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: Book Covers

If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. –Oscar Wilde

Twilight Saga Book Covers
Patterns by Cat and pieced by Elizabeth as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

Twilight

New Moon

Eclipse

Breaking Dawn

From Elizabeth:
I had done Cat's Twilight, New Moon and Breaking Dawn patterns each several times and enjoyed doing them. I had never tried the Eclipse pattern, though, so I was excited to try it. I enlarged the patterns to 12" and used my favorite Fairy Frost fabrics to give the blocks that shimmering vampire quality.

I especially love the beautiful quilting Angie did in these blocks (and throughout the quilt). Her work is amazing.

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Isle Esme

“Bella, look there.” [Edward] pointed straight ahead.

I saw only blackness at first, and the moon’s white trail across the water. But I searched the space where he pointed until I found a low black shape breaking into the sheen of moonlight on the waves. As I squinted into the darkness, the silhouette became more detailed. The shape grew into a squat, irregular triangle, with one side trailing longer than the other before sinking into the waves. We drew closer, and I could see the outline was feathery, swaying to the light breeze.

And then my eyes refocused and the pieces all made sense: a small island rose out of the water ahead of us, waving with palm fronds, a beach glowing pale in the light of the moon.

“Where are we?” I murmured in wonder while he shifted course, heading around to the north end of the island.

He heard me, despite the noise of the engine, and smiled a wide smile that gleamed in the moonlight.

“This is Isle Esme.”
–Bella and Edward Cullen, Breaking Dawn, pages 77–78

Isle Esme
Pattern by Linda Causee and piece by Angie as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Angie:
This pattern is another one from my happy pattern book, 365 Foundation Quilt Blocks. I managed to make this one totally out of scraps from my 'small bits bucket.' I don't know what it is about quilters but we manage to find a way to us EVERY bit of our supply of fabric. It's like squeezing all the last bits of chocolate syrup out of the Hershey's bottle. Before I even made a stitch on this block, I had found a package of buttons at Joann's with beach-ish things. I auditioned quite a few of them but in the end opted for the sailboat and I was pretty sure that using the sparkly sun button was imperative.

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Camping

You said she needed a space heater, and here I am.
–Jacob Black, Eclipse, page 490

Camping
Pattern by Quiltmaker and pieced as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Angie:
I had the great fun of making this block for the Eclipse quilt too. Since I already had a great pattern, it was just about picking the fabrics. I tried to portray the balance between 'hot' and 'cold' with the multi-colored batik. Can't you just see Jacob's warmth radiating from his side of the tent? The background fabric just looks like big chunky snowflakes too. This was my favorite scene from that book so I am very happy I got to make this block twice!

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Edward's Diamond Heart

[Edward] pulled my left wrist away from my leg, and touched the silver bracelet for just a moment. Then he gave me my arm back.

I examined it cautiously. On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf, there now hung a brilliant heart-shaped crystal. It was cut in a million facets, so that even in the subdued light shining from the lamp, it sparkled. I inhaled a low gasp.

“It was my mother’s.” He shrugged deprecatingly. “I inherited quite a few baubles like this. I’ve given some to Esme and Alice both. So, clearly, this is not a big deal in any way.”

I smiled ruefully at his assurance.

“But I thought it was a good representation,” he continued. “It’s hard and cold.” He laughed. “And it throws rainbows in the sunlight.”

“You forgot the most important similarity,” I murmured. “It’s beautiful.”

“My heart is just as silent,” he mused. “And it, too, is yours.”

I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer. “Thank you. For both.”
–Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, Eclipse, page 438–439

Edward's Diamond Heart
Pattern by Cat and pieced by Wanda as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Wanda:
My Edward's heart block is the pattern of our very own Cat Magraith! I have a love of the heart shape and have made hearts for our last quilt. This heart is paper pieced and made with sparkling white fabrics which just made me think of Edward putting his diamond heart charm on Bella's bracelet. The background fabric shimmers in the night highlighting the brightness of Edward's love for Bella!

From Cat:
Well I had the bracelet pattern so I also needed the heart. I did this block as pattern for a BOM that I did a while ago. The diamond heart is more than just the charm that Edward gave Bella, it also represents him. It appears at first to be cold and hard, but it is also strong, indestructible and a real treasure. It also sparkles .

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Bella's Bracelet

[Jacob] turned the bag upside down and shook something silver into my hand. Metal links clinked quietly against each other.

“I didn’t make the bracelet,” he admitted. “Just the charm.”

Fastened to one of the links of the silver bracelet was a tiny wooden carving. I held it between my fingers to look at it closer. It was amazing the amount of detail involved in the little figurine — the miniature wolf was utterly realistic. It was even carved out of some red-brown wood that matched the color of his skin. –Bella Swan, Eclipse, page 374

Bella's Bracelet
Pattern by Cat and pieced by Jerri Lynn as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Cat:
I occasionally dabble in a little jewelry making and had made myself a bracelet based on the one that Jacob gave Bella with the wolf charm and then Edward added his diamond heart. I thought if I could make a real one, then I could also make a quilt block too! So I sat down and came up with this design.

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Graduation

Edward kissed me quickly, sighed, and went to go stand with the C's. . .

I walked down the line to take my place behind Jessica, mildly curious as to why she was suddenly so friendly. . .

Jess was babbling before I was in earshot.

". . . so amazing. I mean, it seems like we just met, and now we're graduating together," she gushed. "Can you believe it's over? I feel like screaming!" . . .

She droned on and on, and I was sure the sudden return of our friendship was due to graduation nostalgia. . . I paid attention as well as I could while I shrugged into my robe. And I found that I was glad that things could end on a good note with Jessica.

Because it was an ending, no matter what Eric, the valedictorian, had to say about commencement meaning "beginning. . ."
It went so quickly. . .

I watched as Alice, suddenly appearing, danced across the stage. . . Edward followed behind. . . Only the two of them could carry off the hideous yellow and still look the way they did. . .

Mr. Greene said something I didn't hear, and everyone around me shouted and screamed. Yellow hats rained down.
–Bella Swan, Eclipse, pages 353-355 

Graduation from Forks High
Pattern by Linda Causee and pieced by Angie as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Angie:
I used the pattern from my favorite 'paper piecing bible' 365 Foundation Quilt Blocks. Since I make most of my pictorial quilt blocks out of batik . . . these seemed like natural colors for a diploma. I had this grand idea of adding a gold thread tassel but the reality of that plan was disappointing so I nixed it. The words 'Forks High' are quilted in the background.

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: I Am Switzerland

I am a neutral country. I am Switzerland. I refuse to be affected by territorial disputes between mythical creatures.
–Bella Swan, Eclipse, page 143

I Am Switzerland
Pattern by Cat and pieced by Iris; embroidered quote by Jerri Lynn for our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Iris:
There's something about this block that I really love. It's simple, but the combination of the sparkliness of the the Fairy Frost, the different textures, and the embroidery really appeal to me. I really loved putting this block together for such a special quilt.

From Cat:
I have been to Switzerland in the past as I have friends there and I noticed that a lot of the towns displayed shields for the country and region more so than flags, so to represent Bella’s “I am Switzerland” stance I created a Swiss Shield pattern. Although I hadn't read Breaking Dawn yet when I designed it, it was a good choice as Bella’s special gift as a vampire was to shield her loved ones, so this is a perfect representation for Bella.

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.

Make your donation

Twilight Saga Charity Quilt: Grand Theft Auto

A bright yellow Porsche screamed to a stop a few feet in front of where I paced, the word TURBO scrawled in silver cursive across its back. Everyone beside me on the crowded airport sidewalk stared.

“Hurry, Bella!” Alice shouted impatiently through the open passenger window.

I ran to the door and threw myself in, feeling as though I might as well be wearing a black stocking over my head.

“Sheesh, Alice,” I complained. “Could you pick a more conspicuous car to steal?”

The interior was black leather, and the windows were tinted dark. It felt safer inside, like nighttime.

Alice was already weaving, too fast, through the thick airport traffic—sliding through tiny spaces between the cars as I cringed and fumbled for my seat belt.

“The important question,” she corrected, “is whether I could have stolen a faster car, and I don't think so. I got lucky.”

“I'm sure that will be very comforting at the roadblock.”

She trilled a laugh. “Trust me, Bella. If anyone sets up a roadblock, it will be behind us.” She hit the gas then, as if to prove her point. –Bella Swan and Alice Cullen, New Moon, page 439–440

Alice's Porsche
Designed and pieced by Cat as part of our Give-to-Win Twilight Saga Charity Quilt.

From Cat
I designed this block previously for another Twilight Quilt and still love it so used it again for this one. I'm an engineer and asked a lot of my motor-head male colleagues what they thought of the design before going ahead with it. They all approved .

I found trying to get the right fabrics for this one was tricky enough, but trying to find the right buttons was also a challenge. In the end I used some buttons from my grandmother's old button tin for the wheels and I needed some help for the headlight buttons. And of course I had to use Fairy Frost somewhere in this block, because we all know that vampires sparkle!

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.

Make your donation

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.

Make your donation