Thrifty Quilt Tips :Giveaway

Oooh look at me, two posts in one day!

Remember me gloating about how I finally got round to sorting my scraps?

What I failed to mention was that I hadnt sorted out my Christmas fabrics, and seeing as I didnt use many Christmas fabrics this year I thought I would give some away.

There are fat quarters, scraps, some large some smaller. and I think some half yard fabrics included aswell, basically everything thats in the picture above.

I can foresee myself making a few quilt tops over the next few months but not being able to finish them. Whilst the festivities are now over, its left a huge dent in my bank balance so purchasing things like batting and backing fabrics is going to have to sit on the back burner for a while... But I dont want it to!!

Most of the battings I use are 100% cotton, as are my backings and whilst I've seen sheets and blankets in stores like Ikea and Primark I've always been a little warey of using them in my projects.

What I want to know is; what have you had success with? I would love to know exactly what YOU use in your quilts to save money. If you use sheets for backing then which ones?/where from? I would also like to know if anyone uses anything other then official quilt batting for their quilts and what sort of results they have had when quilting them.

If you dont make quilts thats ok you can still enter the giveaway. I'm quite keen to learn how to make my money go further when sewing anything! so any tips on anything sewing related will do.

I have tried to shop in online stores that are cheaper but find that they dont stock everything I want so end up going somewhere more expensive to save on postage costs.

This giveaway is open to anyone whos a follower of mine. To take part just leave a comment with a tip on how you save money when making a quilt. For an extra entry please mention this giveaway on your blog and come back and tell me you did.

One comment will be chosen at random and the winner notified by email. So please remember to include an email address in your entry if you dont have one on your blog.

TTFN

Dana x

Bust Yo! scraps quilt along

Because I cant begin without a picture, these are my peices all cut and ready for the Bust Yo! scraps QAL going on at Just a Bit Frayed. Which is coincidental as my scraps are certainly just a bit frayed. Forgive me, but I have had some of them for a long time and they have not so neatly been stuffed stored away.

My scrap heap is thankful as I have now stored my remaining scraps neatly (all ironed) in zip lock bags and colour coordinated. AND I'm no longer arguing with my scrap drawer which wouldn't close.(go me!)

This QAL arrive just in time as getting rid of those scraps was on my To Do list this year. That, and I thought the Bust Yo! scraps button would look cool on my blog :-). This will be my first QAL so I'm just sticking with a baby quilt.

There's still time to join in, as the first tutorial begins on the 12th January.

What Lovely things I found under the tree...

I've really enjoyed seeing your craft related gifts this year so I thought I might share my own.

Arnt I lucky!. A Cath Kidston sewing box, (which may be far to beautiful to use), an I love patchwork book, a pretty in pink pattern, plus lots of new sewing feet and bright bobbins for my machine.

It was wonderful to spend the whole day with just my husband and children. They had lots of attention and not having anyone else to entertain meant we could relax and not have to be on our best behaviour!
The only downside was that it took me 6 attempts to put a set of batteries in one of my childrens toys...far to much champagne!

I also opened up my final advent gift from Julie and was delighted to find 2 of my favourite bath balistics by Lush, a Big blue and a Twilight. I normally guess a gift from Lush but you wrapped these so well I couldnt smell a thing through the box!!! thanks Julie I've loved each and every one of my gifts from you and it was a pleasure to be your swop partner.



As for next year, I dont like to put to much pressure on myself when it comes to setting goals but a few ideas on my list include:

- Use up my scraps
- Make some wall hangings for kids rooms and sewing room
- Try paper piecing
- Now I've tried stippling, try some new FMQ designs
- Try out more features on my machine
- Make something from felt


I'm sure I will add more as and when I think of them!

Happy new year to you all.

xxx

Merry Christmas!

Apologies for my absence, I have not been well for the past few days. One of those odd illnesses where I've felt really weak and tired just like you would feel after getting a high temperature but without experiencing the actual high temperature. Thankfully, I'm feeling much better this afternoon, which is just as well as Iv been busy preparing the house for Christmas day.

I just have a few errands to run tomorrow as the Tesco delivery didnt have a few foody bits, and I have a Christmas card or two still to post to friends. Do you have much left to do?

Special thanks to Julie for my super advent gift. I will have lots of fun going though this book over the Christmas period, you are so generous and I truely love it!. I'm so glad you like your gifts too.



This is my last post before Christmas, So I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

xxx

Memory quilt, some advice needed.

I was handed a huge bag full of clothes at the weekend. They are clothes filled with memories. A year ago my oldest friend had a little baby girl. When she was 3 months old that little girls daddy sadly and very suddenly died. So when her mother asked me to make her little girl a quilt from her daddys old clothes, the answer was a very definate yes.

I have been given free reign as to the design. I have even been told that I can add fabrics to make it more girly. There is fleece, denimn, shirt fabric and t shirts. I have not quilted with anything but 100% cotton before so I'm a bit worried as to how it will turn out and am terrified that I will go wrong. I have been assured that it dosnt have to be perfect or intricate. If anyone has any advice for me on quilting with such fabrics, please, please get in touch. The last thing I would want is to ruin the quilt as these clothes mean a lot to my friend.

I have managed to squeeze in a bit of sewing and have began my dresden quilt. I'm surprised at how simple it is. The book said that it was in the advanced category so I'm waiting for the tricky part to rear its head. I have only got as far as making a few of the plates.



It's week 3 of the advent swop and Julie has given me the most wonderful gift:



A beautiful pin to add to my ever growing collection of pinks and needles pins:



It fits in nicely with the rest, dont you think?



Thanks Julie!...not sure I can wait till next week for the next one!

dx

Thank you!

Firstly, thank you all for posting pictures of all your Christmas trees on your blogs. Its really got me into the festive season (like I needed the nudge lol) and brightened my day. So heres a picture of my tree to be part of the fun.

Also, a big thankyou to Julie for my second advent parcel. Hubby and I hid away from this kids this afternoon and shared them.- Yummy!

..and a huge thanks to Lynda from Hookin' With Laalaa who organised the advent swop. Lynda is hosting a great giveaway (the link is on my sidebar) so do stop by her blog, and dont forget to say congratulations as she has just got married, congratulations Lynda!!!


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy 1st day of December everyone!

I've been busy making these quilted decorations out of wired ribbon. I'm not sure why they are called quilted decorations as there is no sewing involved.



I have to say thankyou to Julie for my wonderful gifts which I opened this morning, what a treat!, The ferreros have already been devoured and I've wanted this book since I saw another blogger making the fawn on the front cover. The decoration, which I love, is now hanging proudly on my tree. You have spoilt me Julie and on the first day of advent too!! Thank you x

I'll be looking for some good quality felt to make some of these lovely toys so If anyone can recommend someone, do pass on their details to me. p.s Julie I hope you dont mind me using the ribbons from the presents for my decorations...I just couldnt resist!!



I hope all your Christmas preperations are going well. I bought myself the coveted Heston Blumenthals Christmas pudding this morning. I simply had to know what the big fuss was about as these are apparently flying off the shelves and selling for stupid money on ebay, and I love his puff pastry mince pies with pine scented icing sugar, give them a try people!

I am away this weekend as the Christmas party season has begun so it means I'v simply had to put up the tree early (thats my excuse ands I'm sticking to it!.) Plus the strike yesterday meant I had the kids to myself so it was perfect timing for the tree to go up.

xxx p.s Dosn't that John Lewis Christmas advert bring a tear to your eye?