Sunday, 26 January 2014

The scrap winners are ...

Hello all,

I hope the weather is a bit less dreary where you are, we are certainly working towards another flood. Ggrrr, very depressing. But to cheer you up, well at least some of you, here are the winners of the Scrap Bag Giveaway:

Fran
and

Pennydog
Could you two please send me an email to nadinesaupe at googlemail dot com with your address so I can send your scrap bags off this week. Thank you.

Happy crafting, ...

and eat your brekkie so the sun will come out !!!

Nadine

Saturday, 25 January 2014

Movie stars and rockers on the couch

Hello all,

I have finally listed some new items in the shop, I think these are the first new items since August last year before we even moved house. So this is exciting.

I have finally had a chance to take some photos of my movie stars and rockers cushions, et voila, here they are in the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/QuiltedBlissByNadine

They are all quilted. I used some wadding and heavy cotton lining to give them good shape and structure, and I used an envelope closure on the back using lined fleece so they are soft and fluffy.












Do you like them? I think it will be hard to part with them if they sell, I wouldn't mind having them on my own couch actually, but we have so many cushions already.

Lots of love,
Nadine

Sunday, 19 January 2014

Giveaway time - win one of two large scrap bags




Hello all,

Since joining Fabricaholics Anonymous I am very conscious of the amount of fabric I own and although I am constantly trying to use up my scraps I also have to be realistic. There are so many scraps I probably will never use, especially the smaller ones. So for that reason I am giving away two large scrap bags with fabrics of various styles and sizes. If you want to know what sorts of fabrics all you have to do is check out my quilts and you'll know what fabrics you'll get.



All you have to do is comment on this post. For an extra chance to win you can become a follower on the blog or on Facebook and leave another comment telling me you are a follower.

I will draw the winners next weekend.

Good luck and best wishes,
Nadine

Sunday, 5 January 2014

Tufted Tweets ideas, anyone?


Now, I do 't know if you saw my post about joining Fabricaholics Anonymous, but I am now determined to use my stash.

Despite having several quilts to finish, some just to quilt but other to finish piecing and basting too, so despite that I went and pulled out one of the first full collection bundles I ever bought online, and that's Tufted Tweets by Laurie Wisbrun.



So I have now pulled out all the coordinating Kona Solids but can't decide what design to go for. I really love the 2 patterns featured on the Robert Kaufman website but I don't just want to copy that design, I'd like to use something different.






I do think these fabrics suit themselves to long rectangle pieces, the fabric pattern is too big for triangles for instance, and I think they need to be framed by white as the fabrics right next to each other without a solid next to them looks too busy.

But what could I do with them. Maybe some sort of chevron pattern? Or some sort of strip quilt?

Any suggestions?

Nadine

Friday, 3 January 2014

Hello, my name is Nadine and I am a Fabricaholic

Hello everyone,

yes, finally I admit it, I am a fabricaholic. Especially since I have done my taxes for last year and noticed I actually spent more on fabric than I made with selling quilts, plushies, etc., well I finally I realised

I have a problem. 

I can't help it. I am constantly drooling over the latest new fabric collections and I am every marketer's dream customer. Show me a pretty quilt using some gorgeous modern new fabrics and I am hooked, I go and buy it, come what may. And this means I can spend hundreds of pounds in a year on fabric even though I honestly have enough fabric to last a lifetime. I have fabric collections I bought 5 yars ago and haven't touched since. As we have recently bought a house and we are well and truly broke, I have to curb my addiction or else we will have no money in the bank when the roof comes down or the boiler breaks. So please support me in this challenge as this addiction is starting to become a problem when we have to hold on to every pound.

Here are a few images showing my stash in the new craft room. Yes, all those drawers are full of fabric, and pretty much every other box you see there, plus there are both Kona darks and lights on top of the bookshelf and lots more boxes under the table.




So for that reason I have decided to join the Fabricaholics Anonymous group and make a pledge to go on a Fabric Fast for (at least) 6 months.

I am copying the rules for the fast from Jess' blog where you can also find a list of the other FAA members:  http://theelvengarden.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/fabriholics-anonymous.html

I hereby pledge to follow the following rules of the Fabric Fast for one exception, I will need to buy sashing fabric when I run out (normally Kona Snow, white or grey), otherwise I will do my very best to follow the rules. The other half and I are even thinking of coming up with a bet. He thinks I can't possibly do it and I will proove him wrong. :)

I will keep you all posted how this is going. At the moment I have about 10 smaller quilts to quilt and bind and I have loads of ideas for more new projects, so watch this space. I will post about my WIPs very soon.

Lots of love and please wish me luck for this challenge, it will be hard,
Nadine

FABRICAHOLICS ANONYMOUS - FABRIC FAST

GOALS:
- To use the Stash I already have!
- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.
- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.
- Save the $$ I spend on stashing. For me, this is going to mean I start saving for a long arm. That dream simply isn't going to happen while I spend every little bit of my quilty earnings on fabric. And it's a dream I desperately want to happen.
- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.

FABRIC FAST RULES:
1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   
2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.
3) Create a UFO list and complete them!
4) Exceptions
  • Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
  • Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
  • Swap Mama Fabric: if hosting a swap you are permitted to by fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
  • Quilts for Publication: if you are making a quilt for a publication and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you?

If you are like us and would like to commit to not buying fabric next year, we would love the moral support. Solidarity in numbers and all that.