BWQS2 - Black & White Quilt Swap Round 2

If you've been around these parts at all you know I'm a fan of mini quilt swaps.

The main reason being it's an opportunity to try something on a small scale that either you've had on your bucket list and it's stayed on there through fear of commitment or you're not sure if it's within your skill set.

JOIN A SWAP.....sorry for yelling...but the best way to empty your bucket is to tip it out and jump into the wide world of options...but in a mini way LOL

I loooove NYB blocks.....but I have a fear of commitment...allllll those curves and bias edges and templates urggghhh

The paper piecing bit is easy and you know what??

When you follow the instructions of a NYB expert stuff works ....crazy thought ay???

I missed the first BWQS and there was no way I was missing the bus this time....I also love me some skeletons....even the non fussy cut ones....LET IT GO....OCD issues.

I'm hoping the neighbours are getting used to the crazy happy dancing and positive self talk that goes on in the basement...dontcha dance around by yourself when stuff works??

I learnt a couple of things on this mini

1. Instructions are helpful

2. Expert tips are even more helpful

3. You can sew anything when you relax

I also learnt that I still love NYB blocks but if I'm going to make myself a quilt its gonna be made out of blocks bigger than 6" or I will never finish it LOL

I'm totally thrilled with how this turned out and I should've taken some close up photos of the FMQ that I did like a ninja all over it....perfect block to practice and pretend like you're Angela Walters and noone can see that you're really like a 3 year old scribbling hahaha

Linking up for a Friday Finish with Amanda Jean and Finish or Not Friday with Myra

Sew My Stash Mini Quilt - Any Idea Where 6 Weeks Went?

August!!

That was the last time I was here?

Where did the last 6 weeks go??

Hi My Lovelies it's nice to see you, grab a cuppa and we'll catch up!

Instagram.....hmmmmm...it's a vortex into which I slip on a daily basis, I love staying connected to the sewing community through the little photo snippets of projects.

Which leads me to the first of my two swaps...so restrained...due before Christmas.

It Started With A Kiss....mmm Hot Chocolate....don't be daft it started with a sketch after surfing the net and typing in Tri Rec

Once I was happy with the design I did the Maths and worked out a colour scheme.....then I paused....24" square ( the maximum allowed for a mini ) means each square is 1 1/2".....do I really want to do this?

Choose some fabric and try one out......

Which leads to another....and yes I'm making it....with the assistance of middle child who is ever so patiently trying to teach me photoshop for the purposes of paper piecing....bless him!

I did find that I needed the coloured pattern to keep everything straight in my head but it went together slowly but seamlessly....which is unusual for me!

After it was finished I wished I'd changed the colour gradients a little more but I'm trying to enjoy the creative process and not to be my own worst critique. I do this for the simple pleasure it brings me and there is always the next quilt to practice on.

Tha'ts not to say the seam allowances on the half Tri Rec units were more than a little challenging at 1 1/2'' x 2 1/2" despite being paper pieced!!!

 But I'm really happy with the end result and learnt a lot of new skills whilst making it

The reason I find these minis so appealing is the ability to try something challenging or new that would be overwhelming or far too time consuming on a large scale...in this instance I'm not convinced however.

At a guesstimate from conception to finished quilt I've probably spent a good 40 hours on this...that's at least 2-3 easy baby quilts in my world LOLOLOL

This was a Sew My Stash Swap so all materials were to be on hand from your stash, no special fabric purchases were to be made.

In the spirit of this and because I ran out of time!! I've applied the same principal to the extras, not ever required but just a lovely after thought....these including some fabric ( Of Course!! ) and chocolate, haha, were ALL in my sewing stash???

I will be seeing you again my friends as I've finished quite a few quilts in the last 6 weeks and I'd love to share xx

Linking up with AmandaJean for Finish It Up Friday

No I Haven't Been Smothered By My Stash!!

Contrary to popular belief I haven't disappeared under a pile of fabric!

I am also in complete disbelief and denial that its been 2 MONTHS since we last spoke??

Damn life that keeps getting in the way LOL

OK moving on.......Below is the gorgeousness that is Alison Glass fabric and her deliciously saturated colours and the basis for my Alison Glass Mini Quilt Swap run on Instagram.

Some of them really smack you in the eyeballs like the Corsage and Party Streamer Lines

And even the Bike Path range is colour heavy although it reads to me as more of a stash builder fabric as it's less of a dominating  feature fabric

image sourced from http://alisonglass.bigcartel.com/category/fabric

Text is probably the most familiar range on a visual level, simply for the big "text" following particularly in low volume prints these days.

Now you've had your brief Alison Glass lesson I will flood you with Pictures of my Mini

My first plan was something paper pieced....Surprise Surprise you say

But the more I played around with the fabric I wanted to try something that would showcase ALL the fabrics not just a select line or only a few fabrics.

I used the teeny tiny Dresden that I got from Westwood Acres for free with one of my orders...the cuteness was ridiculous!

Then I decided to add some Butterflies and hand stitch them down with Perle 8 thread.

It wasn't without a few trials and tribulations, including melting the invisible thread AFTER I'd appliqued the centres down, and having to redo two centres as the seam allowances popped out in the embroidery hoop!

But I think that's what these minis are all about? Trying something new, different or challenging on a small scale...but I do wish I was brave enough to be more adventurous with my FMQ. It's non existant!

And just look at this BEAUTIFUL mini I received from Shirley @simplesew

Shirley has used the Art Theory Panel in White and Charcoal and appliqued it down on some quarters  and also cut  a feature from another in the range to put on the "Bitch" background fabric which is a nod to the Profanity Swap I did back in February

My photo doesn't really do it justice but I'll try and capture a better on for Instagram tomorrow

Little OWB was suitably impressed and as excited as I was....I'm training her well LOL

Shirley packaged it generously with some lovely selvedges...which I do collect

And some generous extras, needle minder by @whatthebobbin and a nifty two finger magnetic sewing machine screwdriver, plus some charms.

A great Swap!!

Linking up with Heather and Meg cause I miss Fabric Tuesdays

 

A Profanity Swap - Bitches Get Stitches

*WARNING*

This post does have bad words in it and pictures of bad words, if that's not your thing, that's OK with me just don't scroll down!

Just had to warn some of my peeps that this isn't a sweet smelling nice post, it has some very salty words in it, and I appreciate that not everyone who stops by here for a visit enjoys seeing bad words in all their fabricky colour........and that's completely OK!

I myself have been known to throw a few unladylike words into the air... and if I get really pissed off some down right "wash your mouth out with soap" hair curlers LOL

Sooooo when Angelina from @weenchaweena threw out the question "who wants to do a profanity swap?"....it was a no brainer people!

 Here are my "Shit Buckets"...or if you are wanting to make some of your own...more appropriately named "Nesting Fabric Bowls" they are from here.

Great pattern,very detailed and easy to follow.

 Lets make no mistake here I am NOT A SEWER, if I can do it anyone can.I do not know why I can do Y-seams and paper piece and follow detailed quilt patterns but any type of straight sewing takes me at least two goes to get my head around???

This was not my original plan and also not the use I had in mind for this Dr Seuss panel when I purchased it...but it sooooo appealed to my sense of humour.

So I made some Fuck coasters as well. Used this tutorial here, but wished I had just stuck to my tried and true method of binding instead of the pull from the back double over method I used here.

After two layers of wadding and some Insulbrite to disperse heat the double folded canvas was an absolute Bitch to sew and my machine was complaining loudly...more so about the black thread than anything??

What is up with that? I am tempted to buy Aurifil in black just to see if that makes any difference.

The boys thought this swap was pretty cool....I don't allow them to swear willy nilly so I think the whole quilting and swearing with a childrens book theme was just too bizarre for them and they had to ask questions.See I can be an educational Mum LOL

This is the miniquilt I received from Camille  @sosaysthehermit....and I'd like to think it is very apt, in a humorous way.

The stitching is sublime

And look at these gorgeous extras a lovely handwritten card, fabric pouch,wonder clips and some foreign lollies that the boys ate and didn't spit out so I'd say they were delicious!!

All joking aside it was actually quite hard using and saying profanity to a person you don't know, especially when swaps are usually a nice fabricky hug and not in anyway aggressive or insulting.

But I really enjoyed thinking outside the square and if you're on instagram search the hashtags #bitchesgetstitches and have a look at all the clever and very witty things everyone came up with.

So lets link up with Amanda Jean for a finish and M-R Charbonneau from Quilt Matters for TGIFF

Swaps - My New Addiction

I promised you some actual sewing and not just fabric purchases, so this week I'm going to talk about my new addiction....Online Swaps!!

They are so much fun and it's a bit like an auction...your hand just randomly shoots up to join without checking in with your brain, and more importantly your schedule!!!

First up I have a love of all things Sarah. It started with her books

Specifically the Material Obsession books I and II. I just loved her sense of style and fabric placement, it all just seemed to click with me.

I have made my version of these two quilts, which you can see here

I also contributed to this quilt, which was made for Amy Lobsiger her co author on the Little Quilts Book

Which brings me to me first swap since the beginning of the year.

Sarah decided via Instagram to run a Little Quilts Swap using only patterns from her book of the same name.When my partner was a assigned I had a little freak out as she owns her own brick and mortar quilt shop!! WTF?! But I put my big girl undies on stalked her a bit and got sewing!

I always do one block first to test out fabric placement

Something you should know about all Sarah's patterns is this....they always look straight forward and generally are but they are NEVER as easy as you think! She is a master quilter and pattern designer and for results as good as hers there is always a technique that will test you!

Individually these units were a cinch to sew and not a huge amount of time was involved...but...theres always a but....getting them to sew up POINT PERFECT took some patience, accuracy and a few godammits!

But I was pretty happy with how it turned out and so was my partner! She cried...what a sweetie

These were the extras I made and popped in, the pouch is stuffed with chocolate and mini herbal teas.

This is the quilt I received from @sewcuteby lindsay....loooove

These are my all time favourite colours and the colours of Little OWB's room, which she based it on.
Plus these wonderful extras, fabric ,a purse and a seam ripper...always need an extra of these!!

I have two more swaps due in 2015. One is the #bitchesgetstitches Profanity Swap ( awesome ) and the #schnitzelandboom swap. Plus I've just signed on for the #rainbowminiswap which isn't due until March...luckily.
Somewhere in there I have another border due for Possum Magic !

There's another swap to talk about it but I think our eyeballs need a rest, talk soon my peeps x

I would normally link up with Alyce for Sew Cute Tuesday today, but instead pop on over and read her thoughtful post today about her home Country and it's recent tragedy in our news.