It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas!!

I've had a lovely afternoon and evening sewing with Mum. Thought it was about time I tried one of the 3D Christmas trees - so glad I started with the small one - I can't believe how much filling it took! 

Hoping to finish tomorrow, just found my seed beads to decorate it with but eyes are too tired to attempt tonight.... 

What have you been sewing today?

Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced

Dabbling with denim again!

I have been making a gadget case this evening, as seen on create & craft a while back. I saw demo'd and thought I would have a go. It took longer to unpick the jeans than to make the case! 

I would make it slightly shorter next time and probably pretty it up a bit with ribbon, lace or fancy stitches but for a first attempt I'm pretty pleased with it! 

Anyone who knows me well will not be surprised at the colour of the lining - my favourite - orange! I'm delighted to discover that it is one of the colours of the season this year so I will be on trend for a change!! 

The fabric I used for the lining was purchased when we were in New York earlier this year so I was a little reluctant to use it, sad I know but I shall think of the lovely time we had every time I open the case up now! 

Off to bed now, night all x

A bit of denim

I have a large pile of denim ready to start a patchwork quilt and raggy cushion but this evening thought I would have a go at making a denim pot. I have seen photos on my travels around blog land but being unable to find them again set about working it out for myself! 

Great fun to make, I think these would make lovely gifts filled with smellies or sweets, in fact anything. 

 Or even nail varnishes.... 

Now where did I put that Chridtmss fabric! 

Work in Progress Wednesday

This is my work in progress today. I have bags of stuff tucked away all over and thought it was about time I sorted it so I can see what I have got! 

I've been really busy at work and socially lately so not managed to do much crafting. I'm hoping this sort out and the colder weather will get me back in the swing of things. 

The dining table

Sewing corner, there's also a knitting corner, beading area and utility room come card making/scrap booking area - not shown here as they're reasonably neat & tidy! 

Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced

Sunday Stash and Sunday Sewing

We visited Tweseldown Artisan Market yesterday for the first time, I can highly recommend it. There were lots of lovely stalls selling a wide range of items. It sent my crafty brain into overdrive........

As we were near Natures Threads and they were celebrating their 5th birthday we popped in there too. 

Had a much needed top up of fabric!! 

Today I have been busy with my machine. When I visited Homebase recently there were a couple of aprons in the reduced bin which I thought I could make into peg bags. Only used one today. 

From this

to this

Thinking I might make a laundry bag from the other one. 

Linking up with Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles

Work in Progress Wednesday

Almost there with this baby quilt, so hoping for a Finish it off Friday post with it!!

What to make next? My to do list is soooooo longggggg.........

Linking up with  Lee at Freshly Pieced

Happy stitching

Sam x

Work In Progress Wednesday

I needed a session with my sewing machine this evening to unwind after the week so far.......

I have, for sometime fancied the idea of free motion quilting, I took a class last year with Dawn Cameron-Dick which I really enjoyed but as I haven't kept up the practice didn't feel confident enough to tackle a quilt.

When it came to quilt this project I decided I could put it off no longer, especially as it's not very big! 

Love the colours and fabrics in this! 

Aren't those giraffes cute? 

A close up of the back

and front. 

Some of the stitches are a bit on the large side, I will check tomorrow when the light is better to see if any need to be unpicked and redone. 

Linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced

Hope you've had a wonderful Wednesday :) 

Sam x

Sunday Stash from Tavistock

It's been a long time since I have taken part in Sunday Stash, although don't be alarmed, I have still been fabric shopping, I will post photos soon! 

I've been to Tavistock this weekend to visit my Dad, always good because there is also a lovely fabric shop and there are a couple of good stalls on The Pannier Market that sell crafty things.

I only had time to visit The Pannier Market this time as we did a lot of walking and squeezed in a couple of cream teas. It's probably  just as well, I've bought so much fabric lately - I really need to use some of it now......

Mainly Christmas fabric - I'm looking forward to making a bag using the panel with the sewing machine on. 

Linking up to Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend. 

Catch up soon. 

Sam x

Some last minute holiday crafting .....

I was going to go into work today to try and get one step ahead of the game, before I start back tomorrow. I got up early, showered, dressed and decided to craft! 

I'm into quick fix projects at the moment  and this is what I made this morning

A cute drawstring bag made with 4 half jelly roll strips and some plain fabric. These will make lovely little gift bags, I can feel a few more of these coming on. 

Here's the other project I mentioned in my last post - before the make over

Looks a whole lot better after a couple of coats of chalk paint 

and the addition of drawers which need to be filled! 

That's all from me today, crafty dreams.

Sam x

Craft room storage

I have been busy clearing out the garage today and thought this book case needed a little attention as it looked sad and neglected. 

After a quick browse on the internet I found out what to use to clean it, a mix of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts olive oil. Needless to say I didn't have either in the cupboard! A flying visit to the shop soon sorted that. 

Half done - what a difference! 

It just needs to dry overnight and I can then start the huge task of sorting my crafty stuff and arranging some of it on here. 

Another project to show tomorrow.....

A bit of lippy

Just a quick make today..... I discovered the instructions to make a key ring lipstick holder earlier so had to have a go. It took 2 attempts as the first one was too narrow to put a lip salve in. I can see me making more of these - think they would make lovely little gifts. 

Feeling a bit blue.......

My first finish in ages..... A messenger bag in blue, lovely denim blue shades, it looks more of a purple shade in the photo. I have been looking for a cross body bag for a while now and when I found the pattern for this I was really pleased.

Now I've got my machine warmed up, there's no stopping me, there's fabric all over the dining table and draped all over the chairs......

Off to catch up on the Facebook BOM group I'm part of!

Sam x

Work In Progress Wednesday

Another blogging break..... I have been away on a lovely holiday and then had a week of builders in so not had much opportunity to blog.

Here's my WIP this week, a lovely baby quilt made with fabric from the Riley Blake 'Giraffe Crossing' range. It's so cute and I love how well it works with the orange spraytime fabric. The pattern by Elizabeth Hartman, is here. I just need to order the backing and binding fabric now.

I am linking up with Leigh at WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pierced

My first attempt at dressmaking

Good morning, I thought it was about time I posted on my much neglected blog. I just don't seem to have got much crafty time lately and even less to blog, although I have been visiting your blogs, I just haven't got round to posting on mine! 

I've made a few cards, photos of which I will try and post later but this is the latest project which has been on my sewing machine. There were a few set backs along the way and I think I much prefer patchwork and quilting but this was 'an itch that needed to be scratched!' 

I have got another pattern in my to do pile, which may make it to the top this holiday but I definitely need to get some p & q in soon.

VW Camper van cushion front

One more day of the half term holiday to go and I have been making the most of it! I caught up with a friend over coffee this morning, had a mooch around a lovely gift shop in the village and some sewing this afternoon and evening.

As I managed to get my hands on some double sided fusible yesterday I made a start on the VW camper van cushion kit I bought at the Malvern show recently.

I have cut, stuck and sewn all the pieces on, so tomorrow I need to quilt it, and make it into a cushion. Think I am going to have a practice at stippling to see if I am up to FMQ a cushion - if not I guess it will be the usual straight line quilting!!

Every time I look at this cushion it will remind me of the Sunday afternoon outings we used to have when I was a child with my sister, parents and grandparents. They had a camper van although I can't remember what colour, and we would go and have a picnic of sorts - happy days......

       

WIP Wednesday - Almost a drawstring bag!

This is what I have been working on today, after a visit to the LQS to buy some fabric to line this. I bought the 5" squares from the Creative Quilting stall at the Malvern show recently. As soon as I saw it I planned to make a drawstring bag, I had hoped to get the fabric from the range to finish it but have been unable to locate any locally.

While in the shop Mum found some dark grey fabric in the oddments bag that we love to have a rummage through. I should have bought it as now I have to go back there tomorrow to buy it or some off the bolt to make the drawstrings.

Really pleased with how this turned out, I wasn't sure whether to do the sugar bag thing with the bottom corners but decided not to as I didn't want to lose any of the lovely fabric.

                                                      

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced

Finally a finish!!!

Woo hoo - it's been a very long time in the making, but finally here is my plus quilt made with Winters Lane fabric from Moda.

At last I can get on with another project which is just as well as I went to the quilt show at Malvern last weekend and bought lots of lovely new fabric and patterns.......

I had hoped to start the camper van cushion today but didn't have double sided fusible and the local shop that is open on Sundays didn't have any either :( 

It would have been rude to come out of the shop empty handed don't you think? So I found these FQs and a metre of white muslin.

As I had ironed the fabric for the cushion I didn't want to start anything else do have been browsing the www for sewing ideas - my head is now buzzing with things I would like to make! 

I have been in a bit of a quandry since last weekend, I had a play on a Juki TL98P as I struggle quilting large projects on my Bernina. I love love love my Bernina but it is just not big enough to get a large quilt through without wrestling with it at some points. The Juki has a lot larger throat space, which would make life easier and may encourage me to get on and quilt the other 4 or 5 tops I have folded up in the corner!! I really would have to get my sewing room sorted then as I could totally take over the dining table could I? 

Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday weekend - whatever you are up to. 

Almost a finish - WIP Wednesday & Let's Bee Social

It's been a long time in the making, lots of stitching, unpicking, redesigning of borders, a problem with blue chaco marker, I think there are a few faint marks left, hoping they will go when I wash it.

I had difficulty sleeping last night so came downstairs to make a cuppa and watch a quilting programme I had recorded. I decided to trim the wadding and backing of the quilt instead and then thought I would make the binding as I still wasn't tired. 

My mission this evening was to sew the binding on and start hand sewing it to the back, one of my favourite parts of quilting because its very relaxing, you can watch tv while doing it, keeps you toasty warm and it means another project is almost finished - time to start a new one! 

Just need to sew a few ends in as well but its time for bed now. 

I am aiming for a Friday finish on this one. 

Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday

& Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social

Avoiding the issue!!

I had promised myself that I wouldn't start another project until I had finished binding my Winter Lane quilt. Well I have only got the binding to do........ I jarred my back last week so have found it uncomfortable to sit to my sewing machine never mind manoeuvre a big quilt around so this weekend thought I would have a go at a few smaller projects that have been on my to do list.







I was very restrained when I took Mum to our LQS on Friday until I discovered the lovely sewing accessory fabric. I decided on the tan fabric to go with it until I spotted the red fabric which really lifted the sewing accessory fabric, sadly the tan one had been cut so I had to have that also, then there was the issue of getting a reduced price if you bought 4 FQs.

The first projects are thread catcher pots, really quick and easy to make. I couldn't decide what fabric I wanted on the outside, once I had sewn the side seams I wished I had done it the opposite way round so quickly ran up another in reverse colour ways. Thank you Tina at Seaside Stitches for the tutorial.

My Mum was making peg bags recently for a couple of her friends. When I was doing the ironing this weekend I pulled out a couple of the wooden hangers to have a go. A quick dash to The Range before closing to buy this lovely fabric and this is what we ended up with....

What can my next avoidance project be - reorganise my fabric ..........

Fab and Fifty

Not for me - I've still got a while to go.......

I was asked to make a card for one of Mum's friends who celebrates this milestone birthday soon. 

I was stuck for what to do that was 'girly' until I rediscovered these lovely flower sequins during a recent craft room tidy up/clear out then my mojo jumped into action. Out came the beading stuff for the tiny friendship beads for the centre of the flowers, on went the Cricut machine and the card was  done! 

                                                     

While delving through my beading stash I discovered 2 necklace kits that I just had to have at least 2 years ago but have not got round to making yet..... They have now found a new temporary home on the 'to do' pile in my kitchen - hoping this will inspire me to get on with them, one of them is a lovely blue and green colour which will look lovely with a white top.

That's all from me today folks, sleep well.


 XX