Sew Seasonal Blog Hop!

Hi! My name is Kelly Gleeson and I am proud to say that I am a PAPER PIECING ADDICT!

And it is all due to Kristy from Quiet Play and Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts!

Back in November these two lovely ladies co-hosted the Sew Seasonal Blog Hop which saw them each design some Christmas themed paper piecing patterns which they shared with us. I was lucky enough to get both lots of patterns whilst they were free (YAY) - but don't fret, you can still purchase them through their Craftsy Pattern stores.

Anyway, on the very first day Kristy made the sweetest cushions for her kidlets, which I just fell in love with.

So, being the fantastic Big Sis that I am, I decided to make a Candy Cane Cushion for my sister as party of her Christmas present! My idea/plan is that she can keep the little pocket stocked with edible Candy Canes, so that when her friends come over, they can help themselves and get into the Christmas Spirit too. 

I have to share too - that I posted this parcel to my sister in Bathurst from Coffs Harbour late Friday arvo and she received it yesterday (MOnday)! So a little of my faith has been restored in Australia Post.

Anyway, enough gabbering - now to share some photos of this cushion!

It really is easier than it looks and way too addictive as well.

The pocket all stitched on complete with a fussy cut candy cane on the stocking.

The front and back pieces ready to be sewn together! 

And viola the completed cushion.

I had so much fun making this cushion and can happily report that my sister just loves it.  Not to mention that is goes in perfectly with her Christmas colours of Hot Pink, Hot Purple and Lime Green!

If you would like to see more of the blocks that Kristy and Alyce made, head on over to their blogs. There is even a linky party happening, where others have shared their fantastic projects as well, not to mention some awesome prizes on offer.

Hmmm, if only I had more time to do some more paper piecing - but alas, I had better keep going with sewing some Christmas presents.

Have a great day, Kel!

Sunday Stash!

Funny, I was only just saying to the girls at Quilt Group today that I probably wouldn't do a Sunday Stash today as I don't think I had anything to report! 

That was, until I actually went trawling through my hidey stashing places and pulled out the below......

A huge 72 5 x 10"  rectangles for the I Spy Swap that I was part of.

Some Poly Cotton that had managed to find its way into my bag on a recent venture to Spotlight for some white Homespun. Not 100% sure what I am going to do with this - but at only $2.99, I just couldn't walk past it. I am thinking maybe a ruffle skirt for Miss Moo out of the three blue ones on the left and yet another coffee snuggly out of the apples for teacher's Christmas presents.

I did grab a metre of this Cherry Poly Cotton to make Miss Moo a top and 

I just couldn't go past this very cute The Grinch who stole Christmas fabric to make Will a Christmas shirt.

Would you believe that I picked up this gorgeous 2 metre piece of bug satin at my local Op Shop. Plus the lady only charged me $1 for it. Miss Moo claimed it the moment I showed her - so I am guessing a summer nightie perhaps.

And to top it all off, I received my Polaroid Swap blocks from the lovely Kristy from Quiet Play today at Quilt Group.

Which included 10 gorgeous owl blocks! These beauties are going to end up in a cushion for my Mum for Christmas. I am actually really liking the construction of Janice's Christmas cushion from Better off Thread that she created for the Sew Seasonal Blog Hop that Kristy from Quiet Play and Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts are running.

Linking up to Sunday Stash with Fiona over at Finding Fifth!

QCA Bee #2 - November Blocks

WOW - I can't believe that it is November already - where have the past 10 months gone?

Anyway, the lovely Janine from Red Quilty Girl is Miss November in my Queen Bee group and she has chosen a large Polaroid Block.

You can imagine my joy at such a lovely easy block. The instructions for this block can be found here at Charm About You.

Honestly it took me longer to go through my scrap boxes and FQ stash to find two pieces that I could fussy cut, then it did to actually construct the blocks. 

Polaroid Block Swap

Kristy from over at Quiet Play is hosting a fun block swap - Say Cheese! Polaroid Block Swap.

The object being to make up to 50 of these blocks, send them to her and then she will send you back the same number - but different ones.

You can follow the tut to make the blocks up here at Capitolaquilter.

I managed to sew most of my 50 blocks whilst I was happily chatting at Quilt Group and I am proud so say I am now a huge fan of chain piecing. It just makes it oh so much quicker.

It bugs me a tad that I am not able to trim them - but I understand that they will travel better untrimmed and also, they will be all uniform if you cut the ones that you received yourself.

I am hoping that I get enough Owls (6 or 9) to make my Mum a polaroid cushion for Christmas. I saw a lovely example the other day - but for the life of me, I now can't find it.  As for the remainder of the blocks that I get back - I will one day (Yes probably once the kids have left home and I am retired) make it into an I Spy kind of quilt.

Before I sign off, I just quickly want to share the gorgeous Vintage FQ's that I received from a swap that Jane hosted over at Where Jane Creates.

I already have a project in mind for these beauties - a simple and elegant bed runner with matching pillowslips! However, the pattern is in a book that I brought for the kidlets to give to me for my birthday - so alas, another few weeks worth of waiting.

September blocks for Queen Bee #2

WOW - I can't believe how quickly our second part of our 3 week holiday went!

I can highly recommend staying at the Sea World Resort! Talk about mega kid friendly and not to mention the fact that I woke every morning listening to the Dolphins talking. 

Anyway, now that we are all back home and ready to hit mundane life again - it is a massive head down bum up effort for me to get all my blocks, BOM's, custom orders and Christmas presents up to date.

So as for last night's effort - two 12 1/2" blocks for Laura for the September Queen Bee #2.

The tutorial for these gorgeous blocks can be found here at Film in the Fridge! 

These blocks would be perfect for those that have a lot of scraps that they want to use up - as for me, I was able to use some scraps, but mostly had to cut into new bigger bits of fabric.  We won't talk about the $90 venture into Spotlight yesterday to buy a metre of white homespun!

Mind you making these, got me thinking that I would love to attempt a 4 x 4 size lap quilt with either a red & aqua colourway on white or a grey,black, yellow & white colourway on grey.  But then again - how awesome would this look in Christmas fabrics??????? 

Anyway, off to catch up on the last of the holiday washing and make a custom Feltie Owl.

Hope you have a great day :)

Queen Bee #2 - Miss October!

Well it is October already and it is my turn to host the Queen Bee #2 for the month.

Being only new back on the patchworking scene, I have chosen a relatively simple block in hot purples or lime greens with black homespun! The finished quilt will become (hopefully) a christmas present for my little sister, as the simple quilt I made her when I was back in High School (EEK - some 20 years ago now) has become  well worn and ready to be retired.

Before I go into the construction of the block - I just want to say a huge thankyou to the lovely and talented Jane Kelly who drafted the block for me and gave me some do and don't pointers about bee blocks.

Fabrics:-

Black Homespun

Hot (Mega Bright) Purples (tone on tone and patterns are perfect)

Lime (Bright) Greens (tone on tone and patterns are perfect)

Each block is to be either purple and black or lime green and black.


Construction:-

From the feature fabric (either the purple or green) cut a 3 1/2" square.

Add 1 1/2" black strips to the sides of the 3 1/2" square.

Then add the 1 1/2" black strips to the top and the bottom of the 3 1/2" square.

You should now have a feature square bordered in black - measuring 5 1/2" finished.

Now on to the remainder of the block. Add improv pieces to the bordered feature square so that the square is more towards the corner of the finished block rather then in the centre. 

Starting with the adding the side pieces......

then by adding the bottom.....

and then the top.

Trim the block to 11", with the bordered feature square more towards a corner rather then in the centre of the finished block.

Now that I have made these two blocks up, I am rather excited about putting this quilt together and can't wait to see the other blocks that the Bee members make.

Sunday Stash

WOW! Another wonderful week of fabric swaps and purchases!

Plus to top it all off - I am starting to feel somewhat better with my chest infection starting to clear up thus in turn helping to reduce my asthma.

Anyway, on to more exciting things........

This was the first to arrive this week - 3 yards of gorgeous country angel christmas print.  At this stage it will probably become the backing to the MIL's Nativity Quilt but I am not 100% sure - but I picked it up from a FB destashing page at a price that was too good to let go.

Another FB destash page buy!  I have been commissioned to make two cushions using the panel on the left for a close friend - so couldn't resist when I found these two other panels and co-ordinates from the same range.

My Christmas Charm Square Swap arrived back to me - lots of great designs in this one and I am so glad that I sent two lots in, to get two lots back. I really want to start my Christmas quilt now - but with two quilts already on the go and determined for Christmas presents this year, I won't have time.

Some gorgeous flowers from my Hubby celebrating our 14th Anniversary and our 10th Wedding Anniversary. 

Some Vintage FQ's that I bundled together for the Vintage FQ swap that Jane is running from Where Jane Creates!  I am really looking forward to getting this one back - as I have already chosen a bed runner and 2 matching pillowcase pattern (from a new book that I am getting for my birthday in November) which I want to make with them.

And finally some gorgeous fabric from The Fat Quarter Shop thanks to the lovely Kristy from Quiet Play who offered to share some space in her latest order.

The lovely Marieka from my local quilt group brought some of this in to show n tell one day! I have no idea what I am going to do with it - but I just had to have some. I love it. Being blue it will go in with my kitchen well. Hmmm, perhaps some much needed potholders. I have a FQ of each and welcome any ideas!

Skinny FQ's of Ooh La La by Micheal Miller! I have finally found some fabric to do the Craftsy BOM QL which started in January this year! Yes I know, it is now Sept - but hey better late then never. Besides just by watching the tuts each month, I have learnt so much.

And some gorgeous cow fabric by Robert Kaufman to add to my growing pile of cow fabric - which will eventually make an oversized lap quilt.

Anyway, off to do a load of washing before sewing some pirate pants for Mr W for a dress up day at preschool and some birthday sewing for my Sister!

Linking up with Fi from Finding Fifth too - don't forget to stop by and check out all the other lovely Sunday Stash posts!

Sunday Stash

Well it was a bit of a quiet week here this week, which included me spending 6 hours in a local emergency department today before being diagnosed with a nasty chest infection. More anti-biotics and asthma medication to sink a large elephant.

Anyway, I did get a few little surprises during the week just gone.

This was a Bright Novelty 5" Charm swap that I went into to.  My charms were the green frog material. These were going to go straight into my stash, but then Kristy from over at Quiet Play is having a Polaroid Block swap which I think some of these would be perfect for!

Not crafty I know - but I just wanted to share this beautiful bunch of flowers that I got from our next door neighbours for looking after their little girl during the week. They look lovely in front of Mister W's art work.

I also managed a little trip into Spolight to get some Flat Fats and some yardage to do The Very Merry HST Block of the Fortnight with Alyce B over at Blossom Heart Quilts. I am a little somewhat behind - with the next block being released this Tuesday.  Oh Well.  I am thinking this quilt would make a perfect present for one of my Aunts for Christmas this year.

I also managed to grab a metre of this gorgeous nativity fabric from a FB destashing group. It is going to go perfectly with the Nativity stichery quilt pattern that I found in a Homespun Magazine a couple of months back now.  It will eventually be for my MIL for Christmas - but in the next year or so.

The Nativity Scene Stitchery Quilt pattern as seen in the Homespun mag.  Can't wait to get started, just waiting for my big embroidery hoop stand to come up from the farm so I can start.

And last but not least I wanted to share a gorgeous thing that my hubby did for me yesterday whilst I was cooped up in bed and he had taken the kids shopping to get out of the house.

The latest Homespun Mag! Unfortunately I have already read it front to back and vice versa, as well as covered it in a good layer of drool.  Now only to find time to raid my slowly growing stash, to make those adorable kitties on the front cover.

LOL - As I recap on my crafty week that was, it really wasn't as boring as I had thought.

Anyway, as usual, I am linking this up to The Sunday Stash over at Finding Fitfh.  Fiona also has an extra incentive this week - if she can get 10 or more people to link up - she will give away a gorgeous charm pack of  Kate Spain's 'Serendade'. This would be a brilliant addition to anyone's stash.

June Queen Bee #2 Block

The amazing and very talented Kristy from Quiet Play has been nice enough to help me catch up on my outstanding Queen Bee #2 blocks and offered to do my June block - which was a paper piece block selected by Tracey Rampling from The Peony Teacup! 

So all I can take credit for in this gorgeous block is choosing the fabrics from my stash!

My apologies for the blurry photo - I was simply trying to enlarge it enough so you could see it a bit better.

I love the colour combination - but not sure this would be something I would make in the future!

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.