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

Wedding wishes

I was asked by a friend recently if I could make a personalised wedding card for her daughter and soon to be son in law. It's quite a while since I made a card, and especially one that has been ordered rather than just making one that takes my fancy! 

I had a sort out of my craft room last week so sorted out stacks of suitable papers, embellishments and so on that would be suitable. Out came the Lili of the Valley stamps and I dusted off my copic markers and I set too this evening, partly because I was freezing and there is a radiator under the area I work and partly because it is needed soon.

Lots of deliberation on how to incorporate names, I would love to know how you personalise your cards other than using peel offs? I've got a cricut machine but the smallest letters would have swamped the image. I have put the date under the scalloped oval but covered it up just in case the intended recipient sees the photo. 

I really enjoyed making this card and am now very glad I didn't list my copics on eBay this weekend - I was tempted as I can't remember the last time I used them but has now rediscovered how relaxing colouring is - just what I needed after a busy first day back at work!!

That's it from me now, time for bed. Goodnight all, sweet dreams....

Cross Quilt - nearly finished....

My challenge to myself over the Easter holidays was to get one of the tops I have, quilted and finished. 

I nearly managed it, but when I decided on the quilting pattern, around the inside of each plus sign I didn't realise just how long it would take me!! There are 89 shapes......

Oh well, at least it has made me determined to crack FMQ which I have procrastinated about for far too long!!

I am going to get the edges and binding on this finished this week. I am looking forward to some quick fix projects, I've seen so many over the last couple of weeks but I was determined I wasn't going to be sidetracked. 

A different type of paper craft than usual, a cushion and stash building!

I can't believe it's over a month since I last posted on my blog - where has the time gone??

In my defence I have been really busy at work with end of financial year/end of Spring term and at home spring cleaning and sorting out!! I have wallpapered one of the walls in my daughter's lounge diner with the help of my lovely Mum who did the pasting.

I have squeezed a bit of crafting in too, here's a cushion I made for my Mum as part of her Mothers Day present, using the tutorial from Crazy Mom Quilts

Here's some of the fabric and other crafty stuff I bought at the weekend, although that is just the tip of the iceberg of recent craft purchasing..... How lucky was I, the floral fabric was the end of the roll so the lovely lady gave me the rest of the bolt so got nearly 3/4m of fabric for price of 1/2m! Linking up to Sunday Stash - even though it is Tuesday, having a few problems with technology so couldn't link up before now (as I couldn't remember how ;) !)

Enjoy the rest of your day :)