My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Monday, January 18, 2016

Sewing away....

It's a muggy, blustery and showery day - perfect for a bit of sewing and now some computer time for a blogpost :-)
Last year I really enjoyed the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with Anglea at soscrappy - the scrappy stars quilt (top) was a fun and rewarding sew ..... but you know how it is, the moment your back is turned, the scraps multiply. In spite of all my best efforts my scrap buckets are still overflowing so I've decided to sew along with Angela and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge again this year.
Each month she chooses a colour for us to make scrap blocks with...we can choose to sew up the sampler quilt she has designed, or do our own thing. I'm doing my own thing this time round. In some quiet moments in the last week I've rummaged around and played with my Blues.
One more cat block to add to the two I made last year.
An ongoing scrap project which uses very small pieces :-)
Pattern available on the ohfrannson blog.
And I have started a new scrap project. These stars are from the book 'S is for Scraps' by Gayle Bong. I wanted a project I could set up at the start of the year and not have to re-think every month. The quilt is called Box Boy Stars but I'm thinking of a name change; at the moment Honey Bucket Stars is calling - explanation *here*.
Cute 7 1/2"  blocks which use strips, I seem to have plenty of them.
I'm not big on using specialty rulers, I've had the Easy Angle for a while but never really sorted out how to use it. I now have it sussed for this block....wow what a difference a simple ruler makes! 
Easy cutting of the trapezoid for the star block.
And it worked great for the triangle too. 
The January block for this year's soscrappy quilt is the Twinkler Star.... while I'm not making the quilt, I was intrigued by the star. So now I have this year's first orphan block!!
It's quite a cool block, imagine swapping the colours out to create different effects.
To get to the tutorial for this, click *here*.
Colours aren't too good sorry, that's actually a red in the centre with blue spikes!
This block used another ruler, the tri-recs ruler, one I don't have, but I figured out that the spikes were cut at 60' so I made the block using my standard ruler... I can see though that that would be another ruler that would be useful to have! (Oh dear, I think I'm becoming converted!)
And while I was at it, a few more bonus Half Square Triangles to add to my pile.
I must find a project for these!
Other sewing recently, I put some borders onto this month's OMG project; simple quilting coming up :-)
In the evenings I've been making my way through the last of the Calendar Bears project and have finished up to the end of November —
— and December is nearly done ♥
Isn't the November bear a character - love those sunnies!
It does seem like I am doing lots of random -bits and pieces- sewing but I know that any day I'll be up to my elbows in fabric, sewing for The Country Yard (where I work part-time) as we prepare for our New Year's Launch next month. In the meantime I potter.
See you next time - happy sewing!
  
PS Great excitement - I registered for Paducah classes/lectures the other day - woohoo, roll on April! 

29 comments:

  1. Hello Raewyn
    Oh those bears are adorable, Can't wait to see more. Your patchwork blocks look great, you have been busy.

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  2. Love your little bears! Using up your blues in great ways too... the Twinkler Star looks very effective. Are you making different RSC quilts, cats & boxboy stars?

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  3. You are going to have some lovely quilts there Raewyn. Nothing nicer than a scrappy quilt...love them. So chuffed to see the bears...you are nearly done xx

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  4. Hi Raewyn ,i love your blocks and your stitching is so beautiful,well done my friend xx

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  5. lovely scrappy and stitchy projects.... I also don'thave a lot of rulers but do realise that they can make your life a lot easiert sometimes.
    Hugz

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  6. Some beautiful blocks you are creating Raewyn, great to use up the scrappy bits. The bears are beautiful!!

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  7. I do like the various blue blocks.......

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  8. so many lovely things you have shared today, really like the cat blocks, well who wouldn`t.I have the easy angle did not know you could do that shape with them, also have the tri rec mind you I bought lots of different ones when I started quilting 3 years ago but have not fathomed many out yet! If you were here in the UK I could lend you some. Lovely embroidery too

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  9. Lots of lovely blocks you are doing with your never endding scraps...

    Those Calender Bears are just sew cute......

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  10. love your stitch work and the border that you put on the quilt.

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  11. Cutest Cat block--and I love those calendar bears...just adorable hugs, Julierose

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  12. I love your blues! It sounds like a great day for sewing there.

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  13. oooh how inspirational. I'm off to look at all the links you have shared. I'm rather fond of stars. 2016 I'm hoping to make time for quilting I've missed it.

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  14. Wow--you have been on a roll and a very pretty one at that--
    I plan to join you on the paper dresses and just downloaded the pattern--I can't wait to start them-- and I like the fact that I can use them for the color of the month projects and that they only use a couple colors each month as you know my fabric stash is limited from the move--so I thank you very much for sharing yours--love all those other projects you are working on too--want to order some more patterns from Michelle, but that may have to wait until March--I really really need to buy some new cushions for the rocking chair and it is a large one--of course-soo I see some dollars going out the window for that!!
    happy stitching
    love and laughter, di

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  15. Lovely blue and white blocks - the box boy stars are great. The bear blocks are fun and yes, November is particularly cheeky! xx

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  16. Oohh those teddy bear stitcheries just made me smile so much Raewyn. Michelles patterns are so gorgeous.

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  17. I love that twinkle star too... I should try just one like you did. I really laughed at your bears -- sunbathing in November and then it dawned on me -- you live in the southern hemisphere. They are really cute. Lots of fun things to look at today. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. So many great blocks - the cats are very cute!

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  19. I love Michelle's designs and you've brought them to life nicely! The blue blocks are all great. I had missed that block on RSC. I'll have to go find it. Thanks!

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  20. Lots of projects happening at your house! Isn't it amazing how those scraps multiply? I'm going to attempt 3 projects for RSC this year. Finished up the blocks for blue today at a friend's house.

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  21. All those projects look great. I love the Christmas stitchery :)

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  22. A good start to 2016 and I love your Calendar Bears! Lucky you off to Paducah!!!!

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  23. You are having way too much fun with your scraps, Raewyn! I especially love your star project.
    Can't wait to see the finished Christmas stitchery you have bordered and are preparing to quilt.
    Great job on the bears!
    Paducah? Lucky, lucky you!!

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  24. I love scrap projects. Isn't it nice to use up our stash? Love your embroidery projects. So cute! Love all your projects??

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  25. I am inspired by all that I am seeing in this post. The cats are great and I love the stars of course. That twinkle star is an unusual block - worth following up. And of course all the embroideries are wonderful!!!
    How exciting to be so close to going to Paducah. Wow!!

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  26. Lots of great scrap blocks and the Tri-Rec ruler is a must have!

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  27. All your stitching is so cute and sweet. Love the glasses....giggle...too cute.

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  28. Oh, my goodness, but you've been busy! I love your scrappy star blocks made from strips! And those bears! Oh, my! XO

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