Scrappy Stash Quilt-Along Blog Hop - My turn!!!

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Scrappy Stash Quilt-Along Blog Hop (I can type it, not say it) and thank you Jennifer for having me.  I am loving this series and seeing other people's scraps is always more interesting than your own I reckon!

Those of you who hang around here often will have seen my sophisticated storage system before, but if not, welcome.

My scraps used to just live in a big mess until the beginning of the summer, but now they reside in the complete luxury of colour-sorted plastic bags!

I have a few extra bags which hold specific things, like selvedges or precious scraps of Heather Ross, but anything bigger than a 5" charm tends to just live with the rest of my stash; scraps are scraps, I save anything from 3/4" upwards.  If you can fold it, that still counts as yardage!

I love scraps though, and am a sucker for online stores selling scrap packs, all those little pieces, and the fun of working out what they are, what fun!

I use my scraps to try out new things like fiddly paper-piecing, right up to quilts.

The Happy Scrappy says it all for me...

Seeing as I have had scraps on the brain, I just had to make another of these blocks for Bee Blessed; there's still time if you want to contribute too...

Just in case you need a reminder of why Jennifer has us sorting those scraps, here are the important bits again...

Monochromatic Improv Log Cabin QAL and prizes! 

Sponsors: 

The many prizes offered to those of you that join our quilt-along are graciously donated by the following sponsors. 

Timeline:

Scrappy Stash QAL starts October 9. 

Scrappy Stash QAL ends November 13. 

Link up finished quilt November 13-15. 

Prizes drawn November 16. 

Remaining stops on the Blog Hop: 

10/7: My Go Go Life

10/8: Petit Lyons

10:9: QAL kick-off day at Ellison Lane Quilts! 

10/10: Maureen Cracknell Handmade (QAYG tutorial!) 

There's even a button for your blog...

<a href="http://ellisonlane.blogspot.com/p/quilt-alongs.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Ellison Lane Quilts" src="http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l623/ellisonlanequilts/buttons/scrappystashQAL125_zps8d07ca3b.png"/></a>

So there you go - Happy Scrappy everyone xxx

Eyes on the prize...

Here's it is...

I wouldn't let you down now would I!?

So by the magic of Mr Random Number Generator, I am pleased to declare the winner:

Trudi it's you!  I'll get it in the post to you soon xxx

It's been a day of ups and downs, and to be honest you are lucky I made it here at all! 

I am fresh from cleaning up the mess left by a vomiting 5 year old - I think she has taken a dislike to the anti-biotics; but on the plus side, my second parcel of FMF arrived - but never the twain shall meet!

I have made my selection for Katy and Brenda's contest, pulled a few fabrics for the next FPPFTT, and been tagged!  I will work on getting all that out there over the next few days.

But for tonight, I am going to sit here, watch TV, and pray for quiet night of sleep for all.

Couldn't resist!

I know you are all familiar with the fabulous Blogger's Quilt Festival, so I don't need to preach to the converted, nor ask if you have joined in too, because odds are that you have beaten me to it!

'Welcome' if you have come over from Amy's Creative Side for the first time, and hello as always to the fantastic regulars!

My 'Happy Scrappy' quilt was finished at the beginning of the summer, and although small, remains one of my most loved makes to date.  It lives on a trunk at the foot of our bed, and makes me smile everyday.

This quilt came about when Aneela Hoey suggested a quiltalong based on her Crazy Scrappy blocks.  I couldn't wait, and ploughed on alone, fussy cutting and raiding my scraps to produce 6" blocks and 2.5" cornerstones.

If you know me already, or if you take a peek around my blog, you will quickly notice that I have a bit of a thing for scrappy makes!

These blocks were such fun to make, and having divided my scraps into colour piles, making them up was a pretty simple affair. 

This was my first...

Quickly joined by...

Then...

Sashing and joining the blocks was soooo satisfying, especially when this was the resultant quilt top...

More scraps for the binding...

... and the final block for the backing; who doesn't love an Echino chopper?!...

And here it lives...

Some stats for the information-hungry...

Size 42" x 42"
Design Based on Aneela's Crazy Scrappy blocks.
Fabrics As many scraps as I could lay my hands on at that time, (I have slightly more now!), Bella Solids jelly roll.
Backing Some no-name gingham and Free Spirit - Ying Ming 'Tea Garden'.
Binding Scrappy.
Quilting Straight line.

Thank you for (re-) visiting this little quilt of mine; time for me to get pinning some of those Festival lovelies x

That was the month that was...

Hurray, I love June!  It's my favourite month, not just because I have a birthday at the end or anything like that, but have a sneaky peak at what I am not allowed to play with for another few weeks...

Today I am linking up with Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day - Hello World!  Last month I linked directly to the Happy Scrappy block post, but I achieved so much in May, I thought it merited a new post looking back at my best sewing month ever!

First, there were finishes...
Happy Scrappy Quilt - inspired by the Aneela Hoey crazy scrappy blocks.  My flickr pic of the top got added to Explore on 15th May and has had over 640 views; so many comments, so many 'favourites' - overwhelming - thank you everyone!!!!!!

Sherbet Pips Confetti Quilt - Fat Quarterly/Quilt Dad pattern...

There were completed tops...
Union Jack - based on a pattern from Mandy Shaw...

Brit Quilt Swap Skull - based on a Boo Davis design - the recipient is still a secret!

And the best of the rest...
Cushions...

Bracelets...

Toys for the boys...

...and three Mystery blocks...  PS. it's never too late to join in and learn by my mistakes!

I also linked up to Fairy Face Designs' Summer Sewing Plans; wrote a list of my top 20 To-Dos and have ticked off 7 so far!  Nothing like a good list to get you focussed!

If you've popped over from Lynne's, please come back and visit again soon; if you were here already but haven't been over to Lily's Quilts, go take a look there too, it's brilliant.

I hope you all had a great May, and here's to a June full of fun and fabric x

Happy Scrappy Sunday Reveal!

Late last night I finished the Happy Scrappy quilt, for that is how it is to be known!

The backing is some super-soft gingham with some Ying Ming flowers, just because I could!  It was a little tricky trying the match the front and back precisely, spraying and basting in the breeze, picking off the greenfly as I went, but I hope it adds to the general 'scrappy' feel.

My binding turned out a treat, and didn't go too wobbly at the seams, which I had worried about.

Again, I have my trumpet all buffed and ready to blow!  It is the prettiest thing I have made to date, and I am really astounded at how good it looks; honestly I did not expect it to turn out so nicely!

It's a neat 42" square and looks perfect covering the trunk that sits at the foot of our bed.

I did not built up the courage, nor the colour-catchers necessary to attempt a wash and tumble - so much white, so much colour and so many 'unknown' quantities, so it might not happen!

For now, I am just going to keep looking at it!