July Queen Bee #2 Block

WOW - I have been on a roll getting up to date with my Queen Bee #2 blocks.

Although I have to thank the amazing Kristy from Quiet Play, who has very kindly offered to make my June block for me as the paper piecing totally balked me and she also said that she had wanted to give the block a go anyway.

Well, onto the July block for the lovely Anorina from Samelia's Mum!

Our brief was to create a modern-ish star block using Black through to Grey, White and Orange.  So using trusty google, I found a great tut for a Wonky Star block over at The Silly BooDilly!

I am really happy with the way it turned out. Although not a great picture - but I used two different oranges - one plain and one patterned.  It is also a lot brighter in real life.

Christmas in July Handmade Swap!

YAY! My partner Fiona from Finding Fifth has finally received her Christmas In July Handmade Swap, so I can post some photos for you all to see or you could even read Fiona's post about it here!

I must admit I had some help from one of Fiona's friends - who provided me with Fiona's Pinterest details so I could stalk her on there.  It was there on her boards - that I discovered Fiona's love for felt Christmas tree decorations. BINGO!!!! I had hit the jackpot and knew straight away what I wanted to make. 

I ended up making 2 of each design. Got to love my stash of Kaszazz buttons that came in handy for this project - mind you I think I am going to put forward to head office that I would love a Christmas pack with Red, Dark & Light Greens and white!

I also whipped up a little bag for them to be stored in when they were not in use.

Plus what Christmas In July gift would it be - without a Christmas card to match!

All the goodies bundled up and ready to go!

I just want to say a big Thankyou to Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts who organised this fantastic little swap!  I had a ball working on this.

As for who my swap partner is or what they have made for me - I will just have to be a little more patient until it arrives in the mail.

Beanbags for Playgroup!

Remember how I had weight issues with Sasha the Travelling Stash and how I felt so bad for taking more than I put in?????  Anyway it was suggested that maybe some of the extras that I took out could be given/donated to a local charity etc.

Well - I did just that. Our local playgroup which only consists of 4 Mums and 5 kids was only just talking the other day about some games that we could play with the kids that would help teach them some fine motor skills. It got me thinking and I decided to make some small bean bags for them to use balancing on their heads or throwing into small buckets etc.

So I put these two ideas together and used 2 of the FQ's that I took from Sasha and turned them into 8 very bright and colorful bean bags for Playgroup!  I used Split peas as the filler and they have such an awesome feel to them in your hand - or on your head (Yes I had to make sure that they would work) LOL!

I am sure the kids are going to love playing with these, as my two, Miss 8 and Mr 3 have already been playing with them!  So a big thankyou to Sasha and all her contributors who have in turn helped me donate something useful and needy to our local playgroup.

May Queen Bee #2 Block!

Boy O Boy am I really behind on my Queen Bee blocks. I am so lucky that the group I am in have been very patient and understanding of my tardiness.  Anyway, so it was a goal of mine to have the three (May, June & July) blocks done by the end of the weekend.

May's block belongs to the lovely Phillipa Clarke from Needles in the Haystack and she chose a Mock Needle Turned applique block.  EEK! I have done both hand and machine applique in the past but not Mock needle turned.  I don't know what I was worried for though, cause Phillipa had a great instruction post here and also provided a link here from Sew Cal Gal on how to do the Mock needle turn part.

Phillipa even provided all the Queen Bee #2 participants with the precut green hearts and iron on pellon as well as the stem piece - so all we had to do was add the white backing square. I choose a lovely bright white with a small white floral print to it.

I really did surprise myself on how easy this block really was - actually I am rather ashamed with myself for not getting around to it sooner.  As for the Mock Needle Turned Applique technique - I think it is something that I may use later on down the track in my quilting projects.

Sascha - The Original Travelling Stash!

I know some of you have been patiently waiting for me to blog about Sascha - so here she is......

This is how I collected Sascha from the lovely Miss Jane Kelly. Who at the time was finishing off her three course sand meal that some of the kiddies had made her.

Lots of yummy goodness awaited me! LOL

This is what the contents looked like once I had taken everything out and oooohed and aaahed over everything!

These are the things that really caught me eye! 

I really loved the brown little notebook cover - I plan to make some of these for the school's Mother's Day stall next year - so having a copy to work from will be so helpful.

This is what I was putting back into Sascha. I had been collecting bits and pieces for a while now.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!

When it came time to bag everything up and weigh her - I discovered that she was very over her required 3kg limit.

OK- so I knew that the Homespun mag weighed about 400grams by itself - so I decided  to seperate everything and start again.  Just as well as I did - cause I found that she was already 150grams over before I added my items.  So I had to put my thinking cap back on and have another go.

This time I took out these items. With the stars and the zigzag fabrics, I simply cut them in half - keeping a FQ and putting a FQ back in the bag.  

And this is what I put back into the bag (plus the Chook Shed pattern which I forgot to take a photo of). Basically I just removed the magazine and replaced it with a set of bag handles and a Charm friendly patchwork quilt pattern. 

I still feel a little at unease of the fact that I have taken out more then I have put it - but trying to keep it all under the 3kg limit made it so much harder.  I am hoping that I will be forgiven by the other members that got a visit from Sascha too though.

Back on the scales for a final time - 1 notch under the 3kg mark! Whoooo - I did it.

Now she is off to the Post Office to be sent on to another 8 recipents before heading back to the lovely Cassie  from Cass the Coolest who organised her.

Despite being really sick whilst doing all of this - I still had so much fun. 

My very first time - but I am also linking up to the Sunday Stash over at Finding Fifth!

Being Thrifty!

Does everybody have one of those pieces of clothing that you just live in and would be so lost if you know had it to wear????? Well for me - that essential piece is my long denim skirt! I try to wear it all year round! Anyhow I was devestated to learn that I had a rip in the back just above the back split. Hmmmm, what was I going to wear now.

Well instead of throwing it out - or even upcycling it somehow, I managed to patch it with an iron on embroidered patch. Sheesh I am feeling pretty clever with myself.

The ladybird patch! Once ironed on - I did sew it on as well for extra strength and protection!

The underside showing what the patch is hiding.

I couldn't help myself, I added a trail with some embroidery thread.

My skirt all ready to go - now just to shave the overgrown forest that has appeared on my jean cladded legs and I will be ready to wear my most loved piece of clothing again!

Farrah - The Travelling Fat Quarter Stash

On my way into town yesterday to pick up Sasha - The Travelling Stash from a friend in town, I decided to stop and buy my 3kg satchel so I could get ready to send her on to the next recipient when I was given a jammed packed 3kg satchel by my lovely Australia Post lady! It was Farrah - The Travelling Fat Quarter stash that I had also signed up for on Facebook. I just laughed, cause when I signed up for them both, I thought to myself, knowing my luck I would end up with them both at the same time. Looks like I jinxed myself.

For those that do not know what a travelling stash is - it is a collection of bits and pieces that is passed from person to person. When each person receives the stash, they take what they would like out of it and replaces it with the same amount of items before sending it to the next person.The idea is that the person that originally sent/organised the stash ends up with goodies different to what they originally sent out.

Anyway, enough talking, I am sure you are all hanging out to see photos of Farrah!

This is how she arrived. I must admit though I was so excited that I did rip into her and have a little look before stuffing them back in the bag to take a photo. LOL.  I was just soo excited.

A much nicer photo of all the lovely FQ goodness that was hidden inside that 3kg satchel.

After much drooling and oogling, I decided to take the below 10 FQ's. I tried to stick with taking only what I could use in upcoming projects.

It wasn't easy! But I have decided on these 10 with the following purposes in mind....

The Frogs - are a project I am making for my sister's birthday

The Blue leaves - are for a mug rug where I already have the same print but in pink

The green - for a Christmas Handmade swap that I am in

The Blue dots - for a dress for a doll that I have my eye on to make

The blue one at the front - will probably be for a handbag that I have been dreaming off

The two browns - are always handy for animal appliques.

Now taking a whopping 10 FQ's meant that I had to replace them with 10 or more. I started to get a little worried as although I have been a sewer for as long as I can remember, I have only starting collecting patchwork fabric for just under a year now. But I was surprised at how quickly the 10 came together.

Not a great photo (should have looked at this before I had sealed the bag)! I had noticed that Farrah was appearing to be more of a pastel floral kind of palette, so I was looking for brights, reds, navys and something cute and funky amongst my stash.

A much nicer and more accurate colour view of the FQ's that I put back into the stash.

OK, now it was time to bundle Farrah up and put her into a new satchel ready to head to the next person - who I know is just going to squeal with delight when she finds out that she is next. LOL

Onto my trusty scales to see if were in the allocated 3 kilo range.

I also bundled all the FQ's up into a plastic bag, before placing her into the satchel. Just a bit more protection should the outer bag get ripped etc.

Oh and I just couldn't help myself - since I had plenty of room kilo wise, I added another two country style FQ's to the bag as well!

Now Farrah is patiently waiting for her trek into town tomorrow to be posted.

I also want to thank the lovely Bronwyn for organising Farrah - she has brought me so much joy and fun.