Having A Mental Health Day

I don't know what you guys call it, but around here it's a MHD (see title post) and I was waaaay overdue!

I was gonna be all good and do some house stuff, sorting cupboards etc...but nah I sewed YAY!!!

 Bee blocks as requested by Diana for Compass Quilters

Sooo much fun and easy as....I'm sure I say that every month

Tutorial is here and here's a quick pic side by side to get an idea of how they'll all look together...super happy and fizzy!

I also joined the Amy Butler Aussie Charm Swap run by the lovely Ms Midge aka Melissa and these are the two fabrics I chose

Love Cypress Paisley in Lime and Soul Blossoms Peacock Feathers in Blush....love the feathers so super glad I bought extra....not so happy that I found that I already had a WHOLE yard of the Paisley already in my ridiculously untidy stash.....crap!

Arrived, cut and posted off all in the same day.So I treated myself to a new project..

I used my 22.5 degree wedge ruler and cut 4" strips from a bunch of Nouvelle fabrics, threw in a few extras and cut up 256 tumblers

It came together really quickly and although the photos are a bit crappy it's a lovely mix of denim and pink with only a couple of matches that I try not to look directly at....damn OCD

Little OWB has already said it's hers and I'm thinking it may just be the right size for a lapquilt while reading on the powder blue sofa in her room

Must buy more Chicopee...it goes with everything!

Linking up with Alyce over at Blossom Heart Quilts 

and Heather & Megan at Quilt Story

Sunday - No New Stash

Holla  My Friends!! How are we all this week??

Can you believe it no new fabric again this week....I know something is very wrong with the Universe??

But I did get some sewing done...Yay...after I had a wee freak out that my Possum Magic border #2 was due to be posted and I wasn't finished... Thankfully I have Wendy who is all things sane and she emailed to say it's not until the 29th!! Seriously how do I get dressed in the morning??

http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/possum-magic-rebeccas-block.html

   But look what she has done with my wee bird

Alice's first border is just gorgeous and soft, and she included some very special fabric in the hexagons...I'll say it again, Quilty people are the best!!

Once I got over the heart palpitations of being late I resisted the urge to start a new Quilt......aaaaaaanndd did my Bee Blocks instead. Such a good Girl.

The Compass Quilters Queen Bee for September is Nesta and she requested some cross stitch blocks using this tutorial, in Orange, Pink and Lemon. Some of my favourite Sherbety colours!

I may have gone a little overboard in the cutting department, but since Nesta lives in Italy ( I know so exotic...swoon ) fabric is a bit of a nightmare to source. So I don't think she'll mind the extras

Tell me ...Is it just me? Everytime it seems I make a block for someone else I am suddenly overcome with the need want to have a quilt of my own using the same block?? What is up with that??!!

 For Stash Bee September's Queen is Diana and she chose this paper pieced fish.Once again if I had read all the instructions first I would have had these whizzed up in a jiffy.Diane sent the background fabric already cut and I was at a loss to one of the shapes not fitting the required space.....But once I read the instructions people!! Diane had sent the squares for the particular number in question...they were NOT spares as I had thought....sheesh

 This photo is just a teaser for Carla ...mwahahaha

I don't know where she gets this type of behaviour from...really who's her mother!

Linking up with Molli for Sunday Stash even though I have nothing new....

Compass Quilters Queen Bee for August - Hummingbird block

If you're one of my loyal lovely readers and not a Compass Quilter's Member and think I'm barking mad just mark this post as Read...I won't know ;)....or you could make me a block!!!

http://grannymaudsgirl.wordpress.com/compass-quilters/

Hi my little Worker Bees!

I put my hand up straight away to kick off our little International Bee as I have been wanting my very own quilt of the block I chose since I made this quilt

 Yes disaster with the iron...I still loved it

 It's a perfect opportunity for fussy cutting

And although Rita doesn't think it's suitable for beginners as an introduction into paper piecing I think it's great, especially if you only have to do a few.....the precision is very satisfying!

So this is what I'm asking for my lovelies, two 10 1/2" blocks, that's 8 hummingbird blocks put together in fours like this one

To avoid the difficulty of all using a matching background fabric I would love you to go low volume, restricting it only by using black, grey, dark brown, dark navy etc on a white or cream background.

Then for the kites anything that has great contrast against the low volume background prints.

Fill your boots!.... bright?..... great! saturated?..... very cool, solids?......rocking.....fussy cut........,now you're just showing off!!

I'm putting this in Red so you will learn from my mistakes...mwahahaha!

1. Follow the order of the numbers DO NOT put the kite down first.....I did this on the first quilt for about 6 blocks and then AGAIN on this sample! It will not affect the construction but alters the natural pressing order for nesting seams....I struggle to follow instructions!

2. Do what Rita says and make a kite template with a 1/2" seam allowance so you KNOW your fabric is big enough....it will save you many bad bad bad words when you try to wing it!

3. Do not talk on the phone while sewing your halves together and screw up the orientation

  

4. Do print off one extra copy and make one block from beginning to end following Rita's instructions which are clear and concise, that way you will get a handle on what your doing and can work out your own way of speed piecing 

5. HAVE FUN! HAVE FUN! HAVE FUN! 

Since I first made this Quilt the pattern has now gone from being free on Craftsy to a nominal fee of $2, as I didn't want you to incur any extra cost on top of International postage I asked Rita to charge me for 7 copies....she has VERY generously sent me a link for free!

Please do not share this pattern ( I'm sure you won't ) and keep it for personal use, I don't want the Quilt Karma Fairies tempted! 

Here is the link below for the tutorial ( I will email the Pattern)

http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2013/10/hummingbird-quilt-block-tutorial.html

Now go to it my little minions....insert "evil laugh"