#DSTTchallenge - did you see?

I think I have found the perfect project to fill a little (imaginary) gap in my schedule over the Easter break; did you see this too?

The prizes look amazing, the judges are pretty hot, so why not!

I had a rummage through my stash already...

Timeless Treasures is probably the manufacturer that UK peeps will find in bountiful quantities in even the most traditional of local quilt shops.  OK, so mine doesn't stock Sketch, but it is overflowing with the florals and the like.

My Dear Stella stash, I think, is made up solely of my Hadley scraps, but as that's all I need, I didn't dig any deeper, and I have a plan!

Whilst Minecraft and the Frozen DVD work their magic next week, I will get to play.  Well it's sort of a plan, now what to make?

Don't let it fade away...

Sheila tipped me off to this a couple of weeks back, did you see?

I have been pondering, as I do, and I feel a mini quilt brewing...

I am already thinking that I will use Lu's Quilt Improv book for the 'how to', but I may just need to lay back and think about it some more!

Catch Up...

I am still trying to play catch up with blogs and emails and presents and all sorts, whilst trying NOT to spend every minute on the iPad, honestly!

So here's a little mosaic of some of the things I received yesterday, including the lovely Melody Miller Reels notebook made by Terri...

The box of polystyrene chips contained a non-birthday, but perfectly-timed parcel that I am so looking forward to showing you all very soon; I am VERY excited indeed!

And if you haven't joined in yet, please nip over to Cindy's for the full details of her Kona-picking challenge - choose a combo of 8/35 Kona solids from Cindy's shop Fluffy Sheep Quilting, and you could win 2 yards of the Kona(s) of your choice. 

Make a mosaic and link a separate post or flickr pic for each entry, name your bundle and bobs your uncle, more or less.

So my 3 entries are these...

Calm Sea...

Tequila Sunrise...

Batgirl...

Full deets of my selected Konas are shown in my flick photostream.

There has been a little sewing today and a lot of cutting up, so I am not completely lost to the charms of the iPad just yet (but only because I don't really know what I am capable of doing with it!), so I will have some stuff to show you tomorrow, promise x

Colour Plucker...

Oh as if I was able to resist joining in the Aurifil Designer Collection Competition in association with Lily's Quilts, picking twelve threads to make up a selection box.  How hard could that be?

Hmmm, too much choice!?

So inspired by this...

Yep, any excuse!

... I chose these, all highly desirable, usable and ever so lovely...

... but then Lynne threw down the gauntlet for inventive presentation, so this is the kind of thing that rattles round in my head...

I'm calling it the Cool Constellation collection.

I am not putting any money on this being an award winning combo, but it made me smile!

Contestant!

Not one to miss out on the fun without good reason, even two (yes 2!) sickly children couldn't stop me pulling together my bundle for Katy-Monkey Do and Brenda-Pink Castle's latest challenge.

Along similar lines to Laura (Quokka Quilts) and the Fat Quarterly competition, I have pulled a completely different look this time.

Contrary to popular opinion, I love pink; but twin girly-girls sometimes make me wish never to see that particular colour ever again - but combine it with yellow and the sickly-sweet edge is banished!

Starting with the gorgeous Joel Dewberry' Rose Bouquet as my key fabric, these are my choices...

Lizzy House Outfoxed Leaf Stripe in Pink

My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs So Sophie Dots in Pink Purple
Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Herringbone in Berry Pink

Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy Medallion in Red Gold

Joel Dewberry Heirloom Rose Bouquet in Gold
Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy Seedpod Stripe in Pink  

Alexander Henry Fabric Heath Metal Pink

Lakehouse Dry Goods Annie's Farm Stand Seed Catalog in Yellow & White

American Jane Mono Pez in Hot Pink 

Laurie Wisbrun Modern Whimsy Circles in Daffodil Yellow

Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Hot Pink Linen/Cotton Blend

Joel Dewberry Heirloom Marble Stripe in Gold

If you haven't selected a bundle, and put yourself in with a chance of winning it, then pop over to Katy's and join the fun; you have until the 31st March xxx

Laying the Foundations...

I have ideas above my station.  I really want to do this, and I really wouldn't mind a crack at this, and I mustn't forget about this, but for now, I am doing this...

I have dabbled with a Lily's Quilts Big Little George, way more unpicking than should have been allowed, and then Kerry's awesome Winter Woolies, which I managed to piece backwards; so it's back to basics for me before I get to play with the big girls!

Last night I managed my first Courthouse Steps thanks to lovely Katy and her Foundation Paper Piecing for the Terrified!  An awesome tutorial, and despite me skin-flinting on my scraps, I got it all to work first time, woo hoo...

Look how tidy the back is too...

I know I should have cut the threads, but I was too excited!

So I am on my way to paper-piecing magnificence!  If you are wanting to try paper piecing, or need to get the basics under your belt, why not join in too, Katy is a fab teacher!? 

And whilst I have your attention, and if I may be so bold, may I ask for your vote?

I joined my Valentine keyring up with a linky party over at Melissa's Sew Bitter Sweet Designs last week, and in my 'altered mental state' at the time, didn't realise it was for prizes!  So now voting is open for the next couple of days, I would love it, if you honestly prefer my non-pink Valentine gift, and felt you could vote for me; thank you.  No pressure, but it seems daft not to ask!

Quokka Quilts Blogger's Choice...

I don't like to miss out, especially if all I have to do is sit on my backside and browse my way through the entire Fat Quarter Shop inventory!

So here is my pick for the awesome Blogger's Choice competition being run by Laura over at Quokka Quilts...

Pajama Party Orange Dots and Stripes Yardage SKU# 5824-33

Puttin' on the Ritz Grey Dimples & Dots Yardage SKU# 2804-32

Stella Dot Gray on White Stella Dot Yardage SKU# STELLA-1-GRAY

Prince Charming Aqua Snail Scallop Yardage SKU# TP11-AQUAX

Etchings Aqua Antique Architecture Yardage SKU# 4060-23

Ruby Cotton Grey Sundae Yardage SKU# 55037-13

Ruby Cotton Aqua and Grey Dot Yardage SKU# 55031-32

Pajama Party Orange Pinstripe Yardage SKU# 5821-33

Hometown Sky Town News Yardage SKU# 5462-23

Palladium Gray Aerial View Yardage SKU# STELLA-19-GRAY

Happy Mochi Yum Yum Tangerine India Yardage SKU# 30305-51

Woodland Gray Dots and Vines Yardage SKU# 30408-90

Aunt Grace Centennial Solids Orange Yardage SKU# 5901-2340

Free Spirit Designer Solids Slate Grey Yardage SKU# S99-SLATEGREY

Bella Solids Aqua Yardage SKU# 9900-34 

This is actually about my 5th selection, it was just a teensy bit difficult to narrow down all those gorgeous fabrics to 15, but I am stopping now or it will be never-ending.

I started with Melody Miller's Ruby Star Spring - Buzz as my original inspiration, but as you can tell by the end mosaic, I kind of got sidetracked, but I am rather pleased with the end result.

If you haven't already entered, why not give it a go too, and you could win a 1/2 yard bundle; how fantastic would that be?! 

PS.  I actually sewed something yesterday evening, it felt so good to get the machine whirring again - I'll show you tomorrow!

241 Tote!

Yesterday, interspersed with feeding children, (why do they need that?), doing laundry and refereeing squabbles, I managed to complete my first 241 Tote; oh there will be more, I have ordered fabric!

I love this bag, the pattern is brilliant, in fact drop by any blog where the bag has appeared, you will hear the same thing.  I don't really 'do' patterns, too impatient, bits either look too easy to bother reading properly, or too difficult, so corners can be cut.  Well not this one.  It all worked out pretty perfectly, even top-stitching the awkward curved side seams, which I was convinced was impossible.

OK, so my execution still leaves a little to be desired, but I have surprised myself with how good it looks.

I have an A side, the safe side...

This is the middle section of the Ruby Star Spring Buzz print, and the pockets are fussy cut from the same.

And a Bee side...

I had to increase the pattern size to 105% to fit the star of the show on better; due to the luck of the cut of my half meter of Bee, the optimum cutting angle of the actual Bee couldn't quite be achieved, however I think I pulled it off.

I have won round Twin1 with my Bee love, but as my 'top insect' (OK, not like I actually have a list or anything!) is the dragonfly, I am so happy to have one of those on there too.

The sides and handle are the Bloom print; I added the selvedge to the underside of the strap, just because I could!  I was considering adding it to the top of the inner pocket, then, oh so timely I read this...  decision made!  I also extended the length by a couple of inches, just as a bit of taste and fancy.

The whole bag is lined with the pale lilac Kona that works really well, no darkness to eat my keys and wallet here.

The cotton-linen Kokka is so lovely to work with, I have never used interfacing on such large expanses of fabric, nor magnetic snaps or lined anything before, and it is not as difficult as I had feared - no stopping me now!  Maybe I will try the zipper version too!

I also found out yesterday that I am through to the second stage of brilliant Pings' Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge!  Now don't get too excited saying I can have your vote, as my, and probably your friend Sarah is now a rival, along with 8 others including Ali from Very Berry Handmade!  So join up to the flickr group to follow our progress, and see what we get up to over the next month or so.