Made For Baby Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the 'Made for Baby' blog tour! This sweet book was written by my friend Ayda, whose beautiful blog Cafe Nohut I have been a fan of ever since I started my own blogging journey! We finally met 'online' a few years ago and hit it off - and became fast friends since. She lives in Istanbul, Turkey, which is where I'm originally from so it's been really lovely to have someone who 'gets' what I do from my own homeland! So imagine how thrilled I was when my own publisher, Tuva Publishing, signed her up as one of their new authors!

Ayda's new book is full of projects for babies, and is suitable for all levels of sewists. It's packed to the brim with the cutest ideas, and inspirational photography (which is something Ayda absolutely excels at). I had the great pleasure and privilege to also do the technical editing of this book, which not only meant I got to see it before everyone else but also peruse it in great detail and learn lots of new techniques along the way! Lucky me!

The first project I want to share with you today is something I made with my new Sweet Prairie collection for my little stand at the St Louis Spring Quilt Market: a draw-string pouch. I added my own twist to it with the wooden ball decorations. So cute and so quick to make, and great for not only storing baby paraphernelia but sewing stuff too - when it comes back from the US I will be using it as a crochet project bag. I needed a new one! 

The second project I made from the book is a gift I made for a dear friend who just had an adorable and much longed for baby girl! This Peter Pan collar literally took me all of 15 minutes to make, and what a cute addition to any baby's outfit ! This will definitely become my go-to quickie baby gift to make going forward, that's for sure!

I hope you enjoyed my makes! If you would like to see other projects from the book please pay a visit to the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour - the full list is below. Also, Ayda is giving away a copy of her book (together with lots of cute notions) on her blog if you would like the chance to win one!

May.03	Ayda ALGIN	www.cafenohut.blogspot.com	@cafenohut
May.04	Jemima Flendt	www.blog.tiedwitharibbon.com	@tiedwitharibbon
May.05	Sarah Edgar	www.alittlehappyplace.blogspot.co.uk	@sarahedgarprettyfabrics
May.08	Lisa Cox	www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com	@aspoonfulsugar
May.09	Ange Hamilton	www.alittlepatchwork.wordpress.com	@alittlepatchwork
May.10	Lauren Wright	www.mollyandmama.com.au	@mollyandmama
May.11	Melissa LeRay	www.ohhowsweet.com	@ohhowsweetco
May.12	Minki Kim	www.minkikim.com	@zeriano
May.15	Faith Essenburg	www.SaranaAve.wordpress.com	@faithessenburg
May.16	Kristin Esser	www.kristinesser.com/	@kristin_esser
May.17	Lauren Guthrie	www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk/blog	@guthrieghani
May.18	Bridgette McNay	www.thefamilyhearth.com	@thefamilyhearth
May.19	Torie Jayne	www.toriejayne.com	@toriejayne
May.22	Constanca Cabral	www.constancacabral.com/blog	@constancacabral
May.23	Stacy Olson	www.stacyolsondesign.com	@stacyolsondesign
May.24	Caroline Husle	www.SewCaroline.com	@SewCaroline
May.29	Nadra Ridgeway	www.ellisandhiggs.com	@ellisandhiggs
May.30	Wynn Tan	www.zakkaArt.blogspot.com	@zakkaArt
May.31	Sedef Imer	www.downgrapevinelane.com	@downgrapevinelane
June. 01	Lauren Nash	Www.transientart.com	@transientart
June. 02	Jennie Pickett	www.cloverandviolet.com	@cloverandviolet
June. 05	Amy Sinibaldi	www.nanaCompany.typepad.com	@amysinibaldi
June. 07	Kim Kruzich	www.retro-mama.blotspot.com	@retro_mama
June. 08	Elea Lutz	www.elealutzdesign.com	@elealutz
June. 09	Samantha Dorn	www.aquapaisleystudio.com/blog	@aqua_paisley
June. 12	Ayda ALGIN	www.cafenohut.blogspot.com	@cafenohut

Thank you dear Ayda for inviting me to be a part of your tour - wishing you all the success in the world with it!

Baby Storybook - PDF Pattern Now Available!

Remember my baby storybook that was on the cover of Homespun magazine's January 2017 issue? I finally have the pattern available digitally in my Etsy shop! And as a special introductory offer I have taken 25% off the full price until close of business Thursday, 25 May. Purchase it here.

This quiet book represents this teddy and bunny's home, so in the morning they have breakfast in the kitchen, they can take a quick shower and dry off with a towel in the bathroom, followed by a day's play, and at the end of a busy day they get tucked into their individual beds for story time and a lovely night's sleep. 💖 There is a template to add a personalised label on the back cover also, should you wish to do so.

Thanks to those of you who have been patiently waiting for me to release the digital pattern before purchasing - your support is appreciated more than I can express, and enables me to continue doing what I love to do, designing and sharing my love of fabric and sewing with all of you!

Sweet Prairie Makes Its Debut At Quilt Market

Have you been following the Spring Quilt Market which took place last weekend? This year it was in St Louis, USA - unfortunately I wasn't there, but my fabric was, so I wanted to share pictures of my little stand which was in the Riley Blake booth.

I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to my dear friend Peta from She Quilts A Lot, who not only made a gorgeous quilt for my stand, but lugged most of my stuff over to St Louis in her luggage, AND helped Riley Blake set the stand up! And also a big thank you to my pattern distributor Naomi from Creative Abundance, who brought the rest of my stuff over to market in her shipment. And to everyone at Riley Blake of course - for all their support and for allocating me an awesome spot in the booth!

Without further ado, here are a few more pics from market, and close ups of each item from my stand!

And of course, the star attractions of the stand were the two quilts: my 'Tumbleweeds' quilt (the swirly one) and Peta's newest pattern, 'Happy Harvest'.  Both patterns will be available in paper and digital format soon.

Sweet Prairie ships to shops in August! Ask your local quilt store to order it in if you would like to get your hands on some!

Patchwork Quilt Along | Amigurumi Elephant

Can't believe it's already time for the May block in Fat Quarter Shop's annual charity quilt-along! This month's block is called 'Homestead' and the pattern is now available on the FQS blog.  Download it now and don't forget to donate just $5 to Make-A-Wish if you do so!

Here are my blocks for this month - featuring a selection of pink and red Bonnie & Camille prints, mixed with a grey dot background!

You can also check out the quilts other guest bloggers are making by visiting their blogs, here's the full list:

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl (@jedicraftgirl)
Amy of Diary of a Quilter (@diaryofaquilter)
Andy of A Bright Corner (@abrightcorner)
Bonnie of Cotton Way (@bonniecottonway)
Camille of Thimble Blossoms (@thimbleblossoms)
Debbie of Happy Little Cottage (@happylittlecottage1)
Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)
Heidi of Buttons and Butterflies (@buttonsandbutterflies)
Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)
Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)
Pat Sloan of PatSloan.com (@quilterpatsloan)
Renee of Sewn with Grace (@sewnwithgrace)
Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapevinelane)
Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)
Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)
Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)
Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

If you are inspired and would like to join this quilt along, bookmark the quilt along page on the Fat Quarter Shop blog, and visit on the 15th of each month to download that month's block pattern. Easy peasy! You can share your progress with other quilters  in the Patchwork Facebook group and post your blocks using #patchworkquiltalong on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Enjoy!

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Those who've been following me for a while will probably remember my amigurumi animal 'phase' a few years back. I just made a cute amigurumi elephant for a friend's baby and it's been so lovely to get back into it. My kids demanded some animals too so it looks like I won't be putting those hooks away anytime soon! The pattern for this cute elephant is by Amy from Little Muggles. 

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Last but not least, my dear friend Jemima (Tied With A Ribbon)'s first book 'Weekend Quilting' has come out, and it's just landed on my doorstep. It's fabulous, and I can't wait to sew something from it. Order yours today and stay tuned for the upcoming blog tour!