One of the delights of putting together the Midsummer Sampler block of the month programme was dreaming up all the little extras to include in the parcels. Sometimes it was a useful little notion to help make our blocks - a bias tape maker for Meadow Cottage; washi tape to help trim the Jug of Roses block - or a delicious trim to add to our blocks - ric-rac braid or lustrous embroidery threads.
And then there were some 'just because' items. December's package included a fun little enamel badge that echoed the Orchard Cottage block we were making that month. February's Strawberry Bowl block came with a bonus pattern for the cute Strawberry that featured in the main block. We went on to use it to make a tea-cosy and a simple teapot trivet.
But that little Strawberry didn't just want to adorn a tea-cosy, it wanted to be a quilt...and who am I to argue? I just happened to have a fat eighth bundle of Sedef Imer's Summer Blush for Riley Blake Designs and casually started cutting out pieces one Saturday morning, working on it here and there. Those little strawberries are very addictive and sewing with those pretty fabrics just made me so happy.
I paired Sedef's fabric with a Moda Bella breeze background, a cream swiss dot inner border and a lovely fabric from her earlier fabric line Sweet Prairie for the border. Truth be told, I love red, green and aqua fabric and could probably make this quilt a dozen times or more from my stash ;-)
I backed the quilt with a long horded piece of Seed Catalog by Holly Holderman for Lakekehouse Dry Goods and my lovely Jayne quilted it with a summery design called A Tisket a Tasket (another favourite). I bound it with the red print from Lori Holt's Granny Chic that I used to bind my Midsummer Sampler, because I like to think of these quilts as a pair.
I LOVE this quilt so much. It's been a happy distraction during unsettling times. There is much comfort to be found in the process of making. As much, if not more, as the physical comfort of the finished quilt. If you'd like to make one too the PDF pattern is in the shop and to celebrate my little shop turning five (five!) it will be discounted to £5 all this month (no code needed).
I hope we'll be having lots of picnics on this one,
Nicola xx