Queen Bee Finish!

I joined my first ever quilting bee this year, with a bunch of lovely ladies from Quilt Club Australia.  Our official name is QCA Bee #5 - very technical!  But that just goes to show how many people are involved in Bee's from the Mother QCA group!  Anywho - March was declared my month as Queen Bee!  It took me what I thought was forever to decide on which block I would like made for me, but once the decision was made - it was onwards and upwards!  I chose the Scrapbuster blocks which you can find HERE.

I debated whether to go with a white background or grey - and in the end, grey won out!  So without further ado, here is my latest finish - my Queen Bee quilt!

I was sitting upstairs this afternoon and looked out to see amazing afternoon sunlight so ran downstairs and grabbed my new camera (loving. it. sick.) and threw the quilt on the grass!  Sensational!

As you can see - I took the whole scrappy look right to the end!  I grabbed a whole bunch of left over binding from previous quilts, as well as long pieces of scrap fabric to make up the scrappy borders.  LOVE the end result!

The blocks were to be 12.5" finished, however half of them were closer to 12" so I made the hard decision to cut them all down to 12".  It make some of the teeny little pieces even teenier, but still oh so pretty.

I sat out on my lounge last night watching tv with this beauty on my lap.  Yep - this quilt is for me!  One of the great things is looking at all the tiny little pieces of fabric and wondering how they came to be other people's scraps.  There's one whole block of batiks - nice bright ones!  Then there's a block made all from one range of fabrics. But mostly, they are all a bit of a hodge-podge of fabrics, united to form beautiful little pieces of art.

The backing I chose a while ago.  It's an Anna Maria Horner print and is a divine pinky/red.  What I didn't realise was that it was a directional print of trees.  So I have it running sideways!  Which you can't really see in the photo below.

I actually took the time to try and join the print so that you couldn't notice it was joined.  And I was very pleased with myself!  It's only when you look really closely that you can see the join.

I used my trusty Aurifil silver/grey to do a simple loopy pattern.  I didn't want to take away from the actual blocks.

And this is where it now lives.  Draped over the lounge.  It will be the most loved and used quilt in our home.  For now anyway!

So that would be finish number eight for this year!

I'm linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday - you can too!

Sunday Stash #17 - Short & Sweet

I don't have much for you here today!  Just one teeny little fq addition to the stash......

Some lurvely Tula Pink!  And yes, it's in a snap lock bag!  You see, a couple of months ago, I popped up a photo in one of my Sunday Stash posts of some amazing Art Gallery bundles.  And the divine Molli Sparkles took first dibs on any scraps of one particular print that may need re-homing!  I went one better and said I would be happy to do a swap.  So by virtual organisation, we managed that very swap this past week.

This post is short and sweet - much like myself.  I won't be around much over the next week - for tonight I am off on a jet plane!  All the way to Fiji - jealous much?  Well, the husband and I never had a honeymoon almost ten years ago - so we deserve it!  I have scheduled a couple of posts whilst I'm away, but otherwise, I will see you back here will a gazillion photos of Fiji!  Have a fabulous week xxxx

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash over at Finding Fifth - you can too!

Sunday Stash #16 - The one where I have no idea when I bought fabric that arrived!

Yes, that seriously did happen!  I went to my mailbox earlier this week to be greeted by a package from a business I did not recognise.  And upon opening said package I found this gorgeous Kaufman chevron print!  About a yard of it!  And I still, even after doing some investigating, cannot for the life of me remember purchasing it!  Oh well, I shall make good use of it!

 

This next  delivery was very exciting - and I remembered buying it!  I've said it an earlier Sunday Stash post that I have been re-collecting Wrenly prints ever since I realised that I should not have sent all my scraps packing back in my "quilting is too fiddly and I will never do it" stage.  I nabbed myself two yards of this beautiful dandelion print!

 

And last but certainly not least - this very exciting delivery!  I won a fat quarter pack of Bari J's Bijoux from her on Instagram!!  I nearly fell over when I saw I had been tagged in her winning post!  And I apologise for the photo, but I am typing this post very quickly before heading out to the footy, so haven't had time to re-photograph it!  But I can assure you it's DIVINE!

That's it!  I'm linking up with Sunday Stash over at Finding Fifth!  You can too!

W.I.P. Wednesday #21 - Pinwheeling

In the post cushion cover apocalypse, I have begun to see the light again!  I finished my 7th quilt for the year on the weekend, and was able to start a new project yesterday.  It's very, very satisfying to get the creative juices going again!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was joining in with Collaborate For A Cause this year.  Well, this is the beginning of my half of the collaboration.....

My first ever pinwheels!  I think it could be the start of another addiction.....

Aren't they cute!?

And the very cute polka dot backing.

I won't tell you what it actually is, or what the other half of the collaboration is until it's all finished!  Gotta build the suspense yes?

Oh, and please PLEASE tell me you can tell the difference in the photo quality of the top 3 pictures?!?!  I bought myself this new little big mother trucking camera, and am eagerly trying to learn how to use it properly!  I'm pretty sure my friend Molli Sparkles will be very pleased to know I am yet to use it on Auto!

I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced - you can too!

Flying By The Seat of my Pants Quilt Finish!

Back in February, I made my first ever Dresden.  I was so completely impressed with myself, that I could pull something off, that looked so technically difficult!  It was meant to be made in to a cushion for my brother in law and his fiance for their engagement, however the colours just didn't feel right for the project - so I moved on to a second dresden!  I was left with this beautiful little piece of art and really had no idea what to do with it.  So over the past few months I have slowly but surely been putting together my "Flying by the seat of my pants quilt".  And this is is the end result......

Using the beautiful "On the Pond" range of Sarah Fielke fabrics, I had lots of fun with the colour palette and basically worked from the centre outwards.  Just adding rows of different piecing until I was happy with the end size and result.

The Dresden was made using THIS tutorial by Sew Mama Sew!

All of the quilting was done by me!  I used Aurifil thread (50wt) #2024.  A perfect, shimmery white.  There was a discussion in our QCA group on Facebook the last couple of days, with some wondering why Aurifil has such a great reputation?  I added to the discussion saying that I quilted this entire project without one single breakage!  Which is unheard of for me!  It also leaves far less fluff in my machine, which means less cleaning - equalling a happier quilter!

I basically echoed the star shape of the dresden, using my walking foot, and being ever so patient.  It was extremely time consuming, but once I committed, I knew I just had to stick it out.  I'm so glad I did!  The swirls in the white borders were another first for me.  A couple of months ago I bought a Craftsy class -  Free Motion Fillers Vol 1 by Leah Day.  So before starting this quilting, I finally sat down and watched about half a dozen of the "episodes" in the class, and thought I'd give the spirals a crack.  I have to say - the class gave me a hell of a lot of confidence, and made me feel like I could just do it.  Which I did.

I then also echoed around the triangles of the chevrons, balancing out all the quilting.

The flying geese were made using THIS tutorial by The Purl Bee.  They were a great size and once again, another quilting element that looks harder than they are.  The chevrons are made using HST's.  Super easy and super effective.

The backing fabric is a gorgeous cursive script print from Ikea!  I bought it ages ago and had it sitting and waiting for the perfect project.  I think it suits this quilt beautifully.

This lovely piece of heaven is a finished size of 52" x 71" - bigger than a throw quilt and smaller than a single size.  Perfection for snuggling.  I'm still yet to figure out who this quilt will be living with.  My lovely friend Gemma suggested I use it as a sofa quilt, however, so much white fabric + four children = disaster.  Sooooo, I am contemplating selling this beautiful baby.  I'll decide over the next week of looking at it!  I want it to be loved and cherished, not just put away in a cupboard or drawer.

I think that's SEVEN finished quilts this year!?!!?!?!?  You can see the others HERE.  I nearly fell over when I just counted them up!  I seriously have a problem addiction.  No rehab for me though - I'm just about to head downstairs to start on a new one!

What have you finished lately?  Are you addicted too?

I'm linking up with Sew Cute Tuesday over at Better Off Thread!  You can too!

The Kate Spain Blog Hop - Starts June 3!

It's no secret that I am a fan of Kate Spain and her amazing fabric ranges.  Especially Terrain, which continues to feature amongst my quilting blocks after I discovered that scraps from dressmaking are VERY usable (See my blog header photos for evidence!).  I think Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts cottoned on to my near obsession with Terrain, and thankfully asked me to take part in her fabulous Kate Spain Blog Hop!!  I may or may not have bought some Cuzco to celebrate the occasion.....

That's right - Alyce is hosting a WHOLE MONTH full of Kate Spain good-ness!  You will be able to get your fix from a multitude of fabulous blogs - including mine.  And she wants everyone - yes YOU - to be involved!  There are fabulous prizes up for grabs, and the inspiration will be at boiling point.  So make sure you take note and put it on your calendar!  You can get ALL THE DETAILS HERE.

There are two ways you can take part:

*  On June 14th, link up your favourite Kate Spain project that you have made - show off your creations that use (mostly) Kate Spain fabrics.

*  On June 28th, link up any finished project you have made throughout the blog hop in June using Kate Spain's fabrics - zippered pouches, cushions/pillows, bags, quilt tops (finished quilts not required!), clothing, whatever!

Here's the schedule, so make sure you're following via Facebook or subscribed via the sidebar options to keep in the loop of where to go each day!

Monday June 3rd - Interview with Kate Spain at Blossom Heart Quilts

Tuesday June 4th - Jane at QuiltJane

Wednesday June 5th - Christa at Christa Quilts

Thursday June 6th - Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop

Friday June 7th - Laura at Quokka Quilts

Monday June 10th - Chrissy at Sew Lux

Tuesday June 11th - Lynne at Lily's Quilts

Wednesday June 12th - Julie at The Intrepid Thread

Thursday June 13th - Kristy at Quiet Play

Friday June 14th - Link up your favourite Kate Spain project! 

Monday June 17th - Gemma at Pretty Bobbins

Tuesday June 18th - Heidi at Fabric Mutt

Wednesday June 19th - Melissa at Ms Midge

Thursday June 20th - Jess at The Elven Garden

Friday June 21st - Janice at Better Off Thread

Monday June 24th - Diane at From Blank Pages...

Tuesday June 25th - Alyce at Blossom Heart Quilts

Wednesday June 26th - Kara at Me And Elna

Thursday June 27th - Readers' Q&A with Kate Spain at Blossom Heart Quilts

Friday June 28th - Link up your blog hop projects!

So - grab yourself a button and let everyone know you'll be taking part!  And I'll see you back here for my part of the hop on June 19!

W.I.P. Wednesday (Ok, it's Thursday!) #20 - Still Flying.

Yesterday, I had the sudden urge to get more done on my "Flying by the seat of my pants" quilt.  So out of hibernation she came and this is how she ended up!  Chevrons finished, and then grabbed some of the scrappy bits to add another layer and then more white to frame it all.  I "think" I'm finished?

Please excuse badddddd iphone photo!  Good news - I just got my new camera today!

I say "think" because I have no idea who this quilt will be given to, or even if it will be given.  So how then do I choose what size to make it?  How to quilters decide on that stuff?  Anyway, at this stage it's between throw size and single bed size.  I guess you would call it child friendly size?

This my friends is what happens when you decide to make a dresden for a cushion and then turn it in to a quilt!  Watch this space, for I intend* to quilt this baby like never before!

There's no linky linking up this week.....but there will be plenty of W.I.P.'S out there for your to see in bloggy land!

* Disclaimer - my intentions can sometime be bigger than what eventuates.......