeping dog is just too accurate! And I was just talking with my husband about the synchonicity of the universe last night - it is so true, and I am glad it worked out in your favor. :)

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  6. Oh wow, what a fabulous original design. I love the little dog, perfect addition! Those floating sheep--to die for, and yes, I know what you mean about the Universe, I speak from personal experience... This is a really thoughtful package you've put together and your partner is sure to be over the moon. :-)

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  7. Adorable! and...yes have to include the pup!

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  8. This is darling. I love all your little touches and embellishments.

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  9. Ruth, I could hardly wait to see this quilt in close up and am so happy that you've shared the details with us. Wide Awake is utterly charming! I love all the thought and every little touch that you added this quilt! My favorite bit of whimsy is Toby, snoring his head off. The sheep are awesome as is the mattress with all your decorative stitching.
    The whole goody package is just the best Ruth! People on Instagram must rejoice when they see you join a swap!

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  10. THat is adorable. I love the sheep

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  11. THat is adorable. I love the sheep

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  12. Such great details! Your partner is very lucky!

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  13. I absolutely adore this! The little dog and the decorative stitches are such cute touches that give this piece so much character. :)

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  14. How cute! Your partner will love it! (I would.)

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  15. Aww that's so cute - I love the little snoring dog! And yes, when the universe plonks just the right pattern in front of you you know you have to go for it!

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  16. I think you were right to leave off the dressing table, crown and window. We can focus on the main story instead. This is a great choice for a quilt as all the mattresses allow you to use lots of fun coloured fabrics. The dog and the sheep are the icing on the cake. I know when I cannot sleep I listen to my dog snoring, so it adds an element of realism to the fairy tale. :)

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  17. That is so cute and fun! I especially like those sheeps!

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  18. What a clever idea - and so well executed. I love the colours and the balance in the design. I especially like the princess asleep under her covers at the top of the mattress pile.

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  19. You had me hooked when I saw the little doggy curled up in his bed! Cute! :)

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  20. Ruth, I just love this!! The detail you have put into it is fantastic. And those specialty stitches add just the right regal touch to those mattresses! Your partner is sure to love it :)

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  21. Wow, Ruth - you've really spoiled your swap partner. :D All the fancy stitches on each of the mattresses, the posts, and the canopy are superb - love that detail work.

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  22. Wonderfully cute mini! The sleeping dog is perfect :)

    -Soma

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