BossyOz

Hazel the Hedgehog, Sweet Succulents and Cat Vent minis

This was the second mini I made for the Blueberry Park mini swap. Thanks to a very active partner, I got lots of encouragement along the way; she even selected the binding colour for me! I am still amazed how well turquoise, peach and purple work together. Not the colours I would mix personally, but when you get a number of favourite colours from your partner, you have to go for it, haven't you?! Coincidentally, my partner for this was Sandra, ( http://rubylovesred.blogspot.com ) who designed the other pattern I used for this swap. For a while I was tempted to send her the mini based on her own design, but then decided not to. There's still a limited number of minis making their way to their new homes across the groups, but we are very close now. Fingers crossed!

My selection of colours based on my partner's likes and dislikes at time of sign-up The polaroid blocks are done and trimmed to correct size. The shadow effect has been added. Trying different layouts... Top pieced. Quilted and binding added, but still need to be hand sewn to the back. I even managed to add a label on the back, BEFORE wrapping up the mini to send it off to my partner!!! This mini is currently making its way to its new home!  Polaroid shadow mini quilt Pattern by: Sandra Cassidy http://rubylovesred.blogspot.com Quilting inspiration from  Dorothy Hill www.instagram.com/dahill15b One of my two minis for the Blueberry Park mini swap. November 2015 to March 2016.

Looking through the posts on the blog, I realised I haven't actually blogged about the ScandiBee blocks I've made SINCE FEBRUARY!!!! Everything has been shared on Instagram, but nothing on the blog. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; Instagram really kills my blog! For December, Hanne asked us to make the "X marks the spot" block, in any colours we liked.  It is not a difficult block, but it is rather time consuming. 28 HSTs, four smaller solid squares and one larger patterned square, for each of the blocks. That's a lot of cutting and trimming..... As I had cut the first two blocks in scrappy coloured fabric, and the instructions later was confirmed as exactly five fabrics plus low volume for the background, I ended up making four blocks. The yellow and blue are "as per specifications", whereas the red and pink are using too many fabrics. Still, the red one is my favourite.  Each block ends up at 12 1/2 inch square. For t...

For the Blueberry Park mini swap I have the pleasure of being joined as swap mama by Karie ( www.instagram.com/karie_twokwikquilters ) and Michelle ( www.instagram.com/mrees2511 ). Karie is looking after a group with ladies mainly living in the United States and Michelle has Australia, whilst I'm having mainly Europeans in my team.  Below are our main group images. #blueberrynina     #blueberrymichelle     #blueberrykarie     #blueberryparkminiswap

It is happening!!! A mini swap celebrating the new fabric line Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis Textiles for Robert Kaufman To take part you must be active on Instagram and your account must be public. Please see here for the rules and link to sign-up. We already know that we'll have separate groups for the United Kingdom (Nina), the United States (Karie) and Australia (Michelle). Most likely we'll also add one group for Europe and another one for all other areas. At sign-up you'll be asked where you'll be happy to ship to. We have a few shops offering special rates for all participants. Details to follow! Any suggestions or ideas, please let us know! Instagram #blueberryparkminiswap

We are coming to an end in the mini swap for the Facebook group UK Quilters United. Over 100 mini quilts are making their way to new homes at the moment. I was very lucky and got my mini early on. It was made by Hilary R based on my love for red-blue-white. She used the Union Jack as a starting point and designed a paper piecing pattern to make this gorgeous mini for me. Look at that centre!! She also kindly sent some goodies, including spare fabric, paper clips and a note pad kit. I am absolutely delighted with the mini and it goes perfectly with the other minis I have received in previous swaps. Once all the other minis have arrived with their new owners, I'll add a collage. In the meantime, go and have a look in UK Quilters United to see them all; and to join in with a great quilting community for mainly UK based quilters. If you are not a member, feel free to request membership. We usually approve requests the same day. If you don't get approved, please l...

Thanks to everyone who signed up for the Easy Swap UK. As part of the sign-up everyone was asked which song they like listening to when sewing. It has been interesting reading all your answers! Please find below the contents of an Easy Swap UK playlist. N.B. Would anyone be able to create this as a proper playlist in Spotify (or some other place where public playlists are possible to create and share for free)??? Please let me know! Please see the first comment, as a playlist is being created!! Spotify public playlist:   https://goo.gl/byoaxY Songs included: 10,000 reasons by Matt Redman All About That Bass Beautiful Day, U2 Bellowhead: New York Girls Black Betty Call me by Blondie Camille O Sullivan" Cher: Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves Easy Silence - Dixie Chicks Ed Sheeran- Kiss Me, Thinking Out Loud and Small Bump Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes" Ellie Golding - love me like you do Everyone's Changing - Keane First Aid Kit (lions r...

Sign-up has now closed Back by popular demand! Slightly amended, but still hopefully lots of fun! This time you can select what you'd like to swap. The options are: Mini quilt - 300 to 500 square inches, any shape!!! Zippered pouch - any design but one zip must be at least 12" long.  Tote bag - to fit at least an A4 note book and to have at least one pocket.  To make this a stress free and fun swap, please select the item you are most comfortable making. No matter which item you select to swap, please use quilting techniques to some extent. After all, most of us are quilters. You agree that this is a swap for all abilities and that you are likely to be matched with someone less or more experienced than you. To take part, and to remain in the swap, you commit to being active on Instagram . This includes posting inspiration photos/mosaics, progress photos and commenting on other swapper's pictures. This is a secret swap .  You should not reveal who y...

In November last year I kicked off a UK Mini Swap, for Instagram users, with a postal address in the United Kingdom.  When I opened the signups, I was hoping for 20-25 people to join. To get another 100 on top of that was rather mind blowing!!! There were some amazing minis made in this swap and I have included some below (in the order provided by Instagram). If you are an Instgram user, a search for  #ukminiswapreceived should give all received minis (if correctly tagged). Alternatively, do a google search for the same hashtag and you should be able to see a selection too. Received minis:  https://instagram.com/explore/tags/ukminiswapreceived/ Everything tagged with the UK Mini Swap tag:  https://instagram.com/explore/tags/ukminiswap/ A huge THANK YOU to everyone who took part, and especially to the Swap Mamas; without you it wouldn't have been possible - Heidee   Instagram/sewnsomethings , Donna   Instagram/themodernmaker  an...

Yep, I've gone mad... The Instagram swap has not yet fully finished before I kick off another swap, this time Facebook based. When sign-up closed yesterday evening 104 swappers had signed up. Everyone has now been allocated a partner to make for and the emails with all details should be sent out today or tomorrow.

I am finally having some time to catch up on blogging and here's the long over due blog post about the fabulous mini I received in the IG Mini Swap. Apologies for the  delay Suzie! Having waited, what felt like forever, for the mini I made to arrive in Australia, there was suddenly a note in the letter box about a parcel for me. It had to be picked up at the local delivery office, as the UK customs thought I should pay a bit for the pleasure of receiving a gift. IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT!!! I am one lucky lady!!!  The intriguing and fabulous ribbon star block was popping up in my Instagram feed, but it was either green or in black/white so I didn't think it was for me. Someone was being a bit sneaky…. I had to retake the photo three times as I forgot to add all the extras… The red beaded bookmark was gorgeous on the Etsy site when I looked to vote for my favourite; it is even better in real life!  There was also a bobbin box, wh...

Sign-ups are now CLOSED We call it the Late Joiners' or the Stragglers' version of the UK Mini Swap!!!  Please read THE RULES .  If you agree to all of them, and only then, please head over and sign up for the swap.  Please take your time filling in the answers! I'll publish a "final call for sign-ups", so please don't rush!   The better information you provide, the easier it'll be for your Partner to make a Mini Quilt which makes you happy! All levels are welcome. You MUST be active on social media. Sign-ups are now CLOSED December is a festive and busy month for most of us, hence please be patient whilst we prepare for and celebrate Christmas, and match you with your partner.

Finally, I'm able to post this!!! After what has felt like FOREVER, it has finally arrived with Kristal ( IG - tootlejayne ). During the last few months I have been working on a mini quilt for my partner in the IG mini swap. I had some information from the questionnaire she filled in when signing up for the swap. But most helpful, was her inspiration mosaics which she posted on Instagram. Based on the information in the questionnaire, the above mosaic and two others which she reposted from other swappers, I decided to develop my mini around a few headlines: Rainbow plus the LOVE of orange Hexagons Negative space Bonnie and Camille Tula Pink Deciding to combine all of the above, it seemed fit to do hexagons, with Bonnie and Camille plus Tula Pink fabrics, in a rainbow-ish pattern, with negative space around. GLUE BASTING, without you there would never have been a mini!!!! Having previously used thread to tack my hexagons, the glue pen was a saviour!!! As you m...