Scrap Jar Stars

Septembers bee block is the Scrap Jar Star. Rose wanted them in red/blue/aqua. Nice combo.

You can find the tutorial at A Little Bit Biased.

Black And White Scrappy Trip Blocks

I'm getting ahead with my blocks in the QCA Scraps & Solids Bee. These are Septembers blocks for Laura.

Black and white scrappy trip blocks, with solid black in the centre.

You can find the tutorial for this block here.

Little Wonky Triangles

July's bee block was this cute, and super simple, wonky triangle block.

Janine pointed us to this post and said she wanted these for her month. Her requirements were that they were 6.5" white squares, in rainbow colours (we chose which colour we wanted) and tone on tone fabrics. I chose purple as I had quite a few tone on tone purple scraps. 

This block is a fantastic scrap buster. I used solely scraps for these. I love how they look together too. I'm now planning some scrappy baby quilts using this block. Just add it to the ever growing list.....

Star Value Block

Sue's June block in QCA Bee # 2 was this Star Value block. You can find the tutorial at Happy Quilting.

I used only scraps and some low volume charm squares. I'm not a huge fan of making half square triangles but I love the effect that they make with this block. Looking forward to seeing all the blocks together.

Catching Up On Bee Blocks

You will have to excuse my recent absence. Things have been happening in the real world and I have hardly even touched my sewing machine. However, last Saturday night I dragged her out and caught up on my Bee blocks.

Mod Mosaic blocks for Fiona. May block for our QCA # 2 Bee. Tutorial at Oh Fransson!. I busted out my precious Nightshade fabrics for one of them.  

Great Granny Squares for Lauren. June block for our Scraps & Solids Bee. Tutorial at Bee In My Bonnet.

Stargazer blocks for Fiona. August block for our Scraps & Solids Bee. Tutorial at Little Bluebell. Fiona wanted one colour for both blocks, and having the fabrics graduate.

I'm hoping to tackle our June block for the QCA # 2 Bee tonight. Lot's of half square triangles. Stay tuned.

The Starburst Block

This month in our QCA Bee 2, Laura wants a Starburst block in charcoal, black and white prints, jade green and purple. 

I have to say that this wasn't the easiest block to make. They did come together quite quickly though. 

These blocks were made with a tutorial by Film In The Fridge and you can find it right here.

2.5" Squares

Since participating in a recent Scrap Vomit square swap, I have fallen in love with the look of small 2.5" squares.

This "Scrap Vomit" (I put the " because it's not really vomit, the fabrics were carefully selected) block is going to become a cushion that will be a birthday gift. The colours I chose were red, brown, black and grey. I actually think this would be a fantastic quilt.

I really enjoyed pulling fabrics from my stash for this one. It made me realise that I do have quite a good stash and I just need to do some fabric play every now and then for inspiration. You just never know what's going to work together until you start pulling them out. 

Because I'm very keen to start making Scrap Vomit blocks I decided to dig into my bag of scrap strips that I had set aside to make some Scrappy Trip blocks. I thought that I could cut the 16" strips needed for the Scrappy Trip blocks and then cut the rest of the length into 2.5" squares for Scrap Vomit blocks. I thought that I had better actually make a Scrappy Trip block to make sure that it's something that I would be happy to continue making more of. 

Yep, no problems there.

Belated WIP Wednesday

Yesterday I received the last of my Great Granny Square blocks from my fellow bee's in QCA Bee # 2. 

I laid them all out last night and discovered that I only had to make one more of my own to have enough blocks for a quilt top. Which was a relief after how many I had to make for last years quilt, the red and aqua string block quilt. Note to self: choose large bee blocks. 

Some people were very generous and made two blocks. Kate made me a block and added some more squares in so that I can make another. Here it is on my design board.

I cut into these fabrics for my final block.

I also received my Scrap Vomit squares from my swap partner. This is what I sent her.

And this is what I received back.

I'm looking forward to starting a scrap vomit quilt, although I think it will be that I make blocks here and there in between other projects that I am working on. So for now I'm just stashing 2.5" squares.

Next on the list is finishing a quilt top with my Scrappy Improv blocks now that I have purchased the perfect backing fabric for it. I acquired it from Spotlight the other day when they had their 30% off sale. It's great what you can find when you aren't even looking. It's a sign that I need to get this one finished.

And speaking of the red and aqua string block quilt, I have almost finished hand sewing the binding. One side to go.

A Little Bit Of Progress

Just a few things in the last week.

My red and aqua string block quilt has been quilted. I picked it up from my local quilt shop a few days ago. I'm very happy with it. Now to hand sew the binding and it's done. Only a year after it was started. Stay tuned for more on this quilt.

Two more Field Study stars (which are actually sideways in this photo).

I finally found the perfect pattern for Master 2's pirate quilt. Spinning Stars by Anna Maria Horner. You can find the free pattern here. One block down, 8 to go. 

Speaking of Master 2, it's his 3rd birthday tomorrow. Time sure does fly.

Sunday Stash # 17

Some new additions to the ever growing stash.

A stack of solids and this black text fabric to go with my Field Study charm pack. One of the wonderful ladies in the Quilt Club Australia group was kind enough to purchase and send me some of the text fabric when my local Spotlight had run out of it.

This is what I have in mind for it.

These two low volume prints were purchased and cut up into charm squares to be sent off to a Low Volume Charm Swap I am participating in. 

Some How The Grinch Stole Christmas fabric that was on sale at Spotlight for $3.00 a metre. Couldn't leave it there. Especially since I have a fat quarter bundle of this collection and I love anything Seuss.

Linking up with Fiona's Sunday Stash which this week is being hosted by the fabulous Molli Sparkles!

Some Saturday Sewing

Master 2 (almost 3) was out and about today so I had some time alone. Of course, I spent it sewing. Something I haven't done all week.

I got this shabby chic baby quilt top finished.

Polaroid 9 patch block for Fiona at Finding Fifth. She is in the QCA Bee # 1 group and this is her block for February. She is going to use these blocks to make a quilt to donate to a child who has lost everything in the recent bushfires here in Australia. I'm not in her Bee group but as I want to do more charity sewing this year, and I have lots of polaroid blocks from the Say Cheese! Polaroid Block Swap, I decided to make her a block. You can find her tutorial here.

Last night I was looking at all things Nightshade online, looking for some quilt inspiration for these fabric remnants I was given (that's right....given) by my local quilt shop. So after I packed up and was waiting for Master 2 to return I had a bit of fabric play.

I also have some of the other prints to put with this. At this stage I'm thinking of doing random improv blocks of different sizes and then just filling the spaces between with a tone on tone black print. What would you do with it?

Working Through The WIP Basket

My goal at the moment is to work on only whatever is in my WIP basket. It's been very satisfying to get some small projects finished and get some quilts to the almost completed stage.

Quilt top finished, backing pieced and binding made for this one. Blocks were already made and sitting in the WIP basket.

Quilting finished on the Cameo quilt and the binding sewn to the front. This is the first quilt that I have made for myself so I will be hand stitching the binding down. Could take a while.

Re-made the fabric covered baby wipes container that was supposed to go with the Scrappy Zoo baby quilt.

Some reusable snack bags for my cousin. I used this tutorial but instead of sewing down the outside to enclose the inside seams, I just overlocked them. 

Christmas placemat made from a left over block from the Very Merry HST BOF. I have finished the quilt top but I just need to take some photos.

Ok so this wasn't in the WIP basket. It's something completely new. In all fairness I had the idea and I just had to do one block to make sure it was going to turn out like what was in my head :)

Selvedge Spider Web Block

February 2013 block - QCA Block Bee 2

Tracey posted this great tutorial for her Selvedge Spider Web block.

 
I don't usually keep selvedges so it was good motivation for me to piece a few quilt backs that have been lingering in the WIP basket for too long. 

 
After cutting the selvedges from some backing fabric pieces, I then went through my scraps bins and found enough different designer selvedges to finish off the block.

I really enjoyed this block, it was easy and I loved the different technique. Can't wait to see Tracey's finished quilt.

Happy Australia Day!

For a special Australia Day tutorial on how to make this fantastic Union Jack block, pop over and see Molli Sparkles.

Happy Australia Day!

My Start To 2013

It's been very quiet around here lately but the last few days has seen the return of my missing sewjo. I have a couple of finished quilts that need posts but I thought I would share a sneak peek of them with you while I get these organised.

Commissioned baby quilt for my Aunty's new Grandson, who is on his way into the world as I write this. Just needs all the stray threads trimmed off and I will photograph tomorrow.

Commissioned king single bed size quilt. I can't take the credit for the quilting on this one. This is the first time I have had a quilt professionally quilted. Isn't it gorgeous? This also needs stray threads trimmed off and to be photographed.

I tested out the Molli Sparkles tutorial and finished this Union Jack block. You will find the tutorial at Molli's blog on Australia Day (which is the 26th of January for our US friends).

Paper pieced butterfly block for my good friend Fiona. She is in QCA Bee 3 and this is the block she requested for herself this month. I'm not in this Bee but she is making a quilt with these blocks for her step-daughter and I just had to make a block for her quilt. You can find the pattern here.

And last but not least, it's my month for the QCA Bee 2 and I have chosen the Great Granny Square block. This is the example block I made up. Some of my fellow bee's have made theirs up already and they are just fabulous. I can't wait to start receiving them. The tutorial to make these blocks is here.