Christmas Eve - What Have I Been Doing?!

So this happened?

I'd like to know where the rest of October, November and most of December went thankyou?? 

That's the last time I was here! And now it's Christmas Eve afternoon Down Under??

I'm hoping to remedy that...you may get sick of me..as Santa came early and bought me a new laptop...I've been a very good girl..not so much in the fabric buying department ...but everywhere else for sure!

So lets get on with a quick Christmassy post brought you by the lovely ladies from my #dogoodstitchescarecircle ladies. We decided to do a quick blind swap amongst ourselves and these are what I made for my partner.

My partner was Gina of @happygolizzie who has a love of all things linen and floral and cuteness...don't we all! So I used my teeny tiny dresden pattern from Westwood Acres ( pssst it's free on their website ) and a Thimbleblossoms pattern for a wee pouch.

It's been a long time since I handstitched anything...which I used to do alot, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

But it was this mouse from Gina's mosaic that really captured my eye! It's also a free pattern from Bustle & Sew and is really quite straight forward. I made a couple of amendments only to allow for my lack of practice at handsewing and I think she turned out cute!

I filled her with half rice and half polyfill so she sits very upright.

I received a lovely package from one of my fellow Kiwis in the group Vicki......she only lives about 1 1/2 hours from me so it arrived very quickly, and it was gorgeous!

A really lovely paper pieced Owl incorporated into an equally lovely quilted pouch....I love pouches and rarely make them for myself, so win win!

And it was filled with some cute and very thoughtful gifts

I know I bang on about it but quilty people are simply the best

The details sometimes make the gift...I was very spoilt!

And on that note I hope you're all very spoilt with the things you can't buy, family,friends,love,kindness and a safe holiday period xx

I will be back after the Xmas Day bloat has subsided!!

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

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

A Teeny Swap - Mug Rugs

To be honest I didn't really get the function of a mug rug when I first heard about them a few years back.

Isn't it just a weird shaped coaster???

 Clearly I was and still can be an idiot, they are oversized awesomeness!

They fit a drink and snacks and are very, very sexy coasters, who rightly so, look down on the sad and very small, plain, one function only,coaster!

The gorgeous and dynamic Ang from Gnome Angel set up another quick swap through Swapbot just before Xmas, and this is my contribution.

Mug Rug pattern is from Lethargic Lass, aka my hilarious friend Katy...go visit she is gold!

 

The dumpling pouch pattern is from here and was surprisingly easy to do and a pouch that I think you'll get better at the more you do.

Of course no swap is complete without some little extras and as the theme was Xmas and at the appropriate time...easy peasy

I wanted to keep this little glass Snowman but they always seem a little out of place in a Southern Hemisphere Xmas when we're usually sweltering in either humidity or blazing sunshine LOL

This is the gorgeous Mug Rug I received from Karen.

The Chopin reference comes from the fact that I often listen to music while sewing down in the garage/basement and quite often mixed in with my Fleetwood Mac,Ed Sheeran,Bob Marley and Eagles is classical music.I also like some old Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.

My music taste is eclectic....bit like me!

I love the Kaffe piecing and Karen also included these two fat quarters of fabrics I did not have!??

Love them...and a quick shot of the musically themed back, so cute!

Swaps are so fun...especially teeny weeny ones!

Linking up with my girls Alyce and Meg/Heather

 

 

DQS14

Look what arrived in my mailbox today from Karen aka Sew Peachey

 

So, so ,so pretty all wrapped up in Red Letter Day by Lizzie House, which I don't have any of, and desperately wanted some of those ducks!!

 

Do you know how difficult it is not to rip into packages that you haven't purchased for yourself!!

 

then there is this BEAUTIFUL mini spools!!!!!

 

And all these other delicious things, Heather Ross key fob.....GET OUTTA TOWN CUTE!

Tape measure washi tape and chocolate....I had to sit down

For my first swap ever I can't believe how awesome it's been despite a few hiccups and one family tragedy ( not ready to share) and I really can't wait for the next one to begin...Quilty people are amazing,kind,creative,generous and generally bloody gorgeous....Thankyou Karen

 

linking up with Heather & Megan at for Fabric Tuesday

And Alyce for Sew Cute Tuesday