Another Owlie Aussie Hero Quilt

I remember years ago telling people I wouldn't EVER make a quilt, and yet here I am showing off another quilt I've made....so far, all my quilts have been for Aussie Hero Quilts, but I hope to change that soon, and will have some up for sale!

Here's the latest quilt I've made for an Aussie Hero who is currently deployed overseas....I know this person wouldn't have a clue who I am, let alone be one of my blog readers, so feel safe in sharing pics of it with you.  Like me, this person is an owl lover (I really wish we had an official name, such as owlists or something, but we don't 'insert sad face' )

This quilt is made using the quilt as you go (QAYG) method, where you quilt each block individually then join them, I chose to join them where you add fabric strips front and back, then attach the next block to the back strip then flip the front strip over and sew it down.  Sounds confusing, but it's not really lol

I don't know why, but I seem to gravitate towards double sided or reversible quilts, and this one didn't escape!  The above pic shows either the front or back, depending on which side you prefer to call them!  Below shows what would normally be the back of the quilt, as it has the label on it, but I would happily use it as the front too....I quite like labels on the front, why hide them away I say lol

Yes, some of the blocks are wobbly....on purpose!

I actually 'free handed' the writing on the label....not bad considering I didn't have any lines to follow....even if I do say so myself  hee hee



At times, the recipients (or the person requesting a quilt on their behalf) also request a laundry bag for them....I had a few leftover blocks, so incorporated them into the laundry bag, so it matches the quilt.

The quilt and laundry bag went off in the post to it's forever home on Monday....hopefully it arrives safe and sound and the recipient loves the 'hooty hugs' in the form of a quilt.

If you have some extra quilting fabric you no longer want, or would like to become involved with Aussie Hero Quilts, then please pop an email off to the Matriarch (she'll kill me when she sees I've called her that again bahahaha) better known as Jan-Maree HERE  or if you'd like to see all the other quilts being churned out Australia wide then click HERE  You don't have to be able to sew to get involved....obviously that skill helps, but you can always donate some mailing bags/satchels/boxes or some fabric, or even Spotlight gift cards to assist JM with purchasing fabrics to be used on quilts and laundry bags.  It's a great way to say thank you to our guys and gals that get deployed overseas.

Another update

Edited 4th August 2014:  I am soooo, so very sorry, I thought this post had already gone up...and it was indeed scheduled for publishing on 18th July, but for some reason it didn't post.....with all that went on with the blog 'adjustments' I'm still trying to fine tune a few things, so I've been having a look here and there, and I found this in my draft folder....oh well, I'll publish it now so you can see the hooty quilt, finally!!

 I've just spent the last couple of hours trying to find more details about a quilt pattern I tested for someone...I know we were corresponding through my Gmail account, and I normally save 'special' emails into folders, but for the life of me, I can't find any from her to me or me to her anywhere in my Gmail.

I can however let you know that I first had contact with her a couple of years ago, and then her life got in the way and I didn't hear back from her regarding the test pattern again, until I think it was either late last year or early this year.....I'm going to go with early this year, because then I don't feel so bad at only sharing the pics of the quilt now.

As you may all know, I kind of have a soft spot for owls..well derr lol  So it was a no brainer when Sue Lynn contacted me to see if I was still interested in testing the pattern for her.  Here's the link to her blog, where you can keep updated with any future patterns she releases....now with disclosure in mind, I must tell you, that her owl quilt pattern is actually needleturned, which I didn't do....yet, but will be, however I did thoroughly read her pattern, and could follow it along, and found no errors.

Yes, yes, I know, stop waffling Naomi and just show us the pics!

 The test blocks were mixed in with both donated blocks and some I made to fill in the spaces....and was sent off to an Aussie Hero, to thank her for her time away from home.  Below are a few close ups of the owl blocks.  The quilt request was for owls and pastels....I think I nailed it didn't I?  I must've, because I received a lovely email saying how much the quilt meant to the new owner....R! (Name withheld for privacy reasons)

 Below you can see the 'cheater' Paris fabric I used on the back, this was donated to AHQ by Berri Uniting Church, and it works great as backing, even though its a bit too pretty really!

 And of course, a close up of the quilt label.....I like to add mine to the front usually, but broke my tradition and added this one on the back.....I also like to add them before the quilting is done, so there's no chance of it falling off at some stage!

Ooooh, and before I forget, I FMQ'd this myself....and yes, I am crap at it....but it's done with love....now if I can just get my hand/foot synchronisation happening, I won't get all those loooonnnnng stitches every now and then, and those pesky eye lashes on the back.....need more practice = good excuse to make more quilts right?

Pricing - how much would you pay?

This is a bit of a strange post, even for me....but having spied a couple of sites recently who don't charge for their patterns, instead they have a tip jar (how cool....sounds way more fun than a contribute or donate button right? Although the standard button from paypal is Donate still) then today, googling for something, I happened across a very cute to hoot Halloween quilt pattern, which is available for purchase here

The above is the quilt in discussion here...it is/was a BOM, but now you can buy the pattern....whoop whoop, so off I toodled to the above site.....AND then, I saw the price......$78.00 for one quilt pattern....seriously?  I could possibly, would probably consider buying it if it were about $20 or even $25 but almost $80...sorry, but I just don't get it...if only I could draw and come up with something similar....but I struggle to even draw a straight line...with a ruler....well ok, I'm not quite that bad, but almost!
Don't get me wrong, I understand that a designer should get some sort of reward for their talent and skill, but if 100 people bought that pattern...that's a healthy down payment on a new car, for just one pattern in a designers line....you can't tell me that ALL designers are making this kind of money...surely?  I know I'm coming  across as a whiney tight arse grinch, but it just grates at me, how much money people want to make on one item all the time.

So, as the title of this post says...how much would you pay for a pattern that you really really like?  How much is the most you've paid for a pattern, and have you used that pattern yet?

Thank you to Angela, who is the main 'culprit' for having great write ups on her blog about reverse engineering, copyright and how she's a 'Copy Leftist'