Scrap Busting

Most people are into stash busting, but I don't really have much of a stash...I do however tend to have lots of bits leftover from quilts I've made. Sometimes whole fat quarters from a bundle, other times just excess bits and pieces. And usually I put them away and hope that at some point all my scraps will come together, but given my quilts vary from traditional fabrics to the more bright and funky sort, I don't really see this happening any time soon.

When I made Red Velvet recently, I carefully put aside all of the offcut triangles, then later stitched them into HSTs then into little pinwheels. And they've been sitting by my machine ever since. With a little motivation (and perhaps procrastination from my current project?), I did a bit of scribbling and came up with this cute table runner.

It uses left over outer border for the sashing, and inner border for the border. I'll use the same backing and binding as the quilt too. I'm heading to Queensland next week for a holiday, so I thought I'd tuck this into my bag for a bit of handstitching in the evening. It might also keep me busy when I get back as I'm finally sending my machine for a service; I figure if I send it off while I'm away, I minimise my "machine-less" time.

In case you haven't noticed the new addition to my sidebar, there is a link up for a facebook group for Bella's Patchwork, as a means of keeping everyone up to date with news, so if you'd like to be in the loop, become a fan. I'd love to have you!

Red Velvet

Sunday night while watching Bones, I finally finished the binding on this quilt. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, and I've caught my mum giving it a few longing glances...

Thank you for all the super-positive comments on my last post; I'm so excited that you love the name!

A Linen Cabinet and a Little Progress

I'm a sucker for a bargain. I love getting something I've wanted for ages on sale. Who doesn't? Ikea have a clearance sale on at the moment, and mum and I decided to brave the madness over the weekend, and I'm glad we did! I managed to snap up a cute linen cabinet that will be perfect for storing quilts in. However, it will remain in its box until I move into my own place, but it's something to look forward to.

Quilting/sewing progress has been a little slow this week. I've only got two sides of Red Velvet border left to quilt, but I've been procrastinating and working with Verna instead. I've sliced and diced all my charm squares and stitched them to the background fabric. Now to trim and assemble the blocks!

BOM 9

It's been a quiet one this week. I spent the weekend suffering sugar withdrawal symptoms like shakey legs and a headache, which is not so conducive to crafting. I've put together block 9 of the FQS Mystery BOM. Only 3 blocks to go!

Have you seen the 2010 Mystery BOM? It looks good, but I won't be doing it this year. There is just something wrong with a christmas quilt when christmas in Australia is so HOT!

I've also finished quilting the blocks of Red Velvet; just got the borders to go, then I'll pop up a picture. My only other news is that I've had a gorgeous logo designed for my quilt shop. Not long until I'll be able to reveal a few details.

Bits and Pieces

A few odds and ends today, as nothing major has been going on in my life lately other than a few casual hours at work, and hunting for a yoga class that suits me after my previous teacher went on maternity leave and was replaced by someone whose style didn't suit me. Oh, and I've crazily decided to give up sugar for a while (till easter, cos I love chocolate), which I'm hoping will make me feel a bit less "blah". But anyway...

The ciabatta bread I made over the weekend. Not quite as "holey" as commercial bread, but lovely dipped in olive oil or toasted and served with a lentil soup.

The choc caramel tart; my last sugar hit for a while! Next time I'll make my own pastry; those frozen sheets really don't taste as nice as home-made.

A special visitor in my garden last night.

A Japanese Maple tree in my backyard that has been dead for a good 4-5 years (hot weather and lack of rain are to blame). It was finally rotten enough for me to yank out this arvo. Hoping to tidy up this garden bed and maybe put in an apple tree.

(before)

(after)

The pumpkin plant which is taking over my backyard. It hasn't been too successful despite me doing a lot of pollinating, but there are a couple of pumpkins growing.

Our quince tree has its first quince this year; only one but it's looking good!

I'm loving how the quilting of Red Velvet looks on the back; its matches the fabric perfectly.

I found myself feeling a bit bored at 3pm on Sunday and decided to go wander around a few stores; I found this gorgeous bowl at Freedom for an extravagant $12! A matching vase was just $8.

Friday on my Mind

It's Friday, and I am...


Quilting Red Velvet


Baking bread

Admiring all the pretty flowers in the garden and enjoying the rain

A New Apron

Tired of wearing my old, worn-out apron, I whipped myself up a pretty new one. The neck strap on my old one was held together with string, and the ties were so tattered I got tangled up trying to undo them.

I used inexpensive decorator-weight fabric from lincraft, traced around my old apron and added an inch. Then I folded the hem over twice, and top-stitched it down. Added a neck strap (I like my apron up high cos Im a grub) and two ties, and an hour later had myself a cute new apron. Plus I've got enough fabric left to either make a second apron, or some cute cushion covers.

As a post-script to yesterday's post, I ummed and ahhhed about the border on Red Velvet and decided I really wasn't happy (I'm a virgo, and therefore something of a perfectionist). I had a bit of border left with the pattern in the right position but it was a touch too short. Fortunately I could tack a little on the end that matched the pattern on the side border, and I'm happy with how it looks now. I'll take an extra seam over a mismatched pattern any day!

BOM8 and a bit of Red Velvet

FQS Mystery BOM block 8 received, cut and stitched in record time!

Red Velvet flimsy all pieced and ready for quilting; I finished it a few days ago but it's either been pouring with rain or windy as anything. Finally today it's a comfortable 20 degrees with little wind and no rain. The top border is bugging me a bit; it's the only bit where the pattern on the fabric doesn't match well...

The bountiful homegrown produce continues; I've been gradually picking all the onions (used some in a lovely paella last night), more little tomatoes, some sneaky potatoes that were growing in the compost, and white nectarines. The nectarine tree is only little (shorter than me), but has had way more fruit than we could possibly get through, especially as it's been quite hot so it all ripened at once. Some made its way into a lovely tart though.

A Little Progress

In the midst of another heatwave, its been a bit difficult to get much done the last few days; we were over 40 degrees yesterday, and our overnight minimum was 31!

So between sprawling on the couch and sitting in front of a desk fan, I've managed to get only a bit of sewing done; I've been working on the gorgeous Red Velvet.

The main blocks are done, as are the X blocks. All I need to do is the border blocks, then it'll be ready to assemble!

A couple of weeks ago (yup, things are a bit behind...), I had a bit of a scribble and fiddle, and managed to sew up a handbag hanger. The pic isn't great, but the idea it to hand it up, and there are tabs so that you can hang your gorgeous handbags/evening bags up in an orderly fashion (rather than piling them all onto two coat hooks on the back of your door like I do!)

Some garden progress; I harvested my first onion! The rest are also ready, but due to the heat I've been eating salads; nothing I need onions for so I've left them in the ground for now.

In other news, making progress with the shop idea; got tax advice and started to get prices, and looks like this could work...I'm very excited!!