Easy As ABC QAL!!!!!!

What am I doing??? 

I have enough quilts and other projects on the go at the moment - so why did I sign up to do this one???? The answer??? ......I just can't help myself! LOL. I mean honestly who can so NO to a gorgeous rainbow quilt! 

The lovely Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts is currently doing an Easy As ABC Quilt Along! Run over 6 months - each month will see you create 5 gorgeous rainbow blocks featuring the alphabet & 1,2,3.

You can check out all the details here!

I would have loved to be able to have brought the gorgeous fabric bundles that Sew Lux are offering  especially for this QAL - but I decided to be good and try and use up all those FQ's that are in my stash! 

In order to accommodate what I had and then try to limit any extras that I had to buy - I rearranged my colour scheme a little so my quilt will turn out a rainbowed like this.....

A	B	C	D	E
F	G	H	I	J
K	L	M	N	O
P	Q	R	S	T
U	V	W	X	Y
Z	-	1	2	3

So with colours and fabric sorted - I was off to start sewing!

(I apologise for the photos - long story - but in a nutshell Hubby had to take these on his phone.)

My first row all done! I was surprised at how easy and quick each block comes together.

I used up the last of my gorgeous red dot on red Riley Blake FQ. 

I simply adore this orange! If only the range included more colours instead of the Blue & Orange.

A huge thanks to Jane for coming to the rescue of my lack of yellow!

Want to hear a funny store behind this green???? I was given a Melly & Me Monkey softie kit for Christmas off my very soon to be SIL. I was short 1 light green and stumbled across this kit. So I thought I would be sneaky and cut the paper pattern out and then roughly pin it to the fabric and cut around it. That way what ever was leftover I could use for this block. Sounds logical! Well guess who only managed to cut out 1 arm and 1 leg in this fabric! Whoops! I sew hope that Busy Thimbles has some of this green left!

I am not sure who this quilt will be for, possibly Mr 4 or one of Hubbies good school friends are due to have their first baby soon, so perhaps to a special little person.

If you are interested in joining in - don't forget to head on over to Alyce's blog and check it all out. The instructions are easy to follow - well if I can do it then anybody can! There are also some wonderful prizes up for grabs too!

Sunday Stash #73

Hmmm, Monday again! 

This is not a habit that I am happy with I can assure you! It seems that technology is not my friend today :(

Anyway, on to some goodies that arrived in my mailbox this week!

Kaszazz - the party plan company that I am a consultant of - recently launched their latest catalogue! OH MY - talk about an exciting read. It is jammed packed of not only the products that we sell, but also full of ideas and workshops available. I am seriously trying to get hubby to get a second job so I can order everything of my wish list!

My 2nd block arrived from The Fat Quarter Shop! I am feeling a bit slack to already be behind. I did join a FB page for this BOM  though - hopefully this may kick start me into starting. I think the lack of my desire to start this quilt is the fact that I am currently working on two quilts for birthday presents in September, as well as two BOM quilts plus my Road to Fortune Bee Quilt. 

And last but not least - my ribbon order arrived from Polkadots & Lollipops Craft Supplies! I am a follower of this company on FB and when they shared a photo of the LEGO ribbon - I knew that I had to have some to use in baby Harry's bunting and at only 80c per metre it was a bargain. As for the rest of the ribbon, LOL - it sort of all just fell into my shopping cart.

Linking up to Fi @ Finding Fifth for yet another belated Sunday Stash!

My apologies for the extremely poor condition of these photos - the one and only camera in the house is refusing to take photos and in sheer desperation, Hubby took these on his phone for me!

Sunday Stash #72

Hmmm, a day late (AGAIN - I hear you all say)!

I don't have any interesting things that have been added to my slowly growing stash! I did go to SL and buy 7 mtrs of Iron Grey Homespun for my Modern QAL & Road to Fortune quilts, plus 3 mtrs of Natural Unseeded Homespun for the Easy As ABC QAL!

See not very interesting at all! But.......

How about a photo of Hubby in his Minnie Mouse outfit instead?

I don't have a great shot and it was a case of quick try this on to see if it is OK as he walked out the door for the Scout weekend. 

I had asked a few people if they could take some photos over the weekend for me - but I am still waiting to get any!  Not the best costume I have ever made - but you certainly get the gist of who he is. He was happy with it all so I suppose that is what counts. I am also still waiting to get my new black leggings back - apparently they make great thermals underneath his work jeans for days like today that are cold wet and miserable. LOL

Anyway, linking up to Sunday Stash over at Quiet Play today!

WIP Wednesday!

OK - I have been trying to write this post since yesterday, so I am just going to do a real rough outline, as I know I need the shock value of it to hit me on the head so I will stop procastining and get onto it all.

WIP's needing to be done before our holiday in September:

35 x Inspirational journals (Commissioned order - materials are now here)
16 x Ladybug Eye masks (For a Scrapbooking retreat - have fabric & pattern)
Baby Harrison's Lego Bunting (part of his birth present - have fabric)
Eryn's Square in a square quilt (it's her 21st present)
Everyday Angel quilt (it's Mum's birthday present)

Other WIP's

Knitted Bed runner - onto the last ball now.

Chook Coasters & matching table runner - fabric chosen

Umberella pouch - pattern copied, fabric chosen

Easy As ABC QAL - fabric chosen for A-E

2013 Designer BOM - I have month 1 and just paid for month 2

Completed WIP's

I am happy to report that I have finished hubbies Minnie Mouse outfit for an upcoming Scouting weekend! YAY

It looks very cute and is certainly good for a giggle - but I have promised him that I won't post photos until at least Sunday morning. So stay tuned for my Sunday Stash!!!!!!!

 

Sunday Stash #71

WOW - I can't believe that Sunday is here upon us once again.

Not too much has been added to my stash this week - although I have joined the bandwagon on buying up big with Spotlights $1 Flat Fats this week.  I added a little over 60 odd to my collection - with the justification of:  I plan to sell some of my handmade goodies at our local Made with Love Markets here in Coffs Harbour at Christmas time and this price was just too good of an opportunity to leave.

This little bevy below will be destined for Coffee Snugglies, Pocket Tissue Holders, Chook Coasters, Heat Packs and a whatever other little delights I stumble across between now and then.

I also added these lovely prints to my stash and at only $4 per metre were somewhat of a bargain.

I am planning on making myself a bucket hat, with the red as the outer and the raindrops for the underside. I am also tempted to make a mug rug or a mini quilt with some of this too. The Lovely Kristy from Quiet Play has a gorgeous Umbrella paper piecing block in her Craftsy store which would work brilliantly with this fabric as well.

Linking up with the brilliant Fi from Finding Fifth for Sunday Stash!

As for me, I had better keep moving - I am currently sewing Hubby's Minnie Mouse costume! Gosh it is going to be such a wag! He has made me promise not to publish any photos until after the event! LOL - we'll see!

Hope you all have a great week!

July Queen Bee block

Just thought I would quickly post a picture of what is to date the biggest patchwork block that I have ever made! I literally was brain dead when I had finished it.

The lovely Margaret is the Queen Bee for July and she choose an Octagonal Orb Quilt Block. You can find some instructions here if you would like to have a go at making one yourself.

Margaret has asked for nice bright Cheery colours - I think I have hit that head on.

I was very tempted to tell her that I had sent this block and that it must have been lost in the post! LOL - I think it would make an adorable cushion on my lounge. 

Modern QAL - Block 3

I am totally loving this Quilt - A - Long!

It is a great way to keep me motivated and not to mention I am learning different techniques and quilt blocks along the way.

This month's block was Megan's Star and it was hosted by Anorina from Samelia's Mum!

My completed Megan's Star Block!

I did play with the colourings a fair bit until I was happy with the result.

 

And it now proudly is hanging on my design wall! My apologies for the poor photos!

Linking up to the And Sew We Craft Modern QAL!

Sunday Stash #70 (On a Monday)

OMG!

Talk about an utter BLOWOUT this week!

So I managed a whole two weeks on this no spending on this Fabric or crafting addiction obsession habit of mine and then it came time for me to knuckle down and put a years worth of info into MYOB (a computer software for our small business) and that my dear blog readers is where everything went down hill at an alarmingly quick rate!

Even the usual soul soothing that purchasing sweet fabric and books brings, eluded my lifeless data entry slump of a person I became during that time.

However, I can happily report that the tax work is now at the Accountant's, I have a cake in the oven as a long overdue reward for the Hubby and the kidlets and I have an overflowing pile of new yumminess to pet and drool over!  

Anyway, I am sure you are all dying to see what I have managed to hoard during my period of blah and not to mention that I am finally in a mood to share it all! LOL......

I had been eyeing this gorgeous book for a while now! Well in my cranky state on a visit to Spotlight for something else - this simply fell into the basket with the excuse that it was payment for the work that I was currently doing! LOL

This is the actual reason I went into Spotlight in the first place! I had a layby that was overdue - imagine my surprise when I realised that it was a stack of FQ's and a skinny jelly roll.

I simply adore Red & Aqua - it all started with my very first Bee block ever, a Red & Aqua string block. Since then I have been stashing whenever I can, anticipating a Red & Aqua quilt of my own.

Not quite sure why I got these one, as they are not my usual colouring - but they are destined for Chook Coasters, A table runner and if I have enough left over a half circle bunting for my open plan kitchen/dining area.

This lot I have NO IDEA why I got these other than they are bright and the very top green Flat Fat has owls on them. Obviously when I picked them I had some plans - but in the mean time they will just go in the stash for a rainy day opportunity. 

Maybe perhaps it is time to start teaching Miss 9 1/2 how to sew. But then that would open up another problem - do I let her sew on my Trusty Rusty or buy her her own machine. Should I upgrade myself to the Brother machine that I have my heart set on and pass TR down????? Oh decisions decisions!

Anyway, back on to my increase in stash - some Dr Seuss fabric from a de stash page on FB! I had I just had to have this one for the scrappy quilt that I plan on making hopefully for Mr 4! But knowing my quilting rate - it will be a baby quilt for whenever my Brother or Sister decide to get married and have kids. Disclaimer since they are only 19 and 20 - I think I am safe for a good couple of years yet. LOL

More Dr Seuss, this time from Big W! Would you believe that the Dr Seuss FQ's cost more than the yard of each of the owls?????? All less than $4 each though - so no complaints there. I am thinking some cute owl handbags to sell on my FB page may be in order!

The July issue of Homespun arrived! Even my postie gets excited when this arrives - if I am not out the front  waiting, he will yell out to let me know its here. This time, the poor mag got thrown onto a pile of other mags  still in its plastic!  I must find some time to make a cuppa and sit down and start drooling from cover to cover like normal.

But wait..... I still have more! Told you I had blown out big time!

My 2013 Designer Mystery BOM arrived from The Fat Quarter Shop.  The delightful Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts inspired me to join up to this BOM. I also grabbed the finishing kit as well. I figured it didn't really matter what was on the back - but I did want the borders etc to match on the front.

How cute is the little 2.5" Charm pack of Avalon! It was a freebie for signing up to the BOM. A new lady to our quilt group made a gorgeous bag last time using some 2.5" charm packs and I am hoping that I could possibly borrow the pattern to make one for myself.

Plus....... What! I hear you say..... MORE!!!!!

Yep - more - but this time for my other passion, Scrapbooking and Cardmaking!

A mammoth order from Kaszazz - an 100% owned Australian company that I am a consultant for. Check out my other blog - Kel's Kaszazz Kaleidoscope for more details on my paper crafting obsession.

And then there were some totally yummy rolls of Whimsy Farm Twine! The top 3 are for a Scrapbooking retreat that I am organising with my Mum for later in the year - but the rest are all for me! LOL! This is such a versatile product. Not only do I use it in my card making and scrapbooking, but they are great to dress up wrapped presents, to add tags to home-made gifts etc. And it is only $5 per roll which is a whooping 100 metres in length. Postage is great too - a flat rate shipping of $8.00 for a satchel which is told it can be stuffed with a total of 42 rolls! I definitely recommend checking out Whimsy Farm Twine on FB.

 Believe it or not, I know I still have some more goodies stashed - but I have stashed them so good that I now can't find them (or more likely thrown it somewhere in disgust that I couldn't play with it straight away). 

Oh well - I will save those for another week!

Hope you all have a lovely week!

Linking up to Gemma over at Pretty Bobbins who is playing host this week!