One of my goals this year was to use up more of my scraps. I've joined Angela from
soscrappy in her
2015 Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) but this is the first time I have linked up and talked about it.
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| My RSC January and February blocks. |
To help clean out our scraps, Angela chooses a colour for us to work with each month. We can make anything we like from that colour or join her in her 2015 sewalong. Family events at the start of this year meant I quickly got behind ... but I knew that would happen, was very grown up about it and have worked my way steadily towards catching up.
I'm using this scrappy colour challenge as a way to make some of the quilts that have been in blogland over the last few years - ones I've wanted to make but haven't...yet...
So far we've had Blue for January and Pink for February...finding enough pink was a challenge; I discovered I don't use much of it.
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Glaring sunshine sorry. Too impatient to take the photos and carry on with
something else! |
These scrappy projects are my leader-ender sewing and I'm always amazed how quickly a block can be sewn up this way... it's like a busy wee elf is making blocks for me while I'm focussing on something else! Love this technique ♥
I've also realised one big cut at the start of the month is the way to go... then I have scraps everywhere for one day only... (that's the idea)...
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Angela's RSC Sampler - although for ease of cutting I'm doing the centre
blocks all the same.
These have connecting blocks (a chain block) I haven't sewn yet. |
March is Yellow month - that will be another challenge - I'm sure I don't have many of those either!
I'm linking up with soscrappy today - feel free to pop over *
there* too and see what people have been up to - or to join in too if you've been doing some scrap sewing.
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This sight tickled my fancy the other day...
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| Anyone for fruit salad? |
After my last post I had some interesting discussions with several people about New Zealand. We live in the northern part of the country and are happy to have what is loosely known as a temperate or sub-tropical climate. Our place usually has about 4 frosts per year and if the temperature gauge hits 1 degree Celcius we shiver and say how freezing we are. Of course looking at the beautiful snow pictures that everyone is posting from other parts of the world at the moment I know that is far from the truth, but it's all relative isn't it?
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I've picked this bunch to ripen on the deck so I can keep an eye on them.
I usually just cut them off as they ripen. |
It continues to be a thrill to me that we are able to grow bananas, a fruit not usually associated wth NZ.
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My home grown bananas are quite small - this variety is called Ladyfinger for
a reason, but they are sweet and homegrown so who cares?! |
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And this is a banana flower; it's weird, hanging under the
growing fruit. |
We don't get huge crops but enough that we can say we grow our own bananas!
I hope you all had a great weekend, our son and his wife were over briefly from Australia so that was wonderful :-) Now I have a busy week ahead, so had best get to bed..... happy sewing and thanks for reading along...
Love seeing al yor blocks! What a great idea to make some of these quilts on a month by month basis using your scraps. Great to see your photos...I see snow and more snow when I look out my window!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty blocks for RSC15, Raewyn. I am scrounging for yellows, too. Will just eke through to make 3 of my White Crosses and 4 of the little "Eye of God"! Yellow not being high on my list of favorite colors--altho' with all this white snow around, it is bright and cheering. WOW your own bananas--my DH would love that he eats them a lot! Hugs from the colder climes Julierose
ReplyDeleteHi zraewyn ,lovely blocks you have made,wow growing your own bananas that's awesome xx
ReplyDeleteCheck out all those pretty blocks!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I guess you get more sewing time when dinner is growing on a tree just outside your door! Your blocks are coming along nicely. I didn't do very well in Feb., but already got a good start on March yesterday. I have more yellow than I realized. You're going to have some nice quilts at the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post and especially the bit about growing bananas. I like that you are making blocks with a particular colour theme each month but what happens when you find you don't have much in the way of a particular colour such as yellow. I know what I would do.....go buy more fabric (and I would end up with more than just yellow which I suppose defeats the purpose of the exercise)!
ReplyDeleteBelos blocos!
ReplyDeleteEntão vocês têm bananas aí? Que legal!
Vejo bananas de qualidades diferentes. A pequena aqui chamamos de "banana prata" e é dada para bebês e todas outras pessoas. Ela é doce e de fácil digestão.
A outra maior chamamos de "banana d'água" ou "banana caturra" ou ainda "banana nanica" e é muito usada para doces e tortas.
Bom apetite e boas costuras!
Um abraço!
Beautiful notecards!
So there you have bananas? That's cool!
See bananas different qualities. The little we call "banana silver" and is given to babies and all others. It is sweet and easy to digest.
The other major called "banana water" or " banana caturra" or "banana nanica" and is often used for pastries.
Good appetite and good seams!
Hugs!
Beautiful blocks, Raewyn! I'm also looking for some projects so I can use up scraps. Must check out soscrappy. Hope it's not too late!!
ReplyDeleteYour climate sounds much like ours, but we get a frost maybe once every few years. They are devastating when they hit.
ReplyDeleteI love your blocks. Scrap quilts are always the best in my mind.
From the title of this post you had me very curious! I Love that you can grow your own bananas. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteYou had me laughing about being "grown up" about getting behind. Good for you! And it looks like you are catching up very well. You've chosen some great projects. I will enjoy watching them grow as you work. : )
Big buzz to grow bananas in NZ I doubt they will down our way but I loved looking at yours. Off to check out your scrapalong blog. Scrappy quilts are my weakness, I miss sewing since started studying.
ReplyDeleteLove your color blocks--I really don't have scraps, so I have to cut up some of my smaller fabric pcs each month to do my blocks--and now I have lots of blue and pink 2 1/2" squares--what to do with the leftovers--
ReplyDeleteI need a bom that uses up--leftover-leftovers!!!!
I love bananas but have trouble eating them anymore--
wonder if I could eat yours????
Smiles, diandmissgracie
I think these scrappy SLA are wonderful , so many great blocks come from those pretty scraps . I love your star pinwheel blocks . Wow had no idea you could grow bananas , how cool is that . Your climate sounds wonderful , it is snowing heavily here today :-(
ReplyDeleteHi Raewyn, all your blocks are just gorgeous, yes I would have trouble finding lots of yellow in my scraps too I think. Perhaps a few mustards ??? I was fascinated with your bananas ... the Mr has always wanted to grow them here on our property so I will show him your post. Have a great week Raewyn, I know you have a busy end of week coming up :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are being very diligent using your scraps. I don't have much pink or yellow either, but would probably be surprised if I dug deep enough into the stash!
ReplyDeleteNice scrappy blocks Raewyn, I know pink wouldn't feature much in my scraps, it is interesting when looking through our scraps to see what colours feature most. Oh yes you were eating a banana at work the other day, I see some growing out where I go walking each morning. Wouldn't mind some snow rather than banana's!
ReplyDeleteyour scrap blocks look so lovely and coordinated... great way to get through them..... ladyfinger bananas are the best I think
ReplyDeleteHugz
Loving the pink and blue blocks Raewyn.....don't think I would have any yellow fabric scraps! And good on you for catching up seeing as you have been busy with family and other sewing for something special coming up. Hugs xxxxx
ReplyDeleteLoving the pink and blue blocks Raewyn.....don't think I would have any yellow fabric scraps! And good on you for catching up seeing as you have been busy with family and other sewing for something special coming up. Hugs xxxxx
ReplyDeleteLovely to see a banana palm actually flowering ~ we've had one in the garden for four years and no flowers, we got sick of it and hacked it down with the chainsaw and it grew back right out of the middle like it was giving us the 'finger' and of course ~ NO flower again this summer ~ South of Auck must be just a tad too below the perfect climate ~ your bananas look yummy though ~ just like being at a South Pacific Resort!
ReplyDeleteGreat way to use up scraps love that idea. Always plan to be organised but lately life has got in the way
ReplyDeleteLove that granny square...haven't done it but always admire it. Admiring your bananas as well :)
ReplyDeletelove all your scrappy blocks.
ReplyDeletehow exciting growing your own bananas!
What a lovely idea to use your scraps. I love the bee in the bonnet, and see what color variation can do. You grow bananas! I saw them once in Madeira, I like the flowers, how strange they're looking!
ReplyDeleteHere it's cold now, but they promised a little spring next week. I hope so, we need some warmth and sun!
Happy sewing, Cisca
What a lovely idea to use your scraps!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Holland.
Your blocks look fantastic...your own bananas how wonderful x
ReplyDeleteDear Raewyn,
ReplyDeleteyour scrappy blocks are all very nice, but I also must confess I would have problems to find some of the choosen colors. Yellow??? Hmmm, I don´t think i would find many scraps. Looking foreward to see what you find...
Your fotos with the bananas are just beautiful.
Have a good week and until soon.
Hugs
sigisart
Your blocks look wonderful! Do you sleep my girl Lol! Great way to use your scraps up. Love ladyfingers bananas...the only ones I eat. Lucky you growing your own x
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! So much to enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blocks. Thank you for sharing pictures of your country. Great post.
ReplyDeleteWell done with the scrap challenge. I think I would also struggle to collect enough pink pieces.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with the bananas. And the lady fingers are delicious!
Oh lovely scrap blocks! Great idea to make blocks you've wanted to for ages :) And congratulations on being grown-up about your progress- it can be all so easy to not be :) I always think the biggest challenge of a scrap thing is to find bits for all the colours! I've been going through my stash for a project and am surprised about what I have a lot of and what I can't find any of at all :)
ReplyDeleteYou grow Bananas!!! You definitely live in Paradise.
ReplyDeleteAre you looking for more scraps?! I'm sure I could find a few hiding around here... 😉
ReplyDeleteI'm just loving all your scrappy goodness Raewyn.
ReplyDeleteGood idea to do lots of cutting at one time, then you're so organised with all your pieces & then the fun starts with the sewing!
Wonderful blocks and I love the colors.
ReplyDeletegreat blocks. do you think you will put them all together in one quilt?
ReplyDeletethat is so cool that you can grow bananas.
Your scrap projects look wonderful. I love the different blocks you are trying, beautiful. Those bananas look yummy, how nice to have your own crop!!
ReplyDeleteYour scrappy challenge blocks look wonderful Raewyn! Now I would have trouble coming up with enough yellow, but have ink in abundance. Love seeing the photos of your life in New Zealand! Glad you got to see your son ans his wife and their little twinkle1
ReplyDeleteBeautiful scrappy quilting - it's like the bottom of the ironing basket - I very rarely see mine!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have boxes and boxes of left over fabrics just waiting for another creative idea!
Shane x
It most certainly is all relative! With regard to the weather (and most other things)! Your blocks look great and one has to love a simple quick sew! And oh my goodness those bananas! Hope you are enjoying the last of the summery weather!
ReplyDelete