I'm Back!!
Hello!! It's me!! I'm back from my Blogaholiday!!
No, I haven't turned into a chicken!
So, what have I been up to? well, besides working, I've been cleaning cupboards, watching Downton Abbey, going for fun outings, we've had a family visit and I've managed to get a bit of sewing done...
No doubt you'll remember I was raving about Sis Boom's Crazy Love range, well as soon as I received my bundle from Hawthorn Threads I started cutting into it.
In my spring cleaning I'd come across a 60 degree triangle ruler that I've never ever used, I've only had it for 4 years!!! These fabulous fabrics with their big exotic prints arrived the day after I rediscovered my ruler so I took it as a sign that it was meant to be. I used the triangle as a template which created 8 inch finished triangles. The 8 inch scale worked really well with the patterns, big enough to frame the designs.
There's some other Sis Boom fabrics thrown in the mix. They all just work together in a big bright happy cocktail of fabric fun.
You could have SO much fun fussy cutting Crazy Love!!
I did where I could but I was limited by some of the smaller cuts I'd ordered. Some of the not-perfect-fussy-cut pieces make you take a second look which I don't mind. It's good to be a bit unpredictable sometimes.
This range is so exotic. I feel as though they have been sourced from faraway, almost mythical lands. The colours are so rich and luminous.
Sewing triangles has been fun. I enjoyed the repetition of one shape. I listenied to music and happily cut out shapes and had fun merrily placing them on my design wall. Once it was all planned out it suddenly dawned on me - I was staring at a lot of bias edges... and... pointy points. Yikes!!
I tackled it slow and steady. I was careful with my pressing (usually I iron like a steam roller!) and was careful not to pull on the rows. As for the points, a few may be a bit blunt but overall they're not too bad.
Since the outdoor photos I added 3 more rows. It's now 80 x 88 inches and a great bed size!
So how does the chicken fit in? You can imagine my smile when the Easter Bunny brought me this chicken in Crazy Love colours!!! - That is one groovy Easter Chicken!!
I continued my annual tradition of getting up before dawn to make hot cross buns. They take ages! By the time I measure the ingredients, mix, knead for 10 minutes, let the dough rise for 1.5 hours, knead again, let the buns rise for another hour, cook, drizzle with sugar syrup. It was way past breakfast, more like lunch time before we were able to eat them. Extra fruity and extra cinnamon and made with wholemeal flour. They look a little lumpy and splodgy but they were delicious!!
Gosh, I'm chatty after such a long time away!! The holiday certainly blew away a few cobwebs but I'm happy to be back, and I can't wait to catch up on what everyone has been up to!!
Happy Easter / holiday fun to everyone!!
38 Comments
Welcome back :o) Love the new creation, so colourful. Hope you enjoyed your hot cross buns, I just got the supermarket bakery to make mine...
ReplyDeleteLet me just say Oh My God..I have to say like I do about all of yours this is hands down incredible..will blog soon!! Thanks for making my day. Have a lovely weekend. xoxoxJennifer
ReplyDeleteWow! You made great use of your time. And that quilt!!!! Crazy, crazy, Crazy Love. It's fantastic. And you're absolutely right about the fussy cutting potential.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
Just love your Crazy Love quilt!!
ReplyDeleteHow amazing! My sister and I were talking about you last night... Were your ears burning?!!! Great to have you back! The quilt is stunning.. just what we have come to love from you and your sewing machine!!! The fussy cut triangles are perfect for this fabric!! Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! The triangles are perfect for the fabric. Another beautiful quilt in the making Rachael.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Oh my friend so glad to see you back. The quilt is beautiful. I love the two fold feel of exotic and happy bright.
ReplyDeleteHomemade hot cross buns and strippy chook have a happy day.
Happy Easter Miss Rachael, glad you are back! Your latest quilt is truly scrumptious and those hot cross buns dont look too bad either...YUM! x
ReplyDeleteGreat quilt! And love the coffee cups too. Happy Easter. See you at the show!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see your inspiring works again! Your new quilt is just gorgeous!!! Happy Easter to you too.
ReplyDeleteLove your Easter tradition with the hot cross buns. Love your stunning quilt.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter.
Welcome back!!!!! Your quilt is beautiful!!! And your hot cross buns look delicious!!!! Happy Easter!! Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteYay! Welcome back Rachael!! What a gorgeous quilt! Hope you're having a great Easter, I'm doing it touch up at Kingscliff enjoying some of your gorgeous NSW sunshine! mx
ReplyDeleteDoh, should have said doing it tough :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Rachael...what a fun post...Gosh I can't believe you have only been quilting a short time...you do such fun stuff.../good on you for getting up early to make buns...I'm not even dressed yet and it's 11.36 am...I better get a move on! Have a lovely chocolately day with that colourful henxoxo
ReplyDeleteThe best Easter gift is having you back again. Missed you!
ReplyDeleteLove the quilt and those hot cross buns look so good. Happy to welcome you back to blogland.
ReplyDeleteGreat to se you back, happy Easter to you as well. Love the quilt you've been creating and so co-ordinated with the chicken too. Your hot cross buns look yummy.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back! That quilt is yummy! Makes me want to buy more fabric...
ReplyDeleteYou certainly make fabric sing :) this looks stunning, chipper, chirpy and cheerful, both the quilt and yourself...welcome back ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd there is Miss Rachael!!!!!! so glad to see you back! LOVE the quilt! it is exotic! The buns looks yummy and worth the wait for them...
ReplyDeleteYou want to switch chickens?? LOL
Un ritorno grandioso!
ReplyDeleteLa trapunta รจ semplicemente favolosa!
Buona Pasqua!
Ciao
Welcome back, chickadee! Lovelovelove your triangles.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back! I love your quilt and the new Jennifer P. line of fabric. THe colors are so rich! Having done a few triangle quilts I sure understand the anxiety with all those bias edges and pointy points. I think I have found piecing them together on the diagonal is almost easier than as rows. Glad you are back Rachael!
ReplyDeleteHooray!!
ReplyDeletewhat a great and colorful quilt. I love the fussy cut bits, even when they aren't the same - it makes it even more interesting.
That is the cutest foil wrapped chicken.
Glad you had a nice break, glad to see you back
xx
Oh my gosh, what a fantastic quilt. I love the fussy/kindof fussy cutting you did. Awesome in every way, sweetie! Glad you are back in blogland.....we missed you and your incredibly fun style!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I just love that quilt! It's hard to take the eyes off of it! The Easter Bunny was so nice to bring you that gorgeous colorful chicken! But he should have brought you two, one to eat and one to keep and look at! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I love your quilt, the range is very bohemian.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to blog land. I'm seriously crushing on your sis boom quilt. It's glorious. Hand quilting it?
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are back, I have missed your posts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a big splash to come back with, that quilt is beyond gorgeous! You are right the fabrics glow, I must get some of those for the stash.
The chicken is great, she matches your quilt!! Welcome back.
Just gorgeous girl! LOVE IT! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! I think I have one of those rulers...goodness knows I have some of those fabrics! haha!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful comeback with this lovely quilt. Triangles are just the best !
ReplyDeleteWow Rachel your new quilt is AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteHow do you get it to line up so well? I just did a easy top of 5" squares and I was very careful to do 1/4 " seams and it still didn't line up properly. Doing those triangles would have done my head in!
Your Easter buns look delicious too, yummy :-)
Gorgeous quilt top!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see your post in my reader! Those Sis Boom fabrics look fabulous cut up into triangles. I just love the she gets in her fabrics. Wow what a wonderful tradition making your own hot cross buns! We didn,t even buy any. I just made sure the boys got some chocolate.
ReplyDeletefabulous to see you back Rachael and love love love the groovy quilt and the colourful chook - love the polka dot tea set as well just the thing to enjoy hot cross buns with :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous to have you back. You are so right about Sis Boom. Crazy Love is amazing. Wow.
ReplyDeleteOMG your quilts are amazing and absolutely gorgeous!!! And I see you have a Blythe! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.