tiny happy

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I finished the purple and black quilt. At first, I basted together the quilt layers gingerly, conscious that I should have asked Mum for help, and feeling rather worried that the whole thing was a disaster. But then I realised it was actually quite enjoyable to work on something so big for a change- and I really liked being able to spread it out on the floor and walk around it to work. (Thank you, lovely big house.) The front of the quilt features mostly fabrics from my scrap-suitcase, in creams and purples. The backing is a block-printed panel from East Africa. I loved the print so much, I wanted to use it all in one piece. I used another of these panels to make my sister a dress at the beginning of the year, so there were a few remnants left from that project. I used a couple of pieces in the patchwork, including some hand-applique and quilting on one patch. What I loved about using that printed panel, was that it encouraged me to try using different colours from what I normally might. I need to be more free with my use of colour, I think.

I made Keira this patchwork blanket when I was pregnant with her- and she still takes that to bed with her each night. But on our way back to NZ last month, something sad happened. We stayed overnight at a hotel in Oslo, because our flight to London left early in the morning. We were in quite a hurry to get to the airport the next morning, and didn't look inside the children's beds before we left the hotel. Just as we were about to board the plane on our 45-hour journey, Keira asked for Pinky, her teddy, and her blanket. And that's when we realised we'd left them behind. Luckily, she was brave about it and settled for a polar bear from the Oslo airport gift shop and the promise of a new 'blankie' from me upon our return. But then just as I had finished making this quilt top, we received a parcel from the hotel containing Pinky and the fern quilt. Thank you, Thon Hotel! Now she is a well-quilted child.

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35 responses to “purple and black”

  1. Margaret Oomen Avatar

    I think it is perfection in purple.
    Does she by chance know the children’s song
    the one eyed , one horned flying purple people eater
    my children used to drive me a little ‘mauve” singing that song
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE&feature=related

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  2. Melissa Avatar

    A deliciously purple quilt and how lucky for you to get the quilt and teddy in the mail. I am yet to find time to quilt but i look forward to the day i walk around a quilt in progress.

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  3. annri Avatar

    mmm… what a nice + cozy quilt – i love purple! i like to be so pleasantly surprised by the kindness of others. thank you for sharing the story. 🙂

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  4. Sweet Mary Avatar

    Looks great – in fact more than great – it looks fabulous! Sweet dreams Keira.

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  5. tinyhappy Avatar

    thanks margie. the kids dont know that song but i certainly remember it- and now i cant get it out of my head. 😉

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  6. Daria Avatar

    it came out so lovely! i love that print… and those colors! what a happy ending to what seemed like such a sad sad story.

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  7. Alissia Avatar
    Alissia

    What an amazing hotel! I’m so glad Keira got her blankie and teddy back! Losing things has always been pretty devastating for me so it makes me really happy that there was a happy ending. Also, really lovely quilt!

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  8. Steph Avatar

    What a great hotel! Sometimes people blog about the loss of a childs favourite toy and it’s just so sad, I can imagine the tears and pain for that little one. The quilt looks lovely, I don’t think I could cut up a panel that interesting looking.

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  9. Kristen Avatar

    I’m so happy that Keira got her special blanket back. I think I would be heart-broken if Saya lost her blankie. It is such a precious part of childhood.

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  10. desiree fawn Avatar

    Oh my word — gorgeous!!

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  11. Megan Avatar

    It’s lovely Melissa! I’m getting increasingly into purple these days myself.

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  12. Katja@tinkelstein-design Avatar

    I found your blog at SMS, and your stuff is really amazing! (I bet you hear that a lot 🙂
    I love the quilt, purple and black is my favourite colour combo…
    What an amazing hotel! My mom made a quilt for my daughter as well when she was born and I know I would be broken hearted if we lost it. It’s good to hear that there are still decent people out there!
    Greetings from Germany
    Katja
    http://www.tinkelstein.blogspot.com/

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  13. daria Avatar

    sweet blanket, I’d like to make a nap on it!
    and sweet Oslo hotel!
    I made this quilted blanket with bright coloured fabrics, but it is for afternoons in a field, not for my bed: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37534062@N06/3519078857/in/set-72157616984244786/
    bye!

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  14. Charlotte Marjoribanks Avatar

    That looks lovely, gorgeous colours. I am just trying to finish my first quilt at the moment and have put it away because I don’t know how to baste or hand-quilt! How did you find it? I am hoping it is easier than it looks!

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  15. tinyhappy Avatar

    hi charlotte,
    it really wasnt as bad as i imagined it would be. i say give it a try! theres a comment here suggesting the tutorials by oh, fransson and i checked those out- they really helped! good luck, x

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  16. tinyhappy Avatar

    thanks daria- love your quilt!

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  17. tinyhappy Avatar

    thank you katja- im starting to really like purple and black together as well. 🙂

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  18. Merruli Avatar

    The quilt looks so pretty. I’m liking purple more and more every day.That’s the color which I’m gathering around me at the moment. Making a fully sized quilt I still haven’t tried, mainly because I think that attaching all the layers to each other is difficult.

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  19. Laura Avatar

    Sweet quilt, great colour combo!
    And YAY!!!!! Lets hear it for the Thon hotel! It would be gut wrenching to lose it.

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  20. Nicole M. Avatar

    I’m not really drawn to purple, but I must say it’s combination with black is very, very nice! Love the quilt!

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  21. Cyndi Avatar
    Cyndi

    We loved the Thon Hotels we stayed at last year!
    And I love that quilt!

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  22. Elizabeth Yule Avatar

    What a beautiful new quilt, and how lucky you got the other quilt and her teddy back from the hotel – excellent service.

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  23. hadley Avatar

    Oh, lucky girl on both counts!
    I once left my beloved stuffed Pinka Bunny (that was her name, Pinka Bunny) at a hotel and had it returned smelling of Pine Sol. I still have that bunny to this very day. Your daughter and I must have shared a tiny string of time.
    The new, finished quilt is lovely.

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  24. tif Avatar

    I think you did a great job!
    and you “lovies” story is tragic. I have had some mishaps like that in the past, glad they made it safely back.
    I wrote an ode to lovies on my blog,a while back, when we were all in the midst of illness.
    http://tifandtheboys.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-ode-to-lovies.html

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  25. Chara Michele Avatar

    Such a lovely quilt! Oh and how wonderful that she got her bear & blanket back from the hotel! 🙂

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  26. Francesca Avatar

    Oh, Melissa, what a sweet story. I love it when you write about your life, and about how your work and family inter … hmm, English technical difficulty: how about inter “bind”? you taught me it’s good for all, well, most occasions:)!

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  27. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Great looking quilt. I got very attached to my teddy when I was little – I think Mum nearly needed a crowbar to prise him off me to be washed,and I remember sitting under the washing line crying until he was all dry again.

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  28. caireen Avatar

    nice hotel! x

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  29. knittingoutloud Avatar

    Gorgeous quilt! And very inspiring, thanks for sharing it.

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  30. tinyhappy Avatar

    ha- hadley, thats funny- keiras bear came back smelling very clean too… hmmm.

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  31. fliss Avatar

    Your quilt is gorgeous and that Kanga (african fabric) is perfect for the back. I am inspired to start a quilt for my little one since seeing this and may use my left over kangas as a backing…great idea.
    Happy to hear Keira has her little pieces returned.
    Have a look at this link if you have not already seen it. You may be able to find out the Swahili message on your quilt.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanga_%28African_garment%29

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  32. Yvette Avatar

    I’m so glad Keira got her Pinky and blanket back – there are many good people in the world! Is Keira advanced enough to send a thank you to the hotel … ?
    I use to just admire purple, but now I’m using the color in a lot of things, clothing and accessories. Of course I’m following the poem “When I am an Old Lady I will wear Purple” !!! (and learn to spit …) I love that line!

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  33. Hannah Avatar

    oh wow that is just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!

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  34. stacey Avatar

    this is beautiful…good work. which i was patient enough to finish a quilt…i get so distracted 😉

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  35. Ruth Avatar

    Gorgeous quilt! How lovely of the hotel to send you Keira’s lovies! We would be in serious trouble here if blanket went missing…

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