Sunday Stash #48

Something Sweet This Way Comes

This week I ventured to my local quilt store, Rainbow Patchwork (see this post) but I did not escape without spending a bit of cash on some lovely fabrics. Remember this cushion on display there?

These were ALL in the $11 per metre section. I bought half a metre of each. It's 'Sugar Pop' by Liz Scott for Moda.

Australia Day Long Weekend

This weekend is traditionally one of getting friends together and outdoor activities, however the remnants of tropical cyclone Oswald have turned into very large rain depression all the way from Queensland and into half of New South Wales. 

So from bushfires to cyclones tofloods all within the month - This is Australia! So that means our Monday BBQ and backyard cricket plans are now in doubt. It may leave plenty of time for sewing and board games instead.

My family playing beach cricket earlier this month

But to brighten up my weekend was yesterday's release of a Union Jack block tutorial over at Molli Sparkles. I am keen to try one of these blocks. Molli will also be hosting Sunday Stash on February 17th.

And thank you to Rachel of Sew Happily Ever After and Allison of Dreaming in Patchwork for signing up to host Sunday Stash in May and June respectively. So nice to have folks want to help out. 

And Sew On

Don't forget that the link up over at Quiet Play, for January's block, will close on the 31st of January. Great prizes available plus the 'Measure Twice' pattern will only be FREE until then too! I have not done my block but I am kind of excluded from the prizes for Month 1 due to a slight conflict of interest (I am one of prize sponsors).

Anything added to your stash lately. Feel free to link up below.

Candy for Tall Boys

First WiP in 2013

This is my husband's dresser. It is called a tall boy. It has been naked on top since we moved in and ditched the old 12" tv that used to be on top of a piece of fabric. I have been meaning to sew a proper runner for it since last year when I made one for my dresser.

The motivation was re-ignited with the two Moda Candy Mini Charm Packs that Lara sent me with my Wombat Santa gift a week or so back.

I pulled out my scrap bag of leftovers from the dresser runner and combined them with the 'Butterfly Garden' 2.5" squares. I love Moda precuts because they are pinked. All I had to trim were a few of my French General textured and 'Hope' scraps. 

This Week's  Sewing  Stats

Completed projects  -  Polaroid 9 Patch block

                                              QCA Bee#1 Dec - Feather block

                                              QCA Bee#1 Jan - Winged Squares block

                                              Wombat Stew 'Teapot' paper pieced block

Currently in progress -  Tall Boy Runner

                                               

Yet to start  - Sherbert Dreams Quilt

                           'And Sew On' Jan block

                           'Just My Type' 'Faith' block for Kristy

                            

On Hold projects   - Sherbert Dreams Quilt

                                     - 4 Liberty Pillowcases 

                                     - Victorian Garden Quilt - to baste

                                     

Wear Gloves Next Time

Minimal rotary cutting is all I can manage for now as I am sporting a gardening injury to my dominant index finger.

On Sunday afternoon I was pruning a particularly nasty palm tree that overhangs our backyard pond when one of the spikes lodged in my knuckle. I pulled it out. But four hours later my finger began to throb and swell up. I knew it was the spike. A quick Google search lead me to information that these palm tree spikes can be full of bacteria that can get into your joints and cause all sorts of painful damage.

All those dead branches are cut off now

I could not bend nor straighten it by the morning! It seriously felt like I had broken it. A quick trip to the Dr and some antibiotics on Monday meant that now the swelling is decreasing and the range of movement is increasing. And I gave that palm tree some serious 'what for' pruning yesterday afternoon. But this time I made sure I wore gloves. Even so he still managed to get through a few times but no where near as deep.

Linking up to WiP at Freshly Pieced for the first time this year.

Bakery Basket

I wish I were a mum that bakes. I have 3 girlfriends who are classic bakers. You go to their house and there is always a fresh slice, loaf or biscuit on offer with a cup of tea. My kind of friends!

One of my closest baking friends is Marieka from 'Bespoke Bites'. She is also a quilter and about 3 years ago she made a quilt for a little girl with some Moda fabric called 'Recipe for Friendship.' It is very sweet and she had a couple of small squares leftover that she gave to me. I used some of them on a dress for my daughter but had no use for the last 5 - until today!

The project for this week's Zakka Style Sew Along is a 'cute-as-cherry-pie' bread basket. The fabric prize for linking up before Sunday is adorable and I want to be in the running for it. So after reading the 'very helpful tips'  from Amanda at The Patchsmith and checking out some other delicious finishes by Sheila of Blue Patch Quilter and Cary of Creative Moments, I set to work to make one for Marieka. Now she will have funky place to put her date loaf, home-made jam or cookies into when she goes along to Coffs Fresh Quilters. I know that Kelly, Kristy and Jane will appreciate it.

I spent a bit of time, as usual, reading, drawing and writing all over the pattern, before I started cutting. I gathered up the leftovers and then started to match fabrics. 

Changes


Would you believe that I ended up using a tea towel instead of linen for this project? It was very versatile and most of it was used by the end. ( I used a tea towel for the earlier pincushion and pot holders).

I wanted my front panel to be symmetrical and so I made sure that the patchwork and linen measured 11" by the end.

I made my own buttons but only ended up using one.

I decorated both front and back panels and used a fabric stamp for the first time. So happy with the results.

I inserted a piece of perspex to give the base more strength.

I just used a bit of the hem from the tea towel for the twine/string.

I would love to make another one of these but in all honesty it was very time consuming.

And if you are a baking type, check out Marieka's blog where she has lots of recipes. Here's a link to her almond and cranberry biscotti. 


I am linking up with...

Scrap Bag Log Cabins

Last year I bought 2 Moda scrap bags. Most of the scraps were long strips not quite as thick as a jelly roll, but close enough.

I found myself with many strips of fabric in burgundy, brown and navy. And there was nearly a whole scrap bag of the gorgeous 'Hope' fabric.


WIP - Wednesday


So I set to work to make something for myself. I had never made a log cabin block before so I started on some. They were easier than I had expected and I couldn't stop at one!

Then I left them for 2 months until this week. I managed to finish the borders, baste and quilt both. 

I used basting spray as the job was so small

I made some binding using leftover cut-offs from my 'Astor Manor D9P' quilt. 

binding

sewing the binding on to the front

pinning the binding on

getting better at machine binding

The top one is for my side of the bed and the bottom for my husband's side.

Now I have plans to use a lot of the scraps to make a stacked coins quilt table runner to go on top of our naked dresser.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 2 bedside table mats, 2 Craftsy BoM Feb blocks
New projects - None

On Hold - 1 custom strip quilt - will start when I receive 50% deposit , 1 Feb  scrappy log cabin quilt - once all the blocks come in

Currently in progress - scrappy coin table runner, 3 dolly quilts to back (still! Am thinking of using vintage sheet fabric for these).

How did you fare this week? Pop over to 'Freshly Pieced' to link to other WIP blogs.