Snugglepot & Cuddlepie

The Old Home's in the old place.
The same old stars are on the Wall.
–May Gibbs

At the end of June 2012, our sweet Catherine gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. We're just getting around to posting it now. The quilt is just too cute not to.

And so, of course, we had to make her a quilt. We knew that she loves the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie series of books by May Gibbs and when we were talking about ideas for the quilt, that theme came up. Since the books are Australian, and we all live in the US we Googled the characters and put together a fun quilt for her sweet new arrival.

This is what Cat had to say about the quilt: Well not long after my second child, Connall was born I received a lovely surprise in the mail. It was a beautiful Snugglepot and Cuddlepie themed quilt!! Snugglepot and Cuddlepie are a children's classic that I grew up with here in Australia, so I was quite surprised and thrilled to see that my USA mates had decided to use this as a theme for a quilt for my little Connall. I'm sure he will treasure for years to come.

Sea Horse by Angie

Koala by Beth
My koala block was a paper piecing pattern found in a quilt pattern book by Australian Margaret Rolfe. The book featured Australian animals. I used the leafy green material to mimic eucalyptus leaves that I had purchased for the rose bushes in front of Edward and Bella’s Cottage on the Breaking Dawn Quilt and the pine trunk printed material from the Cottage’s front door was perfect for the trunk of the tree. I’m a literalist when interpreting fabrics. LOL The gray material had been ordered as a possibility for the cottage’s stone façade, but I didn't use it, so it found a perfect use in this project! The koala’s mouth and nose are both appliquéd by hand, the eyes are hand satin stitched and the claws are hand backstitched to complete him.

Baby in Leaves by Joyce

Mushrooms by Iris
When I searched for Snugglepot and Cuddlepie images online I came across this photo. I love mushroom shapes and I've always loved the Anne Geddes style photos of babies so I knew this is what I wanted to do, only a simplified version. Lucky for me Vanessa Wilson at Crafty Gemini had just designed and posted this cute pattern for the Garden Blog Hop hosted by Jennifer at Sewhooked in April. It was perfect! I just pieced it with one less 'shroom then appliquéd the two babies. I was especially happy that I had that background fabric that reminds me of the eucalyptus leaves. I drew the details on the babies with a fabric pen. Don't you just love the little baby booty? ;)

Kookaburra by Colleen

Hedgehog by Kate

Gumnut Babies by Elizabeth
When we make a quilt we all throw ideas out and then we sign up for the block or blocks we want to do. I love to do needle-turn appliqué, so I thought it would be fun to do the little Gumnut Babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. I have never seen the books, so I used an image I found on-line for my pattern. Everything is needle-turn with a bit of embroidery for the details. I did a satin stitch for the pupils and the white reflection on the eyes and for the mouths. I used backstitch for the noses, eyelashes and around the chins for definition.

I love the beautiful quilting job Angie did. I'll let her work speak for itself.

Frog by Nicole
First off he's so cute with the lily pads (quilting that Angie did)!

Second, I wanted to do a frog because I like frogs. I figured he'd be in the water so I stuck with using blue for the background and green for the froggy. Then I found the perfect eyes, well buttons. But they look awesome!

Owl by Jerri Lynn

Obelia By Beth
My Clam Shell Obelia square is one of the hardest things I've ever tried to design. I chose the Obelia character because I knew I wanted to do something water related because I’m a swimmer. After trying to paper piece an open clam shell, I abandoned the idea when it became too busy a background to embroider the vibrant little character on.

The green patterned material lent itself to a seaweed-looking background, so I appliquéd the brown outline of the shell. Running behind to meet the deadline, I hand stitched the character on the only light background I had, some muslin, by stitching through a printed paper onto the fabric and later removing the paper. Not an advisable method, but without fancy backlit machines, a material transferring printer, or other higher-technology helpers, it got the job done! I was even able to use metallic threads for the bubbles Obelia sits on. Lastly, I appliquéd the embroidered muslin into the open clam shell.

Flower by Angie

Kangaroo by Joyce

Lizard by Wanda

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Fido

"Allow me," I suggested. Silently, I lifted my doggy bowl off the floor. Then, with a quick, powerful flip of my wrist, I threw it into the back of Blondie's head so hard that — with an earsplitting bang — it smashed flat before it ricocheted across the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs. –Jacob Black, Breaking Dawn page 303 - 304

Fido
Designed and pieced by Krista as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Krista:
This is the first time I have taken part in the making of one of these quilts, and I was very excited to be asked!! I decided to create the "Fido" block because it was one of my favorite scenes in the book - classic Jacob and Rosalie! I wanted to keep it simple, but at the same time try to recreate that moment. I found a pale peach reproduction fabric with a small rose pattern on it for the background, thinking that the roses would be a perfect representation of Rosalie. I tried numerous times to make a silhouette of Rosalie's head, but was never thrilled with the results so I left it out. The grey fabric dog bowl was traced free-hand - I reversed the fabric for the inner part of the bowl - and used machine applique to sew it to the block. I added several lines of black stitching to create the illusion of the bowl flying through the air. After several failed attempts and trying to "write" the name onto the bowl with thread, I ended up using iron on letters to spell "Fido" - maybe not as pretty as Rosalie would have done it, but I still like it!

This block was such fun to make, and I am honored to have a small part in this amazing quilt!!

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Arm Wrestling

"You. Me. Arm-wrestling. ... Now."

"No problem," Emmett said with a gleaming smile. "Right this way, Bella."
–Bella Cullen, Breaking Dawn, page 518-519

Arm Wrestling
Designed and pieced by Joyce as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Joyce:
This is one of my favorite scenes in the book. Emmett is so much fun, and it’s great to see Bella ‘best’ him. I used the photo still that was released before the movie to get a sense of how this scene would look, reread that section of Breaking Dawn, then sketched my version of it. I used the tree fabric for the background so it would look like the forest around the Cullen’s house. The rock is the same dark gray as the lower cliff on the cliff diving block. I used black with curlicues for Emmett’s hair and a very pale fabric for Emmett’s skin. Bella’s skin is the same fabric in an even lighter shade. I used denim for her shirt and brown for her hair. I didn't think Emmett needed a shirt. I satin-stitched around Emmett and Bella to give more definition, then used a wavy embroidery stitch for Bella’s hair.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Bella & Edward's Cottage

I stared into the violet dark. There, nestled into a small clearing in the forest, was a tiny stone cottage, lavender gray in the light of the stars.

It belonged here so absolutely that it seemed as if it must have grown from the rock, a natural formation. Honeysuckle climbed up one wall like a lattice, winding all the way up and over the thick wooden shingles. Late summer roses bloomed in a handkerchief-sized garden under the dark, deep-set windows. There was a little path of flat stones, amethyst in the night, that led up to the quaint arched wooden door.
–Bella Cullen, Breaking Dawn, page 475

Bella & Edward's Cottage
Designed and pieced by Beth as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

From Beth:
I have a thing for houses. How they’re made and how their pieces represent the people that call them home. So no wonder I loved bringing this image to the quilt! The description in the book is fairly succinct. It was just a matter of finding fabric with the correct patterns. I found a shop online and ordered several different patterns and colors of rock and stone, and they also offered different colors of roof shingles!

Once I looked at the pattern sizes and put together complementary shades, I drafted the cottage. I wanted an asymmetrical structure to add some quaintness with curving lines and dormer windows and, of course, a chimney. I planned on setting the house against waves of green fabric with my favorite lavender, scrolly material above as the “violet sky.” But when I found the forest-scape fabric, it was beyond perfect. It came in a deeper, darker green, but I chose this more vibrant green because of the yellows in the trees throughout, since it was early fall in the book. I moved the cut-out of the house stone around on the forest fabric until I found the backdrop look I wanted with the side trees and the pines peaking up above the chimney.

I appliquéd the stone of the cottage onto the backdrop, then the roof thatching (which was difficult around the dormer window cut out) and the chimney. I used some wood bark fabric for the front door, then hand-stitched outline details to give the chimney it’s 3D corners.

I cut out the backdrop fabric where I’d stitch in the violet sky, but after I put the lavender piece in, things didn’t look right. So I cut around the trees to add more sky showing on the sides and then top-stitched the trees for added reinforcement. I appliquéd on the three windows in a dark (almost black) gray, hand-stitched the door hinges, handle and dormer details, then satin stitched both sets of eaves.

I tried satin stitching the pathway stones in purple, but wasn’t satisfied with the result so I opted to appliqué each of those in an amethyst fabric. I had always planned on ribbon embroidery for the rose bushes and honeysuckle, utilizing simple brown floss backstitches for the rose bushes themselves, but with the lush green of the now-changed background, I was afraid they’d get lost. So I utilized one of the green patterns I had planned to originally use for the green waves of backdrop. I noticed the pattern had small bush-like groupings if I strategically cut them, so I free hand appliquéd those as well.

I used silk ribbon in red to ribbon embroider the roses on the bushes. I’ve always loved this technique and really like how it gives some texture to the block. Lastly, I chose very vibrant DMC flosses to free hand embroider the honeysuckle. I used backstitches for vine, lazy daisies for leaves, 5-point backstitched stars for flowers and French knots for buds.

Although I’m newer to quilting, this block will always be one of my favorites. I really enjoyed making it and am very pleased with the results!

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Bella & Edward's Wedding

Edward held out his hand. Charlie, took my hand and, in a symbol as old as the world, placed it in Edward’s. I touched the cool miracle of his skin, and I was home. –Bella Swan, Breaking Dawn, page 49

Bella and Edward's Wedding
Designed and pieced by Joyce as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Joyce:
This block required watching the movie numerous times, pausing, sketching, researching the details of the wedding dress, tuxedo, hair jewels, etc. I decided to create the moment when Bella gets to Edward. For the background, I used a light fabric with small green-leafed vines and a dark green for the ground. Edward’s tuxedo is satin in black and white. Bella’s dress resembles the design in the movie. The back is detailed like the wedding gown in the movie. I added seed pearls along the back which are under the ‘veil’. Her hairpiece is made of silver and blue beads.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Jacob

How do you know me so well, Jacob? Sometimes it’s like you can read my mind. –Bella Swan, New Moon, page 321

Jacob
Designed and pieced by Colleen as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Colleen:
I made the Wolf Paw with Conversation Hearts block to represent the strengthening of Jacob and Bella's friendship in New Moon. I used a winter forest fabric for the background and a reddish brown for the wolf paw which I hand appliqued. I also added two conversation hearts from a perfect fabric that Iris found. This was a New Moon block but I foreshadowed Eclipse with my selection of hearts ("Hot Lips" and "Kiss Me").

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Clock Tower at Volterra

A deep, booming chime echoed through the square. It throbbed in the stones under my feet. . . . I started screaming as I ran.

“Edward!” I screamed, knowing it was useless. The crowd was too loud, and my voice was breathless with exertion. But I couldn't stop screaming.

The clock tolled again.

. . . “Edward, no!” I screamed, but my voice was lost in the roar of the chime.

. . . The clock tolled, and he took a large stride toward the light.

“No!” I screamed. “Edward, look at me!”

He wasn't listening. He smiled very slightly. He raised his foot to take the step that would put him directly in the path of the sun.
–Bella Swan, New Moon, page 449–451

The Clock Tower at Volterra
Designed by Iris and adapted and pieced by Joyce as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Joyce:
I started with Iris’ Clock Tower block from New Moon, then watched the DVD a number of times. I decided to make this block similar to hers, but closer. I used the crackle white and brown fabric for the building. The base of the fountain is also the crackle fabric. , I used a blue striated with white fabric to fill the fountain, which looked like water to me. I originally did the fountain statue in the same crackle fabric, but it blended too much with the building, so I remade it in a dark red. I covered it with a sparkly organdy ribbon to make it look like water was falling from the fountain. I used a brighter red for the flags all over the building, and the black we used for most of the quilt in the windows to give some depth. The clock itself is white fabric, and I embroidered the hands so it was getting close to noon. I used a satin stitch to define edges and add some detail. All we need now is for Edward to appear in the doorway!

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Cliff Diving

I smiled and raised my arms straight out, as if I were going to dive, lifting my face into the rain. But it was too ingrained from years of swimming at the public pool—feet first, first time. I leaned forward, crouching to get more spring . . .

And I flung myself off the cliff.

I screamed as I dropped through the open air like a meteor, but it was a scream of exhilaration and not fear. The wind resisted, trying vainly to fight the unconquerable gravity, pushing against me and twirling me in spirals like a rocket crashing to earth. –Bella Swan, New Moon, page 359

Cliff Diving
Designed by Angie, adapted and pieced by Joyce as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Joyce:
Angie’s Cliff Diving Block on the New Moon Quilt was beautiful, so I used her pattern. To make the block a bit different for this quilt, I flipped it left to right. The beach comes to the start of the cliffs with some of the bushes showing on the lower cliff, which is dark gray to contrast with the beach. Bella has just jumped from the upper cliff, which is a lighter gray stone material. The bushes and forest are a fabric with trees, which I also used in the arm wrestling block. The darkened sky is my favorite tie-dyed material, which I use often. The water is a variegated blue with sparkles in it. As in Angie’s block, Victoria is floating in the distance.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Months Passing

It will be as if I'd never existed, he'd promised me.

I felt the smooth wooden floor beneath my knees, and then the palms of my hands, and then it was pressed against the skin of my cheek. I hoped that I was fainting, but to my disappointment, I didn't lose consciousness. The waves of pain that had only lapped at me before now reared high up and washed over my head, pulling me under.

I did not resurface.
–Bella Swan, New Moon, page 84

Months Passing Without Notice
Designed and pieced by Joyce as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Joyce:
The months passing was one of the most heart wrenching parts of the books for me. If you've read the New Moon write-ups, this will be a repeat. For this quilt, I tried to replicate what I had made for the New Moon quilt. The months fit together and flip up to reveal the next month. If you look closely, hopefully you will see the trees are designed to symbolize hands reaching toward each other, but just not able to connect. I used many of the same fabrics for these blocks as for the New Moon quilt. The trees are various fabrics, which resemble bark. The skies are tie-dyed blue. The ground varies with each month as the seasons changed. To finish the blocks, I embroidered the name of each month on the block.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Lion and Lamb

“Isabella.” He pronounced my full name carefully, then playfully ruffled my hair with his free hand. A shock ran through my body at his casual touch. “Bella, I couldn’t live with myself if I ever hurt you. You don’t know how it’s tortured me.” He looked down, ashamed again. “The thought of you, still, white, cold . . . to never see you blush scarlet again, to never see that flash of intuition in your eyes when you see through my pretenses . . . it would be unendurable.” He lifted his glorious, agonized eyes to mine. “You are the most important thing to me now. The most important thing to me ever.”

My head was spinning at the rapid change in direction our conversation had taken. From the cheerful topic of my impending demise, we were suddenly declaring ourselves. He waited, and even though I looked down to study our hands between us, I knew his golden eyes were on me.

“You already know how I feel, of course,” I finally said. “I’m here . . . which, roughly translated, means I would rather die than stay away from you.” I frowned. “I’m an idiot.”

“You are an idiot,” he agreed with a laugh. Our eyes met, and I laughed too. We laughed together at the idiocy and sheer impossibility of such a moment.

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb . . . ,” he murmured. I looked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word.

“What a stupid lamb,” I sighed.

“What a sick, masochistic lion.”
–Edward Cullen & Bella Swan, Twilight, page 273–274

Lion and Lamb
Roaring Lion pattern by Linda Hibbert and pieced by Iris; Lamb pattern by Four Twin Sisters and pieced by Nicole as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Iris:
This lion is the same pattern that was used for the Stephenie Meyer quilt in 2009. I'd admired it since I first saw it and was very excited to give it a try. Originally I intended to use this in my personal Twilight quilt, but when the call for another charity quilt came, I felt it fitting to donate the lion to this cause. Having small children myself, any cause that benefits children is close to my heart.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Bella's Truck

The thing, I thought to myself… it had possibilities — as a nickname, at the very least. –Bella Swan, Twilight, page 7

Bella's Truck
Designed and pieced by Nicole as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Nicole:
I wanted to make sure that Bella’s truck was included in this quilt. I knew that trying to paper piece it would be a trick in itself. So I went with appliqué. I found the “right” truck; Bella in the book is given a ‘50s Chevy, but the movie had a ‘60s Chevy. They are very different. Since we were going with our favorite scenes from the books, I wanted the book truck. With Forks being full of trees, I wanted the background fabric to have trees. She had a red truck, so obviously I had to use a red fabric. I chose one that looked more “rusted” but it was actually shimmery! Then I just layered them together and satin stitched around the pieces. Different sizes to outline the truck.

For every $5 donation to George Mark Children's House, you get one chance to win this quilt. Visit the Twilight Saga Quilt Page for more details.

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