Wednesday, July 23, 2014

"Victoria's Garden"


On a visit with friends from my sewing group to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in 2006 four of us purchased "Victoria's Garden", a kit from Petra Prins from the book by Marsha McCloskey and Sharon Evans Yenter entitled "Blended Quilts From in the Beginning".


Although the fabrics are not all the originals from the pattern they are all lovely and came in a be-ribboned box.  The finished quilt measures 76 1/2" x 88 1/2" - certainly one for the long-arm!









"From the floral bouquet print cut 6 1/2 " squares"

















Paired double four-patch units sewn together to make
16 patch blocks















Strippy blocks sewn together in pairs















And here are the remaining double four-patch and strippy blocks
which, together with 4 set aside four-patch units for the corners, make up the component part.









Assembly is next on the agenda!

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Needlebook

Take a Ted Baker Make-Up Bag...




add Space Dyed Fabric, stand back and enjoy!



Inside of bag showing flap enclosed pocket with sections for pencil, marker pen, etc and  zippered pocket




Just love how the Lime Green fabric adds a little "zing"



My Pincushion is filled with Ground Walnut Shells and to retain the shape of the central Yoyos I've enclosed buttons and stitched through them to attach.







Are you able to see the lovely little Bird Zipper Pull?
(must remember to remove the protective film!)


Nearly forgot this dear little Tape Measure nestling amongst the Yoyo fabrics!


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

"Seaside Rose"

Each time I visit my collection of Seaside Rose fabrics for Moda by 3 Sisters I pick up this little block left over from a quilt made for a neighbour's daughter some years ago.  Zara now lives in Portugal with her parents and I wonder sometimes whether she still has her quilt.


You may recall my friend Ann's DIL still doesn't have a bag, so over a cold and rainy Bank Holiday I decided that Seaside Rose must shine again.  My collection of bag patterns includes one by Sarah Wellfair of Goose Chase Quilting called "5 Fat Quarters".  The pattern gives 3 sizes and the middle one was perfect for finally using Zara's Block.


I used fusible Vilene 640 for the outside fabric and fusible Vilene 630 for the lining. 


Pretty lining and, of course, a pocket completes the bag.
(Sarah's pattern includes instructions for fitting a zipper panel along the top, but that's for next time!)


I'm a little sad to see this block leave and hope Ann's DIL will enjoy using her bag.

Sarah is author of the "Simply" books - Simply Squares, Strippy, Bags, Christmas, Charming, Scrappy, Gifts etc.




Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A Tote without Charm!

Ann, my "Pink Friend" was so delighted with her birthday bag that she asked me to make a similar one for her daughter in law "but not so pretty".   Sadly, I've failed the test and Ann now has 2 bags and her poor DIL has nothing because Ann can't bear to part with either!!


The design has been taken from Charm Square Tote Bag pattern by The Bramble Patch, but instead of using Charm Squares I've taken a solid piece of fabric from my Moda Seaside Rose collection and quilted wavy lines using Valdani Hand Dyed Variegated thread "Early Spring", which matches the fabrics so perfectly.


Cream webbing was used for the handles, to which I attached a strip of Seaside Rose fabrics down the centre and machine embroidered into place.  A divided pocket was added for good measure.





Sunday, April 27, 2014

Another year, another birthday for Ann

Tree Peony versus Ann's Bag??

I think you will agree the Tree Peony steals the show...easily damaged by rain and wind, but a joy to behold for the special moments they are in bloom.


Until it's demise last December I was a member of Daisy Chain's Quarterly Craft Club and have a stack of padded envelopes containing various projects. 

The rose patterned and green fabrics are "Simplicity" by 3 Sisters for Moda and the striped one "Seaside Rose".  The bag measures 17" x 13" and has a 3 1/2" gusset, which makes a change from the usual "box" style corners. 


Ann, my pink friend (remember the silk hearts last year?), has 3 summer holidays to look forward to and I hope her bag will be useful.



Open wide Zippered Pouch

Feel sure you'll remember this fabric by French General for Moda "La Petite Odile" which I used for my Sewing Basket and Sewing Accessories Kit.   I sometimes take these with me to Group Meetings, but felt I needed something larger for storage of cutters, scissors, pins, pens and pencils etc and another for my current project's  threads.


The large pouch measures 14" x 8" and the smaller one 10" x 6"and are taken from an online tutorial by Noodlehead.  Vilene H630 was used to stabilise the smaller pouch and H640 for the larger one, which gives slightly more body


Certainly a bag full!!
























Saturday, April 5, 2014

Chateau Hexagon Mystery Button of the Month

In the middle of 2013 I enrolled for Lynette Anderson's new Mystery Button Block of the Month Club.  Lynette chose a French feel for this project, which featured garden scenes each having a hand-painted button from Australia.


The wallhanging measures 26" x 37"
Cosmo threads have been used throughout.
Quilted using a very thin wadding and invisible thread


Month 9 - Chateau Hexagon
Who lives in this grand home somewhere in France?













Month 1 - Birdhouse Corner
"Such a pretty part of the garden, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and Mrs Cat is prowling"


Month 2 - Sampler Block
A little alphabet sampler style had to be included on this quilt.



Month 3 - Flower Barrow
This old wooden style wheelbarrow reminds Lynette of the one her Grandad used to use in his garden. "Grandad was always outside, he used to grow lots of vegetables and flowers.  His garden fork often had a bird sitting on it watching and waiting for a worm"

Month 4 - Cranky Geese
When Lynette was 9 she says the school she attended had geese to guard the lawns, they were very cranky geese and no-one put a toe on the grass for fear of being hissed at.

Month 5 - Hollyhocks & Roses
Lynette's grandmother used to grow hollyhocks in her cottage garden.  They grew tall and pretty against her flint and brick walls. 
Month 6 - The Flower Patch
Lynette says she loved watering the flower patch, running out to see if the seeds had sprouted and then as the little plants grew strong and tall waiting and hoping that they would have flowers"

Month 7 - Lilypads
"Little pond with its lily pads and flowers in the middle of the driveway that leads to "Chateau Hexagon"
Month 8 - Welcome
"The entrance to Chateau Hexagon has a grand but neglected feel to it, which is why there are wild flowers growing by the entrance gate.  The French poodle button looks so proud with her pink collar and sweet French haircut". 

Can you see the date and my initials added to the wrought iron-gate?  I have so very much enjoyed making and stitching this gorgeous quilt - thank you Lynette.  It is now being offered as a kit with patterns, fabric and buttons at Little Quilt Store.


Sunday, March 30, 2014

AnnAKa - Pa Quiltelaup

Having had the pattern for AnnAKa's Pa Quiltelaup for sometime and following on from my Annas Sminkepung marathon I really wanted to have ago, but again, sadly, the instructions were in Norwegian.  My friend Margaret of Solstitches and I decided to have a "bag-a-long" and, thanks to her, my bag is finally completed.

The stripe and flower fabrics are by Westminster for Kaffe Fassett and have been taken from my stash whilst the lovely Stoff  brown/green lining, strapping and handles fabric was purchased specially for this project as was the small amounts of purple and lilac for the prairie points - Spraytime from The Henley Studio for Makower.  Fabric wise, I thought it was quite a greedy bag.


Margaret said she was going to have a go at inside zip and slip pockets and, not to let the side down, I followed suit.  The instructions were taken from Perfect Quilted Totes by Elizabeth Hartman and you will see the result.  Apologies for the poor photo, but my camera was pointed into the bag!  Yes, yes I could have turned the bag inside out or photographed the pockets before making up the lining - next time?  Margaret and I are delighted with our bags and feel sure we will use this method again.  





Sunday, March 23, 2014

Travelling Companions

A weekend spent celebrating a friend's special birthday.  Gail was 70 today and we've enjoyed a weekend of birthday celebrations.  A formal dinner at an hotel on Saturday evening followed by a buffet lunch at her home today.  Gail holidays very regularly and a trio of bags will be useful - hopefully.


You'll recognise Emily's Accessories fabric!


The tote bag was taken from a tutorial by S.O.T.A.K Handmade 
Gail's Ipad will fit inside and perhaps a book/magazine/travel info in the front pocket. 


Here it is again!  Annas Sminkepung
- good to keep her leads and adapters safely stored


Well, using this fabric, a Shoe Bag had to be included

"Happy Birthday, Gail"



Sunday, February 23, 2014

Rita's Birthday

When making AnnAKa pouches I always had in mind creating one using "vintage" style fabrics with the addition of lace and beads - well here she is all ready and waiting for my friend's birthday.


The base fabric is calico/muslin, to which I attached stamped fabrics purchased from the USA  
                                                           Homestead Treasures on Etsy




My lovely swirly backing fabric shows a little of the quilting.  Some planing was required here choosing seams to sandwich the fabrics together. 










The pretty coloured threads are Lecien Multi Work 322, which are purchased either by skein or on spools and the beads are size 15.