Modern Quilters Ireland Swap

This summer the Modern Quilters Ireland Group closed but there are two activities still ongoing for the rest of the year.  Our summer swap and Modern Irish Bee are the last makes and we are going out with a bang!  The swap item chosen for 2017 was the Goody Binding Kit by Leila's Boutique.  This was a really fun thing to make and not that difficult. 

Yes there is a zip but there is a video and some very clear explanations in the tutorial to make this bit a breeze!  There is a pocket for a scissors another larger pocket for patterns or EPP templates, holder for thread and the zippy pocket for loose bits and pieces. 

 My swap partner likes bright and modern so I made a scrappy plus cover from 1.5" squares from the scrap pile and some ribbon from Fat Quarter Shop.  Found some Tula Pink and managed to get it in!

In return Sandra@sewofcourse made this gorgeous kit for me - love the fox!

 And Bassets!  I love the keyring and the centre Basset is appliqued and is a pocket for some scissors.  More Tula Pink fabric too!

Thanks to Sandra for such a lovely swap item and thanks to all who have taken part in the Modern Quilters Ireland activities over the last 4 years! 

If you want to make one of these for your self the tutorial can be found here.

Linking to the Friday finishes.  Happy weekend everybody!

What can you do with 8 blocks?

While I was having a cuppa at a break while visiting the Dublin branch of our guild we had a chat about WIP's and unfinished quilts.  One lady had 8 blocks made and suffering from repetitive block hell was struggling to make just one more and as you couldn't do much with just 8 blocks.  Well that got me thinking!  So I started playing with 5 blocks...

Then 10...

Then 5 again...

Then a bit mad with blocks!

This one I think I'd like to make as Gordon is a rower and this reminds me of rowboats!

Finally 8 blocks!  Anyone else have a layout for 8 blocks they'd like to share?

All of these blocks are from Amy Gibson's Quilt Block Cookbook.  While Jenny Doan's of Missouri Star Quilt Company was the first Craftsy Class I saw and inspired me to make a quilt, Amy Gibson's 2012 Free Block of the Month series taught me how to piece and the importance of a scant 1/4".  Not affiliated with them in anyway but have a further look if you like and want to find patterns for these quilt blocks!