Chateau Hexagon

Month 6 - The Flower Patch

Another great block to sew - the 6th and final one for the wall-hanging.  Lynette says how 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, hoping that they would have flowers." 

The blocks can now be joined together!!

"All About Anna"

 

I recently purchased a PDF tote pattern from Stephanie Dunphy of Loft Creations called "All About Anna" and I'm delighted with the result.

 

Anna measures 15 1/2" W x 3" D by 11" H (19" with handle drop).  My fabric is called "Asian Harmony" designed by Lonni Rossi for Andover Fabrics and I used a Madeira Rayon thread for quilting.  The bag front has a pocket divided into 3 and the back also has the lovely pieced top. 

 

Anna may be made using purchased handles, but there are instructions for fabric ones.  I didn't have sufficient fabric to make the "pattern" handles and used black webbing with fabric stitched down the centre.  I've used this method before and really like the result.

 

Stephanie says to use a "fantastic" button, but I struggled somewhat in finding one with a shank and in the end cut one from a "not worn anymore jacket"!!!

 

 

 

 

And then there were two!!



When my DH saw my blue Anna he suggested I make one for our neighbour who very kindly takes in parcels when we are away.   This time my fabric is from Makower UK called  "Emily's Accessories".  The collection has some lovely small panels, which are depicted on the "Emily Scroll" fabric, and I cut 2 strips and then made the bag in the same way as before.  My thread was Superior Gold Metallic  for quilting around the small panels and a greeny coloured McKenna Ryan thread for the front pocket and bag back. 

 

 

 

Stephanie has some lovely bags on her website and I especially like her latest creation "Caity - Did"

Now I really must stop enjoying myself and get back to Chateau Hexagon Button of the Month, unless my DH thinks of other worthy "Anna" recipients!!

Rita's Diary

My friend Rita and I go back a long way and usually meet once a month for lunch and a chat.  A few years ago I made Rita a space dyed silk velvet diary cover, which was machine embroidered and lined with silk, but I'm told it's beginning to wear and needs replacing!!!

I gathered together noir silk space dyed fabric, from the Festival of Quilts last year, and painted lace (by Janet Humphrey) and after stabilising the back of the silk divided the fabric into quarters with tacking thread.  The lace was attached using invisible thread then it was ready for embellishment.  (I hate invisible thread, but it does have a purpose).

As I knew the diary would be getting a lot of use I planned to embellish mainly the front, but I couldn't stop!

The threads used are hand dyed Chameleon, The Cherry Tree, South Africa (purchased from Lorna Bateman) perle 8 and 12, also Soie Cristale by Caron (from Stitchin Bits & Bobs) which  is 12 ply 100% silk.  My beads were from JBS Beads - tiny size 15's with just a few size 10's.

So, after what seems 100's of beads, many many French Knots here's Rita's Diary all ready to hand over at our December lunch-date.

Front

Back

Totally impractical I know, but you may just be able to glimpse a voile sleeve I've sewn which hopefully will extend its shelf life!  I so enjoyed watching this grow.

Chateau Hexagon

Month 5 - Hollyhocks & Roses

This block was a delight to sew and, as Lynette says, "the yoyo flowers that are used for the hollyhocks add a wonderful dimension to this block".

I'm a little behind, as November marked the arrival of Month 6, but I have made a start!

An Elephant for Oliver!

Oliver is aged 1 and my Great Nephew.  When one of my Sewing Group turned up with this delightful Elephant I knew I had to make him.

He measures 13" high and 14" wide from the tip of his trunk to his tail!  The back of his lovely big ears are lined with red fabric as are the bottom of his feet and his ears are lightly padded.

First of all I had to make roughly a metre of fabric from 2 1/2" squares before cutting out the pattern!  He was a very hungry elephant and enjoyed 400 grams of toy stuffing!  Would I sew him again, well??  Oliver is visiting with his Daddy tomorrow and I hope he likes his new friend.

Chateau Hexagon

Lynette Anderson's Button of the Month Club update

 

Month 3 Flower Barrow

 

 

(clumpy fork, but hoping its lost somewhere in the overall design!)

 

Month 4 Cranky Geese

 

 

Month 5 Hollyhocks & Roses

(just arrived and raring to go)

Yoyos, embroidery and a lovely birthbath hand painted button - happy days!

 

Frill Top Bag

Having made my Bed Runner earlier in the year I still had quite a stash of Moda French General Rouenneries Deax fabric

 

I also had a pattern from Quilter's Trading Post for a dear little summery bag.  It's rather sweet and measures 9" in height and 11" in width with a 3 1/2" bottom.  The pattern states 3 x Fat Quarters for the outer bag, base and handles and 50 cm for the lining and frill, but I pulled scraps from my stash.  The bag is lined in the same fabric as the frill, handles and base.

I deviated somewhat from the pattern instructions and stitched the front and back panels using "quilt as you go" method and to keep their shape I inserted TV cable in the bag handles.  Although the bag bottom had been quilted it was still quite soft and to maintain a neat shape and create a firm base I covered a piece of cardstock with wadding, which was then glued (using PVA glue)  onto the base and this was then hidden by the lining. 

Another little gift??